Picture Time

Here are some pictures from our trip to Lake Oroville

The Ride over the Dam

View of the Lake

The Marina

Trip to Lake Orville

Kutie's birthday was a great day. He was at his best behavior (like always) and everyone had fun. The event went by without much hiccups (we could not get the music system to play, and we forgot all about ice cream with cake, though guests got a second round of desert). The day ended with a peaceful yawn from Kutie.

Since all his cousins were here, the house feels full with all the noise - the kids are always on Playstation, we are trying to catch up with all the gossip our sisters and inlaws and Kutie trying to squeeze in more attention with his cute antics! It was a great reunion.

We decided to treat ourselves and we made a trip to Lake Orville. It was a nice 3 hour drive, without any major events. We got to the hotel, checked in and went out for a drive along to see the dam and the part of the lake. Monday we had planned to be in water all day long with our sea-doo and water boats. Since the kids were underage, we took turns in taking them in the water for a full four hours. Blasting off at 6000 miles, riding the waves was truly fun for everyone. We did get a little sun burnt, but all in good fun.

After a picnic lunch and a little swim near the shores we got back to land tired and happy. We got back and after some time off, the elders went to sleep while we took the kids out to the river beach. The kids P and S had some fun time on the beaches. S was driving his new toy - a remote controlled car and even Kutie was awestruck with the toy. The day was finally over!

Next day we drove back home, and some of the guests started to leave and I realized that the party is finally dwindling down. I am not sure how Kutie will be next week, with everyone gone! Wonder if he will become fussy or get back into his old groove!

Either way, it was a great time ... summer with family and loved ones is one of the best gifts everyone should get. I only hope we can do this more often as Kutie grows up so that he will always have wonderful memories when he grows up.

Happy Birthday!

Happy First Birthday, my dear handsome son!

What a bright sunny day it is,
Glorious for you are with us.
We love you, dear son,
We wish you the very best.

Twelve months have flown by
You smiled, you cried
You laughed, you babbled
You crawled and you blew us a kiss,

Your grandparents are proud of you
And happy as can be!
They think you are a miracle,
Waiting to unfold!

Know that we will always be with you
Helping you every step of the way
We wish we can take away all your tears
And grant you all our best wishes.

We wish you all the happiness
We wish you lots of special friends
May you grow up strong,
May you have all that you wish for!

We think you are just perfect
You are our dreams, personified.
Our very own bundle of joy!
Happy First Birthday, my dearest one!

Almost there!

T minus 1

The guests have arrived, and Kutie has already taken a likening to his big cousin. Follows him around like a little puppy! We are almost ready for the big event.

Just hoping, wishing, praying for a nice, blissful event!

Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it's getting!

T-minus 3

My oh my! Oh my! I feel like the rabbit from Alice's world trying to find all the things that needs to get done soon. Cake, decorations, party list, outfits ... oh dear!!

The guests are pouring in - yesterday evening my aunt-in law and her husband came with their grandson. She is a very nice lady, really sweet. I am exited for Kutie to be meeting so many family members - we think it will be great exposure for him.

My work week has been very hectic - had to be on a call till 12 AM last night - hopefully this busy schedule will end soon and tonight I will get done with cake order and decorations and I will feel much better.

The Seven-Year Itch

Does it exist? Or is it like the Friday the 13th scare (of course this Friday is a 13th, so we will see)

Well, we are in our 7th year of marriage, and I think this is all a big hoax!! If it did, my parents missed their quite a few of their chances. Yes I agree marriages do fail, but if your love is strong it can go through anything. Of course its not easy...

Marriage means being a team, being together, being each others cheerleader! It also means being each other's critic, being each other friend (and friends do have arguments) and being each others advocate. There might be days when one is down, or needs that extra hug! While on other days one wants their own space. One thing to remember is that the person you love had a different lifestyle, a different upbringing (you might like bullseye, he might like an egg white omelet) but you love him/her for their differences. There is definitely a learning curve in understanding this complicated being that you love - its not easy, but its possible!

These are a few other wonderful thoughts that I have come to love ~

Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry. ~ Tom Mullen

There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved. ~ George Sand

It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day to day basis. ~Margaret Bonnano

I don't have any major advice, because I think we still have miles to go - but I do hope that we both live happily ever after and grow old together!

