Anushka turns Seven

Seven Wonders of the World. The Saptarishis. Sapta Swara. Secret Seven.
Do you know any more?

You turn seven today, my sweety pie. I am not sure how much you will recall of the year that went by, when you grow up to be seventeen. Here is a summary for the future:

About you at 7:

 

To eat: Bhindi 7 days a week is your idea of a great menu. You added mild Masale Bhaat to your list of likes, you eat almost all veggies and fruits , but still go easy on spice/ chillies. You are not much into junk but have discovered Fanta! ( still only a party indulgence)

To read: You love reading about  the earth, the environ and animals. You enjoyed Samhita’s Mahabharatha as much as you liked Dr Suess. You read to Aditi when she lets you. You amaze me with your memory. You learnt to recite Miller of the Dee so well and so quickly.

To do:  Kenken, anagrams on miniclip, maths questions, association games, Uno, art/ craft of any kind, skating, cycling, swimming, chess, hoola hoop, badminton, dribbling the ball ( they have all been part of your year). Key board, dancing, singing , traveling (Hampi, Goa, Hyderabad, among others), writing ( progressively lesser) and unfortunately watching TV ( Chota bheem has been dislodged and Amazing Spies are your favorite)

At School:  You enjoy school and fit in well. You have begun folk dance and continue chess. You are not particularly athletic. Your teachers' review of you has been great as a good student and more importantly a concerned classmate. You won the general proficiency award/ Golden Child recognition to prove that.

Socially: Your friend T remains your most cherished one. But you are beginning to make new good friends too as your bday list shows.

Physically: You have lost around 4 - 5 teeth and grown even taller. You got your first pair of specs. And then post a review, few months later, the doc said you did not need glasses.

With family: You are a very loving and lovable accommodating child, a wonderful grandkid and exemplary Akka.

Being Amma, here is my two bit of gyaan-

- Stop bruising yourself so often- be more alert and aware, but don't stop dreaming and questioning

- Be less diplomatic- take a stand, even if it is to disagree with me ( except I have the final word as of now)

- Stay happy always and learn to chill out a bit more. Just so that I know you are seven and not thirty seven.

And you know what? .......ok- let me say it - Love you too much!!

Amma.

Anushka's Puppets of India

Anushka, at age 5, conceptualised and illustrated this work. In the book, Anush undertakes a journey across India with an unusual friend Chinkcha. They meet various types of puppets and generally have fun.

We 'released ' it on her 6th birthday. She had almost forgotten about it by then!

She is exactly six and a half today - as good a day as any to share this with all of you.

Year of Dinosaur .......not Dragon

I was just telling Anush the myth behind the Chinese custom of naming the years after this animal and that.

Was amazed how she immediately noticed and asked " Why did they not say dinosaur instead of dragon, amma? All other animals are real...."

What is on the menu?

A pen and some one side paper = one afternoon full of FUN for and with Anushka

You can see she likes watching Masterchef, Fabulous cakes, Highway on my plate.
And she has hardly a clue but a LOT of curiosity about non veg.

And no, she did not mean snack- she meant snake. Though she meant Meat and not meet.

The Doctor by Anushka

I think Dr Shetty would be pleased ( inspite of the spellings) . What do you think?

When Anush voiced her despair at being hand held - now that she is in a school where things are 'taught' versus the open exploration in her previous schools- I decided it was time for a 'diary'.

Anush embellished the cover and was thrilled to note that she was free to write anything she felt like " Math even?!"

She has been clocking about three entries a week.

Overheard

Anush was telling Aditi that "....all human beings come from animals you know- ape- monkey- gorilla...."
Aditi responded with a quizzical look.

Anush explaining We are the world to an older  cousin-" There were many children in Africa who did not have food. So many singers sang this song....to collect money for food for them"

Aditi responds correctly when asked "What is your name?"
But she has the same answer when you ask for anyone else's name as well....

