Beautiful Backyard

We have two maple trees in the backyard and they look beautiful in the fall. Actually I love them in all the seasons. We will miss them in the new house a lot.

Warrior Dash

It started in Spring. One of my colleague came to my desk and asked me to google warrior dash and said, you like adventures, and you should do it. I checked the website and thought its tough; I am not that strong. After a month I guess, another colleague told me, she is doing Warrior Dash and if I want to join her. Rahul was also in the conversation and both of us thought, we will see after couple months. In between, I was not running regularly because of other commitments. Before one month, some of my responsibilities were over so I thought I should register. And if I register, I will have to work out. I registered myself and called Rahul to register. He also registered immediately.

Now the countdown was started and we insisted to increase stamina and fitness. We used to call each other everyday and ran together sometimes. Agraja used to check with me, how is it going and it was helping. Shri was giving lot of support by boosting me by words :)

Couple days before race, I was not sure I should go for race or not since Shri's certification exam was coming and he had to study. He said don't worry about me, you should do this race. On the day I told Shri not to come and study home. He wanted to come to cheer me but I stopped him.

On the way to race, I was feeling nervous and told Agraja about it. She told me, don't worry, skip some obstacles if you feel you can not do it but you can do it and you will do it. The ride was so cool, we three kept talking on various subjects and didn't know when the venue came. The traffic was jam near the event and we were panic but again Agraja's words made us calm. There was huge parking the corn fields and we have to take school bus to go to the event. We reached at the event in 15-20 min from parking lot. The environment was so charged, it was just fabulous. People with different costumes and with special race hats. My heartbeats were increased and I was excited and told my mind, Yes I can do it. I was happy that Rahul was with me.

The race started and first obstacle was going in the lake where water was more than 5 ft :) dirty muddy water :) I first went in and then held Rahul's hand and was floating. Then there was float on which you have to climb and then on the other side, jump into water and go on the other side of the lake. It was first scary but lot of fun.

Then had to run and second obstacle was a swamp. People were stuck in it and some had to throw their shoes and couple people got hurt so had to go to an emergency. It was chaotic. We crossed this and kept running.

Here are the  obstacles we did.

Obstacles

The video

Warrior Dash Video

Last 3 obstacles were near the race end and Agraja was waiting for us. We jumped over the fire and then there are difficult rope climbing and steep slide which ends in deep muddy water :)
I was scared but when I fell in water and came out, felt just awesome and wanted to do it again.

The last obstacle was crossing muddy Mayhem ans was very difficult, but we did it and ran towards the end of the race. We got the super medal :)

Just wow experience.

After that we went to DJ area where music was loud and three of us had blast.

                                   

We were very muddy and was difficult to go in car without bath so we went to a pond and dived into it. Everybody was doing that.

We changed our clothes and headed back home with great pride!!

Changes

Today is Jai's last day at EPC. I am feeling very emotional. He started at EPC when he was 10 months old. First day to the school for me and him was not very easy. He was home till that time with Aie and Baba. It was winter and he was going to bad diaper rash because of loose motions. It took one month to settle down and the teachers were very good. His first teacher was Ms.Nancy, 50 year old lady. She was very caring and always used to tell me not to worry at all. He learnt sign language there and was always away from frustration.

He moved from one class to other as he grew and always heard fro teacher that he is a very good listener. He was a early learner too. He used to be first one to start drinking by glass, to do some work and always a happy boy. We were always happy with the service of the school. They have indoor play area. Healthy food options and very clean. Also with latest technologies to send me instant updates, which was the best part. You are busy doing your office work and suddenly get cute picture about what he is doing and it used to be a stress buster.

It is hard for me to take him out of this school but we have to do it one day. He will be going to Windsor Montessori where Dada went. They have very good methodology. He can choose what he wants to do and teacher will give him lesson.

Ram's school is going to change and he also has mixed feelings.

We are going to move from current house to new house soon.

Changes...Changes...Changes... :)

My swimming Progress

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T6Ylf0Odz4

We in News Paper

I sent an article and photo to Maharashta times. On Mother's Day they didn't publish it. Only photo was published after one day. It was a big picture in News Paper. Felt great!

Mother's Day 2014

Being a Mommy is the best feeling in the World!!!
Just unable to express what I felt when I got this card from Ram. From first grade he gets a greeting made by him and each  year it's something new and get to know how the the things matter to them.

Cover of the greeting

His writing, first time card in cursive.

