I'm joining the $800 birthday giveaway

I'm loving July! One reason is that Christmas seems so much nearer, and the other is because... I'm joining one of the most extravagant contests online.

Join me in the birthday celebration of 3 of the best Pinay WAHMs in the world and get a chance to win their fab prizes! Click on the button below to join.

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Happy, happy birthday Mommies Ruby, Kaye and Sam! Love you muchos Mommies!

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Maxyn's 1st birthday at Shakey's and a meeting of friends

June 11th was like a field trip for us. We were invited to attend Maxyn's 1st birthday party at Quezon City, so we decided to leave a bit early to make sure we make it to at most an hour after the party started (yes, we were anticipating a bit of traffic, after all we're coming from the other side of the metro).

Sad to say, we didn't make it to the first hour of the party. If memory serves me right, we got there about 30 minutes or an hour before the party was scheduled to end! I swear, travelling from the south to Quezon City is NOT an easy task. We even had our online maps handy to help us navigate but traffic was horrible... EVERYWHERE.

Good thing we still enjoyed our travel just because it was still a family affair. I guess that's our motto, that all is well as long as we're doing it as a family. The heavy traffic became a bonding moment for us, we picked up words from license plates, read out numbers and addresses, watched out for planes and birds, and a lot of other spontaneous activities. Having a little toddler definitely changed a lot. Now every trip is just like a field trip.

When hubby and I used to get stuck in traffic when we were in college, we'd both be almost mad as hell because we'd both be hungry and just wanted to go home, but this time, we treasure being stuck in traffic (as long as we have food and water) because we get to do things with the little Missy.

Anyway, here are some pictures from the party (I guess not much since it was almost the end when we got there), and pics of the lovely blogger moms from PMC - Nicquee (Maxyn's mom) Joy, Pehpot and Fedhz (check out their blogs, links below the pic) and old-time friends from our BC family - Nicquee, Glenda and Wheng.

Oh and although there were some altercations with Shakey's and the celebrant's parents, I liked that they had a kiddie area for the kids to play at. Though I'd love to say I would like to come back and visit them again, I don't think we would, unless it were on the way to somewhere we needed to go to.

Check out some of the pics:

^^Happy birthday Maxyn! We love you!

In the photo: Mommy Nicquee, Maxyn, Ate Ayex, Daddy Mon and the Clown

(above) PMC Moms: Joy, Kat, Nicquee, Pehpot and Fedhz
Pic courtesy of Joy's hubby John. :) Thanks!

(above) BC Moms: Nicquee, Kat, Glenda and Wheng

(above) Daddy and Little Missy shooting some hoops at the play area

(above) One of little Missy's favorite mannerisms at the moment, pucker up!

(above) My favorite Shakey's Delivery girl

(above) She got a strike on her second try

(above) I guess she has a knack for bowling

See how much fun we had? Hope you had fun during your weekend too!

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Happy Birthday Yoya Ina

Happy, happy birthday to my Aunt (and Godmother for both my Christening and Wedding) Viña!! Little Missy calls her Yoya Ina or Ta Vin so please pardon the title.

Thank you so much for sending over some of the yummy spaghetti (and the warning regarding the quick-cook noodles), the Pizza slices, Little Missy's mango that I forgot to pick up from your house, and the pink and green stik-o.

Aside from the food, thank you for being our second mom. Walang pinsan at kapatid ko na di nagdaan sa kamay mo nang nagkasakit. Maraming, maraming salamat sa iyong pag-aruga. Mahal na mahal ka namin!

^^During Lola's Birthday while playing Pinoy Henyo.

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Happy Birthday to my not-so-little Bro!

My brother turned 17 yesterday. Tomorrow, January 6th, he would have spent 16 years with us exactly.

Yes, he's a year late. It's because he's special, he's adopted. His mother wasn't ready to care for him at 17 when she gave birth to him 17 years ago. We always thought somehow she'd find her way back to him but she never did. There were a lot of stories of her trying to find him, but for me, they're all stories.

My mother is still staying in the same house where they talked about giving him up. My mother still has the same circle of friends that she can ask on how to get in touch with us. For me, his birth mother just gave up.

Ironic that my brother is now the same age as when his mother gave birth to him. But somehow, my brother is centuries ahead of his time in terms of maturity. We never hid the fact that he's adopted, we didn't even change his name. All these challenges and experiences seems to have made him so strong and mature, but love-wise, ahhh... that's another matter. In that field, he's just the regular 17 year old.

Thank you Bro for the wonderful 16 years you've shared with us. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for accepting us. Always remember that we love you so much, no matter what.

Happy, happy 17th Birthday!!

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Happy Birthday Melay!

Today is the start of the New Year. I am dedicating another blog post on how we welcomed 2011, but for my first post, this is for my sister.

Happy, happy birthday Melay.
We love you so, so, soooooooooooo much!
Always be healthy, safe and happy.

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Happy 41st birthday Sesame Street

Happy belated 41st birthday Sesame Street! (Nov. 10th)
Thank you for being a part of our lives.

I was supposed to original video but it was incomplete :(


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Birthday trip to the Zoo

(FYI: Slideshow below)
We decided to surprise Little Missy on her birthday by going on her first ever trip to the zoo. She had received a free day pass as a complimentary gift from an Easter event we attended months ago. When we got to the Ark Avilon Zoo in Pasig, we saw that children's fees were at Php200 ($5USD) and adults were charged at Php350 ($9USD). We decided to buy her a ticket and use the free pass for an adult ;) We saved Php150, hehe.

