Alan's headed home!

I'm a little jealous that Alan gets to go home to visit for the weekend. He has a meeting in Houston, and we had a few things that we left undone at home so while he is in the states he is headed home for a few days. When he first told me he was going I was really jealous, then as I started to think about it I realized it benefits me. I packed all of his clothes into a carry on suitcase and now...he can bring back good stuff for me! I just hope this week goes by fast, and that he has a fun time with family. Unfortunately he took our camera with him so no picture posts for a week or so. Sorry

GO COUGARS!!!

I am so glad for Alan's sake that we got a Slingbox before we came!!
Alan woke up Sunday morning at 4:00 a.m. just to watch the game. I knew were going to get killed so I slept in until half time!! Boy did I miss out!! Needless to say, I did get to watch the first half because of course Alan DVR'd it, and we watched it over and over! Gotta love the Cougars!! And gotta LOVE SLINGBOX!! (except when the commercials play for things back home)

Ganesha Festival Videos

So we finally got our unlimited Internet so I can upload video. This video is of the day people were taking their Ganesha statues to the lake to put them in. I was standing at the bus stop inside Adarsh Vista waiting for my kids to come home from school. The people danced like this all the way to the lake. Now that I watch this video I have to laugh because I recognize some of the people dancing. The man in the red shirt and tan pants with the bandanna on his head is our Adarsh Vista 24 hour electrician.

Once we got back to our house Vijay, our driver, asked if we'd like to go see the lake where they put Ganesha. We drove and picked Alan up at work and went to Ulsoor Lake.

This is video of the road going to Alan's office. We are turning onto Old Madras Road and then we turn into the RMZ office.

This is at Ulsoor Lake. Vijay told us that usually you put your own Ganesha Statue into the lake, but last year a small boy drown in the lake so they had a lot of security there to put them in the lake for you this year.

Parrots?

So I was walking to the bus stop the other day to get my kids when I saw this really pretty bird. After a minute I looked and noticed that there were a lot of them. I never have seen birds like these flying around like you'd see Robins at home. I came home and told Alan about these pretty birds that I saw. He told me he thought they were probably Parrots. Aren't parrots red? I obviously am not that educated on birds. I had no idea that they could look like this. He pulled up a picture on the internet and sure enough, we have parrots that fly around wild here.

Sunday Morning

Ethan had a few good lines this morning as we were getting ready for church. The first one made my day. The conversation went something like this:

Mom: Ethan hurry and lets get dressed for church.

Ethan: I want to wear my shirt with a pocket.

Mom: OK here is the white one just like Dads.

Ethan: Mom, I wish I was a Dad already.

Mom: Why?

Ethan: Then I could marry you!

I knew deep down he really loved me even though he always tells me that he only loves Dad!

Then the next conversation with Alan was a pretty good one too. Alan had to speak in church today and I was telling all of my kids that if they couldn't sit quietly in Sacrament Meeting they were going to have to have "church practice" when we get home.

Ethan: Then what can I do in church?

Mom: You can sit and listen to Dad talk.

Ethan: What's he going to say?

Dad: I'm going to teach you some good stuff.

Ethan: I already know good stuff.

Dad: What good stuff do you know.

Ethan: Like don't hit people.

Dad: What other good stuff do you know?

Ethan: You shouldn't banish people either.

That kid had me laughing all the way to church, and it's a good thing because he was awful in Sacrament Meeting and I just had to keep thinking to my self his funny conversations this morning to keep from loosing it! Alan gave a great talk about prophets. He mentioned in it that I had had the opportunity to ride in the elevator with President Hinckley and after church I became the most popular person with questions about him.

After church there was a baptism and I told Alan that I thought it would be a good experience to stay and let our kids watch the baptism of these 2 brothers and 1 sister. The missionaries baptized them, and then afterwards while we were waiting for them to change out of their wet clothes they wanted to sing some hymns. The pianist had left so they turned to me and asked me if I played the piano. I very timidly said I could play a little, so they asked me to play. ha ha ha!! Mom, why did you let me quit taking lessons? Don't answer that I already know the answer. I wouldn't have wanted to listen to me whine about practicing either. I played "Choose the Right" the only hymn I know and then they asked me to play something else. I plunked my way through "Teach Me to Walk in the Light". Needless to say I think I'll start practicing playing some hymns just in case they ever ask me again. Afterward, I leaned over to Ellie and told her to never quit practicing because you never know if someone is going to ask you to help play the piano.

