Christmas spirit . . .

can now be felt in our home. Finally, we were able to put up our Christmas decors two weeks ago. But I'm still looking for the Santa decor we bought just last year. I can't remember where I stocked up some of our stuffs. Need to do some cleaning during the Christmas break. he he he . . .

42 days . . .

to go before Christmas and I haven't started any preparation. The kids were bugging me to have our Christmas decors put up for the past two weekends and up to now no decors were set up yet. Hopefully, all decors will be set this weekend. I also want to have my gift lists to family members, friends, officemates, relatives and friends of the two kids. I'm not yet sure if we'll go to Divi this weekend to buy some stuffs already. If not, hopefully in the next two weekends so that we won't resort to last minute Christmas shopping. Hubby and I are also looking forward to the St. James Bazaar which we have been regularly visiting for the past 3 or 4 years already. Hope we could find cool items there. Now, I'm beginning to feel Christmassy already. . . (is there such a word?) he he he . . . Hope to post more Christmas updates in the next few days . . .

What did we get?

Here's what we got for Christmas :

A havainas slippers for Ate Kaila from mommy and daddy . . .

A kitchen play set for Ate Kaila from Santa . . .

A havainas slippers for JM from mommy and daddy . . .

A remote controlled car for JM from Santa . . .

Another bag for mommy from daddy . . .

A leather wallet for daddy from mommy . . .

Our Christmas Day Celebration . . .

As expected, the kids woke up late on Christmas day itself. We were bound to Cavite to celebrate Christmas with my aunts ( father's side ). This has been our tradition ever since so even without my parents we bravely went to Cavite with hubby as the driver. :) We arrived there past 1pm already so most of them were already eating their lunch already. We spent the afternoon there and went home around 4:30pm. Next destination was Pacita in San Pedro. We visited my in-laws and we had our dinner there already. We went home around 8:30pm. All of us were dead tired and sleepy already. But upon arriving home, the kids got excited again and still played with their new toys.

Our motiff this time is white . . . Next year sana white Christmas na talaga :)

Our Christmas Eve Celebration . . .

Our Christmas Eve was spent at home in Cabuyao. Hubby reported to work so I did all the preparations for our Noche Buena. We heard mass in Don Bosco in Canlubang so that we could spent a little time with my siblings in our Canlubang home. We stayed for a while after the mass and the kids had lit some sparklers ( a preview for New Year's eve celebration ). We already gave our gifts to Tita's and Tito as well as our gifts to Wacks. We went home in Cabuyao past 12 midnight already. The kids immediately opened their gifts when we arrived. But they saved the best for last - Santa's gift. Here are some of our pictures.

Our noche buena . . .

Kaila doing some poses in the Christmas tree . . .

JM does his antics as well . . .

The kids opening their gifts . . .

Santa's gifts . . .

Kaila received a kitchen play set from Santa . . .

and a remote controlled car for JM . . .

It's almost 16 hours . . .

before Christmas so I want to greet all of you "A Merry and a Blessed Christmas. May you and your family find the real meaning of Christmas amidst our joyous celebrations. Let us not forget that Jesus Christ is the reason for this season".

Got this from a friend yesterday . . .

25 Ways to Share the Joy This Season

1. Mend a broken relationship with a friend or relative during the holidays.

2. Every night of the Christmas Season, (or everyday of your life) before going to bed, ask yourself, "Whose life did I make brighter today?"

3. Give your toddler the honor of placing the star or angel on the top of the Christmas tree.

4. Try the Swedish custom of writing a short, lighthearted poem on each of your gift cards that half reveals the contents of the present.

5. Take a holiday family photograph each year in the same spot, such as by a favorite tree in your yard. In the years to come, you'll have a wonderful record not only of the growth in your family, but also of the growth of your tree.

6. Tell your children about Christmas when you were their age.

7. Offer to run Christmas errands for an elderly friend or relative.

8. Record a cheerful Christmas greeting for your answering machine.

9. Learn to say "Merry Christmas" in several languages.

10. Remember that Christmas carols never sound better than when you sing them in church.

11. Tip someone who doesn't expect it.

12. End an evening with family and close friends by forming a circle, holding hands, and singing a favorite Christmas carol.

