Kids say the darndest things

Because my kuya and his wifey are away, I made sure to drop by and hang out with the kids. Highlight of my day! (Btw, my brothers are just going everywhere! Germany for Oktoberfest, Rio for Carnival, Africa, the Caribbean...meanwhile, I didn't even get to leave the country last year! Boo!)

So anyway, I love talking to kids because it is endlessly amusing. I'm all about the Socratic method because I think kids can have such interesting answers! Case in point, H's niece (one of our flower girls), Caity. This three-year-old seems so much older than her actual age. Some snippets:

Caity: I'll show you my flowers! (takes my hand and leads me to their sampaguita plant)
Me: Do you want to see a baby flower? (I point to a bud)
Caity: Ooh.
Me: Do you know what happens to a baby flower?
Caity: It opens and turns into a mama flower!

~*~*~*~

(Caity was playing with her new toy unicorn)
Me: What do unicorns eat?
Caity: (pause) Hay.
Me: Ahh. Where do unicorns live?
Caity: Umm...
Me: Do they live in a stable? In a forest? In a cave?
Caity: It liveth in an enchanted foretht!
Me: What do unicorns do?
Caity: It hath magic!
Me: What kind of magic? Does it fly?
Caity: (rolling her eyes and holding the unicorn up to my face) It doethn't have wingth!
(Kulang na lang may "Hello?"!)

~*~*~*~

This evening, I was with my two sweethearts (or "sweetie pies"--Diego corrects me whenever I say "sweetie"), three-year-old Diego and two-year-old Marga. I nearly had a heart attack watching them jump off things, and will probably have a sore back tomorrow after serving as their trampoline. But it is absolute joy just spending time with them--when they're in a good mood! Tonight's gems:

(Introducing me to their horsies)
Diego: This is Mister Diego!
Marga: (showing her horse) Mister Marga!

~*~*~*~

(After they ran around barefoot)
Me: Diego, look at your feet. Yak. What color are they?
Diego: Black!
(Marga was showing me her blue and green Tinkerbell nightgown)
Me: Marga, what color is Tinkerbell?
Marga: Black!

~*~*~*~

Me: Bye-bye na, I have to go home.
Diego: Why?
Me: Because Tito Hamil is waiting for me.
Diego: When the sun is out tomorrow, you wake up then go to my house.

~*~*~*~

Me: (singing to Marga who literally watches Cinderella 3 ten times a day!) Salagadula, menchikabula...
Marga: Badada badada booo!!!

Hahaha. That totally made my day!

Top 10 for 2009 (part 2)

And the list continues...

5. GNO girls

I miss my girls! And my small waist! But not the stress that produced it.

The night was legend--wait for it--ary! My girls just gave me a night (stretching until sunrise) of fun, fun, fun! It was a rockin' way to bid my single life adieu! Jo, my reflective, creative, unbelievably intelligent friend, with whom I can have such meaningful, mind-blowing conversations. Mottie, my gorgeous gorgeous NY partner in crime. Chingy, my BFF--need I say more?

When I imagine what kind of friendships I might have thirty years from now, I think of Mamma Mia! and am quite convinced that that's the kind of friendship I would have with these ladies--jumping off piers in Greece, and just giving life and each other great big hugs!

4. Mads

My dress by Mads, of course!

What would I do without Mads? She is my soul sister, the one who never judges me, the one whose family has adopted me! Whenever I wonder if I'm a bad person, I try not to be too hard on myself and attempt to see myself through Mads's eyes. This pure-hearted angel always sees the best in people. Pancake House is my happy place, but her house--filled with the warmth of her family and the deliciousness of their food--is a very close second! I am ecstatic that 2009 was a milestone year for her as well, with her engagement to my soon-to-be brother-in-law. Mads deserves every happiness that this world has to offer.

3. Marie and Tata

Only pic I could find for now. That's me, Tata (center), and Marie (beside me) with the fabulous Preview girls.

The charmed ones. My two-man wedding committee. They helped me make decisions (not an easy task when the decision-making involves wedding details, mind you) and, more importantly, served and continue to serve as my nonwedding-related personal cheerleaders. From them, I get good vibes, lots of positive energy, great conversations, and plenty of laughs. And, in Marie's case, gorgeous makeup. When she remembers. Haha. (Sorry Marie, I couldn't resist! You know I love you.)

