Closing time

   We did it! After months of challenges, we are now homeowners.  Scary, but exciting to tackle the new obstacles in our way.  So much to do, it's all a work in progress. We are grateful for all the support of family and friends in this endeavor.  It's our little patch of land and we will make it our home in time.  
   Funny how our perception of closing was so different than reality. You sign a bunch of different legal papers and then all of a sudden, someone says, "Congratulations".  That's it.  For some reason, we thought there would be some ceremonial presentation to make it official. 

  As for now, we will be in the Kew Gardens apt until the end of December.  As posted before, we are nostalgic, but we can't live in Queens forever. There's not an affordable backyard to put a swing set or have bbq's- and we are all about that! 
 

A love hate relationship

   For some reason, Ashima greatly dislikes the vacuum.  If she can hear it humming, she will cry until it is shut off.  So we left it in the "dining" room where she could see it, telling her, "the vacuum does whirr" in hopes of a better outcome.  Now that she discovered how fun throwing food around is, vacuuming has become a daily affair. So, it would be best if she developed a good rapport with it.  At first, she ignored the vacuum, then started yelling at it, and finally started touching it.  We thought she could handle hearing it on, but no...not yet. She continues to cry.

Kew Forest Park

   After more than 7 years of living in the same neighborhood, it's a bittersweet feeling thinking about leaving for good.   We look at the street where we first met and smile, knowing Ashima was just a gleam in our eye then.  We have enjoyed our time-Danni's pizza, the Trade Fair supermarket, Midway movie theater and Forest Hills, Alba's, D and D, Joy Fruit, The Associated, Jackpot, and of course the plaza with BB and CVS.  
   It's only appropriate that we take pics while strolling Ashi in the Kew Forest Park.  The canopy of leaves are beautiful in the autumn and she enjoys being outside there.  It's a runner's dream, with the falling leaves serving as nature's confetti celebrating the goodness of life.  

 

 

Vampirita's Halloween

   We loved Ashima's costume.  We had sooo much fun just watching her walk around with her cape.  The slight gloominess added to the mood of Halloween.  We took her trick or treating to the stores around our house, it seems like it's the thing to do. It's so sad that kids don't have the liberty to go from house to house like we did when growing up.  But then again, I don't know if we would feel comfortable trusting other people.  Xenophobia has taken its toll over the years.  Certainly next year we will try to do something with other children her age so we can show off her costume and gush with other parents about how darling they all look.  ;)