Update : what's happened the last part of 2010

Ok. Where to start? Dang! I always end up promising to write everyday. Sorry, this will have to be one of those bullet blog entries just so I can chronicle my life. Remember, I started this blog as my online family diary. It does not have a theme--- a family theme I guess, but it is personal life. I have no agenda or whatso-evah. Not like other blogs where they write about specific stuff. Not me. I just want to look back and see all these entries and reminisce.

1. KC turned 10 last September. We had a simple dinner with a few of her friends at the South Shore mall. Instead of having loot bags, I let them go shopping at a&f and pick just 1 item at the  sale table. I did not realize how chaotic my idea was--- what with 8 girls!!! Never doing that again.

Josh, turned 8 October and I brought them to Quincy Marriott for swimming with his special friend Kirsten. You see, she is the only close friend he got who have been consistently there. Ben, another good friend moved to another city. Dinner is at Bertucci's with the Llaga's of Presidential Estate.

I turned another year older in Ocotber too. Instead of buying a bag --- I bought 5 leather Coach shoes. Stop rolling your eyes. So what? It's my birthday.

2. We moved into a house with 3 bedrooms--- 3 bedrooms! yahoo! KC finally got her own space. It is always an emotional roller coaster everytime I think about our home. I purchased my condo before I turned 30, with the intention of being a "transitional" residence until we can find a suitable home. Then, the market crashed--- there goes my plan in the drain. The house is a very old house but it has a lot of character. My landlord's son is this humble lawyer who went to the same school as my eldest. I met Ruth once only, but I feel she is a good person. The house is in town center, so we benefit with the vibrant city life --- lots of fusion restaurants and easy access to Boston. I skipped decorating for Thanksgiving and went straight to Christmas--- I had so much fun!!! Fast forward to today---- we went bed shopping at Jordan's Furniture and I got my 3 kids their own beds. Each one of them have their own bed. I guess I even went overboard--- I got KC a princess-like canopy bed. Soon, my kids will shut the door on me and be hooked up on the phone all day... hopefully that won't happen soon.


3.During the holidays--- we had so much parties going on.  Aside from having my first "real" tree, here's what's notable.

a. Met new friends at our annual "get to know more people" holiday party---- Hi Tony, Nat, Yasmine's family, Tin and Kathy.  Ayi ( Eugene's fiancee was there too. I met her before but this is the first time we hang out together. As always, the "monito-monita portion is really good. Did I say we played "Pinoy Henyo" and the boys lost? TWICE. Losers!

b. Had fun at Plymouth yearly holiday parade in the Town Square-- Mr. Hubbs and the kids love the FREE apple cider. The town square was just beaming with happy families. They had costumed carolers going around everywhere--- they had ice sculptures too. Just beautiful time with family.

c. We went to see a New England tradition--- the Enchanted Village at the Jordan's Furniture and got to see the Polar Express 3D. It was truly enchanting and beautiful. Oh, yeah they have the laser LITE show. The only one of its kind in the world. Check it out.  The village was like a "Christmas postcard" from the '70s.

d. Shopping was fun and tiring. I got very beautiful gifts from my great friends. I should note the engraved bracelet by RN Eric--- Mr. Hubbs' new BFF. I got a great deal with those Red Sox jackets that Mr. Hubbs had for Father's Day when we went to see the RS play. It was my first time at Fenway by the way. Aaaaw! So, I grabbed like a dozen of them and gave them to my bro-in-laws and close friends. Gifts here and there....I love seeing happy faces.

e. Christmas dinner was at the Llaga's of Brockton. As always  tons of food.

f. I went to see the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Boston Pops with Keith Lockhart. We were so close to the stage. My only regret? I should have brough KC with me. I was with my niece Pits. We dressed up really lovely.Without any intentions, we carried our Marc Jacobs Large Single purses...beautiful girls love the same purses. She has 2 kids of her own---Jem ( about 1 year old) and Ice ( 5) , so we really make fancy things when we can bond away from the Hubbs and the kids.

g.  New year's eve dinner--- simple "breakfast-dinner" at home with SisSol, RN Eric, VinceKat and the Llaga's of Presidential Estate. We all went to the mass and we had a very good sermon from the priest.

h. My sister Janette, Ice, Kc and me went to see Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker. Again, my first time. The Symphony Hall is majestic. I am hoping we could do this as family tradition. I wish my sister is going to move to Boston from Montreal. Please!!! Then, it was time for Llaga family gathering  for new year's welcome. We all welcomed the new year with dancing and food.

i. New year's day is at my house! All the people that mattered to me were there. Family and friends! I would  have wanted all my sisters and brothers, but for now-- I am happy for all these blessings.  All credit for the sumptous food that everyone raved about goes to my  sister Janette. Can you move here already?

4. Boston weather has been nasty. Twenty five inches of snow and 4 weeks of continuous snowstorm is hammering the state. The good thing about this? We have been enjoying neighborhood sledding. I'm too chicken to bring the kids to snow tubing and resort type winter activities. I guess, because I have seen so many kids rushed to the ER because of nasty accidents.

5. I have been enjoying the company of my girlfriends. Party because we like it is so much fun. The Llaga's of PE discovered this Pho restaurant in North Quincy and we've been going there lately. Last time was with Amor ( Mr. Hubbs' nephew) and of course, SisSol and RN Eric. I highly recommend having 1 or 2 great girlfriends. Friends make life interesting --- laughing at the most trivial things and knowing what the other is thinking just by looking at each other. A couple of weeks ago, SIsSol and HG and me went to SSP and had make-up sessions at Bare Escentuals, bough our own sets and dinner at Cheesecake Factory. It was so cold and we got locked out of the mall. We had to walked around the mall to get into our cars. i tell you, everything is bearable if you are with friends. Nevertheless, I was shivering, Ahahhahha.

