fly-fly

In her science camp Ali received a cute little caterpillar in a small tub, you know the kind they give you ketchup in at restaurants. The caterpillar had a hunk of food in his plastic home. The only instructions we were given is keep it in a cool place and when he becomes a butterfly wait a few hours to let him free so his wings can dry. Uhh... that's a lot of responsibility for a 2 year old or her mom. Our little caterpillar started to eat his hunk of food and within a few days he was a big fat monstrous caterpillar. He climbed onto the lid of his cage and one segment at a time started to let go of the lid until he was hanging upside down like a vampire by just the tip of his tail. Fast forward 24 hours and he was completely cocooned or in butterfly terms he had formed a chrysalis. So there was fly fly hanging in his chrysalis and every few hours I would check on him but as the days past and life gets busy I forgot to check every few hours and my checking had dwindled down to once a day. The next thing you know there is a butterfly in this little tub! How long had he been there? Is he still alive? No one is home but me and Kaden, should I let him go? Should I wait for Ali and Rob? I decided to wait because Ali had seen this thing through from the beginning and I didn't want her to miss fly flys release. When they got home we let him go and sure enough he was just fine. It took him a while to stretch his wings and learn to fly but he did and it was the neatest thing. If you have never had a caterpillar and waited for it to become a butterfly you have to do it! Amazing and what a learning experience.

JK

We got all dresses up and went to Khane. Isn't the little princess such a doll in her panjabi suit? Its too tight now, we almost had to cut her out of it so it will be the last time we see her wear it. That makes me so very sad, seeing her grow into and out of clothes. Seeing them everyday you miss the subtle changes but nothing is more glaringly obvious that they have grown then an outfit no longer fitting. There is only so many times you can convince yourself that it shrunk in the dryer and you have to finally face the truth that they are just growing. Kaden is out of newborn and almost out of 3 month clothes, his toes get curled in the onesies little footies. Its a sad reality.

daddy and alibear

They share a bond like none I have ever seen. Always by each others side, playing, laughing and being silly. If I had to choose a word or two to describe their relationship I'd say 'soul mates'. They are so internally bonded that there is no separating them.They say girls choose a man that reminds them of their father, I feel bad for her future suitors... they'll have a lot to live up to.

Sweater

As a kid/teen there were days when I wished for other parents and grandparents. Like when my grandmother read my diary or my dad called my school. My grandfather wouldn't let me wear black and my mom refused to buy me jelly shoes; in those moments I would have traded them in for another set, a cooler set of guardians. Alas, maturity has shown itself in yet another way, not only would I never contemplate replacing any of them but I feel so unfathomably blessed to have them and blessed that my children get to also have them, know them, love them and be loved by them. Its strange when you cross that imaginary line where your parents no longer tell you what to do and when to do it but instead just offer advice and guidance. I'm not quite sure when it happened for me but I know it had when I no longer felt like I'd get into trouble for staying out late, sleeping in or watching tv. I don't think I ever anticipated the quality of relationships I'd have with them, the adult version of my childhood bonds. Like yarn being crocheted, getting stronger and transforming into something so different than the ball it started out as. I imagine it as a sweater a few snags here and there but none-the-less warm, durable and beautiful.

Bucs Training Camp

Crisis averted, the lockout has ended. I was under the assumption that I would have a seriously disappointed hubby this football season. The heat was smoldering, the humidity was encompassing, the crowds were smothering and the excitement was riveting as we watched the first training camp of the season. Adam liked watching the cheerleaders more than the football players, so did Aliya. We seriously are excited to cheer on the Bucs this year.

Meet Kaden Kent Party

A whole party just for him. Kaden was officially inaugurated into the family. Uncle Pinky and Aunt Teri hosted a great party for Kaden. Thank you everyone for all your love and support of our little precious baby boy.

Butterfly tea party

The best thing Nanas' are for is for them to completely emerge themselves into your world. From butterfly outfits to tea parties no one is better company than a Nana. She flies around and then serves more tea with a few imaginary spoon fulls of sugar and some cream. Stir it up. Drink it up, then fly around some more with those magical wings. 

Strike

We put the bumpers up for Ali but the boys used them more than she ever did, dad had a couple of strikes sans bumper and Aliya had more fun dancing in the disco lights than actually bowling. Of course Aliya had to wear bowling shoes that were two sizes too big but they were just the right size for the game she invented with her nanimaa. It involved being spun around until the shoes went flying off her feet, putting them back on and doing it again, over and over and over again. Kaden loved it, as you will be able to see from his pictures (especially the one with Nanabapa), wink wink.