L is for Luka

L is for Luka. There are countless things I don't want to forget about him. Our children do not carry middle names. This is a Serbian tradition that I rather forced on my husband. I wanted them to carry Serbian names & learn the language. They are.

I took this image earlier this week. I don't want to forget his tiny-ness. How he can crawl onto the lower shelf at our house & make a day for himself. I believe there is a small soccer ball between the first two pillows. Then the guy got a few cars and placed them between the last (top) pillows. He then laid down (face up) in comfort. What a wonderful kid. So, here are other things I don't want to forget (& need help from my friends):

1. He is a pistol. All boy all the time.
2. He lays face down on his belly (including bath mat).
3. He speaks Serbian better than me (shocker!).
4. He loves shoes. It can be scary.
5. He dives & leaps from anywhere.
6. He loves Kiley & Cole.
7. Each morning he kisses & hugs his sister.
8. His smile is amazing -- the dimples make it even worse.
9. He is toe-headed. I was too.
10. He runs everywhere.
11. He is LOUD.
12. He loves Tata, Mama & Danijela.
13. He loves cookies (now).
14. He loves to run in circles.
15. He loves strawberries.
16. He loves grapes.
17. He loves cars.
18. He gets up exactly at 7 am

Genesis

Peace.

I'm getting closer. I'm getting closer to the peace that God desires for my life on this earth. It's only found in Him truly. It sounds like such a cliché, but God has blessed me beyond measure. And, yet, I am just starting to see a true glimpse of it now. The road is long but worth all the effort I can muster.

Another Beauty. Another Birthday.

Kiley turns 4 years old tomorrow. Happy birthday, Kiley! Girl, I knew you in your mama's womb (literally). Well, at least as much as a human can. I took care of you when your mama had to work in the mornings or had meetings. She so wanted to be with you full-time & quickly worked that out. Looking back on it, I'm shocked Melanie let me do such a thing. She probably thought I was a well-rounded "older" person that could handle such a task. Man, did I fool me and you. I remember clearly walking around our deck bouncing you with your pacifier to get you to sleep. Oh, how sweet it was.

Remember, both girls were never good sleepers, but I felt such a sense of accomplishment to get the job done & be a good care taker for both. Danijela & Kiley have literally known one another since birth. The Perge family loves you sweet, sweet girl. You are smarter than we often think. You are stylish (like your mama) & super sassy. Hum. That might have been my early influence on you. Kisses.

The Boy

Luka has never been a fan of sweets. We always joke that he was switched at birth. Tata loves sweets. His mama calls Tata the "cookie monster." I'm not a huge fan, but Luka actually spits out sugar of any kind. Okay. He is offically ours. Again, great images from Sundee @ the birthday party.

Birthday. Bounce. Bubbles. Bugs.

All pictures are compliments of Eyes That Can See Photography (Sundee). Thank you, dear friend! Happy birthday to Kiley, Cole & Danijela. I've said it a thousand times before, BUT Danijela is 9 days older than Kiley. Melanie was my group leader in a Bible study at Watermark. We connected immediately in 2004. Last year Melanie had the freakin' guts to go into labor the day of our girls' 3rd birthday party. Our friends can speak for me, but I'm definitely not a good hostess under stress. I was absolutely horrified. Geez. I told her I would NEVER "do" another birthday party again.

Well, here we go. We kept it very simply, so I thought. Once again, we celebrate together in 2009 (year 4). Thank you, Cole, for being born in between the two girls. All other friends whose children's birthdays fall in January or February, I plead (I'm on my knees now) with you to have a joint party with us. This whole party thing is nuts. I thought we went simple this year & I nearly had a breakdown.

Oh, Mrs. Artsy Crafty (that's me, don't faint) hand-cut all gazillion hearts to make ladybug valentines for whomever was present at the party. It seemed a simple task until midnight on Friday. Glitter glue & such was flying all over the house. I'm pretty sure I passed out at some point from the glue & exhaustion.

Tracy was kind enough to bring THE turbo bubble machine. What a life saver. The bounce house was inside (too cold out) and then it moved outside as the day became warmer. Bubbles were flowing & my husband (as usual was a God-send to all).

Thank you, Courtney, for letting us use your bounce house. What a wonderful thing it is & I'm not sure I will return it without a ransom. Love you all so much.

Happy Birthday To Me!

What a beautiful day.

I'm back tracking a little (& will be for sometime). I really try to spend extra special time with Danijela while Luka takes his only nap (afternoon). On this particular day (02/05/09) we kept the back door opened so we could hear him (scream). We put out a big blanket. I had my camera & she had hers. Here are some of my images I captured. What else does a little girl need? Geez.

Here are some of her images from the Argus Bean.

Learn. Build. Create.

Geez. This past Saturday Tata took Danijela, Kiley & Luka to their first Home Depot "Kids Workshop." It's a free event offered the 1st Saturday of the month. We'd never gone (I still haven't), but heard about it through Sundee & Chrys. I checked on-line and saw "9AM." I panicked (that word looks like pancakes to me) to get everyone dressed & ready to get there on time. I should have read the fine print (bad, Mama).

