Neemrana Fort Palace

Valentine weekend R surprised me by booking us a night at the Neemrana Fort Palace in Rajasthan. Its only about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Delhi, but took us over 3 hours because of horrendous traffic! (We saw a motorcycle crash on the way, ouch!)

I heard really great things about Neemrana but I didn't realize just how fantastic it was until we got there. The fort was built before Columbus discovered America. It remained abandoned for many years until a company bought it and turned it into a hotel.

The rooms are all completely different and the grounds are, for lack of a better word, picturesque. A great place to feel like you are "getting away" without actually leaving the country!

Neemrana is hard to describe so I will let the pictures say it for me. Some of the pictures are of things we saw on our way down to the hotel! Be sure and wait for the one of the guy carrying a huge mirror on a motorcycle, its priceless!

Sweet Sixteen

A lot has happened over the last couple of weeks. Grandma & Grandpa S came to visit for a couple of weeks from Germany. We went to Agra and visited the Taj, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.....

Oh yeah, and big T turned 16!!

I thought that once Big T turned 16 I would feel differently as a mother, but ya know, it doesn't feel much different to be a mother of a 16 year old than it did a 15 year old. But the idea of him starting to date (it is our rule that they be at least 16) is kinda scary. All of the sudden it feels like the forbidden fruit is no longer forbidden. For 16 years we have preached no dating, no kissing, no holding hands, girls have "cooties", all the important anti-dating propaganda, and in one magic moment, before the last off-tune note of Happy Birthday drifted off into silence, dating became legal.

Luckily, for me, big T is still a bit shy when it comes to girls and is taking his time wading into the merky waters of the dating pool. This I am all too grateful for. I am also appreciative that Halo, Ghost Recon and goofing around with his friends still seems to hold the majority of his affections, and fortunately, that did not magically change the moment he became 'of-age'. But all too soon I know they will be replaced with a pretty face. I'm not sure I am prepared for that day.

I don't kid myself by thinking I am, or ever was my sons "first-love", that is way too Hollywood. But I have to admit it is a very romantic notion, and at the risk of sounding like a bad cliche, I must share a few feelings;

I can remember clearly the day I first held him in my arms. The feelings and emotions that welled up inside me, at that moment were so incredibly powerful, that I thought my heart might actually burst right out of my chest. The feelings were so overwhelming all I could do was sit and sobb.

I felt as if I were experiencing life for the first time. As if I too was just re-born. Everything was different now. I had never felt such joy, and in turn, saddness took on a whole new meaning as well. It was a moment like no other, incapable of description.

How I long to hold that baby once more...

Enough nostalgia, if I held him in my arms now I would be crushed!

We were at a loss as to what to do for him for his birthday because he doesn't get the normal perks of turning sixeteen in the states. Namely, getting a drivers license and all that entails. I knew we couldn't give him anything that would make up for the fact that he couldn't drive, but I wanted it to be memorable. So, I thought back to my own 16th birthday and decided to throw him a surprise party! Okay, maybe not the best idea, but parents are supposed to be lame, right!

We booked a room at ACSA and had them decorate and cater finger foods. I invited his friends and made them promise not to say anything and I made another AMAZING cake! I didn't think anything could beat that soccer-if-ic cake I made for Mishy but this was pretty impressive!

We told him we were taking him to dinner for his birthday and as we walked up through the ACSA building we asked him to go look for Mo in the party room because she was hanging out there with some friends. We followed him down the hall and as he started to open the door he saw the Happy Birthday sign and swiftly turned around to leave. It was at that moment that I realized how lame the surprise party idea was! We forced him into the room and he was completely taken off guard. I could tell he felt very embarrassed and awkward. (What mother's won't do to embarrass their children!) After a while when the focus was off him he seemed to settle down and enjoy the party. We ate, chatted and listened to music. Little T and his friend favored us with a little "brake-dancing" as well.
Not the kind of 16th birthday party Big T probably imagined, but memorable all the same! We eventually left him and his friends at ACSA to bowl (T wants me to tell you that he dominated at bowling) and gave them their space to hang-out!

It was a successful night. Big T had a memorable 16th bithday and I felt like a good mother! What more could you ask for!

New Guest Book...take a deep breath!

Thanks to my good friend W in Alaska I have a new guest book (she didn't actually give it to me I just copied the one on her blog)! Thanks W!

