Cray Cray Carrillos: The Booger

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Calli has this habit of wiping her booger onto, most of the time, the wall, sometimes, on any surface. One time while watching TV, I saw her picking her nose. I warned her not to do it that time. After niya masungkit ang kulangot niya, 

Calli: Mommy, tissue?

Deadma, kasi anlapit niya sa tissue. Ayaw niya lang tumayo.

Calli: Mommy, tissue please?

Ay, deadmadela pa rin!

After some time, during commercial,

Me: Calli! Saan mo na naman pinahid 'yung kulangot mo?!

Calli (whining): Binalik ko na sa ilong ko! Ayaw mo kasi ako bigyan ng tissue e.

Eeew!!!

Filipino: Wika ng Pagkakaisa

Hello, hello! How’s everyone? There are rains everywhere, again. Dito sa Baguio, we had five nice, warm, beautiful days with Mr. Sun. Pero starting yesterday, ay, rain rain again not going away. Other than that, keri naman ang mga bagay-bagay.

Oh-em-gee! It’s August 18 na today. Tomorrow, August 19. And the day after tomorrow, August 20. And the day after the day after tomorrow, August 21. Holiday ‘yown! Long weekend ang mga kids! Well, maybe not all kids, pero my kids, sure na ‘yun. Nakalagay na sa school calendar nila. Masaya ‘yun…sana if long weekend din ako, ‘di ba? Oh, well, asa na lang ako.

And another thing, hambilis talaga ng panahon. Imagine, in less than two weeks, September na! Ber months na naman. I love the thought that it’s almost Christmas season again. I love the weather here in Baguio (and everywhere here in the Philippines) ’pag Ber months, medyo malamig. Yay, excited na ako!

But bago tayo mag-fast forward sa Pasko, I want to share with you ang mga happenings sa mga kids ko ngayon August. Op kors, Buwan ng Wika ngayon, so, ‘yun.

Two Saturdays ago (sorry, super late post), their school celebrated Buwan ng Wika. This year’s theme is Filipino: Wika ng Pagkakaisa.

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There were presentations from different grade levels – song presentation for pre-school and dance presentation for grade school. All of the kids were wearing Filipiniana costume, like baro’t saya, ganun.

Calli's Kinder 2 class sang Bayan Ko by Freddie Aguilar. I never thought Calli could memorize the lyrics of the song. She amazes me at times. She was right at the center and the front most row. Feeling ko siya ang bidang bida dun. #stagemom

Cray Cray Carrillos: The Launch

How are you mga 'teh?!

Ako, keri lang. I have a new schedule, am assigned with a new task to a new team. It's just my second week. I am now team mates with one of the few friends I have at work. So far, I'm enjoying. So far.

And on Wednesday last week, my team had a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the client vendor manager. I'm so pleased to hear praises from her for the team. I don't remember her exact words. The only words she said that I could recall are, "you're doing the right thing", "the best feedback I received from Nesting since the last time I was here", "you got the right mix of people this time" to my manager. 

My manager was so happy! After the discussion, feeling ampogi pogi niya dahil sa magandang feedback. Sa sobrang saya niya, lahat kami in-I love you niya. He said to my coach, and they're both male, "I love you, p're!", and to my friend, "I love you, Nikki!", and to me, "I love you, Mina!". What a good feeling to end my Wednesday shift. Hindi 'yung "I love you" niya ha, but the good feedback from the client vendor manager. 

Okay, I'll go back na to what this post is really about.

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I'm pretty sure you already know by now that there's Team Kramer, Doug Kramer and Cheska Garcia's tag name for their family. I also have one for my family, Camp Carrillo. Why "Camp" 'ka niyo? Aside from the obvious, Elmer kasi is from a family of soldiers. I think nabanggit ko na 'to dati? Elmer's dad is a Navy Commodore, his uncle is a retired Marine, and his half-brother is a Navy Lieutenant. He also has distant relatives here in the Philippines and in the US na mga sundalo kung saan-saang branches. Kaya the "Camp".

I am launching this series here in my blog. Once in a while, may mga nakakaaliw or nakakabaliw na pangyayari or conversation sa bahay between me and the kids, or me and Elmer, or Elmer and the kids, or among the kids. Gusto ko lang i-share sa inyo here. Just like the other blogs that I follow. I'm calling naman this series Cray Cray Carrillos.