Good luck to all couples!

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Really close!!!

T minus 5

Really really close to the big day and now I am getting paranoid. Have I forgotten to invite someone, that I needed to? Have I done everything right? Still need to run to Diddums party store and get the supplies, Still need to reserve the cake? HELP!!!

Another crab in the family!

T minus 6

YUP! We have another crab in the family !!! Honey is also a cancerian, just like Kutie. (In fact he had hopes that Kutie, might be born on his birthday.)

And today, is my honey's nakshathira birthday. It was not that big an event; but we got him a Sudoko puzzle which he greatly enjoys and made a little feast in his honor. The weekend was quite busy with last minute shopping and some house cleaning before guests arrive.

Looks like the week ahead is going to very busy with guests, party organization, school exams (Yup I back to school on the Project Management courses) and of course work!!! Wish us luck!


HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
To A Wonderful Husband and a Great DAD!

Shopping

T minus 7

Only a week left for Kutie's big day ... so much left to do - goodies bag, candles, decorations needed to be bought for the party. Of course, we are still looking for a house as well. It was a busy day today.

A lot of things got accomplished - I am happy. Hopefully something will happen on the house hunt as well

---

7/7/7 -- NICE DATE? Wonder if marriages, births are on an increase?

A Star Birthday

T-minus 8

Like many cultures, we follow the lunar calender for all the big events - birthdays, weddings. For birthdays, we follow nakshathira birthday or the star birthday - the star that you were born under. This generally means that you get two birthdays! One is your 'star' birthday and one the actual birthday (date of birth). The star birthday is a bit complicated because it is based on the lunar cycle and the patterns of solar system. There is no constant date of your star birthday. One year it might be a week before, next year it might days later. Either way, as a kid you get to enjoy two days of fun - and believe me thats all that matters!

Today is Kutie's Star Birthday - and it actually falls on the day he was supposed to arrive - I don't know if I should look for any *hidden* meanings - but its a nice coincidence.

Since its a big day I took PTO from work and decided to have a fun time with the little guy before all the guests start to arrive next week. I wanted to make it special family event. I was hoping to either go to the zoo if the weather was not too hot or go hang out in the pool - apart from the daily birthday oriented festivities of food, going to the temple, new clothes and of course presents!

Going out unfortunately did not materialize, but I still had a great time with Kutie. Kutie got up around 7 & after giving him a quick bath, he said his prayers (Such a cute thing - he will fold his hands and just babble something out) We opened the Lego Dump Truck that we got for him. Of course he still doesn't understand playing with the blocks, but he was quite happy with the dump truck and was pushing it everywhere around the house. I prepared a small sadya(feast), with the usual Malayalam dishes and of course payasam.

Since I had promised myself not to be sitting at the computer today, I played with him all day long. Only break was when he took his afternoon nap and I watched some TV.

It was a great relaxing on a hot summer day.

HAPPY STAR BIRTHDAY, My Dearest Son

Cars or Fireworks

T-minus 9

Do boys learn from the womb their expected gender roles?

I ask this because, we went to see the fireworks for the Fourth of July celebrations yesterday evening and even though Kutie looked at them he seemed to be more interested in the cars that drove by the street next to the big parking lot (where we camped up). Every time we would point to the new, colorful firework that blasted into the sky he would stare it for a second and then almost immediately turn his head to look at the car that zoomed past.

It was a weird scene - everyone looking at the wonderful mirage of colors in the sky and Kutie looking at the Fords, Toyotas, and Hondas!

The Countdown Begins

July 4th, 2007 - Happy Independence Day!!!

Its T-minus 10 & counting to Kutie's birthday!!!

Yes can anyone believe it? Last year on this day I was HUGE!!! Two days away from my due date. Nothing was happening - no contractions, no pain - we were only wondering when the little guy will show up! Daily visits to the Ultrasound became a routine and for me I was just plain hot and tired all the time.

This year, its a completely different story. The little guy is ready to kick butt! He is crawling, babbling and the biggest difference - The little guy is the center of attention!!!! (but eh! he still seem to prefer me over everyone else - so thats good)