just for S&Gs

more BTE

2009-06-27T13:11:00.007-04:00

Pardon if the recording is a bit crappy.
My camera is not really the best to use for video recording.
This is BTE performing their song "Misunderstood" from their 2001 Closer CD.

(You'll probably get to see a good 1 minute of the song. Apparently, that's all this site will allow.)

BTE 2009

2009-06-27T12:49:00.005-04:00

Last night, Jay and I went to see Better than Ezra in Louisville. I was ecstatic to finally see them live again! Since I don't know when I'll see them again, I made sure that I had MY picture taken with Kevin Griffin. As you can see, my persistence paid off - as always.

The band was just as good as I remember. They performed a few songs from their new album Paper Empire, plus the usual fan faves.

It was fun to pick out who were truly are BTE fans. The fans know ALL the songs by heart and have seen the band multiple times. BTE may not have airtime with MTV or VH1, but they sure do have many faithful followers.

Tale According to Grandma

2009-04-14T10:08:00.001-04:00

Emma and Grandma were in the basement one afternoon.
Grandma was reading her book and Emma was busy painting in her playroom.
Grandma looked up from her book and saw Emma flicking/flinging the paintbrush.

Grandma: Emma, what are you doing?
Emma: I’m painting grandma.
Grandma: Why are you doing that with your paintbrush? You’ll get paint all over your playroom.
Emma: But I’m painting like (mumbles a name)!

At this point Grandma could not understand the name that Emma gave her. She did say it sounded like “Olock” which led us to believe that Emma was referring to Jackson Pollock.

HAPPY EASTER

2009-04-12T14:58:00.003-04:00

We had a mini-Easter egg hunt in the backyard.
Jay said the eggs came rom the "Easter Monkey."
Which confused Emma a bit.
She forgot all about it when she took the task of finding the eggs.

By the way,the Easter Monkey only gave 6 eggs.
That's why it was just a mini-egg hunt.
Pardon the outfit too, she put those clothes all by herself.

Happy to Perform

2009-03-07T20:19:00.003-05:00

Here's another performance by Emma.
When the kid is in the mood, you just have to go with the flow.
So hear she is.

50 Books - 2/7 Update

2009-02-07T08:47:00.003-05:00

Last night Emma and I read -

That's 11 books read, 39 to go.

============

In other news...

Emma crawled in bed with me at 7 AM this morning.

I had the TV on VH1's morning music videos,

but was not really watching coz I was still half-asleep.

A video came on and we had the following conversation:

EJ: Mom isn't that girl on Disney channel?

Me: Is she? I don't know.

EJ: Yeah, that's Taylor SWISH mom!

Me: Huh?

EJ: Taylor Swish!

The video that was playing

"Love Story" by Taylor Swift.

Reading Project

2009-02-04T13:18:00.003-05:00

Last September, the Lexington Public Library came out with a list of "50 Books to Read in Kindergarten." A week or so ago (yes it took me that long to catch up...) I picked-up one of the free posters and started a reading project with Emma. Our goal is to read all 50 books before she even starts Kindergarten. The list was very helpful since we have read almost all of Marc Brown's "Arthur" books and it is a very daunting task choosing a book of the hundreds on the shelf.

Below is the list of the said books. The ones in bold are the ones we've read so far, the italicize titles are the ones we are about to read. As you can see, we have a long way to go!

The 50 Books

The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen/Jerry Pinkney
Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont
Book! Book! Book! by Deborah Bruss/Tiphanie Beeke
A Splendid Friend Indeed by Suzanne Bloom
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Strega Nona: an Old Tale by Tomie de Paola
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming
Hattie and the Fox by Mem Fox
Corduroy by Don Freeman
How Are You Peeling? Foods With Moods by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers
Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
The Wolf's Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza
The Snowy Dayby Ezra Jack Keats
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock by Eric Kimmel
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
I Stink! by Kate and Jim McMullan
Goldilocks and the Three Bears by James Marshall
Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper/Loren Long
The Complete Adventures of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Mother, Mother I Want Another by Maria Polushkin Robbins/Jon Goodell
The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant
Down the Road by Alex Schertle
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Spicy Hot Colors by Sherry Shahan
Gregory, the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Pete's a Pizza by William Steig
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Sims Taback
My Kindergarten by Rosemary Wells
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Don and Audrey Wood
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen
Harry, the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

Winter 2009

2009-02-04T08:35:00.006-05:00

Last week we had a major ice storm here in LexKy. Power went out in our area Wednesday at about 3:30 AM. The first 24 hours of no heat was not too bad because of residual heat. Not being able to cook or heat food was actually harder.