Anush wanted to preserve some discarded carton for her "important papers"

My Day !

I was flooded with gifts- flowers, sunglasses, a new cassette - CD- DVD- radio player, DVDs, clothes and cards, cake- cookies and wishes on FB, on the blog and in person/ over phone. Just when I thought it could not get better- we went for dinner to NH 8 - highly recco for veg Rajasthani food barring rotis all was stuff good.

Anush is attending Summer Fun at Swingers and is really having a ball!

Went to Kobe's sizzlers a few days back. Am note sure I like sizzlers anymore( barring the brownie one of course) though teh place and stuff was nice enough.

And here is an Anushism that left us in splits- we were attending a family do on Monday
Anush to her thaatha- " Thaathu, you are looking so smart! " Thaatu was in a gorgeous white kurta- pyjama.

Enter Navy in a white shirt and a mismatched off white dhoti. " Appa thaathu is looking so smart and you are looking so funny....." Navy will never forget to wear a contrast shirt now on with his dhoti.

Take off....

Anushka was in love with Dora along time back

Then it was Chotta Bheem and all of a sudden she wanted to be Supergirl.

While I never have liked these costumes, I gave in to getting her this one. Here she is ready to launch !

Right Choice!

After being offered a choice of all three schools, we or rather Anush opted for the one that is close-by and well established. Her reason was that the teachers were very nice and the test they administered was more interesting. After we paid up the fees she said that she liked school 2 better because of the campus. As my heart sank, she threw me a wicked grin!!

Aditi had her first hair cut and transformed to a naughtier avatar. She was pretty composed during the ( non) episode. Bless her.

Both kids are down with fever and we go through the drill yet again!

Priceless

Amma, you say the British are nice people though they troubled India for years till we became free ... they even took away our jewels....

I get into a discussion on history and descendants and stereotyping with a five year old.

After some thought-"Amma so they returned all the jewels? When can we see them ? Are they in a museum?"

!!

Tight weekend

We went for a poonal( thread) ceremony in the family and got to see a really pretty temple. I recalled how Anush as a 2 -3 yr old kid had insisted she would wear a thread too and had strutted about in one for a few days.

Yesterday Anush wore a kid sari ( much against Navy's wishes) and was in full form! Aditi was cute in a paavadai and then a chudidar set.

Cream Centre has come to Bangalore and we of course patronised it and much paet puja happened.

I pointed out a board on a bus and told Anush this is the Chief minister baby. Anush said "Oh, that must be Mister Yedur- i- appa. But he looks so old Amma."

Anush took the test at the third and final school in our shortlist. I bumped into along lost college friend there. Anush seems to like this school a lot and it is fairly close by.

We will know the results in a while since this school gives preference to siblings first and also there was a huge rush on the test day! Anyway we have firm seats from the other 2 schools. All for the good.

New age weddings

Anush and her friend T have deiced to get married- trow!! They told me that they are best friends. They decided to tie the knot at the ripe old age of 5yrs!

If you thought that was path breaking, well they told me that I could come and what is more T is a lovely little girl .....

Set me thinking... would I be this indulgent if Anush had been 25 yrs old - I think yes, because I trust her and want to see her happy and I love T as well.

Good or Bad?

Aditi is entertaining.
Ask her "Are you a bad girl?"
She promptly says "NO. NO ."

Ask her "Are you a good girl?"
She thinks a while and say "...mmmm. hm."
I have to agree!!

Anush is anxious that Aditi will get spanked by her teachers( however sweet they may be to Anush) since she is so naughty. She suggests that we send Aditi to school only after she is three and less naughty!

Cleaned up Anush and Aditi's wardrobes and found a box of Aditi's clothes for passing on and one more of Anush's for handing down to Aditi a few years from now! I really must control my urge to shop for clothes for them.

Events of the weekend

My little cousin has been recruited by Google. Am so excited for her. They sound like great employers and I hope she will have a fun and exciting career.

