Invitation Set to a Harry Potter Party

I am cramming.

But anyway, here's the invitation set for our son's Harry Potter-inspired birthday party :)


main invite (edited Harry Potter movie poster)


envelope flap sticker


insert 1


Dazo Hall Map (also printed: written directions how to get there)

A First Attempt

Because I am having serious PMS issues... and my son is more handful than usual, i'll just post here my first attempt in coming up with a Daily Prophet.

Of course, only Potterheads can really appreciate this one.


click here to enlarge

I actually enjoyed doing this... had to make it using Photoshop though because I intend to have it printed at my former office, where I can't really install new fonts or other programs that easily (but they do have these double-A4 size paper, and the printers to print on those).

I'm hoping I can pepper the guest tables with these. :)

First Family Day

Family day was supposedly Sunday (the 22nd) but I wasn't aware of that. Anyway, aside from begging hubs for a date, I also wrangled a Family Day for us. See, usually we'd go to the mall for errands or attend birthday parties or other events, but we've never went out just to bond as a family too (not that we don't bond at home, or play in bed at night, or have mornings in, but you know what I mean). So Saturday, we went to the Manila Ocean Park for one.

Did Yakee enjoy the fishes? Not really. He did run after an orange one in the walkway that was going back and forth, but my son was more interested in jumping into the aquariums/pool or playing by the ramps and siderails and stairs. Good thing he was allowed to enter free eventhough he exceeded the 2 feet limit.
















notice the orange fish at the right,
that's the one Yakee kept running after


So where was Yakee happiest? At the play area, of course, where he also happily yelled "Weeeeeee" whenever he gets off the slide.





Now... if only Pappie would really let Yakee drive, his day would be complete :)



*~*
Review and pictures of Manila Ocean Park (forgive us, we only brought S2 and not Hedwig the DSLR)
Our Family Day gallery

Creative Award

Thanks to Sheryl and Janesse for this lovely award :)

The rules are:
* The winner may put the logo on his or her blog.
* Put a link to the person you got the award from.
* Nominate five blogs.
* Put links to the blogs.
* Leave a message to the nominees.

I am passing this lovely tag to Laya, Meldita, Jovie, Jeng and Meng :)

Not Into Dinos Just Yet

Brought Yakee to the Dinosaur Exhibit at Robinson's Place Manila last Friday. Sure, he was engrossed by one of the dinos there, with a moving head, but other than that, he was more preoccupied by the ropes cordoning off the exhibited from the spectators.


mesmerized by ropes


amazing that he actually allows
himself to be strapped to his umbroller


with Tita Ninang


with Mommy


so cute and wawa... falling asleep in the umbroller
while Mommy was buying blizzard from DQ

First Starbucks Date

Can you believe that after all these years, hubs and I only managed our first ever Starbucks date today?

Well, actually, there was this one time when I was still preggy that we hung out at Stabucks too, but that was not for dating reasons. Usually, we get our sinful frappes to go or hubs brings me some as pasalubong.

Anyway, out of the blue, I asked hubs to take me out on a date. So after grocery shopping with my sis, cousin and Yakee and having dinner, we brought them all home before heading to a Starbucks coffee shop in U.N. Avenue.

And although we mostly talked about Yakee and personal concerns we're going through (my struggles with my studies and his concerns and low morale at work), it really made me giggly happy to just have that hour and a half of alone time with him for bonding. We also appreciated the date very much because it made us realize how far we've come (I mean, we certainly didn't have the money for such expensive drinks back in college!).

I was so happy I didn't complain anymore that the barista messed up my drink (he/she forgot to put choco chips in my cream chip drink, which left me unable to get the fix the drink gives me).

I'm in love. And I validated that hubs is also as in love (esply since I was wearing a plunging neckline dress, wehehe). But however beautiful that short time away was, we were also still happy to come home and be greeted by our smiling son.

*~*

The father and son that walks the treadmill together... make for a nice video moment :)




It's a pity really that I never got to take a video of Yakee crawling on the treadmill when he was much younger, and learning to actually keep his balance by walking on it but supporting his upper half with both hands, also on the treadmill.

Party Preparing

Because I want Yakee's costume to be made already, and his loot bags and what-not ready before time, and because I was avoiding Christmas shoppers in Divisoria, I opted to go asap.

