Pancit sa Bilao

A week after the typhoon hit our city, it was already Christmas Day. I was in no mood to celebrate a few days before Christmas but my husband told me that we should as he was thankful that his family was alive and complete even though their house was damaged.

I've realized that he was right, so we decided to order food from the restaurant (to lessen the hassles) and thank the Lord for the chance to celebrate Christmas with our family.

Shown in this picture was the Pancit sa Bilao for long life. This was ordered from Dear Manok and the taste was superb. Other foods we had were ordered at the restaurant and the desserts were given by family & friends of my in-laws. Have a great Sunday everyone!

Gift-Giving

We went to the mall this late afternoon for a last minute shopping. I've realized that there were some kids I missed in giving gifts last Christmas and I'm trying to make it up on New Year's Day. I didn't bother buying gifts to kids I only see once in a blue moon. Although before, I used to go to my god-children's house and personally gave them their gifts. But it's different now. I've no time to go out and I don't know where some of these kids are currently living. Besides, it's hard to think what to give them now for they are already grown-ups. They might find my gifts too childish...

I love to buy and give gifts and that's a fact. Sometimes, I bought things earlier and stock them in my cabinet so that I won't have a hard time thinking what to buy during Christmas day. But there were some items that were not given coz I don't know where to give it. I just informed the parents about the gifts but if we don't get to see each other, then the gift will remain in my cabinet...

To let you know, I have more than a dozen godchildren and most of them are males and only 3 are females... I've to include my husband's godchildren and I think there are only 4 of them. And aside from them, my husband and I have nieces and nephews so we've to give them gifts, too. And oh, I forgot about my own 2 kids! They are also included on my list so just imagine how I would look like after I'm done buying gifts for all them :-)

Busy Week

I'm counting the days when I will have to rest. Tomorrow, I will accompany Chloe to her dress rehearsal for ballet. I thought it's going to be in the morning but just got informed now that she will have to go at 1pm. At 4 p.m. tomorrow, she should be at school. Their Christmas program will start at 5 p.m. My mom promised me to take care of Zoe and I hope they will both be alright. I'm sure we'll go home quite late in the evening.

On Sunday, almost all members of the family plan to watch Chloe's ballet presentation. This time, I have to bring the baby with me and I hope she will not be cranky inside the hall. The Nutcracker Ballet will start at 2:30 pm and I hope they will be on time so that we can go home early :-)

On Monday morning, Chloe will have her Christmas party at school so I have to accompany her again. I'll be helping her to bring gifts not only for her classmate but for her teachers and friends as well. She is to bring food to share with her classmates also. I think most of them were told to bring.

After I'm done taking care of Chloe, I'll have to make a schedule in going to the mall to buy gifts for the family, most especially for the kids. I have several godchildren and probably some of them expect a gift from me, hehehe. I want them to be happy also so I've to list them all so that I will not forget anyone =)

Christmas is really busy, huh? And malls are getting richer, hehe. Well, nobody actually obliged gift-giving but sometimes, it's fun to do it especially on Christmas day ;-)

Not Done Yet

It's still early morning on my side and here I am now blogging :-). I was quite busy with my eldest daughter, Chloe, lately. She had her 3rd quarter exams and I need to review with her to make sure she studied the correct pointers and to check if she understood it. To my surprised, she was able to inculcate her in mind her lessons very well. She even memorized some lines of the books. I told her make sure she understands and I tried to let her explain in her own words. Still, she knew it well and even asked me questions and further explanations that I cannot anymore answer =)

Her exams ended Wednesday but turned out that I would still busy for her upcoming activities. She had practices for her school program and a ballet practice for their presentation this coming Sunday. I drove her to and fro school..And they have Christmas parties! So yesterday, I went to the mall to buy gifts for her to give... and I was not even done yet!

I'm planning to go out this afternoon that's why at this early, I'm making some posts in my blog. How about your end? Perhaps you are also busy helping your kids with their Christmas activities? ;-)

Under the Mistletoe

Pictures below were taken the other week at SM CDO. Chloe wanted to have her pictures taken and I've decided to join. I took many different poses of Chloe but thought of posting only these pictures below.

