What a yawn!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Crazy Again
Crazy is a bit like Evan - she doesn't like to be photographed. So I
clicked away with my phone the other day when she let me. Here are three
mug shots.
What a yawn!
What a yawn!
Grandpa Talks
Grandpa is getting more interactive. Yesterday he and Vivian sat around
at the dining table and he called out words. "Mat". And she wrote them
down. Then he'd peer at what she had written and grunt his approval.
"Cat". And so on.
Evan and Vivian have tried to talk to him in the past. But because he doesn't hear them he doesn't respond. Sometimes he doesn't even see them because they might not be right in front of his gaze. Or his eye's are shut. They, specially Evan always stop by and say "Goodnight Grandpa" to him. And the look on his face usually implies "Who are these children and what are they doing?" Once I found Vivian talking to Grandpa in signs. "Because Grandpa can't talk" she said.
So it was quite a surprise to see them working together. "Fat". Scribbling. "Hmmm".
Evan and Vivian have tried to talk to him in the past. But because he doesn't hear them he doesn't respond. Sometimes he doesn't even see them because they might not be right in front of his gaze. Or his eye's are shut. They, specially Evan always stop by and say "Goodnight Grandpa" to him. And the look on his face usually implies "Who are these children and what are they doing?" Once I found Vivian talking to Grandpa in signs. "Because Grandpa can't talk" she said.
So it was quite a surprise to see them working together. "Fat". Scribbling. "Hmmm".
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Evan Style
Evan does Gangnam Style. No dancing. Yet. Just a very short bit of audio. On youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f9xPRQ4Yas
Sunday, October 28, 2012
El Naranjo
We had brunch with Olivia on Rainey Street late this morning. Oh - and Amanda and Gordon were there too. Gordon had his camera and worked his magic.
Three Miles
On the last two weekends Vivian wasn't able to walk and run as much as she wanted. Today Jo set out with the kids on a long march. I caught up with them at about the half-way point. Evan collected acorns, specially very large ones, on his lap and called them his nuts. There were a few moments of whining but Vivian walked three miles and that's pretty good. She's up to 8.5 miles - about a quarter of the way through her marathon.
Fall
Before it gets warm again, and then settles into indeterminate winter-ish weather, yesterday and today was Fall in central Texas. Cool crisp mornings. Beautiful days. A couple of yellowed leaves gently floating down, easily shouldering the responsibility of the entire season.
Vivian volunteered to sweep the deck. We grilled and then chilled.
Vivian volunteered to sweep the deck. We grilled and then chilled.
Visit of the Cousins
The cousins stopped by on Fri evening. Joy managed all eight children while the mamas and dad went out for dinner. The last time one non-family baby sitter sat all eight, she never showed up again. We tried to make sure that didn't happen again. In spite of assurances from Joy she has canceled her next appointment. Hmmm.
The kids had a blast and slept in large piles of sleeping bags and bodies.
The kids had a blast and slept in large piles of sleeping bags and bodies.
Art Again
This afternoon Hawkeye stopped by again. This time with an arc welding kit. He wasn't happy how the ends of the metal were sticking out so he fixed it. I had to explain to the kids that they couldn't see him weld because they didn't have proper protection for their eyes. Vivian got it but Evan fell into an infinite loop of "but why, dada?"
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Veggie Garden
Vivian loves harvesting veggies from the Shah's extensive vegetable garden all year long. So Gunaraj has built Vivian one of her own behind our garage where the bamboo once stood. It still needs minor stuff like plants - but otherwise it's ready. This isn't some half-assed lets-dig-a-hole-and-plant-a-seed effort either. And the pictures don't do justice to the amount of work that Gunraj has put in nor does it show the intricate details. But hopefully you'll continue to see updates of plants and then produce through the various seasons.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Vivian at the Saucer
Yesterday afternoon everyone settled down for a nap. Except Alu, Vivian and myself. It seemed like a great afternoon for some IPAs at the neighborhood pub. We got there and were just about settling into our seats on the front patio when Vivian exclaimed "Daddy - I thought we were going to get frozen yogurt first. Whenever you and Uncle Alu get together, it's just beer beer beer!" The sixteen-year old waitress looked at Vivian in amazement.
