From shoba Hai Dana and everybody. It was nice to see your blog Dana after a long gap of about 6 months. Things are going fine here. Avanthika's school has reopened and the classes are going on in full swing. It is a big jump for her from the 4th to the 5th class. Till now she was only graded according to her performance in all subjects. This year onwards they will be ranked according to their performance. She has to really work hard to stay at the top and she is doing it as well. Her first monthly tests are starting tomorrow. She participated in the solo singing competition in school. We will know the results tomorrow. She will also be giving a dance performance, through her dance school on the 12th of July. Daily practice for the same is going on. We are juggling betwen home, school and other classes. It is very hectic but interesting. Right now she is waiting for Raja to take her to the club for her routine weekly swim. Days are very hot here with no sign of the end of summer. We are very happy to hear about Alyce. Our wishes and love are always with her. Convey our special wishes and prayers to her and your sister. I can imagine how excited and busy you are going to be for the next 2 months. Take care and convey our love to Raju and the kids. Raji, It must be still very hot there I suppose. Take care and keep us informed about your next visit. Bye for now.

Hi everyone,

Here also summer vacation started. Schools are reopening on 1st July. Here most of the children go out of country on holidays.

Raji

Hi, This is Vijay. I think you are great cousins, especially in India. I really like going to your houses. I hope everyone is doing well. We are trying to build a tree house this summer. Daddy and I have planned it all out. It will be a platform high up in a tree maybe even 10 feet high with a railing. We will hang a pully at the top and tie a bucket to it, so we can lower it to the ground. I have to take my bath now, so I will write again later.---Vijay

Hi Everyone,

I am back from a long hiatus! Today is the last day of the school year and we are cleaning up our classroom and resetting it for next year! We are all elated and I am thrilled to finally have a minute to write on the blog. Thank you Shoba and Raji for keeping it up. I appologize for not remaining faithful. My busy schedule ( and I know you all have busy schedules as well) has kept me from the blog. But now on to my update:

Sanjay has completed 5th standard. He was able to begin working on 6th standard literature, so he will have a headstart next year. Vijay has finished 2nd standard and has a line up of books he is going to read during summer holiday. As usual at the end of each school year I make a list of tasks to be done during the summer. It usually starts with cleaning out all the closets in the house. We get too busy to keep them cleaned out and organized. Next I will tackle the boys' toy cupboard and school room. I will be packing up and sending back all the text books and other materials that the school sent me, so I can make room for next years' books and materials. The list I made is 5 pages long so I can go on and on about my projects for the summer.

We do have some other exciting news. Alyce is getting married on August 22, 2009. We are very excited. Her fiance has one more class to take to finish his degree in chemistry. He will be able to teach high school Chemistry, but right now he is working in the Laboratory for Raju. Is anyone able to come over for the wedding? We would love to have you! My sister's oldest son has graduated from college this month. He is in the military and will be going for some special leadership training this summer. Shelby is just looking forward to swimming all summer long. Asa is l6 and he is looking for a summer job. That is the update on Kimm's family.

Raju's business is going very well. He has hired several more employees. He is so busy that he is working very long hours. He has just hired an accountant and another project manager. Once he has them trained I hope he can relax a little bit. Over the next 2 months he has a lot of traveling to do and a lot of technical work to do.

Raju and I went to Florida for a few days in May. It was so nice to be in warm weather. It has been cold and rainy here all month. I was able to plant my flowers on my patio. I have red hibiscus plants and pink, orange, and red impatients. Every spring I eagerly anticipate planting my flowers. I am unable to have a garden at the house where we live now because of all the trees. There is not one fully sunny spot in our whole yard. I tried to grow tomatoes in a spot I thought was sunny. It was sunny, but as soon as the tomatoes were large, pale green, and ready to turn red, the sun shifted and my tomato plants were shaded. Only a few of the tomatoes ripened. I was so disappointed. My mother has put a few extra tomato plants in her garden for me. My parents are doing well. My mother still has a lot of pain in her leg, but other than that she is in great health. My father also is doing well. I can hardly believe he will be 69 this year. He is still working a full day, every day. My brother's business has been hit hard by the significant slow down in the real estate market in California. His business is serviving but barely. We are praying for him and his family a lot. That is the update on my family. I will try to think of a few fun things we have done since I last blogged and write again soon. Our love to all the family. We miss you all and can't wait until we see you again.

Dana