I've been trying for 2 days to upload some pix! I can't do it! ..... hopefully soon I'll figure it out and then you can see the latest along with the update....
So we are just a few days away from October. October is what?........THE MONTH WE TOUCH DOWN IN THE MOST AWESOME COUNTRY ON THE PLANET…AMERICA!!!!!!! Even Bryce understands completely that we are going back to our ‘new’ house and he will see his cat Polly again and his Thomas The Tank Engine Room. We are excited. Especially because we already have our Halloween costumes being sent to our home in Draper. We will be the most jet-lagged Trick-or-Treaters in the neighborhood but WE DON’T CARE!
I would like to think that I will post again before we leave….it’s a nice thought…we’ll see if it happens.
We just made a count down chain to put on our wall so the boys can comprehend that we aren’t leaving tomorrow. Exactly 30 days left. Are we homesick? Yes. We did add happy smiling faces on our chain and sad crying faces. We talked about all the things we love about India and all the things we are so excited to get back to in America.
Bryce mostly cares about Polly, our playroom and fruit snacks. Chase is ready to sleep on the bunk beds, see his friend Macy from school and eat orange cheese (cheddar cheese). I’m ready for my very own bed, Super Target, mountains and fresh air. Funny, the simple things we miss.
We had originally thought we’d be home more around Thanksgiving or Christmas but as we weighed all the stuff with our vacant house, pre-school, Michael’s time off etc we decided it best for the boys and I to get home in time for Halloween and November pre-school. Michael will stay back in India. He’ll be home a good chunk of time for Thanksgiving and then Christmas. He anticipates another short trip to India in January. We’re hoping after that it’ll just be 3 or 4 times a year. Crazy few months but it’s the last lap. What a ride it’s been.
We’ve been doing some very American things lately. Chase has been in T-Ball, Bryce has a little music class he goes to and we’re still swimming often. Both boys can completely swim with no assistance. No more diapers for Byrce. They’ve grown so much while we’ve been here.
The funny thing is, as we’re driving to these activities, we’re still in India seeing crazy Indian stuff. Today I saw two guys on a motorcycle holding a huge piece of glass. A few days ago Michael and I went to go pick up his custom made suits (totally cheap) and just outside the door was one guy stitching up another guy’s head.
One of my favorite things is when I see a mirror set up on a cement wall and a guy sitting in a chair getting a haircut and shave. Just outside…this hair cutter guy probably has regular customers and all. Within a block of where I live is a little guy has set up shop on the corner where he irons clothing items for 5 Rupees (12 cents). Again, just right outside with no cover. Probably been there for generations. Every morning there are guys with wooden carts selling fruit, gas for cooking, brooms, etc. All the stray dogs are barking while I write this.
I heard yesterday the Embassy is having a problem with monkeys. So they had to bring in some big boy monkey and have him pee everywhere on the compound. All the little kids who live there were so excited to see the big monkey all day long.
It’s stuff like this that is so regular for us. I forget how truly crazy it is!
I’ve tried to post a bunch of pictures to catch you up on the latest. Don’t forget to see the pictures of Chase acting out his Lord Krishna character as the entire school dances around while he stands on a table playing flute. Next month he’ll be Ram. What????!!! What an experience we’ve had!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
BABY BOY JORDAN MARCH 11, 2008
We are excited to announce that we will be welcoming our next baby BOY the beginning of March. I'm now 13 weeks and everything is looking really good. I've had 2 ultrasounds and been to the doctor a few times. Let's just say I'll be glad to deliver in AMERICA. It's been interesting to get through the first trimester in hot, smelly India but I'll be happy to arrive home in the states well into the pregnancy.
It's also been tough to keep this little secret!!! We wanted so badly to share the news when we knew the gender and knew the baby was healthy and strong...... And since we do live in India, we didn't want to alarm anyone with worries of Dengue Fever, Malaria, TB or Giardia. So far everyone is healthy and happy!
We're excited!!!
It's also been tough to keep this little secret!!! We wanted so badly to share the news when we knew the gender and knew the baby was healthy and strong...... And since we do live in India, we didn't want to alarm anyone with worries of Dengue Fever, Malaria, TB or Giardia. So far everyone is healthy and happy!
We're excited!!!
Sunday, September 2, 2007
SOME HOPE FOR INDIA
Copy of a recent email.....
