Summer Super Soccer Stars

Today we took Mateo to summer soccer which happens outdoors. Much to his surprise and delight, his BFF from school Luca happens to live right beside the field and they happened to be coming out of their building as we arrived. Lucky for us Luca was also signed up for soccer so they got to play with one another this morning. They had a lot of fun and did very well.

Mateo learning to tip up the cone with Coach Nick

Mateo and Luca listening to instruction and warming up

Summer - It's Official

As of June 21st (which also happens to be Papa Fofo's birthday), summer had officially started. This weekend started a kick-off of the popular summertime birthday parties. Today was John's (from the 3rd floor) 3rd birthday and it was held at Little Gym. Mateo had lots of fun playing with the kids, dancing and eating lots of yummy treats. The day was not just for birthdays - he also got to visit with his long lost cousins Ayden and Antonio who he hadn't seen in ages. All and all it was a pretty busy, but pretty fun day and a great way to start the summer.

Mateo dancing with the birthday boy John (in orange)

Mateo bouncing up and down on the air platform

Time for pizza! Please note the balloons on his chair...he is actually sitting in the birthday boy's chair

Mmmmmm...yummy cupcake

Taking a dip in Aba's pool with cousins Ayden and Antonio

Antonio being cheesy for the camera

Playing catch in the pool

Father's Day 2009

So today it was supposed to be rainy and nasty outside, but luckily for us it turned out to be a warm sunny day. What better way to spend Father's Day than to have a BBQ and hang out with a family full of fathers. We headed over to Aba and Abu's for some good eats and good company.

Papi and Mateo giving me a cheesy pose.

Other fathers - Padrino, Abu and Papi

Mateo ingesting a big piece of steak

Padrino got Mateo his first baseball glove. Here he is teaching him how to put it on.

Swimming Progress

Today was Mateo's last class for his Spring Swimming Session. His instructor, Joe, was a very good hands-on teacher who really pushed the kids to take more risks and also just encouraged them to develop some more tangible swimming skills like blowing bubbles, floating on their backs and doing scissor kicks.

Joe takes the 3 swimmers for a ride around the pool

Parents weren't allowed in the pool today. Joe wanted to teach each of the kids one-on-one.

Mateo is showing off that he is clearly tall enough now to walk around the deepest parts of the hot tub on his own

Mateo totally geeked-out in his goggles

Last Day of School

June 16th was a sad, but proud day. It was Mateo's last day of school at the Stevens Coop 2s program. This was a big milestone which parents were invited to participate in. It was unbelievable how much growth each of the 10 kids (Mateo, Luca, Keira, Logan, Sophia, Will, Jack, Kelly, Pearl, and Maggie) had experienced throughout the school year and it was sad to see it end. On a more personal note, it was just sad to for me to realize that my baby was becoming a little boy. Thank you Jessica and Meghan

Mateo making a silly face with Keira

Pearl, Maggie and Logan line up in their chairs to watch the slide show put together by Pearl's dad Ken

Kids and parents sing along to some of their favorite classroom songs like "Baby Beluga"

Keira, Esther, Pearl and Ken (sans shades) rocking out to the ABC song

Papi decides to join in on the fun

Jack, Keira, Kelly and Sophia enjoy some green-frosting cupcakes

Mateo taking a bite of his favorite part of the cupcake - the frosting

Mateo's job for his last week - Story Picker

Best buds, Luca and Mateo say goodbye for now

Makai & Drew's 7th Birthday

Mateo had a great time with his cousins at Makai and Drew's 7th birthday which took place in Narda's backyard. There was the awesome bouncy house, lots of cake, Jamaican food, two pinatas and a clown who made balloon animals. All in all a really fun day.

Mateo and Papi take a big leap!

Mateo trying to put a wrestling move on Papi

Cousin Tuere helping with the Pinata

Cousins Drew and Makai blowing out the candles on their Spiderman birthday cake

Mateo scarfing down a large piece of birthday cake

Mateo playing toss-the-balloon with cousin Kimani

Fun Fest 2009

Now that unofficial summer has begun Hoboken has a lot of activities starting for kids of all ages. Mateo has been enjoying all of what summer brings.

Luca and Mateo playing on the playground at Funfest in Church Square Park (Will, another classmate is also playing in the background)

Mateo enjoying a cherry italian icee with Papi at a political block party for mayor-to-be Peter Cammarano

Mateo at Liam's 5th B-Day

Mateo enjoyed a sunny Saturday in June (which has been rare) in NYC. The plan was to go to Liam's 5th birthday at Victoria Gardens (in Central Park) and make a quick stop at FAO to visit Tio Cesar.

Mateo takes a pass on the big piano at FAO. The first time he did this (about a year ago) he was afraid to stay on the piano, but this time he didn't want to get off.

Papi and Mateo on a rollercoaster ride at the party

"WEEEEE!!!"

Going down the Big Slide

Spinning around in the balloon ride

Papi and Mateo on the airplane ride which he rode at least 5 more times after this picture was taken