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| Monday, 7-Mar-2005 00:00 |
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MEET AND GREET
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The boys are now getting ready for the final exams on the 11th, 14th and 15th. The timing couldn't have been more untimely, really! The exams will start on the day that we will be celebrating Jake's birthday. *Sigh*. Since loved ones are arriving for Jake's birthday and are spending that same weekend with us here in Cebu, there's no other time for the boys to prepare but last Saturday up to this coming Thursday.
The whole days of Saturday and Sunday were spent mostly at home to review the kids. Jerry did a wonderful job of juggling the tutoring between Matt & Kyle as I took charge of caring for Jake. But as they say, all work and no play makes one a dull person. So last Saturday, on the invitation of my sis-in-law, Erlinda, we went to Ayala for the Meet & Greet the Justice League Superheroes.
It was a welcome 1 hour break for the studious boys. Even if the show was not too awesome, we had fun nonetheless.
Below are pics of Matt, Kyle and cousin Michael with the Justice Leage Superheroes â?? Hawk Girl, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter and the Flash. Superman and Batman were a no show. Hehe.
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| Saturday, 5-Mar-2005 00:00 |
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BE CRAFTY!
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click to enlarge
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After searching the web for invitation designs, I found one that didn't come with text. It's a picture that looked hand-painted in muted colors of baby animals dressed for a special occasion. The design was cute for Jake's party even if I didn't actually have a popular theme.
Then I found a rhyme that worked as a text for a 1st birthday party where I only had to change the name and add pertinent details. I put the card design and the birthday text together using powerpoint and made 4 cards per board sheet. Jerry helped in cutting each card with a cutter. I would have used a pair of scissors but that would have given each card a rough edge.
I glued each card on ¼ of a colored corrugated board to give it some kind of matting. And voila! Our very own hand-made (or printed) invitation cards are now ready.
Invitations â?? CHECK!
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| Thursday, 3-Mar-2005 00:00 |
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MISSION: PREPARATION
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I could not believe it's only a week from now before Jake's 1st birthday celebration. The days literally breezed by as we prepared quite frantically for Jake's big day.
We have just confirmed with City Sports Club and booked part of the Sinulog main ballroom for the very special occasion. Our guest list, composed of close relatives from both sides and godparents, totaled 50 adults and 33 kids. Intimate isn't it? I think the number is just right.
That day being a meatless Friday, we made sure to include seafood on the buffet menu. We opted for creamy smoked salmon for appetizer, a traditional Caesar salad, cheese and clam chowder, chuletas de puerco adobadas (for those who will prefer not to abstain from meat, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I guess it only means pork adobo), Sicilian fish in tomato sauce, marinated fried chicken (for the kids), spaghetti Bolognese (for the kids again), pandan rice, strawberry cheesecake and fresh fruits in season.
So there, the food is not too fancy nor too expensive, but enough for loved ones and friends to partake of. I hope everything turns out perfect.
Venue and food: CHECK!
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| Tuesday, 1-Mar-2005 00:00 |
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LIKE AN EAGLE FLY
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Last Sunday, we were at the park to watch the boys play basketball with their elder cousins. It was not a competitive game but more of a one-on-one shooting match. As I watched and took pictures, I was particularly drawn to the pictures I took of Kyle sizing up the tall basketball ring and then taking off to shoot the ball. He made a couple of hits and misses, but it was a picture of sheer determination nonetheless.
One thing I love about our sons, they are not afraid to take on new challenges. They have lofty dreams ranging from getting as much medals in academics and sports to flying an airplane, taking us to see the world, or playing in the NBA.
In our own little way, we try to fuel these dreams with encouragement, love and support. And they seem to thrive very well. Though we keep them firmly grounded, we let them soar as high as they could possibly be.
"Like an eagle fly
High up to the sky
And we spread our wings today
As we go our way.