2. My mom

My beautiful mother with my sweetheart of a niece (she was in her Snow White phase when this was taken)

Being married is awesome, but what do I miss most about my past life? Or, more appropriately, who do I miss most? My mother. If it hadn't been for her, our wedding probably would have been delayed, more expensive, and more stressful. When H was away and I slept over at their place, she had packs of Moo stashed in the fridge for me. She sometimes sweetly asks me if I need our trusty driver Lolito. She is one of the kindest, most loving people that anyone would ever be lucky to meet, and I am immensely blessed that she is my mom! (The rest of my family rocks, too!)

1. Man of the Year: My husband

Our first Christmas as husband and wife. A very merry Christmas, indeed!

Of course!

What can I say that I haven't said before? That, even though I didn't think it was possible, he's an even better husband than he was a boyfriend? That every night, I relish sleeping beside him, and that every morning, it is absolute joy waking up next to him? That it makes me teary-eyed (case in point: um, now) just thinking about how deeply I love him? That I want to spend my whole life thanking God for blessing me with such a wonderful partner?

In fact, I want to spend my whole life thanking God for surrounding me with such amazing souls. (Miguel, that includes you. Haha.) Every person on this list has touched my life--in 2009 and even in years before that. And there are many more people who may not be on the list, but who are constantly in my prayers. To my family, friends, all the people I hold dear--thank you!

An unforgettable November

November 2008 is just chock full o' highlights, but the number one highlight, undoubtedly is...

Me, with happy tears, and my hot fiance right beside me

Getting engaged! Come on, people, what could possibly top that this year? It's most likely THE highlight of 2008!

Of course, there were a couple of other things that sure made this month truly one for the books:

The Warriors joined their first international tournament, Manila Spirits 2008. We were seeded at the bottom (no exag here), being the most inexperienced team, but we clawed our way up three spots by the end of it! We won all our games on the last day! Woohoo!

Here we are with the first international team we ever played with, Team Japan!
(Click photo to enlarge!)

It was awesome playing with Team Japan, who awarded MVP shirts to Sarah and Ian on the first day. On the second day, they gave shirts to me and Czar! Woohoo! I gave my black-and-white racerback jersey to Yoko in exchange. I didn't play particularly well, I was probably given the shirt coz I was nice to Yoko. Haha. But I did score a couple of times during the tourney I think. And I even had a "double happiness" play--a layout block converted to a point. Yay!

We also stayed to watch the totally awesome finals game: Team Pilipinas vs. Black Flag. And Team Pilipinas emerged victorious! Congrats to them, they worked so hard!

And of course, the last major highlight of the month: New York, baby! The trip I thought of on a whim some months back has finally become a reality. Ahh, New York--the sights, the sounds, the FOOD, and best of all, my family!

Reunited with Kuya Vic, Gedo, Ate Udes, and Carlos (click photo to enlarge!)

It is gonna be so damn hard to leave.

But hey, I've got a fiance waiting back home!

New York, New York

...and I don't mean Cubao, yo!

I've been here five days and I'm still jetlagged! Hassle!

Highlights:

Being reunited with my relatives again. I especially missed my sort-of big bro, Kuya Vic (my uber-protective cousin). It's been so cool just catching up with him. I feel like I could tell him anything, and it's nice that he's constantly checking in on me. A little frustrating sometimes, but touching for the most part, knowing that someone cares about me that much.

Funny convo:

Me: I'm engaged!
Kuya Vic: What? What are you doin' gettin' married? You're 12!

With Kuya Vic, one of my most favorite people ever

It's also funny how we're now fodder for Glen Cove gossip! We've been out a few times, just the two of us, and in their area, everyone pretty much knows everyone. One night, the two of us were waiting for Chinese takeout. He had his arm around me and their cleaning lady walked in. She really couldn't look at us! I guess she thought he was stepping out on his wife! (P.S. The wife found this story hilarious!) He intro'd me, as usual, as his "little cousin" but she still looked a bit weirded out. Haha.

Met up with college friend King, who took me to Cupcake Cafe, Shake Shack, DB Bistro Moderne...all of which I shall write about in my food blog. We also went to Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center), which supposedly offers a better view of New York than the top of the Empire State Building.

A view of the Empire State Building from the Top of the Rock. It was mighty windy up there! Brrr!

The highlight of this highlight: I finally got to go to MOMA to see the painting I've been waiting 10 years to see: Van Gogh's Starry Night. My English prof Doreen Fernandez intro'd it to me freshman year, and it had been my mission to see it up close and personal since I first saw a postcard of it. The last time I was in NY, MOMA was under renovation, and this particular painting was in transit to the temporary location. I thought I wasn't going to be able to see it again this time since there were special timed tickets to the Van Gogh exhibit, and they had run out by the time we got there! But we got in line anyway, and the guy just let us in! Woohoo!

