Thursday, November 15, 2007

Journey to Thanksgiving 2007


Thought I'd better try to post a quick blog update, as I don't think I'll have any time to do so in the next week or two. I'm very behind on emailing my friends.. sorry friends!
Soo.. Diwali was fun - Maya had a great time at the show. I'm glad it was very dark in the theater - as we were up in a balcony box just in front of the stage, and she was getting into the music and scream-singing 'Labba' songs in accompaniment! Yikes. Of course her family thought it was cute, but the other 2 couples sharing our box were likely not as thrilled. The show seemed to spur her into two separate bowel movements also.. which was quite exciting for all closeby. Very exciting for mom and dad, as the restrooms were up 3 flights of stairs, through a lobby area, and back down 3 more flights of stairs (elevator only on the right side of the balcony.. not the left, and no way to access the right from the left). Note to self: Do NOT purchase seats on the left tower balcony EVER again.

So tomorrow we embark on {ins
ert drum roll please}: Journey to Thanksgiving 2007. I have given this trip a name b/c it seems to deserve one.
We will be traveling via SUV with toddler and lab in-tow. We'll drive all day tomorrow, stop for the night, drive all day Saturday, stop for 3 nights to visit my family, drive a few hours in order to visit my sister, drive a few hours more to arrive at our final destination in Michigan. All of the in-law family will be in MI.. so it should be quite the fun time! We will stay for 3 days and then load-up again and drive to Chicago.. spend the day and night helping my brother on his condo-buying trip (he is graduating from college in a few weeks and starting an awesome job in Chicago soon).. and then spend the next 2 days driving back home.
Good GOD. I'm guessing there may be many cocktails in the midst of the driving... or prescription medication. And DEFINITELY many Starbux stops.
{Btw.. thanks in advance to my housesitters.. feel free to shovel the driveway if that snowstorm hits as predicted!;))

On a HUGE up-note.. found out today that mom's tests did not show any 'hot spots'.. so no chemo right now! Merry Xmas to mom!! {and a very relieved exhale from all of us} There is definitely a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!
No news yet on our referral, for all of you who are wondering. The orphanage director was actually here locally the past couple of weeks, and just flew back to India a day or two ago. We are hoping that once she arrives back in Kolkata, maybe we will hear something! :) Wishful thinking..

And one little anecdote from the week..
I accidentally drugged my husband this week. Yes - I promise - it WAS an accident!!! No worries.. he is fine. Now. Heehee.. Really it wasn't a big deal, but it was sooo funny. He had a cold, and asked me to get him some cold meds. He was getting ready to walk out the door to get our plates renewed. So I grabbed the first box that I saw and gave him a couple of pills. He took them and left. About an hour later he returned and immediately went to sleep. This was ~10 am. He slept until 4 pm when I woke him up to see what in the world he was still doing in bed!! Heee.. oops.. turns out that I gave him nighttime cold meds. And he is VERY susceptible to that type of drug, obviously. Poor guy.. had to drink some major caffeine and stay up most of the night to catch up with his work. Oops. {note to self in case I ever want to take a little shopping trip with no nagging.. ;)}

Well, better finish packing. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU! Gobble Gobble Gobble

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Happy Diwali!

{..a day early due to a hectic schedule tomorrow!}
Of all the festivals celebrated in India, Diwali is the most glamorous one.
Homes are decorated with lighted lamps to create a magical atmosphere of joy and festivity. Diwali celebrations in India are similar to Christmas celebrations in the USA. In the north, Diwali is celebrated for king Rama's return after his epic war with Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. In the south, legend concerns the victory of good over evil. Narakasura, the demon of hell, challenged Krishna for a battle. After a fierce fight lasting two days, the demon was killed.
One of the biggest festivals of Hindus, Diwali is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm and happiness. This festival is celebrated for five continuous days, with the third day being celebrated as the main Diwali or as 'Festival of Lights'. Fireworks are always associated with this festival. The day is celebrated with people lighting diyas, candles all around their house. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening to seek divine blessings of Goddess of Wealth.
Every year, our local Indian community joins together to put up a show with songs and dances highlighting the rich cultural heritage of India. The performance features Indian classical, folk and modern dances along with beautifully performed live music covering many, many years of Indian history.
We'll be joining them this year - our first celebration as a family. We are looking forward to this new family tradition! I'm on my way to pick up my MIL, who has flown in for the occasion.
May the light of joy and prosperity shine on you this Diwali and throughout the coming year!
{Thx to diwalifestival.org for contributing to this blog post}

Monday, November 5, 2007

National Adoption Awareness Month

In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month (November), I've gone purple!
Thanks for the inspiration Starfish! I hope to see some other purple blog sites this month.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

All I Want For Xmas...

... is a big piece of bubble wrap?

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Halloween Fun



Maya's first trick-or-treat adventure! :)