Lucia in the Bath

Like most kids her age, Lucia really enjoys bath time, especially when she is given free reign to explore and splash around

Cruising & Tanning

So we have had a number of really warm sunny days. It is almost like summer is starting early this year which is sort of a payback for last year's late summer start. With that comes the fact that the kids want to be outside all of the time. With that comes the darker shades (no not sunglasses) of skin tones.

Here is Miss Lucia cruising on what used to be her Exersaucer

Here is nice golden toned Mateo

Followed by a Mocha-latte shade of Miss Lucia, who, by the way, looks like she has a greater capacity to tan than her bro.

M&L Go to Leti's 4th Birthday Party

Today Mateo and Lucia went to Leti's 4th birthday party. Mommy had other plans, so unfortunately none of the party was captured on film because Papi never brings the camera. Aba and Abu watched the kiddies for a portion of the day so I did get some pix.

Based on Mateo's superhero face I ascertained that there was some type of face painting at the party. I can also see that Aba dressed Lucia based on the 2 super cute pig tails.

Aba with her grandchildren is all smiles

M&L at the Park with Papi

Today was a beautiful, relatively warm, sunny day in Hoboken. Papi got home early, so instead of spending the time cooped up inside he took the kids to a nearby playground where it was both educational and fun.

Mateo took a few turns at the rock wall until he finally conquered it and Miss Lucia added another texture to her sense of touch...grass and astroturf.

Lucia Loves Puffs

Lucia has been having "solids" since 6 months, but around 7-8 months we introduced her to Puffs which help develop her pincher grasp. They also serve as a good appetizer and in between meals snack.

"Gotta love Puffs!"

Lucia Happy Stander

This standing thing has been happening for sometime now. It has gotten to the point where she no longer wants to be on her bottom.

Lucia using her piano as a balance beam

Mateo is a Contemporary Dancer

Ok, so now instead of showing us his freestyle dance he has decided to do a little contemporary mixed with some ballet. I think when he is a little older maybe we should audition him for 'So You Think You Can Dance'

Pay close attention to his elegant pirouette

Mateo & Lucia Read

Today Lucia and Mateo just hung out playing with each other. Sometimes there is no need for too many activities or too many visitors. Sometimes it's nice for us to chill and enjoy one another. This was one of those times.

Mateo and Lucia read some of their new books together

Mateo Dancing King

Everyone know Mateo loves to dance and lately he has really been getting into it. He likes all types of music and enjoys seeing himself on video once he has given a performance.

The dance is amusing and seeing Lucia in the corner of the screen doing her own thing is also quite funny. Also, watch how he really gets into it once the music changes up.

M&L Visit with Some Chisholm Cousins & Jack W.'s B-day

Today Lucia got to meet a whole slew of new cousins (well new to her) and Mateo got to get reacquainted. We had fun at home, at the park and then topped the day off with a karate-styled birthday party.

Tayla (in pink) was incredibly helpful with Lucia. The rest of the gang, James (you can only see his knee in the bottom left), Arianna (in blue), and Nneka (in black) all settled in and watched the rest of Toy Story 2 with Mateo.

2nd generation of cousins, Mateo, Arianna, Tayla and Lucia, all spend some time hanging out on the couch

Lucia and Mateo - Swinging to the same tune

Arianna has fun on the playground

Lucia cuddles with Nneka on the couch

Onto Jack W's karate birthday party

Jack W. with his parents and brother eye the yummy chocolate cake

Lucia is just hanging out watching the fun

And decides she'd rather be on the ground closer to the action

Sensei takes a stroll of the gym

While Mateo stops to take a pic with Lucia

And the rest of the kiddies decide to try out some karate moves on Jack W's dad

Lucia Plays Mateo's "Honky Thing"

As part of Lucia's mealtime sometimes we need to give her something to play with. Since we got back from Miami Lucia has had her eye on Mateo's "honky thing" (aka bicycle horn) and while he was outside I let her have a go at it while she ate some rice and black beans. I think she may have enjoyed the taste of the horn more than the beans.

Lucia eating the horn

M&L & Logan Go to Central Park Again

Well Spring Break is over and the kids are back in school and the adults are back at work, but at least the weather is nice. To celebrate the weather Mateo, Lucia and Logan headed to the great outdoors again. For those in the tri-state area that means Central Park.

Mateo has arrived with all of his necessities in his rolling Sponge Bob backpack

Lucia also has everything she needs, her bow and her fish

The kids decided to get some cool face painting. Mateo went first...

Then Lucia..."um, I will pass"

Then Logan, " what is this? a spider? a beetle? did we pay for this?"

Next the kids did some climbing

Followed by some swinging

And then it was on to the seal show

This polar bear seems to be very intrigued with the gawkers

They ended the day with enormous popsicles

M&L on Celebrate Easter

So today is Easter. This morning we woke up slightly earlier than normal and got dressed in our Sunday best. Then it was off to church and later Mateo was presented with a surprise. Let's just say he was super happy and I thought that overall the day was a great success.

Caught off-guard - Mommy fixes her dress while Lucia scowls at the bright sun

Grandma took lots of pictures that day because she wanted to make sure she captured her grandkids and daughter dressed so presentably

Papi, Mateo, Mommy and Lucia all put on Easter smiles (well maybe not Miss Lucia)

Of course Grandma also wanted to be included in a family shot

Two Easter cuties (by the way, Grandma bought both of their Easter outfits)

Up close pic of Lucia in her Easter dress and purple bow

Now for Mateo's surprise - he insisted on closing his eyes until it was presented

Once the eyes were open, he was so psyched to see his very first Easter basket

"Thank you Grandma!!"

After getting some chocolate Easter bunny fuel, Mateo takes a ride on his scooter

" I can't stop to chat...I have a lot of fuel to burn"

We ended the day with an old-fashioned bath in a yellow bucket. I think this is a classic. Tomorrow we leave, but we did manage to have a nice little vacation.

M&L - Easter Egg Hunt & Tio Leo

Today was another great day to celebrate Easter weekend. First we went to Coconut Grove to introduce Lucia to Tio Leo and then later we headed off to Grandma's church for an Easter Egg hunt and many other wonderful games. You will also notice that Grandma continues to ensure Lucia looks more like a girl and less like a small version of Mateo.

Lucia in a pretty white bow is ready to go to the Grove

Lucia and Tio Leo share a smile after enjoying some yummy Thai food and gelato

Later Mateo enjoyed the bouncy house/slide at the church festivities

The ladies of the afternoon , Lucia and Grandma, stop to pose for a quick pic

Next we transitioned to the church's playground to hang out on the monkey bars

Mateo, the daredevil, needed to be closely monitored by Papi (as you can see someone is slipping on the "close monitoring")

While Mommy and Lucia were caught in action enjoying the swings