I still haven't itemized it but I may have gone over-budget on some of the things. It sucked having to buy game prizes when you don't know how many minor and major ones you need. Hmmpf. Plus, there isn't much Harry Potter merchandise available... even Halloween stuff are overwhelmed by Christmas stuff.

But anyway...


I couldn't help myself, I just had to buy witches hats eventhough am not sure if the girls' heads are big enough already for them. Well, at least I could don one too. The satin fabrics on the right are for Yakee's costume. I bought chess sets (Wizard's Chess), puzzles, bubbles, crayon erasers, pencil cases, stickers, mini white boards, that whistle something that rolls out, poppers, glow sticks and a pumpkin.


love these pencil toppers! I thought of putting them inside the loot bags wth the water snakes but I think i'd still use them as prize. Have to buy pencils for them (the ones in Divi are printed with characters kasi). The Gringotts wizard is so cute :)


the good thing about my son's party effects is that we can also use them for trick or treating this Halloween... and isn't it obvious he's all set?


Have to return for the Gryffindor patches I had made in Recto this coming Saturday... and maybe finish the tarpaulin layout. Now, can I still really do Daily Prophet layouts? Hmm...

*~*

I know... career! :)

Good luck to them

Hubs' cousin has just recently gotten married and they are torn between buying their own place (they are currently renting a condo) or investing in a vacation home. Since they're from New Jersey, I directed them to a website about Sea Isle City rentals which I found while surfing the web.

It is a very helpful site, offering search possibilities that take into consideration the duration of the rental, the number of bathrooms and bedrooms you want or need, your price range, and a particular street or general location you have in mind. Pretty extensive and exhaustive search, huh? Plus, they also list featured sales listings and Cape May County sales listings.

Apart from rental listings, this site also offers listings if you're buying or selling. And then all their agents are duly listed in the site too, so no need to get scammed by impostors at all. If prospective vacationers or buyers want or need it, the site also offers info like what to do at Sea Isle City or Cape May, where they should go for casinos or zoos, etc.

Am sure, that website comes up first when someone googles for "city rentals sea isle" so I guess i'd just wish them luck. Hopefully, I was able to help them come up with a decision.

Weather Talk

It is hot again, which reminds me of the Bell House in Camp John Hay , where Electric Fires can be found in every bedroom. Or they could be gas fires, I really did not check with the guide. Anyway, I cannot help but miss the Baguio climate in times like these, although the heat is a reprieve from several days of rains really.

I heard they are building an exclusive village at Camp John Hay. Too bad, really, since they'd be cutting down pine trees which would result in a warmer climate over there. It's already hard to imagine that Baguio used to really require fireplaces because zero degree temperatures was the norm there before.

And then I think of my parents in Michigan, and how September must have heralded the beginning of autumn there. And then, winter will follow, and they would be trapped again by heavy snow. And then I start worrying about how they're keeping warm, of their furnaces and heaters and whether these are working just fine, and that they're not getting sick because of the cold.

I have not asked my parents yet if they actually use their fireplace or utilize centralize heating instead. I'm also not sure if Hotprice.co.uk, a leading fireplace manufacturer in the United Kingdom, has some sort of counterpart in Detroit which services the care home where my parents stay.

I actually don't know much about fireplaces (except maybe the crude assumption that you just throw in logs into one, and there had better be a chimney where the smoke can come out) and don't really know how such can work without spreading soot in one's home. I just came across Hotprice.co.uk while browsing the net one time and was intrigued by its prize match guarantee. Well, maybe I should ask my uncle (who is on a renovating frenzy) if he is planning to replace the gas fires in his home. Maybe I could direct him to the Hotprice site so he'd at least be guided?

And then I smile when I try to imagine the british royals stoking their own fire, which of course they wouldn't ever do because somebody is sure to have that job already.

Party Planning Updates

And so, I cram.

So far, I have really only booked the venue, the photographer, the caterer and the cake. And yes, we've bought the giveaways as early as June. And true, we're getting Jacque to make the balloon decor since she's invited to the party anyway.

But other than these things, nada.

