It's been too long...

No posts since October...so much has happened since. Well, not really, but one important thing that has happened is that we've moved to a new (well, technically not new, since we're the third owners) house. Quite a distance from the old townhouse in Mapagbigay St, but much quieter and definitely roomier. We've been here a little over a month and so far, so good. Of course, getting this house means major belt-tightening for us, but hopefully we'll be alright.

Here's a pic of the front of the house. It's a bungalow, and it looks small from the outside, but it really is quite roomy inside.


I've been looking for a picture of the house where we used to live, but I can't find one right now. Maybe I'll just do a side by side in another post. Anyway, one of the things I really like about this house is that it sits just across a church, which is quite reassuring for me. Also next to church is the subdivision's clubhouse and courts so Ben has a huge place to play around in. So we're pretty much settled. There are still some stuff that needs to get organized and stored, and we still need to get some new furniture but we can wait a bit for those. Hopefully before Irip, Girlie and the kids come to visit this March, we'll be able to have some additional furnishing, he he he.

As for Ben, well, he's growing. The pants of the school uniform I got him back in June is now about over an inch short. And he's a bit meatier than he was before. Officially, he is now 121 cm (almost 4 ft) tall and weighs 27.9 kg (roughtly 60 lbs). What follows are some pictures from October last year.

Here he is with his Lola Iring. This and the next photo were taken just before we went to Church.

This is a picture of him wearing his costume for their presentation during the 40th Foundation Day of Claret School. Unfortunately, it rained so hard that day so the presentation which was supposed to have been held outdoors was moved to the school gym, which couldn't fit in all the parents so it was chaotic. Everyone wanted to get in. We ended up seeing Ben's group perform from far away and with their backs toward us.

The next few pictures are from our annual trip to Baler for the All Saint's/All Soul's Day holiday. Ben is still afraid of the sea, and it was really difficult even getting him to go near the seashore. Actually, it was a riot.

Can you tell from his face that he really didn't want to be there?

With his Lola Iring and Lola Anay

Another day, after much coaxing, we got him to test the waters and when the waves came he cried. The two kids with us are Ruskin and Rey, a couple of his friends in Baler.

That is a forced smile.

That is a genuine smile, and he's holding on to the tricycle driver on our way home from the beach.

With some new playmates

This next batch comes from the annual Claret CSC field trip. The trip visited Avilon Zoo, the Science Centrum, and a peek at the biggest shoes in the world. I'm only posting some of the pictures here.

At Avilon Zoo. It cost me P50 to have his picture taken with that bird. I wanted him to have his picture with a bird of prey, but he didn't want to.

A hyena in the back

Another P50 to sit on and have a picture with a mini horse

Swinging in the Science Centrum

I told him to just have his head out but he wouldn't listen.

His weight in various planets in the solar system.

Playing with the giant abacus

With his classmates JM and Miggy

Joined by Yvonne

Before I post the photos from December, I'm sneaking in Ben's class picture for this school year. It's an even bigger class now as there are 22 or 23 kids of them in their section.

That's him in the second row, 3rd from left.

Ok, on to December, which was a very busy and tiring month for us because that's when we moved to the Jade St. house. The first one was taken outside the Bayantel office in Diliman. He really likes this Santa because it dances. The next ones were taken when Ben's school had their Christmas presentation. They recycled the costumes from the Foundation Day celebration and used them for the show. Ben's class sang a medley of Christmas songs. I would've posted the video but it's not very good since Ben is positioned in the back.

With the dancing Santa

Onstage just before the show began

With Sister Vivian, adminstrator of Claret Child Study Center

With Rafael, a classmate from Senior Nursery that is now in another section

With classmates Mark and Martin

Mark, Ben, Martin and Renz

Receiving his gifts from the 'dark' Santa

With Jon Benedict just before going home

These next ones were taken on Christmas Eve, just before we crossed the street to go to Church (major advantage of having one right across the house).

Me and Ben (with Papa's feet in the back)

With Anilyn, Marjorie, Auntie Iring, and Jackie

Growing and growing...

Last Dec 29th, we attended the 40th wedding annivesary of Tyung Edgar Abesamis (Mama's 1st cousin). The reception was held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel and Ben was really excited because it was the first time to attetnd an event in a five-star hotel. The food was great...but best of all, Ben pretty much behaved that night.

Our trio (I'm getting bigger and bigger every year!!!)

