Day 89: Summer Look

The scorching summer heat has prompted hubby and me to have our son's hair shaved down.  This was his usual hairstyle since he was a year old up to the time he started school.  He sort of asked not to have it done this way then because he felt his classmates might tease him or find it funny looking.

Well, it's summertime and a lot of young boys would probably have their hair done this way.  Shaved or not, he's still one great looker, don't you think?

Day 88: Fresh

Cailie and I had to rush to the wet market today as my stock in the fridge is dwindling.  Since it's not the scheduled market day (it's supposed to be Wednesdays and Saturdays), I was a bit hesitant to go as the vegetables and fish there might not be as great as on market days.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that I still had bountiful fresh veggies and seafood to choose from so I couldn't help but take photos of them right away.  Because it's Holy Week already, I stocked up on fish and added more veggies than usual.

Day 87: My Fashionista

Upon seeing the mountain pile of new clothes and footwear sent by her Mommy Lola and Tita Tintin, Cailie became so excited to try on the items.  She went "oooohhhh" and "aaaahhhhhh" every time I showed her something new.  She especially liked the trench coat, matching jackets (younger sister CeeJae has one too), matching formal dresses and hooded shirts.

She handpicked this Radio Flyer jumper (a hand-me-down from cousin Tristan), printed blouse and pair of aqua sneakers to wear for Palm Sunday mass today.  As I look at her now, I give a sigh of relief...gone are the days she'd kick and scream every time I try to let her wear a dress or skirt or anything girly.  I've hidden most of her baseball caps so she's okay now with ponytails and pigtails.  I guess with little sister CeeJae around, Cailie was able to rediscover the fashionista in her.

Day 86: Election Fever

In support for a clean, honest and peaceful elections this coming May 10, the BCBP Butuan Chapter held a motorcade this morning to remind everyone of this: BUMOTO NG TAPAT, BUMOTO NG NARARAPAT.

Immediately following this morning's joint breakfast, everyone donned their special shirts and prepared for the convoy.  With posters plastered on all vehicles, motorists and pedestrians are enjoined to make intelligent choices this coming elections.  We joined Brother Jensen and Sister Grace in their van to go around the city.

Cailie and I had so much fun this morning and you can see just how much by looking at these photos.  I'm also sharing with all of you the National Prayer for Elections 2010 courtesy of COMELEC, PPCRV and BCBP.  Let us make this a part of our daily prayer until election day. 

Day 85: Laag-laag

Since it was brownout again, we decided to go out and joy ride around the city.  I had some stuff to buy anyway so off we went.  Lunch was at Rose's Bakeshop/Cafe and it was there that we discovered a new find - Guava Juice in doy pack! It was good considering it was being marketed to compete with the big boys like Zest-O and Sunkist.  

While the boys were having their haircut, us girls were left waiting in the resto and made us of the time posing for the camera.

To relieve us of the summer heat, Cailie, CeeJae and I enjoyed Selecta Ice Cream Sticks in Quezo Real and Cookies n Cream flavors.  Here's Cailie, gamely showing off her love for ice cream.

Day 84: Christmas in March

The fam bam had a wonderful surprise today - after more than 6 months, the 2 balikbayan boxes sent by Shobe and Mom finally reached our doorstep.  It was only this week I was able to have them sent over from Manila even though they arrived from Canada last August 2009.

After unpacking everything from inside the boxes, our living room was strewn by mountain piles of children's clothes, toys, household items, toiletries and food stuff.  The three kids had so much fun exploring the toys they received and gamely posed to show off their loot.

To Mommy, Shobe and Ray and of course, to cousin Tristan....thank you very much for your unending generosity and kindness!  May you be blessed tenfold!

Day 83: The Graduate

March 24, 2010...a very special day for an extraordinary young boy closest to my heart...

Jarred Andrei, my firstborn, has finished the first chapter in his school life - he is now a full-pledged preschool graduate.

I can still remember like it was only yesterday when he entered the blue gate of BFCS for the very first time back in the summer of 2008.  We were "school hunting" and BFCS was the first school we visited.  From the start, he felt at home and accepted at Butuan Faith.  Even though we took him to two more schools in the city, he seemed to be set on choosing BFCS as his school.

To test the waters, he took summer classes there that year and it was very tough on him.  He would be in tears every time he had to write as he'd use both hands to do it since he wasn't used to writing.  I thought he'd give up but he didn't.  After a month, the teacher said he's ready to finally face Kinder I.

As I look back, it never ceases to amaze me how his learning development multiplied tenfold soon after that summer.  Oh sure, his English speaking ability was flawless, well, we made sure of that but he did lag behind in the other areas of development.  By the end of his Kindergarten I year, he managed to be within the top 3 of his class and survived his Filipino subject at the same time.

He faced Kindergarten II with greater confidence and even more excitement.  He worked twice as hard as he did in his first year in school.  As a result, not only did he end up acing his English Department subjects, he also clinched 5th place in the Chinese Department subjects.

Our heart was bursting with pride as he did his Salutatory address...

By the end of the ceremony, he had several awards pinned on his chest.  These blessings came as a result of God's grace and pure hard work.  I took this tough preschool journey with him and I know things weren't always easy but Jarred gave his best and reaped all the benefits in the end.

The synergy of his hardworking teachers, parental support at home and the small class size structure worked together to mold him into the wonderful young boy he is now.

Day 82: Kuya Jarred, the photographer

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It was a restless and insanely warm midday stricken with the usual 5-hour brownout.  With nothing to do, Kuya Jarred brought out our trusty point-and-shoot and captured wonderful moments of us girls.

Hmmm....not bad, don't you think?  Photography as an art is in a league all its own nowadays and is getting to be a pretty lucrative business too so I wouldn't really discourage my son if he wanted to pursue it professionally in the future.

Day 81: Piaya

Mid-afternoon snacks was quite special today.  We had one of the family's favorite treats - PIAYA.  This sweet pastry is a popular Ilonggo delicacy.  It's like a flat bread or pita filled with a delectable filling, originally a sweet and sticky muscovado sugar base but nowadays there are other flavors like ube and durian. Best eaten hot, every morsel of this Filipino pastry leaves a lasting memory of home and family.

Day 80: Baccalaureate Sunday

My son, Jarred Andrei, together with the entire Kindergarten II and Grade VI classes of Butuan Faith Christian School had their Baccalaureate Service at the Butuan Gospel Church.  So dashing and pretty in their maroon (Kinder) and white (Elementary) togas and caps, the soon-to-be graduates marched into the church as they were welcomed by the school heads, faculty, their parents, family members and friends.  

Both graduating classes presented uplifting Chinese songs and inspirational English pieces.  The stage mother's heart in me skipped a bit when it was my son's turn at a solo part in their English song.

The highlight of the afternoon was the inspirational talk by Pastor Joshua Ong on the theme "Leaving a Legacy".  He noted that the best legacy we can leave our children is not the material wealth that we have but rather the legacy of God and how he works in our lives.  He focused on the very important role that parents have in molding children...the home is a child's very first school and his parents are his very first teachers.  He mentioned that we need to be the models for our children in showing and giving of our 100% to God.  It is the giving of love to God with all our heart, mind, soul and might.  Anything short of that is a failure.  This is the legacy we need to leave our children for them to truly succeed in their human life.

At the end of the ceremony, it was evident how inspired everyone was and how excited they all were for their upcoming graduation on the 24th.