Ottavios turn/ Toca Ottavio

We spent Saturday morning touring some ancient Buddhist caves/monastery about an hour outside Mumbai. Once again we seemed to be more of an attraction than the caves, especially Ottavio.

Indians generally love children, and there are always people trying to stop my kids and have a chat with them. I guess they are to intimidated to ask me what they want to know, so instead they click their tongues and whistle my littlest ones over.

Dante and Ottavio are always making "friends" and this day was an exceptional one for Ottavio.

We ran into a fairly large group, mostly women, and the sight of Matt wearing the baby on his back was too much for them. Within seconds they were crowding around giggling and pinching his cheeks, (Ottavio's, not Matt's) and before we knew it they had pulled him out of the backpack. Isabella quickly took him, but he was snatched away again by one of the young girls. This did not go over very well with him, but all the tears and resistance he could sum up did not change a thing.

They continued to kiss him, pinch his cheeks ( a favorite) and basically adore him all over.

Poor baby!

In the end Matt was forced to rescue his own child, as the groupies were unwilling to relinquish.

Pasamos el Sabado recorriendo algunas antiguas cuevas budistas, cerca de la ciudad. Una vez mas, parecimos ser los mas interestante de las cuevas. Sobre todo Ottavio.

Los Indios en general, aman a los ninos, y siempre hay personas que desean coger a mis hijos a tener una charla con ellos. Supongo que son intimidados para pedirme lo que quieren saber. Asi que hagan clik con la lengua y silban a mis pequenos. Dante y Ottavio siempre estan haciendo amigos, y este dia fue excepcional para Ottavio.

Nos encontramos con un grupo bastante grande, sobre todo mujeres, y a ver Matt llevando el bebe en la espalda era demasiado para ellos. En cuestion de segundos que se apinaban alredador riendo y pellizcando las mejillas ( las de Ottavio no Mateo) y antes de que nos dieramos cuenta lo habian sacado de la mochila. Isabella lo tomo rapidamente, pero el fue arrebatado de nuevo por una de las chicas jovenes. Esto no cayo muy bien con el, pero todas lss lagrimas y resistencia que podia resumir, no cambio nada. Siguieron besarlo pellizcar las mejillas ( un favorito) y basicamente lo adoran por todas partes.

Pobrecito!

Al final Matt se vio obligado a rescatar a su propio hijo. Como las chicas no estaban despuestos a renunciar.

Daily views

We have fallen into a nice groove. Our daily routine consists of yoga, school, park, pool, and shopping for the ingredients needed for lunch and dinner. Nap time and play time, and of course fighting over who gets to play Webkinz first.

The people we see everyday have become somewhat part of our life, and are now used to seeing a white woman with 6 kids. They no longer just gape and stare, mouth wide open.

It continues to impress me at the happiness and contentment the people here express. They are my inspiration, and if things go well with the help of my Yogi, I will return home enlightened and fulfilled.

Hemos caído en un ritmo general. Nuestra rutina diaria consiste de yoga, escuela, parque, piscina, y la compra de los ingredientes necesarios para el almuerzo y la cena. Hora de la siesta y el tiempo de juego, y por supuesto pelear por quién va a jugar Webkinz primero.

La gente que vemos todos los días se han convertido en algo parte de nuestra vida, y ahora están acostumbrados a ver a una mujer blanca con 6 hijos. Asi que ya no nos miran, con la boca abierta. Me continúa impresionando la felicidad y la

alegría de la gente. Ellos son mi inspiración, y si las cosas van bien con la ayuda de mi Yogi, voy a volver a casa iluminada y se entrigada.

Some of the most common sights here in India.

Everyday trucks hauling everyday items, decorated with the Gods in mind.

Monkeys on the sides of the road, each with their own individual face.

Women sweeping every square inch of earth.

vendors on every corner, and some of the saddest living conditions I have ever seen.

Lorenzo El Famoso

We spent the afternoon in one of the parks in the city, it was hot and the children were getting on each others nerves. Lorenzo decided to break away from the family group and take a few moments alone on a park bench with only his music.

