Lucia Goes to Max & Laia's 4th Birthday Party

Today Lucia went to a double birthday party for twins Max and Laia. The party was at, what has appeared to be the most popular destination for four-year old birthday parties, Pump It Up.

But first the kids needed to listen to the rules

The first thing Miss Lucia does is hit the Cyclone Blast. Basically it is a tube that blows air at really high speeds and creates a mini hurricane. As you can see she loves this attraction.

She also really loves the bouncy slide...

...and giant piano

The kids are so used to the routine at this place that they know exactly where to pile up to take a picture, say cheese

and make a silly face

Our guests of honor, birthday boy Max and birthday girl Laia had very cool and very delicious cakes

"Mmmmmmm," Lucia enjoyed the pizza and yummy cake

M&L do Community Service - Sandwich Jam

It is difficult in a world of nannies, helicopter parents and private lessons to teach the kids selflessness and giving, but today we tried to give it a shot. We took Mateo, Lucia, Lucas and Alma to the Sandwich Jam...an event put on to make 1000 sandwiches to donate to the Homeless Shelter. 

They were short on gloves so Lucas assembled the sandwiches while Mateo held the bags

Later, they were rewarded with some free Ben & Jerry's...

...and some playtime at the park.

M&L Celebrate their Abuela's 81st Birthday

So Eddie's grandmother, Abuela Leonor, is visiting from Cuba and this week was her 81st birthday, so Mima decided to throw a big shindig at her house to celebrate. 

Melanie and Lucia decided to start the party off with a duet on the piano

It looks like it worked because the party really got started

And of course Volcano and Tornado were mixing it up in the backyard

Abuela Leonor was happy to be surrounded by her great-grandkids

And her daughter and grandkids

By the end of the night, the girls had moved on from piano to bongos...

...but entertaining is exhausting, so they soon wiped out...

it was a good night

Mateo plays Soccer with the Pros

So today a bunch of Elementary school boys got to participate in a lesson being given by the Stevens University Soccer team. One of those boys happened to be our very own Mateo. They got some good tips and then ended with  a quick pick up game. The whole experience was pretty cool.

 Mateo was prepped and ready to go in his soccer gear

 Lucia was a bit chilly, but stuck it out to watch her big bro

Mateo enjoyed playing defense

All of the boys had a really good time

M&L do Spring Break in Miami - Day 10 - Party Time

Our last full day in Miami and the weather held up for a perfectly pleasant setting for playing and partying.

In the morning, the kids ran out to play by the lake again...Lucia found solace in this bucket

Isn't this the most peaceful pic of paradise

                                      

Mateo was so pleased with his coconut castle

Unfortunately, this was the last happy scene because shortly after this we were told that the kids could no longer play in the water or on the sand because it had to be "neatened" for the party. They also couldn't really play in the house, soooo...yeah not sure what we were supposed to do with them. We knocked down his castle and it was a tragedy to end all tragedies. This one was bad because I didn't actually understand the reasoning either which made it tough for me to explain. Oh well.

I guess "when life gives you lemons ...you rake the sand to make it look nice for the party" Birthday Buddies, Lucia and Abu, raked the sand together to get it ready for the party.

Mateo stopped playing in the sand, but refused to get out of the water and so Tia Stacie kept him company

And Tio Tony played the part of Jaws (just envision the theme song)

The party was so big even Grandma came to celebrate

And so did Papi's old college buddies, Otis and Leo...a good time was had by all

M&L do Spring Break in Miami - Day 9 - Day of the Pig

Today, finally, everyone had arrived and preparations were being made for the big party tomorrow. What type of preparation...well look below to find out.

First step...make sure all family is accounted for

Second step, go to pig farm

3rd step, choose your pig

4th step , I don't want to say which is why I couldn't go, but you can probably guess.

No for the pre-party. Grilling in the back yard, and

appreciating loved ones

A little partying on the dance floor

And end, the night with some night paddle boating

M&L do Spring Break in Miami - Day 8 - Pure Sand

So most of today was spent outside and most of that outside time was spent playing in the sand. What a perfect day for kids.

First Papi helped Lucia dig

Then he helped her transport water to moisten the sand

Mateo was fine building on his own

And soon enough, Lucia learned to do it on her own as well

Later she was happy to have her cousin Alejandro come to help her build

M&L do Spring Break in Miami - Day 7 -Meeting Tio Tony

Yesterday (Day 6) was a bit of a blur filled with errands and mall trips so there was nothing to report there. Instead, let's fast forward to today. The day that the kids finally got to meet Tio Tony in person. We packed our bags and left Grandma's to travel to Abuelo Julio's house in Hialeah.

Mateo and Tio Tony became fast friends

Now that the kids had warmed to sand and surf, they wasted no time getting into their swimsuits and going out to the sand by the lake in the back.

And then they discovered the paddle boat...we will return to that later

For now I should tell you that all of a sudden Lucia didn't feel like wearing her swimsuit and instead wanted to wear swim trunks with no shirt like her brother

Now, back to the paddle boat. We have been to Abuelo Julio's house several times in the past and the kids are always fascinated by the paddle boat, but the paddle boat hadn't seen any action for several years...that is until Tio Tony came home. Before taking it out it needed to be cleaned and Mateo was happy to hose it down...

...and so of course was Miss Lucia

And now they are off

Later, Papi joined them and they went fishing

And ended up catching a fish

What a beauty

Afterwards, the kids played wiffle ball in the backyard...

...where we discovered Mateo has quite an arm

After such a busy day, Miss Lucia couldn't keep her eyes open so she passed out on the couch

While Mateo met and hung out with Abuela Leonor (visiting from Cuba) for the very first time