Not perfect but good for a first one |
H hard at work |
This is what it looked like |
Then we decided to dress up a thermacol plate as the puja thali.
N at work |
H takes over |
.. and it’s done |
Then of course everyone had to dress up even though we’d decided to have the Rakshabandhan in the evening since The Husband and the sis-in-law had full working days ahead. Do check out N’s hair :-).
Managed to get them to pose sensibly. It’s quite a task, I tell you |
We then went shopping for their gifts. H wanted a kitchen set – he’s still in the “I want to be a chef” phase. However he wanted a “boy kitchen set”. On being explained that kitchen sets, like real kitchens, were not male or female he asked why then were they all pink. To which all I could say is that colours too weren’t male or female only to be looked at incredulously and dismissed as someone unaware of life’s realities. Finally we settled for a kitchen set and a football with joint ownership. Didn’t I tell you gifting, in our home, is tricky business?
By evening the house looked nice, the kids were washed and changed and the food was done. I went in to change and came back to find the house …… all pink. Apparently Naisha decided she’d had enough of the rangolis which had, by then, been stepped into many times over and had lost their charm. She poured water on it and the neighbour’s three year-old decided to play a pink Holi and walk all over the house.
Yes I threw a fit. Yes I chased the entire bunch out and set out to mop yet again.
Just as I’d finished and made myself a cup of calming tea, entered The Husband, like the police in Hindi films, right after all the action was over and done with. Even as I was still fuming he handed me a gift.. a gift for me on Rakshbandhan.. and I’m not even his sister! Yay! There’s really no better way to stem the fumes of a fuming woman than to hand her a gift.
The festive spirit was restored. The banished kids were called back and the neighbour’s kids asked to stay for dinner. The sis-in-law came. Everyone tied rakhis to everyone and there was more mithai than all of us could handle.
It’s Chhota Bheem all the way |
We stuck with our mutual resolution of token gifts for kids – as in nothing elaborate or expensive or exclusive. Yet, they were thrilled. A big Thank You to the SIL for understanding and agreeing. Oh yes she got me something too. That’s right, it’s okay to bring on the elaborate, the expensive and the exclusive for adults.. heh heh heh.
The delinquents at dinner |
Learnings
– A bunch of imperfect things can make up a perfect day.
– Over time, men can be trained to do most things.
– Leaving kids around colour/glitter is suicidal.
– The quickest way to clean dirty footmats is to turn them over.
– and for the nth time: Kids don’t need expensive stuff to make them happy.
Lovely! The rangoli and pooja thali are awesome 🙂
Lol at 'boys kitchen set' 😀
Glad you had fun OM!!
@Sugeeth: Thanks
@Haddock: Thanks we loved it too.
@Bikram: Dying to show off but will let good sense prevail. 🙂
beautiful colors ..
you had a good day then .. I miss those days I was working all day long
and glad you got a gift 🙂 so what was it bolo bolo he he hehe
Bikram's
That colourful thermacol plate is a good idea.
Happy Raksha Bandhan to Hrit and Naisha, and the whole family 🙂
@Aparna: Thanks. We didn't celebrate much Rakhi either because we were just two sisters. But now I enjoy it thanks to the kids.
@Snigs: You should have been here.
What fun times. Great effort by Hrit & Naisha!
What fun times. Great effort by Hrit & Naisha!
I love the rangoli and also the flower arrangement! Pretty!We don't have a tradition of celebrating Rakhi down south but my bro and I have always observed it, and now my kids get into full enthu mode as well.
Tottally agree with learnings #1, 2 and 5 🙂