Kindergarten comes to an end...

Final Culmination of Park Study in Luca's classroom coincided with visit from Grandma and Grandpa as well as Luca's birthday week.  Lots of celebrations!

Grand display of all Luca's work and work of his class:

Duck nest

Giant map of Rockerfeller Park
Luca worked on the Penny Park section

Diploma!!!!

Grandma and Grandpa come to read a story and celebrate with cupcakes:

Luca's K-201 Birthday Party

When Liran from Luca's K-201 Kindergarten class invited Luca to his birthday party we didn't immediately respond "Yes" since it fell on Luca's actual birthday and in the past Luca wasn't too keen on big parties.  However, Luca was eager to spend his special day with all his friends from school, and Liran's parents graciously invited us to cohost the party so Luca could be honored as well.  This was Luca's first large kids party and it was super fun! (Although he did decide to just play quietly with Max about halfway through when he had enough of the crowd :-)

Luca was also quite pleased with the garbage bag full of presents he got to lug home!

All the kids together

Have you ever seen a cake like this?!!!  

MANY THANKS to our friend Natacha who created 

this special custom cake for Luca and Liran.  

It was not only a work of art, but it also tasted like heaven.  

Check out her blog to read about her process making it:

http://frenchyfood.com/

Belly button!

Luca on the bars

Luca with his buddies: Teddy, Viahal and Noah

The cake!!!  Luca appreciating the masterpiece -
the world around him slowly falling away as he is mesmerized...

Eating BeyBlades
"Tastes like marshmallows!"

Luca turns 6!

"This is the best day of my life.  It's my birthday!  I'm six!  I think I'm taller."

Breakfast of Champions!
Six pancakes shapes like the number 6

Insane gift from Grandma.  I think he likes it.

BENIHANA dinner.
Just like Mommy and Uncle Steven used to do when we were little.
Nothing has changed.
Same menu, same dishes, same tricks.  It was awesome.

Uncle Din-Din and Aunt Julie

Coloring.  The show has yet to begin.

Cool tricks.
What you don't see: A dozen shrimp tails in his hat.

Eating dessert before blowing out candle

Happy boy on the drive home.  What a day!

Father's Day, Visit from Nonno & Nonna

Three Gioels

Before Father's Day dinner

Nonno does Kindergarten pick-up

Breakfast with Nonno.
(The only other person up with the sun)

Little Gioel 110%

CLICK HERE to watch Luca play Gioel's new computer game Diablo 3.  Cute commentary by Luca, as well as demonstration of his advanced reading skills.

Luca Loses 1st Tooth!

It's been loose for a couple weeks.  We thought surely we could pull it out last night, but it wouldn't budge and Luca was nervous.  Tonight he ate a big club sandwich for dinner, finished up and brought his plate to the sink, and his tooth to me.  "Look Mom, here's my tooth.  I pulled it out."  So matter of fact and cool!

Scooting Brothers

Max and his Scooter

Just three days of experience and here he is - a total pro!

Taking a break from riding. Sometimes its just faster to hold the scooter.

Passed out asleep in Whole Foods, grip in tact: