Boot Camp

Kev has taken to sleeping on the floor. This picture was taken last night around 10:30 PM. A similar picture could have been taken today around 1:30 PM. Amiya, trying to "help," laid down with Kev yesterday on his floor to get him to take his afternoon nap. Ever since, the floor is the place to be.

He lays out Grandma's quilt, surrounds himself with monkey and giraffe and puts his head down for a snooze. I think it's very much toddler basic training - sleeping on a hard surface, no blanket, etc. Except I don't think the Marines wear footed pajamas and get to sleep with not one, but two cuddly stuffed animals.

The First Day of Kindergarten

Ah.

It was fabulous. Amiya woke up when I went into her room and was up in (almost) a flash. She was dressed, coiffed and at the table for breakfast by 6:35. By 7 AM breakfast was done, teeth brushed and backpack on. Then thirty minutes of little bits of this and that.

Do you get the feeling that she was excited? She was.

You can see her here - please note the lack of cheesy five-year-old hamming for the camera smile. These are the real deal.

She has to wear a big ol' white foot on her shirt for the next week and a half until everyone knows how everyone is supposed to get home. Three guesses as to how she feels about being emblazoned with a big ol' foot. She looked adorable in her uniform and I kept thinking to myself that she looked so old, so big, so grown-up. (Until I saw the fifth grade girls and then I wanted to swaddle her and put her back in the crib!)

On the way to school, Amiya rode with Vinay in Bob (the blue wonder car) and I drove with Kev in the other car. I shed a few tears but got it all under control before Amiya could see it and either get nervous herself or be a little stinker and make it worse.

At school we walked to her classroom, dropped off her bookbag and lunchbox (more on that later), cookies for the teachers and snacks for the kids. Her new teacher, Mrs. Jefferis, wanted to take a family picture so we did and off we went. Amiya was ready, it was a bit "You're still here?" when we were in the room.

About that lunch box - I packed a perfect first day lunch for Amiya. Half of a PBJ on sneaky whole wheat bread, carrots, applesauce, granola bar, cookie, a bottle of icy cold water and a cute little note from both Vinay and I. All things she likes, all things she'll eat, all things relatively healthy. But for some reason, Amiya was told she was supposed to have a hot lunch. ????????? What!??! It's all fine, but when this little one comes home and tells me she's ravenous because she didn't like the egg roll, so she only ate the snack packet of goldfish crackers, I'm not thrilled. Not angry, but definitely want to figure out what happened so that it does not happen again.

On our way from school to the car, we talked about how the day went and she was very talkative - a pleasant change from last year. I'm taking the Miss Lauren approach and asking who got in trouble - that seems to break the ice. All pining for Miss Amina has gone out the window it seems, because the child could not sing the praises of Mrs. Jefferis enough. I suspect it has something to do with the smelly stamp that Amiya got, but can't say for sure.

All in all, a very, very good day for the first day of kindergarten. I will let you know how day 2 goes as soon as we have it! School was called today on account of the very innocuous "Hurricane" Fay who couldn't even be bothered to tinkle on Tampa. (Which is good, all things considered, I know.)

The official first day of school shot that my Mom made us do for years. Amiya was very excited to continue the tradition. Please note that she is not wearing tights, they are knee-highs, but on Amiya, they're thigh-highs. She wanted to wear them - I tried to dissuade her - 90 degrees yesterday, but the girl has got to do her thing, I guess.

It's the night before kindergarten....

...and I'm just not sure how to feel about all of this. Vinay and I have both been marveling at how she could have possibly gone from unable to get her fist to her mouth for the first month of life to ready for kindergarten and yet, here we are.

More important than our feelings are her feelings and she is good to go! Here and there she will make a complaint about not having Miss Amina for her teacher, but we think she'll like her new teacher very much.

In an effort to make the most of this last week of freedom (because really, when has someone outside of our immediate family dictated our schedule for 80% of the calendar year before? That's what I'm struggling with the most, but I digress. Again. I know.) we planned a week full of fun and merriment.
Monday morning at the aquarium. We saw fish, sharks (mammal? fish? not quite sure), turtles and penguins. We also purchased one plastic manatee that has not left Kev's side yet.


