More Evidence for Child Protective Services

Maya got her first black eye a couple of weeks ago which healed quite nicely. That made it high time she mar her pretty face with yet another hideous bruise.

Front Gate: 1, Maya: 0

We put ice on it immediately but it is still as nasty as shown here. I'd feel even worse about it if she hadn't been in the middle of a tantrum at the time.

Maya and Teja got mehendi done by the nicest little girl and mother who live down the street. I figured it would be a big waste of time since the girls would probably just smear it everywhere and it would be a disaster.

How right I was! 

Only they sat sweet as could be for the actual application process, but when it came time to sit and let it dry is where the mischief came in. I helped them onto a bed and tucked in the mosquito net so that they could watch cartoons absorb the richness of Indian culture, all the while letting the henna crustify, following which we would rub it off into the sink and coat their hands with coconut oil to ensure a longer-lasting stain.

Off I went to check facebook help in the kitchen, when but a few minutes later I heard the girls outside at the sink (there are lots of outdoor sinks here) and went out to find them merrily scrubbing off their henna with a bar of orange soap. Apparently, before they went to the sink, they were kind enough to scratch off most of the henna into the bed they'd been sitting on. 

Pleasant dreams, Ammon.

Today is the first day of the three day festival. This is commemorated by setting bonfires on the street to burn junk from last year.

I wish I could tell you more about it but I slept in and missed the fun. 

If s'mores had been part of the ritual, I bet I'd have gotten out of bed in time. 

C'est la vie.

<3