Christmas 2011 - The Reyes Celebrations

the holidays usually takes its toll on my little family.

as per the hubby's family tradition
(and because there are SO MANY kids in the family)

we tend to celebrate on christmas eve with them starting at 6.30 pm.

we have dinner and chats then we spend the next 3 hours

making an impressive show for the kids when it's time to open up their presents.

this year, we had a total of  seven families.
in between all of us, we have 13 children!

you can just imagine the amount of time when each kid takes their own turn

opening up their own present in front of all.

we changed up one thing this year though... each family had to have 2 games each.

you can bet that everyone was geared up playing hip, hip, hooray (a filipino gameshow game)
tongue twisters, paper dance and how well do you know your spouse!

we had a ton of fun, complete with prizes.

our little family on christmas eve

 lola (grandma) melot with kaelan

opening (or eating) the first gift of the night!

my favorite boys

the number of presents keep growing each year 

yay to matching outfits!  i just love them!

playing hip, hip, hooray... and that's my hand holding a stand-in-mic

ate aia with baby kaelan

lola melot & dylan

we finished celebrations a bit after midnight and headed home.

the boys were so hyped up after all the celebrations

that neither wanted to get to bed (and didn't do so until almost 2 am!)

so we had them open a present each to keep them entertained

(and not to mention that no one gave toys and dylan was itching
to get his hands on some toys!)

by the time the boys were in bed

they were both so pooped out they just crashed on our bed!

but it isn't over yet.

i will update tomorrow with my side of the family's christmas celebrations!!!

i hope that everyone had a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY season this year!

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas!

if there is any holiday that i love above all else

Christmas is at the very top of my list.

nothing beats the feeling once December rolls in.

in my case, December is coming faster than any other ordinary month.

you see, before even halloween came along

our tree was up and ready

just waiting for it's final touches.

and today, i finally got the rest of our ornaments in.

and my hubby proudly tells me that our tree

looks good enough to be a mall display.

back in manila, when i was growing up

as of september 1st, the malls would have all their christmas gears out

and christmas music would be playing all over.

we called it the "ber" months (september, october, etc...)

and the spirit of christmas is felt early on.

  i am glad that the hubby, like me

feels that we should start the festivities a tad early.

our boys enjoy the beautiful christmas lights.

and get excited at the talk of santa coming by.

our family is surely getting ready for this holiday season.

are you as excited as i am?

the late christmas post (in pictures)

i have been meaning to get onto this certain post for the last little while but everyone in  our household seems to have taken on the winter flu.  luckily, we are all recuperating so i am now only able to get back onto my new year's blogging today! 

and to think i had so much planned for this post!  but alas, i must prioritize and just get onto the pictures rather than the words.

my two favourite boys fooling around

 

 the little bhubba and i

trying on mommy's new runners and busy opening presents!

daddy helps out with the presents

 enjoying his most treasured gift of all....

 his very own Thomas & Friends train set!
he just ADORES this.

i hope everyone had a wonderful christmas as well as new year!  (i slept through new year's... i know, it was sad... but i couldn't help it what with the little man and i sick and all....)

under the tree

i hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas season!

my family had quite a busy couple of days as we celebrate from Christmas eve all the way to Christmas day so you can just imagine the amount of shut-eye i was able to get these last few days.  of course, that is not to mention that today is Boxing Day (and in Canada, considered a holiday when all the stores go crazy on sales!).

i will be loading more photos once i am able to get the decent sleep i most need but i wanted to share with you my favourite present from this year.

these are my  new pair of TOMS :)

***With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need.  One for One.***

not only do i love the idea behind the shoes, they are actually very comfortable!  i heart them and want more! i also am canvassing around to purchase some for my little man.

thank you hubby, for such a thoughtful gift this Christmas.  i love that i'm not the only one who has received a present but that someone else is need is able to share it with me!

Christmas Countdown: T-8 days

i change my mind.

i do WANT something for christmas (though i can't say who in their right mind will buy me this).

this is the Britax B-Ready stroller.
good for two kids in the infant and toddler stages.

take note that the infant car seat as well as the secondary seat is an entirely separate purchase.
oh, and let's not forget the attachment!

but seriously, this would make my life so much easier when baby #2 rolls in.

i just love the endless options i will have in this stroller!

i am coveting this system in the silver.

note to santa:

i have tried to be very good this year.

 instead of me dishing $1200 for this whole system,

could you please just plop it under my tree?

i would really and truly appreciate it.

