Halloween!

The long-awaited Halloween photos are now here for your enjoyment!

Mommy the cowgirl and her little lion. (Thanks to Julie and Sammy for lending the lion costume! Thanks to Jen for lending the Western Wear)

Our little lion is quite independent and HATES to hold hands while walking. Here he is about ready to walk away.

Mateo couldn't get enough of racing from house to house and up and down the sidewalks. His toddling was adorable in his rotund costume. 

Once or twice Anita caught up to him to take him to the doors for trick-or-treating.

Resting. Phew!

Allie the Pumpkin.

Maya the Giraffe.

Like we said, he is a piano lover.

Mateo and Friends (Sammy & Allie) jamming on the piano.

A trip to the Bay Area Discovery Museum

It was hard to get Mateo away from the instruments.

But when we finally did, he had fun splashing around in the "stream".

Mateo crawled through tunnels.

And worked up quite an appetite!

Miscellaneous Cuteness: The photos speak for themselves!

Maya's 1st Birthday Party

Maya turned 1 on October 19th and threw a really great birthday party. There were lots of family members and friends, including her cousins Sammy (almost 2 at the time) and Allie (15 months) and "honorary cousin" Mateo. All of the kids enjoyed helping to open the presents and play, play, play!

Our Rosh Hashanah Visit to Woodstock

In September (yes, we know how tardy this post is) we took a visit back east to visit Jesse's family in Woodstock. Mateo had some new skills to show off, since the visit coincided with his learning to walk and to identify body parts. We all had a great time, especially Mateo, who loves all of the attention and love he gets from his family.

Mateo is showing he knows where his tongue is.

What a cutie!

This is either "eye" or "ear": he was still working on accuracy.

The Family gathered for a photo before heading to Rosh Hashanah services. L-R: Great Aunt Joan, Savta (Barbara), Daddy (Jesse), Mommy (Anita), Aunt Dahlia, Saba (Randy), Uncle Bryan, Oma (Hilda), Opa (Sam) and Great Uncle Garry

We went on a hike during a break from the rain. Lucky Mateo got a ride from his Auntie Dahlia.

Mateo loves sitting with his Oma & Opa, playing games and singing songs.

The hiking group.

Mateo found the pantry, and was enamored with this can.

Our friends Lucas (not pictured) & Xiaoyun came all the way up from Long Island to see us.

Mateo loves his newfound ability to walk!

Darling Mateo with his Savta.

Mateo is a music fanatic. He wakes up every morning asking for "meena" (music) and always makes a beeline to musical instruments. The piano at his Saba & Savta's was no exception.