catching up series: obligatory undas story

Happy hump day, folks! Just thought I'd make this day a productive one by (1) coming up with a blog post, (2) finally sending my resume to JobStreet and (3) doing the laundry. For the record, I know how to wash clothes, people. I've always been accused of knowing nothing about household chores but that's so untrue. Just thought I'd clear my name of that accusation. Haha!

So where are we in catching up? November, yeah? Finally we're getting closer to celebrating the New Year here. Hehe! I can't wait 'til I put this catching up thing to a close and finally talk about 2016. Anyway, let's talk about the past All Soul's day or undas as we say it in Filipino.

Coming from a huge family, we always have two trips to the cemetery. We visit Manila Memorial for our late relatives from the father side and Sanctuario de Paz for my dear lolo from the mother side. This year, we first visited Sanctuario. It wasn't really planned but it was good that our cousins were there when we arrived. It's been a while since we last visited lolo as a big family 'cause most of my cousins have their own families now. And speaking of having families of their own, kuya Jong, the eldest cousin, is driving us crazy with his growing number of kids. He already has six, again sixxxx, babies. Nakakaloka! To think their not well-off. If I only have the right to knock him some sense. But mom can't help but drop lines of sermon for kuya.

ABADILLA CLAN, REPRESENT!

five out of eight are kuya Jong's babies #whutt

Hael, Moymoy, Miyuki & Nea with tita Emy

Moymoy & Hael with tito Noel {my mom's brother}

kuya Jong's first two, Allen & PJ

'sup lo?

The week after that, we went to Manila Memorial Park. It was the first time also that we made it to the cemetery with the cousins plus their wifeys/hubbies and kids. I have to say that the past All Soul's day was a memorable one. It became a reunion of sorts for both family sides. And oh, if you were looking for Mithy, we didn't take her with us on purpose because she hasn't been baptized yet at that time. Ayaw syang isama ng nanay ko no matter what we say. Hehe! Avie, on the other hand, was sick then so ate Tin wasn't able to go too. It could have been a full cast play date.

Faye & Carin
charm runs in the blood, I must say :P

swear they kept on running

auntie Dang and our little warrior, Koi
he's fighting Neuroblastoma, f*ck cancer!

with Xana banana

 

frenemies, Faye & Pops

ate Caitlin

moment ko, okay lang? :P

 

We capped the night with Dinner at Max's. Of course the kids simply continued the riot there, especially Faye and Pops. We call them the frenemies 'cause they would always fight but then they didn't wanna separate. Hehe! Then there's Carin trying to fit in too. Kagulo! More of the cousins' chaos actually in the coming posts. I'll be blogging about Faye, Mithy and Avie's consecutive birthday celebrations so expect more baby cuteness this side of the blogosphere.

with kuya We

extended family ❤

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catching up series: mighty mitmit is wonder woman

I'll be honest. The next item in the back burner is actually a different post. I'm supposed to accomplish my bi-annual baby photo dump {2013: first half, second half; 2014: first half, second half} but I got overwhelmed with the photos. Whoops! I guess that would have to wait until inspiration hits me. For now, something easier would suffice -- Mithril's first trick or treat experience, together of course with ate Faye and ate Avie.

It has been planned that my brother would bring Mithy to their trick or treat at the office. At first we didn't have any plans of dressing her up because we were thinking she's too little for that. But we had to give in when her mom found this easy DIY Wonder Woman costume. So for her first Halloween, Mighty Mitmit is Wonder Woman. 

hiyaaah! i'll fight you, bad people!

too cute for words

And because we are stage aunts, my sister and I tagged along to my brother's office. That made Mithril's companions a total of four. My brother, his wife, my sister and finally, me! Hehe! She had entourage!

The theme at the office is superheroes. There's marvel, x-men, batman, etc. At first, Mithril was all good. Just a little confused with what's happening, I guess. She only started freaking out when a girl tried to carry her. Hehehe! Ruined her mood for the rest of the night. Although her major panic attack happened with Joker. My poor niece, naiyak talaga sya when she saw the guy.

my brother's little bamily ❤️

We didn't stay for the program because the venue was jam-packed and also because it was late already. We wanted to take the little one home as early as possible because hello, she's not even one at that time and we felt like we're exposing her to things too early. You can't blame us, can you? It's so fun dressing up kids and sending them to various activities. I honestly can't wait til we can enroll her in ballet, swimming lessons, voice lessons, lahat na!