Haha! I know what you're thinking. Oo, gaya-gaya lang! Aliw na aliw kasi ako sa mga stories nila about their families, how they are sa mga bahay nila, sa work, with their friends. ^_^

I hope you enjoy my stories, too!

Ciao! ♥

To English or Not To English

I work in a call center. I have been around for about 10 years now. Oh yeah! Whoever says no one that works in a call center speaks in the vernacular while at work either 1. Has not worked in a call center ever, or 2. Is lying.

Strict EOP? Uh-uh, not so strict at all. Even managers don't strictly follow kaya. I'm telling the truth. So, sue me. That's At Work. Nabanggit ko lang naman. Plus, I'm really that not good with intros. Haha!

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At Home. Elmer and I bring up our kids using Filipino language as their main language. I know, super cute pakinggan ang li'l Filipino toddlers na umi-English. I don't have anything against parents who prefer their kids to use the English language as their main language. And there's nothing wrong with that. Different strokes for different folks ika nga. For Elmer and me, hindi namin kayang panindigan, especially Elmer, na umi-straight English sa harap ng mga bata all the freakin' time. Also, we're 100% sure na hindi lahat ng tao na makaka-interact nila at bagay na mae-encounter nila as they grow up ay umi-English all the time, like jeepney drivers, yaya, sari-sari store owner, Pinoy teleseryes, Pinoy TV shows etc. Elmer and I love Pinoy movies kaya especially the old ones from the 90's. We're 80's babies, 90's kids kasi, that's why. Anlakas maka-nostalgia ng mga ganung movies.Mas grabe si Elmer kasi aliw na aliw din siya sa mga movies na almost black and white na at parang umuulan palagi sa screen. You know what I'm saying. Ako, 'di ko na bet 'yung mga ganun.

Going back. 

We just don't want any confusion sa words, grammar, diction and all. After all, my siblings and I, as well as Elmer and Ate Pla, grew up na Filipino naman ang gamit namin sa bahay but we learned English just totally fine. Practice and loads of American movies, TV series and TV shows make perfect, I guess.

At School. Nikki and Calli's school promotes the learning of communication through English language by speaking only English language every Wednesday. Everyone (and the school head means EVERYONE from the guard, canteen staff, nannies, parents, everyone) inside the school campus, has to use the English language when talking to anyone. When the memo got out,

Calli's #GlycoCake By Glyco Sweetshop

Calli's only request for her birthday was a cake with Queen Elsa, Princess Anna and Olaf on it. You know naman how little girls (and some little boys) are addicted to Frozen these days. I got a little worried kasi 'kala ko walang gumagawa ng fondant cakes dito sa Baguio. My family never had a fondant cake ever before. It's a good thing that my officemate knew someone who knewa bakeshop that specializes in fondant cakes - Glyco Sweetshop.

She suggested that I immediately checked their Facebook page. So I did. Agad-agad! #excited

In fairness, I was impressed and delighted with their works. Honggaganda mga 'teh! Amazing talaga!

That very afternoon, sugod agad ako sa shop nila sa DPS Compound (near Victory Liner Terminal in PNR). I brought with me the design that Calli chose among the designs I showed her that I got off of the Internet.  

I just thought of it now, I should have taken at least a photo of the shop or maybe the cupcakes displayed. Maliit lang 'yung shop nila to dine in. There were only three, small two-seater tables inside the shop na 'pag nagkasabay-sabay ang mga tao sa loob e super crowded na.

Going back.

Calli Turns 5!

Whenever I look at my kids, I can't help to think where have all the years gone. Parang kelan lang talaga, si Nikki pa lang ang anak namin ni Elmer. Then Calli came...unplanned. Then Trace came not too long after...also unplanned. Haha! Then there are three li'l terrorists in this family.

Actually, unplanned naman silang lahat. But I don't regret having them at an early age. I'm only 30 (Okay fine, 31. Sabi ko kasi 'di ba I'd stop at 30. Just for this one time) and I'm already a mom of three and my eldest is 10 years old. Five, six, seven years from now, Nikki will already be dalaga. I'm pretty sure she will already be taller with fuller body than I will be by that time. Nasa lahi niya ang matangkad e.

Calli, on the other hand, is payatsy ever. But she used to be super tabatsy naman when she was a baby.

Maybe just her cheeks. 

It was Calli's birthday on July 27. She's 5 years old now. Before her birthday, Elmer and I asked her what she'd like to have on her birthday. Walang kagatol-gatol, ang sagot, "Frozen cake!". And then I started to get worried. I didn't have any idea where to have a character cake ordered. She didn't care what else she would have on her birthday basta may cake ni Elsa, Ana, and Olaf, 'yun na! 

