Ahh-boretum

A gorgeous day, blue skies, sunny, 70 degrees - a perfect combination for a day at the Dallas Arboretum with friends! I am so excited to finally be able to enjoy cooler temperatures. Growing up, I used to love the summers and get bummed when the weather would change. I think that was just because Fall meant school was starting. Now I am thrilled with the new season because it means Halloween is around the corner, the State Fair, Diwali, Thanksgiving, Jaidan's birthday and before you know it - the Christmas season begins! Yay!

Jaidan and Isaiah petting the goats at the petting zoo

"Okay Mom, how long do you want me to stand next to this goat?"

Log rolls down the hill

Yay for Fall!

So intense...

Every Friday, we go to "Open Gym" time at our local rec center where young children are free to roam and explore the different play areas set up throughout the gymnasium. Avery and Jaidan plopped down in the toy area and studied their finds. It's always more exciting to play with toys elsewhere since the newness of the things we have at home wears off fast.

Oktoberfest

On Saturday, we celebrated Oktoberfest in Addison, TX. I'm sure its alot different than it would be Germany. Anyway, it is a fun festival that takes place each year and begins in mid-Sept, with lots of activities for adults and children.

We braved the relentless heat with our friends Dawn and David and their daughter Avery. The kids stayed cool on the splashgrounds and we enjoyed mugs of Bavarian beer. We saw traditional German dancers and sampled some potato pancakes and German desserts. The kids enjoyed the carnival rides and Jaidan loved the carousel. So fun to see his expression as we would go around in a circle and I'd point to Manish each time we passed him. Don't you wish you could go back and experience childhood favorites again for the first time!?

The reason Jaidan is missing his shorts is because they got wet in the splashpark and I didn't have an extra pair - (don't judge!)

Visit to Durham

This past weekend was a real treat, as Jaidan and I went to visit my dear friend Sarah and her daughter Madeline (Maddie) in Durham, NC. It was our first time to North Carolina and we had a fabulous time. Jaidan and Maddie hit it off right off the bat and Jaidan wasted no time playing with her toys and exploring the house. It was fun watching the two pitter patter about, giving each other high fives and squealing in the back seat while Sarah showed us around town.

Durham is so clean and picturesque and there are many things to do - especially with small children. We visited the Duke gardens - a beautiful park set on the Duke campus. The little ones kept us busy as we chased them around the park. The kiddos had so much fun later in the day when they burned off even more energy at an indoor playground at a nearby shopping mall. We finished the day with a yummy dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

It's amazing how your friendships evolve once you become a parent. With Sarah and I, a typical visit would include rocking out in the car to Madonna or Britney, shopping, and hitting the bars. Now, our music of choice is dictated by our children and usually consists of Itsy Bitsy Spider, and our conversations revolve around preschools, and fun activities for kids!

We still had our usual laughs and we were able to catch up and it was so wonderful to see Sarah. Its only more fun getting together now with the kids in tow! Sarah was able to get some cute photos from the weekend. Thank you for having us and we can't wait till next time!

A Weekend in the Northeast

Zonking out to Sesame Street tunes!

OMGosh! Elmo is staying at our hotel!

Okay, I know I'm supposed to wear this for the wedding, but I prefer shorts and a t-shirt.

I'm sorry I stole your car bro', lets hug it out!

Lounging with my big sis Riya!

Stuuuud!

A rare moment when we are all dressed up as a family!

Two generations of goofballs!

Our first home!

A great time on the swings, and I get to watch an ambulance whiz by!

Who says you can't mix storytime and a cold beer?

Our first family trip of the Fall was to New Jersey for Manish's cousin Tarak's wedding in Princeton. On the flight out, we tried out the headset Nisha gave us for Jaidan so that he could watch his beloved Elmo videos. Once he figured out that he could hear Elmos' distinctive shriek through the headphones, he stopped trying to yank them off, and they were a hit!

The wedding was beautiful and Jaidan was enjoying his first REALLY late night (went to bed at midnight.) We were able to watch a social butterfly in the making! At both the Sangeet and wedding reception, he approached other children by waving, sticking out his tongue, saying "baaaaa!" - basically anything to get their attention. He liked having me nearby, but wasn't clingy in the least bit. It's really fun to see him blossom into his own little person. Looks to us that he won't be the one to miss a good party! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

On our way to CT from NJ, we visited a beautiful temple and Jaidan dutifully said his prayers. He has learned to put his hands together in a prayer position and even mumbles while he is doing so! We also visited Manish's aunt and uncles' beautiful home in Cedar Grove, NJ. Afterwards, we headed to CT for the night and then it was off to Brooklyn the next morning!

Our visit to Brooklyn was extra special, because it was the first time for us to visit since we had moved away 2 years ago. It was there where Manish and I spent our first year of marriage and where I learned I was pregnant with Jaidan. I remember walking along all those avenues and taking buses and subways while anticipating my baby's arrival and feeling him move and shake all the while. What an exciting time that was!

We started the day with a fantastic brunch with friends and family at one of our favorite restaurants called Miriam. Beforehand, I bought Jaidan an NYPD toy police car that kept him occupied throughout that meal and the entire day. Later, we headed to a playground where Jaidan enjoyed the swings and spraypark. We also met with our former landlords (Terrance and Ahalia) who welcomed us into their home and treated us to chocolates and strawberries - YUM. It was so neat to catch up with them and see our old apartment again. Finally, the best part of the day, we went to a (kid friendly) patio bar called Mission Dolores. A group of us ordered a pitcher of beer, enjoyed the beautiful weather and Jaidan stayed busy with his cars. Towards the end, little Jaidan made his rounds and greeted the other patrons! He is such a hoot! After dinner, we made the drive back to CT and flew home to Texas the next day. It really was a perfect weekend!

Jetsetters

I've had a few people ask why I haven't updated the blog recently. First of all, thanks for asking! I'm glad people are interested in what Jaidan is up to! This past week and a half have been all about travel for us. We went to New Jersey, CT, Brooklyn and just this last weekend - North Carolina! Pictures and details to come. We had a wonderful time and are now looking forward to a relaxing week at home!