New York City with our Zadian

We loved every single hour in NYC with our Zadian.

It's rare to get one-on-one with our kids 

and it's so special when we do.

Zadian's favorite was daily outings to the LEGO store,

ice skating with Mateo, and climbing the rocks at

Central Park.  We LOVE all the NYC fun!

 

A visit with 2 de Guzman brothers and lotsa cousins.

Jonathan and Jasmin live a just a few hours 

away from Mateo's family,

so we made a three-day trip to see them.  

Wilfred and Linsey joined from CT.

It was too short but VERY sweet to be all together.

The Fort Bragg area of NC is gorgeous, 

we enjoyed a day at the lake by J&J's home.

J & J did an amazing job hosting so many of us

in their home and having fab meals ready for us.

Jasmin took us to the military base of Fort Bragg,

it was VERY cool to see the old airplanes and to see

military people busy doing what they do for the country.

A highlight for the cousins was going to 

Primary together at Church on Sunday:

Hanging out in Charlotte North Carolina

We loved doing All-American family outings around Charlotte,

here are some of our favorite outings:

Feeding animals from a wagon with cousins:

Just hanging out at Grammy and Grandpa's house & garden:

Going to all the local parks & playgrounds:

Going to downtown Charlotte and the Discovery Center:

The boys went to visit the NASQAR Race car center:

The kids' first American BASEBALL game:

Going to the indoor playgrounds:

Even shopping at TARGET was a new adventure for the kids:

One of Ethan's FAVORITE thing to do in the USA 

was playing with his

baby cousin Lauren, isn't she a beauty?

He said when we left with tears in his eyes,

"I'm going to miss Lauren so much"

Philippines - New Years in Lagro

The de Guzman side of our family all came for a big feast in Lagro, 

always a great place to gather with family.

My cousin Luchie brought her new twins - Bianca and Brielle, 

big sis Bettina still as cute as ever.

Here's my godmother Tita Laura visiting from California.  I love all my aunties!

The kids LOVED visiting and playing with their second cousins who they dubbed 

their "cool cousins" and asked every day when the next visit with them was.

Patrick, Kevin and Nicole (Pochong's kids) came to visit from Toronto,
their first time back in ten years, these kids are really superstars!
Niko fell in love with Patrick and was at his side ALL the time...
Muchi, Michi, Migi and Marty are as CUTE and LOVEABLE as ever....

I know every single one of my Dad's Filipino jokes but I still laugh a ton 

b/c he can't even get through the jokes without cracking himself up.  

He's always in his full JOKER mode when he's with his siblings.

 

Ethan and Ella buying "balut" from the local balut guy on the street.

I've never eaten balut and I don't plan on it.  My kids are very brave and gave it a go.  

Balut is an egg that is half egg and half ducking (or is it chick) anyway, 

Ella tells me it tastes like chicken.

New Year's Eve in the Philippines is bigger than Christmas - it is loud, loud, loud!

Mateo has always wanted to go to church in jeans, and what better place 

than the Philippines where jeans are considered "dressy".

At our local market up the street.

One of my favorite treats TAHO - silken tofu with sago pearls and 

palm sugar syrup for breakfast.  Even my kids love it!

Probably the kids' favorite mode of transportation - the tricyle - 

b/c we can all as many kids in it as we want.