... having your sister style your hair with your parents nearby, laughing at the friendly "asaran" going on between the two of you
... watching your nephews fight over the gifts they got. The moms are a little stressed while Lolo looks on smiling (as if saying, now it is your turn to referee...)
... eating nilagang pork ribs for lunch. Yes, cooked just the way you like it and just the way you had it since your were a kid
... having Arroz Caldo for Noche Buena. It's one of the mainstays (like nilaga) in the annual menu
... all about family and traditions.
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Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a good one...
Reminded me of FIC's Caramello. This one's a little cheaper but without the yummy pastillas bits you'd find in FIC's. Oh, but the ice cream's just as delicious. I half-heartedly asked hubby to close the lid as I kept on refilling my little cup...
Thank you Magnolia for a new wonderful flavor to crave for.
The day started with a kiddie party at Jollibee in Blue Wave.
Paul and Chai's Ynigo celebrated his 1st birthday
Lucas was all hyper. With poised little Bella clapping in the background
He made singit so he can have this pic taken with Jollibee (when did he get the monicker "bestfriend ng bayan" ? Just wondering)
He ate a little bit of spaghetti but finished his chocolate sundae
After the party, we were off to MOA for a stroll...
Little boy saw the play area near seaside
Mahal ah... at P50 for 15 minutes!
He wrestled...
climbed up
Used the slide...
He kept on jumping in this big donut-like thing...
and of course... slide again
.. and again.
To say that it was difficult getting him out of the play area was an understatement :) But we were able to lure him out of the area by promising we'd drop by the toy store so he can browse. But lo and behold, no toys na pala sa Creamery area... good thing he got distracted when we entered the Logico area (any feedback on this? several packages were shown to us and well, we find it expensive. We wonder if it's worth it).
After a few minutes, we decided to call it a day. Lucas was asleep before we got to EDSA. Napagod siguro sa kakatalon niya...
We went home tired and well, happy :) It was a fun Sunday indeed.
Clean Fifteen
Generally low in pesticide residues (many of these either have a thick rind or covering you can discard or a strong odor that naturally fends off pests):
1. Onions
2. Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Avocados
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet peas
7. Mangoes
8. Eggplant
9. Cantaloupe
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet peas
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushrooms
Dirty Eleven
Consider buying organic (and cut your intake of pesticides by as much as 80%)
1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Imported nectarines
7. Imported grapes
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries
11. Lettuce
Lucas and I were looking out the window, marveling at the full moon. All of a sudden, he says...
Lucas: Mommy, let's go to space Mars!
Me: Oh, you want to go to Mars...
Lucas: Yes, Mommy... Mars
Me: What are you going to wear?
Lucas: Hmmm.... a jacket! A helmet and.... 'jamas! ('jamas = pajamas)
Me: Ok, but you have to study hard to be an astronaut.Ok?
Lucas's 3rd birthday celebration was simple, with dinner at home with the family. We had the usual children's party food like fried chicken and spaghetti. Lucas's cake was Shopwise's yummy and moist chocolate cake.
Here are several pics from my son's birthday celebration:
Horsing around while waiting for dinner
With Mommy
with his cake
I know... cute, right?
Blow...
With Ate Denny
Opening Ninong B's gift
Wow! It's Stanley
Ang daling kumiss at yumakap ah...
Track's been there for almost a year now... at mukhang hindi siya madi-dismantle anytime soon
Since everyone was tired from the whole-day Disney trip, we decided to have a relaxed day and just visit the City Gate Outlet. Route namin is almost same as our MTR route when we went to Disney.
Nice shops:
1.Giordano – though sale sa HK and may sale din sa Giordano stores outside City Gate, better yung deals sa City Gate. Say near our hostel, yung sale sa Giordano is 3 leggings for HKXX (di ko na matandaan how much), sa City Gate parang 5 leggings for the same price.
2.Mango – kaya lang small sizes ang jeans eh. Size 25 ata.
3.Michael’s Thomas and Friend’s store – cheaper ng kaunti compared to Toys R Us and maraming items na wala dito sa atin.
Tips:
1.Since sale sa HK from July-August, better if you also visit mga shopping malls. May sale din sila and mas magaganda at newer yung items.
2.Harbor City Mall
a.Longchamp: maraming 50% off. Tempted nga ako to buy kasi yung isang le pliage medium 50% off. Nasa HK550 na lang (P3600++ when you convert to pesos).
b.Zara: Di ko alam kung ako lang or cheaper dun? At since sale ang daming nice items na mura. Basic tops meron at HK39, may dresses at HK119 at may office trousers na HK119! Nanghinayang ako dito kasi nakita ko lang yung shop past lunch na on the day ng alis namin. Eh 2:30 ang usapan namin na balik sa hostel to leave for the airport. Nawindang ako sa madaliang pili. Sayang L
3.Ocean Terminal
a.Mothercare: nice ang items for sale and cheap ang Avent items. Marami kaming nabili for Lucas, may mga shirt na parang P200 pesos lang. For infants, maraming cute na onesies, shoes, tops. Niloloko ko nga si JJ na ipamili na namin yung next baby kahit wala pa since mura J hahaha.
b.Toys R Us: siempre, tuwa ang mga bata dito.
