Old Dhevi

Mom and the kids left Chicago on Monday. The whole week we took it easy and sort of recovered from the all the trips,work,child care etc. Dhevi registered for the TOEFL test and Ed fixed his Computer Architecture MS exam. Today Ed had a stiff neck and we both worked from home, but couldn't go for the taekwando class(heck it's only a neck!) because of that. In the evening we went to the Gym. After that Ed was playing with GIMP and came with this photo.

No golf day

Dhevi was planning mini golf with kids today, but thought it would be more fun with Ed. So decided to postpone it. Ed went to class after a week. Niha chose grocery shopping over park visit, but Chammu wanted to go to park, but her "Naan dhaan park poganum" chant ended when she saw Costco. Inside Costco, she wanted us to get everything that her dad would get for home. Niha is so matured, she helps her sister with the seat belt and does everything she can to help us when we go out. In Micheals, kids helped us with the vegetables and Samyu carried the fish packed on her head.

Back at home a small tiff with Aki and we then a tickle game. hmm....Dhevi cannot tickle/touch her mother. Samyu is the guardian angel for her grandma.

Walk in the state park

Monday morning....Didn't want to wake up early. The weekly routine started. Amma made dosa for Breakfast. And Samyu was up and said "Chithi vettula stay pannu". Had to run catch the train, Dhevi had her lunch bag full "Panikaram, Chocolate milk, Pears, Cucumber, Chutney and a tall starbucks coffee...by evening she had a headache because of hogging. Evening we ate some snacks and started for the McDowell forest preserve for a picnic, with Puri & Potato masala.

Dhevi and Amma started for a walk in the trail.




Ed played with the kids. When they returned the kids and were tired because of all the running and Samyu was playing with the wood chips under the tree. Kids didn't eat much, So when they saw a McD they couldn't resist.

Since Ed didn't have his wallet, we came back home to take it and went to McD again. Two happy meal in McD with Apple Juice made two happy faces. Back at home we wrote the blogs and slept. Ed and Dhevi now know Disney schedules by heart.

Balaji and Bhai

Niha planted the coriander seeds. Samyu and Niha watered the plants and fed the birds.



Today we decided to start the outing after 3PM because it was hot and the kids may like it better in the evening. We visited Aurora temple (oh here's the kutti's and their grandma in Pattu),





Bahai temple and a beach near by (In Bahai temple Samyu started her chant "Naan dhaan beach-kku poganum ---translated---"Naan Beach-kku dhaan poganum"). Once it gets dark, she is sure to mention "Dark ayiduchu, naama house-kku poganum".

The lady who took this picture told..."Oh..what a beautiful family"...



We went to the visitor center. We saw the beautiful sky view of the Bahai temple in it's visitor center. After going to the main auditorium we roamed the garden and started back.



On the way back we went to the beach and built a Sand Castles and promptly destroyed them.

Chicago city visit

We went to Chicago city with the kids. They enjoyed Navy pier and Millenium Park. Here are the photos.

Niha Samyu in the Fountain in Millenium Park









In the Millenium Park

Ladies Drawing

Niha, Samyu and Amma are with us for 10 days. They came to Chicago on Wednesday night. Samyu is exploring the house and the items on the display. Today Dhevi was working from home. She is in her production cycle and you can imagine her state. Hardly 3 hours sleep in the previous night and the new job as the care taker of the kids...

Samyu and Niha did few drawings...

Chicago-kku eppadi poradhu, Indha Map-la sollu

Monday was usual. Cleaning for Dhevi and Accounting for Ed.
Here's the rearranged roses.



Also got Today Dhevi got the Sweetheart perfume bottles (smithsonian) from Aki & Family.

Dialogue of the day-- Samyu to Dhevi over phone" Chicago-kku eppadi poradhu, Indha Map-la sollu"

Moony Sunday

Sunday was spent at home (except for the Costco trip the guys made to return the Manhattan sofa). We planned for the "Bahai Temple" - but got so late. CEC (cooking, Eating Chatting) was done properly and what more you would need for a get together. We saw the craters in the Moon through Ed's telescope (now he wants to buy an eye-piece package). Suchi almost felt like Neil A.

Birthday Baby Dhevi

Here are the gifts the birthday baby got...





Morning started with a heavy breakfast (Medhu vada, Sambar, Idli and coconut chutney - served at 12 noon). Then we went to the taekwondo picnic in McDowells. We learned a new game "Bocci - throw a small ball to approx 21 feet, throw 4 red balls and 4 green balls as close to the small yellow ball as possible. Number of same color balls nearset to the yellow ball earns the points for that team, repeat the process until you get bored or tired".



After a walk in the park...and Suchi's macro photography (waiting to see Palani's new SLR and accessories -One day all wives are going to hurt Ed badly for all the SLR $ the husbands spend).



Back at home, we cut the cheesecake oops sorry the birthday cake..



Ed also got a shower head for Dhevi, but couldn't fix it).

After tea, we went to Naperville downtown, for a walk around the place and for Dinner at Bangkok village.



After the food we went to barnes & nobels, got some nice books in the bargain area. We sat at the river for chat (Oh Suchi, wish you had the guts to measure the depth). Dhevi didn't feel well after the food. So we slept immediately after coming back.

What's in a Belt?

Hmm....We were recovering from the trip whole of last week. We had the taek-won-do belt test on friday. Ed got his red belt and Dhevi Lellow belt (finally some color in the uniform). Dhevi broke two boards (Instructor Tu was surprised because both were bad boards and everyone congratulated Dhevi since it was her first belt). Master Choi asked Ed to tie Dhevi's belt. Workwise we had to get back full force because Dhevi production cycle has started (O mi god).




We went to Sizzle India for our dinner and got something for Suchi and Palani too, then went to pick them up. After the good Indian food, Dhevi started to sleep, and Ed thought of trying short cut to Midway airport. His bad luck the there were road closure and badly lit roads...Ed lost the way and tried to call many of his friends (guess everyone was snoring heavily by then). Dhevi woke up now and then to give unwanted advises and promptly went back to sleep (one Advice actually led them to the correct way ---unlike the "oh stop...it's red light scream"). Good enough reason to put Ed in a bad mood for rest of the night. Finally around 11:50 we picked them up. It turned 12 on the way back....It's the wish and kiss time. Back at home Ed was on the floor snoring.

Gift Time: Ed got DHevi iDog (actually now it feels like we have a cute pet - no maintanance except the batteries). Suchi had got Dhevi, a pink elephant, $1000000 cookie, a charm bracelet and "life is good" back bag. (Feels like a gift for 12 year old-Evreything was cute....but tell me If you know Suchi what else would you expect?) Palani didn't want to get in this, he gave a sweet card and a book "Virgin in the Art"