Winter Holidays 2009

So I know that judging by the lack of blog activity that took place during the month of December one would think we must not have had anything going on to report. On the contrary, December was so busy I just lacked the time to update the blog. I have finally secured some time today to post the pix and comments, so without further ado scroll all the way down in order to review our winter holiday activities in chronological order.

Judging by the smitten look on Madrina's face, I think we all know Mateo's place is secure

Mateo also appeared to be very happy, putting on his most dapper winter look

Since things went so well during the day they decided to go out for dinner at a favorite local spot where Maddie appeared to be very happy with the food and company

It seemed to be a lot easier the next time where, trying to make a good impression,  he showered her with his favorite toys

Sharing begins again. Mateo attempts to "share" and parallel play with Maddie

Tia Mirta chills out with Mateo

Cousins - Kleber & Max, Francoise & Mateo, and Yves & Daniel

Mateo meets up with cousins Max and Daniel again and their great-grandfather Papa KeKe and Grand-Auntie Marie

Mateo at Jungle Jimbos (an indoor playground)

Finally we ended the day at Samurai Restaurant where we had dinner with Tia Anissa(not pictured) and family (Christian-not pictured, Jordan, Jonathon and god-brother Kristian)

He also got to spend time with Bis-abuelo Julio (as you can see he was overwhelmed with emotion)

Later that day we went to Hialeah where Mateo met another new cousin, Alejandro (prima Aimara's son)

The Happy Family - Cousins Kleber, Lizette and Max

The day after Christmas we went to visit another new cousin Max Kleber Vielot (cousin Kleber's son) who was born just 3 weeks before Daniel

We took Mateo to Cutler Ridge Park (which BTW has been refurbished to a much better playground than when I was little) to burn off some energy

Auntie Pat (from Maryland) came to visit and met Mateo for the first time

Christmas morning Mateo and Grandma open his presents

We spent Noche Buena at a family friend's house where the themes of the season "sharing and giving" were reluctantly being practiced by two young toddlers - Mateo and Josh

On Christmas Eve we went to visit our new little cousin Daniel Yves Vielot (cousin Yves's son)

Family posing in a sleigh (which was being pulled by flamingos...true Miami style)

Posing with a car

Mateo had a blast at church, there were fun slides

Mateo and Grandma pose at home before she sings in the show

The Vielot-Gonzalez family is all dolled up and ready to go to the Christmas show at Grandma's church

One ride wasn't enough, so Mommy decided to join in the fun for the second ride

After the train ride it was time for the carousel

Here they come

Mateo & Papi enjoy a train ride at the mall

As you can see the bed has enough room for two people, which in the end made it too big for him to feel comfortable sleeping alone. The solution - we put him to sleep in the playpen and when he woke up in the middle of the night Eddie slept with him in this bed. I guess he really needs a toddler bed.

So it turns out that a playpen is no longer the appropriate size for Mateo...it made him feel cramped and he tended to wake up in the middle of the night. As a potential solution we decided to add some guard rails to my old twin sized bed. Mateo thought it made a great play pen.

Grandma reads Mateo a bedtime story

Papa Fofo strolls Mateo around after a hearty lunch of Chinese food

Mateo enjoys the warm Miami weather at one of our "favorite" places - The Falls

As you can see, Miami's minimum age requirement for driving is slightly less than the nation's average.

Mateo sitting at the breakfast table at Grandma's house eating melon and enjoying bubbles from Dora

Gonzalez Turkey Day

So Thursday was Thanksgiving at the Gonzalez home and this year more than any other I noticed how completely boy-centric this family is. In total there are 8 cousins (including Mateo). Only 2 are girls and one of the girls is only 1 year old which pretty much leaves the other girl to fend for herself. This year more than last all of the boys are mobil which basically means that there were a lot of raucous footsteps up and down the stairs, balls being thrown, people being chased, people being knocked over, jumping on couches, jumping on chairs crawling under and around furniture, yelling, laughing, and occasional crying. Whew...it was no wonder I saw my mother-in-law reach for a very large glass of red wine and look up to the heavens. I know exactly what she was thinking "next year we are eating out."

Some of the cousins playing in Abuelo's office.

Group HUG!!! Note all of the cousins are not pictured as it is virtually impossible to get them all in one place. We will try again on New Year's.

Mateo, Papi and Padrino are wiped out after a big meal. Nothing like a big dose of tryptophan to put you in a sleepy mood.

What's Happened Since Election Day

I know it has been a while since our last posting, but it has been a busy couple of weeks. Birthdays in D.C. dancing, cleaning, piano playing, wedding...these things take up a lot of time, but we are back on track until the next event (wait is tomorrow Thanksgiving?).

The happy couple, Tio Irv and Tia Astrid, leaving the church on a perfectly sunny crisp Autumn day.

The boys are back in town....Eddie, Orlando, Irv and Leo reunite for the big day. My how things have changed since CMU.

The trio - Tio Leo stayed with us all weekend and accompanied Eddie and I to Irv's wedding.

Dress change - Eddie, Astrid, Irv and I strike a pose at their reception.

Mateo takes his cues  a la Tom Hanks in the movie Big. He had fun running up and down the keyboard at FAO when he went to visit Tio Cesar.

So Mateo has a new favorite "chore" before it was laundry and now it is washing dishes, but only when thick suds are involved.

He tries to use his bubble wand to cultivate the clouds of soap.

For some reason Mateo has taken to putting things (pots, pans, chalk boards, spoons, crates, pencils) on his head and calling them "hat"....maybe he will be a fashion designer.

VICTORY!

So I took this picture on my camera phone in June of this year when we went to go see Obama speak in New York. I really didn't believe at the time that I was taking a picture of the next President of the United States of America. I was moved then when I heard him speak, but tonight I can't grasp the words to express how I feel. I just know that it's a feeling that I don't want to forget.

Election Day

So I just put Mateo to bed and of course he has no idea how incredibly important today is, but as you can see from his shirt we made sure that since he can't really articulate what today means at least he can be a walking advertisement. I would be a liar if I said I don't care how it turns out, but what I am equally excited about is that so many people are voting and getting involved. There is an exciting and nervous energy in the air which I have never felt. Either way I know this is a night we will never forget.

Who's Afraid of the Lollipop Kid

So Mateo didn't take too kindly to me eating a Blow Pop (Halloween candy) and felt it was his duty to take it away from me by any means necessary. Let the battle begin! There was a video, but due to upload limitations the pix below will have to do.

One of many blows to my head.

Now he attempts to push my head back while he yanks at the lollipop stick.

Finally a compromise. I get to keep my Blow Pop and Papi gave Mateo his own lollipop...whew, lucky for me because I was probably going to lose the fight.