Maligayang Pasko

Note: Our camera is awful and we are begging Santa to bring us a new one before we go to Disney World this year. Please, we have been good.
Today we went to a Filipino Christmas party that the Cultural Society of Filipino Americans holds every year. We have gone the past few years, but this year was the most fun because we had Shella May with us. Shella May and Liam were invited to be part of the children's choir and have a part in the play that they do every year. (Lance was invited, but declined due to shyness) They have been going to practice for the past few weeks, which they loved, but they really liked being part of the show today. Shella May was part of the family in the play and also an angel. Liam was a king in the play.
They also had Santa come and give out gifts, blessings from Lolo and Lola, food and games. We all had a great time. Ryan even played musical chairs, but he didn't win:(

The Children's Choir singing the Christmas Alphabet Song

A scene from the skit. Shella May is part of the "family".

Our Birthday Girl!!

Shella May turns 7 today and it has been quite the birthday week. Today she was all ready to take her treats to school for her birthday and we had a snow day. We don't get them often in MN, so it is a real treat for us. We aren't really doing much special for her birthday today because we had thought we would be busy with school and church. We just keep telling her happy birthday and she is getting birthday wishes by phone and email.

On Saturday we had her family birthday party. My mom came over and I made a Filipino dinner. I tried to make Pancit, Chicken Adobo and rice. We bought some mango juice for her to drink and we had birthday cake for dessert. She opened all the gifts from family and had a nice night.

On Sunday we invited a few friends over for a friend party. I went for a traditional party of games, presents and cake. They played pin the tail on the donkey and a few other games from my childhood. She opened the gifts and loved it because her friends gave her toys (unlike boring family that gave her clothes:) They went outside for about 15 minutes also because there was a lot of energy in the sugar-filled kindergartners. Overall, I think it was a fun 2 hours for her.

Making Christmas gifts

Lance and Shella May helping sew.

Shella May helping out.

One of Shella May's jobs was to find thread of each color for Grandma.

Yesterday we decided to make some gifts for the orphanage that Shella May lived at. We are sending a few DVD's, some chocolate and "silkies" for the kids. Both the boys love sleeping with a silky, Lance started the trend at 4 months old and it still continues in our house for Liam and Shella May. My mom made Shella May one a few weeks ago and before that Liam had loaned her one. All they are is a small square of satin feeling fabric to cuddle next to when you are sleeping. Yesterday my mom did all the sewing, Ryan ironed them and I did all the cutting and anything else that needed to be done. All three kids stopped by at different parts of the day to help, but it was short lived. We worked for about 6 hours and made over 30 of them. I told my mom that we have it down so well we could go into business together. I know it doesn't look like Shella May is having fun in the pictures, but she really was excited about helping, it just doesn't show in her face at picture time.

Shella May modeling how to use the silkies.

And The Holidays Begin

Last week Grandpa and Karma came to visit for the week. It was fun because Shella May had never met them. Now she has met all her grandparents. It was extra special because the kids only had two days of school last week, so we got to spend lots of time with them. We played a lot of card games, watched movies and just had fun hanging out.
For her first Thanksgiving we had Ryan's dad and wife and his brother and family over. We had a traditional meal with all the fixings. Shella May's favorite food was the turkey and she disliked the pumpkin pie. She did like the other pies though. Overall she said it was an okay holiday, but she liked her school version better. On Tuesday they had a feast of popcorn and juice to celebrate the holiday and she loved that.
On Friday we bought and decorated our Christmas tree. She thought it was a lot of fun to go through all the crates and find the ornaments she wanted to hang up. We have a tradition of buying the kids a new ornament every year, so we looked at the Hallmark book on line. I'll take them later to pick them out. Shella May thought it was funny that most of our ornaments are Star Wars theme and I'm glad that she will add a little variety to our tree.
Hopefully with Shella May's birthday approaching and all the fun Christmas events coming up I will be blogging more.

Happy Birthday Liam!!

Eight years ago I met a little boy that has changed so much in my life. Liam has such a wonderful, unique, and caring personality. He is really smart, fun to be with and always thinking of others. An example of Liam: last night we gave him our gift and he opened it and was so excited. We gave him his own microscope and he couldn't wait to try it out. After a few minutes he came over to Ryan and told him that we spent too much money on him because good microscopes cost $300-400 and he was upset because he didn't feel worthy of that much money. Ryan assured him that it was only around $30 and he would show him the receipt is necessary. Liam went back to enjoying his gift. He loves being thought of, but not in an egotistical way. We all love our Liam and are so happy that he is a part of our lives.

Kids at play

Today I thought that I should take some video of Shella May because we don't have her on video at all. She is usually shy everywhere but home, so I thought maybe I could get her more outgoing side. Well she did talk to me for the camera, but that isn't what I posted. When I went to playback the short video I made, I found a video the kids made one night. I was really surprised that they made the video and I didn't even know it. Lance is the camera man (I think that he sounds just like me) and Liam and Shella May are the stars. You will definitely see Shella May's outgoing side. It is a little long and may be boring, so feel free to just watch the first few seconds.

Halloween

Our Princess

All the kids ready to go trick or treating!

Everyone sorting out their candy Halloween was a big event this year since it was on a Saturday. Our little princess went as Cinderella. My mom made her costume and we bought her glass slippers. Of course we had to layer our princess since it was about 35 degrees out. She had fun being Cinderella. When we were talking about dressing up during the weeks leading up to Halloween she wanted nothing to do with it. Then when we got her costume on her, she lit up instantly. We went to a friends' for pizza and social time before we went out trick or treating. Liam was his traditional Elmo and Lance didn't trick or treat this year. He did walk with the kids and some shared some candy with him. When we got home they all sorted their candy and traded it. Shella May's favorite candy was "the chocolate one".