Fox Backpack

Little miss Haana got a little backpack from school. A prize for something she did. It was tiny, puffy, shaped like a little fox, and so cute. 

Recently Bobby boy has been needing to take his water bottle to school. I thought he can have a small backpack to put his water bottle in. 

The little fox backpack couldn't have appeared at a better time. Bobby boy fitted it with his prized blakie and a toy, and wore the backpack all evening long. He even wanted to sleep with the backpack on his back, before I told him he will need to keep the backpack away for sleeping. He went and have his little backpack hang in with mumma, Papa and Gugu's large backpack!

This morning brimming with pride, Bobby boy went to school with his backpack. Showed it to his teacher Ms. Sabine, who exclaimed such a cute fox it was! And then hung it by his cubbies in the class. With a smile as wide as a fox's grin!!

Please Knock

A new sign came up on little miss Haana's for. "Please Knock", it says.

I did the most reasonable thing. I opened the door and entered, and then once inside I knocked to announce I'm here. 

Little miss Haana didn't appreciate my approach!

12th Birthday

In spite of my insistence to the contrary little miss Haana decided to turn 12 this birthday. I think growing up is so overrated! 

Our day started with the kids woken up 30 minutes earlier than usual for a cake cutting in the morning. Video calls with both sets of grand parents and with Softy mausi, with birthday wishes, hugs and kisses and then little miss Haana and Bobby boy were both off to school. 

I had a packed day at work, but left to make a run for target in the middle of the day to pick up some last minute supplies. Then, finished my day at work earlier than usual to set up the star attraction for the birthday - the treasure hunt. I had written the riddles in my scratch pad the day before, so now was the time to write them out on paper, stick some stickers, wrap the gifts and place them in their hiding places. Then, prepare cake batter and let the baking begin. 

Raj brought the packages home just in time! Little miss Haana had had a good day at school. Each of her teachers had given her something special for her special day. Violin teacher had played happy birthday on his recorder, with his nose! At karate, Mr. Hood had then do a plank while singing happy birthday. At math class Ishaan just started singing happy birthday and the other kids joined in. At lunch several boys pooled in money to buy little miss Haana several cookies and treats. 

As soon as she got home, it was time for the treasure hunt to begin. She went through reading each clue, running around the house to figure out the clue and find the treasure. It took some time but soon all the 8 treasures were found. And it was time for cake cutting a a 3 tiered chocolate cake was not going to eat itself!

After cake it was time to head out for dinner. Little miss Haana was pleased with all her treasures! But not as much as we are pleased for her :).

Happy birthday my sweetness :) 

12th Birthday Treasure Hunt

As per tradition, for little miss Haana's 12th birthday, this evening we had the treasure hunt. 

See if you can figure out the clues for finding each of the hidden treasures. Each clue leads to a treasure and the clue for the next treasure..

Momentarily Quenched

Middle school has not been kind to me. Apart from the logistics and the tactical issues (after and before school activities ending on different times every weekday, getting cancelled with no patchy communication), little miss Haana has decided she's all grown up. She moved out to her own bedroom. Not only does she not sleep with me anymore, she goes to school, comes back and then she's always either busy with homework or some other activity or in her room. I feel like she's not around anymore, even though we stay in the same house and I miss her!

Of course my missing her manifests in random ways including getting irritated with her for all kinds of things including reading books (where is the time for Mumma?!). I try to remind her that I miss her and this weekend we did go out for walks. I felt momentarily quenched. Only for so long though!