A couple of minutes later we were ready. Alu and I put in our beer orders. The waitress gazed at Vivian and asked sweetly "And would you like some lemonade?"
"Actually, no. I was thinking may be a Shirley Temple?"
Followed by the loud sound of a jaw smacking the wooden deck.
A couple of minutes later we were ready. Alu and I put in our beer orders. The waitress gazed at Vivian and asked sweetly "And would you like some lemonade?"
"Actually, no. I was thinking may be a Shirley Temple?"
Followed by the loud sound of a jaw smacking the wooden deck.
Bean Bag Base Jumping
Vivian invented this game. She pulls a bean bag up on to the rug and then jumps on to it from the couch. Evan faithfully follows. After each jump she pushes the bean bag a little bit further away till on one jump Evan misses it and lands with a thump. We admonish her. Game starts over.
Here are two action shots from this afternoon. Vivian has an interesting style. Like a chicken taking flight. Evan is a blur. Legs tucked underneath, arms spread.
Here are two action shots from this afternoon. Vivian has an interesting style. Like a chicken taking flight. Evan is a blur. Legs tucked underneath, arms spread.
The Shah Breakfast
No - we didn't eat the Shah's for breakfast (as in "sausage and egg breakfast"). They invited us over. Omelets were made on the back-porch stove where Evan helped me by smashing the eggs. The kids ran around the koi pond. Masala chai was drunk. And then we left before meditation except for Vivian.
"Dad - I want to stay for meditation".
"Vivian - they have guests coming in for Sunday meditation. It's serious stuff"
"I'll manage"
"OK, you little religious freak..."
One of the meditation guests was pressed to take a picture of the whole group. Quite a collection.
"Dad - I want to stay for meditation".
"Vivian - they have guests coming in for Sunday meditation. It's serious stuff"
"I'll manage"
"OK, you little religious freak..."
One of the meditation guests was pressed to take a picture of the whole group. Quite a collection.
Dinosaur Peanuts
Yesterday we went to Sandra's house. She had made dinosaur tails for Julian's birthday. Evan entertained the crowds with his superb butt-shaking tail wagging performance. There were some extra tails. The kids returned home with a tail apiece. This afternoon Vivian tied on her tail. Then, creative as she is, she moved it from her bottom to her front. I waited to see how the game would proceed.
In a couple of seconds Evan had jumped on it, grabbed hold and started yelling "Dinosaur peanuts!!" Then he had his own. Much family fun for a while.
In a couple of seconds Evan had jumped on it, grabbed hold and started yelling "Dinosaur peanuts!!" Then he had his own. Much family fun for a while.
Dad
My dad today is not the same man who stepped (was wheeled, actually) on to the airplane at Hyderabad airport about 45 days ago. He was abducted by aliens multiple times, each time being replaced by some guy who is younger and more alert and attentive. That's the explanation and I'm sticking by it.
That's unless I decide to set myself up as a miracle healer with reverse outsourcing and set up a little office in India where folks come in and I work my wonders. For Rolex watches of course.
That's mostly good news. The bad news is that it has been maddening to try to determine what his baseline functionality is because these days each day he surprises me by doing something for himself. In the big scheme of things there are worse problems than that.
That's unless I decide to set myself up as a miracle healer with reverse outsourcing and set up a little office in India where folks come in and I work my wonders. For Rolex watches of course.
That's mostly good news. The bad news is that it has been maddening to try to determine what his baseline functionality is because these days each day he surprises me by doing something for himself. In the big scheme of things there are worse problems than that.
Weekend
Pictures from the weekend. Evan swinging from a tree at EZ's. Vivian with flowers from Central Market. Breakfast tacos at Town Lake.
Weekend Visitors
Evan and Vivian are having a great time with Aunt Michelle and Uncle Alu. More pictures and stories soon.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Asking for Money
Vivian has officially launched her first fundraising effort - asking friends and family to contribute by promising to walk or run an entire marathon over the next three months or so. The money will be used to build a technology lab at her school. In the first few days the support she has received as been great. She and I thank you for that.
Without doubt this will not be a unique occurrence. So it's probably best to face the issue head on with some intellectual honesty.
