Future

My eldest son's homework a few weeks back was about writing poetry, topic the Future, using similes, metaphors, analogies, etc, etc
While he was typing, I decided to write one too
Mine did not turn out as well written, and impressive as his was, but I did this in less than a minute, ahem, ahem, and just for the fun of it
would like to share with you...

Enjoy my attempt at poetry...

Future

Like an unexpected gift
Wrapped nicely in a bow
Or randomly so

The future is a mystery
Always enchanting and scary
Will it be awesome
or just plain cumbersome

N one knows
No one sees
But everyone has a chance to shape
What the future holds
So let it be...


Enjoy the rest of the week!

Sshh, it's a surprise!

 ice cream cake from Dairy Queen

 Time for pizza and mojos!

 Funny!

 The boys goofing around and having fun at the Jaguar/Ferrari/Maserati showroom.

 The Ferrari worth 28M pesos (about 700,000USD, depending on exchange rate) and it is SOLD Most of the high end ones were).  Who would think this is a third world country.

Set up the table with autumnal plates (thanks to Rima, gift from her), very, very simple, children's party



As I love throwing surprise parties for my loved ones
Yup, already gave 2 surprise parties for my hubby, 1 for our eldest and now for our youngest
I love surprising people and making them feel really special

My youngest loves having friends over
and was asking for a party
Told him, who's going to organize?  cook? invite?
So told him, let's just have a family dinner which we did (as blogged previously)
Nary a clue that everything was already being organized by Mommy dearest

Then Friday came and my maids decided to not report to work!
Really?  Seriously?
Good thing our house is clean all the time so I just needed to spruce a bit
and thanks to my OC-ness, I already hired a waiter from my good friends - the Laudicos (thanks Roland & Jackie, as always!)

My son and his friends were so happy and excited
Love seeing the children have fun
All the work is worth it

I was smarter this time, I just ordered in advance from Yellow Cab and mojos from Shakey's
Bought my son's favorite ice cream cake from Dairy Queen
And presto, we've got a party
Didn't even have to bother my already busy chef husband

I love being a mom
and everything that goes with it
Do I get stressed
of course, at times
But it's the kind of stress that makes my children realize
How their happiness means the most to me

Now, I've given surprise parties to the whole family
When I asked them why they haven't planned one for me (though back in the day, I've been given like 4 surprise parties by friends, suitors, etc)
They all stared at each other and smiled
To which I answered my question, Oh yeah right, am such a control freak that if the flowers and setting are not right,  I would probably just say, why like this, should've been like this, hahaha.  They do know me so well.

Oh and by the way, special thanks to my good, good friend, Maureen Soong, she was the one who gave me the idea to do it at their showroom, to show the kids the cars.  Thanks, Maureen, they truly had a blast!

Here's to surprises, birthdays, celebrations, and a whole lotta love.

Enjoy the week!

When Lola comes over to visit

Joking around with Lola

My Mom counting money to give my children while the boys eagerly await

Fair and equal

Hosted a dinner last week with only the women in our family

My Mom, sister, and 2 sisters-in-law

Was nice, bonding time

and the women appreciated it to have some time off

In the meanwhile

My kids went out with their 15-year-old cousin

to High Street til 11 p.m.!

It was an enjoyable season

What a wonderful gift we really got

Jesus was born

and the tradidtions and love live on

Enjoy your weekend!

My biggest party yet!

before the troops came

Wii party with some yayas watching over

2 weeks ago, I hosted the biggest party yet for my youngest's birthday

All his classmates came, save for 3, don't worry, there're only 16 of them

but boy, was I on my toes!

They had absolutely lots of fun

and it was amazing how seeing them happy makes all the stress worthwhile

My son had such a great time

And so did his friends

And the icing on the cake, for the designer in me

I was amazed how boys their age

appreciated the house and its design

Wow, kids nowadays are really sophisticated

This is why we moved to a bigger place

So my kids can invite friends

and enjoy the space

Really heartwarming seeing them happy in our home

Can't wait for the next party!

