Preschool Mother's Day Breakfast with Mateo

Today Mommy went to Mateo's school for a Mother's Day Breakfast. It was very sweet to see all of the kids and I was happy to share some special time with my preschooler.

Mateo poses in front of his gift (a little plant with green paper) for Mommy

Lucas's (on the left) Mommy, Hanna (in the center), was also there

Mommy (and her tired eyes) and Mateo (and his allergy eyes) had a wonderful breakfast together

M&L Waiting for Karate

Sometimes it's great when it is just an ordinary day and there is nothing major to report but you come home and scroll through your camera and you find a very beautiful picture. No fancy tricks or special occasions, but a very magical moment. Mateo takes 2 classes of Karate on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sometimes between classes he has time to sit on the bench outside and just hang with his sister. They really enjoy their time together.

Moments like this make me envy siblings

M&L Eat Cookies for a Good Cause

Today was a big day for Mommy. It was her Hoboken Bake Sale which was going to be raising funds for Cookies for Kids Cancer (an organization established by Mommy's boss to help fund pediatric cancer research). This may sound fairly small, but this event was about a month in the making. Mommy along with her friends from work organized the whole thing. We got a tent space at the Hoboken Arts and Music Festival and also had baked goods donated by friends, family and local bakeries (including the Cake Boss). It was a long day that was spent setting up, picking up donations, selling yummy treats and tearing down, but in the end we raised about $9000 which is being matched by Glad so that means $18,000 going towards pediatric cancer research. Not bad for cookies and cupcakes.

Liz, Benat and Jill helped with morning set up and selling to the early crowd

The kids stopped by later in their wagon to help support Mommy and eat some delicious goodies

A newly shorn Mateo not only got chocolate chip cookies he also had a few cherry icees

And a cheap fair toy

M&L Day Off in Battery City Park

Another day of Spring Break for the kids of Hoboken. Instead of just hanging in the Mile Square City, today they decided to venture out to Battery City Park in NYC. Since almost every kid in Hoboken was off, Mateo and Lucia met up with their BFFs Lucas and Alma and also had a special guest appearance by Logan...Yahhh!

Navita decided to experiment with hairstyles and gave Miss Lucia a blowout.

"A lady must look her best when going to the City"

This side profile reminds Mommy of Grandma

"Heeeeyyyy Folks I've got my helmet on and I am ready to go!"

Here is Logan with his scooter and helmet

And finally Lucas shows up. Mateo says a few rousing words about safety and they depart.

Off to the City on the ferry

"I have to wear this hat to protect my hair"

When they arrive at the park, Lucia and Alma first try to attempt to rolling barrel

"It's a little tight in here"

Doesn't this look like an album cover?

And away they go

Mateo and Lucas roll Logan in the barrel

Later they try some rocking

Lucia tries to roll Logan also, but is not as successful

Ladies of leisure - "Do you want to try this thing or just sit and work on our tans?"

"Hey this is fun!"

Alma tries to hula-hoop

And so does Mateo...

...And Lucia (Note: the blowout didn't last long. The curls are back)

Alma, Lily (Tamara's daughter) and Lucia relax after a long day at the park

M&L Spring Break with Lucas & Alma

We are back from Miami, but Mateo still has 6 "home days" left which means he gets to do whatever he wants. And what he wants is to hang out with his closest pal Lucas and of course with Lucas comes Alma. This of course makes Miss Lucia happy.

Mateo and Lucas play a riveting game of Boggle Jr.

"I don't know if I am ready to hang out, what time is it?"

"Geez it's sunny!"

Alma agrees, "It's mighty hot too"

"Ahh, that's better, it's nicer in the shade."

Once again Alma agrees

M&L Miami Easter Pt. 4

Today is Easter and also our last full day in Miami. Everyone got up early and got dressed to go to church. It was a beautiful, sunny Miami day filled with grace and chocolate. Perfect.

Lucia is the first one dressed and ready to go.

And now pause for a brief "photo-montage moment"

"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeese!"

"Don't we look so innocent"

Trickster look

"Raise the roof y'all!"

The cool kids

Mateo, Papi and Lucia pause for more photos after church

After church we went to eat. As you can see it was a fun time for at least two people.

Grandma got this great pic with Lucia

Not to be left out, Mateo also got in some picture time with Grandma and Lucia

Mommy and her little Mr. Mateo

And now for Mateo's favorite part of the day. Grandma gives him his Easter Basket

And after her nap, Lucia gets hers too

"Yum, yum, chocolate bunnies!"

And after all of the fun and Easter basket grass, comes clean up time. Mateo swept up outside.

And Lucia came in to help wrap things up