New Year's Eve

Mum and Pap Visit Barcelona and Sweden

Thanksgiving at the Litwillers - 26 Nov 2009

We prepared a 20 pound turkey for 5 people. There were lots of leftovers.

Conjunctivitis

It seems like I got viral conjunctivitis from somewhere. That sucks...On the flip side, I got to stay home and read lots of books. 

A short paraphrase from wikipedia: Viral conjunctivitis ("pink eye") is often associated with an infection of the upper respiratory tract, a common cold, and/or a sore throat. Its symptoms include watery discharge and variable itch. The infection usually begins with one eye, but may spread easily to the other. Conjunctivitis is most commonly caused by viral infection, often adenovirus, but bacterial infections, allergies, other irritants and dryness are also common etiologies for its occurrence. Both bacterial and viral infections are contagious, but usually don't require treatment.

Check out my left eye (on the right hand side). It's red, goopy, and slightly closed because of mild swelling. Ew!

Halloween in Madison

Its about a 4 hour drive southeast to Madison, Wisconsin. Halloween there is supposed to be awesome, crazy, fun, and PACKED.

It definitely turned out that way...there were a few popular bands there like Cage the Elephant and Third Eye Blind so there were hundreds and hundreds of students celebrating on the streets. At one point the crowds were so thick I and one of my friends became separated from our group. Patrick (my roommate) decided that the smartest thing to do would be to climb a signpost and look for us. The police didn't like that much, dragged him off and and threw him out...of course he just scampered back in ;)

The quaintest, most beautiful bookstore I have ever seen.

The streets of Madison before the festivities began

Left to right: Patrick (in a scary Peruvian mask), Ru (Hamburglar), Amanda (Wednesday Addams, from the 'Addam's Family'), Jenny (Red Devil), Shruthi (Tina Turner), Sophie (some scary zombie)

Dy and Pranay's Visit to Rochester

Pretty apple orchards at the pumpkin patch

 

Cornbread - very midwestern

 

Diwali Party

So the Diwali party was a success. I ended up making butter chicken, paneer bhurji and raita. Shruthi (who came 1.5 hours LATE, desi style) came with bhindi and dal reinforcements. Everyone was made to sit and listen to the outline of the Ramayan, listen to the aarti, and then got to eat food. I also happened to have sparklers, which was pretty fun! I forgot to take pictures of food though...

This is Endy. He's on my soccer team

Left to right: Sophie, Jenny, Shruthi

Emma

Wayyyy too many people for my small space

Happy Birthday, mama

10 things we love about you: 

1. Your kindness and compassion 

2. Your inexhaustible love 

3. Your bubbly personality 

4. Your guidance 

5. Your patience 

6. Your cooking (chocolate cake!) 

7. Your friendliness 

8. Your hugs 

9. Your open-mindedness 

10. That you are our mom! 

Love, Shruti, Rutu and Papa

Dan's Birthday

Dan's birthday, celebrated Khare-style: cake and presents at midnight.

He liked the cleaver

Home projects - Dan's floor

You are probably sick of hearing about home projects, but this looks really cool. We (meaning mostly Dan) removed his old living room carpet and replaced it with laminate wood flooring.

Dy and Pranay

Another wedding!

How exciting, so many WEDDINGS!!! Looks like Sayali (Rohit Bhaiyya's sister in law) is getting married this September. This is the email I got from her: 

 Hi All, With new dreams, new hopes, new aspirations and a desire to achieve new horizons, Sharath and I are stepping into a new beginning of a wedded life. It is with an immense pleasure that I Invite you all to bless us with your presence and be a part of our happiness while we tie the knot on - Date: 2nd September Time: 10.45am Venue: Mahalakshmi Sabhagruha (Please find the detailed map in the web site) Reception – Date: 5th September Time: 7pm onwards Venue: The Woodrose Club (Please find the detailed map in the web site) Please consider this e-mail as my personal invitation. For more details please visit our website - http://sayalisharath.com/ Regards, Sayali & Sharath

"Deck of Cards" Birthday Party

We had a birthday party that was themed around a "deck of cards": Casino dealers, poker players, tennis aces (me!), dollar bills, wild cards, queen of hearts (Julien!)

Oregon Highlights

Oregon's coast, along the way to our campsite 

Mealtimes were in the dark! 

  

Back to civilization and Nishant and Blythe's wedding

Bathroom tiling

In the next Home-Before-and-Afters, I will share with you my wonderful new throne room. I promise - I will finally stop talking about this now that you all have seen it. Please focus on the shining new floors and furniture that has replaced the dollhouse stuff that was in there earlier.