Tuesday we spent the whole day at Fort DeSoto beach in St. Pete with Amiya's original playgroup pals. It was a really fabulous day - the kids played together well, the little guys are old enough that they're (mostly) not eating sand and the sun played hide and seek with the clouds, so not too hot. The trench that you see was built by the kids - and the help of Ms. Sherri - and they were very proud!
It was bittersweet for us Moms - we're all pretty good friends who met because of the kids and now they're moving on.



Amiya and Kev in a moment of sibling harmony Friday night. Did you catch that jump? That's right, we've skipped from Tuesday right to Friday. Wednesday was chock full of playdates at our house and then the horror of Kev's toe. Thursday was a very rainy day in Tampa, so we laid low and watched Kev carefully.

This picture was taken at the restaurant we went to Friday night to meet long-time friends Paul and Yvette from Illinois, along with their two children James and Daniel. We had a very nice dinner with them and Amiya came away very fond of both boys.
On the way home from dinner out, both kids fell asleep just as we pulled into the driveway. Amiya had me in tears for most of the drive because she was requesting all the songs we used to sing to her as a baby. It just rubbed a bit more proverbial salt into the wounds I've been licking with her going to kindergarten. Vinay laughed, I cried. Amiya caught on to me and seemed to be encouraging the sobfest. Ah, classic Amiya.

In retrospect, I guess it's very, very sweet that she's big enough to go to kindergarten but still young enough that she wanted Mommy to sing her a few songs to help her fall asleep.

Pageant Mom Am I

Doesn't she look like she should be entering beauty pageants?

Here's the story. Amiya has wanted her ears pierced since foreeeeeever. And we've been stalling and putting it off for foreeeeever. Well, no more. Amiya's cousin Nisha was in town and so off we went to the mall one sunny Sunday morning to get Amiya's ears pierced.

Now, I can't say for sure how these things are done as my ears were pierced (at my request) by my Mother at my Grandmother's house when I was 12. I remember ice, alcohol (for sterilization, although perhaps it should have been for consumption as well) and a needle. And it wasn't horrible. My ears were pierced and I wore earrings just fine.
It was horrible for Amiya. I'm not quite sure of the profit margin for this chain and their ear piercing racket, but holy crap. We walked out of there with over $60 bucks on the card and there was no numbing of any sort. Even compressed air is a bit cold - come on! The girl (and she was, truly, just a young girl) dotted Amiya's ears with a marker, cleaned 'em with some alcohol and lined up the gun with the (can you even believe it!?!?) $26 pair of starter earrings and took to Amiya's ear. She was agonizingly slooooooow with that damn gun and Amiya's right ear. I could see her squeezing and kept thinking that she was going way to slow. But who am I to know?

Let's reflect on how Amiya probably reacted.

Anyone? Anyone?

That's right. Hysterics. Mayhem. Sobbing. Screams of "No, Mommy! No!" for roughly 30 minutes. (I kid you not.)

And that's where the pageant mom thing came in. I didn't really have a good way to say how I was feeling at that moment until discussing the whole shabang with my friend Lauren. She very aptly stated that I must have felt like people were looking at me like I was some sort of pageant mom, forcing my daughter to do something against her will to be beautiful.
Now, I don't know if I know any pageant moms. It's not something that is always floated out there over the juice boxes and goldfish at the park. I'm sure that there pageant moms who are completely fabulous, so I'm not knocking the group. That being said, I couldn't be further from the stereotypical one, so holding a screaming five year old next to the gaudy jewelry at the mall while receiving glares from other shoppers was not my most cherished moment.
Eventually Amiya came to terms with the idea that she would either have to get ear #2 pierced or that she would forever have a hole in ear #1 as we would have to take that one out, box up both of the (did I mention?) $26 starter earrings and go home, not to repeat the process until she is legally able to do it without my signature.

She decided to go forward with #2, but only if I held her. Fine by me. This time salesgirl's caffeine seemed to be working properly and it was done lickety-split. I am not sure why it could not have been done lickety-split the first time, but I guess what doesn't kill Amiya makes her stronger, right? And now she has a brave story to tell.

