Mateo Thug Life

Yesterday when we went shopping with Shannon we also did a little shopping for Papi. He needed new shoes so went to a department store so he could try some on. To keep ourselves (and mainly Mateo) occupied we had to get creative. I taught him the power of the Self- Price Check Scanner - look for the lines on the price tag and hold it under the light until you hear a beep. Eddie made use of the free footies they supply you when trying on shoes. See below - Eddie's idea was much funnier.

"This is for me and my homies, Buzz and Woody."

We will regret having taken this if he actually ends up wearing one of these when he is older.

M&L Go Bed Hopping with Shannon

It has been a while (almost 3 years) since we have seen Shannon in person, but today we got lucky. Mommy's friend Shannon came to visit "the suburbs" and meet Miss Lucia for the first time. She also got to see big boy Mateo who was only 1 the last time they met. The trip was not just about meeting up. Shannon also wanted to go mattress shopping, so we joined her and it turned out to be a lot of fun. Apparently sales people don't mind little kids jumping up and down on the mattresses because they are all floor models. With that type of freedom, there was no stopping Mateo.

Shannon and Miss Lucia warmed up to each other right away

Mateo and Papi test out this model at Sleepys

Speaking of Sleepy... Lucia knocked out without even testing a mattress

Shannon did some testing of her own

Mateo basically leaped from bed to bed

Buzz Lightyear and Mateo had a great time

Lucia is Bjorned and asleep. With all of this pillow talk who could blame her.

Pipo Turns 100

Pipo, Eddie's grandfather, is celebrating his 100th birthday today. There are so many cool things about this event - 1. He came to this country to live when he was 99, 2- He is completely lucid, and 3 - HE IS TURNING 100!! Lucia wasn't feeling so well because she was in the midst of a stomach bug, but there is no way we could miss this so we rested up and headed out.

Early in the day Lucia and Papi took a nap to try and conserve energy for the night's events

Clearly, Lucia needed a little more time

Papi and Mateo dressed up for the party

Pipo giving a speech after the slide presentation of his life

Pipo getting down on the dance floor with his granddaughter Yolaiky

Mima and Lucia hang out and take pix on the dance floor

Pipo enjoyed the surprise Mariachi band

Mateo - reunited with his Padrino

3 Generations of Gonzalez

Mateo at Karate Class

Every Thursday Mateo has Karate and the experienced has been mixed. On one hand, Mateo loves the physical activities and interaction with the other kids. On the other hand he is struggling with the strict discipline. We like both the activity and the discipline so he will be sticking with it for now.

The kids gather and listen to instruction from the teachers

Mateo practicing balance and focus

M&L - Scoot and Play

It seems like every kid between the ages of 3 and 9 in Hoboken owns a scooter. Since it has been nice out Mateo and his buddies have joined the army of scooters with their own little rides. This year there are 3 wheels, but next year we may go down to 2.

The boys of summer - Logan, Will and Mateo pose with their scooters and helmets - "Safety First!"

Next, the boys met up with Maggie at one of the coolest playrooms in town which is located at Will's house

Everyone got in on all of the play

Lucia played with Will's Batman castle

And Claire's dollhouse

Next, the ladies played a board game which apparently requires heavy protection (Shout out to Steelers' Fans - "What! What!")

"Today was a good day"

M&L at Maggie & Nate's 4th Birthday Party

Spring is here and with it comes a new crop of birthday parties. Today was a double birthday party. Mateo and Lucia went to Kidville to help Maggie and Nate celebrate their 4th birthdays. It was Pirate-themed and Mateo ended up with a lot of booty.

Here is Mateo decorating his treasure chest

There is Maggie - the Birthday Girl

Lucia does her best pirate impression "Arrrrgh Matees!"

Now it's time for a little Pirate Boogie with The Birthday Boy, Nate (center green shirt with short brown hair)

Mateo and Nikhil work up an appetite by doing a little gymnastics on the bar

M&L - Swim & Relay for Life

Today was a day to celebrate with and appreciate family. It started with a fun swim session in Hoboken and ended with the family getting together at Mima's to participate in the Relay for Life which is a fundraiser for cancer research. We had about 10-12 people on our team and the goal is to have someone on the track for the entire 18 hours. We were doing it to commemorate Eddie's uncle Julio who passed away about 10 years ago. The weather wasn't the best, but we managed to do ok.

Papi, Lucia and Mateo play in the hot tub

The rainy Relay - most of us (Papi, Mateo and Ayden pictured here) hunkered down inside our tent until the rain passed, but there was always someone on the track

Mateo scored an ice cream pop from Aba and Lucia hung with Mima (seen in the background)

Here are some of the other participants - Tia Briseida, Antonio, Abu, Papi and Lazaro

M&L Get a Wagon

Today we scored big. Most people know that due to my job I get hooked up with top notch Housewares items, but as we expand into different categories the hook-ups also expand. One of the designers I am currently working with was gracious enough to give me a floor model of their brand new wooden wagon. It is superb because of the awesome tires and it is also quite attractive....sweet!

Mateo is psyched about the new wagon. I have had to point out that the wagon is for Mateo AND Lucia lest he forget and try to kick her out.

Mateo (with clarinet in hand) and Lucia head out for a wagon ride

Aba was also excited to join in on the wagon fun

"Let's roll!"

All of the play at the park tuckered out Miss Lucia and she took a nap in the wagon (Note: this is now one of my favorite pictures)

M&L - Bad Blood

Today was a sad day. It was a day when I discovered the power of sibling rivalry and how ugly it can be. I must also say that it was a day that was very unusual, but it makes me realize that while 99% of the time Mateo and Lucia play nice (at least nice enough) there are times when things can turn bad, so we have to be diligent and keep our eyes out.

Everything started out normal, but this should have been a clue...."is there a doctor in the house?"

Mateo and Lucia playing with their toys. As you can see a majority of the playing is done with his toys because she is way more interested in his stuff than her own. This is where the tale turns ugly. Please note I received this information second hand, but apparently Lucia was playing with an item that was near and dear to him (this changes frequently) and he lashed out...

...and hit her in the mouth with a cup. There were tears, a big time out and a little blood. Miss Lucia bounced back although you can see she had a little red coloring on her lip and I think Mateo was shocked at the results of his actions. I was very upset and he is on punishment. I just hope this is the last time something like this happens because it made me very sad.

M&L Have a Rainy Day Play Date

Mateo and Lucia have never been the type to let the weather slow them down. Today they had a scheduled play date in the park, but when the weather turned soured the play came inside.

Kate, Lucia and Mateo take the house by storm

Mateo poses with Buzz Light Year and a new pal, Jacob

"What's for lunch?"

After lunch and nap, the team got in a new crop of playmates. John and Luke from downstairs. As you can see (by their footy pajamas) they were also trapped inside due to bad weather conditions.

The foursome having fun

Lucia and Claire

So today, much like any other sunny warm day the kids headed out to the park. Now that Miss Lucia is developing into her own independent person she is making her own little friends. A lot of the time, her friends are the little siblings of Mateo's friends. Today, Lucia was scheduled to meet Claire (Will's little sister).

" Where could she be?"

" I told her I would meet her by the fence near the swings...I wonder if she took a wrong turn at the slides?"

"Here I am old pal, I love what you're wearing. Very 80's leg warmer retro"