Long live Ice Age 3!!!

Yesterday, Elle Marie, Sharon, Shawn and I watched Ice Age 3, The Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Neither was it Elle Marie's first time to watch a big screen movie (the first time was "Madagascar 2) nor her first time to watch Ice Age (Bought her cds of Ice Age 1 and 2). However in preparation to this big activity, I made Elle Marie have early lunch and afternoon nap!

Elle Marie wanted to bring her stuff toy Sid and Dolly but since there will be just the two of us, I made her decide which of the two to bring. She chose Dolly:-) While waiting for the screening, Elle Marie, Dolly and I walked hand in hand, singing "where o where is shadow" and "ABC". People were looking at us because aside from our loud singing, Elle Marie and I were both wearing red stripe shirts and mini denim skirts! Hahaha feels like old Singapore days again!!!

This must be one of my happiest afternoon in my entire life... If i could only capture this afternoon in a video cam and watch it over and over and over again, I would. I am so happy with how Elle Marie showcased her vocabularies and voice!!! I was so overwhelmed that I almost cried if not for the thought of how Sharon would react if she sees me crying... haha!

From the start to the end of the movie, Elle Marie was bubbly and participative! She screamed "lion! rroooaaarrr!" at the sight of Diego; she shouted "oh no! oh no!" to every "kindda" violent scenes; she called Manny "elephant"; she screamed "diiiiii noooo saur" at the sight of rudy and momma dino; she hugged me when the three baby dino leaked sid's face (so touching); she asked "what happened?" and Shawn explained to her what happened; she giggled, laughed, smiled and sang "Twinkle twinkle little stars" when the movie was about to end... these are the things that make me proud that I am a full-time mom now.

I love Ice Age 3!!!

Happy Birthday Max!!!

Max turned 2 yesterday. He had a simple celebration at home with Elle Marie and Lili. Max and Elle Marie were very excited because it has been a long time since they last saw and played long with Lili after she transferred to another school. (Elle Marie got to play with Lili once in awhile in the park and in their new place but Max never got to) These four are inseparable! They are so comfortable with each other that I could not remember an instance that they fought over something.

It was a simple celebration. Max blew the candles on his "bread talk" cake. We had pasta, chips, and juices. The important thing is that the kids were busy playing with each other...

I allotted our whole July just for the Lo's family. It will be their last month in the Philippines because they are going back to Singapore where they are originally from. I am scheduling playdates after playdates after playdates just to make sure that the kids get good and long memories of each other. Elle Marie likes Shawn and Max a lot! Shawn was like a big brother to her. I remember one playdate in Gymboree- Manila Polo Club, Shawn was giving her instructions and she followed everything he said! For sure, Elle Marie will miss the two beautiful Lo boys.

No need to mention but I will definitely miss Sharon. Since I became a full-time mom in July last year, Sharon and Jina has been my constant "buddies"; my source of encouragements and information about anything under the sun! There were times that I almost gave up but they were there to comfort me and give me "logical" solutions to my (at times) petty problems.

I guess this is life's way of telling me that hey! Ella! wake up... everybody is going "global"! It's good to have new multi-national friends, you will learn a lot from them. Yes sooner or later, they will have to leave the Philippines just like your other good friends who headed to "greener pasture". BUT no need to despair, because of "globalization" it is now very affordable to travel everywhere (I am talking about Asia)! Just look forward to visiting Sharon this October in Singapore:-)

Happy birthday Max! See you in October!!!

We survived the fire drill in TU!!!

This is ALPAP Building that houses TU-Makati. Alpap is a 7-storey old building along Leviste St in Salcedo Village. It also houses Starbucks, Metrobank and Freudnick Neumann Foundation among the others. This is the building where Elle Marie and I had the "fire drill" this morning.

Blame it on the epidural again but I totally forgot about the "Fire drill" in TU today! I came unprepared. I made Elle Marie wear her white keds rubber shoes which is very difficult to wear with all the shoe laces!; I didn't have breakfast hence, i didn't have the energy to carry Elle Marie from the 7th floor down to the ground floor; I wore my maong mini skirt! (which i always does); I wore my white slippers that were too big and loose for me... Good thing, Teacher Gabby reminded me that the alarm will ring in few minutes to signal the fire drill! Or else... Hahaha

So, the bell rang and off I went to the Yellow room to get Elle Marie. I decided to leave my bag in the waiting area because it was too heavy for me (I brought my laptop with me today) I bet if it was the actual thing, I wouldn't even bother to bring my bag as long as I have Elle Marie with me!!! Funny, while on our way out of TU Elle Marie picked up a red ball and she played with it the whole time we are going down the stair! There were a couple of times that I had to carry Elle Marie but the whole time she walked and held hands with me; and at times would let go from my hand and walk on her own!

Whew! Congratulations to me and Elle Marie for surviving the "fire drill" this morning!