And.... we're back!

I've started a couple of posts explaining why we've been silent and with the intention of summarizing what we've been up to for the almost 2 years we've been away but it just got in the way of posting. So I'm just going to go ahead and record the mokongs' "hirits" while I can still remember them :)

Baz: Mommy, how did you know you were pregnant?

Me: I took a test.

Baz: But how did you know you had to take the test in the first place?

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Me: How many girlfriends are you going to have?

Baz: Zero.
Hadrien: 10,000

(Simultaneously)

Me: It's ok to have many girlfriends but once you get married you can't have girlfriends, ok?

Hadrien: (Shocked and with both eyes and mouth open side) Huh?! You mean I can't change?

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This year I promise to try to write more. By the way, here are the top excuses for not writing in this blog more than I should have:

1. Facebook status updates are more convenient.
2. Busy with construction of the house
3. Busy with packing for the move
4. Busy with moving
5. Busy with unpacking
6. Busy with furnishing
7. Busy with entertaining (hehe... not really)

Hopefully, this is one resolution I keep, together with getting fit, watching less TV, spending more time with the family and being more patient and positive :) Happy new year!

By the way, here are some videos to make up for the laziness :)

Sow Fee Tell Weekend

On the long weekend commemorating Araw ng Kagitingan, Raffy had the splendid idea of organizing a getaway. The weather forecast, being stormy or rainy, foreclosed any plane rides or long drives. So we cheated and checked into Sofitel, a good 20 minute car ride away :) Instead of a getaway, it was a staycation - which wasn't bad at all. In fact, with 2 rowdy boys, it's the perfect solution since this allowed us to use up all our energy on the boys instead of the trip to and fro. And we didn't need a vacation from the vacation after all was said and done.

Upon seeing pictures of Sofitel, you should have heard the chants of "sow-fee-tel! sow-fee-tel!" that erupted and the matching march around the condo. The river-like pool punctuated with bridges, waterfalls and boulder/rocks sealed the deal. And the kids were not disappointed.

After 2 -3 hours of swimming, it was date night - but with kids. The mokongs had a very adult dinner in Casa Armas ... yummy! Over dinner, I realized that 5 is the age where it gets tougher to make kids try something new. When Baz was around that age, he practically refused to touch red food or anything that looked new to him. Now, he was willing to try everything with the assurance that we won't force him to eat it if after trying he didn't like it. And now, it is Hadrien's turn.... oh well..... At least, there was 1 less person to fight with over chorizo.

It was a great great weekend and it lived up to the kids' excitement. Oh, and before I end this, just couldn't resist posting this photo of Hadrien brushing his teeth. Too funny! Thanks for capturing this, Raf!

Video Catch Up

or should I say video-editing-galore-to-make-space-in-space-deprived-hard-drive? Not that I'm complaining. Better now than when its too unwieldy.

This video is a compilation of video and photos from Baz's first swimming culminating activity. We were worried about swimming classes at first specially since we knew it would be extremely difficult to be there to watch each week. Can you imagine how Baz would have felt if we made him sit out? He loves school work - math and all - but he LOVES football and swimming. Between the two, he loves swimming more! You can just feel how happy he was even by just watching this video.

This video was taken when we had to do a DIY pictorial at home for the mokongs' violin recital. True to form, Hadrien put on his thinking cap to show us that aside from his "violin skills", he could also be a drummer. Trust Hadrien to find multiple uses and "sowutions" for things around him and to make sure he puts on a good performance in front of the video camera!

And here's a video of the Golden Band's first performance. Mommy and Baz on the drums (designed by Hadrien) while Hadrien belted out Happy Together (even if he only knew ... let's see .... 1/5 of the words of the song!).

Elections 2010

Election came and went. And much to everybody's relief, it went by in relative peace. Someone mentioned that the election automation was the first of its kind - considering that we were going from 0% to 100% automation. Despite glitches that led to predictions of election failure and implotion of the automation process, the PCOS machines and CF Cards did not disappoint. We are one with the majority who say (for now, at least) that the election was a success!

The Mokongs' interest in politics came about during the aftermath of President Cory's passing as you can see here and here. After that, they asked about government, laws, Marcos, Gloria, Ninoy AquinoY. It was only natural that come campaign season, they were well-prepped and had opinions of their own on who should lead our country.

H to his classmate: I want Noynoy to be President!

Teacher J: Why?

H: Because I went to his house.

Classmate: How about X (another candidate)?

H: No, I didn't go to his house!

Another classmate: Me, I like Villar!

H: Why?! You want the roads to be zigzag?!!

(Teacher J remarked that this conversation helped her understand the controversy about diversion of roads WAAAY much better!)