But I am planning to book our entertainment, sound system and ice cream supplier within the week, as well as buy the materials needed for my son's costume. The invites? I'm still torn as to what form it will take (scroll, Daily Prophet paper, generic invite, digiscrapped invite, etc). I also cannot make my mind up yet on what to put on the tarp. And I don't have money anymore for the guest book idea I wanted.

(oh, we have the secret ingredient to the drinks we're serving too, thanks to future SIL)

Re the cake... we just opted for a cheaper sheet cake from Red Ribbon but we're ordering an Alex Franco cake we'd enjoy on Yakee's real birthday. Hehe.

So as not to go way over budget, I am forgoing the sandwich station already (so yeah, the guests will miss my yummy spreads) to keep the dessert bar. And we're turning to local party suppliers (in the South) instead of importing from QC to avoid the extra charges.

Thanks to my parents, the candies have started arriving which i'll just repack.

I still need to buy prizes though.

And Jacque and I really have to tresh out the decor issue because our venue is sporting a new coat of paint, and decor guidelines aren't out yet.

Meanwhile, SIL is already decorating the caps our ninang sent for Yakee's birthday. It's not in motif but I think the kids will like it anyway.

Oh and now, I am also rationalizing our guest list. It's really a max of 100 adults and 30 kids. But things have started to look up, because it seems Yakee will have a wonderful party after all :)

How's Your Marriage?

I have to be honest... hubs and I aren't doing three things that experts advise are really important to keeping the marriage solid.

We don't have regular date nights (nay, we haven't even gone on a date for a long time now).

We don't have regular dialogues about our marriage and family.

We haven't consulted with a counselor for some sort of objective monitoring and guidance.

But we do try to touch base as much as we can, even if the conversations are mainly about Yakee. And after a hectic week at work, he takes the initiative to skip on gimmicks just to spend time with us, or I gently remind him.

Yes, sometimes at the expense of ME time for the both of us.

We try our best to have dinner together most nights of the week, to talk about the mundane and the trivial and what happened that day. And when serious things bother us, I wait for him to get home and we talk about it. If one of us needs a hug, we text beforehand that we need one so the other would know. Plus, we hug and kiss and make landi a lot during the day.

A sad day is us not being able to talk.

So, although there are things we could do to improve our marriage, we are agreed that ours is still a generally happy one. We even fight less now, mainly because I have mellowed (or don't have the energy anymore) and Yakee is there to distract us and demand from us. Dynamics really change when you have kids... and it really teaches you to choose your battles. We still get royally annoyed with each other sometimes but I think we've also gone a long way in communicating our grievances without having to jump down the other's throat.

So yeah... I can say our marriage is great. We're still blessed.

*~*

I am writing this because a friend of ours had a sort of breakdown and is threatening to separate from his wife. This made Jojo and I realize all the more how important it is to:

1) do what you really want to be doing, career-wise
2) be vigilant about communicating
3) manage your stress

We trust in this couple's love... and we hope they do the same so that their love can find a way.

11 Months so 1 Month More

Sigh.

One more month and we'd have a one-year old in our hands. Already, he's developing in leaps and bounds, it's already hard to track all the little things he's learned for the day.

He still stumbles and falls a lot, but all of those hasn't deterred him from moving forward. Unlike other kids, he's not scared to explore his surroundings. And unless it's hot, he's sleepy or hungry, he's still always all smiles and mischief.




the monkey kids bonded over the weekend


Yakee and Ice doing their own stuff, one is engrossed with the TV (and taking all his toys away from Ice's reach) and Ice just learning to roll over

Last night, at a wedding, he initiated the sign language for milk. He also ate a rose. It could have been worse, he could have found a pin again (like last Saturday night, in his father's old luggage bag).

One of her ninangs calls her ROBOT KID because of the way he toddles over. But he's really gotten the hang of walking plus climbing up and down the stairs. He's actually started his first attempts at running.

He's already learned to say NO using his head.

And i'm finding it harder to leave him behind in other people's care... they're giving up on him. Hubby's siblings return him in our arms in no time, and my cousin throws tantrums when I leave him with her for hours. Hehe. Handful and spirited really do not do him justice.

We really love him so. He really makes us feel blessed. And there's nothing we want for him but the best...

Spreading the Christmas Spirit

Tagged by Janesse and Pheng.

