Abhi's first snow storm

Well, we finally got a substantial amount of snow last Wednesday. We were stuck in the house and were unable to go anywhere but it was fun for Abhi to experience. At lease if we have to have this cold weather, there could be something fun and exciting about it - snow.

Of course, I was not feeling well that day with a bit of a cold, so it was good to stay home I guess. However, by late afternoon looking at our driveway I thought maybe I should attempt some shoveling so K might be able to get in with the car. It was covered! Also, I thought that would be a good time for Abhi to get outside and have some fun. I put him in his snowsuit which is really funny. It reminds me of the younger kid in the Christmas Story except not so tight...a little loose. Got him outside and I started shoveling. He had a blast he went all over the yard, trekking through the 4 inches or so of snow without any trouble. He had been watching the kids sled in our backyard all day so he was thrilled it was finally his chance to get out in it. It took me some time to do the driveway but finally got it done and got Abhi in. He did not want to but finally came in to get warm with mommy. Here are some pix of the event.

A "rock" concert and lunch with Mr. Tony

Last week started off Monday morning with meeting up with some of Abhi's friends (Everett, Bella, Zane, Reagan, Alex) for some music. We saw Rocknoceros at the Clifton town hall where they apparently perform often. It was Abhi's first time but his friends are long time fans. Abhi had a good time I think and enjoyed the music. He did dance a little. Other than that, he spent most of his time helping himself to all his friends snacks and then later decided to wonder off and see whose sippy cups he could lift. Here are so pictures from the show...


After the music, we went to lunch to celebrate one of the mom's, Inga (Bella's mom), 30th bday (I just realized a few weeks ago I am the oldest by a few years in our mom's group it seems). We went to Tandoori Village which is actually pretty good. It is punjabi, so it is very meat oriented but they have the best chole!!! Abhi actually did really well and he loved the naan especially. I think that restaurant may survive even though it is in manassas (other Indian places have not lasted and K and I wondered after we went the first time). Here are some pictures on the swing they have at the restaurant (I want one of these for our house! Maybe I can get K to let me ship one from India on our next visit -haha!).



On Wednesday we continued our already busy week by meeting up with Mr. Tony for lunch at IHop (that is our tradition..pancakes and other diner type stuff). We went to storytime with Miss Marcia and then meet Mr. Tony for brunch before he had to go to the library to work. It was the highlight of my week...I haven't seen him in awhile and it was great to catch up (Tony, we have to meet more often...next we'll come to DC). I think Abhi really enjoyed himself too. He ate pancakes and syrup for the first time and really seemed to enjoy them. His sweater did too as it was covered in syrup by the end of lunch. Abhi was a little shy at first but warmed up and talked to Mr. Tony and everyone else in the restaurant who would pay attention. Here are pix of the 'guys' at lunch...

January so far...

I don't think I mentioned it but Abhi brought in the new year with and ear infection but happily the doctor said it is all cleared up now. It made him a very cranky boy for awhile but he is back to his happy-go-lucky self. The last few days have been a joy...he has been laughing and running and having a great time. Buster, one of our cats (Abhi has taken a serious interest in them now), has also had a relapse into playful times with his toys and Abhi is getting a big kick out of watching him play. Abhi has been trying to help by throwing the toys for Buster...it is very fun to watch them "play" together.

Last weekend was a little busy but relaxed. Friday, Keshav worked from home so we got lots of time with him over the past week which was nice. Abhi was really enjoying time with his appa!!! Friday we put Abhi to bed and watched a movie. Saturday morning I went to the gym and took Abhi to the daycare while Keshav slept in (he was feeling a bit of a cold so we let him sleep in). Abhi always has fun at the daycare and it is a good break for him to socialize with others. Saturday night we had our friends Esselle and Angela over for dinner but Abhi missed them because he was in bed before they arrived.

Sunday was the big day for Abhi (well, in our minds anyway). Since he likes airplanes so much these days, I suggested we get out for a family trip to the air and space museum by dulles airport. He saw tons of airplanes and helicopters and even the space shuttle. Then we went up the air traffic control tower which is a great place for viewing planes taking off and landing form dulles. Unfortunately, it was a slow Sunday morning for the airport, so we only saw two planes take off. We ate a quick lunch and then Abhi was asleep in the car before we even hit the highway. Here are some pix from the outing...