L: Ate Chloe with baby Zoe; R: Me and my precious gems

Me, Chloe and Zoe under the mistletoe

Merry Christmas everyone! Mwah!

Linking this to:

Merry Christmas!

Hello everyone! Tomorrow's the 24th day of December and we will be spending our Christmas eve at my mom's house. It's always our tradition to dine at her place and wait for the clock to strike at 12 midnight. Chloe's been looking forward on this, too. She can't wait to open her gifts. But I told her we'll not buy anything expensive this time because there are 2 of them that we need to buy gifts... Or she can have what she wish but as long as it is within budget, we'll get it, hehe.

How's your Christmas? Anything for me? hehe. Kidding aside, my family and I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year, too!

Noche Buena & Media Noche

2009 is already fast approaching.. And people will be busy preparing again for the celebration of the New Year. Here in the Philippines, during Christmas eve, we had the much-anticipated Noche Buena – the traditional Christmas Eve feast. Usually, family members dine together around 12 midnight on traditional Noche Buena fare, which includes: queso de bola (ball of cheese), Tsokolate (a hot chocolate drink) and jamon (ham). Some would also open presents at this time.

But ours was quite different. We had lechon, cake, spaghetti, fruit salad, grilled fish and some goodies :) We dined earlier, of course, but opened the gifts at 12 midnight, with my daughter (the little helper) distributing the gifts because Santa (my mom) was quite exhausted.

December 25, Christmas Day, is considered a Family Affair. We stayed overnight at my mom's house on the 24th, together with my siblings and their wives, and on the 25th, we had dinner at my in-laws house but went home afterward.

On December 31, New Year's Eve, Filipino families gather again for the Media Noche or midnight meal – a feast that is also supposed to symbolize hopes for a prosperous New Year. And yeah, we are going to my mom's place again on the 31st and at my in-laws place on January 1st.

In spite of the yearly ban on firecrackers, some people here still see these as the traditional means to greet the New Year. The loud noises and sounds of merrymaking are not only meant to celebrate the coming of the New Year but are also supposed to drive away bad spirits. But boy, oh boy! We are so hating it! I hate the loud noise (my daughter is scared of it!), I hate the smell and to think this would create danger, too! Fireworks are okay, though, because it's nice to see and it's quite harmless, too...

Anyways, this is what usually happens here in our place. I would love to know what takes place during the New Year at your end, too..

Chloe's Christmas Presentation

As promised, I will post some of Chloe's videos here. Some of her pictures will be published at My Girl.

But bear with me as the videos here were taken via digital camera. I have a clearer (and closer) version on my video cam but decided not to wait for it since it would take a lot of time to transfer.

Oh Holy Night
Soloist: Chloe
* Chloe is at the back and on top of the row

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree
* Chloe with her partner Cole
Shake it, Shake it!


My unica hija; Angel Chloe with her stage mommy, hehehe

Christmas Message

This Christmas season, I would like to send this message to my blogger friends. I wish you and your family be filled with Peace, Love and Happiness.

I would like to send this to the following:

Bogie - my sister in law who introduced blogging to me. Thank you very much for everything!
Kringle - my sister in law and my barkada as well. She's very new to blogging, by the way.
Cecile - my very first visitor when I was very new to blogging and became a good blogger friend ;)
Umma - who made things possible for me especially about my template. Your kindness will never be forgotten
Mummygwen - who's messages would always make me smile. Thank you for the friendship ;)
Amy - a dear friend here in cdo and who has never ever forgotten me...
Soul Anchor - my dear friend who introduced Polyvore to me, hehe. A wonderful person inside & out.

I want to give this to all of my blogger friends listed here but there are so many of you. This is for you also! You can grab this and send this to your friends, too!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Greetings!

I went back to my old hobby, doing some Polyvore stuff, where I can create my own set and do some virtual shopping :)

This time, I made a Christmas card that I want to send it to my blogger friends. Well, sending a 'real card', with my signature in it, is the best but I think it's quite impossible for me to do that because I have so many blogger friends scattered around the world. And this is the only and fastest way I could send to you my 'card' ahead of time!

Anyway, this Christmas Card is for all my blogger friends! You can grab it if you like and give it to others, too...

This is also my way of thanking you for your very warm friendship! Merry Christmas!!! <*wink*>