don't judge me...

but apparently i'm not that bright. 

particularly when it comes to switching my brain from using a pc to a mac.

it's supposed to be super intuitive... but apparently that's only the case for the smarties.

in any case i just finished my first iMovie *roar of crowd* of the Christmas holidays.

that's right... Christmas.  don't judge.

you'll note there's only one picture from Christmas Eve - of Javier and his huge gash on his head from tumbling down 14 hardwood stairs in Nana & Richard's house.  marcus asked me not to include it, but i felt it was important for posterity sake.

oh, and the music was the first song i saw when iTunes opened up... let's be grateful it wasn't christmas music.

at this rate, maybe i'll catch up with the rest of my blogging... one day. :(

ballerina girl

Saturday was Emilia’s big ballet recital at the Knight Theater uptown. As usual, she didn’t disappoint with her non-dancing-ness.  Afterwards, I asked her if she enjoyed ballet and wanted to do it again.  I worried that maybe I was pushing her to do something she really wasn’t that interested in, but she insisted that she loves it and loves dancing.  She just didn’t want to dance in front of a lot of people.  So we’ll continue with dance in the fall and see how it goes.  Below is the footage from the recital – a little jumpy as someone (who shall remain nameless) got a little excited and emotional seeing her baby stand like a statue on a stage. (Also, still figuring out the new lens).  The music is the first song they danced to (there were two pieces – one ballet and one tap).

Spring Recital 2011 from Denise Glaser on Vimeo.

Some still shots…

maisie (kinda like that you can see all the mamarazzis in the mirror).

zoe.

sweet baby Liza during her performance.

typical – maisie and liza unhappy (they were headed out to disney and just wanted to get out of there), emi in tears and ky all smiles.

post-recital we walked down to Amelie’s french bakery for a chocolate croissant for our best ballerina.

Good job Puchis – Papa and Mama are so proud of you!

the big fat chicago post–part 2–the main event

Friday, before picking up our rental car and driving to the metropolis of South Bend/Benton Harbor, we took advantage of the nice weather and did a little more sightseeing in Chicago, taking a water taxi to the Navy Pier.

Someone was a little nervous about it (and cold because she insisted on wearing shorts), but with her Papa was all smiles.

On the water…

nice scowls.

after checking in to our hotel in benton harbor.

Marcus got cold feet leaving the boys with a sitter he was unfamiliar with, so he stayed back with them while I went on to dinner with the family here.

I was wearing 4 inch heals and had to struggle to catch javi…

someone doesn’t like getting his picture taken!!!

team nena…. the bug (dr. lavertu!), m, tio richard, nana, e, tia marga, javier, andres,  and the ‘suegros’ becky and kevin.  missing javier and cutter (presumably hydrating at that moment after a long night out).

It was a l.o.n.g. ceremony and some of us needed to walk around…

serious conversation with tia marga.

Then it was finally our graduate’s turn…

The actual moment… sorry for my yelling…

Nena - graduacion from Denise Glaser on Vimeo.

I was SOOOO relieved my zoom lens worked out – first time I’ve really tried it and I’m so glad I did as I was so far away.

jacksito, javi, tia marga, nena, nana, cutter and emi.

That night we went over to Nena’s house for a party with all the grads and their families.

clearly someone thought he was back in college and enjoyed himself a little too much.

at her own party nena toted emi around all night long.  total trooper.  emi ate it up.  she still says that seeing nena was the best part of the trip.

with tio richard.

In case you want more footage, check out richard’s video at:http://gallery.me.com/richardmaggs#100264.

javier–6 meses

someone found his thumb! uses it pretty regularly as well.

brotherly love.

The skinny on my ‘mani’ -

Height: 24 3/4 inches long (8th percentile) – 1 1/4 inches longer.

Weight: 16 pounds even (20th percentile) – a gain of 2 pounds.

Head Circumference: 16 3/4 inches (20th percentile) – only 3/4 inch difference since his last visit.

My boy is SO much happier now that he’s not spitting up/projectile vomiting every two seconds. The combination of new meds from the Pediatric GI doctor, plus starting solid foods has really done wonders for both his tummy and his disposition.  He’s still more demanding and a little on the ‘intense’ side, but he doesn’t cry c.o.n.s.t.a.n.t.l.y. like he used to and is all around much happier and pleasant to be around.

Javier LOVES the jumpy and would stay in it all day long if he could.  He loves any kind of movement really – the big swings especially.  He also loves being held… like all.day.long.  I think Wednesdays may be his favorite day since we go to playgroup and someone, usually Ms. Alicia, is bound to pick him up at some point.  He also loves the stroller Ms. Amy has loaned us for our Chicago trip, but only if he’s sitting in the front.  He demands to be able to see what’s happening.

Javier is sleeping much better now – consistently sleeping from 7:30 at the latest until about 6 in the morning – not as great as his bro, but still 11 hours. He’s not much of a napper though – prefers to catnap throughout the day and waking at the drop of a hat, whereas Andres could sleep through a tornado.  When he cries, the only way to describe it is SHRILL.  Ohmigoodness is it LOUD – we tend to cover our ears.  He’s also ridiculously chatty – babbling all day long.

I’m a handsome devil, and I know it.

My boy is also a champion roller.  I mean he rolls everywhere and you can’t leave him unattended for a second.  If you put him in a swing or bouncy chair you have to put his seatbelt on, otherwise he rolls over in the chair and tries to shimmy off of it.  He also does this crazy scoot – not quite crawling but he lifts his butt up in the air and scooches along the ground.  It’s crazy.  I predict he’ll be crawling sooner rather than later… and then the real fun will begin.

one day

One day I’ll be one of those mamas who arrive places looking all put-together-casual-cool and effortless.

One day I’ll be on time for stuff, regularly.

One day I’ll remember Gleneagles Rd. is closed because of this.

One day all three kids will be sunshine-y and smile-y.

One day we’ll all sing “Cumbaya” on the way to school, instead of me trying to tune out the whining and crying in the back by turning up the Ceelo Green a little more.

One day…

clearly, today was not the day.

Seriously, this was essentially the best picture I got today… Javier drinking his bottle, Andres a slobber-y mess, and Emilia making her world famous ‘cheese’ face.

Further proof…

back off lady – don’t even look at me.

No, today was the typical last-minute-mad-dash-out-the-door, wearing an old top I bought ‘pre-Emi’, pitting out of course, with hair that has seen better days.  But we had to power through nonetheless.  Today was “Muffins for Mamas” day at Emilia’s school. Of course, I had to schlepp all four of us to school.  Really the girl wanted me by myself, but it wasn’t to be.  In yet another ‘mother-of-the-year’ moment, look where I parked them…

the hall outside emi’s classroom.  andres chillin’', javier catnapping.

showing off her present for mama – not sure exactly what it is – a cross between a butterfly and a ladybug?

today, however, was the day I remembered to ask a friend to take a picture of my girl and i.  bless you, reyna!

case in point – this is my friend laurie.  look how polished, how put together, how nice she looks.  even andres is enamored with her.  so much so, he promptly vomited all over her sleeve.  today apparently, was the day for total mortification as well.

my gifts.

open house

Last week was “Open House” week at Emilia’s ballet class. The kids do a couple of dances and ‘exercises’ and give a little preview of one of their recital pieces. I sent the hermanitos to “child watch” so I could focus a little and not have them be a distraction… we get a lot of stares what with having twins and all.

some pre-class stretching…

e on the end.

practicing the ‘grande-jete’

not the most graceful of landings.

getting ready to tap.

e and ky were separated just after this picture.

checking in with brooks.