Well....(deep subject, ain't it), here is our feeble attempt to create a compilation of raja's videos from the cradle (Hammock) to the crawl (All over the house) - It wasn't the best tool that we used, but we sure had fun setting it to the tune of 'Kholo Kholo' from तारे ज़मीन पर । Incidentally, some of the sequences match the words of the songs and we take full credit for it.
Kids, don't try this at home (at least not on a windows pc, mac preferred)
Monday, March 24, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Playing Catch-up
August - October
So, where were we? Last time in October writing, but pictures from July! Please forgive! We will now fly through three months in this entry! Fasten your seatbelts!
Raja, ever becoming more and more playful, daily surprising us with his antics, will show you now himself!
He's loves when mommy plays the piano and she leaves it open so his little fingers can reach the keyboard during the day - ah, to be serenaded!
We took our new (used) van on a roadtrip to Atlanta and our friends Praveen and Preethi accompanied us. We all stayed at Andre's beautiful apartment and enjoyed some natural wonders around Atlanta. One little trip was to some mountains and waterfalls (some long Indian name I can't pronounce let alone spell!). So, see............!!!!!!!!!
Aren't they beautiful? Then Andre took pictures of baby Raja, then the rest of us, shoes off, jeans rolled up, wading in a stream...
Another treat, while in Atlanta, was spending the night and attending church with some friends from Bangalore. I met Subu at our friends, Vikram and Misty's wedding in Oct. '05. The boys all played well together. Here we are..
Back home, mommy had fun making floral projects for us and friends and neighbors, here's a sampling...
And to finish off our Indian summer (no pun intended), here's the first fruit of our okra harvest (boy, we sure planted a huge variety of vegetables, well, no...)
Until can find a couple of pictures, Raja had a wonderful 1st birthday here in the USA. The theme was "Lion King" (his name, David Raja "king"!). Our church let us use their youth center, which was perfect for our 50-70 guests (can't remember exact figures). One room has pool tables, etc... so the older kids (and some adults!) enjoyed that. We had a catered Indian lunch plus Derick's famous tandoori chicken (even Grandma commented, "I'd rather have another drumstick than a piece of cake!"). Streamers, balloons, goody bags for the kids, face-painting "lions" on the kids and a lion puppet craft made for a fun, memorable time for all. Raja had started walking a week before, so he was sprinting around on his new-found legs. Thanks, again, one and all who came and/or helped. We love you!
So, look forward to a blog near you, filled with scenes and stories from Raja's 1st trip to India. Otherwise, who knows, maybe a comment or two thrown in by mommy or dada Leonard.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
We should write more often...
As I read other blogging friends and relatives, I get inspired, challenged, blessed and humored. I blame being a perfectionist the reason you don't see more of our blogs. Or getting stuck in a rut, too. Let's change that. No promises as to inspirational, challenging or even humorous entries REGULARLY, but an attempt is just now being made. An apology to those who check here often only to be met with month-old entries at best(worse than day-old bread!).
Enough said. Excuses...
So, what shall we talk about?
Raja
Okay. He's high on my list! He turns a year old on 23rd of October. I'm already feeling nostalgic about him getting older and out of baby-hood. Every day is filled with new awarenesses and discoveries for him and us.
One day last week it happened in threes... First, he discovered his legs float in water while in the bathtub. The first time he lifted them together, he fell backwards. But he tried it 2 or 3 times more for fun. Second, he found that if he pinches his nose closed, his voice alters when saying his name...Ra-da...and third, he grouped all the drinking straws he could find under the dining room table. When I looked underneath, he was tooting happily with three straws in his mouth....wow!
He started walking this weekend. Yesterday he took 16 consecutive steps. And today? More (couldn't count).
We're busy planning his 1st birthday party on the 20th and packing for our trip to India. We'll be gone 5th November through 5th December. Hopefully we'll keep you posted..
Grandpa and Grandma Burke moved down to Jacksonville from Kansas two or so weeks ago. Dad flew out and brought them back while two of my brothers drove the moving van. My third brother, Tim, challenged his older brothers to drive straight from Kansas to Florida without stopping (you know). I mean, he tried it from Florida to Seattle, so what's the big deal? Always up for a challenge, Nate and John had the goal to reach mom and dad's house before dad reached home from the airport with the folks. AND they did it! Even Derick, Raja and I got there to give them the grand welcome! Thankfully, they are moved into their new place and are settling in. It's so wonderful to have more family nearby. Now, if only John and Tim would move back too. :-)
Our Indian bible study started up again due to requests from our friends. They asked Derick for an overview of the bible, so we started in Genesis with, "In the beginning...God.." It's very exciting to see their hunger for the word of God and the joy-filled fellowship. Pray for our group. Pray also for Derick's daily encounters with co-workers and mine with neighbors that we would authentically live our faith and encourage the hurting.
Okay, that's our news.
No pictures (except in words) this time.
-Sarah, for all the Leonards
Enough said. Excuses...
So, what shall we talk about?
Raja
Okay. He's high on my list! He turns a year old on 23rd of October. I'm already feeling nostalgic about him getting older and out of baby-hood. Every day is filled with new awarenesses and discoveries for him and us.
One day last week it happened in threes... First, he discovered his legs float in water while in the bathtub. The first time he lifted them together, he fell backwards. But he tried it 2 or 3 times more for fun. Second, he found that if he pinches his nose closed, his voice alters when saying his name...Ra-da...and third, he grouped all the drinking straws he could find under the dining room table. When I looked underneath, he was tooting happily with three straws in his mouth....wow!
He started walking this weekend. Yesterday he took 16 consecutive steps. And today? More (couldn't count).
We're busy planning his 1st birthday party on the 20th and packing for our trip to India. We'll be gone 5th November through 5th December. Hopefully we'll keep you posted..
Grandpa and Grandma Burke moved down to Jacksonville from Kansas two or so weeks ago. Dad flew out and brought them back while two of my brothers drove the moving van. My third brother, Tim, challenged his older brothers to drive straight from Kansas to Florida without stopping (you know). I mean, he tried it from Florida to Seattle, so what's the big deal? Always up for a challenge, Nate and John had the goal to reach mom and dad's house before dad reached home from the airport with the folks. AND they did it! Even Derick, Raja and I got there to give them the grand welcome! Thankfully, they are moved into their new place and are settling in. It's so wonderful to have more family nearby. Now, if only John and Tim would move back too. :-)
Our Indian bible study started up again due to requests from our friends. They asked Derick for an overview of the bible, so we started in Genesis with, "In the beginning...God.." It's very exciting to see their hunger for the word of God and the joy-filled fellowship. Pray for our group. Pray also for Derick's daily encounters with co-workers and mine with neighbors that we would authentically live our faith and encourage the hurting.
Okay, that's our news.
No pictures (except in words) this time.
-Sarah, for all the Leonards
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
July Days
July...what fun!
Did somebody say we're packing? I'm ready!!!......................What better way to start off then a birthday party? Uncle Nate's family was in Slovakia for the summer, so we took him to our favorite Mexican restaurant: La Napolera....cheap and good! Love the sombrero!
Nani-ma, Uncle Nate, me and mama... oh, and the cake...I think I'll kick it (it's round like a ball..)
Nani says, "No, don't kick that."
Uncle Nate says, "Eat your toes instead."What to do? You can't kick your cake and have it to! Oh well...
So, that was July 2nd. On July 4th we made a surprise stop-over in Orlando to visit friends of Daddy's. Elvino, Preeti and Ethan. We went to their hotel in Disney and hung out all day. It was my first time in a swimming pool. Kicking!!!
Delighted!!!VACATION TIME!!!!!
We went to Burnsville, NC where dada and mama had their honeymoon! A friend from church lent us their cabin. It's in Mountain Air Country Club on top of a mountain (everything is mountain in NC!). The weather was pristine - not hot and humid like Florida! Here we are:
I learned to crawl up stairs, throw and chase golf balls (indoors, not on the green!), and pull electrical cords. Mama and dada were always on the lookout for me!We swam at the pool, sat in the hot tub, I watched kids playing ping pong, air hockey and mama and dada play pool. We watched Toy Story II and Monk, ate out on the deck, went to a nature center, even had breakfast at the restaurant there. We took walks and rides on the golf trails, watched small planes take off and land, swung, sang, and entertained countless people! A big highlight was our friends, Nag, Sheela, Anesh, Vikram, Misty (baby to be), and Vikram's mom visit us.
Aunty loved me!
Can hardly wait to meet baby Johanna!!!!!!!!Vikram had a birthday, so we celebrated with a pistachio cake and wild flowers!
Here's Sheela feeding Anesh...And other photos of Nag, Sheela and Anesh
Sheela (and Misty)
Anesh! You are one cute kid!A highlight for all of us was to hear Vikram and Derick "jam"! They both played together in a band in college, then at each other's weddings! Simply wonderful.. maybe an album one day? (hint,hint!)
One night we drove into Asheville and met our friends, Daniel, Lynne, Adam, Sarah, and Dillan Pearson! They are from our church in Jacksonville and moved away after Dillan was born. We had a nice meal and time at the their house. I loved watching everyone try the hool-a-hoop!
that's us in their backyard! Lynne and kids came up to our cabin one afternoon. Swimming, etc.. FUN!We tried our hands (or clubs) at golf one day. I decided not to chase golfballs, just watch.
too much fun!Our last day we went into Burnsville to mama's favorite shop: D.K. Puttyroot. It's a card/handmade papers/calligraphy and tea shop. We ate in the Indian room (they have an Oriental and African room, too). Then we walked around downtown. Lots of the buildings had murals...
this must be the "yellow brick road"We will never forget the beautiful sunrises and sunsets viewed from our deck. Amma and Misty were both inspired to paint watercolors of them (paintings not included here..)
See God's brushstrokes of color across the sky! Praise His matchless Name!!!
Well, as all good blogs must come to an end, let me leave you with some child-like wonder:
Raja, you make flowers seem more beautiful!!!Laughter squealing..
golf balls racing across hardwood floors, walker whizzing across the deck, bits of red flowers picked and strewn, splashing and watching water fall, crawling on restaurant floors, discovering first book (on dinosaurs), countless attempts on climbing stairs, making friends with that endless smile, and giving parents a reason to sell the small car for a van (that's later...)
God is good. His big (mountains) creations and small (babies) never cease to give us wonder and a reason to praise Him.
You all have a wonder-full day and we'll be back real soon!
Derick, Sarah and baby Raja
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