More parties.

It's my niece with my cousin's 1st birthday with pirate and fairy costume.

I asked Yang if Julian has pirate costume. She asked her friend and was soo nice to lend us this cute costume.

As for Summer, she used her pink tutu skirt with white stockings and Minnie mouse bride hair band and wings from Jaja. I just bought a set of white top with green shorts from Divisoria. I cannot just buy the top, it has to be the whole set. The top is floral with dashes of silver beads, perfect for the skirt for a fairy costume.
Summer had her face painting. Winter had his tattoo skull on his cheek. And we had our moment at the photo booth.
Here are the birthday celebrants - Angel and her parents.
And the family who celebrated with the family.
Thank you! Another fun filled day for the kids.

Party again.

Summer was once again invited for her classmate's 7th birthday at Manila Polo Club.

She once again took advantage of the salon for girls at the party.

She had fun playing games where prizes are toy money.
You use the toy money to buy prizes at the booth. She was able to get an art set and kitchen set.
They had fun dancing too. Evie, together with her friends, performed a dance number which was repeated with all the other kids.
Parties are getting more complicated. Even before Summer turns 6, I am starting to brain wash her that she's not having a party as grand as theirs. We cannot afford it.

Let's pretend we're royal.

Summer was invited by her bus mate for her 7th birthday party at Hotel Intercon in Makati. The theme was princess and asked the girls to come in their royal outfit.

Summer wore Jazzy's first holy communion gown, the gloves from her Belle costume, and the crown from Tita Sexy.

And while the princess was at the ball with her yaya, the king and the queen, together with the little prince, went to Magoos to have our share of feast.

We got tired walking around so we decided to look for Starbucks, have our coffee and sit while waiting for our princess to finish her ball.

It was just so funny how the little prince will echo what the king was doing. The little prince will stir his chocolate cream chip frapuccino while the king was stirring his mocha frapuccino.
And the little prince will drink while the king was drinking too. Look at his eyes.
Until it was time to pick up the princess from the hotel. She was wearing a different hair style now from the salon for kids at the party and with a little tiara on her head.
Time to change for the next party, Summer! - no longer a princess, but may we live happily ever after.

Winter One-derland

Happy Birthday Winter!

Ang ganda pala manganak ng Friday kasi ang 1st birthday party ay mafo-fall sa Saturday, ang saya!

Birthday celebrant: William John S. Reantaso aka Winter

Birthdate: August 22, 2008, 1st bday party on Aug. 22, 2009 at 3pm

Birthday Party Theme: Winter One-derland

Venue: DJ Paradise Resort, Malolos City, Bulacan

Party decors: I prepared the party balloons a day before. I used white link-o-loons, tied 2 of them together and used white balloon at the end para mukhang snow fall. For some, I tied snowflake mylar balloons which I was able to buy online. I prepared a snowman made of balloons. People from Lollipop balloons, where I bought my mylar snowman and small snowflake balloons, are kind enough to share with me tips on how to make a snowman the easy and cheap way. I borrowed christmas trees and had them set-up at the stage, sprinkled rainbow icicles

(ganda pala ng effect sa picture, nagmukhang christmas lights), and sprayed on snow para mukhang winter.

Birthday outfit: Gap Longsleeves and Pants, a Christmas gift from Ninang Ganda. I just bought the bowtie for less than a hundred bucks. Change outfit of White polo and Brown pants from Baby Bench from Mommy Duning.

Guests started arriving at exactly 3pm, some even earlier kasi may nauna pa sa amin. Buti na lang they had food carts to enjoy. Though, the party started a bit late already kasi the kids were hesitant at first to join in.

We had the birthday song for Winter.

Played games.

Had early dinner.

Had a magic show.

Had blowing of the candle.

And distribution of loot bags.

I prepared an AVP kaya lang I didn't get to show it na kasi the magic show itself took an hour and 45minutes. I bought a pirated DVD of IceAge 3 too to show it before the party starts pero di ko na mahanap ang DVD, buti na lang or else baka lalong late na nagstart ang program.