When Vivian joined the private school she attends we were warned that there would be fundraising. I have been involved in philanthropic fundraising for more than a decade now and I thought I could use some of that experience - though this isn't philanthropic. Raising funds for medically fragile children with multiple disabilities is one thing. I have had no qualms about hitting up my friends for the Rosedale Ride for years. But asking people to pay for my own child's education is an entirely different fish.
Why does a private school need donations? Because it can't cover all it's expenses through tuition and fees. Why not? Because that would require raising the tuition even higher - beyond the comfortable reach of many families and certainly beyond the reach of scholarship and financial aid students. By shifting the burden to donations, some families are asked to pay more than others. Understandably there are a lot of grumbling parents - aren't we paying thousands of dollars already? You want more?!
This year the fundraising gurus at Vivian's school decided to add another component - an effort that would raise a small fraction of the money from the community of family and friends of the students. In theory this would slightly lessen the burden on the parents but in practice further shortfalls mean that the parents pay and the community pays.
We as parents can short-circuit this effort by sending in a check from us to cover this fundraising goal too. But here are a couple of reasons that make me believe that it wouldn't hurt Vivian to ask you for your support.
The actual business of asking - of making the video, of answering questions, of pursuing vague promises to actions - requires a level of commitment and focus on Vivian's part that is new to her. Yesterday she did some dry runs on Grandma. This evening we were eating dinner out on the deck. Vivian was sitting next to Grandma. We had not discussed fundraising for many hours. Suddenly she asked "So Grandma - are you going to give me some money?" I had to smile.
Vivian doesn't often have to rely on the generosity of other people. But like anyone, she can only do so much on her own. And she can do so much more with a little help. By asking with dignity and humility and accepting with thanks she will learn some very important lessons. And through the act of receiving she will understand the act of giving so much better.
So she's a rich kid asking for funds for her private school. Or an entrepreneur making the rounds of Sandhill Road. Or a politician stumping for campaign funds. Or a community supporter raising money for philanthropy. Or a Buddhist monk with a begging bowl.
Without doubt this will not be a unique occurrence. So it's probably best to face the issue head on with some intellectual honesty.
When Vivian joined the private school she attends we were warned that there would be fundraising. I have been involved in philanthropic fundraising for more than a decade now and I thought I could use some of that experience - though this isn't philanthropic. Raising funds for medically fragile children with multiple disabilities is one thing. I have had no qualms about hitting up my friends for the Rosedale Ride for years. But asking people to pay for my own child's education is an entirely different fish.
Why does a private school need donations? Because it can't cover all it's expenses through tuition and fees. Why not? Because that would require raising the tuition even higher - beyond the comfortable reach of many families and certainly beyond the reach of scholarship and financial aid students. By shifting the burden to donations, some families are asked to pay more than others. Understandably there are a lot of grumbling parents - aren't we paying thousands of dollars already? You want more?!
This year the fundraising gurus at Vivian's school decided to add another component - an effort that would raise a small fraction of the money from the community of family and friends of the students. In theory this would slightly lessen the burden on the parents but in practice further shortfalls mean that the parents pay and the community pays.
We as parents can short-circuit this effort by sending in a check from us to cover this fundraising goal too. But here are a couple of reasons that make me believe that it wouldn't hurt Vivian to ask you for your support.
The actual business of asking - of making the video, of answering questions, of pursuing vague promises to actions - requires a level of commitment and focus on Vivian's part that is new to her. Yesterday she did some dry runs on Grandma. This evening we were eating dinner out on the deck. Vivian was sitting next to Grandma. We had not discussed fundraising for many hours. Suddenly she asked "So Grandma - are you going to give me some money?" I had to smile.
Vivian doesn't often have to rely on the generosity of other people. But like anyone, she can only do so much on her own. And she can do so much more with a little help. By asking with dignity and humility and accepting with thanks she will learn some very important lessons. And through the act of receiving she will understand the act of giving so much better.
So she's a rich kid asking for funds for her private school. Or an entrepreneur making the rounds of Sandhill Road. Or a politician stumping for campaign funds. Or a community supporter raising money for philanthropy. Or a Buddhist monk with a begging bowl.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
School Project
Here's a photo of Vivian's first school project. Her teacher isn't the most lucid person in English so Jo and I have a less-than-clear idea about the details. But we have a feeling that it needed to include approximately one event per year from Vivian's life displayed on a framework (like a time-line) and using some media (like photographs). Beyond that it was all up for grabs.