And then the search began. 

I mentioned Calli's special request for her birthday to an office mate. I got lucky, may alam siyang bakeshop here in Baguio that specializes in making character cakes - Glyco Sweetshop! (Thanks, Ana!) I will make another post about that.

Elmer and I never really planned on having a birthday party for Calli. She might have another party soon. Details later. So we just had a lunch together at home - no guests. We had spaghetti, macaroni salad, a bucket of chicken joy, the Frozen cake and iced tea. Solb! 

Medyo nalungkot lang ako when Calli said to me, "Mommy, bakit walang mga iba-ibang tao tulad nung birthday ni Trace?" Aaaw! She wanted guests to share with the celebration. I hope matuloy the other party for her in August. Balitaan ko kayo. 

Here are some more of her arte photos. 

She's grown up na talaga, 'no? 

Ciao! ♥ 

Loyalty Award

Hello, hello there!

This time, I think I can already keep up with the Kardashians. Charowt! Hindi, I think I can keep my promise na that I kept breaking na I would be updating this blog more often. Baket 'ka 'nyo? Tada! Somehow, may internet connection na ako dito sa house! I'm so happey! Note the "somehow" over there. Hindi naman hardcore na internet connection kasi, pocket WiFi lang mga 'teh.

It pays to be loyal talaga - sa credit card, sa cable, sa cellphone service provider, sa supermarket atbp. Sun subscriber na ako for 5 years. Last week, I got a text from Sun saying I could get a pocket WiFi 50% off the price. I visited The Sun Shop 2 days after I got the text.

Rep: Sorry ma'am, matagal na po kaming walang stock ng pocket WiFi na naka-promo.

Me: Hala, e 2 days ago ko lang na-receive ang text niyo.

Rep: Sorry ma'am, wala na talaga. Kuhanin niyo na lang po 'yung naka-regular price na pocket WiFi namin na bagong device.

After mahabang paliwanagan at kumbinsihan, pumayag na akong bumili for Php 1,500.

Sign-sign ng forms, ready-ready ng bayad , ganun, while she took the pocket WiFi sa stockroom nila.

Rep: Ang swerte niyo ma'am! May naligaw pang isa. 'Di namin napapansin kasi pareho ng box sa iba.

Winner!!!

Ayun nga, original price was Php 1,500. I could get it at no cost naman pero may lock-in period na 1 year. Ayoko ng lock-in lock-in period, plus 'di ko avail ang 50% off 'pag ganun. So may I pay na lang ako ng Php 750 plus Php 699 per month lang ang unli-data plan nila. Winner na winner ang feeling ko. In fair, mabilis naman ang surfing speed ko. I mean, acceptable speed for my surfing needs.

I guess, you'll be hearing from me more often na. *crossing fingers*

Ciao! ♥

Wazzup, Wazzup!

I need to have internet connection at home. Badly.

I'm so pathetic. This post, I'm typing using my iPhone that, for some reason, cannot share internet connection out. And FYI, I don't have mobile data plan. Naka-i100 churva lang ako ng Sun. Unli-data for 3 days. Really pathetic, right?

That, my friends, is the main reason why i can't update this blog as often as I want. Plus, syempre, I have work, the kids, and other stuff that I am so busy with.

Okay, okay. Enough with my excuses.

How are you mga 'teh?!

Ako, feeling great to have four days off. Sadly, I'm coming back to work na tomorrow night. Oh well.  And because I was gone for too long (again), of course, 'di ko pa na-kuwento sa 'nyo these things:

My family moved to a new house that's a little (little lang naman) bigger and more spacious for our things. It's in the same compound.

You see that? Trace now has more room for his crawling and rolling. 

Trace celebrated his first birthday on May 17 and ako, I celebrated my 2nd 30th birthday on June 20. Bahala na kayo to do the math. Basta I'm stopping the count at 30. ^_^

I just realized now na walang matinong photos si Trace nung 1st birthday niya. #sadness

Elmer has moved to a new job in Tarlac since April. I don't want to give details on this one. Sakit sa ulo i-explain eh. So every week na lang siya umuuwi dito sa Baguio. And soon, that's gonna change again. Tsaka na ang details 'pag sureness na. Baka maudlot eh. ^_^

Nikki is now in Grade 5 while Calli in Kinder 2. Their school still went with June as school opening. In just about one month, I'm so amazed that Calli already knows how to spell, write and read simple words pa lang naman. She's turning five years old on July 27.

