Jr. speaks

Yesterday afternoon, everyone in Jr.'s class got to watch a videotape of the Obama inauguration in their auditorium.

She aced the quiz on who is who, what the inauguration is about etc. when we asked her about the video.

Daddy, was driving on Lawrence expressway after dropping off kids at daycare and just reached work when Obama started speaking! While there was a temptation to stay in the van and listen to the radio, work called and knowing that the thing was being recorded at home anyways, went in to work.

While watching the inaugural speech, Jr. looked up and asked me

"Daddy, can only a man be president?"

I said "why do you ask that? Of course not, a woman can be a president!"

Jr. : Which woman was president?

Me : No one so far. But we did not have black President's either.. now we have a black president. we will have a woman President soon!

Jr. : I want to be President!

Me : I ask you to copy three sentences from the book and you made six mistakes! You see how long he is speaking without making any mistakes? First learn to write without mistakes and then you can talk of becoming the President!

Jr. : Okayyyyy! I will write without making misakes.. (stomped on the floor and walked out!)

For starters, the new President has provided motivational material for a few hours in this house!

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Santalogics

The study of how Santa will get down through the chimney to deliver gifts to Jr. and the little one.

LO: Is he going to come down from there?
Jr. : Yes!
LO: it is a good thing we dont have a fire. We don't want him to come down into the fire and die!
Jr. :That is why we don't light our fireplace
LO: But how will be come out if we have closed it!
Jr. :Santa can open the door from the inside silly.
LO: But we have a net! He will get caught in the net!
Jr. : He can cut the net you know..

The whole thing was so serious... should have caught it on video.

Jr. knows her mom and dad are the real Santa and they buy the gifts. The little one is so sold on Santa, Rudolph and the whole sleigh thing. She sincerely believes that the true purpose of every chimney is to receive Santa. She might want me to put a balloon and a sign on top of our chimney to say "this way Santa ->"

Jr. and the LO don't necessarily know Christmas with the whole Jesus birth concept. They know it is a time to be jolly, have gifts exchanged, good food, family reunions, etc.

Then again, they don't know Deepavali with the whole Krishna slaying the demon Narakasura concept. They know it is a time for fireworks, sweets, savories, new clothes and family get togethers, etc.

There is something to be said for raising your kids in a multi ethnic, multi religious, multi cultural environment!

This year we will get Santa an opener that can open the fireplace door from the inside and the latest brand wirecutters.. He deserves it!

A merry Christmas to all !!

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The budding Doctor

Jr. accompanied me to the Doctor's office on Wednesday. Was feeling miserable with cold, sore throat, loose stomach and was facing near system shutdown. So took off work in the afternoon and went staight to the doctor, with Jr. in tow because she also had similar symptoms.

The doc. wrote down a page full of notes after asking me questions and then gave me mostly Over The Counter medicines and lots of advice.

Jr. came away much impressed with the doctor's note taking skills and she played doctor at home with her sister.

Today we happened to see her notes and were rolling on the floor laughing, so we decided to share the budding doctor's notes with all of you.

Jr.'s spelling is improving significantly, although she still spells some words as she hears them. Cannot blame her if she spells "Docter" because that is how most Desi's pronunce it!

For clarification (based on Jr.'s input)

Had flews = Had Flu
she / he feiles happy = he / she feels happy
We have no idea what Clifford the big red dog or Emily Elizabeth are doing in that notes!
Bathroom a lot! (you got that right!)
diriya = diarrhoea
elbo peain = elbow pain

we have no clue what the rest of the stuff is.. especially the "answer me please" part.. must be part of the doctor asking me to be a little more responsible!

The final part about the present, we understand. Irrespective of who is sick, the kids get a lollipop and sticker. They don't like the lollipop and throw it after one lick. Still they get it! This is as bad as people who don't like Panjamrudham wasting it outside the Pazhani temple..

We are all feeling better now after taking the skunk medicine!

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We don't want that!

A conversation overheard...

Jr. : Don't paduththy daddy (do not touble daddy)
LO : (nods head vigorously and says) Ok. I know, If we paduththy daddy then he will die and then we will have a new daddy and we don't want that, right ?
Jr. : RIGHT !!

Daddy is a little disturbed right now!

No, this is not aananda kanneer (happy tears) that the girls don't want another daddy or daddy to die!

This is worry that they take it for granted that they will have another daddy? They have picked a non worthy replacement already ?

That is scary!

ps. (for those of you who saw my facebook entry, you should know that this comes at a very disturbing time..).

pps. for those who do not know, a new colleage at work comes to my desk, looks at the first portrait that San and me posed for 10 years ago and says "Hi, you used to be a handsome guy once!".. she said that without any remorse, not batting an eyelid, just matter of fact!! Had no answer to that one...

ppps. for those of you who are wondering where all the hansomeness went, look no further..(one of the photos from that set is at the bottom of this post)..

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Golumania

The photos of the golu displays will be published after Wednesday. Some folks are actually of the view, that this blog reveals too much about their golu and people will see the photos and not be in awe when they come to see the real display. So we will not spoil it for them, considering most of the people in this circle, read this blog!

The displays we saw this year, were a step up from last years golus!

While waiting for the ladies to do their song routine, and eating some sundal, started counting the dolls on one golu and just on the steps there were 148 pieces. The whole thing must have been close to 450-500 dolls! Hats off to the ladies who set it up.

Jr. has now been inspired by all those kids singing and playing various instruments. She wants to sing in next years golus and the music training might start soon! She was a bold girl this weekend and sang "I love you, you love me" a Barney song set to Adi Taal and got a lot of hugs and kisses. Hey, you can only sing what you have been taught!

The little one is going in a different direction altogether, and wants to learn...

guitar!

You can see for yourself, what she has been upto, in her non-paavaadai time, earlier today. Thanks to YaadaYaada we learnt that SETMAX is availabe free as a trial offer. We turned it on this morning and lo and behold...

Boy, are we in trouble...

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