Our power came back on the next day around 6 PM. We were the few fortunate ones around here. There are still some areas who are still in the dark. Our street was still very slick since snow plowers does not clean up side streets, country roads, and subdivisions. Trying to get to a main road was a pain in the you-know-where.

The temperature went up over the weekend and slowly started melting the ice. Start rejoicing right?

WRONG!
Mother Nature just dumped snow on us last night! Today's temperature of 15F will be of little help to us.

I do love winter and snow! It's the ice that I can't stand and driving through all that crap. I'll take the cold anyday, just no more ICE please. Better yet, give me SPRING....NOW!!!

Habla Ingles?

2009-01-26T12:39:00.005-05:00

Emma and I were at the Lexington Public Library yesterday.
She was playing with this little girl who was about
the same age as her. The little girl was cute and very blonde.

They have been playing kitchen for a good ten minutes
when Emma came up to me to gave me a plate of the pretend food.
While we were talking, the little girl came up to us.

She said, "Hey, do you speak English?"
No answer from Emma who was busy feeding me.

Little girl asked again, "Do you speak English?"
I assumed Emma did not hear her so I said,
"Emma your friend is asking you a question."

The little girl for the 3rd time asked, "Do you speak English?"
Emma turned around with a slightly annoyed look on her face answered, "Yes."

Later that night...

After I read to her she wanted to talk about our upcoming trip to Manila.
She wanted details.
How are we going to get there.
How big is the airplane?
Which airport?
How are we going to get to Mama Rose's house?
Where will sleep?
Do they have toys there that she can play with.
What will she eat.

Then this...
Em: Mom, do they speak English in Manila?
Me: What do you think?
Silence
Em: You do speak Filipino and English.
...

Emma at age 4 just gave an inductive fallacy example.
At least I think that's what she did.
I have to review my fallacies.
Anyway...yay for Emma!

An Emma Shout-Out

2009-01-19T16:05:00.011-05:00

Emma's been pestering me the past few days to put her friends names on a website. I really don't understand what exactly she wanted me to do, so I made her tell me all the names of her classmates and typed them as she was watching. She also wanted to print it out buy since I don't have a printer, I will just post their names here.

Here is a list of Emma's Pre-K class under Mrs. Bodart and Mrs. Emnett: Annica, Lilly Beth, Justin, Steven, Maverick, Anna Maria, Owen, Brynn, Jacob, Andrew K., Andrew M., Sam, Laura, Kyndall, Nathan, Caroline, Brandon, Ella, Josh, and Evan.

Then last night she also mentioned that she misses her "far, far, away friends." She meant the people whose picture appears below.

Well that's it. By the way, when she said she missed her "far, far, away friends" she was actually sobbing a bit. She followed her statement with, "when am I going to see them again?"

Unfortunately, I don't have an answer yet.

2009

2009-01-12T21:47:00.002-05:00

2009 is the year of the Ox.
Just like the ox, may we endure any hardships we encounter this year with
patient and without complaint, and work tirelessly to overcome them.
May this year bring more great blessings to all of us.

Happy New Year everyone!!!
(Better late than never!)

Early Christmas Present

2008-12-21T18:00:00.003-05:00

I received an early Christmas present from the Court Administrator of Fayette county.
It was in letter form and it's telling me that I've been selected.
I've been selected (and summoned) to appear at the Circuit Court on Jan. 29.
Failure to comply may result in a fine or jail time.

I am actually surprised that it took them this long to call me.
When I first moved to New York, I received a summon less than 3 months after I changed my license. Fortunately, I was not a U.S. citizen yet. The second summon came 11 months after I got sworn in, but since the dates that I have to show up was a week after leaving NYC.