Jo and I had one criteria - that Vivian do the work. So Vivian brain-stormed while Jo took notes. She came up with the idea of using a tree to show the passage of time and photos displayed on the tree to feature specific events from her life.
This afternoon Jo and Vivian went down to the dollar store in Starzville (the nearest town) for a couple of supplies. Then Vivian cut out the trunk of the tree and drew the branches and leaves. We then asked her to pick out six photos from my iPhoto album which we'd print and stick to her tree. But she decided that she'd draw pictures rather than use photos. Starting from the bottom the pictures she drew are: new-born in her crib with Mom standing next to her, her first birthday with a cupcake, entering Grace Garden on her first day of pre-school, her first ballet recital dressed in a pink tutu with angel wings, at the Taj Mahal in India dressed in a sari, and finally at a beach in Hawaii.
I added a few words of hand-written notes to accompany each picture. Otherwise this is truly an effort by Vivian. And that hopefully sets the tone for the rest of her schooling.
Jo and I had one criteria - that Vivian do the work. So Vivian brain-stormed while Jo took notes. She came up with the idea of using a tree to show the passage of time and photos displayed on the tree to feature specific events from her life.
This afternoon Jo and Vivian went down to the dollar store in Starzville (the nearest town) for a couple of supplies. Then Vivian cut out the trunk of the tree and drew the branches and leaves. We then asked her to pick out six photos from my iPhoto album which we'd print and stick to her tree. But she decided that she'd draw pictures rather than use photos. Starting from the bottom the pictures she drew are: new-born in her crib with Mom standing next to her, her first birthday with a cupcake, entering Grace Garden on her first day of pre-school, her first ballet recital dressed in a pink tutu with angel wings, at the Taj Mahal in India dressed in a sari, and finally at a beach in Hawaii.
I added a few words of hand-written notes to accompany each picture. Otherwise this is truly an effort by Vivian. And that hopefully sets the tone for the rest of her schooling.
In the Pool
We took advantage of a stunningly lovely Texas Hill-country evening and got in the pool. My dad looked on like we were crazy. It's already almost winter by his standards. Vivian is getting good at swimming. We'll probably get in the pool only a couple more times this season, so we'll have to get her into swim classes to keep her going till next year.
We thought we'd be back in Austin by this afternoon so we hadn't planned on dinner up there. I cleaned out the bottom of Carol's deep freezer and grilled whatever I could find. With lots of cajun spices to cover up freezer burn. By the time we made it back to Austin Vivian was fast asleep. Evan on the other hand talked non-stop for the hour-long drive back.
We thought we'd be back in Austin by this afternoon so we hadn't planned on dinner up there. I cleaned out the bottom of Carol's deep freezer and grilled whatever I could find. With lots of cajun spices to cover up freezer burn. By the time we made it back to Austin Vivian was fast asleep. Evan on the other hand talked non-stop for the hour-long drive back.
Dolled-up
Jo dressed Evan up this morning for Cade's baptism. White shirt, khaki pants, loafers, spiky hair. But you should have seen him before we left for Grandma's. Vivian dressed him up as a ballerina and then they did a little ballet in the living room. I got into a bit of a tiff with Jo about the boy spending too much time in a dress.
Trip to Grandma's
My dad is feeling decidedly better. So we packed up the car and headed to Canyon Lake yesterday shortly after noon. At one time Vivian and I were the only two people awake in the car. And then barely. Here's photographic evidence - obtained by holding my iPhone up to the rear-view mirror. Aren't Jo and Evan so cute?
Once we got there, Vivian got busy brushing Grandma's hair. And suddenly Carol's horns made a rare appearance. So there. Quit whining about *your* mother-in-laws. Now I'm busy playing her voice mails backwards to discover hidden messages.
Once we got there, Vivian got busy brushing Grandma's hair. And suddenly Carol's horns made a rare appearance. So there. Quit whining about *your* mother-in-laws. Now I'm busy playing her voice mails backwards to discover hidden messages.
