Day 55 - Potted Lavender

Potted Lavender

Day 54 - Russian Dolls

Russian Dolls

Day 53 - Peanut Butter and Bananas - yum!

Jackson has a new favorite snack...bananas with peanut butter!!

(He also can now pull down the peel for MORE banana - he is so happy with this latest discovery!)

Day 52 - Escape Artist

Jackson was playing with the keys, and got the gate open!  

He sure was upset when the keys quickly disappeared!

Day 51 - Happy Tamil New Year!

Happy Tamil New Year to all of our South Indian friends!!

Tamil people celebrate Tamil new year on 14 April. This is the month of Chitterai, the first month of the Tamil solar calendar. On the eve of Puthandu, a tray arranged with three fruits (mango,banana and jack fruit), betel leaves and arecanut, gold/silver jewellery, coins/money, flowers and a mirror is placed. This is to be viewed upon waking in the morning. In the temple city of Madurai, the Chitterai Thiruvizha is celebrated in the Meenakshi Temple. A huge exhibition is held, called Chitterai Porutkaatchi. In some parts of Southern Tamil Nadu, it is called ChittiraiVishu. The day is marked with a feast in Tamil homes and entrances to the houses are decorated elaborately withkolams. In most parts of India, one can see neem trees blooming with their flowers and the first batch of mangoes hanging prominently. This day is celebrated by some communities with neem flowers and raw mangoes to symbolize growth and prosperity.

Day 50 - Toddler Update

Jackson loves his 'sun glassies'.  He's not yet broken them, but he did just find them outside on the back porch, where apparently they've been for the last few days.

He is growing like a weed...and doing new things all the time!!

• He takes a piece of tissue, and pretends to wipe his bum bum.  
• He is now winking at me and his dad!
• At bedtime, when he wants to lay sideways in my arms, he whispers "Got you".  (When he is crying, I hold him sideways and say "Mommy's got you, it's OK")
• He woke in the middle of the night and wanted to rock in the rocker so he whispered "rock-a-byes"
• Mostly he says "carpet" and pulls me onto the floor...to play with him.  (or now with the nicer weather - he says "outside"...to go outside and play)
• If he's looking for his dad, he asks "Daddy, Are You?"
• He takes off his socks and shoes while traveling in the car.
• Just last night he FINALLY started using his feet to push his little cozy coupe!!
• He calls his diapers 'Nappies', and says 'Ciao' when saying good-bye.

I could gush on forever!! 

Day 49 - Happy Birthday Aunt Darlene!!

Day 48 - Shopping Cart rental

Just like Aldi's in the U.S., you must put in a coin to unlock and use the shopping cart.

Day 47: Skopsko Beer

Day 46 - A Lazy Saturday

It poured down rain early Saturday, so we stayed in watched some movies and baked a batch of cookies.

By 5:30 or so, the rain had cleared and we went out for a walk.

It was a good Saturday!

Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies

I thought the dog was on top of the potty!!  (He was on the patio behind it!)

Walking Backwards!

Red Tulips

Day 45 - Amritsar Slippers

Day 44 - Baby Orange Tree

Day 43 - Spring Blooms

Day 42 - L'Occitane Love

Things I Love...

Day 41 - Getting Ready for Gugan and Nalan

Ramesh's boys are expected to come soon for a visit.  We are getting their room ready!

Sooo excited!!

Day 40 - Sunday Morning Yardwork

While Ramesh worked in the yard, Jackson and I played with bubbles and sidewalk chalk.  It was a lovely Sunday morning.  The air was fresh, with just a bit of a chill.  I hope we have a few more weekends like this before the hot air of summer rolls in.

Day 39 - Weekend Breakfast

Ramesh cooks during the week, and I cook on the weekends.  (Which means I make breakfast, and we typically eat out for dinner).  

One of my favorite breakfasts out was at Paul's Patisserie in Baku.  The Mixed Omelette, fresh fruit plate, fresh squeezed orange juice, a shared cappuccino, and some delicious french breads (with just a smidge of butter)

Jackson pushed his eggies aside, and pulled in the plate of bananas that was supposed to be shared.
He also took my fork.

Day 38 - Christmas has arrived! (in April!)

