Josh' first communion

Hello. Hope you all had a memorable and relaxing Mother's Day. Mine was lovely. Mr. Hubbs gave me a beautful plant. The kids gave me hand made cards----- the best ones if you ask me. Better than Hallmark.

But most of all, May 8th is more memorable because it is Josh' First Communion. I can not explain to you how tired I was running around this past week but the culmination on this day is so worth it. If you follow me on facebook ( come join now, it's fun), you know I worked night shifts Wed-Fri to accomodate the kids activities. I realized I am not geared for graveyard shift anymore but I will do it for the kids. Eleven-ty points for me!!! LOL.


Anyways, the way our parish does the ceremony is really meaningful as stated in this post. We ended up having so many friends and families who came with us to the altar, prompting Fr. Vinny to say," how lucky YOU ARE to have all these people here for you." Yes, indeed! My family is so lucky to have my sister Janette and her family, my sister Sol and equally loving husband Eric, my adopted daughter Venice, my niece Fridah and her family--- the adoraqble duo--Ice and Joey, my Pareng Eugene, the designated photographer,  my nephew Jerome who I can always count on to run errands for me. My ever reliable friends who travel far just to be with us---Stephen, Ann Marie and PJ, the Anciano family for coming and bringing that awesome sans rival and  Linda and Ron with their adorable daughter Leilani.  My in-laws are the ever troopers. My mother in law is about 96 and she comes to awards nights, recitals, communions and birthdays. In fact when it comes to the kids life, inspite of her old age--- I give her better grades than my sisters-in-law and my kids' cousins who are actually  more physically able to spend more time with my kids but don't.  Kudos to my mother in law!


So Josh was ever dashing--- I was so giddy the whole time because my boy IS HANDSOME! Don't you think? I kept glancing at him because he was so excited , you can see it in him.

At about 7am that day, I talked to him ( just the 2 of us), talked about what the day was for, the importance of it, what it means to him and just technically reintroduce to him the values I have learned and what is expected of him. To be very honest, we both cried ( we are crybabies in our family). I told him about how after each communion you strenghten yourself and that Jesus is with you so everytime you make silly faces or say something bad about a classmate, cheat or lie, talk back to Mama, you are not a good model of Jesus who is now your companion. You know, child's talk. But it is very important for me that everytime there is a special occasion for the kids, I talk to them--- I praise them when they have awards, talk to them on the eve of their birthdays, give them a pep talk on exam days and I wrote a letter to Chris on his elementary graduation moving up to middle school. Needless to say, they probably get bored but I know they will remember these days. Besides, if they only learn one lesson everytime I talk to them, that's a whole lot of life lessons before they hit 18, right?


There is no photography allowed during the Eucharist so I don't have pictures when he went to offer the Unblessed Bread to the altar. But I hate it when parents ( adults) themselves break the rules. The parish sent letters, reiterated in the rehearsal--- yet there are obnoxious people who ruin it all. Can't you see? It is a holy eucharist, so don't stand there and pretend this is your private affair!


Here is the class photo of St. Joseph's Parish 2011.

Beside Josh are 2 Filipino kids. Notice how Josh is not wearing white suit. He preferred not to, although I told him his Kuya wore all white. But that's Josh, always wanting to be different.

Don't know about you but he sure is dashing, and what's up with the hands in the pocket look?

Here's my mother-in-law ( Nanay) with her grandchildren. What did I tell you? She is so involved with the kids, God bless her.

Here's Josh with Fr. Vinny---the most patient priest I know.

Here's our family and friends who shared this beautiful day with us.

My sister Janette

Friends

Since it was Mother's day too, we had to have a Mothers' group shot.

After the photoshoot that rivals a wedding entourage, we all went to our home and shared a simple lunch.

Oh well, not so simple I guess. I love my friends, they really do make life more beautiful, not to say EASIER. I need not ask Sol to pick up the food for me, they just know I needed someone to do that. I asked Jerome to pick up the cake and off he goes, seeing I was very busy, Eugene just took the camera and started taking pictures for me---see what I mean? I am blessed indeed.

As usual we had fun. Simple family and friends gathering where we spend time with grandma.

Where we talk about the yummy sans rival and the healthy chicken spaghetti while goofing around.

We spend time by sharing moments like these:

And then, there's the endless Kodak moment, staple for every Filipino gathering. In defense, I do take lots of pictures because memories such as these are to treasure.

Above all, Josh' First Communion is a great blessing for everyone who witness it. Fr. Vinny aptly said it: "This shoiuld be a reminder for all of us when we were simple and the simplicity of childhood warms the heart, we should all go back to the day when in communion, we find joy, we find Jesus."

