Love In The Time of Toddlerdom

I'm not sure how much of this is Benicio loving his brother or Benicio wanting to pretend to love his brother so his parents won't suspect him the next time his brother has a shiner on his left eye. It's not that bad but there is definitely a bit of sibling rivalry going on in the household. Take the picture below for instance. Benicio looks like a drunk teenager on New Years eve, trying to keep his smile going before he begins to take advantage of anyone within earshot. Julian on the other hand, looks kind of like the prisoners of war you see on TV. Trying hard not to look scared but also trying to show the camera that this is serious business, someone better help me soon.

Actually, that picture does not do this relationship justice as much as the one below does. Now we can see the dark side of this relationship. Benicio about to constrict like the African Boa and Julian pulling away to avoid the inevitable "bear-hug" that should be coming anytime now. I think - hope is more like it - that someday these two guys are going to have eachothers back. That all the jealousy issues will go away and Benicio will actually embrace his brother without the intent of causing bodily harm. I guess that puts the ball in Mom and Dad's court. We have to teach these guys that they have nothing to worry about. Their mommy and daddy love them equally no matter what. And if one of them becomes a little more successful than the other, say in an athletic field, we'll still make appearances at the others spelling bee competition or whatever that ner...I mean, kid is up to. They can sit back and relax in the fact that their parents will never judge them by personal achievements but by how well they do on the soccer field or basketball/tennis court or golf course or sand volleyball field/court or baseball diamond (I'm not even going to include a water sport; us Curiel's have a bit of a swimming problem - and don't even get me started on how bad we look in speedos). See Julian, you have nothing to fear - as long as you comete at a high level in whatever sport you wish, your time with us we'll be magical.

Oh, I almost forgot. Benicio is beginning to dabble in the musical arts. Already a fine guitar/uekelele [sp] player he got the call to start drum lessons with his buddy Greyson. And even though it took him about a half an hour to actually start drumming with the rest of the class he appeared to have a good handle on how the instrument is supposed to be played. So maybe I should include musician on the list of acceptable interests for Curiel Kids... I'll have to think about that one.

p.s. Yes, that is Serena "Bootyliscious" Williams on the screen back there... Dang!