I'm usually a last minute, fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal.  Last year's Resolution was to get on top of holidays and birthdays...to send my love and kisses BEFORE the event...not two weeks later.

I did OK...but not as well as I would have liked.

In August I decided that I wanted a nice Christmas Tree for Jackson's 2nd Christmas.  I felt he would be old enough to enjoy the magic.  When Jerry and Josh were little, we always had a real tree.  (even if it was a tiny tree branch, we had a real tree)

These days, I'm willing to settle for an artificial tree.  So I picked the one I wanted on Amazon - on sale in August, and crossed my fingers.

It was too large for my postal options, and was promptly returned to the sender before I even knew what happened.

I REALLY wanted that tree, so I had it shipped to Josh, who agreed to break it up into smaller boxes and ship it to me in time for Christmas.  This was early October.  He took it to the UPS store, and they wanted more than I paid for the tree to ship it to me!

By this time, I was not sure where I would be for Christmas in 2015, so he held onto it until we knew.  Turns out we were moving, so Josh kept the tree over the holidays, and then we had it shipped to our new home.  We added a few other items to the shipment and it finally arrived (in April)!!

Jackson's Christmas gift: a table and chairs

Jackson's Birthday gift: an art easel

Ramesh on his new bike!

Ramesh was not impressed with my suggestion of setting up an EASTER TREE for Orthodox Easter (coming in a few weeks) - so the tree is staying in the box in the garage until December.

Easter Tree on Pinterest

http://debbie-dabble.blogspot.mk/2016/03/easter-tree-in-living-room-2016.html

Day 37 - April Fools and Fancy Dress

For April Fools Day, the kids dress up in their 'Fancy Dress' costumes and have a party.

Day 36 - Tricky juice cups

I made jello 'juice' cups for April Fools.  I thought they were adorable!

Ramesh did not understand, and neither did the folks at the nursery school.  April Fools FAIL.

Day 35 - Oatmeal: It's what's for breakfast

oats, dates, cinnamon, walnuts (and sometimes a spoonful of honey)

Day 34 - Anniversary Love!

Received a lovely Anniversary Card in the mail!  So thoughtful!

Day 33 - Easter Goodies - Dorothy's Candies

I heard from my mom on Monday - she received her Easter Treats from Dorothy's Candies!

http://www.dorothyscandies.com/

Fruit and Nut egg, Small Egg Assortment

Day 32 - Easter Sunday - exploring the neighborhood

Ramesh found blueberries in a glass jar, so we had blueberry pancakes for breakfast!

I whipped up some deviled eggs and potato salad and off we went to explore some more of the neighborhood.

We tried to call home, but were not able to reach anyone!  :(

Day 31 - Easter Party with carrot cake cupcakes - Yum!

Having fun at the Easter Party

Delicious carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting - I received loads of compliments!

Recipe from New Zealand:

Carol's Carrot and Pineapple Cake

makes one 23cm/9in cake round  (I doubled the recipe)

3 eggs

1/2 C Vegetable Oil

1/2 C White Sugar

1/2 C Brown Sugar

1 1/2 C Flour

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/8 tsp Salt

2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 C Chopped Walnuts

1 Small Can Pineapple (diced - do not drain)

1 1/2 C Grated Carrots

1.  Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celcius

Brush a deep 23cm (9 inch) square or round cake pan with melted butter (I used cupcake liners)

2.  Combine eggs, oil, and sugar.  Sift the flour, soda, salt, and cinnamon together and add them to the egg-oil-sugar.  Beat using an electric beater until the mixture is smooth.  Add the grated carrots, walnuts, pineapple (together with the juice), stir well to combine.  

3.  Pour mixture into the pan and bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cake.  Set aside for at least 20 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool.  When cooled, spread with cream cheese icing.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

This is enough to frost the double recipe above.  (do not double)

1 box powdered sugar (4 cups)

8 oz cream cheese

1 stick of butter

2 Tbs vanilla

1.  Beat all ingredients together until fluffy.

Hunting for eggs

Jackson was happy to pick up the eggs from the grass, but was not too keen on going into the hedges.  He left those eggs for the older kids.

Day 30 - Getting Ready for Easter

Look at this cute little Easter Bunny!!