Ganesha Festival

Alan came home from work the other day and has told me that some of his co-workers in the US are following our blog. I have alot of good video that I have been taking, but as with everything here, it takes so long to get anything done and just to upgrade our internet to unlimited takes 5 days. ha ha I'll have to post the video after Monday (when I can upload it on our unlimited internet)but until then...Ross this one's for you.

This past week has been the Ganesha Festival. It is a party in the streets every night.

Our driver is Hindu so he was telling us all about it, his English is very good, but still I had a hard time with some of the story. As far as I could understand...Ganesh is the God with the Elephant head. His father is Shiva, and I can't remember his mothers name, but the story goes that his mother wanted to bathe so she told Ganesh to stand at the door so no one could come in while she was in the bath. Shiva came and Ganesh wouldn't let him come in because his mother was bathing. This made Shiva mad and he cut Ganesh's head off and when the mother saw this she was very angry with Shiva so, Shiva went out and found a sleeping elephant and cut it's head off and placed it on Ganesh's body. That is why he has an elephant head. I am pretty sure they are celebrating his birthday, but not positive. The people keep these Ganesh statues in their home for anywhere between 5 days to 10 days and then they take them to the lake and put them in. They send Ganesha off and he takes with him all of their misfortunes. Sunday was the begining of the festival and we went for a drive to see the parties. I videoed some of the activity, but again...you'll have to wait until Tuesday for that.

When I went to pick the kids up from the bus on Thursday (the day to put Ganesh in the lake) it was a party. At the same place where the kids get dropped off, inside Adarsh Vista, they were taking Ganesh.

We stood and watched for a minute. There was drumming and dancing all in front of this tractor that was pulling the Ganesh. They were also chanting something, but I didn't understand it. When I got the kids back to the house our driver asked if we would like to go and see the lake that they put the Ganeshes into. That night he took us to Ulsoor Lake. It was amazing.

These are some people carrying their Ganesh to the lake

The had a big crane lifting the big Ganeshes in. The statues range anywhere from 3/4 inch tall to 25 feet tall
Again Annie steels the show. In this picture the man on the left is our driver Vijay. He was very protective of her. He was a little nervous I could tell because there were so many people there. He wanted all of our children holding someones hand. He offered to carry Annie so that I could hold Ellie and Maddie's hands while Alan took Ethan.
I think he was kind of excited that Annie actually went to him. She usually will go to our maid, but she doesn't usually let him hold her. She was happy that night and I think it made his night.

A Pioneer Day Activity

I've been meaning to blog about the activity that our Elder Quorum had for the 24th of July. Unfortunately Alan wasn't able to go because we were still trying to settle in. They forwarded us these pictures and we've heard all about the fun it was. Also, they planned the activity, and the Relief Society planned an activity for the same day. I think this would have been fun to do with families.
For those of you who are following our blog and don't know the significance of the 24th of July in Utah, Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in Utah, with some celebrations in regions of surrounding states originally settled by Mormon pioneers. It commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847, where the Latter-day Saints settled after being forced from Nauvoo, Illinois and other locations in the eastern United States. Parades, fireworks, rodeos, and other festivities help commemorate the event.
In addition to being an official holiday in Utah, Pioneer Day is considered a special occasion by many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). On Pioneer Day, some Latter-day Saints walk portions of the Mormon Trail or reenact entering the Salt Lake Valley by handcart. Latter-day Saints throughout the United States and around the world may celebrate July 24 in remembrance of the LDS Churches' pioneer era, with songs, dances, and pioneer related activities. While the holiday has strong links to the LDS Church, it is a celebration of everyone, regardless of faith and nationality, who emigrated to the Salt Lake Valley during the pioneer era, which is generally considered to have ended with the 1869 arrival of the transcontinental railroad. (taken from Wikipedia)
These guys are all dressed in their pioneer clothes. The man 2nd in on the left is the District President, and in the middle is the EQ President, I don't recognize the others with their beards on though but I think the guy on the left might be the counselor in the Branch Presidency.
They met at the Branch building and built their covered wagons, and then began their trek. The branch building represented Nauvoo I think.
They made stops at Far West and Winter Quarters for food.

They trekked through Bangalore with their covered wagons.

When they finally reached the Salt Lake Valley (church property, site for our new chapel) they played pioneer games like water balloon toss and hoola hoop contest.

I looks like they had a lot of fun!