We got one or two good looks at the Grand Canyon and then the dark clouds rolled in. We had walked to the rim so we had to walk back to camp in blizzard conditions. Holden was not happy but we are all fine playing games and watching movies while we wait out the storm.
Holden and I started playing this card game that is really great. I love games that are easy to learn but a challenge to play. I also love games that I don't need to handicap myself to play fairly with the kids. This is one of those games. Holden has beaten me two times in three games once we started playing seriously. Check it out. It's called Set.
I haven't written in a while, but lots has been going on. I need to sum it all up somehow and find some pics to go along with it, but there is no time! This is a great picture of DJ looking more like a man every day. My friend and coworker Rakesh gave me some color powder so that I could celebrate the Festival of Colors with my kids. When I got home that day, all the kids were at Fanning Elementary already. DJ had brought the kids, his girlfriend, his girlfriend's rabbit and Gunther there. I took the scooter up there and brought the colors with me. I only had two packets so I gave them to Riley and Holden. They had a good time throwing colors at each other. People were asking about it and I told them about the Indian holiday but they seemed skeptical. Unfortunately, there were no Indian students around to back me up.
Holden, Huong and I went to San Jose for her late husband's memorial. I borrowed a '13 Lexus GS from work (nice!) and got a room at the Hampton Inn. As a last minute surprise, we decided to bring Holden so that he could have "the talk" with me like I did with DJ when he was 9.
We dropped Holden off with the Batys (Paul, Shu and Sage) and then met for brunch the next morning to pick him up.
While in San Jose, we visited the science museum and ate Indian food. On the way back, we stopped at a fruit stand in Gilroy for some oranges and garlic ice cream.
Here are some picture and videos from that trip.
Shu, Sage and Holden
Me, Holden, Sage, Paul and Shu
At the dim sum restaurant. Paul, Shu, Sage, Holden, Huong and me.
We celebrated Holden's birthday over the weekend. Because we weren't sure if we were going to visit my mom or not, he distributed invitations to his Saturday birthday party on Friday at school. Four boys were able to come to the party. Riley invited one of her friends, too.
The boys needed no organized activities to have fun. Good thing, because I only took care of the food. I had no activities planned except I had Holden mention in the invitation that they could swim thinking I would heat up the Jacuzzi. When the boys got here they immediately got their suits on but I wasn't able to get the Jacuzzi heater on. The boys went in the cold pool anyway, each one daring the other. Half an hour later the Jacuzzi started to warm and they had a good time going back and forth. We had a Kings cake from Louisiana in front of the fire in the living room as Holden opened his presents.
Here he is with a few of his presents. He said it was the best birthday he ever had (in all of his nine years thus far).
