Kuppamma Vaakitlo Gobbemma Muggu (KVGM)

Our usual Sankranthi celebration has a new addition this year, a gobbemma. In lieu of Avu Peda (Cow Dung), which, while available in abundance here ( all I need is to hike a trail on Mission peak), might spark complaints from neighbors, I improvised using modeling clay. Decoration is by amma.

Of course, the festivities started with bhogi pallu amid cheers of "Money, Money...I want more Money" by the kids and ended with a sumptuous lunch served andhra sytle.

We had special out of state visitors this time, Sudha's sister's family from St.Louis.

The Menu: Appadalu, Pulihora, Kobbari Patchadi, Nimmakaya Vuragaya, Nuvvula Parchadi, Sajjappalu, Potato Allam kura, Gummadi Kaya Payasam, Kakarakaya Kura, Sorakaya Majjiga Pulu, Paalakura pappu, Garelu and Perugu.

Bhogi pallu - amid screams of Money Money

 

Do you know what a Haboob is? No googling.....

I learned a new word today!!!!!

Chinese Lantern Festival - Dallas

We had been to this place with Gauri pinni.

Chinese Lantern Festival

Mortified at Grand Canyon

We recently went on a trip to Grand Canyon:myself, IS, Adi, Amma and another family of 4, who are friends of ours. We flew to Vegas and drove to Grand canyon from there, in a giant 15 passenger van. We spent one night and one day in Grand Canyon, before driving back to Newark.

Keeping up with my resolution of at least one National Park vacation per year, GC was our trip for 2012. The National Park service rangers serve these parks and support an excellent program called the Junior ranger program for the kids. Kids who visit the park attend these ranger programs where the rangers give informative talks on the park, the nature surrounding it and other wilderness information. Kids are also expected to observe and record nature related information such as the plant and animal life and the park history etc. In return for completing a certain number of activities, they earn Junior ranger badges. Adi so far earned badges from Yellowstone, Glacier Bay, Lassen and now Grand Canyon. As a parent, I really appreciate those programs.....

Now, coming to the mortification part....as the blog readers are no doubt aware, the Grand Canyon is very picturesque and is very deep. I was trying to capture a nice shot of the Colorado river, venturing a little off the track by jumping over a retaining wall, getting a little, not a lot, just a little, closer to the edge......... All of a sudden, a hear a shriek, no...more like a growl, from over the wall..."Krupa, stop. Come back!!! Enough!!! I am telling you!!!!" I pretend to ignore the growls and focus more on the shot. The growls are now coming louder, through gritted teeth, "Krupa, I AM GETTING ANGRY NOW.....COME BACK!!!!!". By now, the other enthusiastic photographers around me have figured out the object of this humiliation.....ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mortified, I look around sheepishly, shrug my shoulders philosophically, mutter "my mom...." to folks within the hearing distance and slink back.....Fortunately, I am never going to see those folks in my life, so I am fine and I did manage to get the shot I wanted of the Colorado river.

More pictures
https://picasaweb.google.com/100439682375564182182/GrandCanyon2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKSf77TjoIpq&feat=directlink

A Christmas Haul for Aditya

With the increased presence of aunts and uncles in the US, Aditya is raking in presents from everywhere. In the very shameless, yet very practical American manner, he sent requests out to his pinni/atta( he stopped believing in Santa at age 3) on exactly what he wanted (staying within a strict upper limit set by Amma of course), viz, Diary of a Wimpy Kid book set and a Star Wars Nintendo DS game. He also got two surprise presents from Krupakar Mama/Poonam Atta and Lavanya Pinni in the form of Three Investigators and Garfield books. He used part of his allowance (which he has been earning since October 2012 by doing his daily chores - 50% to spend, 30% to save and 20% to donate) to buy a toy he wanted. So he decided to defer the gift from his parents until February when a toy he REALLY wants will get released. In reward for his patience, amma promised to buy that toy at whatever price it releases at, on the day it gets released. He also used most of his December spending allowance to buy gifts for his 3 teachers and his younger cousin Arjun. As a reward for his generosity, he got a spot award from Mrudula Pinni in the form of one dollar and 4 bags of his favorite gourmet candy from Godiva. All in all, a big haul..

Happy Holidays......they were for some!!!!!!!

Back in to the grind in a new year, after a 10-day holiday break. Though the first part of the holiday was shadowed by rain, Sun peaked out towards the end, returning the usual sunny Bay Area weather to us.

No major trip rolled around this holidays, with everyone staying home.....which of course elicited a big "YAY" from Aditya. According to him and IS, these holidays were the best they had in a long time, since there was no need to "take a vacation from the vacation".

This time around, it was all about family time, perhaps an overload for family time :-) for all parties concerned....Good company, good food and good times........

Happy New year!!