Spa Gupta

On Wednesday, Kev opened a door over his foot and tore up his right big toenail pretty badly. It's mostly lifted off of the nail bed, but still attached at the base so it does a lot of oozing and blushing. It's not fun for us, but he's more or less oblivious. We have been keeping it clean and dry and trying to protect it from him picking at it. But today it seemed more red than previously and more crusty, too. So it's been long soaks in epsom salt and water and then antibiotic salve, bandages and socks. It's very spa-like around here for Kev lately. We put on an entertaining video (Caillou, naturally), made sure manatee was with him, delicately removed the bandages from his feet and then massaged the skin around the offending nail while he sat and watched his favorite whiney four year old.

Tomorrow we'll head to the doctor just to make sure nothing is horribly wrong (beyond that which is, obviously, horribly wrong) and to make sure that, unlike his Great Granfather on his Grandpa's side, he will retain all ten toes for a good long time.

Growth Spurt

It's official. I am going back to work.

I have to. Between rising prices on every basic item (except lobster - that's cheaper this year than last!) and a son who is on a massive food tear, I have to go back to work. Please send suggestions for jobs that are quiet (because I might lose my mind if I go from chatty kids @ breakfast to work and back home to chatty kids) to me. Thanks in advance.

Meanwhile, back to the real cause of our robust food budget as of late:

That's right. It's all about Kev. Last night we went to a salad bar restaurant for dinner - Kev ate a plate full of veggies, two large servings of mac 'n cheese, one muffin ("Mo bwed peeze Mommy!") and about a cup of apple crisp with vanilla ice cream on it. Before anyone gets upset about the carb overload - that's not a typical meal for us! But, he did put away a huge amount of food - to the point that his little tummy was too snug in the car seat and the straps had to be loosened up a bit. And yet, this morning he woke up and I can still clearly see his ribs showing through his skin. I want his metabolism!!!

And here's proof of why he's eating so much. These are the pants from this winter - they were covering his heels in January!

Birthday Wrap-Up

Well, yesterday marked one week since the Rochester Guptas came to town and I feel like we are finally getting back to even after the fun of their visit, the blog and the pool party. Even though Vinay protested over and over that he didn't want anything special, I think he had a really fun time and appreciated that people were thinking of him. A few more pictures:

Amiya and Nisha decorating cookies together.

Kev and Ravi doing puzzles. (That's Vinnie sleeping behind them.)

Ravi, Nisha, Kev and Amiya on the last day.

A tablescape (ha!) from Vinay's party. Each table had marigolds potted in a pot with Indian-inspired decorations and lots of pictures of Vinay through the years. In the background you can see Vinay's cupcakes - there were three kinds of icing - chai, mango and coconut on yellow butter cakes and then chocolate ganache on chocolate (for Vinay, although he didn't get any!). Each cupcake was topped with a little paisley to match the cookies:

The cookies were chai flavored with fondant covering and royal icing mehndi-inspired designs.

It's a good thing Vinay knew what was going on because when he had to stand at the door for a few minutes while our friend Matt tried to get it unlocked! I bet he would have bolted had it actually been a surprise!

Vinay (with Kev) blowing out his candles. It was a very fun night - all our friends, all the kids, relaxing with a kid-friendly meal (thus minimal complaining!) around the pool. Just what Vinay would have wanted had he gotten the chance to express his opinions!

Happy Birthday from Mike and Melody Hounsell!

Happy Birthday Vinay!

Another mile marker reached in your life, and now you have a wonderful wife and children to share it with. We hope you have a great celebration and really enjoy your birthday.

Congratulations.
Michael and Melody

Happy Birthday from the Krishnas!

Hi Vinay:

Happy 40th birthday from both of us.

Love,

Ram and Rajshree

Happy Birthday from The Bowens

Calendar page turns,
A new friend is now forty.
Doesn't look that old.


With our best wishes and many happy returns,-Phil, Deborah, Benjamin, and Frederic Bowen

Happy Birthday from Brijen Gupta!

Vinay,

Best wishes for happiness on your birthday!

You have brought laurels to your extended family and made us so very proud of you - especially for choosing Christy as your lifelong partner.