Like an eagle soar
Higher than before
And weâ??ll go places far and wide
With God on our side"
By: Mr. Manny Lapingcao
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| Saturday, 26-Feb-2005 00:00 |
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NO CONTEST
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Being a holiday, the kids were home yesterday. It was one of those free days they get to park their butts in front of the telly, the playstation or the computer without anyone of us censuring them. Jerry and I just let them be.
However, this was also the same day that Kyle would be attending his DEP-ED's Math Challenge. Learning that he was already drilled by his Math teacher and that he had won 1st place in all of the Grade 2 classes of SHS-Jesuit during the Math Quiz Bowl a few days back, I didnâ??t pressure him anymore.
By 230pm, the appointed time, we were at the venue. He was first to arrive among the 3 representatives from their school. Shortly, his other teammates were there, but no teacher. There was a slight commotion and I felt something was amiss. We heard that only 2 representatives will have to compete, not 3.
Iâ??ll spare you the details. The short of it is that Kyle ranked 3rd so he was an alternate. He gets to compete only if the 1st or 2nd withdraws or doesn't show up. It was the same sticky situation for all the year levels from SHS-Jesuit. Apparently, it was a major blunder by the Math Coordinator of SHS-Jesuit when she sent all 3 representatives the letter telling them to attend.
It was heartbreaking for the alternates to be told only on the day of the competition that they didn't have to compete. The aggravating thing is that the other schools knew ahead and sent only 2 representatives.
Jerry gave a bit of a tongue-lashing to the Math teacher (who incidentally arrived later than her Grade 2 team) who was clearly at fault for not knowing and informing the alternates in advance. It didn't actually matter that Kyle was only an alternate as long as it was clearly communicated earlier on. I know it doesn't make Kyle or the other alternates any less good, but to dash a child's enthusiasm to compete was really harsh.
This is calling on Father Javier to look into the matter please so that it doesn't happen again in the future.
(Kyle knew and permitted me to post this, so no privacy has been violated. He went on to tell me that he's okay. Well, contest or no contest, we're very proud of you kiddo! You're still the best in Math and you have the SHS-Jesuit Math Quiz Bowl award to prove it! Mwah! *hugs*)
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| Wednesday, 23-Feb-2005 00:00 |
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BABY TRICKS 101 - STANDING UP
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This is not a new trick for Jake. In fact, he has been doing this for quite some time now that he has already perfected the art of locking his knees... See his tutorial below...
STEP 1 - Extend flabby arms upward while keeping eyes focused on the edge of the playpen. Concentrate as you lift your bottom off the cushy pad... slowly & surely...
STEP 2 - Hoist yourself up with your chubby fingers securely clutching the edge while carefully maintaining your balance.
STEP 3 - Calculate your best angle and smile one of your cutest for the camera.
Well done.
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| Monday, 21-Feb-2005 00:00 |
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WEEKEND TWISTER!
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Have you seen the movie Twister where the characters (Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt) were chasing after tornados or hurricanes for their research? No, that is not the type of twister we had last weekend. What we had was more of the happy kind of twister who woke us all up early on Saturday morning and started pumping air. And when he was all done, we ended up with these...
a yellow dog, a green mouse and a red sword (partly hidden)
Initially, I planned to hire a balloon twister/shaper for Jake's 1st birthday in March. But when I wound up with an idea of how expensive these clowns (pun intended) are, I thought of doing away with the plan. Instead, I bought some balloons and a balloon pump last Friday to see if we could try balloon twisting ourselves. Hahaha! Pathetic, I thought at first. When Kyle, my 8 year old son, came up with a dog, a mouse, a sword and a hat from twisting balloons, I thought, hey this was pretty easy!
The whole Saturday morning, except for Jake who was still too little to handle the balloons, the four of us tried our luck doing different figures all in the spirit of fun. And we ended up with a zoo of balloons in different colors! Our laughter resonating in the living room alternated with the sound of the occasional loud pop of the overstuffed and over-twisted balloons. Haha, really hilarious!
Want another way to have fun with the kids? Try balloon twisting for a change!
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| Friday, 18-Feb-2005 00:00 |
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GREAT JOB KYLE!