Kahit di pa na-appreciate ni Winter ang party, sobrang patok naman kay Ate Summer. Kinarir ang games para makahakot ng maraming prizes. Kaya lang natakot sya magparticipate sa magicshow, sya sana ang palulutangin ni Tito Cris.

Nag-enjoy naman sana mga guests namin. Mukha naman kasi they stayed until the end which was past 6pm na, considering na sa Bulacan pa ang party and they will be going back pa to Manila.

Thank you very much for all who came and for all who sent their wishes.

Party Prep: The Birthday Cake

I considered having a Thomas the Train cake because I wanted the idea of using cake rolls, making them trains, for Winter's birthday cake.

Since the theme will be Winter Wonderland, I had the idea of doing it the Polar Express style.

I downloaded photos of train cakes out of rolls and gave it to our local supplier. Then I ordered creme puff to build it like a christmas tree. I searced for gingerbread house but they were way too expensive for me. Good thing I was able to discover Mich who are into chocolates. I ordered from her 2 chocolate houses, decorated like gingerbread house.

Perfect! Gastos na naman hehehe.

Gumuho ang aking tree of creme puffs pero di naman masyado nahalata dahil marami na-cute-an sa cake hehehe.

Party Prep: The Menu

Orland did not push through with his plans of going to Canada for his 2-year contract with his previous employer. So he will be available to cook for his nephew's 1st birthday party. He prepared some of the menu for Winter's baptismal too last year.

Our menu will be:

Pumpkin soup to be prepared by the coffee shop

Mixed tapas

Lengua to be prepared by the coffee shop

Meat balls with thyme

Lemon pepper chicken with coleslaw

Macaroni and cheese

Lechong baboy, sponsored by Mommy and Daddy

For the kids, we are having Spaghetti, mini cheese burgers, fried chicken fillet and french fries.

For the food carts, we are having Zagu, fishballs, squidballs, kikiam and kwekwe, buko lychee sorbet and white chocolate fountain.

Dito naubos ang budget ni Winter! hehehe

Sana nagustuhan ng mga bisita ang handa. As usual, una naubos ang lengua.

Party Prep: Loot Bags, Prizes and Balloons

I was planning for a blue christmas stocking for Winter's loot bag on his birthday. I don't want to use red stockings because my theme is Winter Wonderland and not Christmas. We're having a birthday party and not a Christmas party anyway. But it's so hard to look for blue christmas stocking on August. Christmas decors are not yet out in the market.

We went to Unique Novelty at Baler. I was already considering getting red christmas stockings when I saw the snowman candy canisters. And they were even cheaper than the stockings. Great!

Then we went to Divisoria to buy prizes for the games, toys for the loot bags and balloons. I bought candies from the grocery store. Summer put the candies, I put the toys, Cory put on the sticker labels, and Winter will throw them in the box.

Ang gastos! Kasi ang arte ng nanay ng celebrant. Wawa naman Omar.

Result: Sana nagustuhan ng mga bata ang lootbags. Before the party, I told Summer that not because she's the Ate of the celebrant, she can just get prizes. I told her that if she wanted to have some toys, she must join the games. At kinarir nya ang games! Big girl na talaga.

Party Prep: The Program

Tito Cris has become our friend through Wudjiman, Tito Boy to us - Omar's uncle.

He volunteered to do the magic show on Winter's birthday when they had their company outing last Summer. So we were able to get him for a very good price, considering that the venue will be outside Metro Manila.

And since he will do the magic show, I asked him for referrals for hosts as well. So he got us 2 clowns for a bargained price as well.

Madugo pero knowing Tito Cris, it will be worth it.

Result: Some kids got scared of the clowns at the start. The clowns are decent, english speaking, and best of all - does not make use of kids or other people for their funny antics. The magic show of Tito Cris was a sure hit! It lasted for an hour and 45minutes and even the adults had a blast.

Karcraft's Christmas Party

We celebrated Karcraft's annual Christmas Party.

We started the event with a Thanksgiving Mass.  We attended the 6pm mass at the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish at the West Triangle.  Not all employees are Catholic, still, they joined us in this activity.  It's so heart warming, knowing that they are there to support us since it was Omar's wish to have them with us at the Church even for just that moment.

