New Year With The Family

We had a great time celebrating together. Nissa, Obet and Nate came over to spend lunch with us. It was a simple but lovely celebration. I had a lovely time playing with Nate at the garden. Posted some shots of him at my other blog Precious Bundle of Joy. Sorry, could not post the link except the title, seems not to work on a tab.

Our group shot with 92-year old mom.

Nate always has that lovely smile.

Our two fur babies Oreo and Cookie with Josef and Jovy.

The two of us, look at my white hair….haha!

With Nissa and Nate.

Our lunch spread.

New Year’s Eve

Nissa took so many shots. These are just some of our New Year photos.

A blessed 2022 to all.

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Just Counting

Cold nights started about a week ago. The fan now is always set in low. Jovy and Josef seldom switch the air con the past days. Days are sunny though and it’s windy in the afternoon.

We need to trim the carabao grass maybe before Christmas sets in. And I promised myself that I will wrap all those gifts as soon as the additional ones I ordered arrive. Yeay, Christmas is just fourteen days to go. I noticed that there are very few homes now in our street with lanterns and Christmas lights at night. I only have our little Christmas tree and the Christmas light at night for decor. Maybe, the pandemic has lessened the enthusiasm to celebrate the season. Let Christmas be in our hearts no matter how simple the celebration is.

I remember one of Obet’s nephews asking me a long time ago why I said “Happy Birthday Jesus” in my greetings on my wall so I just told him He is the reason that we celebrate Christmas. As I have always said, it’s the time the family gets together, enjoy those moments seeing each other and remembering Christmas past.

If I were to believe the latest reports, we’ll be quite safe to have a small gathering this coming Christmas. There are now very low cases of Covid-19 here in Metro Manila. How I wish I could visit my brother who is sick but the kids have work until the 24th. It is not safe to take a commute on your own. I miss those traditional sweets and recipes we usually cook in the province – binungey, puto bumbong, bibingka, suman, puto and dinuguan.

So many reasons to celebrate, giving thanks and welcoming the days with joy. MERRY CHRISTMAS🌲☃️🎄

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Happy 10th Anniversary

Doing this in advance, greeting Nissa and Obet on their wedding anniversary tomorrow. I remember that one particular afternoon, nobody cried, we were all laughing because it was a happy and joyous occasion. My tears flowed though when they visited us a day after to let us know they were going on their honeymoon.

There were so many photos that their photographers took for their wedding album but I love these informal shots bettter, which reminds me I have my own wedding album of Nissa which was included in the package of the photographers. It is a small 6″ x 6″ album.

I just love this, two important people in my life in one frame. Lovell was still a deacon here. He was ordained to priesthood the following year. That smile from Nissa…priceless.

We called it Purple Day. Opps, one boy was missing. Bobic, adopted daughter of Alden was the little bride while those darling little ones are kids of Obet’s sister and Nissa’s close friends.

To reminisce one lovely occasion.

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It’s Her 92nd

Mom had her 92nd birthday yesterday. We had a simple lunch but we forgot to order a birthday cake early. Just ordered some food online because I just prepared a kilo of spaghetti. As always, anything new to her taste is always yummy.

Compared to years ago, she no longer remembers it was her birthday. She made me write her date of birth on a piece of paper and she doesn’t even know that it is now 2021. Her mind is focused on when she turned 88 years old. So if you ask how old she is, she always says 88…haha.

I took a few shots. She didn’t even want to pose in front of a camera. Reluctant smile 🙂

I am grateful that despite her age, she’s healthy. Thank you Lord for another year of blessing for my mom. I posted another photo on Facebook featuring the two of us and it garnered a lot of likes and 274 birthday wishes and greetings. What a joy🎂🌻🧁

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Something New For New Year

A lovely start of 2021 for Nissa and 0bet. They got their new car yesterday, their third since they got married. They sold the first one, a Honda Civic a few months ago.

Officers at the bank are allowed to change cars every five years. 40% of the total cost is shouldered by the bank and 60% by the employee depending on the rank of the employee. Obet is a Senior Manager at Bank of PI. Junior officers are given 20% by the bank and they shoulder the rest.

Nissa wanted a more roomy and comfy car so they purchased a 2021 Ford Territory and got it yesterday. I asked Nissa if they would also sell their Hyundai car but she told me it would be their spare.

The regulatory pose with all car dealers here. They removed their face masks for the photo op.

Ah, happy faces. They took it for a spin yesterday. I told them that if they would have it blessed at Antipolo Cathedral soon, they could leave Nate here since Antipolo is very near our place. It is where the image of the patron saint for travellers is located that is why most car blessings are done there. Would love to see that sunroof.

Today is also the Feast Day of Señor Sto. Ñino, the child Jesus, it is only observed in the Philippines. It is a special privilege given to the country for so many years now. Nissa and the family have their fiesta today.

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Closer To The Goal

In our language you call it “nangangapa”. I told you earlier this is a trial and error thing. Sometimes, I couldn’t even see the blog itself except for the latest blog post on my reader.

I need to log in via Google to see the whole thing. The app itself, I think is not enough. Considering that I need to take photos via this tab to be able to post them here, I may not be able to attach other photos taken from my CP. It takes better pictures than this one.

I just took a look at my total stats since I am dreaming of reaching a total of 600,000 by year-end. I need 90 plus more to reach it. I miss my PC, Josef is so busy he hasn’t taken a look yet.

I am closer to the goal, there are four more days to go before the new year.

My youngest brother from Tulsa are comparing notes on what to prepare for our Media Noche. He said prepare something sweet, something long like pancit, just a little of everything. I told him I’m gonna try lechon kawali. We still have embutido here which I cooked before Christmas and we haven’t touched the Christmas ham yet. Maybe a kilo of menudo too which I could prepare in advance.

In a few days, another leaf in the calendar would be lost. Let us all welcome 2020 with hope and prayers for a healthy life 🎊🎉💕🌝

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Celebrating Mom’s Birthday

It’s  one of those family gatherings that  we all enjoyed. It was a simple lunch with the kids to celebrate Mom’s 89th birthday. Nissa  is the photographer of the day and she has a new phone with a camera that is even better than some cameras in the market. Just love the  slow  mo app which she uses to take some videos of Nate.  Wish I could share them here.

We had roast  chicken,  pork barbecue, fiddlehead fern salad, pancit canton, gelatin and two kinds of chocolate cakes. Josef bought  a triple chocolate roll while Nissa had a small cake decorated  so Mom could blow her birthday candle.

Despite the heat, we all enjoyed the simple lunch. Nate and I played with his new Mr. Monster ball  He was not interested with his other toys. Instead he found my set of small fork and spoon  which we use for pickles and bite-size food. He was fascinated. Then he suddenly burst out “I worked at McDo for a week”.

“What did you learn”, I asked.

“Plenty”, he said.

He didn’t get the Best Crew Award which he earned last year  He was given a certificate of the “Best Dancer” instead. Knowing Nate, I really believe that he could dance. He has his own moves and style of dancing.

We munched on peanuts and cornik later. We skipped snacks.

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