Tres Barakos | Innocent Crimes

Clogged Nose

2011-07-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

While doing his homework last night, AZ keeps on sniffing hard and deep, trying to breathe in with one nostril clogged.

I was sitting beside him reading my book, ready to assist him when needed and to check his work when he wants to me double-check.

Feeling his "pain," I was thinking maybe he wanted me to put Vick's VapoRub on his chest and/or back to help him breathe easier.

So I asked, "Do you want me to put Vick's on your back?"

He shakes his head and answers, "No. Just massage my back."

Sweet Surprise

2010-12-14T20:56:00.000-08:00

I was sitting at my computer table, working on some proposals for an upcoming event. The background noise was from the dining table as the 3 Barakos were eating lunch.

Then AZ entered the room. In his hands was a glass of juice, the teaspoon still in it.

"Dad, this is for you," he said, while extending his arms offering me the glass.

"Really?" I asked, quite skeptical as he's done quite a few jokes on me; offering things, telling me he's giving it to me, then laughing and taking it back.

"Yes," he said, "I made it for you."

I said my thanks and gave him a kiss. Then he walked away like it was the most normal thing for him to do.

Commercial Break!

2010-09-13T04:37:00.000-07:00

Done with dinner, I told the boys to study their lessons for the upcoming exams.

AZ kept on stalling. Wasting time doing assorted stuff (what my wife calls commercials) that need to be done first so he wouldn't have to study.

Frustrated, I raised my voice at him, "Stop your stalling tactics!"

AZ replied back, with his own raised voice, "Commercial ito!"

Hum-hum-humming

2010-08-31T04:56:00.000-07:00

Shouting. That's all I hear. The voice of SA shouting at AZ, and vice-versa.

I let them be for a few minutes, hoping they'll resolve whatever it is they were fighting about. No dice.

Since I couldn't take it anymore I stood up and gave them my promise: Whoever is fighting will squat (arms forward, back straight, knees half-bent) until I tell them to stop.

SA still recalls the last time he got this punishment. He mumbles as he walks, he complains.

AZ is cool about it. He walks. No tears, no complaints, no crying.

As soon as they start SA feels the pain slowly creep.

AZ just hums.

Love-Hate

2010-04-09T01:46:00.000-07:00

My back was hurting, from sitting up too long. I needed to rest it a bit. I got my book and laid down on the bed, reading.

The boys, with their cousin, were playing PlayStation 2 at the foot of the bed. After AZ's turn he went to me asking help in getting his afternoon snack as he pulls my hand. I pull him to me to give him a hug while lying down.

SA, behind me, sitting on the bed, bent down to give AZ and I both a hug -- group hug.

After 3 seconds, like it was rehearsed, then both eased up on the hug, looked at each other, and simultaneously reacted with these words:

AZ: Ew!
SA: Yuck!

Hotdog

2010-03-10T21:25:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the kids' school farewell party.

Still in kindergarten AZ's teacher made a template on their notebooks for food-to-share assignments. A blank was to be filled up by the teacher as to what each student should bring as soon as she finishes creating her "plan".

When AZ got home he showed us his food-to-share assignment. The teacher wrote, in red ink, "hotdog".

In a slight panic he kept on asking us for a red pen so he can add an S at the end.

He kept explaining, "I want plenty!" (Not just 1 hotdog.)

Tastes like...

2009-09-24T22:04:00.000-07:00

AZ: Sweat is water!

ME: No!

AZ: Yes!

ME: No. Have you tasted your sweat?

AZ: Yes. It tastes like booger.

Sermon

2009-04-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

I got this URL to a video of a short film about hunger and poverty:
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1081/Chicken-a-la-Carte

It's 3:00 P.M. and AZ still isn't done with his lunch.

As I start the video he heard the sounds and went to me to watch. I decided to let him watch and explain a few things to him.

When it got to the part where the bunch of kids show huge smiles at the arrival of mixed left-over food from different restaurants I explained to him what was happening. All the while he was attentive like he was watching some kind of cartoon or video game.

Then said, "Look at them, they get so happy eating left-over food, food that should be given to the dogs." He nodded in agreement. "You know why?" I ask. "No," he says. "Because they don't have anything to eat so they settle for that kind of food," I say.