Happy birthday, love!

Can't believe how much my baby has grown
All his pajamas have gotten shorter
I asked him, is it you or they shrunk in the washing machine?

Happy birthday to the one who fills my days with gentleness and warmth
Who kisses me while am asleep
Like some kind of Prince Charming
Who calls me when I'm out just to say where are you, I miss you
Who worries when I even trip
And made me like ice cream because of the concoctions he's made

The one without fail calls me beautiful everyday
And inspires me to always be my best
Happy birthday to the one I adore so much
Who makes my days complete
And leaves me with something to smile about everyday

To that one who makes me proud I was blessed to be his Mom

Happy birthday, my love

Angels and the Jackie I know

New Year's Eve 2009

What I thought was a non eventful day turned out to be serendipitous

Started by waking up with less enthusiasm

Didn't get my 8 hours of sleep

Then hubby & kids left

Organized a bit then went to my board meeting in our previous residence

Yup, still on the board there but not for long

Went home then picked up my youngest in school

Greeted Mama Mary happy birthday

and prayed in the chapel

My eldest was supposed to ride his carpool

Their turn to bring him home

Being the controlling freak that I am

I reminded everyone involved

My son, the teacher, the carpool

So around 4 p.m., was wondering why they're so late

and figured maybe carpool was late

Then teacher texted me that carpool left him

Huwhat???

I have no driver right now!

So mom of carpool called and said her driver forgot

Teacher texted and said she arranged for a classmate to bring him home

So, I was okay, but was wondering what's taking them a long time

Then got a call from one of my closest, best friends, Jackie Laudico

"Jack, what's up?"

She goes, "how are you?"

"Waiting for J to come home, his carpool left him"

Jack: Yeah, saw him walking alone

Me: Huwhat? A mom's supp to bring him home. He doesn't know how to cross the street!

So I hang up and tried calling my son

Just to make sure he's safe

He doesn't pick up my calls nor answer the texts!

From where Jackie saw him, he needs to cross a huge, busy road

Then got a call from Jackie

"Mare, got him na, he's okay"

Oh thank God!

Thank God that He really sends angels around us to protect us

I got goose bumps when I was telling my kids that in the chapel today

I greeted Mama Mary happy birthday and asked to keep them safe

And you know what, Jackie said, she rarely passes that way

And just by chance, looked at the rearview and saw my son

She calls it serendipity

I call it God's hand

Everyday, I feel His great guidance and love

How can I not give glory back to Him?

Thank God for a friend like Jackie

Certainly as classy as her namesake

Thank you, Jack

And thank you God for always without fail, making your presence felt.

And happy birthday again, Mama Mary!

Spectator

Since my son is still on schoolbreak, he played a lot of tennis

It's something I enjoy watching as I can't hit a ball!

Something that looks so easy but is actually not

So here I am

Not athletic at all

But certainly the best cheerleader in town

Another rainy day in Manila, snuggle up!

Serenity

While working on the computer yesterday
This was my view
Just one of those moments
When you just look up and say thank you.

Beautiful, clear day
I can see the mountains and the river
And the 2 people I love most

May you all have a good Friday!

My childhood souvenir

w/ flash

without flash

At an event I covered

Wearing my Mom's dress from the 70's

I remember her wearing this when I was about 7

Then she started wearing it as a housedress

So, I just asked her to give it to me

And had it reworked

I am just amazed how fabrics then are really so different from fabrics now

This has withstood more than 3 decades and the color and quality remain the same

Gotta sleep, been a busy, busy week.

Night!

Brownie Points to Be a Cool Mom

watched Green Lantern at Rockwell

My son treated his friends to a movie and dinner yesterday

I was the sole chaperone

Being a teenager, he was very picky who to invite, what to do, where to go

The day before, he even asked me, rather, instructed me not to ask questions

from any of his friends

Oh-kay

I answered, "I will let this go just because I know you're a teenager

Can I ask what they want to eat?"

