Paying taxes is fattening.

Mom and I were tasked to pay the property tax at Tagaytay. We brought Tita Nil and Benjie with us.

So we went straight to the city hall to pay our dues and paid a visit as well at the chapel of Archangel Gabriel.Then we went to Sonyas for early lunch. Oh how we loved the ambiance. It wasn't our first but the first time was a long time ago. We had the usual set - salad, bread, pasta and dessert. Winter had mangoes. They even gave away flowers at the end of lunch. We strolled after lunch for some picture taking and bought stuff like mosquito coil and room spray.We then went to Good Shepherds to buy goodies which Tita Nil will be bringing to Canada.

We bought pineapples along the way too.

And went to Rowena's to buy buko tarts and more goodies.

And finally, went back to Manila through the old road so we can stop by and have our bulalo. Here, Winter had his potatoes.Thank God, Winter was such an adorable boy. He never had a tantrum but had so much fun. Lakwatsero in the making. I missed Summer.

I never thought how fattening paying taxes are at Tagaytay. I never mind doing it again next year basta may budget hehe.

The Ribs Challenge

The Reantasos had their Market Basket years ago. Their base then was chicken and they have to prepare soup, appetizer and main dish out of it.

The challenge now is: Who makes the best ribs in the house?

The challengers:

Team Kuya Olejoe and Omar
Ojay
and Chef Orland
Each challenger can submit as many entries as they want. With 3 challengers, we had 6 entries.
Judges were uncles and aunts, cousins and officemates of Onnie.
And the over-all champion was Chef Orland.
It was a night full of food and laughter. It was so much fun! Orland was the over-all champion but Ojay bagged the best in flavor, so you can imagine the kanchawan.

When will be the next challenge kaya?

Despedida for Onnie

Too much despedida dinner for the month.Onnie's leaving on the 29th. Family, relatives and friends gathered and had dinner with Onnie. We brought Onnie's favorites - buko pandan and cassava con leche flan and pancit lucban. Papa prepared his signature kare-kare.Kids had so much fun playing around. I discovered how bossy Summer can be. Poor Winter. And Winter had his taste of dinner too!Boys had their rib challenge which deserves another post.

Mama prepared a gift for Onnie - a calendar of family events.
We will surely miss the only rose among the thorns.

My school girl.

Since Summer started attending school, I see to it that I call her once she gets home.

Monday:
Ate Nenet reported that Summer got mad with her teacher because her teacher refused to give her a stamp. Reason - she was not listening to her teacher. From the last parent-teacher conference, we learned that Summer was one of the few students who could sit still and listen to the teacher. But coming from vacation, I expected a few days not getting stamp since I expected her to be sharing lots of stories with her classmates. But not for more than a week already. So I talked to her and told her that I won't bring her to school anymore if she will not listen to her teacher. Aba! Pumayag at galit daw sya sa teacher nya! So I told her, no stamp, no TV! I know, my bad! Pero dun sya natuto mag-english tsaka Disney or Playhouse Disney channel lang naman e.

Tuesday:
Summer happily went home with a stamp.

Wednesday:
Aba! 2 stamps pa!

Thursday:
No stamp pero for all students naman daw, wala. Nenet asked her teacher how she was and was informed that they saw a big change for Summer since Tuesday. Effective ang TV!

Friday:
May stamp ulit.

Hay salamat! Back to normal na ulit si Summer. Grade conscious kaya pag laki?

Another Winter's first.

We always sit Winter, when he's awake, with us while we eat. Lately, I noticed that he's been chewing on his own, even without food, while we're eating and staring at our food. Kakaawa. Minsan, may sound pa talaga.

Syempre, excited kumain ang baby, excited din ang lolo at lola, at lalong excited ang stage nanay. Kaya ayun, at 5months, pinakain na namin kanina. I originally wanted to start with his vegetables kasi pag fruits, mas malasa, baka di na pansinin ang vegetables. Pero fruits lang ang available e kaya sinubuan na namin ng papaya and mango. Gustong gusto nya. Sinasalubong pa ang spoon at kinakapitan pa ang kamay mo. He drank his water for the first time too.I still have to confirm with his pedia tomorrow kung okay lang ituloy-tuloy na. Lalong bibilog si bilog! Di na sya mama-dependent? na-sad naman ako.

Winter's 5th.

Winter is now 5months old, and back at home in Paranaque hehe.Medyo mabigat ang leeg kaya tamad dumapa. Lately, nakakadapa na sya on his own but not for long. At this time, he can already grab on his own his teether and can now control his hands and bring it to his mouth.Boy si Winter. Suot lang nya hand me down from his Ate Summer kaya naka-pink. Na-excite lang ako sa 5 cup cakes nya kaya di ko na nabihisan.

Happy birthday Winter!

Still a baby.

Summer did not sleep after school. She was able to sleep on our way to Bulacan and refused to wake up for dinner. When we get to our room, our sheets were brought to the laundry the last time so Omar temporarily put her on the crib while I put fresh sheets on the bed.Buti di bumigay ang crib hehehe.