_______

H: Villar made the roads zigzag. Remember, Tagaytay and Ko-Asia (Croatia)?

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On the way to Calatagan where the road became winding and some roads were only partially cemented -

B: Villar, what did you do?!!! (in a whining and irritated voice)

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B: When did Gloria become president?

Mommy: In 2001.

B: What?! But the last elections were in 2004!

Mommy: You're right but in 2001, the people kicked Erap out. So since Gloria was the Vice-President, she became the President.

B: But you can only be President for 6 years!

Mommy: Yes, but that is only if you became President through elections. Gloria was not elected in 2001.

B: But 9 years is too long to be President!

(At his young age, he knew that occupying the highest position of the land for 9 LONG years is much too much.)

___________

They also did some campaigning of their own.

B: Please, Grandma, puh-lease, can you please vote for Noynoy?

___________

Hadrien was also adept at reading cues. He knew who his grandparents were voting for. But he had this to say about Gramps.

H: Gramps is voting for Noynoy. If he is talking to other people, he says he is voting for Gibo. But if he is talking to Grandma, he says he is voting for Villar.

___________

They were also hungry to learn about the election process.

B: Where are the elections going to be?

M: All over the country.

B: There will be many elections?!!

___________

On the day of the elections, a slightly feverish Baz could not be deterred from participating in the elections. As we were accompanying Raffy to vote in Las Pinas, I did not want the boys to go in blue and/or yellow. But it was pointless to try to get them to do otherwise. They've waited so long for "their" votes to be cast - and they wanted everyone to know who they were rooting for.

Here are some photos of the mokongs having their first taste of the electoral process:

(waiting patiently in more than 30 centigrade heat)

(making his Laban sign, just in case someone was in doubt as to who his candidate was. in korean kasi ang campaign material sa shirt niya!)

(posing with the friendly policemen who were making sure that everything was going smoothly)

(Mokongs: There, Aquino! Lacson! - The Mokongs making sure that their Daddy doesn't forget who to vote for. The future generation is taking the future into their hands. Their logic is simple - vote for someone who (at least for now) follows the rules. If you can't obey the laws, you can't be President)

(Waiting for the "congratulations" on the PCOS machine's screen.)

At dinner time, their election fever was still high -

H: Kuya, If I run for VP and Noynoy will run for president, who will you vote for?

B: There will be 3 presidents before Hadrien will be allowed to vote and 2 presidents before I can vote. (I thought I was good in math but it took me a while to digest this statement and verify its accuracy.)

It's not that I want my boys entering politics any time. But I think it's a good sign that they're concerned about their country and having an opinion about things like these.

One Very Hot Sunday Afternoon

Raffy organized a trip to Pila, Laguna so that the kids can see Philippine ancestral houses. It's a pity that there are very few left of these houses for the kids of their generation to appreciate. Not even the blazing heat could take away from the rare sight of the plaza surrounded by well-preserved Filipino houses.

While there, Baz got to review what he learned during their theme investigation on Philippine houses such as callado, bangerahan and ventanillas. Sadly, we learned that some of these houses are uninhabited except for the token care-taker. Some are owned by corporations and therefore used as offices. And because it's election time, many of the houses were plastered with campaign materials. Obviously, the boys were happy to see the Noynoy/Mar campaign posters - and covered their eyes as they came upon Villar's.

It was quite a drive so the first order of the day was lunch at a local carenderia off the town plaza. And Raffy was actually okay with the kids eating carinderia food!!!! For the kids, we played it safe with sinigang (which they re-heated in the microwave as an extra precaution) and grilled fish. Don't worry, we did bring our own set of utensils for the kids. Hahaha!!!

As for us, we took a chance and tried the menudo. We were rewarded for our bravery :)

Sidebar: Look at the little mokong here. Ano ba, Hadrien? Were you bored, intrigued, shocked or captivated by the movie you were watching (while Mommy and Daddy were eating in relative peace)?

After lunch, we visited the St. Anthony de Padua church - beautiful both inside and out.

This is what the sun does to poor Hadrien ...

A quick stroll around the plaza and a first-ever tricycle ride followed, complete with lubak and all!

(Agra house in the background, Daddy and a wilted Hadrien in the foreground)

(in front of the Rivera house)

(in front of the Pila Municipal Hall)

(St. Anthony de Padua Church in the background)

(their first tricycle ride c/o Mang Jessie)

On the way back, it would be unforgiveable not to take a photo of the lush green ricefields. Thinking that we would actually go into the ricefields, Baz cautioned: We must be extra careful or we will ruin it!

Then another quick stop at UP Los Banos. but not without stopping to picky up milk from the Dairy Husbandry. YUMMM!!!