"Yeah, that's fine"

So, we are now going through that stage where I might say something embarrassing

Yes, it does happen

When they were kids

Everything I say was gold

Well, truth be told it's not bad

But he does speak up his own mind now

But I still try hard to be considered a cool mom

Well, if you're cool , you don't need to try, right?

Hey, it's my relationship with my son we're talking about!

His friends even vote for me on stylebible, haha

Without him or me knowing it

One time I was in school and his friend said,

"Tita , I voted for you, twice"

How cute is that?

So I always tell him, I am cool

Your friends think so

But then again, I'm a mom

So it was really a high for me yesterday

When , while his friends were choosing what flavor of gelato they want

He hugged me and said, "You're the best, Mom!"

And he just kept thanking me for being cool!

Yahoo! I scored big points!

I've always wanted to be that cool mom

Disciplinarian but hip

Strict but approachable

And yes , nothing beats being cool in front of your TEENAGED son

Biggest compliment ever!

Cool mom signing off!

I have a teenager!

Happy, happy birthday to the one who first called me Mama.
Showed me how much love I am capable of

Can't believe how much you've grown
And how time just flies like the blink of an eye

And all the changes I've seen and observed
How we're now going through that challenging phase of teenhood
But with you as my first
I know the journey will be magnificent.

Happy birthday, my dearest!

How I'm spending my birthday

41 today!

This is me at 5:30 a.m. today, waiting for the sunrise at amazing Angkor Wat

It's probably my first birthday that the only people

who greeted me

Aside from the most important ones, my family

are strangers from another land

I have no cellphone

and have not checked my e-mail, yet

Just really enjoying being away and admiring another wonder of the world
I was planning this post to be another way

But just to load one photo takes half an hour!

Will have to ask my hubby first to lower the resolution.

Til then, will be enjoying this amazing wonder of the world

Happy birthday to me!

Summer break

At Essensa's poolside

I woke up with a terrible headache
Have so many details to fix today
as tomorrow's a big day for my eldest

Have to prep for tomorrow
but also have 2 parties today
which are good friends so we can't say no to

Yesterday, my co-parent hosted a lovely swimming party
The whole day was just spent chaperoning
Went home really tired and exhausted
Thank goodness for my massage last night

Am off to 2 parties again, despite the terrible headache
and tons of things to do before we leave

Oh well, the perks of having a lot of friends
There's always a celebration to fill up the calendars

Happy weekend!

Self Portrait

It's Sunday
On the way home from my son's basketball tournament
Yup, yesterday football, today basketball

I'm losing my voice from too much cheering!

Have a restful Sunday!

Mother's Day sentiments

rose from my son's school

from my youngest, the card was also touching, according to him, he chose the card by what was written on it

from my eldest, his card also had nice sentiments

a portrait of me done by my youngest


Just sharing with you what I got from my children on Mother's Day

Oh yeah, also the Bruno Mars CD for the song, "Just the Way You Are"

Suwwweet!

Who stole the cookie jar?

Everytime I go to my Mom's
I take something with me
She has so many nice stuff that remind me of my childhood
that I usually ask her if I can have them in my home

So the victim today was this cookie jar
Eversince I can remember, I find this jar amusing
and cute! Kinda makes me smile just looking at it

Til my next trip there
She didn't let me have that nice candleholder though

One of these days, she'll give in.

Enjoy the rest of Mother's Day!

The Pioneer

My mom on the phone with my brother

Quickly visited her today, I had no make up on

Happy Mother's Day to all you great Moms!

