This year has been a long one!  But Luca finished 2nd grade and Paola is done with Kindergarten.  Here is a video from Luca's 2nd grade musical performance.  He was the announcer!!!

Spring has been full of dance recitals and baseball...

We took our (almost) annual trip to Costa Rica.  The kids spoke Spanish, got to hang with family and we spent some awesome time at the beach.

Sure she could ride a horse before she could ride her bike.... but she did it!!  Here's video of her first time....

Luca is training for a cycling championship on our new spin bike... I know they say kids shouldn't have access to exercise equipment, but come on....

Our annual tradition took a detour this year when we boycotted overpriced Rockette tickets and decided to take the kids to the Lion King instead.  We started at the tree and then went to Toys R Us.  We had lunch at Sardi's and went to see the show.  Luca was funny - complaining all morning about how the Lion King was for babies - but boy was he surprised.  He was mesmerized for at least 90 minutes straight.  It was a fantastic show and the costumes were amazing.

   

We had a great Thanksgiving at home - with Pablo conforming nicely to tradition! 

So I bought the 2008-2009 subscription to the NY Philharmonic's program for children.  There are 4 shows.  We attended one yesterday.  It is a big treat for the kids.  We went to the Empire State Building and then to Rosa Mexicano (which we highly recommend) and then over to Lincoln Center for the Paris installment in great composers (the first was NYC!).  The kids absolutely love it and it was a worthwhile investment.  We go back in March and April for the final two shows.

Paola has turned into quite the little rider.  What started in June as a trial run thanks for grandma, has turned into her favorite thing to do.  Here's a pic of Paola on Houligan.

We had a great Halloween - made better because, for the first time, everyone was healthy.  Check out the pics.