family happenings

Lots of fun things have been happening this week.


Just a cute picture of Hazel in her cool shades:

1. A 21st Century Wedding!

Yesterday, Hazel got a new aunt!! Stephen, James' brother, and his fiancee Angela eloped to Florida! They were planning a wedding for August, and then decided to forgo all the wedding hoopla for a private ceremony. Last weekend, Stephen sat us down at breakfast and said, "So...next weekend Angela and I are getting married." It was a shock and we cheered for them. We were bummed, though, that we couldn't witness it, and then someone had the idea for a webcam wedding! So no kidding, Stephen set up his laptop and we watched their super short ceremony. They were pretty giggly, and it was really cute, and also a little Bollywood because Angela's hair was blowing in the beachy breeze. :) Here's the family watching the ceremony:(Uncle Jim has on a mask because of the surgery...he's not supposed to be exposed to any germs)


"You may now kiss the bride":



2. Olivia's Ballet Recital

I can't get over how adorable her tiny ballet slippers are! She did really well - she pointed and plie-d and twirled gracefully.

3. Play Dates!

We went this week for a play date with Hazel's cousins.


Sophie couldn't look more like my brother if she tried.


Hazel really liked Boston...by day...


But his super hero persona seemed to frighten her.

root root root for the astros...

My super cool sis-in-law (nanand to be specific on which one :) had the great idea for both sides of the family to go to an Astros game the day after we got back to the US. So everyone (minus my mother-in-law who is still recovering from donating her kidney to her brother) went to the game to cheer on the 'Stros. Yes, the first picture on the next blog is from this game. My in-laws had them do a message to us! Wasn't that cool?

I know it's a lot of pictures, but we're huge Astros fans. We listened over the internet when they were in the World Series. Live. At 5am. So, this was a big deal for us to go back to a game. And we won, too, but that was just icing on the cake.


Hazel and Sophia buckled up safely, American-style. Hazel is still getting used to the car seat.

Like a lighthouse, beckoning us home, here we are in front of Minute Maid Park.

Aunt Belinda and Katy.

My brother holding Sophia, and Boston with his hand on his daddy's neck.

Livvie loves Hazel. Check out Hazel's cute Astros onesie! Courtesy of Aunt Julie. She also bought her some cute pink Converse, but they are a tiny bit too big right now.

The Roberts siblings! Aren't they cute??


Christi cooing with Sophie.

Hazel loves her Pops' goatee. (that's my dad)

She fussed a little bit, so here we are fussing with her.

Hazel and her PawPaw. (James' dad)

Biggio and I sharing a joke.

Hazel and Mimi.

Livvie and her Foofa.

Boston was super excited to get his cotton candy. I asked him for a piece, and he pinched me off one about the size of a pencil eraser. What a generous little kid he is! ;)

Thanks Aunt Julie for such a fun night!!

back in america!

We're back in the US! We've been here for a few days now, but have been so busy reconnecting that I have a few fun posts to get caught up on. It may take a few days.


Hazel was such a trooper on the flights! She slept over half of the first flight (which was 15 hours!) and then this is her on the second flight (only 4 hours). One lady asked us why our baby didn't cry, so I took that as a sign that she was a good little traveler.

My brother and James' sister got special passes to meet us at the gate! So we walked off the plane, and there they were!! It was so cool. Julie took hold of Hazel immediately! It was so great to hug my brother and sis-in-law.

The rest of the family (and two sweet friends) was waiting at the baggage claim. As we stepped off the escalator, they started cheering, and we ran over to them and hugged and cried. Some of the airport employees were there to watch the reunion and thanked us for letting them be a part of it. They also had some signs for us. It was so great. Hazel was passed around quite a bit! We all went immediately to have some good Mexican for lunch. Our little introvert was a bit overwhelmed at that point, so Mimi walked her around a lot until she fell asleep.