Our faith should be very vital to our family growth. Oftentimes, we are so preoccupied with life that we neglect it. Not in my household. This is not to say we are very religious because we are not ( I wish we were, I am working on that), but every child should be given the guidance of any Faith in the home. I do not subscribe to the division that religions bring. Faith is universal. For as long as we believe in one great Being or even simply follow rules of Humanity, I go for that. My family is Catholic, Mr. Hubbs and I grew up as Catholics, we would like our kids to be Faithful Christians, to know that to be great follower of Christ, we should all be Christ like. The journey is hard but if we start them young, it should not be as bad. As I prayed before lunch last Sunday, I said " make my chilren grow as good Christians and decent human beings." That is my prayer every night.

Thank you to all who are with us in our journey guiding our children. My niece and nephew Fridah and Joel for being such great examples to the kids, i love you both. To my sister Janette and her husband Manong Atoy, you are a superb example of Christ like, thank you. To my sister Sol and RN Eric, you are both fa mily to us. My fervent wish is that soon, we will have a bundle of joy to smile at. I always pray for that. To my friends---thank you and please help me guide the kids. In joys and tribulations, please be there for them as second parents.

So now I leave you with these beautiful photos of Josh and my family.

My baby was never mine, he is a child of God, I am his steward. I am lucky and blessed to have this angel in my care. My heart overflows with pain when I realize I am not as good a mother I would like to be but I know he loves me and he is a happy boy.  God bless you Josh and may the Holy Spirit guide you all the time. Mama and Papa loves you.

Josh' First Communion reminders

Dear friends and family,

As you all know, our family is busy preparing for Joshua's big day--- his First Communion! Isn't that exciting? We had rehearsal yesterday and everything is going good so far--- suit, shoes, socks and the perfume... ooops "mama, it's cologne---for MEN. You know , perfume=girls, cologne = boys. Of course.

We are very excited and we would like to invite you to be a part of this beautiful, meaningful event. A few reminders from Fr. Vinny.

1. This is specially for Mom. "Mom, no photography inside the church during the ceremony. We know Josh is gonna be so cute, but let's do that later. Okies?

2. Come around 10am so that you can find the pew reserved for Joshua's family and friends. He is on the right cluster. The names are the displayed on the main aisle of the church with cute banners decorated by the communicants and their families.
3. During the communion, it is encouraged for all family members and friends to go with Joshua to the altar and witness the event. Note that even if you are to NOT receive communion ( not prepared, non Catholic), you can still go and just give a little signal. The communicants are surrounded by family and friends and Josh loves to be around you so please come.

4. Watch out for Josh, he will be part of the Offertory carrying the HOST.

5. Simple lunch get together will follow after all the not so many  photo ops, right Mom? So yeah, come right along.

6. It is also Mother's Day, so don't forget your Moms before you come to church with us. Give her a phone call, shoot an email, send her a card---only if she lives far far away. If she lives 15 miles away, do me a favor--please go and see her, give her big hug and fresh bouquet of flowers. While you're at it, find get her that ring she's been swooning about. You will surely make her day.

Most of all, take time to speak to Josh and ask the meaning of this eventful moment in his life. Be a good family/friend and speak to him about it. Please encourage him to be a good Christian and a decent human being.

Josh is very adorable and sweet, surely he will love your presence.  We will be honored if you do come.

Love and hugs,

Llaga family

Manny Pacquiao on MAy 7th

Oh yeah baby. It should be the best MAnny fight for me. Because:
1. Manny is going to win
2 .Manny is just plain awesome

3. What else were you expecting? A Manny fight is always packed in action unlike Gayweather where he is  a  "defensive player". Defensive? I call that running away. Boo!

4. I am actually not working! Can you believe that? First time ever happening. Did you hear that peeps? I am not working on May 7th. Miracle!

All because
5.CHARICE is singing the Philippine National Anthem
6. Charice is singing the national anthem---

Ooops sorry, I said Charice is singing the national anthem twice?
I love Charice and Manny.
More than I love Tina Fey and Ellen.
True.

Here's a pre fight video to get you going! Click for more fight videos

mobile blogging test

Resetting all my mobile blogging settings because I now have a spanking WHITE iPhone 4 courtesy of my sister HG.

I am a mother first of all

Here is Tina Fey's prayer/poem. Can I say I super love Tina Fey?  Ok, let's just say maybe I love her next to Ellen. Cool?

The Mother's Prayer for its Daughter


First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.


May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not  the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half

And stick with Beer.


