Mateo Loses His First Tooth

There are a few milestones that I get really excited and happy about and others that are exciting , but also bring a tinge of sadness. Why sadness? Because they signify big changes and mark the end of one period and the beginning of another. Well today Mateo lost his first tooth. He has been so excited and anxious about the prospect of losing his teeth. He has several classmates that have lost teeth and I think all kids know this means something special. It is a rite of passage and it comes with a visit from the Tooth Fairy who comes bearing gifts. When he started to get shaky teeth, he couldn't wait until they started to fall out. Today, Ms. Josie gave him an apple and that helped things along. When I came home this is what I found...

...yep one missing tooth. He told me it came out at school and all of his classmates shook his hand and congratulated him. Such a big boy...losing his baby teeth and getting his grown-up teeth.

And the school gives them a special tooth-shaped case to keep it secure while waiting for the Tooth Fairy. By the way, apparently the Tooth Fairy gives $5 for the first tooth. We tried to stress that it was only for the first tooth, but Mateo now has a goal that if he loses all 20 teeth he is going to score $100. I guess he is thinking more like a grown up.

Mateo Heads to Benji & Nico's 6th Birthday Party

Ok, so other than today being a birthday party day , it also was a day of firsts for Mateo. His first birthday party for twins and his first trip to a bowling alley.

This may have been mentioned before but the ratio for Mateo's kindergarten class is about 3 to 1 boys...this picture reflects what it is like

In the beginning, Mateo was a bit nervous about this whole bowling thing...

...but he warmed up to the idea

...and then he was on "a roll"

And this was the result (please note: he knocked this one down on the next try)

After bowling, it was time to celebrate the twins birthday which came with 2 cakes of course

Mini - Lucia

Ok, so today was a pretty standard Saturday, but to Lucia it was a great new day because it was a swimming day. And while she is normally happy to go to lessons, today she was going to get to debut her brand new bathing suit.

Introducing Miss Lucia in her Mini Mouse Tankini...it's almost like a self-portrait don't you think?

Mateo Goes to Daniel's 6th Birthday

So unfortunately, today was Grandma's last day with us, but it was a great time and she was leaving late enough to get to see the kids play soccer. Later on Mateo went to a 6th birthday party for one of the kids, Danielle, in his class. It was a fun and busy day.

Grandma and two cheesy-smiling grandkids are ready to go to soccer

Later, Mateo attended a Dance Party for Daniel (birthday boy doing break dance moves on the floor)

"That's right, I am a rock star"

All of the kids put on a choreographed performance at the end of the party

M&L St. Patrick's Day 2012

Today was a beautiful Irish Spring Day! Of course it was St. Patty's Day. As an ode to the day and also as a "just because," prima Mima decided to have a party at her home. We packed up the family (including Grandma in tow) and headed to Western Jersey.

Grandma, Mateo and Lucia are dressed in green and ready to celebrate

And now for the silly photo

The kids had a blast playing in the backyard

Lucia and Ayden spent some quality cousin time together...

...and so did Antonio and Mateo

After some dinner, Lucia enjoyed a cupcake while chilling on Grandma's lap

And then was truly "chileando" with Tia Stacie

Community Meeting at ECS

Today was Community Day at Mateo's school.What is Community Day? Well it is kind of like School Spirit Day. All of the kids, from every grade, gather in the auditorium and there are some performances and updates and announcements. Because Mommy was in Chicago last weekend, she got to take today as a show day, so Mommy and Grandma got to attend Community Day with Mateo.

All of the kids gather and settle down in the gym.

Mateo and his friend Max (to the left), wait for the first performance of the day...

...which to our surprise, was the Kindergarten class

Mateo did a great job

They sang to great songs to start the day

Grandma Comes for a Surprise Visit

After Mateo's week, he kept asking why Grandma couldn't come to his school. We tried to explain to him that Grandma normally comes during the summer and that we would see her for Easter, but he didn't understand and really wanted her to come so she could visit his class. Well Grandma stepped out of her comfort zone and actually came... and totally surprised Mateo.

Mateo was happy to see her

And so was Lucia

Of course he had to get down to business and challenge Grandma to a game of dueling Bey Blades

The battle was short lived as Grandma is no match for the Bey Blade Pro