Sundee & I talked. She explained the event runs by the hour from 9am to 12pm. Well, I called Tata & he took the kids to a local coffee shop first then on to meet friends at 10am. Thank goodness for Sundee. She was there to help my main (only) squeeze with the three kiddos. I should have been there, but was still in my PJs when they left. They built a Trinket Box & the girls got face painted. Danijela would not bathe because she loved her butterfuly face.

I met up with them for lunch & they all played hard (this is a good thing). It was a great day leading up to Danijela's 4th birthday.

Dallas Audubon

What a great pleasure to hear my uncle speak at the Dallas Audubon Society meeting last night. It was Danijela's 4th birthday. What a way to end the day with a bang & lots of inspiration. Robert, Sundee, Mel & I went to listen. It was a travel through how Greg came to get involved in wildlife and eventually wildlife photography. He displayed amazing photographs for all to enjoy. I purchased his book &, naturally, insisted he sign it. I didn't have to twist his arm. What a great evening spent with special people.

Four Years

Happy Birthday, Danijela. I have so much to share. I have lots of amazing photographs from today & others. I'll post tomorrow. Need to go night night. LOVE YOU.

Austin & It's People

Thank you for letting me intrude on your life & take images of you. An artist (Vicente Aello), a barista (no name), a father (Alonso) who loves his son dearly. His son is a photography major at The University of Texas. He has worked so incredibly hard to provide for his son with the equipment & encouragement he needs. He was very interested in my photography & how he could help his son. What incredibly kind people (everywhere). These are the people that make my heart move. Thank you.

Calling Tata

Luka called Tata from Austin to talk. We missed Tata & just being together as a family.

Our Thinker

Taylor is the "thinker" (not stinker) in our family. She came to Austin for about two weeks. I was so blessed to spend time with her & see how she has grown. I mean that both phyically & just her overall being. Love that girl. We spent a couple late nights up together. I miss her already. Actually that started when I drove away. Looking forward to seeing her, Kelsey, Paula and my brother in March. It won't come soon enough!

RenderInk

Speaking of Melanie. She is an amazing artist & incredibly creative. She has an Etsy shop. You really need to check it out. She has blessed me personally with her gift.

4

It's incredibly hard to believe Danijela & Kiley will turn four soon. They were born 9 days apart. Melanie made shirts for the girls to wear. I wish I could take credit for being creative like she is. My photography is my creativity, but I would so like to have hers. Thank you, Melanie.

Movin'

This is one of the 1st images off the 50D. Again, I have to use a 50mm AND my son is in constant motion (ask anyone!). I cannot believe the increased light sensitivity. It’s like a whole new world to me which most of my friends with 40Ds already know. I have so much to learn & look forward to the help because I'm lost.

Luka did well in Austin. As the days passed the "well" changed. That's why I decided to drive home tonight. I felt like he needed his Tata as did Danijela. I so enjoyed sleeping with her while we were there. Luka (sad to admit) sleeps in Poppy & Grammy's large closet where it’s dark & quiet. Yet, every single day he was rising earlier & earlier. That meant my parents did too. They took care of Luka & allowed me to sleep with Danijela until she woke. I have an awesome family.

Kevin & Margaret always include Danijela in all their busyness of life in cool places. Luka was beside himself because they were leaving without him yesterday. My sister could not handle it (in a good way). So off she went with all 4 kids. Kevin took up the rear which was probably more difficult. Not an easy task. These parents are awesome. Thank you to my whole family, including Gemel (Beauty) Taylor. We had a great time & I’m not one to exaggerate my stays in Austin because it can be hard with two children so close in age. I felt (and sometimes acted) like I was in the Bahamas on vacation.

Canon 50D

Dan & I (R)eally purchased the Canon 50D camera body while I've been in Austin! My uncle, Greg Lasley, was a definite inspiration -- not that he encouraged me to purchase a new body -- not at all. So, let me rephrase the purchase situation. I asked Dejan's permission & we agreed to put it on credit -- which I don't think we have ever done. My current lens (17mm - 85mm) actually went totally kaput between the time I ordered the new body & the time it arrived (24 hrs). I spent most of this day at Precision Camera for diagnostics. It's definitely the lens. The image above is from Christmas '09 with the (now dead) lens & Rebel XT.

Fire Bowl

Gemel

Growing

We're having a great time in Austin. All the children play so well together. Luka has been napping really welll. Boy needs a pedicure (for sure)! We all miss Tata. I met my uncle for the 2nd time today. He's an amazing wildlife photographer & taught me so much in the couple hours we were able to spend together. More about that later. Thank you, Greg Lasley.

Eleven

Today is Denny & Melanie's 11th anniversary. Happy anniversary! We were blessed to spend the morning with Melanie & their beautiful children. Mel, I love you. You do not fit a mold anymore than my own husband. I am so incredibly grateful to have you in my life. You've probably had some "sticker shock" since knowing me, but you love me just the same. You were not just a rocker in high school. You rock right now. Thank you for being you. But, by the way, would you get pissed every now & again to not make the rest of us feel so lame-o.

Happy Birthday, Ellis!

What a great morning to celebrate Ellis' 3rd birthday! The girls decorated aprons, decorated cookies, and ate a mermaid cake. As Devra said, "I'm jacking your kids up on sugar!" And she pulled through on that promise. It was a small "girls only" party. Simple. Sweet. Silly. The girls had a great time playing very well together. Danijela did not want to leave.

Thank you, Langfords for doing it right & including us.