Here's what you gotta do:

It's so simple. Copy the photo below then write your blog and your wish this Christmas 2008. Your wish has to be something PRICELESS and SELF- LESS... something that money can't buy... something that another person will treasure dearly.



1. Bits and Pieces by Jan: I wish Gino and I will be able to convince friends to help us sponsor a simple Christmas party for the children of White Cross Children's Home in San Juan.

2. The Wifey Diaries by Jannesse: My birthday falls on the 22nd of December. I have always wished to spend it with orphaned or abandoned kids. I'd be super happy to spend my birthday with them. That way, they get early Christmas presents from me. Oh, and can I wish for a baby, too? Please?

3. The Versoza Inc. by Con: I'd like to have a simple Christmas party for all the children of our employees. Times were hard on our company this 2007, but still, the Christmas Spirit should not be overpowered by it. Christmas is about family. So our Christmas party should not be for employees only, but for their families as well. Also, I wish our clan would make it a tradition to have a Christmas gift giving project. My Tita Doi started it last year with the Antipolo church children. I am looking forward to this year :)

4. Jengspeaks by Jeng: Every Christmasmtime, our group Friends Empowered to Serve would solicit money, clothes, food, etc. to give to our chosen charities such as Anawim, PGH Chilrdren's ward and the street children of Manila. This year, we hope to be able to give more and add the families along the pier in our list of recipients. We also want to give the children there a simple Christmas party with food, games and gifts.

5. life. love. family. work. travel: Christmas won't be the same again for our family this year. my eldest sister and her family is migrating to the US. a few years ago, my elder sister migrated to holland with her two kids. my ate from holland might not come home this Christmas and would probably just spend Christmas with our ate in the US. i hope and i pray wherever we are, we will still feel the spirit of Christmas within our family. i also pray that my parents won't get too much affected of this change. they're already old and i'm afraid that loneliness might affect their health. i hope my brother and i and our own families could cheer them up in the coming days and could keep the usual happy Christmas spirit in our homes.

6. Crazylovers: Am sure my hubs and I are one in our wish for a certain family to come to terms with the parents' separation, especially the wife. Plus, we also wish that our friends who have been wanting to have kids will finally be blessed and that may no one we know ever lose a child. Oh and of course, may we be blessed with another healthy child to enrich Yakee's life and keep him grounded.


I am tagging Tin, MommyBa, Laya, Haze, Cookie and Christine

Monkey Kids

BIL coined the term for them. I still haven't posted their pics from BIL's pamamanhikan last June (when we all bonded and had fun at Fontana) and their pics last July (when we bonded for my SIL's birthday).

Well... we'd all be bonding again this coming weekend for Yakee's 11th month bday. Good luck with Momsy's house again!!!



The two girls are like boys when it comes to messing things up... and my son pretty much learns fast, not just in wreaking havoc, but in annoying them by wanting the same things they're playing with. Being the youngest, he's realized he can get his way in the end.

It's also a nightmare getting them to settle down, esply since all three families sleep in the same room at MIL's.

But I doubt any of us would exchange it for the world... the cousins are having fun, and enjoying being kids together!

On Future Eulogies

Hubs' family was shaken with the bad news that one of their father's friends has passed away. Their friendship goes back around forty years and their kids grew up together and all.

We even spent last Holy Week with them in Bataan.

Anyway, Tito Rusty was cremated last Sunday and his son said in his eulogy that before, he thought that if he'd only be half the man his father was, then he'd give his father justice. But now he's realized that he should aspire to be the same or more of the man his father was because to only be half wouldn't be doing his father justice.

As I sat there listening, I realized that I want my kids to say only one thing when their father passes away (lolz, I know, morbid talk again as am still enjoying Pappie Jojo alive). I want our kids to say, "Our father loved our Mom", mainly because I want hubs to love only me (loving our kids would only be his love for me overflowing).

Hubs told me later that he wants people to say "He's a good husband and father" and for there to be no doubt in anybody's mind about it. I assured him that he's already accomplished that... that he need not even fear that he's not because he really is. I am actually more concerned that people cannot say that yet about me. I am still too short-tempered and impatient and intolerant.

But really, I hope that before I die, I do get to accomplish that... be a good wife and Mom, not just for my family, but in other people's eyes as well.