Spring Flowers

Ah the sweet days of Spring...green things growing, flowers blooming, sun shining - and just enough heat to remind you that the Phoenix inferno is coming up right around the corner. Enjoy it now!

These are some flowers in our front yard. Satvinder declined to participate in my photographic vision of children and flowers because she was "too busy." Lucky for me, Sukhjot hasn't yet learned English and can't verbally refuse (though her "pterodactyl" vocalization continues to be quite impressive.)

Baby Hands

"You can pick your friends. And you can pick your nose. But you can't pick your friend's nose."

You can, however, feel free to pick your sister's nose.

Hooping at the Park

Mangala Sadhu Sangeet Singh's mother, Karing, is visiting for Spring Break. We went to a hula hooping class and gathering in the park. It was fun!

The Girls this Week

This is something Satvinder wrote. Her writing skills are awesome for a six year old. And the content...well, it gives me a reminder to breathe deep and let go of my fears and projections about what the teenage years will be like (Quiet, mind. Be here with the six year old, not imagining the 16 year old.) Thanks for that, Satvinder.

Check out the head control on the wee one!

A New Adventure

Having time away helped to bring clarity on an issue we have been struggling with for months - actually more like years - which is how to best support Satvinder in her schooling. She has had an increasingly hard time at school with being bored with her work and suffering in her extreme sensitivity to the social dynamics.

And to the point of the post: we have made a decision. This is Satvinder's last week at her school. For the remaining 2.5 months of her Kindergarten year, I will be homeschooling her. And we'll see where we go from there - I am leaving it totally open as we experience and evaluate what is a good fit for her.

Being new to homeschooling, I have been researching online and inquiring with people I know that homeschool. I have been extremely thrilled with the doors that have opened as I investigate this. It is opening my mind - not only in terms of education but also in how I perceive life and living joyfully.

As I have shared this plan, I admit that I have been afraid of judgment and negativity. But it has been an exercise in bravery, for me, to do what I feel is right - regardless of what others may think. And you know what? I have mostly received positive feedback so far - even from people I expected to say "Are you crazy" or, at least, "Are you sure about this?" Instead I have heard, "Congratulations!", "That sounds great", "I think that will be really good for Satvinder." Support means so much as we navigate this transition.

It is a whole new adventure.
While we were in Austin, Satvinder lost her first upper tooth. She accidentally ate it. Funny kid.

The Snow Day Drop

Many of you already know about this because I announced it on Facebook the day it happened (and thank God I did because so much support came to us that way and helped me through the day.) I don't even really want to write about it but I decided I would because maybe it will be helpful to someone (like the stories shared on Facebook were helpful to me.)

So last Tuesday it snowed in Austin, which is not something that happens all that often. I was excited and was snapping pictures, as I do when something excites me. I decided to take the baby outside in her bouncy chair and get some pictures of her with the rare Austin snow. It was a simple plan that turned BAD when as I went through the doorway,the chair caught on the door, tipped out of my hands and I dropped my baby hard on the rock patio - face/head first. Oh God, it was a terrible, terrible sight.

She screamed. I screamed. I scooped up my screaming baby and saw her injured head. I thought I'd broken my baby. I ran up the stairs and yelled for Mangala Sadhu Sangeet. He held her while I called 911. I told them what happened and asked if I should take her to the hospital. I really had no idea what kind of injury we might be dealing with - all I knew was that it looked like a big fall for such a tiny baby. They sent EMS - two fabulous men, fathers themselves, who were so kind and gentle with her (and me.) I stood there wringing my hands and praying and giving her Reiki as they checked her out and talked with us. She was ok. She eventually calmed down and fell asleep in the EMS guy's arms.

I think babies must have magical healing powers because she healed so much faster than I expected. Even by the end of the day, it had healed a lot and now, a week later, there is hardly a mark to be seen. That is incredible, considering how bad it looked as her helpless, tiny body hit the ground that day. She was so strong and forgiving - far more forgiving than I was with myself.

Even after I knew she was ok, I still felt so terrible. It was quite depressing. And I'm still trying to get that falling image out of my head. Just thinking of how that must have felt to her makes me want to throw up. Yet, I know that we can't control - life happens. I just thank God she came through it ok.

When I mentioned this on Facebook, I received numerous stories from other parents who had experienced drops or falls with their children. It happens more often than I realized! Even when you try really hard to be a conscious, protective parent...things still happen. I guess it is a reminder to hug them that much tighter and be grateful for the blessings.
Satvinder and a tiny snowman on the snow day
This is Sukhjot later that day - the magical, healing baby

Wedding: Why We Came to Austin

I've been slow to post things since we've been in Austin. I guess that is because almost nothing has been as I expected. The one thing we have done that we expected to do was go to the wedding. However, we didn't ALL go to the wedding - we were minus our Pinky, who was supposed to be in the wedding. She came down with the flu and couldn't wear her pretty dress and twirl her ribbon down the aisle after all.

In any case, it was a lovely wedding and the couple did manage to get married even without our little pixie. (Luckily they acquired an understudy who stepped in at the last minute.)

Here are a few humble pics from the long awaited, very beautiful wedding day:I'm so happy for my friend, Liz - she got her magical day and looked amazing.
I like this picture of the bride chatting up Sukhjot
A small portion of the wedding party - plus Sukhjot, who matched the color theme of the wedding. Yes, I actually planned the baby's outfit to match the wedding colors. Feel free to enjoy the visual appeal of that effort.
Our family, minus the sick Pinky
Mangala Sadhu Sangeet Singh and the donkeys