Cade
Cade - Nicolle's youngest - was baptized this morning. After a couple of glasses of wine last night Pastor Scott described it as "hazing before being inducted into Christianity". I should have explained it that way to Vivian. Instead I said "Cade can now go to heaven when he dies. No such luck for you." Here are a couple of photos from this morning.
Cade - you looked cuter than a button today. It's hard to image or remember the family before you became a part of it. Good luck or happy heavens or hip hip hurray or whatever the official post-baptism congratulatory phrase may be. I hope you and Evan are lifelong friends and may some of your goodness rub off on to him.
Cade - you looked cuter than a button today. It's hard to image or remember the family before you became a part of it. Good luck or happy heavens or hip hip hurray or whatever the official post-baptism congratulatory phrase may be. I hope you and Evan are lifelong friends and may some of your goodness rub off on to him.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Fund Raising 1.0
Vivian is raising money. She and I made a video of her message - 23 seconds long. She's been averaging about 2.5 miles of walking or running per week. We aren't counting walking/running that's a part of her normal day like going to the park or attending PE class at school. If you are interested, please call me and I'll put Vivian on the phone to talk to you - it's her job. If you can't see the video below it's also on youtube at http://youtu.be/EOZyYwDl0Lw
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Chef Cinderella
Thread One: Jo borrowed a page from some one's discipline book. It said - if your kid makes a mess and doesn't clean it up, you get to take that stuff and put it away in a box. The kid then needs to do some chore to earn back her stuff. Most of Vivian's stuff is in a box.
Thread Two: Vivian bought me a chef's apron and hat for my birthday. Jo also ordered an apron for Evan and a hat for each of the kids. Vivian already has her Sur La Table apron - but it was in her chore box when UPS dropped off our stuff.
Pulling the two threads together, now Vivian had to reclaim her apron. So she ran back to the box and picked up a card with a chore written on it. The chore was to clean the kitchen table. She grabbed a kitchen towel and jumped up on the table and had it clean in no time. Then Jo took a photo of us in our chef's finery.
Evan was beside himself with excitement. "I cook". Then the kids ran out the house to the neighbors to show them their new stuff.
Wig Day
It was National Day of Wigs at the Chatterjee house yesterday. What - it's not a real holiday...?
Monday, October 08, 2012
Bikes
The kids love their wheels. Vivian rides her bike like a pro. Evan has been on Vivian's old balance bike (actually Cousin Ava's) a couple of times but today he opted to grab the old trike for the trip to the park. Used to be Vivian's trike but she hardly used it. Then Neighbor Ava used it for a bit and got pretty good at pedaling.
It was slow going in the beginning. Vivian biked to the stop sign at the end of the block and back a dozen times before Evan and I made it past the neighbor's front yard. I tried to dissuade Evan. "Hey - let's put the bike away and run to the park". But he was having none of it. "I want to take my bike to park". After a bit he got the hang of it. And then pedaled all three blocks there and back. And proudly announced to all who cared to stop and hear "This is my bike". It's a treat to see someone develop motor skills like that in a matter of minutes.
It was slow going in the beginning. Vivian biked to the stop sign at the end of the block and back a dozen times before Evan and I made it past the neighbor's front yard. I tried to dissuade Evan. "Hey - let's put the bike away and run to the park". But he was having none of it. "I want to take my bike to park". After a bit he got the hang of it. And then pedaled all three blocks there and back. And proudly announced to all who cared to stop and hear "This is my bike". It's a treat to see someone develop motor skills like that in a matter of minutes.
Evan and Vivian
They love each other. It's that time in their lives when a sibling can't image a whole day passing without seeing the other. Then it gets to the time in my life - my brother and I try to meet a couple of times a year. And finally there's my dad - his last of 11 siblings - his little brother, passed away some time back.
Evan and Vivian have the occasional usual disagreements - over sharing of toys or space. But even at those times they don't seem to get mad at each other. I remember the time, several months ago, when Evan tried to bite Vivian's head. "Evan - stop biting Vivian's head" one of us yelled. To which Vivian replied "It's OK, he's just resting his teeth on my head".
Evan and Vivian have the occasional usual disagreements - over sharing of toys or space. But even at those times they don't seem to get mad at each other. I remember the time, several months ago, when Evan tried to bite Vivian's head. "Evan - stop biting Vivian's head" one of us yelled. To which Vivian replied "It's OK, he's just resting his teeth on my head".
