Feel better, sweet friend

Mia's little friend, Anika is feeling sick today. I told Mia, but she still wanted to see her...hmmmm I grabbed Mia up and whisked her away to the computer to show her pictures from a couple of weeks ago when Anika and her mama, Anjalika came over to play. Anja and I took turns using my camera...so I'm actually in a few shots!

Mia loves Anja for many many reasons, but this day it was for chocolate croissants

Mama playing dress up with her lil doll (taken by Anja)

lil angel (taken by Anja)

LOVE her fake smile (taken by Anja)

Mia demonstrates how to use a bed

Anika gives it a try

Mia shows Anika how to sleep :)

I love this little girl (taken by Anja)

Anika enjoying her Thai chicken soup

I'm wearing a hat that's even too small for Mia ( by Anja)

Anja captured this sweet lizardy hug

what a ferocious dragon! (also taken by Anja)

Hugs to you, Anika...feel better soon :)

Happy Birthday Atta

We love you

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Hindi & Bindi

My darling friend, Anjalika and her sweet Anika hosted a playdate about their Indian culture. Anja let me wear one of her Indian outfits. I felt so pretty, but then she broke out the bindi's!!!! She picked a funky red on for me, and Mia picked one that she called a ladybug. Anja, Andrea, Melissa, Lora and I were all in some form of beautiful Indian attire...oh, Anika, too....and Mia had a little Indian-ish outfit on. All the mamas and kiddos were sporting their bindis!

Anja spent an amazing amount of time, energy and love into cutting out templates of each children's name in Hindi. I'm so glad Andrea got their early, too. She worked like the wind on attaching the velcro to all the pieces. Teamwork :) Here's a pic of Mia's painted name...Mia painted it..that's were the wonderful templates came in ;)

It was such a wonderful, loving and fun atmosphere. Indian music in the back ground, delicious Indian food. All I can say is that I'm ready for the next one!

this pic courtesy of Andrea

Mother Sister

While playing/getting ready for next weeks' Cinco de Mayo fiesta, dear friend Anjalika spoke much Hindi with her sweet daughter, Anika. They recently returned from their 10 week sojourn to India. One word repeatedly used, and seemed to use either Andrea or me in context was 'Masi'. Anjalika explained that it meant 'mother sister' which literally means aunt, but is often used for close female friends. Andrea and I are both in LOVE with being called Masi. It's so cariñoso (loving and affectionate). It really describes the over all feel of our time spent together yesterday. It was a lovely day and a lovely time for us as well as the children.

Andrea lovingly cooked up some fideo con pollito for us, Anjalika made this super tasty salad. Over lunch, I let it out that I'd never had Indian food before....it's just never come up in restaurant choices. What would I even order?!?! Then later, we talked about the Festival of Colors...an Indian festival. While I'm very open to other cultures, I honestly haven't been exposed to many. That's gonna change, cuz Anjalika and Anika are planning to host an Indian themed playdate :) Yay! It just never occured to her that we'd be interested in it....it's her culture, just like my Latin :) culture...we don't know other people would be intrigued or thing it was special.