M&L Have a Joint Bday - Mateo Turns 7

Today was a big day. Most importantly, it was Mateo's birthday, but it was also the day of his party AND also the day of Lucia's birthday party. That is right folks, we are having a joint birthday party for them. I figured since it was summer they wouldn't have a lot of friends that could attend and since their days are so close together we thought it would also be easier on the family to attend one big party for the two of them. I am not sure we can do this every year since their ages are different, gender is different, interests are different and as they get older they will be more vocal about what they do and do not want, but for this year they both agreed to share and have a grand party at Chuck E. Cheese's. It was stressful, but I am glad I only had to do it once.

The birthday buddies are dressed in their personally selected outfits and are ready to go

To avoid the crowds, I purposefully chose the earliest reservation possible. Chuck E Cheese looks just as I remembered it. Random characters that are a part of a band. 

Lucia fell in love with this carriage and spent half of her tokens on it.

Mateo had more fun playing the video games

Soon after the party started, Lucia's BFF, Alma showed up and joined her in the carriage

After all of the kids arrived and had a chance to eat, they got to enjoy the "show"

Mateo wanted a Skylanders Ice Cream Cake...check

And Lucia wanted a Princess Cupcake Cake..check,check

Of course Mateo's party wouldn't be complete without the attendance of his BFF, Lucas

Lucia had a lot of buddies from school Melanie is her cousin, but school friends Alessia, Alecxsander and Baxter all showed up.

A little birthday singing for the birthday boy and girl

And also some personal attention from Mr.Cheese (who by the way is a lot thinner than the Chuck E. Cheese that I grew up with)

They both loved the ticket grabber experience. 

And a party is not a party without a Pinata

Later in the day, Mateo got to choose his dinner place and of course he picked Robongi

Lucia was happy to share the meal with two of her birthday presents- a fairy and a mermaid

After Robongi, we all got dessert at Ben & Jerry's. Was the day exhausting..yes. Was it stressful...yes. Was it a lot of work...yes. Was it worth it...absolutely yes. 

Mateo, 7 years with you have been delightful, hilarious and some of the best years of my life. This year you began to excel in your mathematical abilities and started to truly read on your own. Your athleticism is growing as well as your tenderness and loving attitude toward your little sister and your parents. I can't wait to see how you grow and change over the next year. 

We love you our little (not so little) boy.

Ticket Blaster fun! Please observe how Mateo is trying to actually grab tickets while his sister just loved jumping around in the wind and flashing lights.

M&L Camp Gracia - Final Day

So this morning we all woke up and realized it was our last day at Camp Gracia. We ate breakfast packed up our stuff and said our farewells. We had a great time and knew we would see each other again, just probably not as soon as we would like. We were happy to have gotten to spend so much quality time with the family. Lucia was ok saying goodbye, but Mateo, well see below...

Enough said

M&L Camp Gracia -Day 3

Today at Camp Gracia the kids really got into the spirit and had a really busy camp day.

It first started out with this photo montage of all of them in their super cute shirts. The direction on this one was "Look around searching"

"All hands up!"

" Hold hands in the air" you can see Little Miss Lucia was just giving pure attitude

Pyramid time

And now onto Isabel's riding lesson...it was so cool to get to watch her

At least I thought it was cool...I think her cousins were just hot and bothered

But Isabel did a great job

Happy to be swinging together

After the riding lesson, everyone got to take a ride of another sort...GO CARTS!

Lucia rode with Papi 

And raced against her brother and Padrino

And Aba who was running behind the whole time

After Go Carts, we went to a movie and then to this yummy Ice Cream shop

Not sure if Miss Lucia wanted to eat it or wear it

We ended the day with a swim at Ron and Katha's (Kimm's parents) house 

The kids had fun splashing around

And Miss Lucia tried to tame...

...And drag the beast. 

M&L Camp Gracia - Day 2

So today was another day at Camp Gracia. We all woke up and had a hearty breakfast and then headed out. It was a busy, somewhat rainy day filled with a little adventure and a lot of humor.

We all (except for Aba, Lucia and Abuela Leonor) went on a canoe trip that started during rain and ended with a tipped boat. Because I wanted to keep my camera safe, unfortunately I have no pix of the adventure, but I did get some of our activities when we came back.

Everyone was tired and starving when we got back so there was a lot of snacking and relaxing

And coloring

And drying off

And finally, just chillin...

M&L Go To Camp Gracia - Day 1- 4th of July

Today, the Vielot-Gonzalez clan headed out to Ohio to visit and spend time with cousins upon cousins (Julio, Kimm, Alex and Isabel). We have never been to their new pad and thought since we had an extra long weekend it would be the perfect time. Even better? Mima, Erich, Ayden, Antonio, Aba, Abu, Abuela Leonar and Tia Briseida were also going out to join in on the fun.

This weekend was tagged as Camp Gracia and much to the kids' delight when they arrived these shirts were laying out waiting for them

Lucia and Isabel got down to business - having some girl time over crayons and coloring books

In the kitchen, Aba was cooking and Kimm was whipping up some of her famous mashed potatoes

Cousins hogged out on grilled corn, chicken and mashed potatoes

In other news, the Vidals and Gracias thought this would be a great weekend to also get new Rotties and Lucia and Ayden were so captivated by the new pups that they decided to spend some time with them in their cages.

The kids were so happy (or at least pretending to be) to get these new 4th of July inspired books from Abu - as you can see Mateo and Lucia were very patriotically dressed

Tonight's accommodations 

Eddie had a great time teasing the Boxers

Lucia and Mateo were psyched to be here

Later, after bath time we all headed into town to watch the fireworks...Miss Lucia was exhausted

Mateo, Isabel, Kimm, Ayden and Alex were ready for the show to start...

...And when it did they were all mesmerized...Happy 4th of July!