Fall Concert

Back in the summer little miss Haana had auditioned for a strings orchestra to be a violinist in it. Her teacher Mr. Lucas and she worked on the audition pieces for several weeks through the summer. We sent a video recording of her playing the audition pieces right on the very last day.. and then we waited.

And waited. And waited. Finally I couldn't take it any longer and I emailed the chairman to ask if she made it or not. And then with baited breath, waited some more. Then, i got the reply back. She's in!! Miss Haana was longing on the couch on that lazy summer day when I screamed to her that shade it in to the orchestra! We were delighted!! 

Orchestra practice started in the fall, every sunday. But she practiced at home almost every day.. no more reminding her to practice. Now she was practicing on her own non stop!

A couple weeks back her orchestra performed their first fall performance. I had never heard them perform together before. She was dressed in a black lacy blouse, back pleated skirt, black socks and shoes; and took her place amongst the violinists. I had never heard the orchestra perform together, only her practicing solo at home. It was such a wonderful experience hearing them perform together, sounding so different as an ensemble!! 

I am so proud of her!! 

In Case You Get Lost

I have a new GPS with me now. Lemme tell you about it..

Last week picking up da monsters from school, I picked up little Bobby boy first. Then we headed to little miss Haana's school to pick her up. As soon as I turned on the street leading up to her school, Bobby boy spoke up "We going to Gugu school, Mumma!". I was surprised he recognizes the street!

Then, last weekend, little Bobby boy and I went to the library in the morning. The road to the library passes little miss Haana's school on the way. As soon as i turned on the road to school, Bobby boy spoke up again, " We going to Gugu school Mumma". I said yes! On our way back home, listening to some music in the car, I didn't turn into our community, and went on straight. Bobby boy realised what was happening and immediately spoke up. "Mumma, where we going? Not going home Mumma! Mumma!". I was so surprised! He realized I didn't take the turn I should've taken to go home. What is he, a GPS? I reminded him he's a 2 and half year old baby. "Be a baby now, Bobby! Be a baby!", I reminded him! :-D

Track Meet

This week was the first ever track meet for little miss Haana at school. 5th graders from several schools in the school district will compete in several games. It was going to be fun!

Little miss Haana was really looking forward to it! She had been so psyched about it, last week every day after coming back from school she was either going for a run or skipping rope or doing something to prep for her big track meet. At PE last week they had selected a small team of these 5th graders in every category. Little miss Haana was in Standing Broad Jump aka SBJ (like long jump but you jump from where you are, there's no running before jumping), softball throw and 100 meters run. Little miss Haana was bummed she was not in hulahoop team. I didn't know there is a hulahoop team! 

This week, the day arrived. She went to school with a sack lunch and 2 bottles of drinks - water and water with electrolytes. Raj and I went over after our morning meetings to the high school stadium where the track meet was being held. 

It was a beautiful fall sunny day. Cool with the wind but wonderful in the sun. Little miss Haana was not in the stands, she was out of the other side of the field for the SBJs. We went over and sat in the parent's stands. We cheered for their school as other races proceeded. Meanwhile Ms Petrie came by and showed us a video of little miss Haana's SBJ and said she was really really good! Music to my ears!  After some time, it was now time for the 100 meters race. We cheered for their school in all the runs. But then it was time for her 100 meters run, we were so charged up. The school's track record so far had been far from great. But as soon as the run began, she was off like the wind! "She's so fast!", another mom exclaimed. Both Raj and I stood up, screaming to egg her on. It was delightful to watch! She was fast. When she finished, she won a gold for the 100 meter. Later we learnt she won a gold for the standing broad jump as well!! Neither Raj not I could go over to the school for the awards ceremony. But little miss Haana returned home that night with 2 gold medals! So proud she was! Almost as proud as me :-) 

Next to Gugu

Little Bobby boy has been sick. It's been going on and off for weeks now.. the reasons have varied. He's had a persistent cough for months now. Few things have worked. 

But as a result sleeping arrangements have changed. Lately little Bobby boy and little miss Haana (all of 11 years little now) sleep on the bed with me. I typically sleep in between them both, primarily to avoid them climbing on each other. Instead they climb on top of me. 

The other day, they were both on bed and I was working in the night. When I came to bed, little miss haana was fast asleep on one side and little Bobby boy was next to her. Seeing me, he batted his eyes and said to me, "Mumma, I want to sleep nekshh to Gugu. I wanna be neksh to Gugu Mumma", he repeated for good measure. I thought that was so sweet! I settled in in the bed and switched off the lights, with him being in the middle between little miss Haana and I. 

After a few peaceful, sweet moments, I heard little Bobby boy grunting. "Mmmmhh". Then again, "Mmmmghhh". I turned around to look. Little miss Haana had turned and her arm had landed smack on top of Bobby. And he was trying to free himself of the arm, but wasn't able to!! I moved the boy out of the arm's reach. And all was ok momentarily.

Next night at bed time i asked little Bobby boy again if he wanted to sleep next to Gugu or next to Mumma. This time, without hesitation, he answered "Nekshh to Mumma"!

Book Fair

It was book fair week at little miss Haana's school last week. Just like the last year, little miss Haana made a list of the books she wanted to get from the book fair. We capped it at a certain budget and she made the necessary adjustments to her list. Last Friday she came back home with the new books she'd bought from the book fair. There was a few fiction books for her, a fancy mechanical pencil, stickers and then she had gotten a book of Trucks, Fire Engines, Dump Trucks and Bulldozers for little Bobby boy!! 

Aww, how sweet and thoughtful of the big sister! I fussed over her and attempted to give her kisses that she dodged as usual!

Getting Glasses

After postponing for weeks i finally got little miss Haana for her eye exam after school today. She'd been complaining she has trouble reading the board from the back at class. At least part of the procrastination was due to dread. I had been convincing myself that she's complaining for no reason, her eyes are fine. And I didn't want to be wrong on this one.

Well, of course i was wrong. Very sadly so. And little miss Haana needs glasses. She's near sighted; very slightly so. But at this age, it could progress and get worse, so the doctor told her some tips she could use. I am so bummed! Why is this happening! :-(

I used to have glasses. Power of (-3). Got them when I was 15. They were horrible. Having something on your nose all the time, keeping them with you like a crutch. Then sliding down my sweaty nose all the time, or my eyelashes rubbing against the glass and getting it cloudy ever so often. It is a running joke with Softy mausi, nana and nani.. I used to throw and break my glasses when I would get into a fight with Softy mausi and was very mad. In impotent frustration. As a punishment to self for some unexplained angst. For existing, perhaps. I used to get new glasses way too often. And I used to hate all of them. Hate the feeling of being dependent on this inanimate object sitting on my face, every moment of the day. I know its not a big deal, and it doesn't even qualify as a real problem. But in my mind i resented it, warming up later to only treat it as a nuisance. A necessary nuisance. 

I hoped and hoped little miss Haana doesn't need glasses. So beautiful she is. My golden girl. And now behind glasses. So foolish I'm being, I know. Maybe it's my fault with genetics after all. Anyway, she's fine about it. If anything she's bummed she couldn't get them today. 

Oh well.. 

11 Year Old Now!

As is tradition, we did a treasure hunt at little miss Haana's birthday party. 

See if you can figure it out!

Spoiler.. this one was fancy earrings!!

On to the second treasure:

This one was a journal she wanted but I refused to get it then!

On to the next treasure:

This one was a custom journal hidden amongst my paints and other at supplies!!

On to treasure 4: 

Treasure 5:

This one was in a pair of fancy earrings in my office drawer:)

And that was that..