Guide her, protect her
When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the nearby subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock N’ Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.


Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance.

Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes

And not have to wear high heels.


What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.


May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.


Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.

Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long,

For Childhood is short -- a Tiger Flower blooming

Magenta for one day --

And Adulthood is long and Dry-Humping in Cars will wait.


O Lord, break the Internet forever,

That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers

And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.


And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister,


Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends,

For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.


And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord,


That I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 a.m., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.
“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck.


“My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental note to call me. And she will forget.


But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.


Amen.

As if this is not enough, I saw this online today too. Oh, oh, I am so damned. I am glad my Pherry is growing ( 13 soon) but can I pause time? Please Lord Almighty? Please?



I know I may be just over reacting but hey, the world is spinning fast.

Josh' weird sleeping habit

Everyone who knows me and my family know Josh is the sweetest kid. No, seriously. Just last night, knowing that a few friends are coming to relax and just be with Venice ( hey.. birthday girl) on her day, he ran out to the yard, picked fresh flowers and gave them to HG and Venice adding..."it's hand-picked", made some iced tea for the bday girl because " we have no gift for her". Just out of the blue sweetness. If I may say so, he is the most giving and sweetest of kids you would meet. Of course he has his own misgivings, like making faces, rolling his eyes... but over all, believe me when I say--- I am blessed he is my son, knowing how Mr. Hubbs did not want any more kids after we got here in the USA because life is difficult. God had other plans--good plans.

But Josh has one habit I can not explain. He likes sleeping in tight spaces ---- under the bed, under the table, in between sofas, in the walk-in closet---everywhere except the cupboard.

Here, see what I mean...

He was sleeping under my brother-in-law's dining table! This was a few years ago. But you should know, he's been doing this for as long as I can remember. I remember finding him under my bed when he was about 2 or so. Yup, under my bed. One time he was in my walk-in closet--- suffce to say, my walk-in closet is cramped -tuffed  full of clutter, he managed to sleep and squeeze in.

Then, late 2009 my husband called me at work asking if I knew where Josh was and of course I was upset! How could he ask me when he was supposed to be WITH them at my in-laws house? They even called me earlier that day. Then I started to panic, not upset but panic. The house where they are at is pretty big and has a big wooded yard. What if he was gone? Abducted? What if he was in the woods and crossed over a neighbor's and segue to the highway? Is he safe? What if he is bitten by snakes? Is he cold? Hungry? Then I started yellling at Mr. Hubbs and told him to call police, and why the hell is he calling me and not the police? He told me they looked all over before he called me so, I was kinda upset he would not call the police now. I was having these scenarios running through my head and in fact, I remembered a police officer saying that every minute a child is missing is very crucial to finding them safe or not. He was informing caregivers to be attentive all the time because that 1 minute you take your eyes off your ward is important. Can you tell I was being cookoo? Or I was just being a mommy? I  was at work then, so I felt helpless. So you can only imagine my anger when husband called again---my thought was like:

1.Why call me?
2. I  should probably call the police myself.
3.Please let him tell me they found Josh

He sent me these photos after we talked.

He was sleeping on a raised platform of my sister-in-law's center table!! All this time! Yup, while I was fuming my eyes off and ready to call the State Police, or the FBI and even the CIA, hell I was thinking of calling the church volunteers to canvass the area.

This table is in their formal living room where no one really stays but stilll, there was also a buttery soft leather sofa there--- but he chose to sleep on this table, yeah, cramping his 6 year old body in this tight space. Note that this glass table is covered with a decorative fabric that's why is not visible to everyone. Only when they were ready to leave my in-laws' house where Mr. Hubbs started looking for him. He was nowhere!

Hallelujah! He remebered Josh' sleeping habit and they started looking at the RIGHT places--- under the table, between the sofas, behind the sofas, behind the TV console, inside the kitchen island cabinets, the laundry room and yes, he was here UNDER the center table.

I remember reading a medical condition about this but it has escaped me. So if anyone knows, please leave me a comment and I will thank you.

How about you? Do you have weird sleeping habits? Do you know anyone like this?

Easter Sunday 2011

Growing up Catholic in the Philippines is very different, most evidently during the so called Holy Week. Filipinos tend to focus more on Black Friday, mourning the death of Christ with such cultural flare, great pageantry and religious activities combined. Catholics/Christians here in the US put greater emphasis on Easter Sunday, Christ's resurrection. Easter Sunday is one of the holy days I observed ( as a Catholic immigrant in this great nation) where the Church is packed ( no pun intended). Much like Christmas.

