Day 77: After-School Fun

After the week-long fourth quarter exams, the kids let off some steam, kick back their heels and enjoy a brief afternoon playing tag. Hearing the loud shrieks and screams of my two daughters made my heart leap for joy knowing that they feel so at home surrounded by their Kuya's classmates and friends. 

Day 34: Under the Covers

Kuya Jarred decides to just chill surrounded by pillows

You really have to hand it to children's imaginations whenever they are left to have fun using the simplest things. 

Right before bedtime, my three rugrats seize the opportunity to horse around for a while using pillows and bedcovers. So, take a sneak peek at what happens in our room at night...

Cutesy CeeJae plays hide-n-seek

Sweet Caitlin is on hyperdrive

Day 357: Cousin Bonding

As predicted, it was indeed utter riot and chaos once the kids met up with their cousin Eejah. Loud shrieks, laughter and pitter-patter of feet permeated throughout the house as the children made up for lost time and played as if there was no tomorrow.

It was really unfortunate for those in the graveyard shift since they couldn't catch up on needed zzzzz's during daytime as the children would keep on shouting, laughing and running around.  Well, I'm sure they'll manage eventually...LOL!

Day 355: Best buddies invade Cebu!

When we found out that Jarred's best buddy, Francis would be passing by Cebu en route to SG, we couldn't pass up the opportunity for them to meet up and enjoy some time together  before the mad rush of the holiday season. 

For a few hours they were able to spend some time playing at Timezone (which I discovered could really burn a hole in your pocket if you weren't too conscious of the card swiping thing) and the Playroom. Even youngsters Caitlin, CeeJae and their cousin Eejah had a swell time with Kuya's BFF.

Day 304: Splash Slide

Initially afraid of the water slide, Cailie musters enough courage to try upon the prodding of Kuya Jarred. Reassuring her that it's fun and that he'll be there to protect her throughout the ride, she agrees. This is the classic example of "once you start, you can't stop"...she's been unstoppable at the slide ever since that first try...

Day 302: Hide & Seek

Little CeeJae loves to play hide and seek and she uses varied ways to enjoy the game. This time around, it was the sofa edge that served as her haven, showing off her head and face every time I would click the shutter. These are the simple joys of a young precocious toddler I call "my baby princess". 

Day 301: One Cool Ride

None of my daughters care to play with dolls but show them a cool toy car or ride and their eyes would light up like sunshine. This cool battery-operated car was something CeeJae couldn't let go of once she was neatly tucked in. She sure looks like she's ready to race on a Herbie-lookalike. Who knows? She may grow up to become a race car circuit driver in the future...hmmmm...

Day 300: Two of a kind

CeeJae finds a new friend in TomTom, Siansi Jenny's youngest son. Older by about 6 months, TomTom plays "Kuya" as he shows CeeJae the ropes on how to play ball and ride the twirly-burly.

Day 255: Weird Stash

There's a bunch of santan plants adorning the front facade of Kuya Jarred's school and it has become my eldest daughter's habit to pick a few santan flowers to bring home every time we drop off her kuya there every morning.

Well, I always thought she'd deconstruct each piece and try to taste the sweet nectar inside like I did when I was younger. However, I was surprised to find these drying up inside an old biscuit tin. So it seems my big princess Cailie has been keeping her stash of santan blooms to dry out. Well, I guess I need to teach her about that nectar thing one of these days.

Day 222: Playdate

My children always look forward to being with other children and getting the opportunity to play outside the home. So when the chance came for them to be with co-BCBP kids Paul, Louisse, Mariella and Miko, it was indeed a riot!!! They had loads of fun playing with balloons inside a nice play area.  Even little CeeJae couldn't contain herself with just being with us, she made the effort to join the older ones in their games and exploration. Wow! It's so wonderful to be young again!!!

Day 220: Jollibee Kids Party

Many years ago, when my firstborn Jarred Andrei was still a toddler and we were still living down south in GenSan, he celebrated two of his birthdays (2nd & 3rd) with Jollibee Kids parties. Those two occasions were birthday packages won from promos of the popular EQ Dry diapers. Today, we were invited to the 5th birthday of Mariella, the eldest daughter of our ka-Bro and Sis in BCBP, Jeff and Manette Dellosa, celebrating it with the ever-popular Jollibee Kids party.

