Rakhi

This last weekend was Rakhi. Sisters tie a "rakhi" (bracelet) to their brothers, and the brothers get gifts for their sisters. They also vow to protect and care for each other. 

When I reminded little miss Haana about it on the Sunday morning, she quickly ran upstairs and returned with yarn and her crochet needle. Soon a friendship bracelet emerged. But I complained it is too plain, maybe we can make a pom-pom. Her eyes glittered with an idea. Ran back upstairs and she came back with 2 white and 1 huge green pom-pom. These were tied to the bracelet somehow. I complained it looked a little dorky, but little miss Haana insisted it will have to do. Bobby boy was still sleeping but someone couldn't wait to tie the rakhi. So she tried tying it on little baby wrist. It obviously did not last long. And more, the small white pom-poms disappeared. I wondered of Bobba tried to eat them. I guess we will never know. 

Meanwhile I had a thought. What about rakhi gift for little miss Haana. Hmm.. only the previous day little miss Haana and I had run into the store and got several knick-knacks for the both of us. If I had played it better, I could've claimed one of those was a "gift" from Bobby boy. But too late now. 

So, later that morning I headed out with an excuse to visit the store. I had an idea of something little miss Haana might appreciate. All kinds of hair accessories - scrunchies, ribbon,  fancy hair clips; and then earnings and a set of friendship bands to be shared amongst best friends. 

When I got back, we did the rakhi thing over again. Bobba got the rakhi tied to his wrist (this time without the white pom-poms), but again he didn't tolerate it even for a second. But this time, I claimed Bobba got little miss Haana a gift in his onesie. Little miss Haana was very pleased with "Bobby's" gifts. 

But the best part came in the end. When little miss Haana saw the friendship bands that said "best friends", she took out 2 of them. She wore one on her wrist. And the other, she put on mine!! Oh how I hoped she would do that!! I showed my bracelet to Papa with pride, 'Look, she gave one to me!! I am her best friend! Her first, bestest friend"!! Little miss Haana's comment - "You should take it before I change my mind" :-D!

The Library

Today was Bobby boy's very first library trip. And did he have a blast!

Little miss Haana carried our stack of books, while I carried the boy to the library today. I took him straight to the baby books section, and showed him board books for little kids. He pulled out a few books from the shelves and handed them to me. I took them up to the little chair. Bobby boy, who thinks he's a big boy, no longer sits in my lap. He climbed up to a rocking chair next to me. Rocking on the chair was fun for a minute, but soon he climbed down to explore. 

Soon Bobby boy was scuttling down the book shelf aisles, giggling with delight. I didn't want to loose track of him, so I followed coming after him. This only made it more delicious for him; he giggled and squealed with delight as he sprinted down the aisles. Making noise, calling out, babbling, giggling and running down aisles!

Momentarily Bobby boy found a bench. He climbed up on it, and then he climbed up on the table. I had to grab him to get him down. He didn't appreciate it, but soon he ran down another aisle. 

Then next, he located the library display you weren't supposed to touch or get too close to. Bobby boy started climbing on it. "No, no,  Bobby!", I rushed to airlift him out. Again, he didn't appreciate it. But soon he was giggling and running down, turning into another aisle as I reached behind him,  "I'm gonna catch you this time bobby!", I laughed. "Mumma is  coming to get you Bobby!", I said. It only made him giggle and scuttle around more. 

Little miss Haana meanwhile had found herself a stack of books, talked to the librarian and had checked them all out. Finally when Bobby boy got into the library display again (little miss Haana came to inform me 'Bobbys in trouble again'), I figured it was time to go. 

Something tells me we are at the beginning of the troubles with Bobby boy ;)!

I'm not sure the library staff would agree with me, but for us, it was a fun library visit!!

Empty Plate

Little Bobby boy has some principles. One of them is, your plate should either getting worked on,  or it should be empty.

That means, he works on what he likes to eat. And once he is done, everything else on his plate is sent flying to the floor. The plate most be empty, afterall! 

We have tried to tell him throwing things is not cool. But so far, Bobby boy is sticking to his principles. 

4th Grade

And just like that summer is over and little miss Haana starts 4th grade today. She has been very excited about starting school. The virtual learning school all of last year had not worked for her. She'd missed her classmates, face-to- face engagement with her teachers and peers. She'd missed being out and about. But she's also anxious about starting school. Gone with summer are the days of chilling and hanging out at home, doing anything she pleases - drawing, reading, baking, creating, and of course, good ol' tv watching. "Last day of freedom", as she put it yesterday. 

Me, I have a bigger problem with today. Why is all this happening so quickly. Why is she already in 4th grade. Can't we just slow down a little? I'm going to really miss having her around at home during the day. The house is going to be so quiet. Makes me wonder about a life for me when she's not there. She's moved out to live her life, and mine will become so much more quiet and empty without her. I do want her to grow and live her life. But every now and then, in a moment here and there, I can feel a time when she wouldn't be around and I will miss her. And I wish in some way I can tell her before she goes, tell her such that she listens before she goes, how completely wonderful she is. 

Fifteen

This weekend we are spending in Estes Park,  Colorado. Other than being right next to the rockies,  Estes Park is a nice little town with shops full of antiques and keepsakes. I had just tuned into a country music channel on the radio on our rental car, as we turned into a parking spot at the main street. Little Haana asked if we could shop. What did she want to shop for? Oh, anything!

Ok, I'll give you a budget of $20.

$30?

20.

25?

20.

Fine! Now, can we tune into some actual music station?

I slowly turned to little miss Haana and said just this 1 word - "15".

Oh actually, no need, it's quite good music already - she back-tracked!

Just as I expected!