Ashwini

Launching the Video Essay contest at Ashwini. Basically we gave video cameras to the kids, organized them into four groups, assigned coaches to help them with the story board and the kids are to come back to present to Cisco executives their videos and powerpoint presentations.

Community service day - Ashwini Charitable Trust

A group of us took our kids to Ashwini to teach the Ashwini children how to use the internet. As it turned out the internet was too slow there and Emily told me the kids didn't learn anything because they don't usually use email and couldn't understand google, powerpoint, excel, youtube and things like that. So we are thinking about other ways to teach the kids how to use the internet later.

At home with kids doing water color

Emily, Chandra, Aakash and Vicky painting in the backyard. They then played with the hammock in the back. Twas a great day topped off with some brownies and milk. This is what perfect weekends are about!

Derek with Ivar and Etoille

Derek and friends with the ladyboys

Ivar's grandpa Eric organized to have some friends pay the teenagers a surprise visit. The lady to the left of Derek still has a mustache!

Derek in Phukett

I told Derek I think he's the most handsome young man in the world and he said "That's because you're my mom!"

Derek's Phukett Trip - March 2008

For Spring break 2007, Derek went to Beijing for a few days and flew to Phukett with Ivar's family. Here's a picture of a very handsome and happy Derek and Ivar in Phukett, Thailand

Emily and friends at Chaoyang Park

Emily with Maddy, Ally, Chloe, Theo and Daniel at the gate of Chaoyang Park.

Chaoyang park

On the family bicycle at Chaoyang Park with Emily and her BFFs.

The Great Wall

We spent our Easters Holiday in Beijing with our friends.

Emily with BFF in BJ

Emily with BFF Theo, Daniel and Maddy at the in-door pool at th Beijing Grand Hyatt.

Russel Market with the girls

We were shopping at Commercial street with Emily and two of her best friends from Bangalore Victoria and Emily Cranfield.

Emily and me on the Great Wall

Emily and mommy on the Great Wall!

climbing the great wall with friends

Here's a great photo of one of my favorite couples Matt and Ellen Carberry. We met up with the Blynns, the Carberries, the Davenports for a day on the wall with all the kids. It was great fun and we have so many memories to share!

tree climbing with BFF

Here are the kids climbing a tree in front of the Schoolhouse at Mutianyu. You can see the Great Wall in the back (on the ridge of the mountain) if you look close enough!

Easter egg hunt 2008

Emily, Chloe, Maddie, Theo and Daniel went Easter Egg hunting at the foothill of the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu. How cool is that!

ladyboys

Ivar and Etoille's grandpa Eric hired four "ladyboys" to entertain the teenagers and they all had a ball!

Derek in Phuket

Derek and Ivar

Derek in Phuket Thailand

Derek spent his spring break in Phuket with his good friends Ivar and Etoille who are also in boarding school in the US. The three teenagers had a great time boating, fishing and just plain relaxing in the sun.