Add Some Pizzaz

Last night was another fan-tabulous evening of 'Dancing with the Stars' -- even Jojo was engrossed. Wasn't the performance by John Legend simply awesome? But then I went here (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20241324,00.html?iid=top25-20081119-'Dancing+With+the+Stars'+recap%3A+With+all+due+respect) -- I still don't know how to somehow link the website to the word 'here' as I see on other fancy blogs -- and it seems that the performances by both he and Aretha Franklin (Miss R-E-S-P-E-C-T) were pre-recorded. No matter! I still loved the razzly dazzly performances, whether or not they were lip synched or pre-recorded. And the cute kid couples performed in the Junior DWTS contest, and we shall find out next week who wins the title.

It was at this point that I allowed Christian to take my most coveted possession -- my camera -- and let him take the rest of the photos. Are my eyes really spaced that far apart, or is it just the glasses?
No, it's my eyes. Last year I began using glasses more often because as I age gracefully my eyes can't take the dryness of contact lenses anymore. So the nice lady at the optician shop, seeing that I was pregnant and needed to have some glasses to add to the overall gloomy third-pregnant-belly effect that I was not so thrilled by at that point, told me that I needed new glasses to add some "pizzaz" and that this very pair would, as she so delicately pointed out, be a wonderful pair to offset my "strong nose".

"Strong" is better than "protuberance", or "nasiliferous", or even "honker". Look at this nice photo with me and Gabie -- I don't have very many photos with my kids.

Christian took Daddy's lead and took an up close picture of a flower. He's learning how to use the W and T button on the camera. I've almost mastered it myself.

Who is that scrunching up the blinds?!



It is none other than weasel tot #2! He's feeling much better, although his tonsillitis is still a bother. He tested negative for strep!

Hey - who let Lucas out? Get that pooping bird back into the cage, quick!

If you're not at eye level, your head is going to get cut off.

Daddy hammed it up for Christian. Somewhere there is an upcoming Vogue America's Most Ineligible Married Man contest. This striking pose with the high chair table will make those moms melt. I know I do.

Dancing makes Me Hungry

I wasted two evenings with 'Dancing with the Stars', but it was worth it. I think I am enjoying it more now that some of the poor/boring dancers have been let go. This week they added four new dances that have never been performed before: the hustle, West Coast swing, jitterbug, and salsa. I have to say I never saw disco look as boring as Susan Lucci's performance of the hustle to a great song - 'Upside Down'. I realize she has a fractured ankle, but she's been so, shall I say, dainty through all her dances. I think she's next to go! Wasn't the Dancing through the Decades performance outstanding, although a few decades in between were missing? The Brian Setzer Orchestra gave a rousing performance!


Next week Michael Flatley from 'Lord of the Dance' is going to take Len's place as one of the judges. This is going to be good. Every time I think of of my brothers' hilarious impersonations of him in the 'Lord of the Dance' DVD that Aunt Patsy got one Christmas, I just about tinkle I laugh so hard. My brothers nailed it with their Michael Flatley stare into the camera, breathing heavily ('Ladies, you want some more of this?'). Someone wrote on the DWTS blog that they wonder whether or not Michael Flatley would be wearing his headband. I think it's safe to say that I'm not over my addiction to DWTS.


More chit chat: Let's see, today Mama G.G. spent the morning with us and it was good having her to ourselves. She has a cane that Jojo likes to play with. Later on this evening he discovered the light saber toy can be used as a cane, too.



This afternoon my old friend Anna came over with her children Abby and Benjamin. I'm a coffee & dessert girl when it comes to having visitors, and Anna said it reminded her of when we were little girls and our mothers drank coffee as all the kids played. Anna's mom is also Spanish, and growing up we had lots of fun with all the kids when our 'Spanish Group' mothers & families got together. Now I see Abby, who resembles Anna at that age and who is about the age when Anna and I became friends, and it's surreal how fast time has gone by. We had a good visit and laughed at the stories about the 'A Pool', the public pool we used to visit a lot with our moms.



I ate too much dessert that I almost did not have dinner. I admit that I'm not the best or most creative cook, but I do like what I make and I eat it most of the time. I can eat most anything any day of the week. Not these miminy-piminy boys, including their daddy. I can't remember not eating what my mom dished out, except the times when I'd hide the pinto beans in my cheeks until I could safely spit them out in the freedom of the great outdoors -- I was not to leave the table until they were off my plate, by gosh! And my mom made only one meal for the whole family. How did she do it? My new motto: This Ain't a Stinkin' Diner. I just picture myself Flo-ing it up in my pink waitress uniform and beehive hairdo, smacking my gum and telling these boys how it's going to be from now on. Yes, you will eat this mushy crock pot chicken with rice and yellow microwave steamed corn, and you will like it. Oh no sir, you will not eat another chicken nugget or corn dog until you take a bite of this delectable mini meatloaf with brown sugar and catsup topping that makes your mouth melt in delight. You think you're too good to eat this Totino's frozen pizza with a side of canned peas? Don't like the mouthwatering Paula Deen piggy pudding with syrup, well kiss my grits!



