Race Cars, Remembrance, and Two Fast Years

Sikh New Year reflections, a wild toddler birthday bash, and the start of Jasper’s next lap.

This past week felt like a perfect mix of reflection, celebration, and a little bit of chaos — which, if you have a toddler, probably sounds about right.

Friday marked Sikh New Year’s Eve and the start of the month of Chet, a time of remembrance and reflection. It’s always a meaningful moment in the year. Before the balloons and race cars took over the house, there was a quiet appreciation for what the past year has meant for our family. Jasper’s first full year of life came with a lot of learning, a lot of growth, and more memories than I could ever write down in a single post.

But of course… reflection didn’t last long.

Because Saturday was the big race car birthday bash for our newly minted two-year-old.

And like any good racing event, there were a few unexpected pit stops along the way.

The house was packed with balloons, friends, and the kind of toddler excitement that only a room full of toy cars and birthday cake can generate. At one point we even had a power outage, which felt like the universe testing the durability of a toddler birthday party. Food was delayed, lights flickered, and for a moment I thought the whole party might stall out before the green flag.

But somehow it all came together.

Kids ran around, adults laughed, and Jasper soaked it all in like the little superstar he is. Watching him race toy cars across the floor, surrounded by friends and family, it was hard not to think about how quickly these two years have flown by. One minute you’re bringing a newborn home from the hospital, the next minute you’re hosting a race-car themed birthday party and wondering how your toddler learned to run so fast.

Sunday slowed things back down again.

We returned to temple for a long service to mark the beginning of the new month and a day of remembrance. Sitting there, it felt like the right way to close the weekend — reflecting on the full journey of Jasper’s first year while also stepping into the excitement of year two.

Year one was about learning the world.

Year two? I have a feeling it’s going to be about exploring it at full speed.

And if this weekend was any indication… I might want to keep my running shoes ready. 🏎️