If you can't see it don't be alarmed. Take a deep breath and as you slowly exhale, start scrolling down. If you run out of breath before you get to the bottom then you are obviously not long-winded enough to read my blog in the first place!

For those of you who reach the bottom and your lips are blue--your one of the lucky ones. Feel free to come back anytime, but lets work on that stamina!

For those of you who reached the bottom with breath to spare, we obviously have alot in common so--Welcome aboard the Seipert express! Always happy to have more passengers aboard!

Republic Day Parade

Last Saturday Richard got us tickets to the Republic Day Parade. In had imagined the parade would be something similar to the old news footage of communist countries displaying their militaries prowess for all to see. It the end it was the same idea, but without the evil communist over-tones! It was amazing, I really, really enjoyed it!

We opted not to take the kids because in a city of over 18 million people they were expecting huge crowds and control over that many people can easily go awry--which at one point before the parade it did. We were already seated but Richard was still out in the crowd when he witnessed the police being over powered and bowled over by the crowd, a metal detector was knocked down in the mayhem. We felt that if anyone was going to get trampled and live, we would have the best chance.

After waiting in line a bit, having one of the most thorough body searches ever, (good thing it was a woman or I might have had to punch someone)we were corraled into our seats.


The parade began with a helicopter fly-over. As they flew over they dropped something we thought was red smoke, like the airplanes sometimes do. But as it came closer to the ground we realized they had actually dropped flower pedals. A fantastic beginning to a wonderful parade.

After the flower drop the military regiments marched past one by one, each seemed more spectacular than the previous. Their hats were what attracted me the most with their vibrant colors and design. Each branch of the military was represented. One thing that caught our eye was that they were all exactly the same height. No one stood out, they all looked completely identical.

Then came floats representing the various states of India. Some were similar to Rose bowl floats all covered in flowers and other natural material. Others depicted historical sites or battles.


Next we were completely entertained by a camel riding regiment, complete with a camel riding band!


Next came the elephants...can you imagine seeing a brigade of elephants at your next 4th of July parade? Definitely a highlight of the parade, at least for me. But I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the pooper-scoopers!

Wrapping up the parade was a troup of acrobat motorcycle riders and several fly-overs by air force jets and helicopters. It was AWESOME! Then as everyone was leaving the stands they let hundreds of orange, white and grean balloons go into the air. There were so many it started to look like the sky was full of confetti!


It was a great experience and next year we might take the kids!

Let me put your minds at ease

We have had many a concern raised about sending chocolate to us in the mail. So please, let me take this opportunity to put your minds at ease.

First, chocolate is not an illegal substance in India (although it should be the way it melts in your mouth, ever so slowly coating your tongue and throat with its intoxicating goodness....)
Sorry, I digress!

Second, the weather is actually quite cold in India right now. I am currently wearing long sleeve shirts and jackets. It is supposed to get down to 0 degrees on Friday, 0 degrees celsius that is, had ya freakin out there for a minute didn't I! So,the chances of it melting in the post right now is as likely as...umm, well um, lets just say it's not likely!

I hope that I have addressed any reservations you may have previously had about sending us chocolate.
(so get on the ball and SEND me some chocolate NOW!......please!)

For a full list of our favorites please see below! :)

*Dove Carmels
*Dove Milk Chocolate
*Dove Dark Chocolate
*Cadbury anything
*Hersheys Kisses, Reese's, minatures, snickers...its all good!

New Year Update...

Just thought I would give a quick (probably not that quick) update on the fam! So for those of you just tuning into the blog, you came at the right time! :)

FYI: I try not to use full names on the blog. I don't even know if it matters but, supposedly it is the safe way to blog, although I'm sure I have forgotten and used all of our full names at one point or another. My only solace is that the psycho serial killers looking us up on the Internet will be discouraged when they find out they have to fly to India to go serial on us. Its a plan, not a very good plan, but it's a plan.

So on with the update:

R is usually very busy arresting people. But when he's not arresting someone he's most likely doing the interview just before he arrests someone, and if he's not interviewing or arresting, then he is busily investigating someone who will eventually be arrested. Seein a pattern here...

In his arrest-free time he is the District Young Men's Leader and teaches Gospel Principles at church on Sunday's. He has also taken up running again and since we've been here (about 6 months now) he's lost a total of 30 pounds. I can officially call him a LOSER! The other day I heard him say "I don't have anything to wear, everythings to big for me now" (I think I might have just thrown up in my mouth a little). I just can't imagine the trauma you must be facing sweetie. Being too skinny for all your clothes, it must be devistating!