We then had dinner at the shop.  Ryan prepared the food.  We had beef with brocolli, roast chicken with gravy, fried fish fillet, pancit lucban from Bong and Boss Jo, lechon from Robert, banana muffins from Mama, and buco pandan.

Omar's family and friends came to celebrate with  us.

Kuya Olejoe and Mama Flor prepared some games.  We had raffle prizes too and singing contest.

Merry Christmas!  May we have more christmas parties to celebrate together as one family in Karcraft.

Party No. 5

It was Karcraft's second Christmas Party. Mama and Papa came to attend with Odie and Carla. Bong, Boss Jo, and Kuya came to celebrate with us too.Flor said the opening prayer.

I said the opening remarks. I was not prepared.

We had dinner.
We had raffle prizes and games.
We distributed the 13th month pay.

Omar gave his Christmas message.They sang and drank the night away.I'm done! Finally!

Dinner

We did not have a party for our Makati business. We just had our dinner.

Mommy brought packed dinner for the staff. Daddy said his Christmas message. We also had raffle prizes for the lucky ones. Then the distribution of their 13th month pay.

I'm almost done!

Party No. 3

This is my third Christmas Party for the year, our company outing.

After how many years, everybody gets to win in our raffle draw. Looks like they are more happy having small and more gifts over big and few gifts. Mommy prepared a lot plus we solicited some from our generous suppliers.

Jenjen led the opening prayer.

Kuya said the opening remarks.

We had our picture taking, dinner, then games and exchange gifts. I got a pink shirt =)

Mons, with the RCM sisters, led the Thanksgiving Mass.

Then, we distributed their 13th month pay and Daddy said the closing remarks.

No photos for I was so busy. Will try to grab some from Mommy or from Ate Bing. Looks like they had fun! Whew! 1 down, 2 more to go!

LOL!

Laughing out loud! - That's what we did all night last night.

It was our second year to hold a christmas party with the Santiago cousins. It was held last night, Dec. 4, 2007, birthday of the eldest, Kuya Ed, at Gazebo Royale.
Opening prayer was deliverd by Tita Turing. Dinner followed. Oh we have lots and lots of yummy food. Aside from the food provided by the caterer, somebody brought sushi and sashimi, lechon, and assorted pastries.Then we played our games. I was assigned to host, as usual, and to prepare for the games. I wanted a naughty and sexy games so we will all have fun. Then I prepared names of everybody so I can just draw lots on who will play in which game. It's easier and time-saver. It was not intended, but good thing that everybody got to take their turn in playing games.

We played egg-cracking game with the girls' back at the guys. Next game was the softest eggplant, guys wore an eggplant tied at their waist and girls have to mash it with their hands being careful not to break the skin. Then bachelors got a beer drinking contest in a feeding bottle. The rest get to play feeding their partners bananas blind folded.

Then we had picture taking, lots of picture taking. Actually, even before the party started, cameras were starting to click. In one posing, it's like a press conference. Almost everybody got their own, ready to capture the event.We had fun gift giving. Each had to describe who they got for everybody to guess. It's so funny how we could describe anybody without thinking how they would feel. It's so carefree. That's one good thing of being a family. Ate Cristy, who came all the way from the US with Kuya Pong and her daughter, Crystal, just that morning, gave a short speech thanking everybody for the event. She was so happy to see everybody. I got a pair of Havaianas while Omar got a pair of Crocs.Daddy said the closing remarks. The elders were so happy seeing all their grown up children playing around and having fun. It's a dream come true for our grandparents, they say.Thank you to Kuya Ed and Ate Elvie for providing the catered food, Tito Rene and Tita Monet for our venue, and our sponsors - all the titos and titas, for our raffle and game prizes. Omar and I won a hotdog and salad container and a microwaveable vegetable steamer.

In our gratitude, all cousins were asked to join me in front to sing our Christmas carol to all our generous sponsors. The elders were all ears awaiting for our christmas carol, then we all sang 'Thank you! Thank you! Ang babait ninyo! Thank you!'

Laughing out loud! - until the end of the night.

PS Up to now, upon posting this, daddy and mommy are still raving at the party last night. They were so happy they had fun.