Gingerbread Man

We had a special treat for Ikoy. Aside from spending time with him on weekends, picking him up from his house, going to malls then sleeping over, he had a special visitor last Christmas. We explained that since Santa Claus could not come because he's sick, he just sent Gingerbread Man to greet him a Merry Christmas.

My sister got this costume from her officemate and it really is Gingerbread Man. When Ikoy came, one of us hid and wore costume. Ikoy couldn't believe his eyes! He was speechless. He looked curiously, hugged him and listened when Gingy told him to be a good boy always. Gingerbread Man couldn't stay, after a few minutes he had to say goodbye. (It was hard wearing it for too long because it gets too hot.)

Ikoy bid Gingy goodbye and looked forward for his next visit.

Papogs' opened gift

Christmas this year was a little different. It was the first Christmas eve in my sisters' new house. It was the longest time that Papogs stayed there. We had to make the most out of the time that Lij is here. It's like everyday is a weekend for three weeks, aside from the fact that I couldn't get away with the usual Christmas traditions: cooking spaghetti (five times for the whole month of December), making refrigerated cake (six times) and mommy's fruit salad recipe (twice! we ran out before New year's eve!).

A highlight this Christmas is our gift to Papogs. Just like Ikoy, a couple of days before Christmas, he had been snooping under the Christmas tree to see which wrapped gift/s is his. But his gift wasn’t there! Until the night before Christmas. At the stroke of midnight, we sat around the big and colorful Christmas tree and started giving gifts to each other. He sat at the corner, impatiently waiting for his gift. When there were no gifts left under the tree, he said he was tried and wanted to go the sleep. It was then that we took our gift from the car and gave it to him. Can you see the smile on his face?

He waited until the boys got it out from the box, and set it up. And he said he was sleepy.
But we were happy.
Disclaimer: my share on Papa’s gift is just a fraction, it was mostly from Lij.

Iko's opened gifts

This boy,or should I say, Woody, is probably the luckiest boy in the whole world. But he deserves it. Because he was a very good boy and he patiently waited for the right time that we said, "Pwede na i-open ang gifts mo." To think that it had been standing there, underneath the Christmas tree for several weeks now. From time to time, he checks if his gifts were still there and accounted for. And he would be a little more excited if he finds out that there are new gifts waiting for him.

Mises Potatohead was unwrapped and finally out of the box. It was not Ikoy who was the happiest. It's Mr. Potatohead.

Another long-awaited for gift is Shashing and Kuya Shosh's--- whole else would be happy but Bumblebee because Optimus Prime is here.

Mama Cherub and Bamba had many extra gifts but the main event was Cars! We had him a Cars racing track which specifically requested when he saw in a magazine once. And, we had completed his Cars collection: Lightning Mcqueen and Mater buddies are now here: Chicks, Guido, Doc Hudson, Sally, The King and the Dinoco Helicopter.


Obviously, we were as happy and as excited as Ikoy. Not only because he was very happy of his new toys, but also because it is also OUR new toys. :)

The Magician Strikes Again

He put on his Krispy Kreme magician hat, (that he personally asked the Kripy Kreme staff for...) got the balloon stick as his magician wand and went in front of all of us and announced that he will be performing his magic tricks.





There isn't really a trick this time, but he deserved an applause for being our little baby, turning out to be our little big baby boy...now.

Newest baby in the house

Our newest baby just got home this week. I was hesitating to get another dog, even a "higher"-maintenance dog, a Shih-Tzu. But my sister was right! When I saw him, I couldn't resist. He looks just like his dad, thus the name, YOQUITO, QUITOfor short. The only dog who will be staying inside the house, unlike his ate's and kuya's. The babiest of our babies, he is so fluffy, but does not shed. He doesn't bark, but cries when left alone. He was quiet the first few days, but he gets very excited when I let him out and play with the other dogs.



