A Trip to Winter Wonderland

This was on December last year (2013). A quick decision to visit the place proved to be worth it. A huge fun fair at Hyde park with rides scattered across the place with roller coasters, kids rides, giant wheels to name a few. Some of the major attractions were the Wonderland's Ice rink named as biggest outdoor ice rink in UK, Santa Land, Magical Ice kingdom and Christmas Markets.
Since we went with the kids our destination was Santa Land full of kids rides and a toy train journey. I would say it was a worth a visit and a must see place if you are in London.

My Cake Creations

I am totally a newbie into baking. I always referred baking as some "magic cooking". But some how I learnt  the basic art of baking. So baking cakes for all those happy occasions is a time pass for me now.

 The above cake is the one I made for my hubby dears birthday. I would say the first birthday cake I ever made is for his birthday. I am so proud for it since he is the one who supported me in all these baking madness either by shopping things or by eating it.:) It was chocolate cake topped by melted chocolate and some sprinkles.

The above cake is the one I made for my niece's birthday. Her name is Irene.Every birthday for hers make me remember of those moment when I first carried her. As every girl she is fond of barbie dolls and crazy on pinks. So when I thought of baking a cake for her, my son insisted that it should be a strawberry cake and should have some thing in her favourite colour. So I made some decorations with fondant icing. And again my first attempt with fondant cakes. And my cake experiment continues.....

ZINDA HO TUM

My favourite poem from the film "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara". As Farhaan said these poems brought soul into this film.

Dilon mein tum apni
Betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum
Nazar mein khwabon ki
Bijliyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum
Hawa ke jhokon ke jaise
Aazad rehno sikho
Tum ek dariya ke jaise
Lehron mein behna sikho
Har ek lamhe se tum milo
Khole apni bhaayein
Har ek pal ek naya samha
Dekhen yeh nigahaein
Jo apni aankhon mein
Hairaniyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum
Dilon mein tum apni
Betaabiyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum

Meaning:-

If you carry impatience in your heart then you are alive
If you carry dreams in your eyes then you are alive
Learn to live like the free waves of wind
Learn to flow like the sea does as waves
Receive every moment in life with open arms
Every moment is a new beginning seeing with your eyes
If you carry surprise in your eyes then you are alive
If you carry impatience in your heart then you are alive

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara!

Joshin's 8th Birthday

Joshin turned 8 years on Jan 3rd, 2014. He is at a age that he can plan himself for his birthday. Usually his birthdays are celebrated with a kids party at home. But this time since we are in London, and he doesn't have much close friends( due to our short-stay here), we decided to celebrate it in a different way.

Birthday cake has been chosen by the birthday boy weeks back
itself from a local supermarket. On the day, we just have to go and
collect it :). It was a round cake with picture of planes in it.

We decided to take him for Ice skating as a birthday surprise. Since the weather was good on Jan 2nd, dad and Joshin went for ice skating on 2nd itself. First experience in their lives. Joshin seemed very confident and enjoyed too. He got two more chances to go for skating from school.

As usual, birthday boy has been woken up by his bro, mom and dad with lots of balloons around. He was very happy. As soon as he woke up, he wanted to cut the cake. He got lot of birthday wishes from his grandparents and kunjamma family.Evening we decided to take the kids to "Winter Wonderland" , London's Spectacular Christmas Destination. There were lots of rides,games and food. Kids thoroughly enjoyed it. "This was my best birthday ever", Joshin's comment at the end.

I had posted his photo in facebook on his birthday. And this was my comment on the post. "Eight years back, a mom was born, a dad was born. After that every day, a new experience, a new learning and fun. Happy Birthday Joshin"

Villa house warming and family gettogether

We were planning for this house warming function for so long. But finally it decided to be on 27th October 2012.Two weeks of planning,purchases and finally we were there.It was an initimate family function which included grandparents,cousins and their families. All together 16 members.
In this busy life we rarely get a chance to meet our immediate family. But this time we were lucky. All in one place,under one roof.
We started to the villa in the morning by around 9 AM in 3 different cars.Had a function of prayers and boiling the milk. We then had an excellent lunch followed by a talking session. We decided to stay there at night and enjoy the night sky in that peaceful place. Next day it was a kind of farewell but with a promise that we will meet again soon.
I am sure Joshin and Johann had an excellent day there and a memorable one too.
Note: This is an older post but just now i noticed that it was in my Draft. Anyways posting now...:)

Merry Christmas - 2013

Its been long i entered this space. As always busy with this or that. But it's Christmas time and that too in London. How can i miss it :)

Our Christmas this year started with a lovely Christmas tree with decorations going up on Dec 8th. It was wonderful to see the excitement of Joshin and Johaan on the day we bought the tree. They couldn't sit at a place till dad set up the tree and hang all the decorations.We were looking for a small tree but end up in a big one that too surprisingly, which added to the joy.

