Child's Play

Juancho attended his friend Lakan's birthday party. I was so happy to see him finally participating and enjoying the "formal" games and activities of parties like this.

He used to dislike being in part of the party entourage and during these games, he would normally sit or stand aside or plays by himself. Alas! During this party, he just needed a little "push" and motivation and voilah! He's participating! Whoopee! :)

Child's Play

365-day challenge, Day 90

6 December 2014

Lampposts

The lampposts of downtown DC are now dressed and ready for the Holidays. :)

Lamppost

365-day challenge, Day 89

5 December 2014

©JReyes

Angel

Another Christmas photo.

This is particularly timely for my Filipino brothers and sisters. Another typhoon (International name "Hagupit") is about to make landfall in the Philippines... 

May the angels save and protect my kababayans from the damaging effects of the typhoons. Prayers for everyone...

Angel

365-day Challenge, Day 88

4 December 2014

Pinecones

One of the earliest Christmas ornaments, the pinecone is common to the Christmas scene. They said that in the early 1800s there were no Christmas balls or glittered faux snowflakes, but instead people use fruits, nuts and cones to decorate their Christmas trees. Now that we see different kinds of plastic and glass decorations, the pinecone is still a household favorite.

The sight of a pinecone brings me lots of childhood memories, especially during our regular trips to Baguio City, one of very few places in the Philippines where you can see real pine trees in the wild.

Pine Cone

365-day Challenge, Day 87

3 December 2014

Christmas in IFC

Even our office is now donning the Holiday vibe!

I just love this time of the year. Somehow the stress just disappears. :)

Christmas in IFC

365-day challenge, Day 86

2 December 2014

©JReyes

Christmas Ball

Looks like from my previous post up until the Holidays I will be posting a lot of Christmas-related photos. :)

The morning Christmas-carols-over-coffee ritual has officially started.

Ball

365-day Challenge, Day 85

1 December 2014

©JReyes

Parol

The Parol. The famous Philippine lantern made of paper, cellophane or kapis. The star that lights Filipino homes, symbolizing the coming of the Messiah on Christmas day. We are lucky that Mom-in-law, via a visiting Uncle-in-law, was able to send one over.

Just staring at this blinking beauty gives me a glimpse of the Filipino Christmas that I truly miss. The traditional family dinner: Noche Buena... The noisy relatives as they exchange gifts... The classic party menudo... The lumpiang shanghai... The queso de bola... The kids wearing new (unwashed) clothes from head to toe... The crazy traffic... The caroling with the usual reply "patatawarin" (spare us)... The corporate Christmas party with lavish raffle prizes... The Kris-kringle... The puto-bumbong and suman... The early morning masses... I miss them all.

Can't wait to be able to sing "I'll be home for Christmas" and truly mean it. Soon, very soon. :)

25 Days 'till Christmas!

Parol

365-day challenge, Day 84

30 November 2014

Protests in DC

We were on our way to have lunch with friends in Filomena in Georgetown. On the way to Wisconsin Avenue, we were surprised to see people carrying protest signs and banners flocking the driveway of M Street. They then stopped right in the middle Wisconsin and M, the intersection where we should have turned to get to Filomena. As I tried to sneak in to turn, I was stopped by police and was asked to turn around and go back to key bridge instead. So I did.

Luckily, I found a parking spot as I took a u-turn. I quickly took the spot and Bubbles and I decided to walk towards Filomena. As we were approaching the crowd, I took a few photos.

Protests over alleged police brutality and racism that happened in Ferguson, Missouri have been spreading across other states, one of which in the DC Metro area. People protest about what they believe as militarization in the police force, as well as unfair treatment towards and stereotyping of cultural minorities like African Americans.

Why don't we just all get along??

Protest

365-day challenge, Day 83

29 November 2014

Decorating Christmas

Happy Black Friday!

As a tradition (of 3 years now?!), I buy a live Christmas tree at Home Depot over Black Friday, alongside finding some good stuff in the hardware store. So at Black Friday night, we take out all the decorations and trimmings and start decorating. And to help with the Christmas mood-setting, we play our all-time favorite Christmas tunes. Thank you, Johnny Mathis, Bonnie M and Gunter Kallman Choir. :)

Now with the little boy all grown up and eager to help out, decorating is much more fun. Juancho took on the task to take all the Christmas balls out of the box and laid them on the carpet so it would be easier for me to pick them up and put on the tree. Yes that is what you call seeing the purpose in what initially seemed like a complete mess.

Christmas Balls

365-day Challenge, Day 82

28 November 2014

Thanksgiving 2014

Happy Thanksgiving! No turkey for us though. :)

Thanksgiving 2014

365-day challenge, Day 81

27 November 2014