Brijen

*Christy's note: Brijen, you are a man of infinite wisdom. I could not agree with you more.

Happy Birthday from Babu and Philo!

Hi Vinay,

I guess the surprise is probably out of the bag by now, but I wanted to join your blog party and wish you the best on this happy occasion. You are probably saying, oh, another big milestone, but for someone who is looking at his upcoming 60th birthday, 40 sounds awfully young and brings back memories of days long past.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the day and the blessings you have.

Best regards,
Babu and Philo

Happy Birthday from Bill and Don!

More Strength to Give
More Lesson to Teach
More Happiness to Share

Every good thing about you grows better with time!

Happy Birthday!

As ever,
Bill and Don

Happy Birthday from Saroj Didi!

I remember fondly Vinay singing, "I have seen my Mother, but not her feet!"

Happy Birthday Vinay!
Saroj Didi

Happy Birthday from Karen Bonk!

A creaking knee
An aching back
A balding head
A burning crack

Forty comes
And forty goes
And in its wake
Leaves all of those

But do not fear
No do not fret
All good years
Aren't over yet

You still have time
To sew your oats
To drive your cars
And sail your boats

A youthful look
Can still be bought
A Nip a tuck
A botox shot

But do not tarry
No don't delay
Forty-one's
Not far away!
- Remington Armfield

Vinay, have a wonderful Birthday! You're as young as you feel.

Karen

Happy Birthday from Alveda Williams!

(Alveda holding a three week old Amiya - April 2003)

Vinay:

As you make your birthday wishes, may they all come true! It's been 10+ years since I first walked into your office looking for a graduate research advisor. What a pleasure is has been to know you, to have learned from you, and to have grown because of you. Happy 40th Birthday. May God continue to bless you with many more!

Regards,

Alveda J. Williams

P.S. I never told you this, but it's worth sharing for this occasion. As one of only a few African-American graduate students in Chemistry at UIUC, I was pretty popular with the NOBCChE undergraduates for a number of reasons. They looked to me as a mentor... a tutor... but they were most impressed with the fact that I worked for "Sexy Gupta". :-)

Happy Birthday from Ananya and Anvita!

(Ananya, Vinay, Anvita Delhi 2007)

Bobby chacha...

Bachhon ki chi chi mein rahte
Phir bhi unko laad ladaatey
Isiliye chacha kahlaatey
Humne bhi ye gaurav paya
Tumhare jaisa chacha paya

...Ananya & Anvita

"Living amidst childrens' mischief and tantrums (chi chi)
Yet pampering them with your love
Thats why you are called cha cha
We are also proud
to have a chacha (uncle) like you"
(Rohini's Translation)

Happy Birthday from Jijaji and Rajshree Didi!

(Rajshree Didi, Rohini, Rohit, Vinay and Jijaji Delhi 2007)

Bobby...

U were 11 or 12 years old...coming home from school in IIT when some rowdy boys stole ur bycycle at Katwaria Sarai...My heart went out to u...when u reported the incident...

...ur calling me "Dattoo didi"....Rohini and Chinu thot that was what u called me fondly but later they were told that u did so cos u were unable to pronounce "Doctor Didi" as a kid and somehow the name stuck!

...Poonam didi/Rajshree

Happy Birthday from Rohini!

Mama...

On this special day...4 August, 2008, I recollect fond memories of our childhood spent together for so many years in IIT...

Remember your friend Ajay Mahajan's sister Namrata who was my friend? For many years she kept thinking you were my own elder brother because you were friends with and same age group as her brother. She came to know you were my uncle only accidentally, when she once came home and heard you calling to mummy as "didi"!

...remember my calling you by your name instead of 'mama' ...and 'tu' instead of 'tum' or 'aap' cos of the way we behaved...fought...almost like siblings and as if we were the same age...and you never complained....it was many years later after nanaji snubbed me that i was forced to call u 'mama'....and tum or aap instead of tu...I know u like it but I never did nor do...it feels as if something died between us...distanced us in some strange sort of way...

...I still remember you eating arhar dal, chawal, bhindi...all mixed together and a big fat novel in one hand at the same time..nani calling out to you to eat first and not to read side by side...but you won't listen...so stubborn...that was your usual habit...its amazing how you still managed to be called a well-mannered kid!...and you would finish the whole novel the same day!!

