Summer holidays 2015

Summer holidays actually went off in a hurry. 2 months was gobbled down in a flicker.

It started with an awesome awesome goa trip. We stayed in Taj exotica. lip-smacking meals, beach, kiddie-pool all were taken very well for close to 4 days. Kids were good as gold and enjoyed a ton. Advitha started to cycle with side support and akshara was a complete sport. While returning we came by train and kids certainly enjoyed it

Then after a short chennai trip, Adhu played played a lot with friends, this holidays the gang mingled and adjusted with each other so well...less fights and lots and lots of play..i think the age and maturity factor really helps...as always I did not put her in any summer classes but for a drama class and on the grand finale the kids put up a fantastic show--a pirate drama and Adhu enacted so well.. She did not miss a single kumon class or doing the kumon worksheets everyday

                                                      drama finale

The sisters mingled so well..i think that was the main highlight of the holidays.. Akshara did not move an inch whenever Adhu was at home. She also started to mingle Adhu's friends and started to make friends of her own.

Ohh... I can i forget the surprise encounter with a Hail storm!! I was driving back Adhu and her friend back from their class and there was this hail storm. Adhu was the first one to say..Amma!!Its ice stone that is falling from the sky!! somehow we drove to safety..Adhu and her friend co-operated a lot!what an evening it was!!

We also saw a lovely double rainbow

Advitha has taken keen interest in skating.. I only hope the love for skates reaches new highs!!

2015 update part 1---Jan, Feb, Mar

The super hectic schedule characterized by a highly engaged and busy Advitha and a super cute Akshara made me ignore this place for some time but not anymore

First I will give you an update on the first quarter of the year
Advitha's progressed excellently in academics during the period. Her reading skills become awesome; she started writing very well and maths of course was no issue from day 1. We had a surprise meet with her teachers to check her progress and they were mighty impressed. Hindi seems to be a concern and I hope she gets the hang of it in Grade 2. Advitha started grade 1 as a clean slate and ended the grade with remarkable progress. She is also reaching higher levels in the superbly-programmed kumon...I hope grade 2 is more smooth than grade 1

During Feb there was this apartment annual day. The theme was 'Folk dances of India' and Adhu participated in a marati folk dance 'mi hi koli'. She rehearsed for almost a most with back-to-back school, homework, unit reviews, play sessions, kumon classes and never missed a practice session and put up an awesome awesome show. Her interest in dance and motivation levels soared and accelerated after the show. We were one mighty parents:)

                                                       All set for the 'mi hi koli' dance
                                               
Akshara is growing by the day. She understands every inch of what's happening at home. Her akka is her biggest role model, Aadhu, adhu, akka she calls her. The best thing is 'orderliness' is imbibed in her. Like taking a cup from the kitchen draw and immediately closing the draw, removing her slippers immediately after being back home; almost understanding potty training..she is one close-to-perfect baby...well if you think she is always a goody goody girl, think it again!!with her tantrums (or demanding what she wants) she gives a loud, never-ending shriek that all the LCD,LED glasses would break...Her current words are Appa (out an out daddy's lil girl), paaputti (paati). babooni (care taker), baiya (security guards), eshabh (rishabh), shintu (another small boy), the super-expressive, early-riser girl has got a new tri-cycle too!!!

In this time we just made one travel to chennai for Aravind's cousin Aakshya's wedding which the kids thoroughly enjoyed. And with every chennai trip the kids' bonding with shwetha and nikhil (their cute cousins ) are only surging....We also put a cute mottai for Akshara at Vadapalani temple

Advitha's latest fetish---panipuri and icecream

Adhu is loving her pani puri these especially the ones at puchkas and not to mentions icecreams at cornerhouse, goli vada pav (definitely not the vada pav but their gola blast icecream:}}

enjoying icecream with her friend

All about Akshaba

This is how we call Akshara. She is growing to be a voraciously independent girl. Its a bliss in many ways and ofcourse really painful in so many ways especially when she urges to eat every morsel all by herself.

The lil gal knows how to hold a pencil or sketchpen properly; gives the remote to put Baby TV; tells us who is who and of course does not talk much apart from the customary appa and amma. An out and out party girl she takes and gives her shoes to her father to put and take her out...babbles a lot; loves finger foods and the best is always wears a big smile at any part of the day....Love you baby

Eating egg by herself

Christmas holidays

For two weeks we were at home and it was mostly the three of us with Arvind adopting office as his home and mom running away to chennai,

We did quite a lot. Advitha diligently did her kumon, read chapter books (Young Cam Jansen, Aesop fables) and practiced tons of spellings and writing. Of course watched Frozen movie countlessly. I also put her in an arts and crafts classes where she made lovely pop up cards every day.

The sisters bonded so well. Advitha could not get enough of her lil sister and was admiring her most of the time. Amma! look at her! she is so gollu mollu, how cutely she walks, how cutely she talks!! were her talks most of the time!

Akshara stuck to me and her sissy like never before, she just couldn't get enough of ringa ringa roses with her sister. And admiringly finishes up with 'hasha, bisha, baa, baa, baaaa (husha, busha all for down!:}}

And of course did our customary phenix mall visits!

                              Advitha doung her shopping at her fabourite itsy bitsy crafts shop 

Busy Busy December

Gals had a very busy December month. A big fat wedding and Advitha's annual day.

Wedding
Arvind's chithi's daughter krithika got married. In a cosy mandapam in the sea facing Thiruvanmiyur, the wedding was a relishment. The food, people, relatives all had a great charm. Advitha had a great time with her cousins Disha, Deepa and relished the yummy food. Akshara though was not comfortable with the huge crowd and was crying much. But enjoyed thoroughly in her thatha's home. The gals were dressed nicely with jumkhas, pavadais and accessories.

Adhu sitting next to the bride

Annual daY

After we were back from the marriage it was Adhu's annual day. She danced for the Lion King song. And I would say it was her best stage dance performance ever. The kids were given intense practice. I immensely appreciate Adhu for putting up with the rigorous practice. There was practice on Saturday whole day, two days rehearsel at the venue and some days even getting late from school. Akshara enjoyed her sister's and other kids dance performance to the core. Didn't battle an eye during the entire performance