Christmas 2011, Top Moments

So we were watching a few Christmas movies during the days leading to Christmas Day. We had been doing this during Christmas season since the very first time hubby and I spent Christmas together.

This year, I wanted to include our 5-year old Matthew to this tradition. One of the movies I chose to watch and include Matthew was “The Polar Express”. I was in for a surprise. I never thought that this movie was going to be an intense movie for Matthew.

The movie is about the train ride going to the North Pole by a group of kids, and led by a conductor. Matthew started to watch the movie, seemed interested. But as soon as there seem to be trouble coming in the plot, he would ran off to another room, saying “I don’t want to watch anymore.” This happened a few times.

I didn’t want him to not see how the story gets resolved in the end. So I kind’a forced him to keep watching. We kept telling him that it will all turn out well in the end.

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Also, before Christmas, Matthew had terrible cough and colds. One night, I tried to put some vicks on his chest while he was sleeping. I was trying so hard to be so gentle, and not to wake him up while I apply vicks on his chest, but he still woke up.

When he woke up, he immediately blurted out, “I’m in the good list, Mommy!” This made me smile. I said, “Yes, you are. ” and he went back to sleep.

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Letter to Santa

On Matthew’s letter for Santa was Lego City, sour candy and Lego Ninja. He wrote and mailed the letter himself!

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We spent Christmas Eve Dinner with friends. There was drinking and karaoke too. It was fun!

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Hubby and I were so excited to pull-off our very first Christmas at home this year. (We are always out of town celebrating Christmas in the previous years.) We wore our Christmas attires for photos, while the babies wore their matching jammies, early Christmas presents from Grandma and Grandpa.

Click here to more photos from ‘Christmas 2011 Album‘.

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Click here to more photos from ‘Christmas 2011 Album‘.

Christmas Morning

Click here to more photos from ‘Christmas 2011 Album‘.

Matthew and Daddy, Day after Christmas

For Christmas, Matthew got, among many other toys including those in his list, a bicycle with training wheels. Unfortunately he isn’t too interested with it. But he has started riding it when it was nice outside.

Mark got a tricycle for Christmas! He is SO interested in it, except, he needs to grow up a little bit more. His legs are not long enough yet for his feet to reach the pedals. Sigh! Maybe in 6-months he can start really playing with his tricycle.

Mark also got Blue’s Clues DVD for Christmas. He loves Blue’s Clues. He yells “Clue. Clue. ” when he sees the blue paw. He’s been watching it over and over since Christmas.

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We were able to chat online with family in the Philippines on Christmas morning, very late Christmas night in the Philippines. They have just finished with the family Christmas party. It was great chatting with them. I miss them so much.

I also got an unexpected but SO welcomed phone call from a long time friend, just to greet me ‘Merry Christmas’.

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The weather has been awful this Christmas. Not nice at all, not even white. All wet rainy Christmas this year!

What’s another awful thing is me finally getting a GREAT idea of what to get hubby for Christmas too late. Oh well! I really suck at gift-giving! I really hope to get better at getting him what he wants for Christmas next time.

As for me, I got what I want for Christmas – a lazy, restful day of not doing anything except watching my boys play with their new toys in my new pajamas. And I sure love the new hand-held showerhead and external hardrive that I got from hubby.

These days, Hubby and I have just be lazying out, eating leftovers, and easy-to-make meals; watching movies while snuggling in the couch, and watching the boys play with their toys. And that’s just the way we like it … except for the colds that Mark is having, and hubby and I seem to be catching, too, from Matthew.

Kindergarten Musical

Before the Kindergarten Musical Photo Ops

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There was a Kindergarten Musical in Matthew’s class. I was so excited to see the show, where students from the Kindergarten class has songs to sing and poems to recite.

Weeks and days prior, I was worried. Whenever I ask Matthew about his part, he tells me, “I don’t know. ” This worried me! I don’t care if his part has only two word to say or that he is sheep#2 just sitting in the corner. What I care about is that he KNOWS his part. I REALLY don’t want him to look like the kid who looks like he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I didn’t want him to look clueless and confused.