I don't think the other dogs are jealous. Gabi, Sam-sam, Casper, Cotton and Ginger are happy to have him. Surprisingly, knowing how playful-jumpful-runful Gabi is, he was very careful playing with Yoquito.


After a few days, Denden tells me, "Sakristan mo pala si Yoquito." He follows me everywhere I go. Welcome to our growing family, baby quito.

The wife of Mr. Potatohead

Since Toy Story 3 and Ikoy getting Mr. Potatohead, he has long been searching for Mrs. Potatohead. For Ikoy, she is "Mises" (pronounced as read).

Last week, Mamacherub finally found her. And she's my Christmas gift for Ikoy. But Mamacherub couldn't resist telling the little boy, thus, he didn't stop until I agree to let him see the "Mises."


He played with the box, with Mr. Potatohead. He asked too many questions and told me to me read what's in the box, meticulously looking at the pictures at the back of the box and the accessories inside. He was happy but contentment will only come when the box is opened, and we have to teach him to be patient.

"Nuni, pwede ba si Mr. Potatohead na lang sa loob ng box tapos si Mises na lang sa labas?"

He had to try...

The Magician

Sa Loyola, magkatapat kaming nakaupo ni Ikoy sa maliit na stool. Si Papa, nasa tabi ni Ikoy.

Parang nagningning ang mga mata ni Ikoy at excited siyang sumigaw,
IKOY: Nuni!!! Magmamagic ako!!!

Pinakita niya ang takip ng mineral water sakin. Nilagay sa isang kamay niya. Pagtapos, nilagay niya ang dalawang kamay niya sa likod. Pagkalabas ng dalawang kamay niya, nakasara itong hinarap sakin.

IKOY: Nasan?
Nuni: Dito? (Tinuro ko ang isang kamay.)
IKOY: (Binuksan ang kamay niya.) Wala. (At inulit ang tanong.) Nasan?
Nuni: Dito? (Tinuro ko ang kabilang kamay nya.)
IKOY: (Binuksan ang kamay na ito.) Wala din! (Sabay tayo at kinuha ang takip sa stool.) Ayun! Magic!!

Natuwa kami at mukhang natuwa siyang natuwa kami.

IKOY: Ulit! Isa pa Nuni, magic ulit ako!

Inulit niya ang ginawa nya, tinanong-tanong ulit ako. Pero kinuha ni Papa ang takip bago pa man siya tumayo.

IKOY: Nawawala ang takip! (Nag-aalala.)
Papa: Ito o… nasa ears mo! (Nilabas ni Papa ang takip, waring nanggaling sa tenga ni Ikoy. Mukang naniwala ang bata.)
IKOY: Oo nga! Isa pa Nuni, magic ulit ako!

Inulit niya ang ginawa nya, tinanong-tanong ulit ako. Kinuha ulit ni Papa ang takip.

IKOY: Nasan na yung takip, Papa?
Papa: Ito o… nalaglag galing sa ears mo! (Nilabas ulit ni Papa ang takip, waring nanggaling sa tenga ni Ikoy, sabay nilaglag sa grass. Pinulot ni Ikoy ang takip.)
IKOY: Oo nga! Isa pa Nuni, magic ulit ako!

Unulit niya ang ginawa niya, pagkatapos ako tanung-tanungin, kinuha ni Papa ang takip pero sa pagkakataong ito, ayaw ilabas ni Papa.

IKOY: Papa, nasan na ang takip?
Papa: Hindi ko alam, hindi ko kinukuha.
IKOY: Ano yang takip na nasa hands mo?
Papa: Hindi ito sayo, takip ito ng water ko!

Naghanap ni Ikoy sa stool, sa grass, sa paligid, hindi niya makita. Humawak siya sa tenga nya, ginalaw galaw ito, tumalon-talon ng hawak ang tenga, nakabaling sa gilid ang ulo, sabay tumingin sa grass.

IKOY: Wala naman sa ears ko. Hindi naman nalaglag sa grass.

Tawa kami ng tawa lahat.