ashwini
Apple picking
Saturday was a perfect fall day for an outing: 60 degrees and sun shining in the cloudless deep blue sky. We decided to go for our annual apple picking. It was the first one for Adit. The orchard that we always go to had apples, pears and lots of raspberries for picking. Ashwini almost filled her tummy with those raspberries.
We came home with a bag full of apples, little pumpkins (for Ashwini’s artwork), cider donuts and jug of apple cider. If every day in the year was like this one, no one would even think of the concept of heaven. Because, it just doesn’t get any better than this.
Ashwini has finally figured out the right smile for photographs
Ashwini trying to stop Adit from putting that apple in his toothless mouth.
Beautiful blue skies and orange pumpkins.
A field of pumpkins. We brought home only one of them.
Moments before he slobbered all over that apple.
Ashwini dancing to music to entertain Adit… Asha Bhosale sings: tan ki jwala thandi ho jaay aise…
A: Aai, she is feeling cold. She said thandi again.
How do you answer to that????
Ashwini's dream
Two nights ago, Ashwini woke up crying/screaming in the middle of the night. V went to see what happened. Ashwini was crying out: “my fins fell off… my fins fell off.”
All V had to do was pat on her back while she said, “here… I put your fins back.”
Ashwini was asleep the next moment, back to whatever she was dreaming about.
New pets
Recently, V bought a nice gift for Ashwini (and me). It is called, Butterfly Garden. The kit had a coupon to get live caterpillars by mail. They arrived here last Friday. We were all excited to see their life cycle unfold in front of our eyes. Here is Ashwini inspecting them very intently.
Right now, the caterpillars live in a cup that is sterile because bacterial infection can kill them. The cup has some tiny holes for air and has enough food supply for all five of them. Within 3-4 days, they have grown really large.
This is so exciting. Can’t wait for them to make their cocoons. V says that sometimes she isn’t sure who she buys some things for: Ashwini or me? This is one of them. :)
Ashwini - growing up
A couple of notes from Ashwini’s teacher:
Jul. 21, 06: I feel as though Ashwini has matured this week. Some of the things she says sound like they should be coming out of a thirteen year old. Yesterday, she told me that, “Someone should move that toy so we won’t trip over it.” She’s really growing up in front of my eyes!
Current favorite activity: Twirl and make the hem of her dress fly.
Jul. 27, 06: Ashwini had a lot of fun today going for a walk. We went to the park and ate snack. Ashwini enjoyed being really quiet and listening for nature. We heard bull frogs, crickets, birds and leaves on trees. We also played “I spy” and used descriptive words like gritty, smooth, spikey, fuzzy and smelly. Ashwini did very well.
Bathtime
Bathtime is so full of fun in our home. Both the kids just love being in water. I think it is one of the most enjoyable activities that I participate in with them.
Father's day card
Ashwini’s preschool teacher helped all her students make Father’s day cards. She asked them questions about their dads and wrote the answers in the cards. Here is Ashwini’s essay about her dad.
| MY DAD... |
| I like to play with him with blocks |
| My favorite thing is giving him hugs |
| He likes to work |
| He is ten |
| He looks like a boy |
| We sleep together in the same bed |
Work?!?
A: What does Dada work with, Aai? V: He works with big magnets. A: What do you work with? V: I work with computers. A: Do you know what I work with? I work with books and toys.
Me: Ashwini, wake up. Time to get ready. A: No. five more minutes.
A few minutes later…
Me: Ashwini, wake up. Time to get ready.
A: No. I want to sleep for some more time.
Me: When will you wake up?
A: I am waiting for Prince Charming to wake me.
Goddess Durga
Ashwini knows some of the Hindu deities: Ganesh, Ram-Laxman-Sita, Hanuman, Shiva, etc.
On our last trip to the local temple, she came across a statue of Goddess Durga.
A: “Who is that?” Me: “That is Durga.” A: “Why does she have so many hands?” Me: “To hold all the things that she has.” A: “Why is she holding so many things? I don’t want her to hold so many things. What is she sitting on?” Me: “She always sits on a lion. Just like Ganesh sits on a mouse.” A: “I don’t want her to sit on a lion. Can she sit on a giraffe? I want her to sit on a giraffe.”
At this point, I steered her away from Durga and towards a more familiar Ganesh.
We used lollipops as bribes to get Ashwini do things like sleep in her own bed, go to the potty, etc. A couple of mornings ago, Ashwini woke up in our bed …
Me: Come on, Ashwini, let’s get up. Time to get ready. A: NOOOOOO Me: Come on, come on. Wake up. A: Can I have a lollipop in the car? Me: Nope. You didn’t sleep in your own bed all night long. Why should I give you a lollipop? A: (pondering my question for a moment) But you can give me a lollipop, just because you love me.
Does anyone want to guess if Ashwini got her lollipop?
A day with Thomas
Last Thursday, Ashwini and I went to meet her favorite Thomas, the tank engine. Thomas comes to Henry Ford Museum’s Greenfield village every year and it is a fun event. There is a train ride for 20 minutes and then, they have a lot of other activity tents with of course, a big gift shop.
Ashwini trying to imitate Thomas' smile
