Story of 'The Birthday party (s)'

'No more Birthday Parties, just a cake' That was my resolve last year.

And this is what actually transpired this year.

My Kids have their birthdays 1 month apart. Lucky, our friends told us, just one birthday party! Yay, and we agreed.

But this is what it actually happened.

1.  On the birthday day for the little one, you have to cut some cake. So that was Party number 1.

2., 3. With an India trip and doting grandparents and family around their birthday's resulted in two parties One with my in-laws, one with my parents. Count of parties rose to a total of 3

4.  My older wants to have all her girlfriends over for some fun. She has been asking for this since forever. So fine, let’s have them over for cookie decorating party. Count of parties increases to 4

 5. Since the older one's birthday falls on a Friday, and there has to be cake. So that’s yet another small party making it party number 5.

 6. Now, all our dear friends who have seen our kids grow up since the day they were born and want to celebrate their special day. I told a friend, this year, I am not planning on a party, just a cake. She said, well I want to be there for the cake then. She said, I don’t care, I want to celebrate the kids milestones.

 I love our friends and their support and endless hugs giving rise to party number 6.

 Going from no party to six parties for my two daughters in one year.

I am not complaining, but just wondering, how did this really happen? And as I look back not one of them I could avoid or wanted to avoid.

 Once again I vow, next year, coming year, no birthday parties, just a cake.

 Until Year 2015

So how is it with with TWO kids?

I get asked this question a LOT. As I was telling someone recently, if I had a penny for each time I got asked this quesiton, I would be on track to be a millionaire.

 So seriously, how is it with TWO kids?

Hmm, Like having one kid and one shadow.

My kids are five years apart. So that does help. The older one 'helps' out. No seriously she does. She will entertain the Little Lady whilst I cook dinner or go to the loo or just read a book. Ok, the last one is a stretch, but yes, it is a big help.

 But at the same time, it is a pain, since now whist I sing the ABC's or teach the colors to the little one, I am like: Crap, not again! I am not even thinking about the Potty training time to come soon.

 So how is it with TWO kids?

In all due honesty, I have seen a side of my older one that I could not fathom. The way she looks and cares for her little sister is amazing. She takes out toys, reads books to her and above all is super protective of her. The first thing she does after coming home is kiss the little one. It is the selflessness in her which no book, no social setting would have taught her. Its only since she is an older sister. At the same time she is coping with 'Its not all about her anymore'

For the little one, it is MUCH easier this time around for us at least. I am not freaking out at every missed meal, a single cough. Knowing, 'It all works out soon enough' helps me cope with it. If she is not crawling by 9 months, I look at my older one run around the house. They all get there. Knowing that is so calming.

Plus the shadow I mentioned above is so true. The little one crawls around the house looking for her sister or the dad. She is picking a few things without us teaching her. Whether its sharing toys, waiting while we get to her or even simple thing like: Chilling. Since there are two kids in the house, we cant get to both of them at the same time. So both the kids are learning to be more self-sufficient.

There was no specific reason why we decided to have another kid. Our family felt very complete with just one kid. But now with Little Lady, It feels complete. Again.

There is a special bond. When I see my girls playing with each other now, or just sitting at dinner table or the older one making silly faces at the little one. It all makes me mush and more often than not, I get misty eyed. I know they will have each other. No Matter What.

Yes they will fight, they will have tantrums but at the end of the day, they will have a friend for life.

Having said all that, IT IS BLODDY HARD WORK with two kids schedules, activities, our social life and work. But I llow my Mantra: 'Count to ten and breathe. Life is Good'

The tooth story

I never imagined the tooth fairy will be so perfectly timed.

One baby- The Little Lady got her first emergence of tooth last week.

One baby- The chatter Box got her first wiggly tooth last week as well.

Here is what I wam thinking- Tooth Fairy is taking one trip to my house.

Delivering one tooth in the infant and taking the other from the school going kid.

No, I am not thinking that she is taking V's tooth and putting it in S's mouth. But yeah, she is going to make ONE trip.

Sumit and I, both are in professions that ensure business runs efficiently and effectively. We preach and practice this day in and day out.

What I didnt know is that the tooth fairy heard the 'efficiency' rants in our house.

So yup, she is efficient and effective.

This week, we will have one child crying and climbing out of bed middle of the night, since the tooth is wiggly and it hurts and it bleeds.

The same week, we will have another child crying loud enough to make us climb out of bed middle of the night, since the tooth is emerging and it hurts.

I tell you, its perfect. One week- One tooth out, one tooth in. and ONLY one week of sleepless ness.

Effective and Efficient.

Quick Food Fix: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Poached Apple

Brussels sprouts. I see them stocked on our grocery store all the time and I always shy away from buying them. What to make?