When I told my mother-in-law about my worries, she said that if Matthew turned to look clueless and confused, she’s sure that he won’t be the only one. This was suppose to make me feel better. Although I laughed, it still worried me.

For the longest time I braced myself from not contacting his teacher and not asking her about his part. (And not asking for a copy of the program and details of Matthew’s part, so I can rehearse with Matthew. ) My reason is simply I fear that this kind of interference would backfire on Matthew. That there might be an added expectation from him if I interfered.

Thankfully, on the last few days before the musical, when I asked him again about the musical, he said that they practiced and mentioned a few song titles. Finally, a little hint about the musical, and a hint that somehow he knew what’s coming and what he is doing.

Finally, on the day of the musical, we arrived early! We got a good spot in the audience. Matthew, along with the other early birds, waited at the front by the stage. I am actually amazed at how he behaved while waiting for the starting time. He have minimal fidgetting and he sat there the whole time. Of course, he kept adjusting his santa hat, talking to his seatmate, but he was behaved!

Then the Kindergarten Musical began. I am SO proud of Matthew. He sang songs and recited a poem in chorus. There were a few time he yawned on the stage. There were a lot of times he was just mouthing the words, and he is usually the last one doing the actions. He also got a wardrobe-malfunction while playing with his long sleeves while on stage. But he was there, keeping up with his classmates and he’s got presence. He was right in front, and he can’t be missed.

Matthew (5)

I wish there was better lighting on the stage! I could have gotten better and brighter pictures. I am so disappointed at the awful pictures I took!

Thankfully, I brought with us the video camera. Hubby took videos religiously. It was so fun to watch. I can’t believe how much Matthew has grown and that we he survived his very first musical on stage.

Santa Came to Town

Matthew (5) and Mark (20-months)

Matthew and Mark with Daddy

Today Santa Claus came to town!

We joined Hubby and the cadets at the military school Christmas Dinner. Our main purpose was to see Santa.

There was parade first where we spent a little time with Hubby. Then there was dinner and a entertaining Christmas program. Santa Clause took a long time to make his appearance. He appeared at the very end of the program. So, sadly, Mark, at way pass his naptime, didn’t make it, to be alert and happy to see Santa. Sigh! At least Matthew was SO excited, couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Santa and got some treats.

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Mark Anthony, 20 Months Old

Mark is 20 months old today. He is so adorable, so skillful and he just lights up our lives …

Mark’s mischief smile. He’s had a haircut since this photo was taken on November 8, 2011.

Mark now smiles to the camera more often than not.

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When Mark wants something, a drink, a snack, a toy, he’ll point all over and say, “Please. ” It’s up to us to figure out exactly what he wants!

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He loves lifting his shirt up and exposing his belly! He loves to lift his Daddy’s shirt and expose his Daddy’s belly. Then he gives his Daddy a belly-to-belly hug. It’s strange, funny but sweet.

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I can always tell that it’s time to change his diaper from #2. He has this expression on his face, after which he’ll get my attention, pat his diaper area, and says. “Poop.”

Do you think he’s ready for potty training? I think so!

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He fancies toothbrushes, mine to be exact. He doesn’t like his ‘Thomas the Train’ toothbrush, but he likes my plain looking toothbrush. He likes to use it to snack on toothpaste.

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He loves Blue’s Clues. Bubble Guppies and most shows in NickJr. He points at Blue and he says “Blue”. He says, “Clue” when he sees a paw. And I think he learned to say “bubble” from Bubble Guppies. But then “Bubble” to him, also means a bath.

He panics when I say, “It’s time for a bath.” He takes off his pants or shorts, runs to the bathroom, and knocks at the bathroom door while he keeps repeating, “Bubble, bubble,bubble “….

He likes to blow bubbles, too, with his drool.