We visited my Mom quickly this morning

My eldest wasn't feeling so well

So we couldn't possibly stay longer

What's nice about my Mom is she never pressures us to be there

If you can make it, come

If not, then no worries

I was tempted not to visit

Since I have a valid reason

My son not feeling well

She lives quite far

so she understands

But then I got to thinking of all those times

That she sacrificed for me

Raising us to the best she could

Gave her all for us, even sacrificing her own career

She's a dentist by education but didn't work

So she can focus on raising us

I know it was so worth it

Fortunately, we all turned out the way she would have wanted

Even my own husband asked

How my mom raised me

He salutes the way she has (his opinion)

So to the woman

who is the most unselfish person I know

Who has an enormous heart and is my No. 1 fan

Always there to support me and believe in me

The reason why I have so much faith and confidence in myself

The reason why when my own children ask me why I'm such a good mom

I always answer them the same thing

"Lola was such a good mom too, that's where I got it from"

Thank you, Mom

For the guidance and inspiration

For knowing when to compliment us

and knowing when to tell us the brutal truth

You continue to be a voice in my decisions

You are the best and you're one of a kind

And as I get older

Your value just gets higher and higher

May I be half as good a mother

as you have been and continue to be

Happy Mother's Day to a real hero!
I love you!

Lenten Friday meal

Sorry about the bad photos/lighting, and capacity of screen, I still use my old Lumix

Since it's Lent, my kids, though still young

wanted to observe the no-meat Fridays

So, today, I just served my eldest melted gruyere cheese with smoked salmon and smoked salmon dressing on sourdough rye bread w/ tomatoes and chips on the side

Mango (love that it's in season) for dessert

From the way it was gobbled and the compliments I got

It wasn't that much of a sacrifice, haha

Happy weekend!

I don't just kick balls

Yesterday, after my CCD class
Went to pick up my youngest
His sched is so full
He already had varsity practice from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
then they had "socials" for team building after that
And, yes, as a Mom, I think I can say it
He's still an honor student

I was never an athlete
So, I never fully understood the joy it brings
My son told me when he's playing soccer
he doesn't get tired (he's also in the basketball varsity and his tennis coach gearing him for competitive play)
I guess, since he enjoys it that much

So yesterday, my eldest and I wanted to go home after CCD class
And told him, I think he had enough time of playing

In the car, he seemed quiet and I know it's because he left earlier than everyone else
And that is already almost 6 p.m.
So, I asked him, "Do you really enjoy kicking?" (was trying to tease)
And I was dumbfounded when his maturity overpowered mine
with a response
"I DON'T JUST KICK BALLS, I PLAY THE GAME"

And there I was, 40 years and my 9 year old son just proved
I have a lot to learn about life.

Well then, keep playing the game.
It does you good!

Sharing my childhood biscuit

My son's snack

apple, rosquillos, dalandan juice

I just re-discovered the 70's biscuit that my Mom used to buy, rosquillos

How many of you remember this from childhood?

Ok fine, so I grew up in the 70's

You all know I already celebrated my 40th

Anyhow, a month ago, while in the grocery

Spotted the rosquillos and remembered my childhood

My kids, esp my eldest, got the Western palate

Mostly the cooking of their father

And growing up in hotels

In Bangkok, our food at home was ordered from the Room Service of the

hotel where my husband worked!

Our condo was an elevator away from the hotel

And yea, we lived in the condo connected to Gaysorn Plaza

Oh, those Bangkok years

Back to the main story

My kids have never tasted Kraft Cheddar

not my shortcoming

they just refuse

Funny how a friend of my son's had lunch here a few days back

and we had rigatoni with prawns with of course parmesan cheese

He innocently asked where we buy "real" cheese

Santi's, home for all the homesick Swiss, haha

So, it delights me when my kids like
something Filipino

and something I grew up eating

It's like a bond

and walking down memory lane

I'm passing on a tradition, trivial as it may be

The rosquillos is now a ubiquitous presence in our home

Oh yea, if you notice, the apple was peeled

I now peel apples, go figure!

And my kids really eat apples everyday

I also grew up with the saying

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away"

Enjoy your snacks!