January and February 2014

As we enter another year, I'd like begin 2014 with Thanks. For so many things.

January until the 2nd week of February were a bit tough because of sickness. Arya got a very bad stomach flu then cold/cough right after, and Nana & Papa got Bronchitis / almost Pneumonia. It was a very distressing time especially at night. The schools had a lot of cases that were spreading it all around, unfortunately and because of Arya's newly developing immune system, he involuntarily gets nominated by the bugs :(

Thankfully for Valentine's day and the birthdays we had, we were able to get together and shoo illness out the door :)

Here are Arya and Ali doing the Biker look for me. :) Love this Valentine's gift :)



A mugshot of us at the ATT store getting new phones. Part of my Bday gift. Ali got his Ipad too (in which Arya loves :)



And the birthday girls groovin another sweet birthday. This cake was so good! Gluten free Chocolate with raspberry and chocolate whip cream. Thanks to my Ali joon for finding it for me. Nana is 71 and I'm 41 ** 17th and 18th ** Boy does time fly fast !



Kamran making us laugh. I really enjoyed that.



And a group shot. Love it how Arya's got his hands around his cousin. So sweet.



There was a good break in February for President's Day in which Arya got a week off. During then we did some fun stuff and Arya also got to join his friends Sophie and Amelia at the bookstore and read/play. More play than read however :) hehe



And at the end of the week we visited my dear Amo Reza. Arya got to play with his 2nd cousin Ryan who's 3, Sheeva's son. We didn't get to see her though.


This is all of us, except Susan which hid herself behind Jamil.


Arya and Ryan coloring



And the grown ups talking

December, the Cold and the Holidays

This December has been one of the coldest months in history of me living here in California. I mean 30F!!! We had frost, we had ice...and we had to buy thermals for under our clothes! Even with the heater on.

Arya had also been sick so many times from school.

But finally some time off for the holidays! :) Christmas always brings smiles to kids faces. I love that glow in their eyes in the morning. This year Arya got Star Wars Legos with Luke Skywalker & Renkor, Angry Birds Go Pirate ship, Skylander SwampForce Wii starter pack, an Angry birds hat, 2 Surprise Angry birds, and Anikan Skywalker and the Stormtrooper figures. He's sort of into Star Wars now.



This is our family picture together minus Kami, Tina and Jamil because Kamran was sick this year. It was nice of Tina to drop off a crock pot of stew and gifts for Arya. We sent Kamran's gifts with her back home.



A few days before, it was the longest night of the year or Shabeh Yaldah in Farsi. We had a nice dinner together and watched some tv. To me, these simple days/nights don't need to be glamorous to be meaningful. It's the quality time that counts. Not where you go or what you do.





All in all, 2013 has been one tough year. Totally looking forward for 2014. Hope it will be a good year for everyone. :)

Thanksgiving 2013

This year is the only year that we did not buy the traditional Thanksgiving food. And I think it's a good thing. We still celebrated Thanks as we are always thankful for all the things God has given us.

Instead, we had our regular Persian food (Khoresh Gheymeh, Bademjan, Rice, Salad, and some chicken) with a few more things...Noono Panir, Pies and my Pumpkin Roll.



Jamil and Arya had fun watching Monsters Inc and the rest of us just ate and had fun listening to the Atomic Fart App. LOL!



A great evening with food, good company and laughs :)

Fieldtrip #2 - Sacramento Children's Museum

Since Arya's school doesn't do Halloween, they decided to have a field trip. It was to an interesting place that had a lot of things for them to play with and learn at the same time. It's amazing how after 19 years of living in Sacramento, I still did not know about the Sacramento Children's Museum. So much changes after having a child.





Not sure what the green guy is supposed to be? Science booger?



Counting the kids all lined up. My little Arya...I love you...



Using Solar power to create lights and sounds. Neat!



Solar Power to do a car race? Interesting!



Trains with special effects lighting



Dress up time. Arya is a firefighter! Put the Fire out cutie!





Let's get wet! Water play stuff.



Giant Light Bright! Where was this when I was a kid?



Let's build something fun! Then break it!



Craft time!



Let's play house! Arya's favorite.



Amelia, Sophie, Arya, and Ala. Such good kids. Eli was with his dad but he was in their group too.



Snack time. They had goldfish packages and water.



Little after this they went back to class. It was a fun day I think for all of them. Arya passed out on the way home (after Target).

K Field Trip to Upickit Pumpkins

This is Aryas first field trip on a bus with his school. Destination: U-Pick It Pumpkins pumpkin patch.







There were about 50 kids from 2 kindergarten classes and only 7-8 parents. It was a little crazy.



The bus was a little looney tunes since it was 30 min late and all the kids were already antsy.
Once there, the group took a picture and we had all the kids get ready to go on the hay ride.



The hay ride was fun except for the exhaust from the truck. Arya is sitting between Sophie and Amelia, the two friends he's become familiar with since I've been friends with their moms.



And it's silly face time



Arriving at the pumpkin patch. Which pumpkin should we choose?







Arya's friends Amelia and Emmet



The gang tired, hungry and ready to be out of the sun!



Back to the play area and snack time.




Arya's a ghost! eeek!



No, I think he's Lucy?!



Corn box fun



Playground fun



A tunnel?



Hay, what's up?



Then when we got home, he tells me he has a sore throat!?!! Great. here we go again (x3) :(

Folsom Lake and a bike

Sundays are great when Ali can get away from Happy Wiggles. We can spend time together and enjoy the day.



We took Arya to Folsom Lake to ride his bike and he enjoyed it a lot. There was nobody there except bikers which made me miss my bike a lot, but glad we had the chance to take him. He really loved it.





He also walked around and checked out the squirrels. There were a LOT of them. I guess Sacramento must be the land of the Squirrels! hehe

The weather has been amazing. I almost don't even feel it being Fall. 70-80's and cool nights with a breeze here and there. Though there are some really cold days. So we just need to be careful with those! :)