Spring and its glory

How beautiful and amazing it is to see all the flowers, blossoms and greens that come in Spring.
We've been doing a lot of gardening and maintenance around the house to finally after all the cold weather and rain. It looks like it did the plants good :)

Arya signs up for Soccer

Arya has been enjoying the great weather and not being sick (finally). We signed him up for Soccer but he won't start until August. In the meantime he has been practicing with his dad to get ready. It's nice to see them together. Love you both so much. Mashalah you look so grown up azizeh delam.








So far he has been playing each morning and learning the tricks from Ali. Can't wait till he begins to see what he will do.
It has helped a lot to make him hungry and able to eat more. Exercise is great like that.

Norooz 1393

Norooz Pyrooz on this beautiful day of Spring. As this Norooz comes this year, we pray that all those who have the least bit of sadness in their life are freed and can fly with the shining sun to a new day and true happiness.

Our 12 Year Anniversary

I cannot believe 12 years have flown by, yet when I think back about our life, it feels like we've climbed so many mountains to get here. With each and every step, I am thankful for what life has taught us to make us who we have become.



Just like a plant which grows from sunlight and water, the soul grows through faith. Without God, life is meaningless and never satisfying, always wanting more. I'm so thankful to God for all the ways He has helped us in our life to be content and to keep focus on what is really important.



My dear Arya, today I want you to know that love conquers all. No matter how great the bad is around you, be with love and go with love. The bad will fade away and love will remain. Thank you for the love you give, my son.

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 :)