...I and Chinu used to come home from school (Mother's Intl) when we were small (well not quite so small though) and straight to your room and jump on and climb all over you while you were resting or even wake you up from your nap...trying to get you to play with us...without realising you yourself were just back from school and tired...but you never complained...at least not to the elders of the house!! We loved those moments with you...

...I will never forget the kite-flying with you (and Pinto mama)....in the lanes of IIT... .and also the Holis celebrated in the campus...you were the one to come up with the idea of 'permament colour' to put on people through water balloons!!...something you used to make with reetha and stuff and some purple crystal powder...(Was it potassium permaganate??)...I still haven't figured out!

...and I was most facinated by your creative skills as well...esp one episode...the macrame pot hanger (with jute and glass beads) that you made as SUPW...work assigned from school...even scolded me when I tried to lend a helping hand!!...and a paper mache project in which you made a pencil stand...i think you were in 9th or 10th grade...I would think of it as a girls' craft and was impressed by how seriously you took to it...something to share with Christy's mom perhaps...!!

Oh and how can I forget...and I will always hate you for the prank you played on me with Raman in IIT when the lights were out once...You offered me a Wrigley's chewing gum (which used to be a craze with us at the time)...I was delighted as I put it in my mouth only to realise it was the front part...the white ribbed rubber strip of your school canvas shoes which had come off !! UGHHH...!!...you knew I would trust you and not Raman though it was Raman's idea..!

...It was terrible for us kids when you went to IIT Powai for your engineering...We missed you so...I always awaited your letters anxiously...and would be delighted to get a response from you to mine...(I treasured all your letters for many many years!)

....Rohini

Happy Birthday from Uncle Ron and Aunt Mary Hounsell

(Uncle Ron and Kev, Summer 2006)

Mary and I are aunt and uncle to Christy on the Hounsell side. We don't see Vinay or Christy very often due to distance, etc., but have always enjoyed our visits. Thus there aren't many funny moments to recount. If we didn't know Christy's great sense of humor, we might suspect that Vinay was all earnestness! But we know that can't be so and have seen the joy, sense of wonder and excitement in both kids, too. We're glad to be family.

Vinay - we hope you have a great day and many more to follow!

Here's some of my favorite engineering jokes. I know they're aeronautical, but it's as close as I could get.

Enjoy!
Ron & Mary

After every flight, pilots fill out a form called a gripe sheet, whichconveys to the mechanics problems encountered with the aircraft during theflight that need repair or correction. The mechanics read and correct theproblem, and then respond in writing on the lower half of the form whatremedial action was taken, and the pilot reviews the gripe sheets before thenext flight. Never let it be said that ground crews and engineers lack asense of humor. Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints andproblems as submitted by Qantas pilots and the solution recorded bymaintenance engineers. By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never had an accident.

P = The problem logged by the pilot, S = The solutionand action taken by the engineers.

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feetper minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for.

P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds likea midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.

Happy Birthday from The Paulin Family

Happy Birthday from Jaishree Didi

(Three of Vinay's four lovely sisters - Renu Didi, Rajshree Didi and Jaishree Didi)

When Bobby was 5 years old and I got married he was crying [at my husband], "Jeeja Ji don't take away Didi." After some years when he had grown up and appeared for Eighth class he topped school and got so many prizes in the annual function of school everybody at home was happy. In his first attempt he got admission in I.I.T.. From his scholarship he gave me a wall clock. Bobby is our loveliest brother.

Love,
Jaishree Didi

Happy Birthday from the Dysh Side of the Family

(The Dysh Family Portrait from our wedding - December 2003
Genevieve, Margaret Mary (Mia), Jerome, Christine, Mike, Max and Odilia
Grandma & Grandpa in front)

Hello Vinay,

Happy 40th Birthday! This is going to be a family email.


Grandma and Grampa Dysh wish you a very Happy Birthday. Super Grandma would have sent it herself but doesn't know how to use Uncle Jerome's computer.