Christmas Countdown: T-10 days

Dylan enjoying the lights and sparkle of the "PIPA'S TREE"

(Christmas tree in his toddler language).

my christmas list

a few years back at this time of year, my "must have's" for the season is set with a copy in the hubby's (then bf) email and phone.  my list composed of the usual things a girl could want --- a new camera, an ipod mini, a guess bag, a new winter coat, a leather jacket, nine west and puma shoes, a pair of new earrings, a tiffany bracelet... seriously, this list can get long and irritating.

fast forward to today ---

we have been doing our christmas shopping the whole of this week and the hubby has been asking what i want for christmas.  he'll point to certain things --- the ring i want with the little man's birthstone... a new charm for my pandora or tiffany... a new purse perhaps?  or how about the plain wedding band i have been looking at to match my current one?  an ipad... shoes... clothes... a tiffany necklace perhaps so that i can switch up the only necklace i wear on a daily basis?  or how about the selphy printer i have been coveting for over a year now?  or better yet... the cricut expressions that i have been drooling over?!?

i have looked at each and everyone of these items ranging from the cute and cheap to the most outrageous and expensive.  i have weighed my options at getting one or two items --- possibly even three!  but at the end of each shopping trip, i come out empty handed for myself but with more goodies for my little man.

my mom told me that when she used to go out shopping for herself, that she will come home with nothing but delightful clothes and toys for me and my brother.  i now know where she is coming from.

you see, THERE IS NOTHING THAT I WANT MORE FOR MYSELF.  i would rather spend all the money i had for things that will make my little boy happy and excited... there is really nothing that compares to a child's expression when they receive something they truly want.  also, call it cheesy and cliche but i have a wonderful husband who will give me the entire universe if he could and i have a beautiful little boy who is my greatest joy on this earth.  i may not have the house, the nice car or even my dream job but i have the most important things in my life --- THE FAMILY THAT I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED AND PRAYED FOR.

so for this upcoming christmas, though i do not open any prettily wrapped gifts, i hold the greatest treasures that God has ever blessed me with.  these treasures of mine is enough to last me for my lifetime and beyond.  

and next may... we open up another chapter of our lives... the one where God is giving me my late Christmas present.

Happy Holidays!!!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Secret Santa

I am very lucky to be friends with the bunch I'd like to call "Ninongs & Ninangs" (godfathers & godmothers) as they are exactly that to my little man.

Yesterday, we celebrated Christmas a little early with a pot-luck of yummy home made food and the exchange of our Secret Santa.

It was tons of fun (as per usual) and I am still baffled with the way our exchange gift worked. What are the odds that we would have all picked our respective secret santa?!?!

Either ways, I am wishing this bunch a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I can't wait for our next get-together!

Here's the little man in front of his loot. He of course had a lot more fun with tearing the wrappers and trying to stuff them in his mouth. (Thank you for all his presents!!!)

Ninang Leah & Ninong Jay, our respective affianced couple ready to tie the knot next year!

Ninang Sherry & Ninong Aaron, the most punctual couple I have ever met.

Here's the hubby and Ninong Benjie. I'd be scared if they were a couple but they were opening their presents together as they both had the same gift!


Myself and the little man enjoying my 3 boxes worth of gifts from Secret Santa Sherry!


My wonderful BFF, Ninang Arwen, and our hostess for the evening (and most likely the next few evenings of our get-togethers!).

little blue booties

In the four years that the hubby and I have been married, this is the first Christmas Holiday that we are celebrating where we actually have a tree up! It was exciting to decorate it for our little man's very first Christmas. Along with our new tree was a little trinket that we have picked up... the bhubba's very first ornament.

Traditions are such wonderful things to instill in children and this is one tradition that I am very much looking forward to in the years to come.

white christmas

1998 was the last year vancouver had a white christmas.  it is a beautiful site to behold when you look out at christmas morn and you see nothing but white outside.  i've always been very thankful that my parents have decided to uproot us to canada or we never would've had the chance to experience so many other aspects of life that needless to say, we never would have come across if we stayed in manila.

as i sit with a mug of hot chocolate looking out my parents window at the white scene in front of me and the silver and gold of the tree ornaments glittering in the corner of my eye, i ponder the life i would've led if we called manila home still. 

would i be married now?  on the family way?  working a secured job?  happy with my life?  would i have two dogs and two cars?  would i have the great friends i have today?  then i realize, that Christmas is not a time for pondering these things but a time to be thankful for all that i have. 

and i have so much to be thankful for.  so much more than i can even possibly think of.

so i bow my head and closed my eyes in a silent prayer of thanks to Him who has blessed me with so much.

and on a side note...

Wishing all of you and your families the Merriest of Christmas