13. Reserve a night for the entire family to make ornaments for your tree.

14. Set aside some time at the beginning of the holiday season to help your children plan their gift-giving lists.

15. On a clear night, find the bright North Star and recall the story of the Wise Men.

16. Open Christmas cards as a family activity each night at the dinner table. Read the messages aloud.

17. Toast your friends when they are in your home. Tell them how much it means to have them there.

18. This Christmas, write letters to several people who have had a positive influence on your life. Thank them for this gift they have given you.

19. Take a decorated miniature tree to someone in a hospital or nursing home.

20. Secretly shovel the snow off of your neighbor's front walk.

21. Instead of giving gifts at the office, take up a collection to donate to a designated charity.

22. If you have friends who have lost family members since last Christmas, make a special effort to call and cheer them during the holidays.

23. Begin a Christmas journal. Write down memories your family will share: events you attend, presents you give and receive, and the inevitable crises that occur.

24. Don't try to do everything yourself. Remember, even Santa needs helpers.

25. Take time to remember that the greatest holiday gift is a home filled with the people you love.

Christmas Shopping Update . . .

We already have our first batch of gifts for the kids this Christmas. After our dinner in Crustacia last Friday we went malling in ATC. We went at the toy section of Rustan's to see if there will be good buys for the kids. True enough we were able to buy Kaila's kitchen play set and a remote controlled car for JM. These toys are on top of their Christmas wishlist for this year. I'm also done buying gifts for Kaila's classmates and my officemates' kids. Early Christmas shopping? Well, I hope we'll finish early cause we might have started early but we might end up doing some last minute Christmas shopping.

Christmas Day Celebration

My parents and siblings were early in the house. All of us were still asleep when they came. I woke up ahead of everybody to start preparing our stuff. Of course it will be a bagful of stuffs for the kids. JM woke up first so I started to fix him. Gave him a bathe and dressed him up. Of course he was not able to open his gifts last night so it's time for him to open the gifts. He has a handful of gifts ( clothes, toys and bags ). Santa's gift was a red remote controlled car. He had two cars because Ninong Charlie ( my BIL ) gave him a remote controlled car as well.

While they were enjoying the opening of gifts I sneaked out to the kitchen to prepare our breakfast. Of course it's the left overs from the noche buena. :) Philip was awaken next then Kaila. We all fixed ourselves and had a picture taking moment before heading to Pasig. We left at already past 10AM.

Since it was a no traffic day, we were there ( Ciudad Grande ) in just over an hour of travel. My uncle and my cousins were there immediately to welcome us. It feels nice to see them again. We really don't see them that often unlike my cousins in Cavite. We stayed for awhile first in my cousin's house since the party will be held in the clubhouse. We thought that it's just going to be a simple get together but it seems many will be attending.

We went to the clubhouse past noon already. It was just a walking distance from their place. Personally, I was surprised to see that the place was arranged with tables & chairs, tarps and the food was catered. What we thought as a simple get together turns out to be something more special. Guests started to arrive though it was mostly the relatives of my auntie so ( wife of my uncle - mother side ) it was really us only and their family who belongs to the Espolong clan.

The program was just informal. It was initially hosted by the sister of my auntie. We had an opening prayer and the cue to start the meal followed as it was way past noon already. After the sumptuous meal, the program resumed. My cousins were introduced and welcomed. They came from Pakistan, Korea and Singapore. One of my cousins on the otherhand is the head chef in Malacañang. So the kids and adults alike had their "pamasko" from each of them. There were several games for all the kids and adults. Monetary prizes were courtesy of my cousins. The finale was a raffle courtesy of the sister of my auntie ( she works for Erap - so dami nya pera ). We really waited for the raffle hoping we'll win. But we were not that lucky enough.

While the program is on-going of course we had a chit-chat with my cousins. Some updates about their lives and our lives . . . It's just nice to know that most of them are all successful in their own fields. My cousin who works in Malacañang has gone to many places already including Europe. He always goes with the President's entourage (local and international destinations). Hubby was trying to fish some "tsismis" from him but to no avail. he he he . . . My other cousin worked in DFA in Pakistan for six years. He and his family is now here because they have to wait where will be his next assignment. My cousin in Singapore is a board top notcher in ECE so he's also successful there right now. I just forgot the name of the company he's working for.

