'Tis the season to be...

Though the house was decorated with this season's ornaments and Christmas music played all the time,---something was missing. I hate to admit it but without the cold, crisp (freezing) temperature, the smell of fresh pine, real candles on the tree and SNOW---it's not the same.

Don't get me wrong. This is not a complaint, it's merely a comparison and finding what one prefers.

BUT, instead of focusing on what I don't have, why not focus on what I do.

Presents were opened first in order to free the children from the overwhelming excitement they have been holding within. Of course, before that, I have done my share of white lies about the journey of Santa and his reindeers across the skies to get to this part of the world because people lived in different timezones and Christmas comes here first.----Once again, I was convincing. Perhaps next year, my powers will be gone :-)

Dinner was simple. At least that's how I thought it would be. It was a mix of Korean and Japanese dishes. Luckily, I had extra pairs of hands and after an hour's preparation and cooking time, our efforts were not in vain after all.

The next day, the 25th, we all had our corners for reading. The afternoon was a time to play with the "toys". Alyanna and I got MP3's and figuring out how to use this gadget took awhile for someone like me. Rex and A spent some time building and connecting the PC up. Keanu, on the other hand was busy driving his RC mini cooper and playing with his transformer figures.

'tis the season to be...what YOU want it to be.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Is A Season
When All Things are Full of Bliss,
It's a Time I Feel so Awesome
But You I clearly Miss...

It is Not just This Season
That I Wish You the Best
My Thoughts are With You,
From North to South
And East to West...

Birthday No. 2

Hectic weeks passed and the two December babes have celebrated and enjoyed the closure of one and now beginning of another year. Though no formal children party has happened yet for Alyanna's special day,---it's the Xmas break and most of her friends have gone on vacation---so we just did what we could to make it special.

The traditional breakfast birthday as usual was set but instead of the usual bread and sausages, we had macaroni soup. T'was a birthday request so we had to oblige. We opened the gifts first to free her from the excitement she has been holding for days. We gave her a hi-fi stereo but Rex's gift was THE best---a gameboy cartridge, well what could beat that?

In the evening, she went with A, Rex and Tania to watch a Jazz concert at the Esplanade. (As you all can see, Rex was definitely prepared for it with his jazz hat.) Was her first "big people event" and she was looking forward to it. I and Keanu watched TMNT---go figure haha

Hours later, Rex told me she fell asleep in the middle of the concert! Turned out to be a lullaby than entertainment for her. Well, at least she has an idea now how adults are when they go out dressed in suits and gowns.

The last TEEN-th year

Time flew. A young man he has become.

As I prepared the traditional birthday breakfast at 7:45 in the morning of December 15, It felt odd that I was counting quite a number of candles--- 19!!! If I continue to do this, I'd need a three-layered cake by the time he turns 40 :-)

The celebration(s) this time is a bit longer and more tedious. The evening's dinner was my famous Filipino styled beefsteak paired with buttered long beans. The next day followed with The "S" brothers plan to make the traditional German goose dinner that began 6 years ago when we still resided in Deutschland---so that was an extended feast.

Last but not least is the coming combined celebration of T and Rex, (hmmm T-Rex) to have a party in a chalet and have 30 friends over on the 18th.

I was brave enough to volunteer to "cater" for the wolves so tonight was cooking night. T helped with little this and thats which was fun because of her interest to learn. Spaghetti bolognese, meatballs, fried chicken marinated the way Filipino barbeque would be, and chicken sandwich with 10 packs of toast bread to go. And since this is an overnight event, nutella and peanut butter were back-up spreads.

Will be rushing from work tomorrow. Picking-up the stuff from home and bringing it to the belly of the beasts. Thank goodness he'll have some friends over to help carry the kilos and kilos of food!

to be ONE

You've touched a soul like no one has ever had

You've put a smile on lips that have been sealed,
You've erased memories hoped to be forgotten
You've mended wounds that wanted to be healed.



You've flown great distances in all your travels
You've crossed oceans farther than anyone can see,
Your existence is a gift to anyone who knows you
Your unselfish love has made things possible to be...

It is a friendship, shared and nurtured. It is a bond, forever treasured.

Doctor, doctor

I dread dental visits. I never came out of one without a bad prognosis. Either I need a filling or a root canal done. Who do I blame for my dental dilemma?----I, me and myself.

Can't point my fingers at mom or she wont' hesitate to scold me in my dreams! Mom was extremely organized when it came to our medical and dental healths. We have regular appointments with our family doctor and dentist. Sometimes, the clinics felt like our second home! Toothache, stomach pains, wobbly tooth, gum pains, rashes and sprains.....you name it, mom's been through it.

Now it's my turn. And though my organization skills have somehow deserted me, working in a dental clinic keeps me alert on my kids' check-ups :-)

That's me on the 'sentence chair' by the way getting a crown fit for a----well, aging woman. Less the fear if you have one of the island's friendliest dentist

the looong break is---over?

Exactly 6 months since my last post?!

A long blog sabbatical and still partly in that mode. Perhaps writing bits and pieces will get me back in the game, perhaps not....