goodbye summer

Today we celebrated the last hot day of summer with an afternoon swim at the lake. A fitting ending to three whole months filled with days in the sun, sand and water. Oh summer, we will miss you sorely!

no fuss picnic

Bud and I have been taking full advantage of the warm summer weather. Our daily routine includes a trip (or two) to the park and a picnic lunch. Oh how we love picnics! We just lay a blanket on the grass, et voila, a picnic! It doesn't have to be a big production really.

Here's my no fuss picnic checklist:

1. Food that doesn't easily spoil. I put it on a paper plate and wrap it with foil so I can dispose right after. Today's play date picnic menu....

2. I always bring cold beverages, fresh fruits, napkins and plastic utensils.

3. A blanket big enough to lay on for storytime after eating.

4. Relax and enjoy every moment. Take mental photos of your little one basking in the sun and running in the grass.

i am my father's daughter

I realized I haven't written anything for the past week. I still find it difficult to sort through my thoughts with the nostalgia still looming over me. I've been better though. No more tears, just happy memories. For those of you wondering what I am talking about, my family came to visit and it will be almost two weeks since they left.



Everyday, I think about my parents and how grateful I am for them. Just thinking about them makes me tear up. I realized it's father's day on Sunday so I think it would be timely for me to write about my papa.



My papa is a simple man. He came from humble beginnings. And even now that he has accomplished so much and achieved what he could only dream of before, he remains grounded and is the most down to earth person I know. I remember growing up, he was not the type who spoiled us with toys, instead he lavished us with amazing stories of his childhood. He didn't do baby talk with us, instead he talked to us like adults and let us speak our minds. He gave us his time and his attention. Too much attention I thought when I was younger. He taught us that we needed to work hard for what we wanted and that saving money was just as important. He always says, it's not enough that you earn money, you also have to be smart about spending it and learn to save.

My papa is one of the most generous people I know. He always shares what he has. Not just his money but also his time, his wisdom and even his sense of humor. He's not the type to shop for gifts and he never buys anything (except maybe cars and real estate ) and so he never really gave us material presents. But he was never short of showering us with his "words of wisdom" . One of his greatest gifts and most important lesson he taught me that I find practical to this day is, it's hard to wait for other people to change but you have the ability to change yourself and make things better. This is my great secret for staying happily married too.

We don't always agree on things but we agree to disagree. One thing we have in common is our fondness for watching movies. Back when we still lived in Manila, the Mister and I would visit my parents' house at least three times a week for a movie night with papa. While they were here this summer, we did movie night almost every night. My papa has a thing for remembering lines from movies and using them when he gives his "talks". Our top three favorite movies to watch together: 1. Aga and Leah's Sana'y Maulit Muli 2. Meet Joe Black 3. Notting Hill. It's funny how much our lives have been influenced by fictional movie characters.

My papa is also a prayerful man. In his speech during our wedding, he said that he had come to terms with the fact that he would eventually hand me over to another man and so he always prayed to God to send me a wise and loving man. And because my father is a good man, God answered his prayer and sent me the Mister. Another one of my father's best gifts to me.





Papa was such a role model and he had big shoes to fill. I'm grateful that I found all the admirable qualities of my papa in the Mister. Like my papa, the Mister is smart, generous, simple, hardworking, has a wonderful sense of humor and is an amazing father.

Like a typical male, my papa is not very vocal about his emotions but he has his way of "telling" us he loves us. While they were here, he carried around a bottle of virgin coconut oil in his pocket at all times. It's his cure all oil, one of his few favored possesions. He puts in in his hair, his face, his red itchy spots and his sore muscles. When they went home, I was surprised to see that little bottle quarter-full still in our bathroom. He left it. When I talked to him on the phone he said he left it for Bud. He knew Bud got a lot of scratches and bruises from playing so he said I should use it to heal Bud's bumps. Just remembering it makes me teary eyed.

I was not always the easiest daughter but when I got married I found a new appreciation for my parents. When I became a mother, I was even more grateful for them. My papa has always been a great father but now he is an even more inspiring grandpa. I love my papa to pieces.