It's also nice to see our own kids. We also met for the first time the wife of my cousin from Singapore. It was also a time to reminisce "our" times when we were just kids. How time really flies so fast!

As I said we just waited for the raffle and we're off home after. I guess it was around 4pm already when we left. I can say that we enjoyed it very much and hopefully there will be a next time soon.

Early Christmas Celebration

In previous years, we would normally spend the 25th with my relatives (father side) in Cavite. This year, we were there on the 24th as the 25th was reserved by my relatives (mother side) in Pasig since my cousins working abroad are all here for the first time altogether after so many years.

On the morning of the 24th, we were fetched by my parents going to Cavite. We were expected to be there before lunch. Thank God for the Daang Hari road. Our usual travel time ( Carmona-Dasma-Imus-Bacoor) was reduced to half. We were just in time for lunch. Our meals include kare-kare, camaron and other seafood specialties of my tita. In the family, she's the one who can really cook well. Name it and she can do it. Desserts include fruit / buco salad and ube halaya. We were so full after the sumptuous meal.

After lunch, we already distributed our gifts for our inaanaks and the kids received a lot of gifts as well from my cousins and their children. At the same time, they were preparing the names for our yearly kris kringle during the new year celebration. I asked hubby if we will join because I'm not sure if we will be spending the New Year there. He said we'll join the kris kringle.

For merienda, they bought a special bibingka and we ate some of the desserts during lunch as well. After merienda, we were already off going home as we still need to prepare the noche buena. My dad was asking if we were still coming home with them but we beg off since we don't have much time already to prepare the food for noche buena.

At home, Philip started to prepare the spaghetti sauce right away. I also asked my yaya to prepare the ingredients for the chicken-macaroni salad that I'll be preparing. While they were in the kitchen the lolo and lola asked the kids to open the gifts already. I stressed that not all the gifts will be opened. They just wanted to see if the gifts would fit well with the kids. Obviously their gifts are clothes for the kids. It was a red (San Beda) jacket for JM and a pink dress for Kaila. Picture taking followed.

As usual, Kaila took the centerstage again. She willingly posed for the picture taking. A model in the making yata ang anak ko. At least marami ng career na pagpipilian. From videoke queen to a fashion model. JM on the otherhand is very difficult to handle during picture taking. It's either wala sya sa picture or paalis sya from the scene. Di mapirmi sa isang lugar!

When my parents and siblings have left, we started to fix the house. Clean up a little bit. Prepare the stuffs for the noche buena. In time, we were already preparing ourselves for the evening mass. JM was already sleepy so I told hubby that we'll just leave JM because it will be difficult for him to come and I'm sure that we will be standing the whole time during the mass. At first, he was hesitant to leave JM but when he saw JM peacefully sleeping he just asked our yaya to be with JM. It was only me, Philip and Kaila who went to hear the mass.

Kaila was such a good girl during the entire celebration. I know she's very tired and sleepy as well but these were overcomed of her excitement to open her gifts including the one from Santa. After the celebration, we went straight home and JM was in deep sleep already. I asked hubby if we would wake him up but he said just to let JM sleep because we would have a hard time to put him back to sleep.

Philip and I were in the kitchen preparing our food. We have yet to put the gift of Santa. Our meal includes spaghetti, chicken-macaroni salad, ham, cheese and lots of chocolates! While Kaila's eating, I sneaked out for a while to put Santa's gift on the tree.

After our meal, we went back to the sala to open our gifts. Kaila was very delighted to see Santa's gift. It was a Disney Princess rubber shoes ( just what she requested ). She opened the other gifts mostly school stuffs since they know that Kaila will be going to school already this year. JM was not able to open his gifts. Of course the finale would be our exchange of gifts. I was able to surprise hubby with my gift although he has it on his guesses. It was a Carolina Herrera for Men Classic perfume gift set. Hubby's gift for me on the other hand was an Anne Klein wrist watch.

More than the gifts, we are very happy spending Christmas at home with a complete and healthy family.

Ford Finance-IT Christmas Party 2007

The Finance-IT Christmas Party of Ford Philippines was held last Wednesday, December 12 in our Director's residence in Ayala Alabang Village. The department was divided into three teams ( red, yellow & green ) and each will have a presentation. Everybody came in prepared with their own gimiks. Our food was catered by Queensland though our hostess prepared some Indian cuisine as well.

