Happy Birthday !!

Happy birthday to Mallu Mom!! She is the heart of this family!

Little z may have some potential food allergies so Mallu is on a bit of a restricted diet. No eggs, no nuts  and no dairy so making our traditional birthday breakfast in bed was going to be challenging

Inch found a recipe for Vegan pancakes on the web and he bought a blueberry and peach pie from a local company. The best pie company makes wonderful pies that have no dairy and no eggs in them. A great shout out to our friends who told us about this great bakery!

Love and support.....and FOOD

One of the many reasons we decided to stay in the area we are and buy a house was because of a really great network of friends we have. After Little Z was born we were overwhelmed, in a good way, love and support. Gifts and congratulations were abundant.

One of the things that helped the most is when one of our good friends coordinated meals for us. This was a real God sent because Mallu was really laid up due to the C-section and Crucian had his hands full trying to keep the house from becoming a disaster.

The web site she used was really cool

http://takethemameal.com/

It allows you to create a list of who is bringing what and when(this is also great so everyone doesn't bring the same type of casserole)
The website even emails you reminders.

We would really like to thank everyone who was so kind and generous. We are truly blessed!

A wonderful surprise

This weekend we received a wonderful surprise..... Friday afternoon Mallu's dad called, he has called every day since little z was born, and we talked for a few minutes. But Mallu noticed that it was strange that he was calling from his cell and when he got off the phone he said "see you later."

Soon we heard a knock at the door.....you guessed it he paid us a surprise visit!

We are all very happy to spend a weekend with "Appupa" (grandpa)

Appupa meets Little z

Inch shows Appupa his robot

Appupa and Little z

In the Indian culture it is traditional to give a new baby a gold necklace

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday Mom! Thank you for everything you've done for me, you are the best. Most of all thank you for sharing your deep faith with me. You were such an amazing example, you showed us how to love Jesus and each other. I loved all the stories of the Saints you told us, especially about the Little Flower. It's been fourteen years since you left this world yet I see your beautiful smile like it was yesterday. I miss you, I love you very much.

-Mallu

Tony Melendez

The girls and I had the privilege of going to a Tony Melendez concert. He was in town for the March for Life and he was doing a few concerts in the area. The music was AMAZING and his personal witness was even more amazing. We were able to shoot some video and hopefully we will post that soon.

Do What You Already Know to Do

Years ago when I lived in NC and was finishing up my psychology degree I had to take a New Testament Class. I was the only Catholic in the class and the other students asked all kinds of question. Most of the questions led me to learn more about my Catholic Faith. The one thing that stands out most about that class is what the professor said we were discussing how to grow closer to God. "Do what you already know to do."
Growing up we used to pray the rosary as a family every night, and I was not practicing that at the time. I always had many reasons/excuses why I wasn't able to do pray the Rosary, but I knew in my heart that is what I had to do. It took may years until nightly Rosary became a part of my life.
We as a family have received so many Graces from this devotion.

Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary!

Blessings
--Mallu

Our Garden

One of the dreams that we had when we bought our house was to be able to grow our own vegetables.Well we now have our very own garden. Hopefully we will have a fruitful harvest.
Both of our fathers have amazing green thumbs and we hope some of that greenniss was passed down to us!

Not too big and not too small

this was were we planted a watermelon and squash
some critter ate the whole plant leaving only an empty hole

The tomatoes are coming along pretty well

and the Romaine lettuce!!

of course GMAC wanted to help dig

Happy Birthday

Mallu Mom and her cousin

Happy birthday to my lovely wife,
you are the love of my life and my best friend. Everything good that is in my life can be directly linked to you. I thank God every day for putting you into my life.

Love,
Your grateful husband

Best Pedicure Ever

Crucian Dad send me to have a pedicure done as a Mothers Day gift. The last time I went to a nail salon was for my sisters wedding over two years ago because I don't like the way the chemicals smell.

Our neighbor told us about a natural nail salon, and it was a real treat. Cuticles does not soak your feet, you don't have to worry about catching an infection. The atmosphere was very classy, service was fabulous. They use all natural products. The nail polish they use is a Toluen, Formaldehyde, Dbp (dibutyl phthalate) and Camphor-free. No fumes and no harsh smell!

I got a "lemon aide" treatment; with real lemons and a sugar scrub. It was truly a relaxing experience.

Thank you Crucian dad.

-Mallu

Feast of St Nicholas

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St Nicholas. Traditionally this was the time when parents put presents and sweets into children's stocking hung by the mantle (the Dec 25th thing came a while later) Our family has always held on to this tradition. Mallu was able to find these really nice religious statues for a great price(don't worry we also gave them some candy!)

Koratty Muthy

Today is the feast of Koratty Muthy. The church in India where Mallu grew up is a sight of many miracle and every year people from all over the world make a pilgrimage there

-- Crucian Dad