December Fun

With holidays and preschool being closed, we had a lot of fun together. Here is a sampling:

Mateo riding a lion on the carousel at the Dickens Faire

A Visit from Carlina (Anita's Boss)

Mateo and Anita Make Cookies (with Joaquin in pouch)

Joaquin cuddles with Laura during the Anderson Family (Jen's family) Christmas Tree Decorating

Joaquin Sports a New Hat Knitted by Jen

Tickles from Nana during a Visit from Nana, Poppi, Uncle Sam and Uncle George

Poppi cuddles his new grandson.

Hiking on Twin Peaks

Brothers

There is a special bond between siblings, and it has been fun seeing Mateo learn to love his new little brother. Actually, Mateo seems to have readily made space in the family to welcome Joaquin, and even though Mateo has some tough times to adjust to less attention from mommy & daddy, it is pretty clear that he is fond of his brother. Mateo generously doles out hugs and kisses, and often "checks" on the baby when he is sleeping or fussing. In honor of his birth day, Mateo and Joaquin exchanged presents. You can see the stuffed buffalo for Joaquin in one of the photos below. Joaquin "gave" Mateo a toy medical kit which Mateo routinely uses to give Joaquin check-ups.

Hanukah!

Lucky us, Saba, Savta, Aunt Dahlia & Uncle Bryan were all visiting for hanukah. Now that Mateo is 3 years old, he can really appreciate the holiday and surrounding events. Obviously, he enjoyed all of the presents, but also really loved to light the candles and sing the blessings.

The First Night

Admiring the Flames

Dinner Table Fun with Keira at Mike & Jen's Hanukah Party

Mateo shows off a new hanukah outfit: frog galoshes from mommy & daddy and a beautiful silk outfit direct from China from Great Aunt Linda. It arrived just in time for Mateo to proudly wear it to his preschool hanukah potluck.

Mateo strolling his new baby "Auk" from Oma & Opa

Hanukah with our Berkeley cousins Jenny, Amy, Talia & Adin

\The new family at hanukah

Then the Visitors Come...

In the 2 weeks after his birth, the family began to arrive to meet the little guy Joaquin and participate in his naming ceremony. First, Anita's mom Sharon (aka Gemma) arrived. She was followed by Jesse's parents Barbara & Randy (aka Saba & Savta), Sister Dahlia, and brother-in-law Bryan. Needless to say this was fun for all of us, but especially Mateo who loves his grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Meeting Gemma

Reading Time

Meeting Saba

Meeting Savta

Family Outing to the Park

Mateo Having Fun at the Park

Joaquin's Park Experience

Mateo Hanging with Auntie Dahlia

A tired mommy with her boys

A (less) tired Daddy with his boys

Saba, Mommy, Uncle Bryan, Savta, Daddy, Joaquin, Mateo & Aunt Dahlia

With Berkeley Cousin Jennifer Krebs