Alonzo's Birthday Balloon Surprise Tradition

Last year, we started a new tradition of having a cascade of balloons for Alonzo on the day of his birthday. Pumping balloons and stuffing them between the door and a sheet of plastic taped around the door frame is, as we eventually realized, not as easy as it seems. Things would be different though had Alonzo slept in a separate room.

 

different method...

So, this year I thought of simply hanging the balloons to allow us access in and out of the room while the birthday boy is blissfully asleep.  

...same happy result as last year!

Happy birthday, Alonzo! We love you so much!

Simple Joys

Alonzo and I had this conversation when we passed by a Jollibee billboard (the one with child kissing Jollibee) on our way to playhouse last week. You are probably familiar with the one I'm talking about as it is all over the metro. 

 

Our conversation goes this way:

 

Me: Alonzo, you look like the child kissing Jollibee

(while pointing at the billboard...and then realizing that the child is a girl! Hahaha!)

 

Alonzo: ...don't like...only Mama.

Me: What do you mean? You don't want to kiss Jollibee? Or do you want Mama to kiss Jollibee?

Alonzo: No! I only want to kiss Mama.

Me: Awwww....

 

My sister heard our conversation and sent me this photo which she took while I was away.

 

  

Simple Joys

A few weeks ago, my little one and I spent a few hours at Bonifacio High Street.

 

It was our first date together. Is it odd that we have never been out on our own -- ever? Somehow the thought of only the two of us going out never crossed my mind...Consciously (or subconsciously) I never even considered the idea...

 

Perhaps I also never felt the need to. When I'm not at work I am most of the time at home with my son and whenever we do go out (which is not that often) we go as a family, all three of us.
 

 

That day though I simply felt the urge to spend a few hours away home with my son. High Street was the obvious place to go to because the little guy looooves Jumba Juice (can't you tell from the photo?) and also run around the open space.


Alonzo had so much fun and didn't want to leave just yet and asked if we could make a "quick" stop at Fully Booked. Don't ask me why but he enjoys to stop by bookstores and "browse" through some of the books. He is not yet at the stage when kids would usually ask for things to be bought for them so he is usually content by simply being allowed to touch and open the books. Oh, he also asks me to read the books for him but I never get to finish reading a story for him -- he keeps asking for a new and different book before I get to the end of the story.  

Needless to say, we both had fun. Quite honestly, I was also surprised at how well behaved and "manageble" he was on our day out! Tsk, tsk... I realize that I sometimes tend to underestimate the little guy. He held up really well and I am really proud.
I really should plan more dates such as this.
 

Simple Joys

We are back from our 5 day pre-Christmas vacay in Camiguin. Things have been a little hectic and our body clocks still have not yet gone back to its old rhythm.

We have been mostly "on the go" during our vacation, travelling for most of the day on our last day -- from Camiguin to Cagayan by boat, back and forth from Cagayan to Bukidnon by land and then to Manila. In Manila, after a quick stop-over to my parents' place we went to my in-laws' for an early Christmas dinner. Needless to say, we were dead tired for noche buena!

Had it not been for the Christmas day family reunion that we were hosting we would have slept the whole day!

Don't get me wrong. It's been a lot of fun. Both our vacation and the family reunion. It may have been crazy hectic but nonetheless still a lot of fun. However, although it has been a couple of days after our body clocks still have not adjusted. Its like having jet lag. Apparently, it can occur without travelling through time zones.

And although I always look forward to the feverish frenzy that usually afflicts everyone (at least those whom I know) during this time of the year it is during the week between Christmas and the new year that I often find myself longing for a little quiet time.

I have been promising myself to make time to enjoy a couple of good reads. It hasn't been easy. Work (and whole lot more!) tends to get in the way and instead of reading for leisure it becomes work-related. Most of the time it annoys me that the side table in our room holds my textbooks and notes! That reminds me. I have a couple of modifications to make on my handouts and power point lectures...ugh! Well, I guess, those will have to wait. At least for a while.

 

Obviously, I won't be able to finish this book within a few minutes (that's all the time that I have) but at least that's all I need to enjoy it with a good cup of tea.

Simple Joys

I know I don't usually blog about stuff other than my crafts and projects but while browsing through folders and folders of photos to choose for this year's appreciation wreath I couldn't help get nostalgic and even teary-eyed as I somehow re-lived the year through our photos.

 

This may sound so cliche but I'll still say it, time flies unbelievably fast. How can the year be almost over when the Christmas-themed throw pillows borrowed from Mama last year, I thoughtlessly only now realize, remain unreturned and are actually still on display. But what can I say, it has been a wonderful year. We had a couple of bumps but we definitely still consider ourselves incredibly blessed that deciding on which photos to include for this year's appreciation wreath is a challenge. There are so many things to be gratefull for.

I, therefore, thought of sharing now and then some of what I consider the little joys of my life.

 

And I'll start with this...

 

 

Watching my boys as they sleep