Bundle Up

Well Summer is gone and Fall seems to be breezing through rapidly, so we had to run out and make sure Miss Lucia was prepared to brave the elements

As you can see Miss Lucia is a little worried about this new set up. "What are these elements you speak of?"

Lucia Does Chin ups

Another couch-time moment brought to you by Vielot-Gonzalez

Lucia attempts to keep her head up with the help of Papi's face

Another Audris Visit

Today, Auntie Audris had off for Columbus Day so she came to visit us out in Hoboken. We were lucky because we got her for most of the day and she treated us to both lunch and dinner.

Audris and Lucia at 10th & Willow (one of my favorite local restaurants)

M&L Go to Sofia's 4th Birthday Party

I am just going to cut to the chase. Today we went to Sofia's 4th birthday party making this the 5th weekend in a row for birthday parties. We mixed it up a little because instead of squeezing the birthday party in between soccer and swimming we did soccer, an early swimming class and THEN the party.

The setting: a whimsical play area in the backyard of their complex

Mateo playing in the bouncy castle with one of his new friends from school Madeline

WHEEEEE!

Pearl (from last week's party) was in attendance

Mateo donned a birthday hat to sing "Happy Birthday" to Sofia

Here is Sofia the birthday girl

Lucia (with Ester, Keira's mom) was a little upset that she didn't get a cupcake

Madeline and Mateo enjoying some juice and pizza together

All of the kids swarmed the ground where the goodies from the pinata had fallen

M&L Visit Toys R Us

When you can't think of anything fun to do on a cold Saturday afternoon...take them to ToysrUs. Ok this is probably not the most fiscally responsible thing to do, but right now Lucia doesn't ask for anything and Mateo is a relatively cheap date. He runs around the store playing with everything and when it is time to go he can't really decide so he ends up asking for a bag of M&Ms or something equally inexpensive.

Mateo in the sporting goods aisle is all suited up for baseball practice

Lucia Waking Up

Some of my favorite time with Lucia is in the morning. I also enjoyed this time a lot when Mateo was a baby. There is something really refreshing about the morning and everyone is well rested (or at least just rested) and they still have a warm milk baby aroma. It is when they are the calmest and most content.

Pre-wake up, Lucia is snug as a bug in a rug

Eyes are open and she is looking at me a little perplexed by the camera

"At last, the shackles of the swaddler blanket have been released!"

A nice little "coo" to start the day right

Big stretch, which also looks like an imitation of someone doing the "sprinkler" dance

All smiles and ready to start the day

As you can see, Lucia is extremely excited about being awake and swaddle free

M&L Go to Pearl's 4th Birthday Party

If you review the September posts, you will see that the kids have been to a birthday party for the last 3 weekends and well this weekend was no different making this the fourth in a row. Mateo now thinks it's tradition to have at least a cake or cupcake on the weekend and the Happy Birthday song is now on his regular playlist of tunes to sing. Oh yeah, he also, of course, had swimming and soccer today - as usual...

We arrived at Riverview Park in Jersey City where Pearl's birthday party was being held. As this was Mateo's first time at this park he needed to make sure the swings were up to code.

Here is Pearl, the birthday girl, marching around in her princess pink tutu

Blast from the past, Keira, who went to Mateo's school last year was also there

After the swings, Mateo conquered the climbing wall

Sofia, who was in Mateo's class last year and who is in his class this year also attended

Mateo gets his turn using the pump to try and launch a bottle rocket

We had to rush to swimming and were unable to stay for birthday cake. Knowing that we were going to miss the cake, we came prepared with a cupcake which Mateo was able to enjoy on our way to swimming.

After swimming and a family nap, the four of us headed to one of Mateo's favorite parks - the Purple Park. Lucia was actually awake for this excursion and as you can see she was all smiles

So was big brother Mateo

Papi took Lucia on her first ride down the slide which freaked out Mateo and Mommy