The Zoo itself was clean and well-maintained. I was so ready to see a lot of mess, I had wipes and bottleS of ethyl alcohol ready, but was surprised that it was okay. Not one of those reported to have umm... unwanted objects everywhere. The staff who were in charge of the domesticated/trained animals too were very courteous. If you look at the animals close enough, they would tell you if you can or can't touch it (like the eagles and bearcat).

The only drawback for me was visiting on a Friday. There were 8 buses of students on a field trip. I guess I should have expected that. Fridays were usually when kids had their P.E. (Phys. Ed.) classes and they come to school in jogging pants - very convenient if you're having a field trip. But all in all, it was a great experience.

As soon as we went in, even before buying the tickets, I think she loved it already! We weren't technically inside yet but she was running and wailing all over the place. The entrance had these garden sticks with animals at the top and she played with all of them (see in slideshow below). There were also a rabbit and a guinea pig pen and since she's familiar with them (Rabbit from her Peter Cottontail book, and Peanut the guinea pig from a DVD), she kept shouting "Hop! Hop! Hop!" and started calling the guinea pigs Peanut.

Here's a slideshow of our day. Just click on the X near the right-hand bottom to close the ad and mouse over the picture to stop and view the description.

It was indeed a happy, happy birthday! We love you soooooooooo much!

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Happy birthday Tatang!

Today is Mama Mary's birthday. It's also my father's birthday... he would have been 67 today.

My mom called late in the afternoon to remind me to eat pancit (noodles). It is kind of customary to eat noodles when someone is celebrating her/his birthday as a sign of wishing for long life. I guess you can imagine how our convo went.

Me: Yes, Ma?
Mom: I was wondering why you haven't called all day. Anything wrong there?
Me: No, Ma. We're good. Just sleeping in most of the day because it's such a lazy afternoon.
Mom: Did you and the little girl eat pancit already?
Me: Pancit? What for Ma?
Mom: It's Tatang's birthday, remember?
Me: Yes of course I remember, but Mom, long life... when he's gone????
Mom: It doesn't matter. Just eat pancit. (super serious tone in her voice)
Me: Okay Mom, I'll have Gie buy instant pancit from the store.
Mom: Good. Okay, talk to you later, bye.

Love you Mom!

Happy 67th Birthday Tatang!

I wish you long life... by God's side. I love and miss you so much.

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Happy birthday Lacy!!!!

A very dear friend is celebrating her sweet 16th (lol) birthday today.

I met Lacy online through a (supposedly) baby/kid-oriented site. We've been friends for almost a year and a half now, and although both of us are no longer members of that site, we still keep in touch almost every day through FB though.

Hey Lace, I know you drop by my blog often to make me moolah... so I know you'll see this.

oops sorry, that's your impostor ^^^^

here you go...

Easy on the drink Momma :)

Happy, happy, happy birthday!

We love you so much and from the bottom of MY heart, thank you for everything. (I wish it would make you cry, but I know it'll take more than that lololol)

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She sang!

It's my brother-in-law's birthday today. He's 30. I can't believe how time flies, he was just 15 when hubz and I met. Yeah, yeah, I'm pretty old now.

I called him on the phone to greet him and even though it was his birthday, he sang the full birthday song for me. He's such a sweet kid, really. Kid because he's a special child and we love him so much. Even though he's like 5 foot 7, he will always have this aura of innocence in him.

Anyway, while he was singing, my daughter comes up to me and starts singing too. I didn't know she could sing the birthday song so I was really, really, surprised. She just suddenly sang Ha-be-be to you.. Ha-be-be to you..

I couldn't resist and just grabbed my phone to record it. I hope I find a way to upload an audio file on here so I can let you hear her. I'm so proud of my little girl. Can't believe she can pick that up on her own at her age of 21-months.

Wish me luck in finding a way... please do check back in a while :)

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Happy birthday Paolo!

Happy, happy 7th birthday to my one and only nephew
Ray Paolo!
We love you so much!!!
Be a good boy always.

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Happy 2nd Birthday Jazz!

My daughter and I would like to greet
Jazzirei (Jazz)
a very, very
happy 2nd birthday!!

We are wishing you good health and lots of happiness. We love you sooooo much! Hope to see you all three soon!

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Happy birthday Maay!

Happy birthday to my cousin (and my daughter's godmother) Maay
from SF! We love you so much and

Congratulations to you and soon-to-be-daddy Neil! Hope you're enjoying your pregnancy!

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Happy Birthday Jeck!

Happy, happy birthday to my brother-in-law
Jeck!!!

We really appreciate all your help. Thanks for always "saving" us during times of emergencies! Good luck and we love you.

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Happy birthday Myla!

A very, very happy birthday to my good friend Waterfals' pretty and loving wife

Myla U.-P.

... and congratulations on the house warming.

My heartfelt thanks for taking care of our dear 'ol friend and wishing you more happiness (if that's possible) and success in life. Oh, and lots of little Waters and Mylas. Hope to meet you soon!

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She's 18 months TODAY!!

Time flies so fast when you're having fun.

My little one will turn 18 months today, well at exactly 1836h. I can hardly believe she grew up so fast on me! I am so proud of my little princess. I "delivered" her into this world but she gave birth to me.

Happy 18th month birthday little miss prissy!! :D We love you so much!

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