April Fool's Day

I don't know what my obsession is with April Fools. I love this day. I don't know if it is because my mom used to play little tricks on us when I was little, or if it's because Alan is so busy this time of year that he never realizes what day it is. I am able to play the same little trick on him every year and it usually works like a charm. Unfortunately, this year apparently I'm too predictable. Alan checked his underwear before putting them on, and my kids asked me first thing if I was going to make "soap" cookies. I told Alan my plans for making breakfast for my kids...I was going to make faunacookin (I have no idea how to spell it) and instead of sprinkling sugar in it, I was going to sprinkle salt. I made breakfast and Maddie caught me in the act. I told her to be quiet and see who got that one. I asked who wanted the first one and no one did. Alan was already eating a good one because he had to leave for work. I set it aside and made the next one a good one for Alan again. Before I had it finished he asked if the one on the counter was for him. I told him he could have it if he wanted it, thinking he would know what I had done. NOPE! After one bite he was bent over the garbage can spitting it out. I GOT HIM!!

The Mall and Annie

Today I ventured out with Annie to the mall. I usually leave her home with Baby so that she doesn't get touched too much (everyone here wants to hold her or pinch her checks and she HATES it), but Baby took today off. I had to go and get a present for Maddie to take to a birthday party tomorrow morning.

As we waited for Vijay to come with the car I snapped a few pictures in our front yard. Annie was playing with Ethan's rock collection that has been placed by the front door for easy access. Don't ask me, Ethan's idea. He comes home from school everyday with 2-3 rocks in his pocket.

The garbage man came.

Then I had my daily flash back of the "Back to the Future" Libyans

When Vijay got there he loaded up the stroller for me and realized it was full of Lizards. I was able to get a picture of the last one before he got rid of it.

At the mall we got all of our shopping done for the day and Annie saw these little rides and wanted to get on.

As I watched her I realized how big she is getting. I remembered the day Ellie wore this outfit. I was in the hospital having Maddie and my mom brought her to the hospital wearing this outfit. I can't believe how much she has changed since we have been here.

If you can't tell I'm loving my new camera.

Water buffalo

I know that I have mentioned before about the cows and how they wander the busy streets of Bangalore, but have I ever mentioned the Water Buffalo?

These are also commonly wandering the roads.

After snapping the picture of the babies, I noticed that the mother water buffalo was starting to look angry so I jumped back in the car.

One day a month or so ago Alan was on his way to work and one charged the car. Vijay had to swerve out of the way and barely missed hitting it, or having it hit him.

Shopping on Commercial Street

Yesterday I went out with Jennie, the wife of one of the EY coaches here. We decided that we needed to go bartering so we went to commercial street. I learned a few things from Vijay. 1-When they tell you a price always offer back 1/2 what they say and 2-Once you come to a price, only give them part of the money they ask for. Sometimes they accept again lower. Even after learning this, I'm not any good at it.

We decided to get some Joolry. That is one thing about Indians. They wear ALOT of "Joolry". It is usually in bright colors too. Everything here is so vibrant with color.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

So I'm a day late posting...

The day before St Patrick's Day I told Baby that we needed to make a green dinner and that I needed to find Green food coloring. She looked at me a little puzzled so I explained St. Patrick's Day to her. I'm pretty sure she thinks we are CRAZY, but I'm also pretty sure that I think India is a little crazy at times too.

I made green pancakes for breakfast and Maddie and Ellie were really excited that their uniforms were green. Whoa, that was LUCKY! :) Ethan made sure he was wearing his neon green soccer uniform shirt too. Again, LUCKY we were on the green team before we came here. Even Baby joined in the fun and wore green. (I think she was afraid that Ethan really would pinch her)

For dinner we ate broccoli, grapes, green jello with pears, and parmesean chicken. For dessert...Home made oreo cookies with Green frosting. LUCKY I brought cream cheese back with me from Salt Lake.

We sure did have a LUCKY St Patrick's Day. The only thing my kids missed was "Lucky" our Leprachaun from the backyard. Maybe she visited the Lunts this year.

Tech Support

So...have you ever called a tech support number for anything? Computers, printers, etc.? Well, last night I had to call a tech support for my new external hard drive that Alan gave me for Christmas. It has been working fine until my last trip home. Ever since I've been back I can't get my computer to recognize it. I was having a little difficulty with it at home while I was there, but eventually the computer would recognize and I could do what I needed. Now, nothing!!! I looked up the number online for the WD Tech Support. There were many different numbers to call depending on where you are. Because we have our US telephone still, I called the US number thinking I would be talking to someone maybe on the East Coast or something. NOPE! The instant the man answered, I knew he was just down the street. His accent was a dead giveaway, and then when I had to spell my name and he repeated it back to me saying K for Kilo E for Elephant, R for... and I for India, I was sure. He asked me my problems, and I have to say that after living here for 9 months it is not nearly as difficult to understand what they are saying on the phone.

After the call was almost finished and we concluded that I needed to have a replacement hard drive sent to me, I asked where I had to mail it to, and if there was anyway they could ship it to India. He asked where I was and I told him Bangalore. I'm sure he was shocked. He told me to call the Indian Tech Support and they could give me an address here that I can take the hard drive to be replaced. So...I guess there might be some advantage to tech support if you live here. I don't need to mail in my hard drive after all, I just have to take it to the address down the street and they will give me a new one.

Water bottle?

No need for caption