Our rainbow baby’s second birthday last Monday (February 7th) was celebrated simply and without fanfare. The hubby and I had a limited budget and we never really wanted to spend so much for it in the first place. I think what’s more important is that we made her happy with the few gifts she received and the unlimited supply of love and warmth from all of us at home.
Our First Chinese New Year Experience in Binondo
Yesterday was epic. For the very first time, I thought of going to Binondo on Chinese New Year to check out how this auspicious occasion is celebrated there. Yes, I was just curious. So I dragged the hubby with me and off we braved the traffic and the crowd to experience our first Chinese New Year in the oldest Chinatown in the world having been established in 1594.
We reached Jones Bridge at past 3:00 p.m., left the car at a safe parking area somewhere there, and walked our way into Chinatown while watching the ongoing parade participated in by various groups. My SIL Albie joined us as soon as we arrived at Lucky Chinatown Mall. She actually went to Divisoria in the morning to shop at 168 Mall with her friends Grace and Angie.
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Post-Christmas Family Date
When I got married, I made it clear with the hubby that I wanted to spend Christmas with my side of the family every year. We actually arrived at a setup that suits the both of us — Christmas at my parents’ place in Naic with my family and New Year at our marital home in Bacoor with his. This way, we get to be with our respective families on these two special occasions. And so far, it’s been working greatly for us. Everybody happy.
it’s a yellow Christmas for the Mabalay family!
This year, our Christmas traditions as a family (my side) live on. The hubby and I spent Christmas with my family in Naic. We had a family pictorial using our old DSLR (a Canon 1000D) and when the clock struck 12, we partook of our simple Noche Buena feast. There would have been a mini-concert, too, because we have a microphone and an old folding music stand lying around, but unfortunately, the singers in our house (a.k.a. my younger sister Jodie and my dad) weren’t in the mood for it.
Weekend Story: All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day Observance + Some Lotto Winning
Last weekend was simple, relaxing and fun. The hubby and I spent Saturday in Manila and went to Bacoor on Sunday along with his parents.
On Saturday, we visited our son’s grave first thing in the morning.
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Weekend Story: Tagaytay-Nasugbu Road Trip (a.k.a. #PippoDay 2014)
The hubby and I, along with my mom and two sisters, went on a road trip yesterday. It was the 28th of September and we were remembering our little angel Pippo. Destinations were Tagaytay and Nasugbu. We left our Bacoor home at around 8:45am and reached Nasugbu two hours after. We were grateful for the nice weather (alternating between sunny and cool), the fun experience and our safe return back home.
In Nasugbu, we heard the morning mass (11:00am) at the Transfiguration Chapel housed inside Calereuga Retreat Center.
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Holy Week 2014
We had a simple but fun and meaningful Holy Week break. The hubby and I were joined by my two siblings Jodie and Son at home in Bacoor. But we went to Cavite only after we finished the traditional Visita Iglesia in Manila. We visited a total of seven churches, as usual.
my energetic mom joined us during the Visita Iglesia
On Good Friday, we just stayed at home the entire morning and early afternoon. I baked a chocolate cake out of boredom and it turned out so good. We ate it after every meal until the very last slice was eaten up.