Lucia's Christening Weekend Pt.2

Today the next set of peeps came in for Lucia's christening. Those include, Grandma, Freddie and Aba. These people Lucia has met in the past, but she did have one special visitor who she has been waiting to see (look below to see who it is). While Lucia and Mommy waited for a few visitors, Papi, Mateo, Anissa and Kristian headed out to the city for some sightseeing and Chinatown haggling. We met up with them later and brought along Papa Fofo and Yves (aka Lucia's Padrino)

"YAHHHH!! Uncle Aston - At last we finally meet."

Kristian strikes a pose in the middle of Time Square

Anissa and Mommy also take a very touristy photo in Time Square

Mommy and Mateo

Mateo enjoys a bite out of my camera case as he sits in the "pedestrian area" of Time Square. My how things have changed.

Mommy, Mateo, Anissa and Kristian also braved the terrible crowds of the Toys R Us in Time Square. Here we are on the Ferris Wheel, and Mr. Mateo lucked out because he was able to ride in his first choice - The Buzz Light Year (aka Toy Story) Car.

Here is Kristian on the other side of the car

Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head (another Mateo favorite) were in the car ahead of us

Later that night we invited all of the out-of-towners (and Abu) to a delicious dinner at 10th & Willow, one of our favorite local restaurants

Freddie, Yves, Papa Fofo, Kristian, Anissa and Abu are clearly engrossed in conversation

Mateo, Mommy and Lucia are also carrying on our own conversation (and no, I don't know why the camera is doing that funky stuff with the background)

The 2 Sonias (Grandma and Freddie's cousin)

Lucia's Christening Weekend Pt.1

Today kicks off a very packed weekend filled with visitors, site-seeing, and ceremony. Lucia is being Christened on Sunday and her godparents - Anissa and Yves fly in tonight. Her grandfather, Papa Fofo, is also flying in tonight and her grandmothers, Aba and Grandma are flying in tomorrow. That's not all - also coming into town are Mommy's godson, Kristian, Grandma's husband Freddie and Tia Raqui and Tio Jon. Of course there are a slew of local family and friends that will also be around to help celebrate.

But first, earlier in the day Mateo had a quick play date with Katie

Later, we picked up Yves, Anissa and Kristian from the airport. Here is a tired Yves helping set up the sofa bed for Anissa and Kristian

Mateo was very excited about the sofa being in this new form and took the liberty of jumping up and down on it to test the springs

Meanwhile, Anissa and Kristian unpacked

Old friends take a moment to smile for the cameras

Mateo & Matthew Paint

Today Matthew came over to create a beautiful work of art with Mateo. There are a few toys everyone tends to gravitate towards and the easel with paints is one of the favorites.

Mateo and Matthew first prepare some drawings that include googley eyes

Next, Matthew starts his painting. His color of choice - blue

Mateo starts his own piece using multiple colors - "Tada!"

Happy Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's Day and we don't have much planned, but we did go out on a little movie date after we put the kids to sleep. It was nice and sweet.

First Valentine's Day card with Lucia and Mateo

Lucia is caught drooling (literally) over her bro's new car

A jewelry box that Mateo made (with Navita's help) for Mommy for Valentine Day

M&L Say Farewell to Alex & Isabel

So today was a fun and somewhat sad day. Mateo's cousins, Alex and Isabel; Padrino and Auntie Kimm are moving to Ohio to start a whole new adventure. Before they leave, they wanted to spend some time with us. The kids had a blast and the adults got to catch up.

Mateo and Alex got permission to toss the ball around inside

Lucia and Isabel pose for one of many pictures

Lucia also decided today was a good day to try carrots

Alex and Mateo take a break from playing ball and decide to enjoy Pixie Sticks for the first time

After getting a little cabin fever we decided to go to the park for a little while. Alex and Isabel enjoyed playing in the snow around the Jungle Gym

Later Mateo and Alex perfected their backwards swinging

Time to say farewell - cousins Eddie and Adrian

Padrino and Mateo say goodbye

Papi says goodbye to his goddaughter

Snowy Day

Today the Northeast was hit by a blizzard. School was cancelled in the tri-state area. Eddie decided to work from home and Navita only came for half of a day. I went to work, but even our office shut down early to ensure employees got home safe. It was nice being home by 3 and enjoying the snowy day with the family.

Lucia decided to use her time indoors practicing piano

She also decided that it was a good day to start peas

Mateo was excited about preparing to go out and play in over a foot of snow. Snow pants - check, winter hat - check, bucket - check.

Winter coat - check. "I am ready to go"

First - time to make a snow angel

Next - make a mini snowman with Papi

After seeing mommy's underwhelmed reaction to the mini snowman, Mateo and Papi decide to make a larger version

Mateo packs and gathers mounds of snow

Mateo inspects the snowman as Papi continues to build

End result - a rather lumpy, but large snowman. Here Papi poses with his creation.

Meanwhile Lucia continues to tickle the ivory (or in this case plastic) inside

M&L Playtime

As Lucia gets older, the bond between her Mateo is growing and getting even more interesting and fun to watch. Clearly being the big brother Mateo can decide whether he wants to play with her or not (and she always wants to play with him). Most of the time when he does play with her he lets her get the upper hand.

Lucia and Mateo tumbling on the ground

"Ahh, not my eye Lucia!"

Lucia's signature move - bite the hair

"Heh heh, I showed him whose boss!"