M&L Christmas 2011

Ok, so today was the day that Mateo had been waiting for for at least the last month. It was Christmas Day. The day when Mateo got to find out if Santa brought him everything on his list for being good. Sure Noche Buena was great, but he pointed out that Santa was not there and hadn't brought him anything on his list. Well this morning he was up bright and early and came down the stairs to see a tree filled to the brim with presents...yipppeee!! Of course he wanted to tear into everything, but we tortured him and made him eat breakfast first.

Mateo inhaled his waffles...

.... And Lucia took her time plowing through her Cheerios

Mateo and Lucia were so excited about all of their gifts from Santa

Look at all of that booty!

Mateo made Mommy this great necklace and put it in my stocking for me to find something nice on Christmas Day

Later Abuelo Julio (helping Lucia dress Barbie), Aba, Abu, Tio Cesar, Tia Stacie, Tia Raqui, and Tio Jon came over to celebrate Christmas

And help the kids open even more presents

Pretty in Pink

(Hello Kitty Pink to be exact)

Tia Stacie helped Lucia with her train puzzle

While Abuelo Julio, Tio Cesar and Mateo enjoyed playing with one of Mateo's favorite gifts, Bey Blades...it was a truly wonderful, laid back, stay-in-pajamas-all-day-Christmas

Noche Buena 2011

One day closer to Christmas and in the Vielot-Gonzalez household, Christmas Eve is just as celebratory as Christmas Day. This means the family got dolled up and went over to Aba and Abu's house for Noche Buena with the family.

Miss Lucia is dressed in her cute Christmas outfit, but is already tired...she's got about 7 more hours until midnight, so she better catch her second wind.

"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!"

I think she got her second wind when cousin Melanie showed up

The girls breakdance on the dance floor..."let's get the party started!"

Tia Lola and Papi

Family photo...sans Papi

Time for one of the main events...eating! Yuca, puerco, congri, ensalada, pollo...mmmmmm...

Tio Cesar and Aba caught up after dinner

Mommy and Papi are stuffed

Who is sexy legs? Well I will give you a hint. She is a regular at Noche Buena which is impressive because she comes all the way from the West Coast. She is a tribe member and a House member. Give up? It's Auntie Jamie!

It is almost midnight and the kids are in their PJs and ready to open gifts, so are Tia Raqui Caqui and Tia Stacie (lying down behind Lucia)

"Merry Christmas! Wooo Hoo I love gifts!"

"And so do I! Merry Christmas!"

Pre-Christmas with Navita

Today was the day before everyone started their break. It was Mommy and Papi's last day of work, Mateo and Lucia's last day of school and Navita's last day with us until the New Year. Before everyone heads off to their various celebrations, the kids did a gift exchange with Navita.

Lucia was happy to get another baby and a set of log cabin blocks and Mateo was thrilled to get this flying saucer game. Merry Christmas Navita!

Oh yeah, she also got Mateo a huge lollipop...

...And Lucia got one too of course

Mommy Visits Auntie Gina

So last night Mommy flew into Pittsburgh...that's right Pittsburgh to visit Auntie Gina who is about to become a Mommy. She got married earlier in the year and now is expecting a baby boy or girl in March yah! After she moved to Pittsburgh I promised I would visit, but told her I would absolutely not go in Winter because I remember Pittsburgh winters and they were brutal.

Well, she must be pretty important because here I am in Pittsburgh, in what would be considered Winter in the snow (which means at least 32 degrees). I did, however, get to visit my old campus. CMU on the fence on the Cut in front of Hunt Library...feels very familiar

Gina (w/ baby on board) and Mommy had a great weekend

Mommy' Day in Kindergarten

Today was a very special day for me and Mateo because I was finally going to go to his school to spend some time with him and his classmates. As a working parent, I don't get to participate with his school as much as I would like and I know that he envies the kids who have a parent who doesn't work and who can participate in everyday classroom events.

Mateo is all smiles after completing our special project. We made blueberry muffins with his classmates to enjoy for an early afternoon snack.

It was a great day and Mommy and Mateo had a wonderful time together.

M&L Trim the Tree

Today the family got into the Christmas spirit a little more and decided to decorate the tree. The kids were so excited and so were the adults.

As you can see the bottom of the tree got a lot of love from Mateo and Lucia, so Mommy and Papi helped out with the middle and top.

Lucia likes the shiny ones

And now for the traditional pic in front of the tree...for some reason we can never get them to smile

Well, one out of two ain't bad

M&L Take a Picture with Santa Claus

As Christmas approaches, there is lots to do, arrange flights, go shopping, cook, bake and of course go see Santa. The flights are arranged and a tiny bit of shopping has been done and today the kids went to see Santa.

Mateo was happy to share everything on his letter with Santa, but Miss Lucia was a little scared of the guy with the velvet red suit and flowing white beard, so Mommy had to act as a buffer to get the picture taken. "CHEESE!"