Christmas Came Too Early for Us

This blog post is supposed to be last last week pa... pero, as usual, nabaon lang sa aking drafts folder. Super duper busy talaga (yun naman talaga ang ultimate reason ko why I haven't blogged that much the past few months eh) plus I'm still adjusting my schedule since the birth of Ina plus Christmas season pa. Huhuhu! Kulang talaga ang 24 hours eh...


Anyway, I think we've been good this year. Ang aga kasing dumating ng pasko sa amin eh. Specially to my boys.


Bakit kamo? One Sunday, bigla na lang naisipan ng kanilang Papa G na ipagshopping sila...


Here are their gifts from their Papa G:


Light sabers and Spiderman figures for the twins and Darthvader Mr. Potato Head for Christoff...

Tablets for the boys...

Mahabang kwento yan kaya nabigyan ng mga tablets ang mga boys. Actually, gusto ko talaga irequest kay Papa G na tablets na lang ang ibigay na Christmas gift sa twins. They'll be using it kasi for their studies eh. As homeschoolers, they'll be having portfolio reviews (A portfolio review is equivalent to an examination). Since it's too much, na shy shy ako magrequest. Kaya, instead of requesting for a new one, nagtanong na lang ako sa kanya if he is still using his tablet PC...

Me: Daddy, yung tablet PC na pareho kayo ni mommy ginagamit mo pa ba?

Papa G: Oo, bakit?

Me: Ah... akala ko hindi mo na ginagamit. hihingin ko na lang sana kasi para sa kambal, gagamitin kasi nila sa school para sa portfolio review presentation nila. Yung iPad ko sana ang ipapagamit ko kaso lang bumigay na, biglang ayaw na mag-on.

Papa G: Meron ako yung Galaxy Tab, yun na lang. Ipaalala mo sa akin para madala ko.

Me: Ok. Thank you daddy!

So nung binigay na niya sa akin yung Galaxy Tab, I immediately installed some educational apps then pinagamit ko na sa mga boys. Nung nakita ni Papa G na all the 3 boys are taking turns sa pag gamit ng tablet, bigla na lang sinabi na bibilhan na lang niya yung kambal ng tablets para isa isa na sila and para di mag-away. Pero may condition yun, dapat may oras ang pag gamit and hindi madalas. Siyempre, I agreed to the condition kasi personally ganun naman talaga ang gagawin ko. Ayaw ko siyempre masanay sila sa video games and mas maganda pa rin yung may physical interaction.

Wait! Wait! May naalala lang ako. May funny conversation kami ng dad ko while buying the tablets.

Me: Grabe talaga ha, nung bata kami,

Papa G: ngingiti ngiti

Me: Bakit ka ngingiti ngiti daddy?

Papa G: Wala... Ang lakas mo talaga sa akin... May toys and tablets na ang mga anak tapos may kotse ka pa!

Me: Hmmm... Ang lakas kamo ng mga apo mo sa iyo!

Octagon OIC: Pwede po bang maging apo niyo na rin ako sir?

Hahaha! Nakakatawa yung OIC ng Octagon, nag-papaampon! Tapos si daddy, ako raw itong malakas sa kanya, pero sa totoo yung mga apo naman talaga niya ang malakas sa kanya at di matiis. =)

Then nung pabalik na kami ng parking, biglang naglambing si Ian kay Papa G. Ayaw sumama sa amin, gusto kay Papa G lang. Eh may dinner parents ko with my Ninong at City of Dreams. Di niya natiis ang apo niya, isasama na lang daw niya. Eh sabi ko paano yun, walang dalang extra clothes, ibibili na lang daw niya. Kaya ayan, may new polo si Ian at pati si Chris binilhan din...

And may pahabol pa, toy cars from Petron...



Kaya look at my boys, they were very happy with the gifts that they received from Papa G that day...

Of course, ako rin may blessing... naging maaga rin ang pasko ko... kasi my brother gave me a new cellphone... Akala ko nagbibiro lang, serioso pala...

Thank you Papa G and to my brother Paolo dahil napaaga niyo ang pasko naming mag-iina! Mwah! Mwah! Mwah! =)





My Parents' 36th Wedding Anniversary

Last October 14 was a very long day for us. As in buong araw, mula umaga hanggang gabi, wala kami sa bahay.

In the morning, I had my pre-natal checkup at Sta. Rosa Hospital and Medical Center. Then we had late lunch na. Tapos at 4:00pm, diretso na kami sa Ayala Alabang Country Club for the twins' football class.

After the football class, we met with Papa G near ATC (since hubby is still at his clinic) then we went to SM Southmall to buy flowers and stuffed toy for Mama G. 36th wedding anniversary kasi nila eh so kailangan magpa-sweet si Papa G. Hehe.