Mother and son

Outside the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel

The next pictures are from New Year's Eve. As usual, we trekked over to Kuya Boy's house by the beach to enjoy Media Noche and fireworks. For some reason, Ben, who was originally gung-ho about fireworks, decided to sit it out when we started lighting them. His excuse was that he didn't like the smell. Still it was fun fun fun...

With his Kuya Daniel and Kuya Miguel (they're growing up so fast!)

Spongebob...Smile!!!

Some of the Tan Ta Ran Tan kids just before the New Year officially started

The revelers...minus our hosts Kuya Boy and Ate Nini, who were both so tired they fell asleep before the clock struck

Here's a couple of fireworks video clips...





That was fun...and now I close this entry with some pictures of Ben taken in the mall ...

At SM Fairview

With Mr Potato Head in front of Toy Kingdom (The Block at SM North EDSA)

With the Monopoly Man

Well, that should make up for a couple of months of silence...enjoy the pics.

Jacob Adrian Uy Tan has arrived!

Ben's newest cousin has arrived! Jacob Adrian Uy Tan was born a bit past midday on October 10, 2002 in California. He joins big bro John Marvin (Jovin), Janina Andrea (Janina), and Josella Marie (Siobe). He he he, since Jovin and Siobe's initials match, then Janina and Jacob's initials match also. Here are some pics, courtesy of Jovin.






I can't wait to meet him in person, but Jovin said they might not be coming back until December. That's a couple of months away still, but Jacob is worth the wait.

Welcome to the family, Andrew Diego Redman Romulo

Ben has a new cousin. Andrew Diego Redman Romulo was born in the evening of September 26, 2007, just 2 days before his mom's birthday. What a very nice birthday present for Sharon (also a late birthday present for his dad, Kuya Edmund). It's so nice to have a new member in the family. Just fitting, we heard that's some reddish hair he's got on his cute head. Here are some pics:













Isn't he just so cute???

To top things off, Ben has got another new cousin coming on October 10. He's Kuya Boy's and Ate Nini's 4th child. Can't wait to see what he looks like and of course, I'll post his pictures too.

A fiesta and the big 4-0

This year, I turned 40. Getting older and hopefully getting better and wiser, but I'm not so sure.

We spent the weekend in Baler, which celebrated its town fiesta on the same day. Patron saint is San Luis Obispo, thus the name Luisa (tempered by the Maria in front). For a while I thought we wouldn't be able to go home, no thanks to supertyphoon Egay. Surprisingly though, the weekend was relatively calm, and Ben and I were able to watch the parade on Sunday (19th) morning. It was a bit of a disappointment. I thought there were going to be street dancing and stuff, but it was mostly just people parading with a few floats of Little Miss Baler runners-up and winner and bands from the different school. Still I think Ben enjoyed it. After the parade, we passed the day basically doing nothing, just relaxing, then we had spaghetti in the evening for long life. It was nothing major, but I felt that I really had a great birthday celebration.

Like I always say, it's always good to go home to Baler, and this trip, the roads notwithstanding, was worth it. I would've wanted to stay longer, but work and school called us back to Manila. Here are some photos to share:

Ben with Abraham and Gabriel, two of his friends in Baler

One of the bands...

And Ben looks on...

I have no idea...

Kids in costume...

Ben and his Lolo Emon doing one of their favorite pastimes

That's me with Papa and Ben

Ben and me under the lateris tree

Gaming on the computer

Ben with his Ate Jackie and Ate Roxanne

Family Day

Last July 28 was Family Day at Claret's Child Study Center. It was a half day of program and games for Ben, so Auntie Iring and I went with him. Their class sang one song, and then all the CSC children sang another song together. I tried to videotape it but my videocamera was running out of battery, and the video taken with the cellphone is too small (I need a new digital camera with a video taking function to it). Besides, Ben, being one of the taller kids, was relegated to the back again so it was difficult to get to him with the camera. Still I did take some pictures which I'm sharing below.

The children also made little paper necklaces for their parents with a heart pendant and one of the pictures show me (looking horrible as usual--why oh why oh why!) with Ben after he put the necklace on me. It's really sweet and touching to see him running towards me to give me his little gift. Last year, it was a card. Anyway, here are some pics:

Ben with his Teacher Caei and classmate Yvonne

That's Ben in the last row, almost center

That's me and Ben after he gave me the necklace

That's him in the last row, 2nd from the left after they finished singing "I Won't Last A Day Without You."

And here's the video from the cellphone of them singing I Won't Last A Day Without You. It's not complete, because my knees started to hurt from kneeling and it's quite blurry, but I thought I'd upload it anyway. Again, Ben is the second kid from the left on the last row.