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Lately, he discovered he likes the shows in PBS Kids, too. He likes the shows: The Cat in the Hat, Sesame Street, among others.

He loves his shows. He actually laughs at anything he finds funny.

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On a more gross part, he has learned to pick his nose, and chase me around with his booger finger.

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As of this writing, THREE of my big Christmas ball ornaments used to be hanging by our Christmas tree, down, shattered on the floor, courtesy of Mark. Sigh! And I had thought I placed the delicate ornaments up above his reach… NOT all of them. My fault for the oversight!

The last one he broke, when I heard it, I came over to him. I saw him with his hands on his face, he looked at me and said, “Oh no!” It was funny, I forgot to get mad.

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Mark, 19-months

I am so proud of his skills. At command, he can point to parts of his face and body. He even shows his teeth with a really cute grin. He picks up his dirty millk bottle and throws it to the sink; trash to the trashcan; and shoes to the shoerack.

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And yes, he still naps during the day.

Deck the Hall, It’s Christmas 2011

Today, Matthew went Christmas shopping for us at school. The school and PTO arranged a little shop with items for the students to shop gifts from. It’s a fund raising for the school.

He brought some money to school and a note for his teacher about his budget for the each gifts. He will be buying for me, his Daddy and his baby brother Mark. I imagine that with the help of his teacher, he will have his own pick as to what he wants to give us for Christmas.

I am SO excited what he picked for me. He came home with the presents wrapped, so we’ll have wait until Christmas morning to find out what he got us.

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It IS beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here! We put up Christmas decorations last Friday.

This year, the full Christmas tree is up, not just half of it up against the wall like it used to in the previous years (due to lack of space). This year, we had to block the front door for the space needed for the whole tree, and I got a tree rotator.

I’ve always wanted to decorate the full tree, but when it’s against the wall, no one can see the other side. With the tree rotator, we can now see the whole decorated Christmas tree. My mother-in-law and Matthew helped fully decorate the tree. With the full tree, decorated, I think we need more ornaments.

Rotating Christmas Tree I am so happy about how our rotating fully decorated Christmas Tree turned out.	Dining Table Centerpiece I am so proud of my dining table centerpiece. I arrange it myself!
China Cabinet Hubby decorated the china cabinet. It turned out really nice!	Poinsetta Wreath The house looks festive outside with these red-and-green wreaths.

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Hubby and Me (while still dating, before kids) in Christmas Eve 2003

Since we not traveling to relatives in different states on Christmas this year, I plan on adding more to our Christmas decorations, and buying more ornaments to add to the tree.

I am so looking forward to just staying home and I am SO excited, that I might wear my Santa outfit this year.

Halloween, Past and Present {Photos}

Happy Halloween!

2007, 2008

Elmo, Matthew (2)

2009

‘Star Wars’ Clone Trooper, Matthew (3)

Darth Vader, Matthew (3)

‘Star Wars’ Clone Trooper, Matthew (3)

2010

‘World’s Cutest Bear’ Mark (6-months) and ‘Optimus Prime’ Matthew (4)

2011

How to Eat Apple

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. ~ Proverb quotes

Mark, 18-months

Click photos for enlarged view. Click here to view more photos.

How to eat apple, Mark style: In the kitchen, in the drawer, with a spoon.

Mark SO loves this drawer. This drawer used to store our produce, but he kept emptying it, throwing all the produce to the floor and bruising them. I stop bothering with this drawer, and he made it his special place. Unfortunately, this drawer became his way to reach the counter, too.

And Mark loves apples, too!

Cowboy Day

It’s cowboy day at Matthew’s kindergarten class today!

We got a cowboy costume, adjusted it to fit him. The costume didn’t come with a cowboy hat, so he insisted he didn’t want to wear his costume because he didn’t have a hat. But then his daddy let him wear his fishing hat as a cowboy hat, and Matthew still didn’t want to wear his costume. He felt so awkward. He didn’t want to step in the school bus. He SO didn’t want to be a cowboy.