Winding down after the holidays...

We are trying to get back into the routine here after the holidays. It has been quite a whirlwind the last few months with moving. the holidays, and our trip to KC. We left on the 17th early morning and came back late xmas night for our annual xmas visit to KC. It was pretty packed on the 17th, surprisingly, but the flight was half empty on the way back. Xmas day is a good time to travel! Course, we went on southwest which totally sucked. When you are are spoiled from using Midwest all the time with those nice big seats and chocolate chip cookies, SW is a bit miserable. If that airline goes out of business I will be dissappointed! Abhi did pretty well though on the flight although it was tough holding on to him in our lap because he is a) getting to be a big boy and b) very busy and not as willing to sit still as he used to be (not that he ever really was but you know what I mean). Our flight was at 7am from baltimore so we had to get up at 3am and drive. I thought Abhi would just go right into the carseat and continue sleeping. Oh no, he was wide-eyed not wanting to miss a thing. So, the first hour of the flight he was a bit antsy from being tired but he finally settled down.

Abhi enjoyed time at Grandma and Grandpa Johns house and then it was off to Nanny and Paw-Paws for a few days and for xmas eve. We visited a few friends and family while there and then it was back to Grandma's for xmas dinner and off to the plane. It went by very fast. Abhi was much easier to control this time he was not destroying everything this time. He was very good with the xmas trees, not removing any ornaments or destroying any presents. He ate well and was exposed to lots of new foods like chocolate chip cookies (I mean in a much larger dose than usual) and all the good, rich holiday foods. I think he enjoyed as he kept eating!

It was very cold in KC. We landed to a lovely 6 degrees and by the next week we woke up to about zero with a 20 below wind chill. Needless to say, we stayed inside! We did get out and have some fun. Of course, mostly it was all centered around eating and being in the carseat, not Abhi's favorite activities but he hung in there. They have a huge model train display during the holiday at the Union Station so we took Abhi to see that because he loves trains so much. He had a great time until we tried to get him to ride the one they had for kids. Once Keshav started walking away, he sobbed and demanded "up!" Oh well, maybe next year. I thought he was so brave and acted much of the time like he did not need us. That had recently vanished and he is quite clingy these days to me and especially Keshav. After spending a week with Keshav around all the time he has pretty much discarded me.

I will post some new pictures soon. We finally got a new camera but I borrowed one over the holiday and have not gotten those yet. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and 2009 is starting off well. Stay tuned for pictures soon.

Christmas is in the air...

We may be catching a bit of the xmas spirit after all. With the move and so much stuff going on with that and cleaning the townhouse to rent etc...we have hardly had time to even think of xmas. So, after putting Abhi to bed I came down to K getting all the lights out ready to decorate. Nothing extensive but just on the front door and porch, and some inside. We did not get a tree this year but the lights are something. We are going out of town this wed for xmas so we decided to skip it this year.

We also took Abhi to see Santa yesterday which he was not a big fan of. They had 'visit with santa' at our clubhouse yesterday which was so nice. It was easy and not crowded at all like if you went to the mall and you just take your own pictures. We tried to put him on santa's lap a couple of times but he would not go. We kind of stood around and let him watch some of the other kids sit on his lap. That did not convince him. The only thing he would do was wave at Santa but only from across the room. Of course, our camera died somehow between the townhouse and the house...no clue what happened...so I can't even share pictures of anything!!! I actually bought one of those disposable cameras just to have until we get a replacement camera. I keep holding it up looking for the screen only to remember that I actually have to look through the hole to take the picture!! Of course, those will get developed eons from now...funny how you miss that instant ability to share pictures.

Santa also came by on the fire truck through our neighborhood so K took Abhi out to see that. I was not home. K said Abhi watched with serious interest but did not wave or anything. He can say santa but when it comes to seeing santa he just is not too sure.

I do have a couple pictures I can share sent to me from my friend Sandy. Sandy is Sachin's mom, Abhi's buddy. We have been trying to see them every week when possible. The boys play so well together and it is a highlight for us each week. Sandy took a couple of pix of the boys, one in front of their xmas tree....