It was indeed a night of fun, laughter, food and entertainment . . . I can say that in my five Christmas parties in Ford this is the best so far . . . Here are some pictures :

The early birds . . .

Picture ! Picture ! Picture !

Go yellow team ! ! ! Performance level 'to!

Spammie Awardee . . . figure it out why . . . :)

And the winners are . . . .

Mega smile pa rin . . .

Walang pagod sa posing . . .

Ford Philippines Finance-ITEBI Family

Shopping Update . . .

Last Saturday, hubby and I went to Greenhills for our last batch of Christmas shopping ( so, I thought ). We arrived there just in time for the afternoon mass so we were very hungry already after the mass. We ate in RACKS ( yummy, yummy, yummy ! ! ! ) my favorite baby back ribs. We headed in the tiangge right after we had our lunch. We bought the gift for my nephew and some of Philip's inaanaks. Then we bought clothes for the kids and a new jeans and blouse for me.

After Greenhills, we went to Glorietta. We went to Toy Kingdom to look for "Santa's gift" for JM. We can't think of any other toy but a remote controlled car. For Kaila, it's a Disney Princess rubber shoes. That's what she's asking Santa. After the quick shopping in Glorietta, we went home already. It was another tiring day but I enjoyed it.

A hectic week had passed . . .

It has been a week since my last post. I was very busy with work that I can't afford to update my blog. I miss blogging! Hopefully the next few days will be lighter. Tomorrow is our Finance Christmas party already. At least a break from all the work loads for the past few weeks. I've been staying late in the office for the last two weeks. I feel that I'm missing a lot with my kids. They are asleep already every time I arrive home from work. I'm really looking forward to the long Christmas vacation . . .

Christmas Update . . .

It's already less than a month before Christmas and I haven't started wrapping all the gifts that we already bought. Hopefully this coming weekend I would be able to finish wrapping all the stuffs that we have bought.

Our Christmas Wishlist . . .

Since there are a few days left before Christmas, I'm posting here our Christmas wishlist. I hope hubby will take a look into my blog before buying his Christmas gift for us. :)


Kaila's Wishlist:

(1) A pink bag ( mommy got one for her already )
(2) Rubber shoes
(3) Pink shirts / blouses
(4) A toy ( not sure what toy she wants - they have enough toys already! )
(5) School stuffs ( in pink or in disney princess design )


JM's Wishlist:

(1) A nice remote controlled car
(2) Any musical intrument ( perhaps a drum set )
(3) Shirts / Polo
(4) Activiy books


Mommy's Wishlist:

(1) A new watch
(2) A nice bag
(3) A nice wallet
(4) House shorts / dress
(5) I'm thinking more . . . he he he . . .


There goes our Christmas wishlist . . .

Our Christmas tree . . .

The Christmas season officially started for us last October 27 when we decorated our Christmas tree right after we had our first Christmas shopping. It was supposed to be a surprise for the kids but while decorating they were awakened so they joined us in decorating the tree.

Here are some pictures of our Christmas tree:

It's Chrismas time . . . 39 days to go!

Oh, well, it's just 39 days before Christmas. It's my favorite time of the year! I guess it's every body's favorite time of the year as well. All the people are busy preparing gifts for their loved ones, decorating the house, preparing the Christmas menu, preparing for the Christmas parties, buying gifts for the kris kringle, a lot of balikbayan relatives and so on and so forth. There are a lot of reasons to be merry on this time of the year. But of course we should not forget the real reason for the season. It's the birth of our saviour so let's not forget to prepare ourselves spiritually as well.

Ummm? I'll try to write some Christmas stuffs here . . . I'll start with my favorite Christmas song. Here it goes :

The Christmas Song

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

Jack Frost nipping on your nose

Yuletide carols being sung by a choir

And folks dressed up like Eskimos

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe

Will help to make the season bright

Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow

Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way

He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh

And every mother's child is going to spy

To see if reindeer really know how to fly

And so I'm offering this simple phrase

To kids from one to ninety-two

Although its been said many times, many ways,

Merry Christmas to you

There goes my favorite Christmas song . . .