After that, we went to my parents' house to give the gifts to Mama G and at the same time to pick her up because we are going to have a dinner to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

Here's the picture of Mama G with the surprise of Papa G...

Picture of the sweet couple...

O di ba? Tumi-teenager lang silang dalawa? Hahaha!

Since my brother and his fiance is at VCF Alabang for their engagement seminar and they'll finish at 9:30pm pa, my parents chose to have dinner at RED Kitchen + Bar at Filinvest. Ok ang place ha. May pagkaformal tapos may band pa. =)

Here are what we ordered:

For our appetizer, we ordered Jack Stones (Monterey Jack cheese poppers with marinara dip)...

and Crispy Smashed POS (Fried and pinched marble potatoes)...

For our main course, we ordered:

Chicks and 'Cakes (Two boneless chicken steaks & fluffy buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup and anchovy butter)...

This order is for the twins kaya pina-split ko into two. Just imagine 2x niyan ang whole order, ang laki di ba?

Truffle Shitake (Flavorful cream sauce of dark mushroom and truffle)...

My dad and I ordered this. Sana 1 order lang ang kinuha namin kasi ang dami and nakakabusog. I didn't like it that much. Medyo natatabangan kasi ako. Parang may kulang sa lasa eh. Sabi ko nga kay hubby, yung best na truffle pasta na natikman ko is yung sa Maple.

English Fish and Chips (Beer-battered fish and fries with wasabi mayo and lemon)...

Hubby ordered this. Ang laki and dami! Pero, in fairness ha, naubos pa rin ni hubby! Hahaha!

Hanger Bistro Steak (Grilled hanging tender Certified Angus Beef with chimichurri, anchovy butter, mustard and side vegetables)...

My mom ordered this for my brother's fiance.

Surf N' Turf (Combination of U.S. beef tenderloin and tiger prawns with anchovy butter and cherry glaze served with potato and vegetable sandwich)...

My mom ordered 2 of these for her and my brother.

For our desserts, we ordered Truffle Creme Brulee (Rich burnt truffled custard) and Apple Crostata A La Mode (Baked apple croissant tart with vanilla ice cream). Sorry, I forgot na to take pictures of our desserts. Haha!

And of course, our obligatory family picture...

Great food, great ambiance, great music and great company mean that we had a great night at RED Kitchen + Bar! One thing that matters most is that my parents had fun and enjoyed their anniversary celebration with us! =)

Pasalubong From Europe and Dubai

Papa G and Mama G just came back from their 3-week Europe and Dubai trip. Sarap nila ano? Panay ang gala. Actually, sa work talaga yun dahil sa business meeting with Crowe Horwath International in Paris. Sinulit lang nila yung pamasahe kaya nilubos lubos na ang tour. Kumbaga, nandun na lang din naman, eh di mamasyal na ng bonggang bongga.

Deserving naman sila for this kind of vacation because of their hardwork here in the Philippines kaya nga I'm very happy for them. Excited na excited nga ako for them bago pa sila umalis eh. Ang tagal na rin kasi nilang gusto pumunta doon and timing din dahil they just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary.

Sobra ngang dami nilang pictures and kitang kita sa kanilang mga mukha na they really enjoyed the trip. Wait, may naalala ako. Natatawa ako sa dad ko. Kasi nung first week nila dun, nag-aabang ako ng mga pictures nila pero wala akong nakita ni isa. Kaya nung nagkachance na makausap ko sila sa Viber, I asked him bakit hindi siya nagpopost and I told him na inaabangan ko pictures nila. Secret na lang ang sagot ni daddy ha. Hehehe. Pero wag ka, after ko magrequest na magpost siya ng mga pictures, ayan na, sunod sunod na ang pagpost niya. As in flooding to the MAX!!! Hahaha! Tawanan nga kami nung nagkwekwentuhan kami pagkasundo namin sa kanila sa airport eh. Sabi kasi ng brother ko na nag-unsubscribe (tama ba yung term?) na siya sa mga posts nila daddy dahil sandamakmak na notifications ang nakukuha niya. Hahaha.

Sa shopping naman, si mommy pigil na pigil daw siya dahil ilang kilo lang ang allowed na baggage for them. You want to see my parents' pasalubong for us?

Here are their pasalubong for the boys...

Camel stuffed toys, Laughing Cow cheese, Boots, T-Shirt, Toothbrushes and some Patchi chocolates

Talagang tinotoo ni mother ang pagbili ng boots sa mga bata ha. Sabi kasi niya sa akin bago sila umalis, that she'll buy them boots dahil maraming nice leather boots dun. Yung Patchi chocolates naman, bigay yun ng cousin ko from Dubai, nagshare lang sila sa amin since chocolate lover si Ian.

