M&L do Spring Break in Miami - Day 4 -Easter 2013

Today is Easter which means we get to play a fabulous game of dress up and the kids get to go to church and get their Easter baskets from Grandma...hurray!

 Mateo and Lucia are dressed and ready to go

 Lucia is very happy about her Easter basket

 And so is Mateo

 Now we can see where they get their great sense of style

 Finally after a couple of days of waiting, the kids get to go in the pool

 What's cool about this pool is their is a wadding area where Lucia can stand

 Even on a hot Spring day in Miami the pool starts to get a little cool and it is time to dry off and warm up

 After the pool, the kids got changed and went to hang out with some Vielot cousins for Padrino Yves' birthday. Ice Pops are awesome with cousins (Edoard, Lucia Daniel Mateo and Max in the back). Poor Lucia, I can relate I too was the only girl in a sea of boy cousins

 And now some singing with the guest of honor

"Happy Birthday cousin Yves (aka Lucia's Padrino)!"

M&L do Spring Break in Miami - Day 3 -Easter Egg Hunt 2013

Today we kicked off another warm, sunny, wonderful day in Miami. After partying all night at the Youth Fair we had a bit of a late start, but no worries we were still on time for the Cutler Ridge Park Easter Egg Hunt.

 But before the hunt began there were fun activities for the kiddies starting with bouncy houses

 And pictures with the Easter Bunny (although in all honesty I thought this bunny looked a little weird)

 Finally, the hunt was ready to begin...Lucia was prepared with her Easter Basket in hand 

This year she got lots of eggs because she had an advantage,  she was on the older end of her age group's hunt (3 and under)

 Mateo was super fast so he also scored a lot of eggs

After the hunt...guess what? Cotton candy time again! 2 days in a row...must be nice

 "Delicious!"

" I love Cotton Candy Time!"

M&L do Spring Break in Miami - Day 2 - Dade County Youth Fair

Today kicked off what is to be an extremely fun and busy week. We all woke up, put on our shorts and  were ready to start the day.

Grandma felt that 70 degrees was too cool for the pool, but she did prepare in anticipation for when the week gets warmer. Mateo couldn't wait, so he dipped his fingers in and kept her company.

Lucia decided to join in on the waiting

Mateo couldn't take waiting any longer so he moved on to another activity, practicing riding his bike. He got really good after a few runs. After some bike riding, we finally went to...

...the Dade County Youth Fair!!! Yahh!!

Lucia is now old/tall (36") enough to go on about 30% of the rides and Mateo (48") can now go on about 75% of the rides, put them together and Papi had a lot of rides to hit up

"Woohooo!"

Miss Lucia actually got to go on this ride all by herself...she was very proud

It is tiring waiting for rides to start...

...but so much fun when they finally start

The House of Fun was one of their favorite attractions. We got the express pass (aka "skip-the-line" pass) so as soon as they would run through the rotating tunnel they would run back inside

"So much fun!"

And now a cotton candy moment

Even Grandma got in on the action

And as it got later/darker/chillier Papi and Mateo rode a few more rides and we called it a night. It was a great day...we will sleep well tonight.

M&L do Spring Break in Miami - Day 1

Today kicked off our 10 day trip to Miami. The whole family was very excited to get away and have a nice warm break away from the frigid North, work and school. We were also looking forward to visiting with family and friends. We had a busy week ahead of us...

 ...but when we landed we just wanted to chill, so we had some dinner with Grandma and ended it with a shake...

...well 2 shakes and then settled in at Grandma's

M&L are Prepared to Swim

 Today we took the kids to swimming and I thought they both looked so grown up and prepared that I was compelled to take a picture of them.

So first I took one of the both of them, but I needed a close up of Lucia

...so I took one of her and her crooked smile and then Mateo felt slighted that he didn't get a solo picture

...so he got one on his own too


And then later Mateo did something incredible (at least to me), he swam the full length of the pool. Check it out.

Mateo's Freestyle

Mateo at Hoboken Easter Egg Hunt - 2013

As is tradition in Hoboken, today was the HFA Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Was it sunny? Yes. Were there a lot of kids? Yes. Was it freezing cold? Unfortunately yes. But did the kids have fun? 

One kid did, the other went home cold and cranky. And yes in the background there is a Ben & Jerry's cart giving away free ice cream. Mateo had 2 cups.

Lucia is Ready for her Closeup

So this morning while everyone was fast asleep, Little Miss Lucia decided to wake up and fix herself up. Below are the results of her makeover.

She had opened my foundation, blush, mascara and concealer and not only painted her face, but also the bathroom. I didn't know whether to yell or laugh..so I did both and then cleaned her right up...ahhh idle hands

Lucia Visit Mommy at Work

Today I got a special treat actually two special treats. I got to eat lunch with Lucia. First of all I never get away from my desk to eat lunch and it was especially good because I had Little Miss to enjoy.

 Lucia enjoyed her gourmet sandwich from Wichcraft and enjoyed the cookie even more

"Thanks for coming for lunch Lucia, I had a lovely time"

Mateo's Publishing Party

Today I went to Mateo's publishing party at his school. The kids' writing is really coming along. This manuscript included explanation, fun facts and diagrams. Very impressive.

Book title - How to Play Skylanders by Mateo

Lucia goes to Asher's 4th Birthday Party

Today Lucia got to go to Asher's 4th Birthday party.

Always a little shy in the beginning...

 ...Lucia warmed up when she got to participate in the potato sack race

She also had a great time in ball pit

 This is the life

Many kids were terrified with this zip line activity and refused to go, but not little Miss Lucia. Although she is the youngest in her class, she is pretty fearless when it comes to stunts. I guess hair isn't the only thing she has in common with Brave Princess Merida. I was very proud of her

 "Wheeeeeeee!"

 Birthday boy, Asher, takes a ride in his celebration wagon

 Ultimate gymnast, Lucia decided she likes setting up...

 ...and completing a back flip

 And then on to the next thing, "trampolines are great!"

 And even better with a friend

After all of the running, jumping and playing, the kids ate a lunch of pizza and sandwiches and then waited patiently for the cake