How hard could a group photo be?!

It is extremely hard. . . if you are talking about taking a group photo of children!  Hahaha!

While some of them would have their camera ready smile, one of them would veer away from the camera.

Or all of them would be wearing their perfect smile BUT
not everyone will still be looking at the camera! *heavy sigh*
Someone is always ready for the cam!

But that someone will eventually get tired from all the smiling and picture taking . . .

Just when the others have become ready for the camera,
that someone just had it!  Hahaha!

Take 2!!!  Let's try this one more time!

See what I mean?!  Hahaha!

I know that taking a perfectly timed photo of a group of children can be quite challenging.  (Unless you have a really good camera that takes a hundred or a thousand frames per second!  Heehee)

Whether perfectly timed or not, I think the spontaneity of children is what makes their pictures beautiful and heartfelt.  (Yes, even if they are not looking at the camera, haha!)

Have a nice weekend ahead!

Of Capes and Superheroes

Ate was playing with a baby blanket, then her Ahma (grandmother) said "Look", then she took it from her, tied it around her neck and turned it into a cape ala Superman!  I was then expecting her to shout "Superman!" after . . .

Then my Mom said. . . MIGHTORRR!!!

Me and my thought bubble. . .Ummm, "Mightor???"  Haha!

I asked her who he was and she said that we grew up with him.  So I went to google "Mightor" to find more about this character.

Friends, meet my Mom's Mightor. . .

Image from www.oldschoolcartoonz.blogspot.com

So yes, he has a cape . . . just like Superman!  But I really couldn't remember him at all!  I think I would remember a bare-chested superhero!  Heehee

He is actually called Mighty Mightor, and this is his story (from Wikipedia)

One day, while on a hunting trip, a teenage caveman named Tor, along with his winged pet dinosaur Tog, rescue an old man who, as a reward, gives Tor a magical club. When Tor raises his club to the sky, he transforms into the masked and muscular Mightor, a prehistoricsuperhero very much in the Space Ghostmold who possesses superhuman strength and the power of flight through his club, which can also fire energy blasts.

And if you notice that he has similarities with Thor (like the name and the hand-held weapon), Wikipedia shared this Background story

Image from hotdognight.tumblr.com

When Hanna Barbera was producing an animated series based on the Marvel Comics super-group the Fantastic Four they were also slated to produce a series based on the Marvel superhero the Mighty Thor (Marvel Comics) as well. However, Marvel had recently made a deal with Grantray-Lawrence Animation to produce several animated series based on some of their other characters called The Marvel Super Heroes. And at the last minute Marvel pulled Thor from Hanna-Barbera slate as part of this new deal. Not wanting to abandon the Thor concept entirely, Hanna-Barbera retooled the designs made for Thor and come up with a show which became "The Mighty Mightor". There are noticeable similarities between the characters: First, their names, "The Mighty Thor" and "Mighty Mightor". Thor carries a hammer-weapon that fires blasts and enables him to fly. Mightor carries a club-weapon that fires blasts and enables him to fly as well. Thor wears a cape and a winged helmet. Mightor wears a cape and a horned helmet. And lastly, both can transform into secret mortal identities initiated by the power of their mighty weapons. In addition, there are similarities between some of the supporting characters as well. Most notably Thor's father Odin and Chief Pondo of Mightor's village.

If I have to choose between Mightor or Thor. . . I will pick Thor, no second thoughts.

But I am talking about THIS Thor!

Image from www.sodahead.com

And besides, I'm not really into bare-chested Superheroes!  Hahaha!

Wild things!

I saw these sort of "wild" fruits in the kitchen this morning . . . I called them wild because we didn't really grow them.  This cute watermelon just sprouted in our backyard.  I guess it's from all the fruit scrapings we composted together with  other degradable matter.

 

Same with this giant Mango!  We didn't grow it, it just fell in our backyard. . .from our neighbor's tree!  Hahaha!  (There was another thing that also "fell" in our garden a couple of years ago, please click here if you want to know what it is, heehee)

It is one huuuge mango!  I don't know if it is a Capampangan thing but my parents call this type of mango, "tsinelas" (slippers).  I guess this is so because of its size and shape.

These two fruits should have swapped sizes!  

And if you're wondering how they taste, let's just say, they are better to look at. . . unopened!  Haha!

Oh well, let's wait and see what else turns up in our garden =)

Terrific Tuesday

Ever since I left the corporate world almost five years ago, one thing I don't keep tab regularly is the day we are in or even the date for the day.  

So when a good friend of mine (Thanks again D!  I loooove your gift!) gave Bunso a set of baby bibs with the days of the week embroidered in it, I thought the bibs would do the people at home a favor. . . because I don't have to keep asking them the question, "What day is it?" . . . almost everyday, haha!

So I told Ate F to use the bib for each day accordingly.

This afternoon, when I got home from running some errands, I saw Bunso wearing this:

So I asked Ate F why she put on the Saturday . . . .because it's a Tuesday today!

She only had this to say . . . "Eh kasi terno sa suot niya"

HAHAHA!  So okay lang ang mali, as long as it's pleasing to the eye!  Ate F talaga, haha!  

