Friday, June 19, 2009

SummerDance last night.

Well, it's like his favorite thing ever. Dancing to music. And staying up past his bedtime. (Ok, favorite that's a tie with kicking a ball around!)

Last night was the first tango in the park for SummerDance and we dusted off the Ergo Carrier just like last year. Of course, he's bigger!! Taller and much heavier. But he's also stronger and I don't worry about him acting like a dead weight to swing around. He loves it and he's safe.

He rode on me the entire night and I am a bit sore this morning as a result. That was 2 hours of dancing with a little break in the middle to eat some grapes and cheese and stretch his legs.

Needless to say, he loved it. And it's fun to see people react to a threesome tango family. One couple came up to us and said they have a photo of us dancing at the Cultural Center when I was pregnant. And now they have one of us with the kiddo, too.

Joaquin and I danced with Papi and two other brave leader souls were willing to take us on as well.

It was great!

The family that tangos together, sweats together. Super humid. Super wet. Super curly.



My boys.








And a couple more photos since I am dedicated to practicing with my camera.

This is from Monday, June 15. Cafe Gelato.




And this is from this morning. Putting on his chapstick.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

First day of Soccer. Consider it an early Father's Day!

Well, I took over 200 photos from this grand event. First, I swore to keep practicing. Second, I knew we needed to document, document, document the event. I hope Joaquin doesn't feel the pressure, but he needs to get a full ride to a very good school on his soccer (nay, futbol!) skills. So we started him at 18 months. That's about when you learn that soccer practice has 45 balls, bubbles and all parents on the pitch chasing you around, too. I figure we can learn about offsides in week 3 or 4, right?

Let's state the very obvious. JOAQUIN LOVED IT! It's the combo of one of his favorite things ever (balls) with the doing something with Papi, with .... well, it was SUMMER on the first day and we have been waiting around for summer for like... uh, a year.

Perfect, glorious day. We love soccer.


Where can 18 month olds learn to play soccer in Chicago?


Papi put my kit on for me. Apparently I don't get to wear my Honduras uniform. Boo!


All suited up. This one may last for a year or two! And yes, that's an Extra Small.


Doing drills with papi. He loves Coach Nikki!

Working on his Game Face.


One of the best parts of the practice was stacking cones.


Future scholarship recipient.


They got stamps on their hands at the end. He's never had a stamp. He loves stamps now.


My favorite little boy and my favorite shot of the day of him.

And a final shot of the mother of his crazy hair.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Practicing with my camera after taking a lesson

On Friday I got to take the entire day off to run around with my camera and try and learn new stuff. It was so much fun and I learned a lot. I took a class with Rachael from Metropolitan Images. She's the gal that took my maternity photos and Joaquin's first year milestones.

So after a full day class I vowed to keep my camera close at hand. Today I grabbed it for some photos after getting back from Target with his brand new first pair of Converse. And then I lugged it out of the house in the diaper bag, too.

Tomorrow we have the first day of soccer practice (the idea of this makes me laugh! this is the first day of disorganized running around in the park with other 18-24 month olds!!) and I will have my camera at the ready.

So just because I know Rachael will be hassling me if I don't practice, here's what I caught today.

New Shoes! Papi picked them out!



Checking out the flowers on the balcony.



Trying to get back inside and go and dance with Papi. Is his class over yet?!



Getting smart.



Mami asked me to do a Kitty Meow! Twice.



(Notice furrowed brows of plaintive kitty face during meow!)


Doing a jump dance with a kitty toy in hand. Aka: Freaking out.





And a self-portrait I took during the class.