3rd birthday planning

I'm now starting to plan for Tristan's 3rd birthday celebration. I'm still in the initial phase: jotting down every idea that pops out of my mind. Hopefully, I can get a clear picture of these stuffs popping out by middle of next month.

It's his first birthday celebration in NZ...which means it's his first birthday with my side of the family. My mum is more than excited than I am. She has already even told her friends that Tristan will be celebrating his birthday in Palmy. She kept on asking me since the start of this year if she'll start scouting for function halls. Then she kept asking me when she'll reserve the place. I just kept mum about it for sometime since it's still unclear on our side the exact date. However, since last week, I've given Mum the "go" signal to hunt for a reasonable priced but well-accessible place.

To start off, I've jotted down choices for the THEME of the birthday. I have: Superman and Friends, Little Einsteins, Mickey mouse Clubhouse, and Bob the Builder. I'm leaning more towards the Superman and Friends since there are a lot of birthday stuffs for that theme as compared to the others. He doesn't really know who Superman is, though. That's a problem. But he loves his Superman suit. Lol. Plus, kids at the party can wear their own superhero outfits if they want.

I wonder what other theme is good....

Mad World

This is a true story:

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1081/Chicken-a-la-Carte

Guess who's lost in the zoo?

We visited Auckalnd Zoo last saturday. And apart from the animals as the attractions.... meet the boy who caught everyone's attention:

Waiting for the elephant show.

Adults were commenting: "Oh! There's superman!" or "Superman's here!" or "Hi Superman". And he doesn't mind them. He just kept running and running the whole time only stopping when we asked him to show the animals.

Well, Tristan doesn't really know who Superman is. He just loves the costume and he thinks he's "super Pocoyo". lol.

Easter holiday at Palmy

Spent our holy week at Palmy. Had a six days holiday...but seems bitin pa rin. But it's good to catch up with family and friends.

Some photos:


Here Tristan is enjoying his free toy from McDonald's Kiddie meal at the Square.

A pose with Dad. Kid's playground at the Esplanade.

Syempre, enjoy na siya kumain ng pizza. =)

Land of the long white clouds

Today, 12 years ago, marked my family's journey to the "Land of the Long White clouds". Very coincidental since coming accross this story about the Land of the Long White Clouds from one of my Grade 3 English books and it never leapt out of my mind. I was wondering where this is and if this place really exists. It never mentioned New Zealand in the book so there goes the mystery. lol.

I couldn't help but reminisce the sad day we left our home and bade goodbye to our friends and neighbours. It's just so surprising how a decade can just be months ago in one's memory. Is this why they say life is fleeting? Back then I was the antihero. I despised coming here with them....missing out on my college life, my sorority life, my dorm life, and my friends. Basically, my life has ended... or so I thought. It took me a decade to accept things as they were.

Anyway, the smell of NZ when we first arrived is still fresh in my mind. Back then I think I see Palmy greener, crisper and alien. This having seen most of my days in the Philippines. Now both look the same to me. And I felt like my world has become smaller since then.

Coming to NZ was a decision my parents had to think about not just a hundred times but more. We left everything behind -- even family photos. I think that helped in one way from being homesick-er. Starting anew.

And looking back, I guess it's one of the best decisions my parents made. For me, I still have my hang-overs. But that's life. We tend to move on, facing forwards and not backwards.