Videos from Mika's 2nd birthday

(embedded videos)

Videos from the Maui trip

(embedded videos)

Playing in the ocean

The aquarium

At the Garden of Eden on the Road to Hana

Parasailing. Unfortunately we don't have a video of us, and this is right before we get strapped in.

Malaika Turns Two Maui Style

Our baby is two years old! Unbelievable! We can't stop marveling at how quickly she's become a little girl with her own little personality and a rather impressive vocabulary. She may be little but there's definitely no scrimping on spunk and cuteness with this one.

What better way to celebrate Mika turning two than re-live our Hawaii trip with a luau party. Friends and family gathered at Rood Bridge Park and I must say everyone looked quite tropical and vacation-y. Malaika knew it was her party and was quite thrilled with several aspects of the morning - her pink tutu, the swings in the park, everyone singing Happy Birthday and blowing out her candles, the fruit skewers and the marshmallows in her icecream.

For the record, when dada asked her what she wanted for her birthday, her one word answer: Pink.

(embedded slideshow)

Maui

Last week the Narjalas were in another world - far from the daily routine and Portland's grey skies, on the sun-kissed beaches of Maui.

It's not easy to capture five days of lazing in luxury in words. Let's see....essentially we ate, swam in the ocean, went sightseeing, ate some more, swam in the pools, took naps, and decompressed. Sandhya and Bhasker mama joined us on the trip but had a much more adventurous agenda. We were quite content to look at sharks swimming over our heads - in the aquarium. To our credit, dad did some snorkeling and Ranjit and I actually went parasailing - five minutes of feeling like a bird, except I had scuff marks from gripping the harness so tight (kids, when you grow up and read this, know that your dada was a brave man that morning, packing a double punch by beating his trepidation of heights and water).

A super vacation and a real blessing to see beauty in the vastness and yet the incredible detail of God's creation.

(embedded slideshow)

Dancing, Story-time, and Piano-playing

The kiddos goofing off.

(embedded videos)

Fun in the Sun

With sunny days being such a prized commodity, we made sure the little Narjalas got their fair share of vitamin D. Park trips, hanging out in the backyard, sprinklers and water fountains, digging pits and wading pools are just some of the fun, outdoorsy things the munchkins have been keeping themselves busy with.

(embedded slideshow)

Wish I Were A Kid Again!

A few weeks ago Yohan had his first dental check up. Of all experiences our little American kids have had in this land of milk and honey, this one made me think, "Wow!"

Even before the kid goes to the dentist (check-ups, btw, they are supposed to start at age 1!), there's a little "ease them into it" video online they get to watch. The World of Smiles waiting room was filled with toys and even had sea turtles in their little aquarium. Everyone, from receptionist to dentist, was dressed for the day's theme of "Cowboys/ Westerns". And the best part, each kid had a TV screen suspended from the ceiling. That was the clincher for us as "Cars" was on - Yohan was transported to Radiator Springs and began to engage the hygenist in McQueen talk after that!