Missing Trick or treat 2009

I can’t believe I missed Elle Marie’s trick or treat in school this year! Worse, I can’t believe Noy did not go to Toddlers Unlimited to document this memorable activity in Elle Marie’s life. Worst, we relied too much on our yaya and Noy’s cellphone camera to do everything for us and look at what happened?! Poor quality photos!

Should I blame the GREAT Women project for scheduling the Project Steering Committee meeting today? Should I blame Noy for his poor time management? Should I blame myself for not having enough savings to buy a new digicam?! Should I blame Lucy for not knowing how to get good photos of Elle Marie?

All I want to do is be with Elle Marie. Witness and document everything for her because I know that ten years from now, she will not be able to remember everything. She will not remember the efforts that we put into every event like this just for her. She will not remember how it is to be a ballerina and go trick or treating.

I never got to do trick or treating my whole life. Trick or treating was an unknown concept back then when I was 3 and in Iloilo. I never got to be a ballerina my whole life. I wanted to be one but never got to because of my hernia. Now that all of these are coming into reality through Elle Marie, I can’t believe I am just listening to Lucy (Elle Marie’s yaya) recount how Elle Marie had a great time with her classmates.

But, this is life… I have work to do, people to train (how to take good photos) resources to acquire. I know Elle Marie will understand... I know that in time I will find the heart to forgive myself...

Yes, this is life...

KL-Singapore Day Two: Doing Weekend Market the Malaysian way

Here in the Philippines, I normally don't bring Elle Marie with me to the market but since we were in Kuala Lumpur and would like to experience the city, i took her to the weekend market in _________________ .

It is not a regular market in KL because it only opens with a limited stall every Sunday. We noticed that most of the customers were caucasians/ foreign looking and learned that this market is like the "Salcedo Weekend Market" in Makati that caters to expats living within the Makati Central Business District. They have shawls, bags, food, fruits, vegetables and almost everything you can find in a typical market in Manila.

As a self confessed Pinoy window shopper, we ended up not buying anything except for food. I kept on converting everything that I fancy to Philippine Peso and thought that it is cheaper to buy in Baclaran or Divisoria plus, I don't have to carry anything with me all the way from KL-Singapore and back to the Manila! Noy bought corn for Elle Marie which she immediately consumed! I tasted it... ummm no difference actually from the P25 we buy from the manong in the street in Manila.

KL-Singapore Day Two: A visit to the Petronas Towers

One cannot say that they have been to Kuala Lumpur without visiting the famous 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers, the world's tallest twin structure. Of course, it was the first in Elle Marie's itinerary.

It was a lazy day. Elle Marie woke up late, went to Central Mall for a quick shopping, had lunch and slept at the crowded Suria Shopping Complex. In short, she was able to see the Petronas Twin Towers but was not able to go up the towers! Nevertheless, having a photo opportunity with the Twin Towers was enough. It was difficult though. It was so sunny. And, in the absence of a real digicam we only used our nokia cellphone camera which was difficult because the twin towers were really tall and would not fit our cellphone camera.

An anecdotal note: while taking a photo of Elle Marie with the Petronas Twin Tower, an arab looking guy approached us and asked if he may have a photo with Elle Marie. Shocked but flattered, we allowed him to have a photo with Elle Marie and Papa. Noy and I were unsure whether the guy mistaken Elle Marie as a malaysian because of the skirt she was wearing but we contented ourselves with thinking that maybe the guy thought Elle Marie is very cute and worth the photo opp:-)

KL-Singapore Day One: Three countries in one day...

Elle Marie in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3

Who can say that they have conquered three countries in one day? Elle Marie can!

Today, Elle Marie was able to visit three countries in one day. Her starting point is the Philippines where she boarded a Cebu Pacific airplane on the way to Singapore. From Singapore, she took the Jet Star airplane to Kuala Lumpur! Three countries in one day...

Elle Marie with Mama and Papa in Changi Airport Terminal 1, Singapore

This is not Elle Marie's first international trip but her first time to visit Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Elle Marie's papa has a week long conference in Singapore and the family decided to visit Uncle Bryan in KL on their way to Singapore. It was also Elle Marie's mama first time to go to KL so both the mom and daughter tandem were really excited for the visit.

Elle Marie and Papa in Kuala Lumpur Internatinal Airport, Malaysia

Both Mama and Elle Marie were overwhelmed by the sizes of the airports in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. They have trains inside the terminals, walkalators and playgrounds! How they wish, we also have those things in the Philippines.

Preparing an Elmo birthday party just for Elle Marie!

Every October 2, I really take some time off just to think about how Elle Marie will celebrate her next birthday. Funny huh?! Friends call me "stage mom", others "schools best and worst friend", and some tag me as plain OC, idle mom...

This year, again my OC-ness proved to be VERY helpful because I was not expecting to take on a full-time job one month before Elle Marie's birthday. Good thing I am focused and has planned way ahead... SEE? There is beauty in being a stage and OC mom after all!

They say that a child undergo stages in her life... There was a time that Elle Marie loves Barney. She had a "Barney" themed birthday party last year! We took Barney with us to Bangkok, Hongkong and Singapore! Elle Marie also underwent Hi Five-> Iced Age -> Madagascar and the list goes on and on... This year, it is Elmo. It all started with the Elmo DVDs that she watches the whole day... and there's that Elmo song that she sings the whole day! It goes like this.. "Elmo loves his Mama, Elmo loves his Papa, Elmo loves... you" Then Tita Nene bought her two sets of Elmo DVDs (with 3 dvds inside) and the whole Sesame gang (Elmo, Grover, Bert and Ernie)... While, Mama bought her Elmo bag... In short, it is just too obvious that Elle Marie LOVES Elmo and that she should celebrate her 3rd year birtday the Elmo way!
Elle Marie is so lucky to be surrounded by people who truly loves her. Lola Moyette bought her Elmo giveaways! Tita Nene bought her elmo attire that she will wear for her party! Tita Bebe took time off from work and helped pack her elmo goodies! Papa was the financer and driver at the same time:-) Lola Marlyn prepared elmo lollipops! Of course Mama, was the master mind amidst her work load!

Today is October 2. Today marks the first day of preparation for Elle Marie's 4th year birthday party!

Panic buying... on Elle Marie's bday!

Today, October 1 is Elle Marie's actual birthday day. Since Elle Marie already had her grand celebration yesterday in school and in Greenbelt with friends, we decided to take the day off. I went to work just like any ordinary weekday while Elle Marie spends her day with Tita Bebe since it is her day off.

In the evening, we decided to "panic buy" for the arrival of super typhoon pepeng and visited the newly opened Hypermart. We bought only the basics Elle Marie's milk, chichria, fruits, and vegetables. While Tita Nene bought beauty products:-) Everybody was busy doing their grocery!!!You can see in everyone's look that they are thinking about typhoon Pepeng!

Today, Elle Marie wishes that the Philippines we spared from the wrath of typhoon Pepeng. A lot have not recovered yet from the damage of Ondoy and everyday our heart cries to the thousands of fellow Filipinos, especially babies and kids that are still in the evacuation centers.

Everyday, we thank God for sparing us and most of our love ones from Ondoy. God is good all the time!