Aunt Odilia and Uncle Earl wish you the best on your 40th. Aunt Odilia still chuckles over the comment you made to her, "What's with all the Aunties? They're all going blonde!"

And from John and I - Vinay Happy 40th Birthday!! May you continue to be Blessed with good health and lots of Happiness. You are a wonderful addition to our family and a joy to be around.

Love Aunt Mia and Uncle John

Bonne Anniversaire de Genevieve et Jean-Jacques

(Genevieve, Vinay, Christy and Jean-Jacques with the chalices he turned for our wedding. December 2003)

Happy Birthday from France!

Grosses Bises,
Genevieve and Jean-Jacques

Happy Birthday from Celine, Nico and Jules!

(Christy, Céline, Nico, Vinay and another French friend Thônes, 2002)

Dear Vinay,

You are definitely associated with good memories and we cannot forget the first time you ate reblochon at Genevieve and Jean-Jacques’ place ! Now you turn forty, you are not only a bit older and wiser but you are also ready to taste all of French weird meals with us during your next trip to France (escargots and Corsica cheese will be waiting for you).

We both wish you the very best for the future, and we are looking forward to seeing you soon !

We wish you a happy birthday, à très bientot,

Bises,
Céline, Nico & Jules

Happy Birthday from the Morris Family

Vinay is a great father – always patient, kind, listening, and teaching not only with his own kids, but with all of our kids. Gabe still comments about “when he saw planes making shapes in the sky with Mr. Vinay”. (I think he was 2 at the time – taking a walk with Amiya and Mr. Vinay). He is always so considerate with all of the kids and never hesitates to wipe a dirty butt or deal with a tantrum-y child. All of this translates to a happy daddy and a happy husband which makes for a happy home. We are fortunate to have a great role model for us all and the Gupta family as our friends. Happy 40th Vinay!

Happy Birthday from Christine Hounsell

Dear Vinay,

We wish that we were with you today as you celebrate this milestone day in your life. I'm sure that, being the modest person you are, you would not have wanted us to fuss over you. You are worth fussing over. From the first time I met you I was impressed by your polite, interested manner. I have not changed my opinion.

You are a good man, honest and kind. You are a good husband to our Christy, thoughtful and loving. You are a good father to Amiya and Kevalin, fair and generous with your love and praise. You are a good example to Tom, buying nice jewelry for Christy. You are my number one "Go To" guy whenever I have computer related issues. That, as you know, is pretty often.
You always make us feel welcome and wanted when we come visit. I'm sure there are times when you'd rather have your house to yourself.

Thank you for all the times that you are patient with our extended family and the issues that occasionally arise with them.

Have a wonderful birthday. You certainly deserve it!

Love, Hugs and Kisses!
Christine

Happy Birthday from Tom Hounsell!

HAPPY 4oth Vinay,

I wish we could be there with you to celebrate this milestone birthday but since we can't here are a few of my thoughts.

In the ten years or so that you have been part of our family there have been a number of events that have been etched into my memory for both good and not so good reasons - here are a few.

A phone call after midnight from an overjoyed daughter who couldn't wait until morning to tell us she was engaged.

Another memorable phone call to our house from you as you slid off the highway into the ditch when you were coming up for your
wedding.

Devon street and your father. I was overwhelmed with the hustle and bustle of that part of Chicago. (which I had no idea existed) And your father, what a nice, interesting man. (The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.)

You and your family surprising us in Alaska making Mom cry for joy. And then fishing with you on the Kenai River.

The snowman you built with the boys and you sleigh riding with Amiya and the snow blowing in your faces.

And finally you paring the 18th hole as we finished your first round of golf. (And perfecting your swing in your foyer.)

I'm sure there are more but this is enough for you to get the idea. We've been blessed with your presence in our family - THANKS Vinay!
Happy Birthday!!!!!

Tom

Happy Birthday from Heidi Schmidt

(Heidi is second from the right and was our Maid of Honor at our wedding)

Happy 40th Birthday Vinay!! Greetings from Wisconsin.

I wish I could think of a funny story or embarassing moment to tell about Vinay, but the guy is so perfect, I only have nice things to say.

