Anticipation

Two more days and we'll be in CHICAGO!!! Can't wait! We'll be driving up on Wed and picking up parents on Thu! Hurray! Looking forward to our few weeks together. Can't wait to see them, the city; did I mention how much I love Chicago??!?! Ella's is excited too although a bit dissappointed that there won't be "Grand Canyons" in Chicago but only very tall buildings/skyscrapers. I hope though they'll catch her interest. Our last family vacation/trip to Grand Canyon has made a lasting impression on her and everytime we talk about taking a trip somewhere out of state for vacation she hopes we get to go back to Grand Canyon. Some Grand Canyon pics from last year. Had a great time. 

Birthday fun

On Monday both Hrishi and I took the day off from work to relax and enjoy each other's company, go on a golf date, and just hang out together. We don't get to do this much, not in a "date-like" setting, just the two of us. It was a perfectly wonderful day. Gorgeous weather! It started with taking sweet Ella to preschool (this kid is not only cute but darn smart too, as she asked us to pick her up early that day and we're both wondering if she sensed something: that mommy and daddy were not going to work that day... hmmm :-)) Must have been the fact that we didn't rush her as we usually do, as we're always late leaving the house, and/or the fact that both mommy and daddy were still in their PJs at 8:15 am.

Later that morning, since the birthday boy had to dial into a conference call for an important work meeting, I used the extra time to whip together a birthday cake that would be ready to decorate once we came back home from golf/lunch. We played 9 holes on a beautiful golf course, enjoyed  awesome 75-80 F temp, chatted away about our blessings, challenges, plans, and just had a great time together. After golf we ate some really amazing top sirloin steak at Johnny's Italian Steakhouse which I always wanted to try. Then got some of our favorite dessert, ColdStone ice cream, the owner's fav recipe.... YUMMY, all you ice cream lovers out there, you got to try this if you haven't already.

                                        

Then we just hung out, did some window shopping and some 'real' shopping at Pier 1 Imports. We're both happy to have had this time together, get our batteries recharged and promised we'd make this a tradition, to take one "mental health day" per quarter at least, just to keep us focused and fresh.  The evening was just as lovely, took Ella to her swimming lesson, then watched her get crazy about daddy's cake, gobbling down two fairly large portions (for her age), and just being a sweetheart. She kept wishing Hrishi "happy birthday!" and "All the best!" and giving him hugs and kisses. What a loving nature she has! We love her to death! She's now counting down the days till her birthday!

It's time

It's time for me to start getting serious about blogging. I love keeping up to date with friends by visiting their blogs once in a while so I figure it's about time that I provide some updates on what we've been up to:

• Trying to sell or rent our house and move south in search for milder winters (really love Nebraska but winter takes a huge toll on our family's health so we'd really like a warmer climate.) Due to the freezing temperatures I've grown to hate winter when in fact when I was growing up, I used to love being out in the snow playing.
• Getting ready to vacation with parents for a few days in Chicago (love that city)
• Loving every moment of being a parent, watching Ella grow up ( she's turning FOUR in a few weeks, we just can't believe it!)
• Just staying busy with daily activities (work, Ella's swimming and gymnastics' lessons, etc., etc., etc.)