So...yay! Merry Christmas to me!

Post-Thanksgiving Rhyme

2008-12-08T20:25:00.002-05:00

I heard Emma do this rhyme around Thanksgiving.
As mentioned in an earlier post...it's a slow night, and
obviously I am in a major procrastination mode.

So, here's another Emma video for your pleasure.
It's a Thanksgiving rhyme with a little Who thrown at the end.

Slow Night

2008-12-08T20:02:00.005-05:00

I should be studying but instead I recorded another impromptu peformance by Emma.
Let's see if you can guess what she's trying to sing here.

Figured it out yet?
Here's a clue - the version Emma is trying to do is the Joey Ramone version that he recorded before he died.
Leave a comment if you know what it is.

My Lips

2008-11-29T12:11:00.001-05:00

My Lips
Originally uploaded by Abbie67

I finally got around to uploading pictures from Emma's camera. Click on my Flickr site for more of her best shots.

Identity

2008-11-22T08:42:00.010-05:00

"Hey Emma's Mom..."
That's how I've been called lately.
I have been reduced to being just Emma's Mom.

I'm not complaining, I love being Emma's Mom.
It's just really been more noticeable now since Emma
actually have friends.
All of a sudden, I am no longer me.
I am just an extension of my child.

Is this a generational thing or is it societal?
Laziness perhaps? Or did we just stop caring?

Growing up I've always called my friends parents as Tita (Aunt)
and Tito (Uncle), Mama, or Aling (Mrs.) (insert mother's name),
and Mang (Mr.) (insert father's name).
That's just how I was taught to call adults outside the family.
I don't ever recall referring to any of them as "So-and-so's Mom/Dad."

I have been trying to teach Emma the same thing.
The rule of thumb is, close friends are referred to as Tita or Tito.
Acquaintances gets the Ms/Mrs or Mr. treatment.

Of course, as I am finding out too, everything that we try
to reinforce at home, tends to stay at home.
Just like a couple of Sundays ago.
Emma asked me, "why were you talking to Sam's mom?"
Me: "You mean Ms. Peggy?"
Emma: "That's her name????"

What Famous Leader Are You?

2008-11-10T09:03:00.000-05:00

I called it before I even took the test!!!

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

I VOTED!

2008-11-05T07:58:00.007-05:00

Yes, that’s what I did yesterday and I have the sticker to prove it!

It was my first Presidential election since becoming an American citizen and I was very excited to exercise that right. Actually, it’s my first time to vote, period!

Up to the last minute I was agonizing as to who I want to vote for. I was not really leaning heavily towards any specific candidate, and like any Americans, had big doubts about them.

When I finally did hit that button, I was not really over the moon, nor do I regret the choice I made. I was just glad that it was over and that I actually did it!

Halloween 2008

2008-11-01T09:28:00.006-04:00

For halloween this year, Emma's costume was the old hag who gave Snow White the poisoned apple. I forgot to bring the wig for her costume, so she just ended up as the girl in black cloak carrying bad apples...

Thanks to Lourra and Chris for inviting us to their home and their neighborhood. Emma's trick or treat loot was better this time around. She also enjoyed it more too since she did it with Maverick, her friend/classmate.

Also, a HUGE thank you to MYRA for the beautiful cloak! That's two years in a row that MY made Emma's costume.

I actually tried it when it first came in the mail and I was seriously considered using it for myself! Emma won't let me borrow it though.

So far Emma had been a "Darling Little Devil" (2005), a broom riding ballerina (2006), "Little Dead Riding Hood" (2007), and of course the person that offered Snow White a poisoned apple. I can't wait for next year!

Greatest Show on Earth

2008-09-28T20:07:00.011-04:00

Today Emma watched the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey
circus for the first time.
As mentioned in my earlier blog, this was part
of her "fours old" birthday extravaganza.
In true Emma form, as soon as Jay told her that she was
getting a surprise, she won't stop asking us what it was.

We finally arrived at Rupp Arena and even with the big
RB&B trailers out in the open, she had no clue what was
in store for her. Seriously, clueless!
We got inside, found our seats, passed by gazillion souvenir booths...and nothing.
Okay, granted that she can't read yet and really has not seen
advertisement for the circus...but it was just funny how everything
kind of just went over her little head.

