Doppelgänger

Well hello! Labor Day is here and i am wearing white! Who said i cant? the fashion gurus, that's who but i don't care! To celebrate, we had our last hurrah--- dinner by the beach at our fave clam shop--- The Clam Shop at Wollaston Beach. 

While KC was reading the book The Book of Hardest Words which her brother owned a long time ago. They encountered this:doppelgänger.  

Pherry defined the word--- hmmmp, smarty pants! KC started rolling her eyes!  Then,

Josh: aha! It's like the one in Showtime! Ummm, ummm, I know Kalowk-alike! 

KC and Pherry: rolls eyes--- it's cause these two don't watch Fil Tv and Josh does.

Josh: Dad, tell them! It's that show you watch.

He starts to get embarrassed but went on.

Josh: hey guys, I only know this cause Dad watch this show.

KC and Pherry: went back to eating. 

So if you guys want to post your doppelgänger , call it Ka-lowk-alike! Not Ka-Look-alike but Ka- Lowk-Alike.

That's all!

Cousins Part 2

In the grand scheme of family dynamics, there seems to be a special bond for cousins that's inexplicable. 

No fights, no differences and no groups of friends can break the cousin bond! Even when the Oldies fight, if you know what I mean. All I know is that, cousins are the brothers and sisters you wish you had--- without the "I told you so" part. 

I'm sure there are families out there who have misunderstandings but most often than not, the fight seems to spare the cousins. Siblings fight, but the cousins stick together. I wish this on my kids and their cousins. I know they are already but I still keep praying they will remain that way.

Alright, alright! All I'm trying to say is--- I wish Joei, AJ, Dimple, Andrei and the Ambiong cousins in the Philippines can be in one city, it would make my life easier and sweeter--- the calm and serene feeling of knowing your family is close by can not be replaced by a limited edition car or a Macmansion house or 6-times a year travel to the homeland.

For now, I'm just content with Precious and Jem! My precious gems who love their cousins and whom my Three Little Monkeys love so much.

How about you? What do you fervently pray at night? What gives you peace?

Bookstore Love

I think I have told you multiple times on this blog how the Three Little Monkeys love books. Books are so darn expensive nowadays I can't seem to fathom how I can continue this. Going to the library is sometimes not on option because the books they love takes too long to be in the catalogue or the books I love are always checked out. But lemme tell you--- money spent on books is money well spent. Guaranteed!

Today, a lot of people go shopping for Labor Day sales. Us? We go to the bookstore! KC browses and usually ends up with one or 2 books before we leave and Pherry just knows what he wants. What I do since I have a KindleHD courtesy of my great friends, I buy online but I still love it here because of the magazines and Starbucks inside! Oh yeah! Funny, unlike most book lovers, I like e-books. My kids on the other hand are traditional book readers. Pherry had the first generation iPad but never wants any e-books. Oh, we'll! Would have been cheaper but with books, I'd not be so Ilokano---for non-Filipino readers, that means  being too stingy! 

So today, here are my seat mates!

Because they are not paying any attention to me and I am blogging here at the bookstore, might as well share this:

Ms Tory Burch is hanging out with Mr Gucci.

Have a great day!

#kc#llaga #bookstore #barnesandnoble. I can truly say the love of books and reading--- it's all me! They got that from me! So proud! Money well spent indeed!

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/dw0KTCqvuX/

#bookstore #barnesandnoble#pherry #llaga. Y so serious baby?

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/dwzwwxKvth/

#barbesandnoble#bookstore#pherry#llaga#kids. I didn't have any idea, I was with Bruno Mars! Wait, more handsome pala!

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/dwwg57qvnd/

September is All About Jem

Happy birthday cutie Jem!

I can't seem to get over these kids!

... And catch these moments!

How about you? What do you love most when you see your family and friends? Personally, I love moments such as these. Nothing fancy schmancy. Just laughter, hugs, stories exchanged, funny jokes and friends cajoling each other!

Oh yeah, we had food too.

Happy birthday Jem, you know we love you but when you and your cousins get to read this lowly blog ( actually, much like Mamu's random thoughts), I want you to know I have the greatest pleasure when I am with you all. I may seem distracted and out of focus sometimes but let me tell you, I see every single thing! I notice all your mannerisms, your "not-so-gentle"  push on your sister, your Kuya Josh' forced smiled when I let him give you his toys and your Ate Precious' sweet smile when I praise her back flips! I love it when you sleep-over and you are scared when your Ate KC turn off the lights. Now I'm wondering if you are still the same when you are all sitting down reading this blog when you are all grown-ups!