So here's to my papa and the Mister, my two favorite fathers in the world! Happy Father's Day! Cheers!

bittersweet

Reunions with loved ones are always bittersweet. I'm really grateful for the four weeks that we spent with my parents and the few days that my brother and SIL shared with us. To top it off, there was even a bonus visit from one of my best friends just before my parents arrived. I am truly lucky! But I still can't help having that feeling of longing and nostalgia in the pit of my stomach everytime I remember how far away they are from me now.

the grandparents with their favorite grandson

touring the city with my brother

savoring the scenery with my sister-in-law

photo op with my bestie at the curbside check-in

It wasn't so long ago when my whole world revoled around my parents, brothers and my best friends. And now, we're in totally opposite time zones. Ah, such is life....

our only complete family photo for this holiday

(missing in the photo are my youngest brother and my 3 y.o. niece)

Don't get me wrong. I love my life now. I'm blessed that I get to spend everyday with my two favorite people in the world! And I wouldn't have it any other way.

a happy mother's day

I am one lucky and happy momma! Aside from having an amazingly smart and affectionate little boy, my mommy is here!

My mommy is the greatest and she's also the best grandma a little boy could ever ask for.

Bud and I will surely be savoring the next 30 days that we'll be spending with her.

Hope you were able to spend time with your mommies this weekend too, bunnies!

kendra

I was channel surfing tonight when I came across Kendra on E! and was pleasantly surprised to see that thay were in Minnesota! Apparently her hubby, Hank, is now playing for the Vikings and is currently residing at the SWS Condos, the same condo where Bud had his 2nd birthday party. What a coincidence, both Baby Hank and Bud celebrated their birthdays at the same venue only a week apart. I must say though, our party seemed more fun than his, haha! Here are more photos of Bud's clubhouse party.

The banners were designed by my cousin, Mikko

The balloon arrangements and risers were all DIY projects. I taped the balloons to chopsticks and used some empty bottles, which I wrapped in printed tissue, to hold them up. The risers were empty shoe boxes that I also wrapped in printed tissue.

Since it was too cold outside, we setup tents, tunnels, balls and mats in the venue for the kids to play with.

I also prepared white shirts for all the kids to personalize and decorate with paints and markers (and lots of help from their moms).

We had sandwiches, hotdogs and lots of sweet treats for the kids and a full buffet spread of Pinoy food for the mommies and daddies. Special thanks to my husband for preparing all the yummy food. After this party, I think P can seriously consider catering as an alternative career.

november & december to remember

2010 ended on a high note. Despite being away from home for a over a year now, we were fortunate to have spent time with family in November through December. Here are some highlights of the last two months that I've been "silent".

We flew to Northern California for a fun reuinon with P's mom and siblings and their families.

visited the touristy sites in SFO: Golden Gate bridge, Fisherman's Warf, Palace of Fine Arts

had our fill of decadent Filipino food at the Pinoy hotspot, Intramuros, in San Bruno

savored grown up conversation over wine at Robert Mondavi in Napa Valley

had a lovely picnic lunch at Taylor's in Napa Valley

Bud was just happy to be reunited with his bg cousin again

We were still hung over from all the fond memories from our Northern California trip when my parents and brother arrived in time for Thanksgiving.

Our whole family spent Thanksgiving with our foster family here in Minnesota

A couple of days after Thanksgiving we celebrated P's birthday. For a change, my mom took over the kitchen and prepared a feast for P. We also took advantage of the extra set of helping hands and went out on a date without the little boy.

Then came the BIG event (the real reason why my parents were here), Bud's 2nd birthay party!

There's nothing like time spent with family to make the holidays more special.

holidays are over

After hours of playing, feeding, cooking and cleaning I finally get the chance to sit down, drink my tea and open my blog. I know I have been deliquent with the updates. It's mostly because my brother was vacationing with us up until yesterday and P was also on leave from work most of December.

As I type now, I am overcome with nostalgia and solitude. The first few days of being away from family is the hardest and it doesn't help at all that I just put down all the yultide decorations. The holidays are truly over.

a photo with my brother taken on New Year's Eve

I found that the best way for me to deal with separation is through cleaning. It's geat distraction plus all the reorganizing helps me get back to my routine.

How do you deal with goodbyes?