Hats
For the first two years and five months of his life Evan refused to let a hat come close to his head. If the hood from his bath towel fell over his head after his bath he screamed "I can't see. I can't see." Even if his eyes were perfectly unobstructed. So it came as a bit of surprise when he started wearing hats recently. Here he is in the engineer's hat that Vivian got at Brandon's 3rd birthday. And in the mickey mouse hat that Renuka Auntie got for him from "Mickey Home".
Evan has taken to saying something funny. When he intends to say "I did" as in "Evan - have you put on your shoes?" he says "I am dead". Some times he even says "I am already dead". It's taking some getting used to.
Evan has taken to saying something funny. When he intends to say "I did" as in "Evan - have you put on your shoes?" he says "I am dead". Some times he even says "I am already dead". It's taking some getting used to.
Risk Taker
The catalog from Tiffany's is here. Vivian said she was "Looking for diamonds that you can buy for Mommy".
She's been going to Big Girl School for about five weeks now. Vivian doesn't seem to mind it. Jo and I are negative on the non-teaching aspects of the school but are willing to be swayed into positive territory if the school actually teaches Vivian something. Jo thinks that we were paying a shit-load of money for just one thing - a better teacher-student ratio. A sobering thought.
Jo asked Vivian if she wanted to go see that movie about the kid who makes his dead dog come back to life. Vivian said she thought it was too scary for her. Then she said "Oh well - I'll be a risk taker. I'll go". In my book her school earned five weeks of tuition right there.
And then there's Eleanor. She's a few months older than Vivian and just started kindergarten at a Catholic school in town. I asked her how she was liking school. "Pretty good. I learned that a black hole is a type of star that eats other stars." While Vivian reads the Tiffany catalog.
She's been going to Big Girl School for about five weeks now. Vivian doesn't seem to mind it. Jo and I are negative on the non-teaching aspects of the school but are willing to be swayed into positive territory if the school actually teaches Vivian something. Jo thinks that we were paying a shit-load of money for just one thing - a better teacher-student ratio. A sobering thought.
Jo asked Vivian if she wanted to go see that movie about the kid who makes his dead dog come back to life. Vivian said she thought it was too scary for her. Then she said "Oh well - I'll be a risk taker. I'll go". In my book her school earned five weeks of tuition right there.
And then there's Eleanor. She's a few months older than Vivian and just started kindergarten at a Catholic school in town. I asked her how she was liking school. "Pretty good. I learned that a black hole is a type of star that eats other stars." While Vivian reads the Tiffany catalog.
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Cake
Ask anyone who went to my college during the time I did what "cake" means to them (you've got to say it nice and short like "kek!") and they will all fondly remember a vendor who roamed the halls of the dorms in Pilani with a basket of baked goods on his head and yelled "kek" and when we had enough money we'd buy cream-filled rolls from him.
Evan likes cake too. When I woke up yesterday morning he said "Happy Birthday Daddy". Then he said "Happy Birthday Cake".
Jo and the kids got my birthday cake home. It was picked on the merit of it having an icing flower on it (by Vivian) and being flour-less (by Jo) - a sort of homonym ying and yang. Jo lit the candles and I had the kids on my lap and everyone sang. Then before Vivian or I could do anything Evan practically dove head first into the cake and blew out the candles. We re-lit the candles two more times for Vivian and me to blow out.
Everyone enjoyed the cake. My dad fed me and Jo a forkful of cake each. The kids waited expectantly for their turns but by then he had decided it was too good to give away.
Evan likes cake too. When I woke up yesterday morning he said "Happy Birthday Daddy". Then he said "Happy Birthday Cake".
Jo and the kids got my birthday cake home. It was picked on the merit of it having an icing flower on it (by Vivian) and being flour-less (by Jo) - a sort of homonym ying and yang. Jo lit the candles and I had the kids on my lap and everyone sang. Then before Vivian or I could do anything Evan practically dove head first into the cake and blew out the candles. We re-lit the candles two more times for Vivian and me to blow out.
Everyone enjoyed the cake. My dad fed me and Jo a forkful of cake each. The kids waited expectantly for their turns but by then he had decided it was too good to give away.
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