What he has written:

Mother

1. Makes chocolate frosted cake.

2. Opposite of horrible.

3. The clothes you buy for me are great.

4. Has the best clothes.

5. Every day you brush my teeth

6. Runs great races.

Love you Manya!!

Got lovely wishes from Jai and lots of kisses and hugs too.

Mother's day gift from Shruti and Soniya

Thanks to Shri, he and Abhijit took care of kids while me, Shruti and Soniya went for 'Mother's Day Extravanganza' ;)

Had Great Mother's Day!!

माझी आई

माझी आई दहावीत तिच्या शाळेत पहिली आली, प्रचंड वाचनाची आवड. आजोबांनी दहावी झाल्यावर लगेच लग्न करुन दिलं. पुढे शिकायची तिची जबरदस्त ईच्छा पण आम्हा दोघींना लहानपणी कोण सांभाळणार म्हणुन विचार सोडला. पुणे टेलिफोन भवनात कसलीशी परीक्षा दिली त्यात पास होऊन तिचा चांगल्या पोस्ट साठी नंबर लागला पण आमच्यासाठी तिने ते केले नाही. घरी होती तेव्हाही ती शांत न बसता वाचनाची आवड चालु ठेवली.  सार्वजनिक वाचनालयातली सगळ्या पुस्तकांचा फडशा पाडला. वाचनालय खुप मोठे होते तरी तिला सगळीच पुस्तकं वाचुन झाली म्हणुन काही काही पुस्तकं २-३ दा वाचली. आम्ही शाळेत गेल्यावर टायपिंग शिकली. मग बँकेत, शाळेत तिने लेखनिकाची नोकरी केली.

आमच्या भविष्यासाठी चांगले म्हणुन पुण्याचा घर घेण्याचा हट्टच केला बाबांकडे. घराला मदत आणि शांत न बसण्याची वृत्ती ह्यामुळे पुण्याच्या कोर्टात काम करायला सुरुवात केली . तिथे तिच्या हुशारीने पटकन जम बसविला. मी बारावीत आणि बहिण दहावीत असताना तिचा अपघात झाला. मृत्युच्या तोंडातुन ती तिच्या जबरदस्त मनोबलाने बाहेर आली .

नोकरी करताना सगळे सांभाळून सर्व सण अगदी साग्रसंगीत साजरे करायची, पण आम्हाला कधीच कशासाठी आग्रह केला नाही. आधी अभ्यास करायला महत्त्व दिले.
आठवड्यासाठी  ताजे फराळाचे करायची, आम्हाला शाळेतून आल्यावर खायला ती नसताना . तिचे प्लनिंग पण नेहमी असे की एन वेळी आलेल्या पाहुण्याला पण व्यवस्थित पाहुणचार मिळे

तेव्हाच माझ्या कॉलेज प्रवेशाची वेळ आली.  तेव्हा बाबांना बाहेर गावी ठेवायला नको वाटत होते, हिने खुप समजाऊन स्वत: माझ्या शिक्षणाची जबाबदारी उचलली. आज जी काही मी आहे, त्यात  तिचा सिंहाचा वाटा आहे.

आज पण कधी पण खचले तर पहिले तिच्याशीच बोलते. मुल झाल्यावर नोकरी करणे हा निर्णय मी घेतल्यावर परत मागे न बघण्यासाठी तिची फार मदत झाली. तिच्या सांगण्याने धैर्य वाढले .

जवळपास पन्नाशीच्या आसपास नवीन सगळ्या गोष्टी शिकुन स्वत:चा ब्लॉग लिहिते.

तिने नोकरीतून रिटायरमेंट घेतल्यावर एकाही क्षण गप्प बसली नाही . समाजकार्य, भटकंती ह्यामध्ये ती सतत काही ना काही करत असते . ती रहाते तिथल्या सोसायटीची सेक्रेटरी म्हणुन काम पहाते. ही कॉलनी बरीच मोठी आहे आणि काम करणं कठीण, पण अवघड रस्त्यातुन  मार्ग काढणे हा तिचा पिंडच आहे .

तिला फिरायची जबरदस्त आवड आहे. लहानपणापासुन सगळा भारत तर फिरून झाला आहे, पण बाहेरील देश पण फिरून आली आहे.

आई तुला सलाम !!

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Face Painting

My first try of face painting.

Arts and Crafts Projects

Kennedy Space Center

What is there more thrilling than watching real people fixing something in space...it was just breathtaking!

NASA is must go place!