This is followed by a Christmas fair at Joshin's school on Dec 12th. The primary attraction for the kids was the Santa's Grotto. First experience for both of them. They met Father Christmas and had a small chat. Father Christmas gave them a small present. Other than this, fair had some games,lucky dip and a nice bouncy castle.

Next was Santa's visit to the local library on Dec 14th. There was a winter challenge at the library to read 4 books before Santa's arrival and receive a certificate from Santa. Both of them finished their reading of four books and received their certificate. Santa asked them what they need as gift and Joshin's wish was to get a video game Ninetendo 3DS and Johaan wanted a lollipop.


Next was the Children's festive events in one of the local malls here happening every weekend on December. This included Santa's Grotto,Festive Face Painting,Christmas Bauble Decorating,Cookie and Cupcake Decorating,Festive Head Bopper, Enchanted Mirrors. Kids visited this on a Saturday Dec 14th and had a lovely time.

Stocking Gifts

On Christmas Eve,before going to bed, Joshin and Johaan hung two Christmas Stockings by their bed side.Also they put out a mince pie, a drink (for Santa) and carrot (for Santa's reindeer) hoping Santa will come with lots of gifts for them.






On the Christmas day , as soon as they woke up they checked their stockings and was excited to see lot of gifts in the Stockings. Hurray !!!!!!!!! they were really good this year and Santa filled their stockings.Stockings had things like

Stocking Opening Excitement

• Chocolate Coins
• Stickers
• Color Pencils
• Pencils
• An Apple
• Glue Stick
• Dot to Dot Book (for Joshin)/Lollipop(for Johaan)
• Lindt Bear and friends chocolates

Next was Christmas Gifts under the tree. There were around 6 gifts under tree and the mince pie, carrot and drink was gone. Left was only little crumbs of mince pie.( a proof that Santa came to our house :)).

Christmas Gifts

• Wooden Ramp Racer (for Joshin and Johaan). Santa's words on the gift "Extra big gift for extra special kids, Joshin amd Johaan. From Santa"
• LEGO Duplo Combine and Create (for Joshin and Johaan)
• LEGO Creator 3 in 1 (for Joshin). Santa's words on the gift "To Joshin, for being good and for taking care of his little brother, From Santa)
• Little Tikes Bead Maze (for Johaan)
• 2 AXE Deos (for Pappa)
• Cookie Cutter (for Mamma)

This is followed by Christmas Breakfast, Christmas wishes calls to our near and dear ones.

Next was the most exciting of all, Christmas Lunch. Why it was exciting? Because this time Christmas lunch was based on English Style. Full Credit goes to Pappa. He did a lot of research on the recipes and to understand the style.The Menu was as follows:

Christmas Lunch

• ROASTED TURKEY 
• ROAST CARROTS and PARSNIPS 
• ROAST POTATOES
• PIGS IN BLANKETS
• MINCE PIES
• ASIAN CHICKEN SKEWERS
• DARK and WHITE CHOCOLATE SUNDAE
• Home Made Christmas Cake and Plum Cake

Before having lunch, we enjoyed opening Christmas Crackers. Crackers are typically pulled at Christmas Lunch/Dinner tables.The cracker is pulled by two people ,often with arms crossed. The cracker splits unevenly and is accompanied by a mild bang or snapping sound. The contents were colored paper hat, a small toy and a joke. The paper hats with the appearance of crowns were worn during Christmas lunch.

Some of the jokes went like this:

• What do snowmen eat for lunch? Icebergers.
• What's bad tempered and goes with custard? Apple grumble.
• With what do you cut through giant waves? A sea-saw.

Summer Fun

Its starting of Summer in London. Long sunny hot days and very soon vacation starts in schools. All the communities and the park were getting ready to welcome kids with lots of fun in store. As a beginning, they put up stalls in local supermarket to welcome the kids.
We were not aware about it and went for a normal shopping to the super market on last Saturday. While coming out the store, the balloons in one of the stalls attracted both the kids. Then slowly Joshin wanted to try everything available in these stalls. First one was "Throw Ball". 5 small sand bags were available and Kids has to throw these bags to a hole in a wooden plank. Joshin could able to put 3 out of 5. Got a lollipop and now he was on highest of his spirits.

Next was a "puppet making" stall. Kids can select a cut-out. And then decorate it with all the wonderful things available there. There were glitters,feathers,buttons,lolly sticks,colors, glue etc( Really..The list was too big). Joshin patiently selected his cut -out, used all the things available there and created a beautiful picture like this.

Next was "face-painting". Both Joshin and Johaan doesn't like to do

anything in their faces. So we just suggested to paint some thing in their hands. For our surprise, Johaan sat quietly and painted a star in his hand. Joshin decided to paint a spider web.

Next stall was "Mask Making". Paper plates.glue sticks,markers and paper pieces of different colors were available. Both Joshin and Johaan participated in it.

It was lunch time and we wanted to get back home. But were happy that both of them enjoyed the 1 hour we spend there even if it came unplanned. :) So here we are ready to welcome the summer vacation.