Happy Father's day!

Another year when Father's day ends up in rush mode with me traveling. Did not plan it that way.. realized much later that today was Father's day.

The kids have made some surprise gifts for me which I am guessing are things they did in art class. Have to wait till I come back to see those!

They asked me what Daddy's request was for a gift. Given how they are both at a phase where posing for pictures is a chore, asked them to come pose for a few pictures in backyard and also wear what I ask them to wear.. 

They agreed. Then realized it was one of those "let's take the same picture" deals and went "oh no! he is now going to ask us to look an an old picture and position just like that! 

This year my MIL is here. So went to Yoga class at 6AM and got a rose from Bikram Yoga San Jose, just like last year and the many years before. Last year Father's day was International Yoga day.. this year they are a day apart. For us every day is Yoga day! 

and here is how things have changed in a year..  

Let me make a few forward looking statements.. 

1. My hair will grow back

2. The kids have grown taller and will continue to grow taller

3. Here is to many more International Yoga days and Father's day's and roses from BYSJ! 

Time flies, sometimes with its arms and legs stretched as far as possible, like a 747 taking off.. 

Happy Father's day to my dad and all the other dads out there who are close to their kids! 

It is time to go listen to yet another story from an Uber driver who has survived persecution of some kind in the middle east or another conflict area. This year it has been 6 for 6.. Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Ukraine.. I am too bummed out to talk to Uber drivers on way back and one does get to converse on the way in, especially when it always a Sunday morning with no traffic.

Here's to all those dads who are trying to do the best they can, with the cards they are dealt, not necessarily due to any fault of their own.  

An equal opportunity blog that needs new names

Jr. is all grown up.. obvious.. 

but the little one.. she makes us realize every minute that she is growing up.. this one is not creeping up on us silently. She makes a bold statement with her presence every waking minute. 

While it was a big day for Jr., the little one had her own big event in the morning. 

They had a "Clap out" for the fifth graders on their last day at elementary school. In case you are wondering what a Clap out is.. here it is!

There was also a small display of the kids and their projects.. 

Her teacher made me cry by telling me what a sincere and hard working kid she is. 

I begged her for a selfie or photo with her, having rushed straight from the airport to the clapout.. but she is going through a "Nofie" phase. Grandma managed to get a snap.. 

Finally after 9 years we will not be visiting this school that frequently anymore.. we will still go biking in the track around the playground every now and then or go say hi to the teachers on teachers day, but as far as this family goes, we are officialy out of elementary school! 

We are now be back to the middle school, with the little one. 

Jr. is still my junior and the little one will always be our little one!

They have grown up and I was thinking of new nick names for them, or maybe it is time to just start mentioning them by their name going forward?!

Jr. grows up without us realizing it!

It feels like yesterday when Jr. was complaining about the blog being all about her baby sister and how her birth and early life was not detailed here.. and to appease her I made this video 

and it feels like day before yesterday that those events in the video happened ! 

Before we realized it, this little girl is all grown up and is now going to high school. 

In a space of two weeks we saw her do a Bharatanatyam performance with her dance school, get glasses, do a solo with pros thanks to her Saxophone teacher, do a band performance at school, get a distinguished student award, look way cooler than her daddy and walk graduation! 

This girl who is now into signature posing.. continues to impress us with her perseverence and work ethic! 

Her teacher had some nice things to say about her and told me that Anjana would make a great teacher. Think her school teacher grandma will be very proud!

 

The highlight of this week though was that both kids graduated from their respective schools and are moving on to new schools. It was great not to just watch Jr. but all her friends graduate. All these kids we have seen grow along with Jr. over the last 9 years, practically as an extended family! 

The smile on her face says it all. There is a confidence, an assertiveness, a certain independence that we are seeing now that was not there last year. It is reassuring to see her go through this phase at this age. By comparison I was a clueless kid till the age of 18. The kids in the US may not be pushed hard enough compared to how we were 30 years ago in India when it comes to Math, Physics or Chemistry (my perception) but they are surely getting a more well rounded education with a better perspective on how what they learn is going to change things in the future for them and everyone (again my perception). 

 

Recently a guy in Asia gave me a compliment "you look like you are 46-47 years old!" . He thought it was underestimating my age. I did not say anything and just smiled. 

Compared to the 13 year old, I do look 45 when I am 43, and for once, I am okay with it, because I am now "cool" by association! 

They say when you feel time go by fast, you are happy and when you feel time stands still, you are not in a good place. Thirteen years flew by! 

Credit to Jr. for making us proud and happy. I can already imagine writing a post on Jr. going to college. Hope she does well in high school as well over the next four years..