Then I came across this recipe, hmm, it seemed easy enough, so I tried it last night with a full spread. The original recipe called for adding cranberries and Maple Syrup. Somehow sweet salad was not my thing, so I spiced it up ever so slightly

Here is my variation for a quick fix:Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Poached Apple

 Ingredients:

1. Brussels sprouts: trimmed and cut in halves- I used 10-12 sprouts

2. Half apple sliced

3. Olive Oil

4. Salt, Pepper

5. 10-12 Walnuts broken by hand

6. 1-2 tsp Lemon Juice

(You can add chili flakes and garlic, since I wanted to taste the sprouts)

 Process:

1. Pre-heat oven to 325 F

2. Toss the Brussels sprouts in olive oil and add salt. (I skipped black pepper, since Chatterbox is not fond of it).

3. Lay the sprouts and the apple on a baking sheet and put it in the oven

4. In about ten minutes, just flip the sprouts and the apple (The sprouts start getting brown)

5. In another five minutes take the sprouts and apple out.

6. Put it in a dish and mix- Add lemon Juice and walnuts

Enjoy!!!!

We ate it as a salad before our dinner. It actually complimented the food really well. Here was our menu for the evening

Appetizers: Brussels Sprouts with Poached Apple

Main Course: Custom Pizza's

We did the following combinations

1. Pesto with Pepper

2. Red sauce with goat cheese and basil

3. Broccoli with carrots and red sauce

Dessert: Moustache Brownies

Sumit recently got a mold with moustache shapes, so we gave it a shot!

Just another Tuesday night in our house, you see that's how we roll!

Unnecessary Glorification

You know how it is, there is one good article/ one picture and it gets circulated. A Lot. on facebook, via whats app, via mail, via e-anything. So a simple picture becomes 'Glorified'

 Here it is.

 I saw it, and was very uncomfortable, but I let it go and didn't 'Like' it. It comes up on another Media outlet and before I know it, that one day, I see it every where.

And I kept growing more and more uncomfortable.

 And here is why

 To me, the picture signifies the following

1. The lady has a smile on her face while multi-tasking.

Seriously show me one person who can handle all the stuff without whining. Kids or no kids. It is unrealistic representation of a person. It makes it seem its okay to do all this and if you are not smiling- Shame On you.

 2. She looks more like a sacrificial lamb to me.

It makes whatever the lady is doing 'single handedly' look OK. And I want to stand up and shout. ITS NOT.

3. The guy below the lady has a 'Exclamation' on his head.

Seriously?? What is he amazed at how much the lady can do? Is he amazed that he has two hands which are useless. What?

It's images like these which seem regressive to me.

Yes on any given moment, like all of us, I wear multiple hats. May be of a parent, a corporate executive, a girl, a cook. But so does my husband. How about we create an image to glorify him? The father, a co-parent whose work generally goes un-noticed or un-glorified!

It's images like these which seem like they are judgmental.

I don’t think I do half of the things that a 'good mother' is supposed to.  I think I have ironed Sumit's shirts a total of 3 times in our time together. Does that make me a bad wife? 

I think not.

It's images like these that I NEVER want to show my girls. Never

Haloween-i-fied!

Yes I am coining a new word: Haloween-i-fied:
\Pronounced\ Ha-low-eeee-niiii-f-ed
\Meaning\ Haloween activity which never ends....
\Usage\  Excalmation:  I am Haloween-i-fied
Let me explain.
Haloween is celebrated on: October 31

In our house:
Costume Search began: September 14
Costumes bought: September 28
Home decorated: October 5
Pumpkin Patch: October 12
Haloween Part'ies: October 26-27
Pumpkin Carving: October 28,29
Haloween Day: More parties, More Trick or Treating and More... Candy

So today is Haloween and I am Haloween-i-fied!

Our first pumkin carved together- Cutting- Sumit, Scooping- Chatter Box, Carving- Garima, Eating pumkin scopped gooey- Little Lady! 

Decorations in our house.... Flying ghosts, witches, stop-if-you-dare signs.... we went all out

nd of course- On day of Haloween even school lunches get Haloween-i-fied!

Happy Haloween All!

Quick Food Fix: Roasted Asparagus with Dijon Vinagraitte

A couple of weekends ago, we had a dinner party at home and I was in my 'cooking mode'. I wanted to cook something intresting. Not the same old same old. So along with a complete Italian Dinner spread, I tried my hand at Roasted asparagus and trust me, they were delicious. We all gobbled them down and a friend who is not a big asparagus eater also stole them from another plate.

Let me put this way: They were a success.

Its super easy to make and super delicious and I think super healthy. So basically its a Super Super thing to make!

Ingridients:For baseAsparagus- Of course, I used one bunch
Olive Oil - 2 tsp.
Garlic- One clove finely chopped
Sea Salt- Per taste
Fresh crushed Pepper - Per taste
Chilli flakes- Optional
Base Process:1. Toss all the ingredients of the base
2. Bake it in preheated oven(350 F) for 7-10 minutes
And its ready

For DressingHoney Dijon Mustard- 1 tsp
Lemon Juice- 1 tsp
Olive Oil - 1 tsp
Dressing Process:1. Mix all the ingredients of the dressing
And its ready

To serve:1. Scoop out the roasted asparagus, spread dressing as needed.
And its ready!!

I told you, its very simple.
Now mind you, Dijon mustard mixed with lemons has a very tart taste, so go easy on the dressing.
The conundrum, how do you eat them?
1. If you use a fork, the delicious dressing gets left behind on the plate.
2. If you use a spoon, well good luck getting the asparagus on it.
3. If you use a hand, yumm yumm yummm

Let me know how you ate yours?

Sadly no pictures... I guess we are all too busy licking our fingers!