Here are their pasalubong for me...

Leather bag, everyday canvas bag, Christmas chocolates, Christmas knives, pistachio nougat and decorative tissue

The leather bag doubles as a birthday gift na for me since it was my birthday last October 22. My mom asked me if type ko and here is our conversation...

Mama G: Anak, eto oh binili ka namin ng bag. Leather yan kaso hindi na signature. Yung Goyard naman kasi tumingin kami ng daddy mo nasa isang daang libo mahigit tapos hindi pa leather lahat. Nakakita nga daddy mo ng €1,800.00 gusto na sana bilhin kaso sabi ko parang hindi naman worth it dahil hindi naman purong leather. Type mo ba?

Me: Hmmm... Ok lang naman kaso parang pangmatanda...

Mama G: Pangmatanda ba? Yan ang uso ngayon na designs eh. And besides, matanda ka na eh!


AROUCH naman!!! Talagang pinamukha pa sa akin ni madir na matanda na ako. Pero di pa naman ako 40's eh. Hahaha! Pero ok lang naman sa akin yung design, yung texture lang talaga ng leather na parang crocodile skin, yun yung malakas makatanda. Hehehe.

I really loved the everyday canvas bag. Ang lakas maka-chic eh. Pang-araw araw talaga. =) And the Christmas chocolates, pang display ko raw yun sa table ko. Ang nice din nung mga knives eh. Sobrang cute!

And here's a pahabol pa...

This is a ceramic choker and bracelet in one. Very Mama G ito. Siya kasi ang sobrang mahilig sa mga accessories eh. That's even during her dalaga days.

Aside from that, may mga ref magnets pa raw siyang ibibigay. Hindi pa lang daw niya naaayos mga gamit niya.

And here are the pasalubong for hubby...

Assorted cheese and perfume

Yan ang mga type ni hubby. Ang hilig kasi sobra sa iba't ibang klaseng cheese. Tineterno niya yan sa wine.

Medyo madami ba? Pigil pa raw ang pagshop ni Mama G sa lagay na yan ha. Hehehe.

A Very Blessed Sunday

I really love Sundays! That's the only time kasi na nakakapagbond kami as a family. But if hubby has a patient or a backlog, adjust adjust na lang siya so that he can maximize his time for us.

Like last Sunday, the original plan was (1) we will eat at Cecile's restaurant for lunch (since they have Sunday P200.00 eat-all-you-can lunch buffet promo), (2) we will go to AZH for hubby's hospital rounds, (3) we will go with my parents at S&R, (4) we will go to my in-law's house to deliver the balik bayan box, (5) we will go to SRHMC for hubby's hospital rounds and (6) we will go to ATC for the DrummUnity event. Since hubby has a backlog, nag-iba yung plans. We weren't able to eat na at Cecile's because the buffet is until 1:00pm only. Instead, we just went with my parents at S&R since last day na ng Members' Treat.

My dad was in the mood that time to shop. Pati nga kami ng brother ko napag-shopping din eh. Hehe. =) Look here, all smiles ang brother ko...

Here are my loots that day (few lang naman and mostly for the Kulilits):

Fiber Cloth...

Floor Mat...

Mouth Wash...

Egg Platter...

Royal Dansk Luxury Wafers...

Nutella...

Jules Destrooper Speculoos...

Nestle Chuckie...

Lava Cake...

Gardenia Bread...

Cage-Free Eggs...

Starbucks Frappucino...

After S&R, we went to my in-laws in Laguna to deliver the balik bayan box. =) Then to SRHMC for some patient rounds.

Our next stop is at Alabang Town Center to attend the DrummUnity event. Unfortunately, we weren't able to catch it because it was too hard to park.

The Kulilits just played with different percussion instruments...

We then had our dinner at Abe Restaurant...

While waiting for our food, they gave us some kropek...

that the boys happily munched...

We ordered the following:

Suam of Fresh Corn...

Pritong Baby Hito...

Manok sa Luyang Dilaw...

Here's our family photo that day...

I didn't like the food that much. I find it bland kasi eh. Unlike hubby, he really enjoyed the food, specially the hito with buro. I don't know with that guy, talaga atang may vetsin sa dila eh. Hehe. Kahit yun daw ang food niya araw araw ok lang daw sa kanya. Hehehe.

Then when we went home, may mga pahabol blessings pa for the Kulilits from Mama G and here they are:

Box of Brownies...

Ripe Mangoes...

Spiderman Shirts...

Garfield Shorts...

Maong Walking Shorts...

That's it! A very blessed Sunday indeed!