Ok so as you could suspect from the last emails…I have felt a little worn down from the awfulness of so many things we see everyday. BUT this week we have seen some great things!
We got Chase all ready with his Kurta Pajama and hat for his school Independence Day Celebration. He looked like pictures of Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister. He wore a long white cotton shirt with Chinese collar and white cotton pants with a little white hat. This is considered a very traditional AND patriotic thing to wear.
When we arrived at the school it was overwhelming CUTE. EVERY child was dressed in patriotic attire. Some little boys had on military uniforms with the 1945 big round glasses. Some other little boys had on rags and carried a stick and were representing Gandhi. Almost EVERY girl had on a saree. Some girls we’re dressed as Indira Gandhi, Nehru’s daughter and also an assassinated Prime Minister of India. Some were dressed as freedom fighters with big mustaches drawn on their faces. This display beat ANY Halloween pre-school celebration I’ve ever seen.
All the classes were getting their pictures taken. We took a million of our own. They were SO CUTE. Then we headed out to the grounds to do the flag raising. Chase of course was standing right next to the Principal so they would be sure to get the school’s diversity in their photo op.
Then it hit me! As the flag was being raised and everyone was singing the melody of the national anthem in Hindi so reverently, I couldn’t hold back the tears. I think I was feeling partly proud of India for showing dignity and respect for their homeland and also SO blessed that my son could be a part of such a cultural experience that he will remember forever.
We went inside and each class did their little skit/song. There were many dances with patriotic Hindi music. The older the classes got, the more the children were saying things in the microphone representing their patriotic character. Just imagine cute little Indian faces under 5 years old dressed to the nines coming up to the microphone, talking much too loud of course saying things like “ I am Cha Cha Nehru and I love my India! I am Mahatma Gandhi and I love my India!” Then they would end their little part by throwing their right fist in the air and yelling “Jayhe” (Jaw He) This means something like salute my country, India rocks, we rule….you get the basic idea.
It was very moving and I felt SO fortunate to see with my own eyes something so AWESOME! A bright light through the muck. They’ve been a country for 60 years. I wonder what they will be in another 60. I will definitely be watching!
Ok so as you could suspect from the last emails…I have felt a little worn down from the awfulness of so many things we see everyday. BUT this week we have seen some great things!
We got Chase all ready with his Kurta Pajama and hat for his school Independence Day Celebration. He looked like pictures of Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister. He wore a long white cotton shirt with Chinese collar and white cotton pants with a little white hat. This is considered a very traditional AND patriotic thing to wear.
When we arrived at the school it was overwhelming CUTE. EVERY child was dressed in patriotic attire. Some little boys had on military uniforms with the 1945 big round glasses. Some other little boys had on rags and carried a stick and were representing Gandhi. Almost EVERY girl had on a saree. Some girls we’re dressed as Indira Gandhi, Nehru’s daughter and also an assassinated Prime Minister of India. Some were dressed as freedom fighters with big mustaches drawn on their faces. This display beat ANY Halloween pre-school celebration I’ve ever seen.
All the classes were getting their pictures taken. We took a million of our own. They were SO CUTE. Then we headed out to the grounds to do the flag raising. Chase of course was standing right next to the Principal so they would be sure to get the school’s diversity in their photo op.
Then it hit me! As the flag was being raised and everyone was singing the melody of the national anthem in Hindi so reverently, I couldn’t hold back the tears. I think I was feeling partly proud of India for showing dignity and respect for their homeland and also SO blessed that my son could be a part of such a cultural experience that he will remember forever.
We went inside and each class did their little skit/song. There were many dances with patriotic Hindi music. The older the classes got, the more the children were saying things in the microphone representing their patriotic character. Just imagine cute little Indian faces under 5 years old dressed to the nines coming up to the microphone, talking much too loud of course saying things like “ I am Cha Cha Nehru and I love my India! I am Mahatma Gandhi and I love my India!” Then they would end their little part by throwing their right fist in the air and yelling “Jayhe” (Jaw He) This means something like salute my country, India rocks, we rule….you get the basic idea.
It was very moving and I felt SO fortunate to see with my own eyes something so AWESOME! A bright light through the muck. They’ve been a country for 60 years. I wonder what they will be in another 60. I will definitely be watching!
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