The show started and she just sat there quietly.
I hooted and hollered.
Clapped, laughed, and yelled "marshmallow."
Emma? She just stared.
As we Filipinos like to say..."deadma!"
No reaction.
Nada.

Jay leaned over to her and said, "it's the circus Emma."
We were taking turns pointing out stuff to her.
Twenty minutes in the show, she started clapping along.
Finally, we had a pulse!!!

Then the tigers were brought in.
You can see in her big brown eyes that she's
a little bit scared of the whole act.
She reacted well with the clowns and some of the acrobats,
but there were some that scared her a bit too.
During intermission, she complained that she was hungry.
The second part of the show, more complaining.
"I'm hungry."
"Is it over yet?"
"When is it going to be over?"
"Can we go to Mcdonalds?"
"It's hurting my ears."
Finally it was over.

On our way to the car we were asking her if she liked the circus.
She said, "no."
She said that the animals scared her because they were acting "funny."
She did like the clowns and the zebras.
She was scared for someone coz she fell (she actually jumped).
Of course later on she said she liked everything.

Then while I was putting her to bed she asked,
"why do they have animals at the circus?"
I was taken aback by her question.
I don't really know the answer, so I just sort of skirted around it.
Hmmmmm....
So why do they put animals in the show?

By the way, the tickets were pretty inexpensive.
We were in the $24 seats and it hada great view of the whole thing.
Someone gave me a 50% coupon, so we only paid $12 for ours.
Where they'll kill you is in the merchandising!

Souvenir programs = $20
Cotton Candy with RBB&B "Dr. Seuss" looking hat = $12
Twirling light thingies = $22
Snow Cones in souvenir cups = $15
Lemonade in souvenir cups = $9
Calming down a high in sugar toddler = Priceless!

Luckily, Emma did not ask for any of them.
She was actually quite content to eat the $3 (yeah still $$$) pretzel and the $3 bottled water we got from the arena vendor.

Will post pictures later.
With the digicam dead, I have to go low-tech in the photography section.

If you have forgotten how that goes, it's like this -
step 1: take the pictures
step 2: wait for the film to rewind
step 3: remove film from camera
step 4: take the used film to a developing center
step 5: pick-up photos after an hour
(if you asked for a picture CD do step 6; if not, do step 7)
step 6: upload digital version of the photos
step 7: scan photos and then do step 6.

R.I.P.

2008-09-25T07:53:00.005-04:00

Four years ago they both came into our lives.

They were both given to us by wonderful and

generous people we dearly love.

They have captured a lot of events and Emma firsts.

How sad that on the same week they both bade us farewell.

To our Canon PowerShot A310 and our JVC videocam- THANK YOU.
Thank you for 4 wonderful years, even though you both decided to die
during Emma's 4th birthday celebration week.
We have enjoyed your company and really appreciated everything you've done.

Now that they are both on their way to the great electronic shelf in the sky,
we have to go back taking pictures like the old days.
You know, use a film and have them developed.
All I need know is remember where we stored our good ol' Canon ELPh.

Emma's 4 Years Old Today

2008-09-24T10:37:00.001-04:00

Emma's Birthday Weekend
Originally uploaded by Abbie67

Happy Birthday to my Little Princess!!!

She's been looking forward to her "fours-old" birthday.
Looking at every toy at Target and Toys R Us and telling which one she wants as a gift. My little smart monkey likes to point out that the toys she's demanding that we buy are suitable for her age ("it has my number Mommy!" (4+ on the box)). She also made sure that I remembered to get the cupcakes for school.

At 6:00 AM this morning she said, "Mom it's morning. Time to wake up. Today's my birthday too! You need to say happy birthday to me!"
When she got up and saw that her grandma was in the kitchen, she reminded her as well.

We started celebrating her birthday last Saturday when the Lolas and Lolo were in town visiting. We'll have another celebration tonight, and on Sunday Jay and I are taking her to see Barnum & Bailey Circus (shhhh she does not know about it yet...).

