Avika at Ten Months

This little monkey has been home ten months!

Not a lot of new things to report.  We are enjoying summer, trying to stay cool and entertained.  The heat and the sun don't seem to affect Avika, which doesn't surprise me one bit.  New Delhi is probably not the hottest place on the planet, but it sure felt that way when we were there, so she manages the heat very well.  She is great at entertaining herself getting into trouble every single second of every day.  I'd love to say that she is so cute that all of her mischief just makes us laugh, but that's not the case!  It's especially hard since some recent health issues have left me really fatigued and it's hard to keep up with her.  I remind myself daily that three-year-olds grow into four-year-olds and that this is (hopefully!) a phase.  This is her I-am-not-amused face when mommy is disciplining her...

 

Showing off her dress!  At least she let's me dress her in whatever I like.  We are working on her dressing/undressing on her own and potty training.  It is slow going but she really loves learning new things. 



Playing in the sprinkler in the front yard.  The kids filled up the winter sleds to make mini splash pools.  Avika loves to get wet!

 

 Jumping on the trampoline- a favorite!  Avika loves being outside at all times.  Coming inside always results in a major fit- fortunately we have had beautiful weather lately and the kids have been playing outside a lot.

 

She is growing so fast!  Love this beautiful smile!

Last Day of School '15

School's out for summer!  Isaac and Delia finished up this week and Miles finished a couple of weeks ago.  The kids are thrilled (can you tell?) - I am scared and a little excited to have the whole summer together.

Miles Kindergarten Grad

We finished up our seventh year at New Horizons as Miles "graduated" from kindergarten.  What a handsome grad!

Avika at Nine Months

Avika has been home nine months!

Miles reading a book to Avika.  I'm glad these two has so much time together this school year with Isaac and Delia gone most days.  Avika has the most sibling rivalry with Miles, so any time with just the two of them is good.

Avika can be pretty dramatic- she is pouting about something here, giving me her so, so, so sad eyes.

The girls wanted matching hairstyles this day. These sisters have the most fun!

 

Working on feeding herself and sitting in a big chair instead of the high chair. 

Playing on the scooter at Miles' preschool.  Miles is off to kindergarten in the fall and Avika will start at New Horizons so it will be her school soon.

The Yard that You Mow

 Hooray!  Isaac is old enough to learn how to use the lawn mower. 

 

You Read to Me

Even though they are two years apart in age Isaac and Delia look more like fraternal twins.  I caught Isaac helping his sister with her homework- Delia is working on her reading, which has been coming along slowly in first grade.  Isaac, an extremely advanced reader, is working on not being so condescending.  I love seeing them together like this!

Miles' Mother's Day Program '15

Sweetest twenty minutes of the whole year: New Horizon Preschool's Mother's Day program!  I love seeing Miles sing these songs!

Avika at Three

Our newest three year old.  In Hindi three is teen, so we have our first teenager in the house. 

 

At three years old Avika is very fun, funny, energetic, silly, dramatic, affectionate, stubborn, sweet, and outgoing.  She loves to play with her siblings, but in their absence quickly finds ways to entertain herself (usually by getting into something that she shouldn't!)  She loves animals, especially her pets.  She loves to make noise with musical instruments and snuggle her baby dolls and stuffed animals.  She loves to jump and hop, swing around, and get thrown high into the air.  She is very charming and makes quick friends wherever we go!

We are so grateful that Avika is finally home with us and to be celebrating her birthday with her is truly a gift!  It's hard to imagine a year ago we were having a birthday party for her and she didn't even know we existed.  It feels like she had been part of our family for the past three years!  I thought a lot about her birth mom on her birthday and wondered if she was thinking about this amazing little girl.  Her birth mom gave us the very, very best birthday present we could ever dream of- the privilege of knowing, loving and raising Avika Ruby Priya.  We love you so much, baby!  Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Avika's Billie Birthday

This little girl just turned three!

 

On her birthday we all went to The Himalayan Kitchen for Indian food!  Delicious! 

They made her a special desert and sang Happy Birthday.  What a special treat!

Of course we had to have a big party the week of her birthday.  Since she's not really talking yet I got to choose everything for the party- this was probably my only time with full creative control over her birthday so I went to town.  We had sparkly, pink billie (kitty cat in Hindi) party!  I think she loved it.

Opening gifts was a little overwhelming at first, but she got the hang of it pretty quick.

Signing "Thank you."

Enthralled by a card that plays music.

Sporting her new kitty cat backpack to use at school next fall.

I read that in India they pop a balloon full of confetti over your head on your birthday.  Doesn't that sound fun?  We had to give it a try.  She was scared when the balloon popped, but she loved the glitter shower.

This girl loves sweets (just like her Mama!) so birthday cake was the highlight of the party.  She enjoyed having everyone sing to her!

She almost ate the whole cake!  This was the best billie party ever!

Delia's Amazing Art

This spring Delia received a very special honor!  Every year our school district has each school pick one piece of art to frame and hang in the district building.  Delia's piece inspired by Where the Wild Things Are was chosen for Park Elementary!  Here she is with her artwork at the school board meeting where she got to present her piece to the board.  She was the youngest artist there by four years and did an awesome job explaining her process to a pretty big crowd!  We are so proud of her!!