Gotta go, sago!

But wait, there's more... soon, not now. Promise! ^_^

Ciao! ♥

Overwhelming Presents

Summer is here!!!

And so are Ate Pla and her family!!! Hooray!

Ate Pla is Elmer's elder and only sister, sort of (don't ask me to elaborate on that please). She left for the US in 2008 and this year is the first time she's coming back since. This time, she now has a husband and two cute kiddos, Haeven and Neveah. They, of course, are Nikki, Calli and Trace's cousins. And of course, it's their first time to meet each other. They're only staying for two weeks. Very short stay for being gone for five years, you might say. So they have to make the most out of it.

 

They have lots and lots and lots and lots of pasalubong for my family especially to Elmer and my kids - shoes and clothes and toys and chocolates and more shoes and more clothes and more toys and more chocolates. Ako ang na-overwhelm nang tunay!

 

These are just a few of her pasalubong for the kids. 

 

These pairs of shoes are just some of them. There's a whole lot more that I didn't take photos of. Like I said in my Facebook post, I will definitely need more shoe racks for these. As in more na more. 

Moving Up, Up, Up!

Hello, hello guys! How are you? Sooobrang iniiit! Andito na 'ko sa Baguio ha. I can imagine kung gaano kainit diyan sa Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Pampanga and the rest of the Philippines. Summer is here na talaga, yes?

But before we start with summer activities and all, of course, we have to end the school year muna. This is actually one of the few times in a year na very relaxing. I mean, parents like I am get to have a little more rest compared to when kids still had classes - physically and financially. Haha! I don't have to worry about getting them prepared for school everyday, what their baon for the day's gonna be, etc. You know exactly what I mean mothers, right?

On March 26 and 27, it was Calli and Nikki's Moving Up programs, respectively. Days after Nikki's final exams and before the program, her teacher texted me, asking if I wanted to come over and see how she came up with Nikki's final grades. I think she did that to all parents whose kids were vying for honors. (Yes, Nikki was a Grade 4 bronze medalist. #proudmomma)

 

I replied. I said it was okay and that I trusted her and that Elmer and I were not very particular about Nikki's class standing anyway. Not like we didn't care about her grades. Hindi ganown. Teacher didn't reply back. Whatever.

I Love You, Jesus

How are you mga 'teh?

 

Whenever I say "'teh", I remember our van driver in Puerto Princesa when we went there. Anlaking tao pero tume-teh siya! Haha! But I forgot his name na.

 

Going back. Nikki and Calli's school required them to attend like a Sunday school one (of course) Sunday before closing of classes. Pre-school students were required to come in "Sunday" clothes. I honestly don't know what's the definition of "Sunday" clothes kasi 'pag Sunday naka-pambahay lang naman ako. #true My family doesn't go to church to hear the mass. I know, I'm such a... But please don't judge me and my family. Haha!

 

Going back again. Ever since she received this dress she's wearing in the video below from great-grandma Martha, she hasn't worn it until that Sunday. I thought she was overdressed. Who would go to church to hear the mass in a dress like that. Ada pay siling-siling na, Apo! (There are even glitters, my God!) Oha, my translation pa. Ang tanong, tama ba ang pagka-translate. Pero close, something like dutch.

 

Going back again. She insisted on wearing that dress. Okay, fine. I let her try it because it looked to me like maliit na for her. When she did, sakto na lang. Mabuti na lang she got to wear it pa.

 

We had a dress-slash-song rehearsal.

 

Lookie, lookie! ^_^

 

 

What d'ya think? You think she has the making of a diva?

 

Ciao! ♥

 

 



So Long, Sbarro!

For so long, Elmer and I have been wanting to try to dine at Sbarro in SM. Just tbc, there's no other Sbarro here in Baguio. I just felt the need to add "in SM" right there. ^_^

Going back. When SM Baguio opened in 2003, there was Sbarro near BDO, then nawala after some time. Then bumalik, this time, next to Celine. Who knows, 'pag nawala ulit this time e 'di na bumalik. 

Kasi I read this over a week ago. After reading that, I told my self, "Ha! I gotta this  time."