Sux that her birthday is in the middle of the week. We have to do multiple celebrations like this! :)

ATL 2008

2008-09-05T07:36:00.005-04:00

Last weekend, my family and I met up with friends in Hotlanta.
This is how it went down -

Friday
8 AM - JoEl & MaiT arrived at ATL
8 PM - We arrived at MyT's residence

Saturday @ 12:30 AM
Met at the Waffle House for late night snack.
TGM & family drove in from St. Aug.
JoEl & MaiT returned from their John Mayer concert.
MaiT was in 7th heaven after watching John Mayer perform live.

The whole trip to the Waffle House reminded me of those times I've eaten at IHOP after a night of dancing and drinking. Only this time, most of us were just tired from the trip.

Saturday from 11:00 AM until the wee hours of the morning
- we ate
- we laughed
- we ate
- we laughed
- we took pictures
- we played tongits
- we ate
- we laughed
and right after dinner... we karaoke'd...so...
(from this point on - everything was videotaped!)
- we sang
- we danced
- we drank Margarita & Mojito
- we took pictures
- we laughed
- we sang
- we danced
- we drank Margarita & Mojito
- someone kept on hitting the floor
- someone dropped their pants
- someone kept on spilling people's precious drinks
- and we laughed, danced, and sang some more

By 3:00 AM...well you can make your own conclusion on the kind of state everyone was in (except TGM because he was the D.D.)

Sunday - AM
Woke up with almost no voice and a pounding headache.
Apparently, everyone's head was pounding (except TGM).
JoEl told us she had a few sessions with the Porcelain god.
Even with the lack of sleep and the pounding headache that won't go away, we still managed to go to the mall to do a bit of shopping.

Sunday - 5 PM until ....
Repeat Saturday night activities minus the Margarita and Mojito.

Monday morning
Brunch at MyT's house.
A little advanced "Happy Birthday" celebration for MaiT, MyT, & Emma.
More picture taking

By Noon - TGM & fam left.
1:00 PM - MyT, MaiT, and I all went to the airport to see JoEl leave.

MaiT ended up staying since her flight was CXL due to Gustav.
We ended up staying since JET's stomach is still bothering him.

From the airport, we went straight to the mall (H&M!!!).
That night, MyT, Mait, and I played tongits, and had a photo shoot.
(See my Flickr account for photos)

Tuesday @ 10:00 AM
MaiT and I finally left MyT's home.
MaiT back to BFM to get ready for her LAX flight and then eventually back to MNL for her.
We started our drive back to LEX.

Thank you MyT & family for the accommodation and the yummy food that your Mader made for us. Truly Pinoy (and Southern) hospitality at its best!!!

My family and I had so much fun.
We are so blessed that we have such wonderful and fun friends.
Until we all meet again.

Just Horrible!

2008-08-22T10:22:00.003-04:00

My friend Ty recently wrote on his site a conversation that took place between him and his son Tyler. Click here to read all about it.

A few days ago, Emma and I were having our own little conversation and it went something like this…

Emma: Mommy are we going to the car shower after Dad comes home?
[Translation: Car shower = car wash]

Me: Yup!

Emma: Then we going to McDonalds to get me a Sundae?

Me: We’ll see.

Emma: [whining] but we have to!

Me: Hey, guess what?

Emma: What Mommy?

Me: I’m going to be a teacher in your Sunday School?

Emma: [eyes bulging] You WHAAAT???

Me: Yeah! Cool huh? I will be with the 3 y.o.

Emma had this unexplainable look on her face.

Scene 2 – in the car, on our way to the car shower

Emma: Daddy!!! Mommy’s going to teach my church school!

Daddy: Yes, I know.

Emma: Isn’t that HORRIBLE?!?!?!

Pre-K (4)

2008-08-13T13:35:00.004-04:00

Today, Emma started her Pre-K (4) school.
I have to make sure I mention 4 because she attended pre-k classes last year but it was for 3 y.o.

She is not only in a different class, but a totally different school as well.

We decided to move her to a school closer to home so we don't have to waste gas, time, and money driving downtown to pick her up. Plus, her old school's tuition was so high compared to this new school.

Her first day of school outfit was chosen by Emma herself.

She calls it her "I APPLE New York" city shirt.