Our home church has a house they are letting us stay in for 6 months, which is so characteristic of them. They are quite a generous church. It feels like staying in a palace, and it's wonderful having a dishwasher and dryer and constant water heater, etc. They just installed a new double oven, and I just don't know what to do with two giant ovens. I foresee lots of casseroles and cakes in our future!

The second day back, we went to the grocery store. I marveled at the size of all the produce. In India, we could only get red onions, so it was cool to see them here too. But American red onions are HUGE. I laughed so hard, I couldn't believe how big they are. I also had a hard time walking the aisles and seeing all of the choices on the shelves. How we make any decisions in the grocery store is beyond me.

family walks

My favorite time of the day is the evening when the three of us usually head out for an hour walk. We keep having to push it further back in the day because it's getting warmer. (the high today is 96!) There is a wonderful park just across the nallah from our house. (the nallah is like a stream but is really stinky because a lot of people use it for sewage)

This is something I'm really hoping we can continue in the States. It's a great time for James and I to talk, it's healthy, it helps us meet people, and I think it also teaches Hazel to be active. I want my children to actually use their bodies, not their thumbs, to play sports.

So James likes to get a snack on the walk. In the winter, he usually got momo's. But now that it's warming up, he likes to get ice cream. I can't honestly say that I don't usually imbibe as well.


Hazel loves our family walks. Sometimes I carry her...


...sometimes James carries her...


...and sometimes we switch halfway!


Once, Hazel picked me a flower. :)


The fun usually wipes the baby out. Hazel, too.

sophia's here!

Sophia Camille arrived yesterday!! Don't you just love the name? So Hazel's potential best friend is now in the world. Aunt Christi and cousin Sophia are doing great, and I'm dying to hold my newest niece! Just a couple more months, and I'll get to hang out with my precious nephew and nieces, and Hazel will get to meet her cousins.

gardens

We had a fun day yesterday! Nana wanted to see these beautiful gardens we have here that are filled with historic buildings, and I always love going for walks through parks. We remembered there is this really nice restaurant next to the gardens that you sit outside. They even have these tent areas to eat in, not to mention how tasty their food is. I am beginning to think Middle Eastern food is my favorite. And of course the big pillows you sit on made it the perfect place to take a baby!



After lunch we walked through the gardens for about an hour. We discovered that Hazel LOVES looking outward. It was a big 'duh!' moment for us. She was so happy all day. What a great little girl!!

now nana is here!

We had a 6 day break where we got to see if we can handle a newborn by ourselves. Turns out we can! And then after that, we got help again. This time from Nana! (James' mom)



Hazel is loving her Nana! And we are so glad to see her again.

hazel's first christmas

Christmas Eve we decided to open presents with my mom since Christmas day was a big day for us. Hazel cleaned up! Not only did she get all these gifts around her, she also was given the vibrating chair from Mimi. (that is also a nice gift for us, since it gives us a little bit of quiet! :) All the gifts were from Mimi and Pops except for the little the pink and tan striped shirt on the far right that we gave her. Also, Nana and Papa gave us money to buy her some things.


And check out the gorgeous blanket Aunt Christi had made for Hazel. It also came with a matching diaper bag and wipes holder.


Hazel's Christmas outfit! She wouldn't hold still for a good pic. Does it surprise anyone that the shoes came from Mimi? Yeah, I didn't think so. :)


Merry Christmas!!

another outing!

Even though Mimi is content just rocking the baby all day, we wanted her to experience at least one fun Indian market and at least one historic site. So yesterday we took her to both, and she had a real fun time shopping, and got some great deals.

It was Hazel's first market experience too! She hung out day with her daddy, who looks mighty handsome with that Snugli don't you think? :)


Look at our bargains! Well I guess you can't really see them...


One of many family photos we took that Hazel slept right through! Are you noticing a pattern here? She gets in that Snugli and conks out. I love all the colors in this pic!


Then we went and had a picnic lunch outside a 500 year old monument/tomb.


James took Hazel up to see the view from above the m0sque.


Mom and me


The Roberts


Hazel and Daddy