So, after our Spring break vacation ( which I still need to write 2 more posts), we geared up for Easter.

Here's what we did.

The family loves it when the Llaga(s) of Presidential Estate visit, but we love it more when Ice bakes cookies with us. She is such a sweetheart---always respectful and very neat. We made egg shaped vanilla cookies and while preparing the dough, Ice keeps eating it and telling us how.."Mamu, it's good as it is... really." Would you believe it if I told you it was NOT there for Easter? Yup, it was that good.

The kiddos wanted to add that star cookie shaper---because WE are stars!

It warms my heart when I see them enjoy the fruits of their labor, and the bonding time they have as cousins...PRICELESS. Clean up is a different story altogether. Ha!

Add caption

Of course, Pherry did not HELP--- wait, he helped EAT the cookies. My two assistants in baking? Ice and Josh. These 2 are the best! They finish the work, you know how kids love to start something and when interest wanes, poof? Not my 2 favorites. They really enjoy it. I guess that's the way it is... the younger kids work and the older kids eat. Maybe just in my house, ha?


Here's Pherry dipping his cookies in a glass of milk. My style-- I dip my bread in my coffee cup--Pinoy style at it's best.

Then, it was my time with KC-- we dyed the Easter eggs! I try to involve the kids with everything I do. Here's what we came up with. I was going to make more elaborate ones but I was just tired from our Philadelphia trip that I just came up with these.

Sunday, we attended St. Joseph's Easter Sunday celebration. Of course with The Llagas of PE and Surwez of Avalon ---and a surprise guest, my sister HG. Woohoo!

Here's Josh, handsome as ver, running away from me is what he does now, taking cue from big bro--no pictures Ma!

 My pretty passengers...

Aren't they the most adorable duo? They love each other and they truly enjoy one another. My hope is that when they grow up, they are still very close---my kids and their cousins

Finally, I was able to take a picture of YOU! I love dressing up my boys with pinks and whites during the spring/summer time. So clean and fresh! Notice Pherry's crisp shirt--pink and white baby! My God, looking at this picture reminds me that I have a 12 year old son! My baby is going to be 13! That must be why we have been fighting a lot, ha? Duh!

And these beautiful kids my friends, is why I consider myself so blessed! On Easter Sunday, I am blessed by God and just having them reminds me of His big great love for all of us.

Here's Josh again. I took this picture for his First Communion invitation cards

 My baby boy Josh. He quips, " We need to take pictures, I know, I know...". Smart boy, don't you think?
Here she is, my little darling grand niece.. Precious Gabrielle.....or Ice.

 Ice!!! Ice!!! My favorite girl in the whole wide world! Very neat, intelligent and respectful. I love you Ice~~~

Extra point to anyone who can spy the purple and yellow eggs in this picture. For reals, they are there! But this shot is mostly to show you how beautiful my yard is... the gah-den ( garden) as Bostonians would say, is in full bloom. Come visit and you will see an array of beautiful colors.

This is our Spring table. The food is mostly seafood except for the pork barbecue. The reason I love my friends? They are troopers. They come armed with FOOD! I can ask them to come and know that  I need not worry about what to feed them.

Isn't she the prettiest mow-del like niece you can ever wish for? Extra point for me for saying that. Winky! Her amazing cooking ability is just a bonus. My kitchen is always abuzz with cooking clutter but I love it! You should see HG cook her shrimp in olive oil with pepper. Ok, HG I'll change that ... shrimp with Extra olive oil... extra olive oil is essential she says. Here's a picture of that delectable shrimp...

Here's Mr. Hubbs doing what he does best, barbecue. I love how he meticulously prepare food.

But of course, for the kids, we got to do EGG HUNTING!!!
Here's my list of rules...


Here's the troop that day... so, so adorable troop I got last Easter.

Let the fun begin....





Here's the group after... Tita Sol is sure enjoting herself! You probably guessed who got the most eggs by now...

...and our big winner, Angelica!!! She probably got $30.00 from all her prizes.

WHeeew! After the excitement outside, we went in again to decorate the dyed egss and Jojo picked 2 awardees foe Most Artistic because " I can't pick, they are all so beautiful". This, after SisSol gave up the judging post because " I can't pick, I saw them all do it and they are all good". Yes indeed!  The kids made such beautiful eggs by putting on stickers, chalk, glitters and other decorations. Boy am I glad I did not have to do it. Meanwhile, HG is sleeping! Oh sister!

Then off to watch the Celtics sweep the poor NY Knicks! What a Bostonian Easter we had! Family and friends peeps, family and friends make everything beautiful! Good morning!