I thought, he looks great!

Cowboy, Matthew (5) in Kindergarten

Pumpkin Patch, Photo Story

We recently visited a pumpkin patch. The same place where Matthew’s class went to for their field trip, that he missed when he was sick. It was just less than 20 minutes away from where we live. It wasn’t too big but it has everything needed for the whole pumpkin patch experience. We had so much fun. Click here to view more ‘Pumpkin Patch Photos’.

Thanks to Ms.Tay and Jaylin for the wonderful time at the pumpkin patch. ~ Matthew and Mark

The Hayride

Me and my boys at the hayride.

This is our very first hayride. It wasn’t very comfortable. I felt like my butt was digging through the hay at every bump.

Always on Top of Everything

Mark at almost 18-months

Click here to view more from ‘Mark, 18-months’ album.

Mark is 18-months old today!

While Mark and I wait outside for his big brother Matthew to arrive from school, there usually a few school buses to drive by before Matthew’s bus. Yesterday, when Mark saw the school buses, he pointed to the buses and I swear he uttered the word ‘brother’.

When we are in the bathroom, he says ‘bu-ble’ (for bubbles) a lot!

The way he gives kisses – he’ll climb up to you unannounced, says ‘Ki’, and then presses his mouth on your lips. He loves giving kisses!

Mark, always on top of everything … literally!

He had been saying, among many others, …

• ‘there‘, when he finishes doing something
• ‘Dad-di‘ for Daddy
• ‘Mamama‘ for Mommy
• ‘ya-ya‘ for yes or ‘yeah,yeah’
• ‘mi-mi‘ for milk
• ‘bye‘ for bye
• ‘gu-nye‘ for goodnight
• ‘ball‘ for ball
• ‘get it‘ for get it, while pointing at something!

He is SO starting to talk! YAY!

Mark and I tuck his big brother in to bed. They give each other hugs and he says, ‘gu-nye’! Mark has a later bedtime than his big brother. If I let him sleep early, he’d be up and awake in the middle of the night. Otherwise, he still wakes up but it’s easier to get him back to sleep. But early to bed or not, Mark still does not sleep through the night. Sigh! I am still sleep deprived!

His favorite TV show is anything from NickJr. When we are not tuned in to NickJr, he’d hand me the remote to change the channel. He won’t stop his whining until it’s set to NickJr. I don’t mind NickJr at all. I think this channel is perfect for kids in the preschool age. But sometimes, Mommy’s got to watch TV, too, her non-educational-purely-for-entertainment shows.

I better find away to lock the cover on all the ventilation on the floor. Before, Mark has been dropping crumbs on it. These days, toys and who knows what else.

He is always on top of everything! Top of the table, top of the dresser, top of the computer table, top of the counter, top of the laundry basket, top of a box… He always have a box which he drags around the kitchen to stand on and get his hands on to the counter or the sink. And he is so happy when he is able to elevate himself and reach stuff, no matter what it is.

If it’s up to him, the process of brushing his teeth includes, sucking the toothpaste out of the tube and then, putting the toothbrush to his mouth. Actually if it’s up to him, the toothpaste is a snack and not for brushing his teeth.

Yes, it has been interesting around him these days …

Happy Birthday Daddy {Photos}

Birthday Boy!

Click here to view the complete ‘Happy Birthday Daddy’ Album.

Summer in Florida, Disney Magic Kingdom {Photos}

On our summer vacation in Florida, we took Matthew to Disney Magic Kingdom. This is Matthew’s very first time to Disney World. This was our effort to spend quality time with Matthew before he started school.

Last week, on Matthew first ever ‘show-and-tell’ in school, he brought with him to school a picture book about his adventures at Disney Magic Kingdom. I can honestly say that I don’t know how it went , his show-and-tell. But since we practiced days prior, I think he did well. We practiced how he was going to hold his picture book to show his teacher and classmates, and we practiced what he’s going to say about every picture.