"Sujalam sufalam malayaja sheetalam..." , his voice was coming from behind the closed toilet door. My eyes automatically scanned for other child. And there he was, banging pots and pans and singing "Bande vataram..."  at top of his voice. Looks like A.R Rehman has bewitched my babies to sing it ALL the time. "Vande Mataram and Jana gana Mana" Actually not just them, us too..I guess I never sang  our national song and national Anthem in all my life as much as I sang in last one month. But I also had never realized it before, how beautiful these two songs are!

     

       Shreyas's summer vacations are coming to an end, and kids had good fun. They went out of their way to make new friends, spent lots of time playing outdoors and when weather was too hot or no friends were around and they were tired of indoor games, kept each other (and their Mom) busy with, "Mama, Ojas is pinching", "Mama Shreyas hit me." And taking U-turn soon after and teaming against their mother. This is our second year of going T.V less and I think we can survive without it. Happily!

      

    My days are flying too...In reading (as if world will end if I keep my book down). Experimenting in kitchen and bullying the boys to gobble it down. Sitting with my eyes closed and pretend to meditate with husband. Answering 654567 "whys" and "Hows" of my 7 years old and convincing my 2 years old that it is NOT ok to sleep with keeping your finger in err..my nose! 

    And before I forget, here are some conversations happened in our household:

(After a regular sibling fight)

Shreyas *hotly*: Oju, you are a Cranky cat. Who are you?

Ojas *sheepishly*: Kaanky Kaat!

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   Few days ago, my atheist Husband was singing "Mangal Bhawan amangal haari...."  Out of blue And Shreyas asked about it. I casually mentioned, its a 'devotional' song without explaining further. After sometime, very hurt looking Shreyas asked his dad accusingly, "Baba, why were you singing divorce song?" 

    Don't worry kiddo, no divorce for your parents. But yeah, we are definitely going to tease you about the whole thing for quite some time!

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Ojas *pulling my arm to go downstairs in living room with him*: Mamma, Oju ganda kaam.

Me:  what ganda kaam, baby?

Downstairs, I saw, Shreyas's piggy bank open with pennies scattered everywhere. Oju took one penny, put it in heater, smiled and repeated.."ganda kaam"!

    Actions speak louder (and probably better)..?? Anyways, so this is our secret safe now. Living room heater!

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 Few days ago, I was driving with both the kids when (probably after reading some safe-driving board near construction site we passed by) Shreyas asked,  "Mama, what if a person suddenly dies while driving? What will kids in that car do?"..Before I came out of shock and answered, he continued "Oh I know, I can always take you phone out from your purse and call Baba." 

                      Ah good, my kids are getting independent!

And this is it for now. Until next time....

Stay fun!

D