Embracing Everyday

Time sure flies by fast! We can’t believe that it was only last year that we celebrated our folks 38th wedding anniversary! I don’t know if it’s because I’m old (-er), but last year only feels like a month ago.

For this year, after commemorating Holy week – we decided to have an impromptu Manila vacation. Called up several hotels in Makati, and we decided in staying in Ascott for the weekend. The said residence is in the heart of Makati, it has a decent pool and is practically in a mall. Good thing that the malls were opened by Saturday and Sunday. And the malls were not as crowded as it were if we were there on a regular weekend. So going around was a breeze… But most of the time, we spent the time eating, chatting, swimming, relaxing, and enjoying each other’s company. Just being lazy sometimes gives your “battery” a good charge.

And then, we veered away from crowds on Easter Sunday and wandered around Greenbelt 5 instead… And then before the day ended, I heard mass to have a thanksgiving talk with God and HIS family.

See more of our weekend here.

It was a busy Sunday for us… After my niece’s christening in the morning and a three-hour non-stop chat with my good friend Jaimie and then a family dinner at my sister’s home, we were in a hurry to get home before 8:30PM.

Thankfully, we got back home in time for me to give Sky his much-needed bath, light up candles around the house AND switched off ALL the LIGHTS to celebrate EARTH HOUR.

Sky was so tired from the activities of the day, that he asked for a bottle of fresh milk and headed to bed all by himself. I dutifully followed him and sang him a song before he went to sleep. The ambiance of the house made him sleep even earlier than expected. As soon as he dozed off at a quarter before 9PM, I was happy to see that most of our neighbors switched off their lights as well. A Good 60 minutes of “shutting off” will do wonders for Mother Earth. Hope you celebrated Earth Hour yesterday!

Glimpses of Doodle’s christening here. 

This is the first time that we celebrated Christmas eve together. Last year, D was out on a flight on Christmas eve and we only spent Christmas day together – then he had to work for the rest of December, while Sky and I spent a week in China with my parents…

Getting on that flight bound for Cebu on the 22nd was an extremely good decision for ALL of US.

Our Christmas celebration started as soon as we got off the plane. I had on a messenger bag around me, I was carrying Sky with my right arm and pulling our luggage with my left hand. Sky didn’t sleep for the whole trip – as he was excited as I am to see his Dad.

When we got to the room, we were welcomed by an endearing letter, a “Lion King” flotation device and colorful pouch with little trinkets inside. The letter was extremely SWEET.

The following day was Christmas Eve, we spent the day at the new Ayala Center Cebu and swam in the hotel pool. We tried to get Sky to take a nap for the long evening ahead – but it didn’t happen! Oh well.

We were able to bond together so well for Christmas. We had Noche Buena while running around after Sky. And it didn’t seem to matter when D’s arm went numb from carrying Sky the whole time we heard Christmas eve mass. All that mattered was we were together.

It was also the first time D brought us to TOPS in Cebu. Going there was a 20-minute uphill taxi ride from Marco Polo. The view up there was breathtaking. It reminded me of Baguio – where I spent most of my childhood Christmases. The hotels by the beach were fully booked for the holidays, so we just stayed in the hotel in the afternoon – and PLAYED some more. I didn’t want to go to the beach without a decent room, specially with a toddler in tow.

We arrived back to Manila on the 27th, but we are still celebrating Christmas up until now. We heard mass last Sunday to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. Coincidentally, our FIRST FAMILY CHRISTMAS together. This week is not just a week of gift-giving, dinners or parties – but a week of GRATITUDE for all the blessings that we were given and the blessings that will still be bestowed in the coming years.

We are still in the octave of Christmas. So it’s still perfectly fine to greet your friends, family and loved one’s, “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

Enjoy and EMBRACE the week of FAMILY and LOVE! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!