The n times na pumasok kami ni Elmer sa loob ng Sbarro at nag-check ng food and price list, hindi kami natuloy kumain. I know him so well. He always wants sulit-busog  meals. Mga unli-rice levels, ganown. So, hindi siya masyado convinced sa idea of dining at Sbarro.

Last week, after running some errands sa town (or city, kasi people here in Baguio call the cbd as such), I dropped by Sbarro "in SM" and tried their mushroom pizza and ordered a glass of iced tea.

I'm sorry, Sbarro. There's nothing extraordinary about your mushroom pizza, sabi ko. But I gotta say, it's one huge slice of pizza, almost the same size of the plate. And, I think natural spices ang ginamit, which was good. And, I love it na may spice rack kayo for a couple of options. Although, I find your iced tea much, much sweeter than most iced teas I tasted. Bow. 

It was too late para magsisi ako, and I told myself, sana nag-Don Hen na lang ako. But then again, baka naman masarap 'yung ibang pizza nila. Baka naman dapat kong i-try. Kaya lang mahalia talaga mga 'teh! Pag-iisipan ko pa kung ita-try ko 'yung iba. Balitaan ko kayo 'ne? 

Well, I was there for the experience in the first place after all. So there.

Ciao! ♥

For The Nth Time

Helleeer!!!

May blog nga pala ako. Haha!

How are all of you?! I know, I know. I was gone (again) for so long. A lot of things happened here and there...and everywhere. ^_^ I missed a lot, I know.

I don't know now how and where to start (again). Let me try.

I have a couple of things in my Drafts. Like this one that's dated 11/17/2013 --

Half Year

Yay! Trace is 6 months old today!

 

Where have all those six months gone? They've gone so fast. Whenever I do some organizing of his clothes in the cabinet, I'd always find at least a piece that doesn't fit him anymore. Some of them, never niyang nasuot even once. No worries kasi most of his clothes, or shall I say all of his clothes, are hand-me-downs from Elmer's nephew Haeven and my cousins Rhys and Rahl. Some others were Nikki's and Calli's pa. I don't think may binili ako or si Elmer na damit for Trace. So hindi nakakasama ng loob na hindi niya nasuot 'yung mga iba.

Trace is turning 10 months on March 17. And he looks nothing different from the photos above. He just has more hair, is much taller, much stronger and is still gwapo. ^_^

 

I will post a photo of him on my next post. Pwamis!

 

I always ask this when I look at my kids, "Where have the times gone?" Ambilis kasi!

Do you guys watch the series The Walking Dead? I am an addict, and I am proud. ^_^

I asked because I also found a would-have-been post sitting in my Drafts dated 11/19/2013 about it --

The Walking Dead Season 4

When my notebook got broken late last year, I never bothered getting it fixed until I was about to give birth in May. I could use it while I was in maternity leave. I thought I would still have that much time to spend on the computer like when I was still pregnant. I thought wrong. May baby na nga pala. I have to say babies are the most demanding bosses. My ged!

 

Ang result, the notebook sat on one corner and gathered dust until last month. I thought of a good use for it. Because I didn't, and still don't, have internet connection at home, the best use for it is for watching movies or videos. I wanted to start watching a TV series again. As far as I can remember, there are only two TV series that I religiously watched from the their first seasons up to their last  - Prison Break and Desperate Housewives. I also watched Grey's Anatomy, got bored at Season 5. I also started with Modern Family, stopped at Season 3.

I heard about The Walking

Ayan, hanggang mahabang intro na lang ako. Hindi ko na natuloy at nai-post. Season 4 is three episodes away to its end. I will definitely miss this. I'll have to start a new series while waiting for Season 5. Any suggestions?

Then I have one more in my Drafts titled Trace's First Solid Food. It only has this photo collage Trace and his first solid food I prepared for him. Effort ako mga 'teh but I didn't get the chance to post it naman. :(

That's it. Nothing after 11/19/2013.

I have been very busy, promise. Since my team has been assigned with a new task, wala na. That's when the (again) hiatus started. But couple of days ago, I saw the light. So I followed it. Haha!

I'm hoping (again) to stick around for long(er) this time. ^_^

 

I want to end this post with this quote I got from Kim Chiu and Xian Lim's movie. I enjoyed the movie, btw.

Forever is giving the person you love unlimited chances to love you right everyday. - Lala, (Bride for Rent)

 

Oha!

 

Anong konek 'ka nyo? Forever. I want to be present na here sa blog ko from now on (again) 'til forever. Haha! #ipushyangforevernayan

Ciao! ♥