Vinay- you are such a kind husband and a loving father. I hope your day is as good to you as you have been to those who know you. My fondest memories are of how sweet you were to Christy on your wedding day and how much fun you have with your kids when you visit and we hang out at the cabin or at the beach.

Have a great day!
Heidi Schmidt :)

Happy Birthday From The Moore Family!

Happy 40th Vinay! We've enjoyed getting to know you these past few years and having our children grow up together! Here's to another 40 great years!

Love,
The Moores

To Daddy from Amiya

Dear Daddy,


I love you.


All about my Dad. his brthday august 4 he had one baby on march 18 And one more baby on febury 23 wife is crsty.

I love how silly and he is 39.

Love your dodr,
Amiya

Six Years Old

Here's another picture sent by Rohini of a young Vinay. I hope you can click on the picture to enlarge it so you can enjoy the big, cheesy Vinay grin as much as I have been. I think he's one of three in the picture who are actually smiling. I guess then it is no surprise that the young scholar has remained in academia if it's always been so fun for him!

Gupta Invasion

Part of the birthday festivities for the well-aged Gupta include his family coming to town to share some time with us. Nisha, Sandy, Ravi and Vinnie arrived in Tampa around 11:00 AM Thursday morning and Amiya was, quite literally, rendered speechless. It was supposed to be a surprise for Amiya and Vinay, but Vinay found out about it ahead of time. Amiya somehow bought my explanation that we were going to the airport because only the Starbucks at the airport had the coffee I wanted to try. So, we stood at arrivals waiting and waiting and she was growing increasingly impatient because we weren't going to get my coffee (and her hot chocolate). Finally, the Pittsford Guptas came off the train and we found each other - Amiya didn't know what to say at all. Complete shock. Eventually she came around and she has told me no less than ten times that it was the greatest surprise ever and that this is the best weekend she's ever had. So really, all this was for Vinay, but I think Amiya is having a pretty good time, too!

We've spent 2.5 days with lots of fun and laughter - especially on the parts of Kev and Amiya who love the attention and the newness of four people they don't see a lot.

Friday evening was spent at the zoo:

Kev and Vinnie, Amiya and Nisha. It's clear that each kid has a preference, Amiya tends toward Nisha and Kev to Vinnie. Amiya goes for giggles and Kev likes the quiet.

Kev is very confused about who's who - Taoji (Vinnie), Taiji (Sandy), Ravi bhaiya and Nisha didi. So he just randomly runs around kissing and hugging people until he is sure he's gotten everyone. Despite this confusion, he has seemed to internalize that any one of these four is more likely to give him a treat than Mommy or Daddy and that they will clap for just about any silly Kev trick he can eek out.
Nisha, Amiya and Sandy on a camel ride - Amiya was in heaven - not only was she with her favorite cousins, but she got to ride all the rides at the zoo that we could fit into the time frame. What a night!

Ravi with the lorikeets. He couldn't shake the one on his shoulder.

Vinay always gets the juice for the lorikeets - and this time he had no less than four of them on him. Amiya was a bit scared and Kev wanted to kiss them.

More tomorrow, that's enough for tonight!

Vinay & Calm

The very first time I ever saw Vinay was Dec. 11th, 1998. He was in dark blue pants and a chambray shirt, walking into Gulick Hall at Illinois Wesleyan. And I knew at that moment that he would be important in my life. He's not all that interested in celebrating birthdays but I am - and especially his. His birthday is monumentally important to me because without him, I wouldn't be who I am, the tykes wouldn't be here and if you're reading this and know Vinay well enough to call him Vinay, then he's probably touched your life, too.

So, in that spirit, I share with you this picture:

I think this picture is both sweet and telling. Sweet because he didn't want to put her down ever. Telling because it so aptly states Vinay's parenting style. Amiya was not a challenging baby, but she wasn't a breeze either. She screamed for me, but was calm for Daddy. Most likely because Vinay meets a challenge with calm 95% of the time. And that works as a perfect antidote to my hypochondriac, always thinking-the-kids have autism or other serious issue style of parenting. He's mellow to my drama and our kids benefit for it.

So, from the tykes and I, we love you for your calm! (And, as my Mom pointed out, your polo shirts.)