Thanksgiving, my tita was tamad to cook, so we ended up eating at a Chinese resto. Haha. Afterwards, my bro and I met up with my cousin Ate Udes and my nephew Gedo and we just went to the city, and took touristy pics at Times Square. Today, we went to Wall Street, rode the Staten Island ferry just to get a better look at the Statue of Liberty, had lunch at Little Italy, paid homage to Joey Ramone, and went on my bro's "one-dollar tour" of the Met!

Token turista shot at Times Square with Ate Udes, Carlos, and Gedo (who's in NY for the first time!). Wala na 'yung iconic Cup Noodles!

No, I haven't gone clubbing, nor do I intend to (sorry, Yog). I'm happy enough just spending time with the people that matter, and eating my way through New York! (And I've got the chunky arms to prove it. Daymn.) Will update again soon!

Weekend warrior

Date with the BFF
Chingy and I were supposed to watch Mamma Mia! but the screening time we were after was sold out! We ended up having dinner with her co-workers, then heading to Serendra for some cupcakes. H dropped by for a bit since he was in the area, but for the most part, it was quality time with the best friend. We just ate and talked about stuff we normally can't talk about around other people. Haha. We called it a night at 1:00 am though coz I had to get up early for...

Feeling hot, hot, hat
...my first hat tournment! Woohoo! It was oooodles of fun. Leah, Mike, JM, and I were all put on one team, together with another Mike, Christian, Anna, Eng, a couple of guys from BC, a couple of college kids, a middle-aged dude named Cacho with the sickest throws ever, and later on, Kat V and Candy. I think all four of us scored. Mike played awesome, and I think I played relatively well, scoring a few points, except in the second game. Which we lost. Boo!

Oh, we made it to the championship--which we won! Yay!

Part of my personal highlight reel was Christian's hammer throw from mid-field. Looking at the disc hurtling towards me, I was like, "You gotta be kidding me." But I caught it, so yay! Later on, Christian was very Jaguar Po-like in saying that he couldn't resist throwing it since I was open. The instructions I kept receiving from him and from Cacho that day: "Takbo ka lang ha?" Proved effective a couple of times.

Funny conversation on the field:
(Guy from opposing team catches disc at end zone)
Candy: In or out?
Guy: Line.
Candy: Eh di out 'yon.
Guy: In pala.

Acheche.

Den of sin
The family basketball game was called off on account of rain, so some of the grownups just played mahjong, while the rest of us played poker! I was supposed to go to a party, but decided to stay home and spend some quality time with my relatives.

Iggy taught us how to play, and some people partnered up so we could have 10 "players" (there were over a dozen people in the cramped poker room). Hilarious how Kuya Roji and Ate Bing could read their kids--hence, they were cleaning up! The plan was to let Kuya Roji's mom play so that she could take their money. Haha.

My bro and I were survivors that night. Whenever our stash would dwindle to a few measly chips, we would win. At some point, the two of us faced off, the last two standing after everyone else folded. He went all in, and when I called it, he said, "Talaga?!" Sure, why not? It was fake money anyway. Haha. I had a pair six...and he had a pair seven! Damn. I was out. Headed to the kitchen for ice cream. Two of my nieces, depressed over losing all their fake money so early in the game, followed. Mmm ice cream. I got four flavors of Big Scoop for my ice-cream-crazed fam: Vanilla, Strawberry Fields (which I got especially for birthday girl Dawn), Mint Chocolate Chip (which my godson had three scoops of...and seconds), and Midnight Cookies n' Cream. Tita Au brought Rocky Road as well.

Plus we had two kinds of cake!

Bowled over
I spent most of Sunday at home. I wanted to do a bit of cleaning, but was entirely too comfortable being a couch potato. In the evening, my mom, H, and I again joined the relatives at the Eastwood bowling alley. We took up a grand total of six lanes--and we still had to wait for our turn! (We rented a total of 25 pairs of shoes.) I scored the lowest in the adult pool but whatever. No money involved--fake or otherwise!

With the kids...

...With the grownups. I think I am somewhere in between. Hehe.

Afterwards, we hung out at a coffee shop and ate some more. Good weekend!

(P.S. The jeans that were loose a couple of weeks ago are now a perfect fit. Haha. Must stop all this reckless eating.)

Aaaaah!

I am so smitten with this kid. It's my niece Marga and I just want to bite her! Or play "bilangin ang tali sa braso." Hahaha.