Xmas in GOA!! Part II - Play dates with Satya

When we arrived in Goa we rented some scooters and used them to go around to the beaches and see the countryside. One day while riding, a woman on a scooter in front of us had her right signal blinking. This made me nervous (due to my recent crash) because I kept expecting her to turn right at any moment. Erik drove up ahead and told the woman that her signal was on - during this exchange they looked at each other, felt they looked familiar, but then the lady took off.
Around the next bend she pulled over to the side of the road, she had a small boy on the front of her scooter and Erik had August at the front of his. The boys looked at each other... "August?" "Satya?" Hahahaha.
Turns out August's good friend from Prep I now lives in Goa with his mother. The boys had two playdates at the beach while we were there. So much fun.




Daddy loves the Beach Shacks

Annika asked for a geode for Xmas. I didn't know where to begin looking for one in Bangalore so she didn't get one. Luckily, there seems to be a big market in Goa for geodes, crystals and semi-precious stones and we found lots of shops. And Annika got her quartz geode.

Happy Birthday Jenne

Xmas in GOA!! Part I - Palolem

Erik had to stay back in Bangalore for an extra day due to work, so the kids and I flew to Goa as scheduled. Kids did great on the airplane - doesn't hurt that it's a 55 minute flight!

1 hour taxi ride to the coast, kids fell asleep immediately

Then we hit the beach!

Stray dogs in Goa are very friendly, Annika found this little puppy roaming on the beach and he was a very passive plaything for about half an hour


Jewelry sellers on the beach


Cow on the beach



Beach shacks/restaurants along the beach

Lal Bagh

Bree and I took the kids to Lal Bagh Botanical Garden in central Bangalore. Not only is it a beautiful outdoor garden, it also has a great nursery of indoor/outdoor plants. And what we couldn't find as plants they had ample seeds for sale.

Kids loving Nandi

Crazy tree

Common site... people taking pictures with the kids. What they do with these photos I have no idea but it happens a lot.

For people spitting paan

Season's Greetings from the Vignaus

Our 2009 Holiday Card click here

December 23rd we'll be on our way to Goa. Don't know if we'll have internet so MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Awww...

Who's harder to resist?

August's End of Unit

August's last Unit of Enquiry was about our planet and how it's composed of different countries and what makes countries different. They focused on India, France, The Netherlands, and Germany.
To show the parents what they learned they put on a play. August played an alien who lands on Earth and wants to know more about it. They get a tour of the the different countries.

Then, like all good Indian productions... there was a dance number!


Auggie gettin' his Hindi on!!
Acha!

Xmas at Ozone

The Ozone Christmas Committee asked us if they could borrow our Rickshaw to transport Santa around the complex during the parade. I said sure! That's awesome!

At the end of the parade kids lined up to have their photos taken with Santa IN THE RICKSHAW! Hahaha!

The center park was converted into a Christmas Carnival with rides for the kids and lots of table set up to encourage residents to have booths of their own handicrafts or baking or whatever.

Auggie got a nice tattoo.
Well done Xmas Organizing Committee!

Indus Sports Day

The Opening Ceremony...

Aug is the one with the green "X" in the air

Annika is looking at the camera holding a ring

All the grades (Prep - 5) did synchronized movements to the marching band's music


Auggie did awesome in his Prep II races. Parents even told me their children were not happy to be racing against August since he's always the fastest.



On the podium getting his medal.

Annika in her 100m final... last place but did AWESOME! Nice going!

Indus Sports Day - Heats

For Indus' pre-Sports Day Heats, Annika competed in long jump, tennis ball throw (supposed to be Shot Put), 100m sprint and the 50m sprint.

100 Meter...


#1 in her Heat!!


50 Meter...


Checking with the Judges...

#2 in her Heat!!!

Because of her time, Annika is eligible to compete for the 100 Meter Finals on Indus Sports Day!
Congratulations!!!

Lucia Dagen

Glad Lucia dagen alla! First year in a long time I haven't made my cardamom bread, although we have made a few batches of pepparkakor! (Thanks to an ExPat who gave me a full jar of molasses when she left India.) Mums!