Things are going to change around here. Wait till they get a load of tomorrow's menu: rump roast with carrots and potatoes. I'm sure it'll be served with a side of corn dogs and chicken nuggets.

Someone, please invent corn dog-shaped meals on a stick.

Doh!

I did it again, Dancing with the Stars:


Instead of doing something useful like cleaning clutter, scrubbing bathrooms, vacuuming, or coloring my hair, I got sucked into the madness of your show. It's all your fault with the crazed B-List, or E-List stars (even Kathy Griffin turned down your show), doing their fancy dances and even hearing one poor rendition of an excellent Alicia Keys (!) tune. But I enjoyed the "What's Up Pussy Cat" number sung so well as I waltzed with weasel baby and sang to him in the beautiful alto soprano voice that I hear in my head. And here I thought we were already into week six at least, but it is only week three. Time is just crawling along -- what it is it about this season's show? I shall have to miss you tomorrow because I am already committed to waste 90 minutes on the more important presidential debate with performances by two staid and apparently sane men wearing glitter-free suits. No razzle dazzle for me tomorrow night, DWTS. Don't even tempt me to watch your show after the debate. I won't even take a peek, no sir!


Tonight poor Cloris Leachman lost her wig in her confusing dance number and I was reminded that Gabie needs his hair cut. He decided not too long ago that he hates hair cuts. Last spring I took advantage of cutting his hair when he had strep throat. Honest, I did not know he had strep throat until the day after the photo was taken. If you have a determined toddler, get him while he's sick! And use lots of chupa chups (lollipops, to you).

This is what Gabie's hair looks like under normal circumstances. Nana was able to cut his hair that time:

I tried to get the same effect, but he would not let me cut over the his right ear.

The damage was already done. I bravely carried on around his head, determined to finish the job.

I'm no longer allowed to give hair cuts. So out of desperation, Mike waits until Gabie is fully asleep, and then snip! snip! snip!:

He usually only gets the bangs, though. At this point, we just want Gabie to be able to see. It looks like a bowl is slowly growing on top of his head, kind of mop-topish. My next move: take him to the place at the mall where kids sit on carousel-type seats and watch videos while getting their hair cut.

Usually Nana cuts his hair, but he won't let her since the Syrup Incident. Two-year-olds have long memories. If only we had known there was sticky syrup in his hair then it would not have been so painful as Nana combed through it to cut it. So, last spring, about a month after I chopped his hair, I took him to a salon. I was going to lie and tell the stylist that he had cut his own hair, but then I thought, what if she notices the cuts in back where I tried to follow Nana's line? What then? Would I say that he held up a mirror to see the back of his head as he supposedly sneaked the scissors? Of course, she asked who butchered his hair and I could not lie. It still did not go well for all of us. He screamed while I held him (forcibly) in my lap as she got in a snips when he'd stop squirming in my arms. I told the stylist cutting his hair, when she looked like she was going to bail, "Cut it. Just. Do. It." Fun times.

Did I tell you Gabie has a piercing scream? Turn down the volume, I'm warning you. Here he is when he was about 15 months old (and me, barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen). Fun times.

Boy Tales

I have not had time to post anything lately because, ahem, a certain husband took away my digital camera to develop film that had been sitting on the disk for a year since I've owned it. It was finally time to delete those photos to free up some space. I am lazy about developing film, so that responsibility is usually Mike's. In the past year we have hardly developed any photos of the kids, much less of our baby Jojo. We are lucky to have 15 minutes of film documenting his life.

I am good at keeping schedules, though. My calendar is my best friend. This week Jojo had his one year pictures taken, and then yesterday all three had a doctor's appointment. They each had their flu shot. And parents, know that if your child is over two years old there is now a flu mist being given in lieu of a shot! Christian also had to have a hepatitis A shot and will receive another one next year. And poor Jojo had the short end of the stick: he received not only his scheduled immunizations, but also a flu shot for a total of four shots. What a trooper. The kids will have their second flu shot dose in a month. This is the first time they have ever had a flu shot I guess because I myself have never gotten one. After what happened last February, the pediatrician strongly encouraged us to get the flu shot this year. Last winter all three were exposed to a horrible virus which required the use of a nebulizer for each of them. Jojo, who was only 5 months old at that time, was a worry because his virus mimicked RSV. What a frightening time. Mike ended up with bronchitis. I was lucky: I only had a terrible cough.