6. Too many bags, too many shoes.

7. Pherry is part of the Central Middle School's Lego team again. They did not win, but it was fun seeing the kids enjoy building and be  team players. Someday, someday.

8.  KC and Pherry are both attending the Milton Academy Saturday Courses. Brilliant kids make a happy mommy! Last week, KC was invited to take the SAGES test for gifted students. Pherry is already a certified gifted student as far as SAGES certification is concerned. What can I say? Wait! KC is invited by her Milton Academy teacher to be her "little coach" to an upcoming science exhibit sponsored by MIT in Belmont MA. Are you awake yet? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, MIT!!! MIT!!! Ibang level na ito!

9. Did I tell you Mr. Hubbs bought me a beautiful diamond ring? All of 2.52 carats baby. The biggest stone in the middle is 0.75 but the quality of the stones ---- yummy! It is my first "expensive" piece. All my jewelry are given to me either by Inang ( mom) or my sisters--- lucky  me, ha? He has been bugging me about getting one but I am not one who clamors for jewelry. So, it was really a good treat for me. The best of all? I got to pick it myself!!! BTW, there is a side story about buying me a ring. He came home once, telling me how he saw the nurses he works with have these huge stones on their rings and why i do not have one. I told him, because I don't have to. He said, I should get at least one. I reiterated my lack of desire, although I would love it if he buys it for me---- makes for a better story. You know, when you say -- " oh, this? It's beautiful? Thank you, my husband/Bf got it for me."  He said to get one for Christmas. I never bothered. Until that day. Ha! He did not realize how expensive "those big rocks" are! He must have been regretting while signing the receipt. I am enjoying all the complements I have been getting recently though. I never understood the relationship of women and diamond. Ahhh, same way not a lot of people understand my relationship with bags.

10. Josh is preparing for his first communion. He did his first confession on February 2. I am sad, I was unable to attend, but I made sure I prepared his outfit and that Daddy was there for him.

11. Because KC has been really good in school and all her other activities, we decided it is time for her to get her first American Girl doll. Boy, was she giddy when her Dad went with her to the store. You see, KC and the boys have Sunday school and hip-hop on Thursday. Then she has ballet/ta/jazz classes on Wednesdays. Mondays/Wednesdays are after school programs. I think she does Sports Extravaganza and Showbiz. Saturday is for Milton Academy.  She is busy and sometimes she gets tired but never really wanted to drop any of the activities. She deserves to finally have that doll.

Hopefully, I can update more often now. See yah!

English-Tagalog

It's my weekend to work. Don't you think weekend and work should NEVER go together?  Not in the same sentence, you know. Like Red Sox and Yankees or Lakers and Celtics. No! This world is designed for 7-3 work or maybe 9-5 but not weekends or graveyard shifts. But enough with my complaining. I just have to be at work. I work at a hospital, better than being at the hospital--- sick.

While rushing Joshua to get dressed already, Pherry echoes me and says "hurry up, you boy." I thought Josh would go ballistic again because he does not like being called "boy". This, after he declared he is no longer a baby, but a boy---a kid, I guess is what he meant. Then, Pherry started calling him--boy. Instead, this is what happened.

Josh: Kuya, it's not hurry up, it's dolly up!
Pherry: What?
Me: (while rolling Josh' sleeves)  Dolly up!
Josh: Mom, it's not Doll-y up, it's duh-ly up!
Pherry: (laughs) ahhhh...
Me: what? what?
Pherry: Dali na! You know, whatever you say when you are in a hurry and forget your English language altogether... Dali naaaa!!!

Ahhahahhah! Ampucha, dali na nga kayo!

Time to say goodbye

Goodbye to this FUGLY lamp!!! Yeah, finally I got this uber chic drum shape lamp--- at---where else, TJ Maxx!!!  Admire my bargain for the day!!!

First, look at this ugly baby...what was I thinking? Maybe it was on super clearance? Maybe I just needed something... kahit na, ang pangit pa rin! ( Even so, it's still ugly.)



What are those little "pineapple dots?

Now, drool with my new and improved taste in interior design. Aba, dapat lang nababagay sa akin ang level ng lamps ko. Heheheh.



See, Bradford pa lang sushal na ulam na





O, di ba, pang Ballard Design ang impak(ta)



Ganda di ba?

See,  i told you it is beautiful

Well, what say you?  Drum shape+toned down fabric= uber chic! Can you go to TJ MAxx buying only one item? NO!!!  Because I am missing the Philippines  so much, I had to have these. My eyes popped when I saw them.

Balimbing, balimbing!

Yeah, I need motivation to clean

This is my "color me bad" display to shoo away this dreary winter. Shoo!

Notice those vintage milk and orange bottles? Love them to bits.

My take on vintage bottle display

If you read a lot of home blogs such as this, you will know what I mean.

 I don't want to be mean so I am going to tell you the truth: Those balimbings ( star fruit) are FAKE!!! Fake! Fake! Fake!!!!

Now, it is time to say goodbye! Goodbye to this winter!!! Spring, where art thou?

Who's handsome

Well, my boys of course!

Josh: ooohh, I forgot Dad's mustache.
Me: That's ok
Josh: NO...
You know, that NO look where he is like totally upset cause something's missing in the grand scheme of things. Oh, I love Friday mornings. Ampucha umaga pa lang, bigote na usapan.

Sorry

I have not forgotten about this blog. Be back soon! Get ready!