It was only about 2 minutes before he started to draw a crowd. we were watching from afar, resting in the shade of a nearby tree. Matt and I are no strangers to adoring fans, and so were quite prepared for what was about to happen. Only Lorenzo was not.

One minute he was just a boy sitting on a park bench, and the next he was, A BOY SITTING ON THE PARK BENCH!

The draw was obviously his light skin, light hair, and maybe his super cool sunglasses?. But he was totally and completely unprepared for the massive amounts of adoring fans wanting to take their picture with him. The entire experience lasted about 30 minutes, and the more people that came over, the more people that wondered what was going on and that of course drew more people.

It was hilarious, and Matt and I and his brothers and sister just watched the whole thing while laughing our heads off.

I think, really the funniest thing was that Lorenzo had a very difficult time understanding what they were saying, and just did not get what everyone wanted. He would glance our way every once in a while as if to say "HELP PLEASE", we just smiled and waved.

In the end I think he took about 25 pictures with complete strangers.

I guess sticking with the 'rents' is not such a bad idea!

Pasamos la tarde en uno de los parques de la ciudad, hacia calor y los ninos estaban hartos. Lorenzo decidio romper con el grupo familiar y tomar unos momentos solo en un banco de parque con su musica. Fue solo unos dos minutos antes de que empezo a atraer a una multitud. Estabamos mirando desde lejos, descansando en la sombra de un arbol cercano. Matt y yo no somos ajenos a admiradores =) y asi que fuimos mui bien preparados para lo que iba a suceder. Solo Lorenzo no lo estaba.

Un minuto el era un nino sentado en un banco del parque, y la siguiente era, UN NO SENTADO EN UN BANCO DEL PARQUE! La atraccion fue evidentemente su piel clara, su cabello claro y tal vez sus gafas de sol super guay! Pero el no estaba preparado para la masiva cantidad de admiradores que desearon una foto con el.

Toda la experiencia duro unos 30 minutos, y mas gente que se acerco, mas personas que se preguntaban que estaba pasando, y que por supuesto atrajo a mas personas.

Fue divertido, Matt, yo, sus hermanos y su hermana acabaron de ver todo, mientras riendose a carcajadas. Creo que realmente lo mas gracioso fue que Lorenzo tenia una comprension muy dificil de lo que decian, y simplemente no conseguio lo que todos queria. Miraba hacia nosotros de vez en cuando como diciendo, "SOCORRO POR FAVOR", pero solo sonriemos y saludemos.

Al final creo que Lorenzo tomo cerca de 25 fotos con desconocidos. supongo que quedarse con los padres a todo momento, no es una mala idea!

Being Blessed

You can never ask for too many blessings, and lucky for us today we were unexpectedly blessed.

We spent the day doing some sight seeing in Bombay, and when we arrived at the Gateway of India, we were given special blessings. We each received a bracelet made from jasmine flowers, some small balls of white sugar, and a prayer and blessing while being adorned with the "dot" on the center of the forehead. The priest and his young helper could not and would not accept any money for their gifts and so we bought them a bag of rice and some milk. The kids were in amazement but I think enjoyed it.

The Gateway of India was

built to commemorate the 1911 royal visit of King George V. Ironically it was used in 1948, to parade off the last of their British regiment as India marched towards independence.

Now a days it is a bustling gathering

spot for locals and tourists alike, you can also catch a boat over to Elephant island from just behind the arch, as it sits looking out over the Arabian Sea.

Usted nunca puede pedir demasiadas bendiciones, y afortunado para nosotros hoy nosotros fuimos bendecidos inesperadamente. Gastamos el día en Bombay, y cuando llegamos en la Puerta de India, nosotros fuimos dados bendiciones especiales.Cada uno de la familia recibió una pulsera hizo de flores de jazmín, algunas pequeñas pelotas de azúcar blanco, y de una oración y bendiciendo mientras ser adornado con el "punto" en el centro de la frente. El sacerdote y su joven ayudante no aceptarían dinero para sus regalos, entonces nosotros les compramos una bolsa de arroz y leche. Los niños estuvieron en asombro pero pienso que disfrutaron de ello. La Puerta de India fue construida para conmemorar la 1911 visita real de Rey George V. Irónicamente fue utilizado en 1948, para desfilar lejos el último de su regimiento inglés como India marchó hacia independencia. Ahora es un monumento para locales y los turistas semejantes, usted también puede coger un barco para ir a la isla del Elefante, justo detrás del arco, mientras viendo el Mar de Omán.