Anush had her first tablet for her cold, courtesy her paternal doctor grandpa. She wanted me to put it on record. So here it is.

We had a fun weekend in Chinatmani and saw a mineral water plant and the adjoining bottle/ can - cap making unit. Wonderful and clean. Anush and Aditi had fun with chalk rangoli. Navy and Anush baked fairly tasty cookies for the first time. Next time they plan to do it with a proper oven and recipe and am sure it will turn out great

Aditi is into numbers and says two- three if she hears the word' one ' in any context.

Anush's school had the parent teacher meet where I almost burst with pride at their report on Anush. Though I think I am an objective parent, it is nice to know your child is doing well as per a qualified outsider's assessment.

The school search for Anush has left me confused since there are pros and cons with all the three that I am considering for her. Also I think a large part of how kids shape up is due to home and family and having my mother around has been such a positive influence on them. Does a school matter that much I wonder...

Monster laugh

I have a loud laugh. Very open and unladylike.
Anush observed very casually that I sounded like the monster in one of her cartoon shows!
Ooops.

A Wholesome Affair

We headed to the other end of town yesterday- first to Central Tiffin Room for yummy dosas and then the Millet Mela. Interesting how they are trying to revive the use of these oft ignored grains. Anush enjoyed wearing the cap made of grains. Aditi enjoyed the millet chocos kind of cereal. My mother enjoyed exploring and shopping! We discovered a cute little shop called Desi close by.

During one of my aimless TV surfing moments Anushka mentioned- "Amma don't want this channel- no one sees it and they don't even know how to spell Colo(u)rs!!"

We had Navy's school friends visit and we also had my college buddy's ( a new father) parents visit. Major nostalgia trips...

Pl visit the two part interview of an inspiring duo at ST and leave your comments....

Anushka's Letter to Santa

Anush wrote her first letter for Santa and placed it in the balcony in a stocking since we do not have a chimney. If we were to keep it inside the house with all the doors secured, Santa will not be able to retrieve it!! Now Santa has to work on a suitable reply.

Anush and her grandpa went to the Aero Museum in HAL. Very interesting and engaging is what my father and his grandchild had to say about their space odyssey. Anush was talking about heat shields and parachutes and bomb planes and safe landings all through the evening!!

Owls

There is something about Owls that is very endearing. And if it is made by your 5 yr old, the appeal zooms up! (She knows I like them)

As per Anush, owls hoot and stay awake at night.

Mr Martin's Farm

Anush rediscovered her love for her scooter over this weekend. Playing safe with a helmet she was on a roll!! Aditi also was game to be pushed on it.

Anush and I raced and she asked with wonder" Amma, how come you can run so fast?" LOL!

We went finally to The Gerry Martin Farm ( 'Mutton' Farm as Anush mentioned a couple of times) and LOVED it. Anush was very comfy touching the animals and feeding them. The kids had a ball at the play park as well. And ate gooseberries and mulberries and enjoyed coconut water!

We met Ozzie Martin the father who was truly warm and gifted us a pumpkin as well. Pumpkin kootu and soup it shall be at home soon. Pics shall get posted once my friend N updates them. A Prithvi style cafe is all it needs. Maybe if Navy, my mom and I could help start that!!

Do visit my ST post with contributions from others as well on a not so favourite animal of mine.

And I finally had a haircut but still sporting it long. Not gone back to my 'boy cut'... yet....

Thoughts of a 5 year old

I was teaching Anush Silent Night and refining her Jingle Bells. We chanced upon this video on youtube- and Anush thought that she was "awesome".

Anush wondered how Santa would come home when the door is locked on Christmas eve?

We read a lovely book where a grand aunt dies. Anush wanted to know if we would get food when hungry, once we become a star. ( once we die)

Go here for a bookreview at ST - one book which made her exclaim" Amma this is making me very sad" and then towards the end " So kind na? They are both helping each other and making each other happy, correct?"