Niranjana, Melissa and Andy

Niranjana pulled her own tooth tonight. Melissa managed to capture the whole thing on video.

Here are a few photos from Niranjana's soccer game this evening. She didn't score any goals, but she played hard and made the other team really work.

Here are a few photos:

A few months ago, I was going through my grandmother's old slides, and I came across some photos of one of my favorite childhood friends, Jeff Dorge.

Niranjana loves soccer, and this is her third summer playing in the YMCA summer league. Additionally, she plays in a youth soccer league in the spring and fall.

Here are a few photos from her game this week (she scored two goals).

When Niranjana decides to dole out some love to her Big Daddy, here's how she often does it. It is equal parts frightening and amusing.

Here's how I was greeting this Fathers Day:

It's Melissa's birthday today! Wont' tell you how old she is, but half a lifetime ago, she had her first legal drink.

These are the things Niranjana said she wants to be and do when she grows up, not necessarily in priority order. The sweet thing is that she was practicing her writing, so we spelled some of the words out for her — but I have them in her hand.

Be a chef

Visit India

Be a mommy

Be a family

Be a genius

Andy and I were at a winemaker's dinner recently and I was randomly seated next to a couple who had moved to the Tri-Cities last summer. They moved here from the other side of the country for the wife's science-related job at the Hanford site.

The wife seemed just fine. I was next to the man. He was from the south, maybe about 60, retired from a government job. And he greeted me by commenting about how refreshing it is to live in such a Republican area.

Niranjana and I are reading Little House on the Prairie - a first for both of us.

The book as a lot of "Indians" in it, and Ma Ingalls is alarmingly xenophobic, which makes me cringe no less than when we watch Peter Pan and its treatment of "redskins."

Niranjana and I have talked a little bit about Ma Ingalls' attitudes toward the "Indians." Mostly, when I read a chapter title that includes the word "Indians" in it (such as "Indian War Cry"), Niranjana quickly corrects me by pointing out, "Daddy, they aren't real Indians. They're Native Americans!"

When Niranajana grooves to music, she tends to do a vigorous forward head bob that resembles therapeutic rocking. It drives the teachers nuts during group time. But it's not a counseling issue, it really is how she gets into the rhythm.

Tonight I suggested that Niranjana try messing with the teachers by doing what Indians do — moving her shoulders up and down to the beat.

But our little Indian girl is not inclined to change up her dance style.

"I'm not part of them anymore," she said when I demonstrated the Indian shoulder move. "I'm a citizen of the United States."