Now I'm suddenly sad. I just hope you will all stay like this forever! Loving each other and always close to each other and depending on each other every step of the way. Sure, I expect you all to grow up and expand your wings but I also pray you will treasure these time with me and each other so that when the going gets tough, you will find refuge in each other no matter what life has thrown at you.

Mwaaah! I should stop now before I cry a river! I love you Jem and your cousins love you. God bless you my dear!

Cousins are having the best time! But where's the birthday boy? Happy birthday Jem, we love you so much! You are the sweetest boy ever!

via Instagram http://instagram.com/p/dvbv81KvpN/

Cousins

I am having SAD attack--- Separation Anxiety Disorder Attack! Yeah! I totally 

made that word up!

Well, it's almost the end of summer with this Labor Day---long weekend but why do I feel so sad? Because my beloved nieces and nephews  are so beautiful and I miss them so dearly! I promise next summer I will be off for 3 darn weeks! Job be damned! Hahahahah. 

Having cousins are what I miss growing up because we did not have cousins our age who lives close by. Not that I was lacking childhood memories but cousin bonding is different! Right? 

Shopping is bonding! Or not!

Oh darn it! I miss my sisters so much!

Oh, to be young and carefree!

Ready for thrill at SixFlags!

Supporting Precious on her dance performance! She promised to buy me my Holy Grail bag once she is famous! Hurry!

Getting wet at La Ronde Canada

Relaxing at the Berkshires MA where we also met a good town mate, Maritess!

Can anyone claim they piggy back more than us? No!

Family barbecue in Lachine Quebec!

Ready for camping!

Fun city trips! Excited to take public transportation!

My beautiful sisters at Patriot's Place in Massachussetts!

I am SAD! Are you?

Josh and Abby

Aren't they cute?

 

School Shopping

Is summer over? What? 

I might deny it but it is over! Wanna why I know? Coz we went school shopping already! Wheew!

The Three Little Monkeys are all set and ready! Why oh why?! 

Hingham Shipyard Selfies

Take it from us, pictures are fun! Like when you catch your daughter taking a fall off from her penny board and getting up so quick so that Dad will still let her ride, what's there not to like? Hahahahah. 

Today is just a gorgeous day for beach, boards and just sun-soaking! Oh, did I say, picture taking?

Here!

What are you doing indoors? GET OUT! Have fun and lift your spirit!

The Weekend

I always try to maximize the weekend. This past one is especially crazy. Friday was my mother-In -law's death anniversary and so a lot of Mr.Hubbs family is in town. At the same time, my 2 sisters from Canada are visiting too! What to do? Well, got to pack the weekend with fun! Dead tired but I know my kids are happy with their time with my sisters and their cousins so I guess it's fine!

First off, dropped by HinghamShipyard to show Joei Wahlburgers. The marina is picturesque so I let them penny board there too! See!

 

Of course! We gotta do the "foot shot."

Then off to the beach! We headed to Nantasket Beach to see the Llaga fam!

This is so precious! I know they will remember moments like this!

 

... And a failed jump shot!

Am sure wherever my Tatang is, he is proud of his "apos."

I got scared a little bit because I permitted them to go by themselves for 10 minutes and they were gone longer than that because they went climbing by the stones off the beach cliff. I was ready to call the police. Oh yeah! Then I told them my concerns and they were just oblivious of my fear! Oh, to be young and carefree!

Why go to a beach when you can see two? For 2 hours apart? Hahahaha. Yes, we are crazy. We then headed  to Falmouth for some polpoklo adventure. Polpoklo is seaweeds we live even back home and my sisters went gaga when they saw how easy it was to have them! Score!  

What's beach day without girls in a bikini picture? Here you go!

Seriously, we live the water so much. As a family who grew surrounded by bodies of water, it's hard not to!

But the most precious thing is the bonding I had with the family-especially my sisters! See?

The Ambiong sisters of Punta!

With our daughters!

After Sunday mass, we went with Mr. Hubbs' family to Plymouth--- the landing place of the pilgrims, thereby the birthplace of America! We went there to jetski though and not for history lessons which we've done so many times. Here we go!

The cousins! Lovely bunch!

But what's bonding time without ice cream and fried dough and irritating-your -cousin moment?

Here's the ice cream photo.

the all time Llaga fam fave- fried dough!

... And the irritating-your- cousin photo! Oh brother!

To end the nite, we have to end with a bang! Seafood!!!

That's how we do our summer weekends. Do the above, repeat. Family, fun and food! Sprinkle a prayer in between and you are all set!

Happy weekend you all! And oh yeah, we're doing this again today! Another weekend, booyah!