4.Square Mall: maraming shops like Mango, etc. Malaki yung Marks and Spencer though hindi ko talaga napasok since nadaanan lang namin one night. Sayang nga kasi halos tapat lang ng hostel naming. Kita namin yung mall from our bedroom window.
Our hostel is very near the TST MTR station. Two buildings away lang, MTR station na. We went to HK Disney via MTR. At first, I was really hesitant for my mom since naka-wheelchair nga siya. Good thing I asked Ate Lina (Pinay staff in our hostel) about it. Worried ako since walang lift yung nearest MTR exit sa hostel and there’s no indicator sa maps kung san located ang lifts. Ate Lina showed me where the lift going to the MTR station is and assured me that all MTR stations have lifts. It was so easy and no hassle at all :) We arrived at Disney without a sweat. And the locals are very considerate. They’d let my mom go in/ go out of the train first and they’d move to give my parents space. Another thing, sa train, I usually carry Lucas going in and walang palya, when there's no seat available, someone will give up his/her seat for me and Lucas :)
Tips:
1.Kakaiba ang weather sa HK when we went to Disney. Humid and hot. So if you are going there around the same time (August), bring lots of shirts for the kids and you, an umbrella and kung may handy fan kayo, bring it na rin. Bring water rin since hindi naman mahigpit sa Disneyland. Mahal din ang water dun. There is a water refilling station in Adventureland. I don’t know lang where pa yung iba.
2.Rent a stroller if you did not bring yours. Mahirap maglakad-lakad lalo na pagod na si kiddo. Just put a towel or lampin as lining sa stroller. Parang plastic material kasi eh and makakadagdag pa sa init. If I remember right, HK60 ang rent plus HK200 na deposit.
3.Several rides have a fast pass. Get fast passes rather than lining up. At least you will not waste time lining up. Puedeng ikot ikot muna then go back when it’s your fast pass time na. Ang dami, as in ang daming tao sa Disney this time compared nung first time namin ni hubby (December 2007). I guess summer break kasi nila don?
4.If you are with a big group, better to separate kasi iba iba kayo malamang ng gustong puntahan/rides. What we did was to agree on a place where we will meet. As in kunghindi tayo magkita-kita the whole day, dito tayo magkikita ng ganitong time para sabay tayo umuwi. We just ensured lang na minimal yung time na alone lang umikot sina Daddy (I think nag-solo lang sila when my mom got sleepy and chose to rest in one area).
5.Check out the schedule of the shows. Then schedule your rides around those times.
~*~
Funny hirits of my nephew Matty: At Disney, tiempo nandun sila sa area where Mickey and Minnie do visitor greets and pic taking:
SIL: Uy, sina Mickey at Minnie. Picture tayo. Pila pila.
Matty: Ma, ayan na sila oh. Kita mo na sila. Picturan mo na! Wag na pumila. Ang init init eh... *Oo nga naman, kita na sila eh :) * Ayaw na niya ng picture na kayakap sila.
At Disney pa rin, they passed by the teacup ride (itong ride na ito, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit blockbuster na blockbuster. Sa lahat ng daan namin sa kanya, laging mahaba ang pilya. As in mahaba)
SIL: Gusto ninyo sumakay? Tara, pumila tayo...
Matty: Ay wag na. Meron naman niyan sa Pilipinas eh. Dun na lang tayo sa mga shows Mommy. Malamig pa.
*Wala nga naman Golden Mickeys at Festival of the Lion King sa Enchanted Kingdom. In fairness, silang mag-anak ang halos na-complete yung rides and shows.
At Sogo Mall near HK Museum of Arts. Nagpapalipas oras kami since matagal pa ang Symphony of Lights Show. Since humid at mainit, we decided na better kung ikot ikot na lang kami sa mall.
Matty: Tita, puede ba bumili na kayo? Pagod na pagod na ako eh. Kanina pa tayo ikot ng ikot dito. Bumili na kayo para makaupo naman tayo.
*Oops.. sorry po :)
~*~
Pictures
With Kuya Matty: Lucas' first train ride
Just arrived at one of the happiest places on earth
Rented a stroller for the little guy
At the parade
Hay. Haba ng pila. When it was Lucas' turn, ayaw na niya. Okay, so si Daddy at Mommy na lang :)
Nasulit ang pagkuha ng fast passes
Hot and humid sa labas. Solution? Visit all the souvenir shops. Then park the stroller kung may space. At least mahaba ang nap ni Lucas.
Disney Princesses. Where is Princess Tiana?
Love the colors
My boys
My parents. Taking a break from all that heat...
Pinays in It's a Small World..
Chugga-chugga-choo-choo
Kaya siguro nagkalagnat the day after, pawis pawis then nagbasa...
with Holly Shiftwell
The castle at night
JJ's turn
Lucas with Lolo Popsy and Lola Momsy
Mickey Mouse Waffle...
Cowboy?
Reasons why I love this trip. (kasama yung kumuha ng picture, yung mga nagkokodakan sa may Disney entrance at yung mga nasa Tung Chung Outlet nang mga panahong ito)
