Latest expressions and Nikolas's art

Mikica was singing Tarkan's song the other day, the one with kissing sounds.
His latest phrases are:
'Nikako, nikako.' (no way, no way)

'Ja sam ljut.' (I'm angry.)


Nikolas told Semina in response to her telling him to do something: 'Ne dolazim u obzir.'
His other favorite 'grown-up' expressions are:
'Ja sam u pravu.' (I'm right.)
'Ni slucajno.' (No way.)

Sonja also says, 'Ljut' (not ljuta.), meaning 'angry' in masculine gender.

Nikolas is finally interested in drawing.  Here is one of his sketches:

His real talent lies in photography, as we recently discovered. When I realized that the toy camera didn't do him justice, I let him borrow mine while we were at the botanical garden, and here is his collection:

 Some more photos around our clubhouse, with Semina, and Nikolas's established still, building with blocks!

Nikolas is an incredible builder.

3rd and 5th birthday party!

Before we get to the party, here is a bit of kids' manipulation of each other:
Mikica locked Nikolas out of his room, so Nikolas said, 'Mama is giving me cookies-I'll eat them all....open the door if you want any!'. It worked. Later, Mikica pulled the same trick on Sonja. All he had to say was 'cookies!'

Baka came for a visit over the birthday week.  We invited the entire Nikolas's class and a few baby moms to our backyard where after a long week of rain we had the luck of sunshine!  Magic Mike stopped by to do some tricks and make awesome balloon animals and objects for the kids (the poodle and the motorcycle were amazing!).  Nikolas seemed a bit self-conscious in the middle of a large crowd, Michael was a little more relaxed than Nikolas, and Sonja had a blast, always in the center of the crowd, as apparent from the photos.

Famous sayings, holidays

Nikolas: "I teached my own self." (on how to swing on a swing)
Nikolas tells Michael how to eat cherries: "Jedes, jedes, i onda pljunes." (You eat and eat, and then you spit it out.)
Mikica, sitting on the potty with a book in his hands: 'Sjedim u kaki i citam.' (I'm sitting in poop and reading.)
When they are done with a meal, Sonja says 'Ja gotov!' (I'm done, in male voice), and Mikica 'Ja gotova! (same, in female voice)

Catching up with early December, here is Michael, our Harry Potter on the broom:
Fall spirit:The twins are beginning to get a grip over Nikolas's bike with training wheels:
Baka came for a weekend visit:
On December 20th, Nikolas has his first piano recital in Thomas Center in Gainesville. He played the scale and 'Cockerel' song, and he did great!
Just a few photos of Sonja and Mikica:
For Christmas we drove to Dallas to meet with Robb's family at Mike and Cynthia's. On the way, we stopped and spent a night in New Orleans. The kids got to see Burbon street on the way to Cafe du Monde where we went in the morning for some good coffee and beignes (which the kids didn't like, how is that possible???!) served by some of the worst waitresses in the world.
The kids enjoyed seeing a horse carriage:Here we are in the water park inside the hotel where we stayed in Dallas:
The kids loved spending time with cousins, grandma and grandpa. They didn't even touch the toys that we brought along because they were too busy with family activities. Nikolas was always somewhere near Dana this time, and the twins mingled with everyone.
Here are some photos from the aquarium near our hotel, where Mikica was particularly mesmerized by the sting rays:
At the playground:
Cedar Kay, right after the return from Dallas:
Nikolas's class at Brentwood (he is second to the last on the right, next to his best buddy, Dylan) :