Growing up

Helping me learn my new and neglected 85mm lens by posing as my model.

You've definitely hit that not-little-boy-look now. You've gotten a bit taller but there's no baby fat in site, not even toddler, preschooler, or any kind of child fat left on you. You are thin as a wisp. A good visual aid for studying the bones of the skeleton. I guess you get that super metabolism from dad's side. You only seem to get useless things from me, like elbows that bend the wrong way.

You're a second grader now and I've concluded with more certainty that you have dislexia. Thanks to my awesome homeschooling skills, I think I've got everything covered, so we are just continuing on as we've been going with reading and spelling. A lot of improvement has been made, but it's reverse head pops up here and there pretty regularly.

Slowly, you've warmed up to your big brother role and acknowledge Peter as part of your tribe to nicer and less nicer degrees. You're definitely an it's all about me kind of guy though, very driven by your own interests and persistent. The latter, I consider to be a good quality, even if it manifests itself in a slightly annoying way sometimes. I have you pegged as a engineer somehow. It will be funny to read this later and discover how off base I'll probably end up being.

Butterfly project

Had lots of fun taking pictures with the butterfly science project. I can't say I have the same new-found enthusiasm for school projects as I did with Sofia, now doing them the second time around, but I have to remind myself, it may be a re-run for me but it's all the first time for Marcelo. The joy captured in these photos are a great reminder for me to keep chugging along. I have one more re-run to go.

Marcelo turns 7

I'm trying to implement the idea that not all birthdays have to have a big party and theme. Certain people are getting a bit entitled so I have to do my part to counteract that. This year, Marcelo took this in stride. We went out for breakfast, went to his soccer game, had lunch with the Abuelos, and then went bowling, which was his big request. He got clothes for presents, some cash, and one toy.

Marcelo is now in 2nd grade, trying out soccer and ballroom dance. He is very eager to make friends. He loves to tinker and create things, still with paper, cardboard, and tape. He is terrible at cleaning his room and may be related to some kind of gerhbil. He shreds stuff and leaves all kinds of little debris under his bed and behind his night stand.

2nd Grade

School portraits + fun poses = homeschooling rocks!

The Glamourous World of Dance

Employees Only

6th Birthday

I had been preparing Marcelo from the time his 5th birthday party was over through the past year for the fact that I wasn't going to do big birthday parties every year and that #5 was his big party and the next probably wouldn't be until eight.  We were so busy on the day of his actual birthday that I had to move it to Saturday anyway and I relented with his requested Chima Lego party.

He had a ton of fun and really enjoyed helping set everything up; something I usually keep as a surprise.  He even made Chima door hangers for all his guests and made them sit in a circle to past hem out.