A Trip Shopping, Un Viaje de Compras

Not that we have not been shopping before, as a matter of fact I feel like that is all I ever do. Unfortunately I am usually shopping for food. My boys will soon eat the walls around us giving new meaning to eating us out of house and home. Seriously, they are ALWAYS hungry, ALWAYS!

Anyway, we had too big a load to walk back home without being bombarded with constant darts of whining and complaining about tired, sore feet and hands too small to hold a bag this heavy.

SO we opted for the local taxi.? Or should I say motorized scooter with a roof overhead. The kids loved it, well the ones that could fit in anyway. I chose to walk, and drug a few with me.

On the way home I managed to spy some A-typical western scenes, like getting a shave whilst squatting on the sidewalk, or children too young to dress themselves alone and unattended running through the streets, (cute as they were). I even passed a women with a bigger load than I had, making me feel not so weighed down, but a bit envious of her method of transport.

No es que nunca he ido de compras, porque parece que eso es lo que siempre estoy haciendo, pero es que siempre voy comprando comida!Mis chicos van a acabar comiendo las paredes de mi casa! Parece que SIEMPRE tienen hambre, y yo digo SIEMPRE!

Fue entonces, el otro dia, cuando no pudimos andar con todos nuestros compras, sin los ninos pequenos quejando y llorando, que decidieron ir (los que pudieron) en uno de los taxis locales! No es que fue un taxi, mas bien una motocicleta con un tejadillo, pero a los ninos les encanto!

Entre tanto, yo decidi ir andando con algunos de los ninos mas valientes atras! Mientras estaba andando, yo vi a ninos pequenos corriendo por las calles sin padres o alguien que los puedan cuidar! Tambien vi a hombres aceitando por las calles y a mujeres que llevaban cargos mas grandes que los mios y que los llevaban de una manera que, me dio envidia!!!

Here they are, the highly desired photos everyone has been waiting for,........ jeesh,.... I have been getting some serious pressure, and we have only been here 3.5 days!

Any way our flat is on the 7'th floor of a high rise apartment building, which alone excites the kids. They have never even been in an apartment let alone lived in one.

There is a park with walking trails directly in front, that always seems bustling with life, a playground right next to it, and all the shops we would need just beyond. Although I would never have to set foot outside if I didn't want to. With a cook, cleaner, driver, and errand runner, I am going to become one selfish chica. I thought I got spoiled this summer back in Boston, pffugh, never you mind that, that was child's play!

Para nuestros amigos Espanoles, estas son fotos de la vista a donde ya vivimos. Como he dicho arriba en Ingles, los chicos son muy contentos de vivir en un piso tan alto. Tenemos un parque cerca, con tiendas al lado.

Tenemos un cocinero,un limpiador y un conduzctor. Voy a regresar como una mimada muy egoista!

En estas fotos no se ve los millones de gente que pasan por las calles, pero no te preocupes que ya pondre fotos.

Finally on our way

ADIOS cold, ADIOS snow, ADIOS hats, gloves, coats, ADIOS LONDON!! INDIA HERE WE COME!!

Still smiling after a long cold day in London and a 6 hour plane flight as we await for our connection in Bahrain, what you can't see is the baby asleep below our feet, lucky him!

YAY, Here at last, 2 and a half weeks of trudging around the UK with 6 kids, 2 adults, 7 backpacks, 2 rolling bags, 1 computer bag and 1 baby backpack. How we did it I still do not know! Only a 10 mile, 22 Km 2 hour drive left to go.

WE CAN DO IT!