We had some fun times this past weekend! First, on Friday we went to the children's science museum and had the place practically to ourselves now that school is back in session. Gabriel swallowed some soapy water at the bubble making machine in the five seconds I was concentrating on Christian. Another mother graciously pointed it out to me. At least Gabriel did not get his hands pinched by the battery clips in the electricity learning center this time, though. Last time we were at this museum, Gabriel ran ahead of me. I heard some loud screams and laughed as I saw a few kids covering their ears. Then a thought entered my mind: "Wait, that sounds like my child." Sure enough, when I caught up to Gabie less than 30 seconds after he had taken off, the little battery clip was pinching the palm of his hand instead of the correct end of the lightbulb thingy (still do not understand how that happened). I told you Gabie has a piercing scream.

Playing the xylophone just like Uncle Jimmy!

Jojo playing in the "baby science area" with Grandpa.

On Saturday, Christian had a soccer game and he and his teammates scored some goals. Earlier in the day I took Christian to the Harvest Festival with my friend Michelle, her mom Anita, and nephew Isaac. It was great to spend time with them.

Finally, on Sunday we celebrated Jojo's birthday with the family and it was then that he took his first stumbling steps. What a great birthday present gift for us all. Poor Aunt Patsy set her purse down on my coffee table (see 'Ode to My Furniture'), but did not realize that the glass was missing. I had forgotten to warn her. She was stunned when her purse fell through the table onto the ground below. It is a good thing that did not happen with a drink or plate of food.

Look, no glass! No children were injured during the photo shoot.

I have managed to cut down on 'DWTS' viewing, although I did watch part of the results show last night as Christian and I played a board game. The guest dancers put on an interesting show with the electronica music and lit up costumes. And yikes, was that Jessica Simpson singing another horrible ballad? No offense to any of you Jessica Simpson, horrible ballad fans, but I so dislike ballads. I'd like to hear which ballads bother you, too! It'll be a spooktacular event for October.

Wishing you a ballad-free day filled with excitement.

Watch Jojo take some steps!

Watch Jojo walk some more!

Johnny Cash and Dancing Insanity

I have a sick addiction to a certain TV show called 'Dancing with the Stars.' This madness has to stop. I just wasted two hours today and last night, and I may waste another two hours tomorrow night just to see Jonas Brothers play as Christian is excited to see this pubescent/post-pubescent boy band. If Christian was aware that CDs of their music are available, I would probably have to listen to it over and over. Let's keep that our little secret.

But why, oh why, do they not put actual latin music to the mambo and cha-cha since they are, after all, latin dances? Come on, Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby got Back" for the final mambo number?? No wonder the poor couple couldn't quite get into the rhythm -- sheesh! Oh, and I will never get the image of the new goth dancer & her partner star (she's living on the edge of Ballroom Dancing) either fox trotting or mambo-ing to The Cure. I'm pretty sure that's the second time I know of that a Cure song has been desecrated by 'DWTS'. My brother Sergio would be apalled.

Even Mike has been sucked into the madness. He just asked me who was eliminated as he was busy reading to Christian before bed. Isn't this football season? Oh, I remember. Football is on Monday nights and weekends. I get dibs on the big TV during 'DWTS', though. I have to say, sometimes there is actual latin music played to the latin dances and that's when I enjoy it so much. The show is a much needed respite after the long summer of hearing Johnny Cash tunes -- I promise, Aunt Patsy, to return 'Walk the Line' to you real soon. Gabriel can't get enough of singing those songs at the top of his lungs to anyone listening both inside and outside the house. He uses garden hoses, broken table legs (he broke them), and sticks as his microphone for his rather projectible (is that a real word?) voice. I have the movie lines and songs memorized. Gabie plays his heart out on the little red guitar, but when he can't find it he uses a teeny guitar that belongs to the Woody doll. He says he wants a "real guitar". Take a peek:

We'll have to sneak up on him to catch him singing. Your ears may ring for a while, trust me.

May you have a 'DWTS'- free evening tomorrow. I plan to, anyway. I'll only watch the last ten minutes to see who gets eliminated. Or maybe I'll see the half-time show with the Jonas Brothers to see what cheesy number the professional dancers end up doing with their music. Oh, forget it. I'll probably watch the whole silly thing and give you another report. Don't blame me if you or your loved ones get hooked. The show is one big heap of delicious insanity that gets me each season. One last request for 'DWTS': Please may there not be another Bon Jovi number thrown in this season.