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!!!

Little Lambs in Gymboree

Now that school is out and summer is in we have decided to spend the whole April in Iloilo City with my parents. It is actually hitting five birds with just one stone. First bird, it has been a long standing request from my parents and now we are giving them ample time to be with Elle Marie. Second bird, it is my father's 55th birthday on April 6 and he wants the family to be complete on that date. Third bird, I am in dire need of a good yaya! hence, we are taking this opportunity to interview a couple of applicants in Iloilo and bring with us back to Manila. Fourth bird, Noy is leaving for San Francisco on the third week of April, I need help with Elle. Fifth bird, I deserve a good rest from Elle. Don't get me wrong, I love taking good care of my daughter but with all the cooking, house cleaning, laundry and parties to attend with Elle?! I need a break!Just like Elle Marie, her friends Lili and Max are also leaving for the summer. Lili is going to Thailand with her Mom to visit her grand parents. While, Max is going to Singapore (also to visit his grandparents). Since, everybody is leaving we decided to do a "sending off" playdate for the kids in Gymboree. We also invited their classmates Cyro, Lucas and Finn.Unfortunately, Max got sick this morning and was not able to join us. Cyro and Lucas came with their yayas. We fetched Cyro from their place and as soon as he entered the car, he screamed "Hello Elle Marie" but Elle was too sleepy to reply (she was not feeling well) Cyro added "Elle Marie's car"! Haha I am so amazed with Cyro's energy and vocabulary. I wish for the day to come that I hear Elle also talk the same way.

The kids had a great time. Even my sleepy Elle Marie was not able to resist jumping off the romps with her friends. I know that they will miss each other this summer. I can't wait for May so that we can have a playdate again with Elle's friends.

Island Cove Playdate

Today, the gang went to Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park in Bacoor, Cavite. It is a nice place to rest and play with friends. They have a kiddie pool where the kids can ran and play; a zoo complete with the basic animals that kids would want to see; a "fishing village" where they can catch fish if they like, eat and just relax. We availed their "day tour" package worth P600 where you can swim in the pool, enter the zoo, ride the horse for 30 minutes, free souvenir photo, lunch coupon worth P200. Good deal right?
The idea of going to Island Cove actually came up after our Fontana, Clark trip with Irene, Sean and Stan. We were thinking of a good place to bring our kids for the summer when I remembered Island Cove. Island Cove is very familiar to me. Noy and I had our "official honeymoon" there courtesy of Ms. Norlinda Buhay who used to be the general manager of Island Cove and an officer of Cavite Chamber. She gave us an all expense paid overnight accommodation in the hotel inside Island Cove, free entrance to the pool area and zoo plus P1000 worth of lunch.

After doing some research on Island Cove's latest packages, I immediately sent the package proposal to Irene. I also sent the proposal to Sharon and Jina because I know that they are also looking for a not-too-long drive, good place to go to with the kids. It happened so fast. I sent the files to them Wednesday, we met in Toddlers Thursday and Jina said Peter wanted to go because he is sick of all the malls they go to during weekend. Sharon also said they are joining. Hence, we decided to go today! This is the part i love about our group. No need for long preparations, no "arte', no drama, no antayan. As long as the basic requirements are there , go!

So off we went to Island Cove... Nicholas decided to join us today. Its good because the kids miss him already. He came in with his mom. A really cool mom! She drives her very big and long van like a pro. She just strapped Nicholas on the car seat at the back of the van and drive. We even saw her talking on the phone while driving! Really cool! How I wish I have her confidence and coolness!

The kids love the pool. They ran and ran and ran!!! When we transferred to the fishing village for lunch, the kids still ran and ran and ran inside our big nipa hut! It is good that they are playing with each other now. It shows that they have progressed from parallel play. It is so funny, Elle ran after Shawn while Lili and Nicholas tags along!

I love doing play dates. We get to know more of the Szabo, Lo and Nicholas' family. and more importantly, the kids get to interact with each. I can see it in my daughter's eyes that she loves playing with Shawn, Lili, Max, and Nicholas. I am happy that the kids are enjoying their play dates. I am happy that Elle has friends already.

Happy Birthday Aldie!

In adversity you gain new friends. This was true for us last November 2007.

Elle and I always maximize the children's lounge inside the old airport whenever were out on a trip. We would stay and play there while waiting for our boarding announcement. Last November 2007, we were playing inside the lounge when I noticed this mother and son pair. The son was distinct among the boys playing inside the lounge because he was wearing an id indicating his name "Aldie".

That time, I said to myself that wearing an ID is a very good thing to do for babies on travel so that just in case something happens, there's a way to identify him or her... I promised myself that time that I will buy Elle a beltbag or shoulder bag which she can carry while on travel. I can either insert the ID inside together with all our contact information or have it sticked on the bag... great idea!

The boy played with Elle. He exchaged balls with Elle and even smiled at her once! The mom kept on looking out the window and showing to the son all the planes that are taking off and landing...

When we heard the most dreaded announcement... Flight will be delayed! I don't remember how it started but the mom and I chat a little and it turned out that they are also on their way to Boracay.

The mom who turned out to be Sally approached us outside the lounge and asked how we plan to go to Boracay with the weather condition. I told her that we already called our partner in Kalibo and should the weather gets worse we will just stay in their inn. I also encouraged her to do the same since it would be very difficult to travel with a baby... and that was it.

Mike, Sally and Aldie stayed in the same inn with us in Kalibo. The next day, (with a very good weather!) we went to Boracay. Since then, we have been texting each other during special occasions. And yesterday, we went to Aldie's 3rd year birthday in Jollibee, San Joaguin!

Indeed... life is full of surprises! that is why one should always be ready with a smile!

Weekend kena Fya...

We spent the weekend at Fya's house. They just transferred from Visayas Avenue to Congressional Avenue. I like their new house. They have very tall stairs and I love climbing stairs!!!

Fya's parents are Mama and Papa's close friends too. Both her parents were classmates of papa when he was taking his masterals. Fya's mama was my Mama's guru when they were both still carrying us in their tummies! Both of them gave birth on October 2006:-) (that's me and Fya!!!)

Last Saturday, I met Fya's new friend Justin. Fya and Justin were neighbors. He is one year older than us, but he was nice to. Fya's mama set up the pool on their roofdeck. All three of us really loved the water!!!

I enjoyed the weekend... I can't wait to play with Fya and Justin again... I wonder when Mama and Papa will bring me there again...

-Elle Marie Oplas