I am so happy today because I made a new friend (a special shout out to Mommy Jane!  You should check out her blog!  She is one funny and charming lady), we have an out of town trip this weekend (it's a bonding time for me and Ate and Ate with her cousins) . . . oooh and her birthday is just around the corner! =)

Today is a good day. . . So many things to be thankful for . . . the gift of friendship, family and love!

I hope you're having a great day just like I am =)

My Little Drama Queen

When I was still single, I remember telling my Mom that when I have children of my own, I will give them to her during their formative years so she can raise them the way she raised us.  I think believe my siblings and I turned out to be pretty good and decent persons.  (Thank you Mom and Dad!)  

Well, Mom, I am still making the same request, hahaha!

Meet my Little Drama Queen . . .

She did this after I gave her "THE" look and told her that I didn't like what she did.  She bowed her head and after a few minutes, she looked up with her eyes glistening with tears . . . yep, she has become a little drama queen! 

Parents are given the Herculean task of disciplining their children.  I find this scary and overwhelming!  The thought of screwing up my children's lives just because I didn't do a good job instilling discipline in them is enough to send me into an anxiety attack!  (Okay, that was an exaggeration!  Haha!)  But really. . .Can you imagine having the responsibility of shaping a child's behavior, hoping that he/she would turn out to be the best person he/she can be.  It's like being given a blank canvas so you can paint your own Masterpiece!  

Parenting Books are here to inform us, give us ideas or guide us but one thing is for sure, they can never tell us the perfect formula or what works when it comes to disciplining children because every child is different from the other.  

Everyday is indeed a challenge to parents who have to deal with their Children . . . yes, whatever their ages are! 

I am still learning. . . I do hope and pray that Hubby and I do a good job in raising our Precious Ones well. 

*Heavy sigh*  

Disciplining a child is definitely one of the hardest things a parent does . . . and probably toilet training too, Haha!  

A New Fave: Tokyo Bubble Tea

It's Monday . . . Again!  I know. . . we can't wait for the weekend. . . Again!  Haha!

I had a really nice family bonding time over the weekend.  No, we didn't go somewhere special nor did anything out of the ordinary.  It was just really nice to have spent MORE time with two people I miss . . .My little Princess (Ate) and my dear younger sister!   

My Saturday afternoon with Ate (and Barney!  Haha!) was full of singing and dancing, tickles and giggles and ice cream!  

Yesterday, I went on a date with my sister!  I really miss our dates . . .I don't know how many movies we've planned to see but missed because I'm just busy with taking care of the kids.  So after going to Church, we made time for us. =)  Our dates make up two things . . . food and window shopping!  Okay, sometimes (or is it most of the times?) we give in, haha!

For brunch, we thought of going to Tokyo Bubble Tea which her bestfriend was raving about.  Since I was craving for some Takoyaki balls and she loves to drink milk teas, it would be the perfect place for us to try.

We weren't really hungry so we just ordered the following:

Kani Salad - Php 135

Value for Money!  Big serving, it's good for 2-3 people, they didn't scrimp on the ingredients and on the Japanese Mayo!

Takoyaki Balls (8 pcs) - Php 175

They are okay, I guess I was thinking dreaming of the Takoyaki Balls I had in LA . . . but these are still better as compared to the other Takoyaki Balls I had locally.

Chi-Zu Maki - Php 135

My least favorite, haha!  I  find it a bit dry.  But my sister liked it though.  It's breaded chicken roll with melted cheese filling.

Roasted Garlic Mushroom Spaghetti - Php 255

It looks simple but it's actually filling.  I think it needs a little more salt and I was looking for a stronger garlicky taste.  But it's still okay, I can order this one again.   

Mocha Shake (Php 145) for Sis
and Honeydew Melon Milk Tea (Php 125) for Me

OMG choosing our drinks was overwhelming, they have a looottt to offer!  Everything looked good!  We're glad we ordered these two.  Both were good, but we love, love the Mocha shake!  It was super thick!  I'll come back for this!

Did I say we weren't hungry??! HAHAHA!!!

Oh and we availed BPI's promo.  When you spend Php 1,000, you get a free Okonomiyaki (it's a Japanese savory pancake which is made up of meats, vegetables topped with Japanese mayo and red ginger)

No we didn't eat it!  Promise!  We just took it home . . . for dinner!  Heehee

Tokyo Bubble Tea has a wide range of menu.  They have appetizers, pastas, burgers and sandwiches, Makis/Sushi/Sashimi, Entrees and Donburis.  It's so wide that we are going back to try more of their food!    

If you want to know more about Tokyo Bubble Tea's menu and locations, please click here.

I totally enjoyed my weekend with the people I love. . . Hope you enjoyed yours as much as I did! =)  

Baby Steps

My Precious Little Ones . . one lazy morning 

Baby step by baby step, you have what you need right now to start moving in the direction of your happiest dreams.
- Marta Davidovich Ockuly 

A few months ago, a good friend of mine mentioned that his wife (who was working in the corporate world) have always dreamed of opening her own business.  Well, I am happy for her because she is now living her dream!  She has resigned from her job and is now one of the proud owners of a spa business which is opening tomorrow!  Nothing beats that happy feeling from personal satisfaction because you love what you do and you got what you've always dreamed of =)

Let's start the week right. . . remember, it's not too late to realize your dreams!

Have a good week ahead!