This past weekend was Priya's theatrical debut in our church Christmas play. She had been practicing the songs every Sunday in her Sunday school class, but we never knew that she was actually going to be a part of the play. On Friday we got a couple of calls encouraging us to consider having Priya up on stage. The first try was on Saturday. No go. She was all fine, until a few minutes before stage time. Apparently it was too dark backstage, and she got scared. We heard this cry, "Mama!" and of course we could recognize her voice. When Tish went back there, Priya was saying, "I'm scared, mama." So that was the end of that.
Priya sat with us for the duration of the play and enjoyed it. Later that night we asked her if she wanted to be in the play the next day and play drums (you'll see). She said yes. The answer was the same the following morning, and even more enthusiastic. This time - no problems! Watch out for the part where she sees me filming her!
Here's Priya in some more of her "princess" clothes. She loves wearing these.
This year our tree came from the very unromantic Home Depot. We used to always get them from a farm, though for the last couple of years we'd put up an artificial tree. Nothing like the smell of fresh pine to make it feel like Christmas.
We got a pretty big storm over the weekend - about 10 inches or so. Once all the shoveling was done, we had just enough time to make a Priya's first snowman (before I collapsed from exhaustion).
Not to forget about the little guy, here's some pictures of him. Here he is pretty much wiped out from all the exertion of trying to roll over. I found him totally still, with his thumb in his mouth.
Todd and Susan looking good with Armaan
Priya enjoying her first fondue with her new friends Lukas and Leo
While sister Ella hams it up
Leo wishes he had a straw
Armaan got pretty beat from the long day
But recovered nicely for Christmas day!
Priya's been galloping around the house
Does this happen every year?
We got a pretty big storm over the weekend - about 10 inches or so. Once all the shoveling was done, we had just enough time to make a Priya's first snowman (before I collapsed from exhaustion).
I think she still fits!
Look dadi, I'm a princess!
I just don't like getting too many pictures taken...
Armaan's first snow fall
Brr... that was fun.. and cold!
This past week I was thinking about the Watkins family. When I first moved here in spring of '93, they were a part of the international student host family program. The program was getting canceled that very semester, and there was a dinner to thank all the families. All international students were invited to attend. I just showed up without knowing what it was all about. I ended up talking with Bill and Gwen and their son Patrick who was in 6th grade at the time. Even though they weren't supposed to be taking in any more students, they invited me over to their house for a meal. That was the start of a 15-year friendship. Anyway, so I had been thinking about them, and decided to look up them up on Facebook. I eventually found Patrick and his wife Meredith. Meredith became my "friend" on Thursday, and when I looked at her profile, I saw a message saying to pray for the family as Patrick's dad had passed away. What?!! As it turned out, technology helped me get the news quicker - they were intending to call, and just hadn't gotten around to it. It was all very sudden, and completely unexpected. Bill had a deep and amazing love for the Lord, and he will be missed by many.
The other major news of the week is that Armaan finally rolled over! He's done it three times now, but has refused to do it on demand, and on camera. So watch this space for a video of him trying to roll over through all these months... and finally succeeding.