More Facebook Updates from Mommy

M sees two kids clutching their ears. The reason: a truck playing the song of Villar passed by. H is now shouting: STOP, VILLAR!! OK?!!! (4/11/10)

B and H are so much into politics these days. They both refuse to eat, wear or even see anything orange. If anyone says they like "V", they immediately berate that person with "why?! do you like the roads to be zigzag?" (4/10/10)

Comments:

1. There goes their beta-carotene! Tsktsktsk! Hahaha! - T. Jojie
2. The roads to be zig zag... HIGHlarious! - Nikka
3. When when we were playing with the toy bowling....they refused to hit the yellow pins..but they put the orange ones up front so that it would be the first one to fall. LOL!! grabe na 'to!! - Aunti Ritchie

B: Daddy, I have to ask you something. What does a lawyer do? D: Lawyers help people understand the laws. They also help people when they appear before the courts, like the Supreme Court. B: What is a court? Like a basketball court? (Laughter) B: Is that part of the government? D: Yes, you remember there are ... (3/24/10)

Baz's reaction to chat not working: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is so so so Very BAD!!!!!!!!!!! x-(. (3/13/10)

Baz: I watched Noynoy (obviously a big fan) on the news. They called him "Senador", not "Senator"... Must speak Filipino to them more often. (3/13/10)

The kids were upset during yesterday's brownouts. H asked me if he could go to heaven and turn on the lights and come back to earth. At some point (10 minutes into the brownout) they both got cranky so I told them that they should learn to be still. B asked me what he could do in the dark (I figured they got bored talking to me), so I said why don't you talk to God. And he said "God, please fix the power plants!" (3/2/10)

M's 4 and 6 year old rushed to meet her and Raffy as they came home. B reported that H hit him on the head. The reason for the scuffle - they had an argument as to whether "infinity" was a number! Needless to say, the scolding for the physical fight was half-hearted. (3/1/10)

H's attempt to make her feel guilty with: "Mommy, when you go on trips without us, I want you to get this, this, and this... Make sure when you go that you get this, this and that. Ok? Promise?" (pointing to a Thomas the Train catalog) (2/14/10)

H: "Mommy, I love you to infinity!" But this is the same kid who made paper flowers for 3 of his favorite girl classmates - and none for me! (1/20/10)

M fooled B into thinking that she turned eggwhites and salt into icing and then chicken! (1/18/10)

Shoe-ssess

Let me preface this with .... I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS SOONER!!!!

The Kinder Koala's Shoes culminating activity was held October last year. And it took me more than 4 months to blog about it. Sorry, Hadrien! You'll see .... I'll make it up to you.

The theme on shoes came after "sari-sari" store. In keeping with the theme, instead of footprints, the path leading to the Kinder Koala's room was peppered with cut outs of various kinds of shoes, hand painted by Hadrien and his classmates. This set the stage for a month-filled activities involving shoes. Even if Hadrien skipped school for about 2 weeks to attend Tita Bel's wedding in Dubrovnik, he was on shoe-theme mode making sure he took pictures of the shoes he saw:




These were nifty additions to the kinds of shoes he learned in school - sneakers, ballet shoes, slippers, boots, ice skates, etc. His new-found expertise on shoes also added a good 5-minute to our routine everyday as he showed off his knowledge on the parts of a shoe - outsole, insole, heel, vamp and accessories (e.g., glitter, buckles, velcro, straps, etc). Or when he insisted on wearing black leather shoes and white sport socks on days when he was already dressed in shorts. (At this point, I might suggest adding to the lesson which shoes go with which outfit... sneakers do not need shoe polish or that black polish should not be applied to brown shoes.... but I digress...) On some days, he went through our shoe drawers to to point out that shoes could be made out different materials - such as rubber, leather and fabric.

They were supposed to go on a field trip to Marikina to see how shoes are manufactured. But because of Ondoy which inundated Marikina and other parts of the Metro, they decided to collect shoes and other donations for people who make shoes. This was a great lesson in itself.

During the culminating activity, the Koalas recited "There Was An Old Woman Who Lived In a Shoe" and another poem which they composed. They also sang and danced to a couple of shoe songs. They held an exhibit where they showed off their shoe designs (both sketches and actual finished products) and allowed us to see and touch a sampling of shoes. We were allowed and encouraged to ask the kids questions. And they were mostly NOT shy to answer our questions. It was an activity filled morning - with the parents and yayas getting the chance to play shoe relay and nibble on shoe-shaped cookies.

I must mention that T. Jojie even came dressed with a pretty-shoe-printed blouse. Talagang sticking to the theme!