'Tis The Season

'Tis the season for all sorts of fun stuff to fill our days. Next week (oh my goodness, next week already??) is Thanksgiving. Granted we won't be able to throw a full-blown Turkey Day celebration at our place, I don't even have a pie pan, but we do have 3 butterball turkeys in the freezer to cover the holiday season. That's got to count for something.

The school is holding a Turkey Trot, which three of my children wanted to participate in. I won't mention the chicken.. uh, turkey.... but he's short and about 6 1/2 years old. I don't think any of my children have ever run a mile (I know their parents haven't, certainly not willingly), but the idea of a Turkey Trot t-shirt and a shot at a dressed turkey have them all excited. They do know that dressed does not mean in a coat and tie.
On that same Wednesday, the Kindergarten class holds it's farewell party for Ms. Jeanette who returns to the UK in December. Jonathon is OK with her departure. Though he likes her, the new teacher has already joined the class, there are two aides, and his primary teacher is Ms. Melanie anyway. His world won't be rocked too much. No, that will actually happen in January when the kids return from winter break and the single K class is split in two. If Ian and Sean aren't in his class, then we might have a short term issue.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. First, on Monday of next week, the Harlem Globetrotters will be at AISC. They are doing several "shows" in Chennai over the course of the week, but Monday morning they'll be with the kids, and parents are invited. You can bet I'll be there and I'm still trying to convince Ian to come along. I've seen the Globetrotters before, I believe it was some time in the early 80s in Africa?
Ian has Thanksgiving Day off work while the kids have "Black Friday" off school. We've already completed our Christmas shopping, and as long as we're here over the holiday weekend we might go see a musical production at the Egmore Museum stage, primarily because Rebecca's teacher is in the show. I should purchase tickets sooner rather than later for that.
The following weekend has Katherine down in Pondicherry on an overnight field trip with her French class. They have been corresponding with the lycee down there (Pondicherry was a created French colonial town), so will meet with their on-line friends, eat at a French restaurant, stay in a hostel and shop. I do have a couple reservations, one being her motion sickness. She'll have a trial by fire with her sea bands with strict orders not to remove them for any reason. They're pretty and comfortable, so there should be no reason for her to take them off (and therefore lose them). The other concern we have is the high occurrence of illness in folks who vacation down there. One recent case landed in the hospital, and I'd like to avoid that all costs. We ran down the list of potential troublemakers and gave Katherine guidelines on what to avoid and how to do so. Ice seems so innocent, doesn't it?
She'll be back on Friday, in time for Rebecca's birthday on Saturday. Nine years old already, that one. There are discussions in the air of a sleepover, perhaps some crafts, and general nuttiness. I need to search out some families to farm out my other kids to. It will have to be from the 1st to the 2nd, for on the evening of the 2nd is the AISC Winter Ball right down the street at the Park Sheraton hotel. I may not have a formal gown, and I'm not getting a sari made, but we're going anyway.
So that's our next couple weeks in a nutshell. Toss in Hindi lessons a couple times a week, Katherine's class play and all other matter of daily living and we're chugging along quite happily.

A light shines

EDA: December 6th for our HHE -and- our consumables. We might actually have our stuff for Christmas! Though the kids have already decided they'll use daddy's socks for their St. Nicholas Day stockings.

Iraq videos

Last night we watched CNN Presents: Combat Hospital, a wrenching documentary about a military emergency room in Iraq. I highly recommend it.

For a little lighter fare, try this video from YouTube called "Lazy Ramadi." It's their version of the popular "Lazy Sunday" video from SNL.

Trucking Along with Reading

It's been going on for a while, the steps towards fluid, clear reading. Nicholas has been asking for a year to stay up at night to "read" like his sisters do and since moving to India we have obliged a couple nights per week as his ability has skyrocketed. Some days I tiptoe in to find him asleep with a book tossed on his nightstand and the light shining bright, but last night he took a huge step forward. He read through 2/3 of a "Nate the Great," came out to tell us about it, borrow a book mark from his sister and then go to sleep. This morning there are Saturday morning cartoons and Nicholas fetched his book. I am SO excited!

Christmas Shopping - Nearly Complete

Today is Veteran's Day. We express our sincere appreciation to all the veteran's out there, including both our fathers. We love you, and thank you.

The kids did not have a day off (strange American School, yet again), but Ian did. We took advantage of a kid-free day to shop for them at Spencers Plaza. It makes me happy to shop for my kids, whether it's on the internet or in the shop around the corner. They are getting several useful items that will give them a kick, like Harry Potter raincoats. The poem "Something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read" came in undeniably helpful this year. Each gift time, I plan and list and scratch out and list again. This year, I have my kids pegged (Ian is another story as I have no idea what to get for him he won't just get himself, but my kids I feel will be pleased with their gifts). Ornaments that reflect India have not been too plentiful, but I have high hopes that as the season progresses something will come to light. Perhaps hanging dancing ganeshas?

Election Results are in....

I watched the results as they came in all day on the 8th, and now we have a Democrat win in both the House and Senate. I'm not saying my watching brought about the victory, but hey, I figure it's not unlike giving support while watching football on TV.

I look forward to seeing what, if anything, occurs over the next two years. Rumsfeld has already been dismissed but what really will happen with our presence in Iraq? The Dems have a lot on their plate, and a very short time to make some sweeping changes if they want to keep their momentum and current status.

Our housekeeper asked if I was a Bush supporter. After giving a non-answer, she said her previous Madame (*shudder*Madame*shudder*) did not like Bush at all. I do wonder how he's going to fare now he doesn't have a rubber stamp Congress to work with.

We shall see.

We're home, we're happy and...

Boy do we have a story to share. Hopefully I'll have it up this evening (our time). I've been watching the election coverage as I put the page together, so if there's a typo, blame CNN.

UPDATE: Under the photo of the Taj is a link to our journal with photos of our trip. Enjoy!