"You have plenty of food here but you don't finish it, you waste it, but look at them they eat whatever they can eat while you take what we give you for granted," I continue, "Do you want me not to give you food anymore since you just waste it all away?"

He slowly turned away from me, but I still had my arm around his waist as I was sitting down and he was standing in front of me. He was silent. Then suddenly he put his hands up and covered his ears.

4-head

2009-04-21T03:56:00.000-07:00

SA & I were playing FIFA '06 on the PlayStation 2.

I scored a goal via a cool header (Team Brazil: Emerson did a cross and Ze Roberto headed the ball in). SA asked me which part of the head to use when heading the ball.

"We use the eyebrows?"

"No, the forehead."

"How about the three-head?"

I laugh out loud, with SA & AZ following.

SA doesn't like to share!

2009-01-07T21:03:00.001-08:00

AZ was eating. SA is finished, having eaten first, but was staying at the table talking and playing with AZ.

Their conversation turned to their "girls" like Haley (One Tree Hill), Gabriella (High School Musical), Hermione (Harry Potter), etc. I wasn't really paying attention to what they were saying until AZ called out to me:

AZ: DAD! SA doesn't like to share the girls!

Negotiations

2008-11-14T02:11:00.000-08:00

With their damn slow progress when eating (disrupted by talking, playing, fighting, etc.), I give SA & AZ an ultimatum. 1 hour from the time they start eating they should be finished... or else.

Or else I threaten them of kicking them out of the house... of putting their clothes in plastic bags and they can start living outside of the house. Harsh? Well, it works. Especially for SA who is the SLOWEST!

Tonight was no exception. They started eating at 6:00 PM. When I hear them talk I say in a loud voice, "7 o'clock! You guys should be finished!"

To this I get a response from AZ in a relatively soft, but loud enough for me to hear, voice, "8 o'clock... I want 8 o'clock for me."

Chicken.

2008-10-27T04:13:00.000-07:00

SA has always been a slow eater. When eating he doesn't concentrate on his food, instead he still plays with his brothers. If he's left all alone he just sits there, ignoring the fact that his mouth is empty, and it will take him at least 5 hours to finish his food -- no exaggeration.

I get so sick and tired of always reminding him to take a bite and just eat and ignore everything else around him.

As a tactic to get them to eat fast I sometimes challenge them to a race. Small chocolates as prizes and I let myself lose intentionally.

Earlier this day I came home from the grocery around 2PM and SA has been sitting there since 12:30PM and his food isn't halfway finished yet.

Dinnertime came and same scenario, his eternal eating time. When he was finished that's when I started to get my food. I didn't want to eat with him as I might just blow my top off seeing him just sitting there absent-mindedly.

When he saw me starting to prepare my food he mumbled loudly, making sure I would hear him, "Aww, I was hoping to race with Daddy..."

DE-VEL

2008-10-05T22:55:00.000-07:00

AZ was taking a loooooooong time finishing his food. Now he's left all alone at the table. It's time for his afternoon nap and with his delay in finishing his food his naptime is being pushed back. So, as a little threat, I told him calmly (serious, I was using a happy tone) I'm starting to get angry:

ME (while smiling): AZ, I'm starting to get angry.

AZ: Nooo! Don't use the big pencil!

*pause*

AZ: You're like the de-vel*. The de-vel is bad, and hitting me is bad, so you are like the de-vel.

* DE-VEL: Devil

They Never Fight

2008-10-03T15:10:00.000-07:00

The tres barakos never, ever fight with each other. Here's how the dialogue goes whenever I think they're fighting:

3B (tres barakos): *shouting, noises of chaos, etc.*

ME: Are you fighting?!

3B: No!

Don't Drink & FLY!

2008-08-06T01:21:00.000-07:00

One of the earliest scenes in the movie Hancock Will Smith's character, Hancock, is shown flying towards a car chase, wine bottle in hand, and taking a few swigs. The 3 barakos were all watching intently so the following dialogue took place:

MOM: Hey, you guys, don't do that!

SA & AZ: What?

MOM: Drinking.

AZ: And flying?