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God is good! We received this letter from school yesterday:
| Quote: | Greetings!
We are glad to inform you that your son/daughter, Andrew Kyle R., of Grade 2, has qualified for the DIVISION TEAM FINALS "2005 METROBANK - MTAP - Dep Ed Math Challenge". The contest will be on Friday, February 25, 2005, at 2:30 in the afternoon at Mabolo Elementary School.
Let him/her wear the school uniform, bring 2 pieces Mongol pencils and ball pen, 3 pieces of bond paper and snacks. Please bring your son/daughter directly to Mabolo Elementary School. (Probable pick up time is at 4:30 PM at Mabolo.)
We hope you will support your son/daughter in this activity.
Thank you very much. |
Looking back a few weeks ago, Kyle was among a hundred or so participants from different schools, both public and private, who were in Zapatera Elementary School to take the elimination test for the Math challenge.
He was absent from school in the morning because of diarrhea and vomiting the night before. In the afternoon, feeling a little better, though still weak because of a very limited diet, he chose to go to the venue to compete. He looked pale and haggard as he sat in the classroom together with students from other schools. He was quite feverish but he took everything in stride. He took the test while occasionally drinking his Gatorade.
Before the testing ended, students from the other schools started to emerge from the classrooms. We were worried that Kyle might be too stressed out to continue. I peeked at the room to see if he was alright. I could only see his back and he was one of a few remaining students still doing the exam. A few times he caught me looking and he just smiled and continued on.
Kyle came out just as the proctor/teacher started collecting the papers. I immediately put my arm around him to give him a hug and felt that he was already running a fever! Jerry and I were telling ourselves that if Kyle doesn't make the cut, then it was probably because he wasn'â??t feeling too well.
I guess we know now what came out of the elimination round. He made it!
So, he's on to the Division Team Finals next week to represent his school.
 
Kyle, looking serious during his Holy Communion... and Kyle with Matt & Jake
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| Thursday, 17-Feb-2005 00:00 |
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BAGS WITH PERSONALITIES
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Not that I was running short of bags. I'm not even the type to change bags or purses everyday to match my outfit. There was one time, regardless of the occasion, the weather, my mood or the color of my dress, that I used my Bally (courtesy of Junnie) for more than a year! So why would I even think of buying a bag, much more 2 bags?
When I came across this shop in the mall that did made-to-order bags, my impulsive nature took the better of me. (Aw shucks!). I inquired, went through the brochure, came back a few days after with my desired print and placed my order/s. A week later, I got my custom-built satchel and handbag. They were exactly how I wanted them to look.
Mwahahaha! Oh go ahead. Call me vain. But tell me who else in the whole wide world has bags like these...
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| Wednesday, 16-Feb-2005 00:00 |
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MONDAY RECAP
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aah decisions, decisions.......... ok, i'll have a banana sundae, please
My SIL, Any, SMSed us her invitation for snacks. Since the kids didn't have school anyway (rest day after the sports fest), we gladly accepted. It was to be at Georg Cafe. On the way there, Matt was contemplating on ordering his favorite beef tenderloin and Kyle, his pork belly. Hehehe... these boys really have huge appetites.
In the restaurant, I quietly reminded them that this was only snacks and not dinner so maybe they would want to reconsider and order something light. They did. Matt had Hungarian sausage (with 2 cups rice!) and Kyle had bacon mushroom dip and a tall glass of strawberry sundae (with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream!). Uh, ok...That's still huge... Haha!
Not to be outdone, Jake finished half a scoop of vanilla ice cream from his banana sundae while Jerry and I ate from Jake's plate and shared the leftover banana cake (part of the sundae) and banana slices with whipped cream.
The afternoon did not only give us gastronomic satisfaction, it was also a shared moment with in-laws and cousins. The boys' A-ma or granny was evidently happy watching her apos (grandkids) enjoy the afternoon.
Who said Valentine's was only for couples/lovers?
Of course, our (Jerry and I) dinner date on Hearts' day was a different story altogether. 
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We're both at Cebu Business Park every afternoon 