It was indeed deja vu time as I recalled the similar games and songs played during the party. Not to be missed of course is the special appearance and participation of the great bee himself - JOLLIBEE!!!

All three of my kids had a blast with the games, dance numbers and yummy food. Thanks for inviting us, Dellosa family!

Day 217: Truly Pinoy

Ask any Pinoy abroad what food they miss most from home and I'm sure Jollibee would be on their top 5 list. A brainchild of the Caktiong family of Davao, it began as a small Magnolia Ice Cream House in Cubao, Quezon City originally named JollyEgg. Over the years, the business evolved into a hamburger/fries fast food outlet and eventually changed its name to the ever famous JOLLIBEE. 

The unique Filipino flavor in their food offerings is probably one of the main reasons why its such a hit for us Pinoys. Nowadays, the famous bee mascot is a familiar landmark anywhere in the country and is even making its presence felt at key cities in Asia and North America.

My own kids have developed a love affair with Jollibee - having the Yum Burger, Jolly Spaghetti and Crispy Fries as their top favorites. Of course, it doesn't hurt that most outlets have a play area where they can spend hours of wonderful playtime.

What's your favorite Jollibee food item?

Day 203: Just chillin'

As with numerous articles of baby clothing and toys, this director's chair is a hand-me-down  item from Kuya Jarred. Like the diva that she is, CeeJae took to the chair oh so naturally, grabbing her shades and make-believe cocktail cup and straw, posing just at the right moment for Mommy to capture this photo.

Day 197: Music to my ears

My two girls don't really know how to play the piano yet but in this picture, you'd think they do. The sounds they produced with the striking of the keys were truly sweet-sounding.

They banged away at the piano keyboard and had their fill of music-making. Who knows? Maybe one or both of them would venture into music and become virtuosos one day...

Day 190: Up High

Little daredevil that she is...Cathleen Janelle didn't mind being high up on a stack of monoblock chairs. In fact, she warded off any attempts that Kuya Jarred made to get her (notice the blurry hand motion on the second picture).

Day 189: Toddler Play

The younger ones couldn't catch up with Kuya's busy city track and so they made their own track using his old Thomas the Train toddler train set. 

Of course, it's nothing as complicated as Kuya's big city set but it also makes use of tracks and the two girls can make the trains go around just by friction. It occupies them for about half an hour until the complexity of their older brother's set lure them to once again play with his track set. Then, riot sets in!

Day 106: Playground

One of the reasons why Cailie is so excited about going to summer school is the fact that she gets to have fun at the playground after her lessons.  I think it's an early lesson on negotiation skills.  She agrees to do her best during class and in return, I allow her to have some time for play.  A fair deal, don't you think?

Today, her Kuya and Shobe joined her for some fun and laughter at the school playground.

Day 99: Kick!

While I was observing my kids during playtime, I noticed that they were role-playing.  Kuya Jarred was playing the part of a karate instructor while the two girls, Cailie and CeeJae were supposed to be his students.  They would stack up the boxes of toys and when they were already piled high, they'd take turns in either kicking or punching these until they'd topple down on the floor.

All three of them really thought they were karate experts.  It was so much fun seeing them in their most unguarded moments.

Day 76: Play Kitchen

Adorning one corner of the family room is a colorful play kitchen set that we gifted our elder daughter a couple of Christmases ago.  It's so portable, all the smaller pieces can be conveniently placed inside the "oven" and it even has a handle to ease with carriage.

This has been my daughter's instant perk-me-upper.  She can spend hours in front of it, pretending to cook all sorts of delectable dishes.  Hmmm...one of these days, I shall ask her to cook for you.

Day 71: Playtime

Having three kids makes our home a full house.  It is chaotic and loud, messy and sticky, crazy and topsy-turvy but I won't have it any other way...these 3 rugrats + an awesome hubby make my life wonderful and exciting to live each day.