Sunday, February 28, 2010

Yearly Slide Shows

I'm posting three slide shows I made for 2005, 2006 and 2007. I found the files recently and now vow to work on the slide shows for 2008 and 2009. Watch for them soon.



Saturday, February 27, 2010

Simple Joys

Round. And round. And down, Bela goes.

It's the simple joys, the silly, babaw antics that elicit the best fits of laughter from all of us.

Friday, February 19, 2010

While the cat is away ...

Patty has been on an out of town trip for four days now and so Gabi, Bela and I have been spending a lot of time together. Mostly in my room, after I get home from work, where we play and dance and sing.

And watch TV.

And eat.

Okay, I admit it. I have been lax with the rules. We've watched more TV than their allotted time. And we've snacked on more chips and junk that Patty normally allows us.

And we've eaten out three times in the last four days. To places that don't exactly serve healthy options. And we've even been to the big toy store in the mall where each got a small toy. Including  me.


We've been bad. I've been bad. Wish I could with a straight face say that we did it to make up for Patty's absence. But that would make the bad worse.

Plain and simple, we've been enjoying ourselves. I've been enjoying myself. A bit too much, I guess.

Tomorrow, Patty comes home. And tomorrow, sanity returns to the house.

That's one of the reasons why I love my wife. She lovingly brings sanity and order into our lives.

My life especially.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Bela Eats!


This little one likes to eat. And that makes us happy. And she eats anything. And everything.

So unlike her older brother who is more picky with his food. And who has to be given appetite enhancers.


Why, I always wonder. Is it because Bela was breast-fed and Gabi wasn't? Maybe the simpler answer is that she's a Mercado. And Mercados certainly like to eat.


Monday, February 1, 2010

Our Favorite Child

The feast of the Santo Nino or the Child Jesus  is celebrated every last Sunday of January in Patty's home town of Malolos, Bulacan. The highlight is the procession of the different images of the Child Jesus, all beautifully adorned as an expression of the owners' devotion and love for the Child Jesus.

The Child Jesus is the favorite patron of Filipinos. Many have their own images and own altars at home. And many customize their images according to their personal petitions and prayers. There are Santo Ninos dressed as policemen or firemen. There are Santo Ninos dressed as farmers or fishermen.

Gabi and I look forward to the procession. And this year we were not disappointed.

Of the more than 150 Images in the procession, here are Gabi's and my favorites: