Here's the herd. It took years of discipline and a few minutes of practice to make the group look like they are well-behaved, respectable family members. And this isn't everybody, we're missing quite a few.
The older cousins' reverse psychology trick on Matthew didn't work - he frowned like this is a frowning marathon and of course he got his way, he won all the attention. Kaitlyn couldn't be happier with her hand-crocheted mini-doll she named Corelyn. Are you sure it's not Carolyn? And I took her big NO as "Hey Auntie, I belong to the ZZ generation and there is no such name as Carolyn in the database anymore!". Extinct?
They sure made us feel like dinosaurs with their handheld DS and PS and their talk about Wii. Five-year old Matthew can beat the heck out of anybody in the room playing these games, and the rest of us of course couldn't even deal with our arthritic hands' lack of coordination with what's left of our shrinking brains.
We managed to survive yet another fun-filled Christmas Day at Auntie's and Lola's. We were packed like sardines in the apartment, but if you're anything like us, we love closeness and coziness; as in 6 or 7 big adult kids piled up on Auntie's bed, while the rest of the family eat and talk all day thru the night non-stop, somewhere where they could find room. How do we all look? I think Lola Inang is the best looking and could you guess who did much of the cooking? She did. Auntie let her loose in kitchen. Her signature Christmas dinner soup is to die for! But she wouldn't give out the recipe, she's not ready to exit ye
t.
We missed the rest of the family. The phone kept Inang busy with all the calls she got from the kids overseas. We miss you guys.
Nelsie's meatloaf was as usual a hit, Tita Amor's palabok noodles was just as good, but the hungry bears were looking for her specialty pichi-pichi. Chong's salmon dish and her cheesecake a must-have with our parties. Inang's pinakbet a winner all the time. Not to mention all the baking Charmaine did. And we ate, and we talked, picked on Matthew and discussed Tito Joe's issue with his health insurance but stubborn as he is, he wouldn't believe Tito Ped who's got the expertise on the subject. Patience with Joe is a virtue, Ped.
What would be a day with the boys and girls without the usual advice session (unsolicited, of course) from Auntie. For their own good, I kind of reminded them of their responsibilities to themselves, pushing them to finish school and study some more whenever they get the opportunty, just like the way it was drilled in my head by my parents. It is all making sense now. You'll thank me for this kids. Even Rob and Michelle got lectured; poor boyfriend and girlfriend. And here's a picture of them looking all "drilled out" after Auntie was finished with them.
t.We missed the rest of the family. The phone kept Inang busy with all the calls she got from the kids overseas. We miss you guys.
Nelsie's meatloaf was as usual a hit, Tita Amor's palabok noodles was just as good, but the hungry bears were looking for her specialty pichi-pichi. Chong's salmon dish and her cheesecake a must-have with our parties. Inang's pinakbet a winner all the time. Not to mention all the baking Charmaine did. And we ate, and we talked, picked on Matthew and discussed Tito Joe's issue with his health insurance but stubborn as he is, he wouldn't believe Tito Ped who's got the expertise on the subject. Patience with Joe is a virtue, Ped.
What would be a day with the boys and girls without the usual advice session (unsolicited, of course) from Auntie. For their own good, I kind of reminded them of their responsibilities to themselves, pushing them to finish school and study some more whenever they get the opportunty, just like the way it was drilled in my head by my parents. It is all making sense now. You'll thank me for this kids. Even Rob and Michelle got lectured; poor boyfriend and girlfriend. And here's a picture of them looking all "drilled out" after Auntie was finished with them.
Too bad Marc had to fly back to Chicago at 4:00 pm to return to work today. Goodbye it is for now. Give our love to Amber, we missed her too.
As we posed for the family picture before everyone got their loot and left, Auntie announced that we all should smile, for this may be Lola's last photo shoot with us. The smart alecks in the background protested and countered that with "No, this may be your last picture with us Auntie". And we all roared in laughter. I better not get sick again. It's true Lola looks so good she might outlive me and that becomes a worry for the boys for they will be left to care for her. Payback time kiddos!
It was wonderful and we all look forward to another family gathering.
Our family stories could fill the pages of a book. That's an idea!
It was wonderful and we all look forward to another family gathering.
Our family stories could fill the pages of a book. That's an idea!