Me? Well, I have NOT lost 30 pounds! Jealous...who said I was jealous? I am involved in all kinds of exciting and exotic things here in India....whoa, hold on there, I think in my mind-blurring jealousy I got carried away for a minute. My life is not so exciting or exotic, but it is busy! For those of you who are thinking I lounge around the house all day just because I have a maid, REPENT I say!

As with most things in our lives; as we free up time from one item or another the void is generally filled 2-fold. I have given up cooking and cleaning but have taken on seminary, yearbook editor, Hindi classes and blogging. All of which take way more time, energy and brain power than cooking or cleaning ever did. My head hurts just thinking about it.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings you will find me at the church teaching seminary classes to the youth in our church. Most days you will find me studying for those classes, creating page layouts for the yearbook (which I foolishly volunteered to help with and am now the sole creator of) and if I've not got my nose in my lesson book or creating layouts on the computer I try to practise my Hindi. My next Hindi class starts very soon and just about all I can remember from the first class is "Namaste", Whoop-ti-do my 5 year old can say that!

Even though this is my first year with all 4 kids in school I feel busier than I ever have. Last week I even turned down a part time job working at the community liaison office. A job that I think I would have enjoyed and been good at, but nope, I'm too busy with my volunteer work to get paid!

Big T is well, mmmm...BIG! He is taller than his Dad and towers over me. He's almost 16, and besides the fact that in all his 16 years he has not figured out that his dresser drawers don't automatically shut after you open them, I would venture to say he is a very sweet and intelligent human being...I mean teenager (human-being might be going a bit too far).

He is still playing the trombone and picked up the piano last year as well. Music seems to be one of the things that comes naturally to him as opposed to...oh, I don't know, brushing his teeth!

He is always trying to lighten the mood by dancing like Will Ferrell or screaming like a girl; he can reach octaves that are unnatural!

Mo is doing piano, soccer, running every morning with her Dad, odyssey of the mind, and getting good grades while doing it.

She is maturing and looking more and more like a young women and less like the child I remember. She is truly a wonder-child. I've met very few teens as motivated as she and even less adults. I'm starting to wonder if I'm her real mother.

Mishy is growing up pretty much without permission. I've tried to halt her growth several times but she is very disobedient and uncooperative about the whole thing.

In a few short years there will be many aboy looking down the barrel of my husbands Smith & Wesson because, despite her breeding, I'm afraid she is going to be a knock-out! Why don't you just kill me now and get it over with, I have no desire to deal with all that. Hopefully by the time we get to Mish we will have perfected the boyfriend SMACK-DOWN.

Only one left. I'm officially babbling and have been for quite some time but, you've come this far...

Little T rides (his bike) with a pack of young boys, toy guns strapped to their backs, around the compound striking fear into the hearts of many! When he's not writing on the walls, making his big sister cry or breaking out car windows he is the sweetest, cutest 5-year old ever! But, despite his bad-boy reputation, he loves a good snuggle and is quite the Momma's Boy.

As you can see, there's never a dull moment...if anyone knows what a dull moment feels like, I'd really like to know........anyone?

Holy Broken Windows--Batman!

Yesterday I realized its a good thing I only have two boys.

When Taylor was about 4 years old, I was shocked when my next door neighbor came to the back door and told me that Taylor had broken out the windows of his pick-up truck. Yes, window-z! Apparently breaking the drivers side window wasn't enough so, with ski pole in hand, he proceeded around to the passenger side to finish the job.

Keep in mind he was only 4 and no one actually saw him commit the crime but the circumstantial evidence seemed overwhelming.

End of story? I thought so...until yesterday.

Yesterday, Tyson was jumping on the trampoline and pulled a rock out of his pocket and chucked it for whatever reason at my car, instantly shattering the passenger side window. Besides being absolutely furious, the thought crossed my mind; dude, are my windows old and brittle or does he just have a wicked pitching arm....mmmm baseball scholarship??

Anyway, boys obviously have a couple very strong genes that involve guns and destruction. If the guns can be used to cause the fore said destruction, all the better!

So, I'm glad I only had two because if there were anymore who knows how many car windows I'd have had to replace by now!