So the next day, we brought her to SM Fairview's trick or treat together with ate Faye and ate Avie. While Mithy and Avie were clueless, Faye took the event too seriously. I'm telling you, Faye is always so determined and competitive -- yes, hanggang sa paghoard ng candies!

It's funny how we decided to CHEAT! Hahaha! We took her to the grocery to grab candies instead of letting her line up for but a few pieces. It was her daddy's way of trying to save us from all the effort. But in the end, Faye won. Naipilit pa rin nya magtreat or trick. Hehe! And mind you, she enters the boutiques alone, says trick or treat and finally says thank you. We were just watching her. So bibo at five!

Finally for dinner, we opted for Kenny. We let the kids sit beside each other while waiting for food, and oh my, it was like my heart's gonna burst seeing them so sweet towards each other. They were hugging, pinching each other's cheeks, smiling, laughing. I don't know if you get me, but I am just so smitten every time they'd do that. To think I'm just their aunt, to think I'm not even a mother yet. Hayy, babies make me weak!

be still, my heart

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catching up series: college peeps in 2015

If there's one person from my college years that I am closest to right now, that would be Jhov. I once said in a birthday greeting for her that I have no idea how our friendship happened -- still stands true up to now. We were never close back in college and I can't tell exactly how we became friends a few years after graduating. We don't even have the same interests to begin with. It's just amazing thinking about it, we've come a long way from our no pansinan university days. Hehe!

For one, I'm thankful for her for reigniting my interest in seeing friends the past year. I kind of went on a hiatus on the friendship department starting May. One friend would even tell me, "magpakita ka naman", like I'm a ghost or something. I don't know, I guess I became too contended with the company of my niece{s} that I just lost interest in everything else. You'll find out in the next post exactly what I'm talking about. Hint hint: lotsaaaa baby photossss. Hahaha!

Going back, I rose from the dead in September when I met Silina then October when I met Jhov. Those were monumental for me. Call me weird all you want, but they kind of reminded me that I have to begin socializing again. For the record, I'm an introvert. So yeah, those were big deals. 

Jhov and I went to Maginhawa, the famous foodie haven in UP. It was both our first time so we had no idea where to eat. Oo pwedeng magresearch pero hindi namin ginawa. Haha! We first saw Gerry's Jeepney but the line was crazy so no wayyy. We then saw Artsy Cafe so we ended up there. And because I'm not a foodie, I can't tell yah anything about the food. Although my sister said we should have ordered pasta instead. Next time, next time. 

meet Jhov ❤️

major tile inspo

For dessert, we walked and walked and walked for Wicked Kitchen. Told her I once saw it on Instagram so she agreed to look for it. Turned out, nasa kabilang dulo sya. Hahaha! It was worth the walking though as we loved their Smores, they call it Greed. They also have Gluttony, Envy, Pride and other sins. {Hehehe, and suddenly I'm smiling about the thought that I'm a bad food blogger. :P}

yummerss

Then December, Jhov and I met again. Knowing that I have this weird addiction for succulents, she asked me to accompany her to buy gifts for her officemates. We went succulent shopping, repotted them at home, then we had dinner at Ningnangan to cap the night. It's a newly opened resto near our place. Akalain mo yun! Something new to urbanize our probinsya. Hehe! They have paluto also so move over Dampa. 

And since December is the month of get-togethers, Tin and I met too. That is after more than a year of not seeing each other. Last saw her June of 2014, the night of TFIOS. Yikes! But as I've said, the thing with this girl is that we can always pick up where we left off. No awkwardness whatsoever. To think, I'm the type of person who gets awkward easily. Well, I guess she'll be the exemption because hellooo, she was my main girl back in college. {She's just too busy with volleyball now, so I rarely see her. Shhh, don't tell her I'm sulking. Hahaha!} We met at Gateway then we had dinner at Burgoo. I wanted to extend the night by grabbing coffee but she had an early commitment the next day. Booyah, told you she's too busy. 

with ms. famous hahaha

To further prove the power of December, we had a mini reunion to close the year. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw most of them. Hindi nga kasi ako nagpapakita, one friend said. Hehe! It just so happened that the meeting place was somewhere accessible so I went. Also, it was originally Tin's idea so I had to back her up. Pero late kami 'cause she had a prior commitment. Hehehe! It was a simple dinner and videoke sesh at Juanito's Bistro made special by the fact that we refused to part ways 'til the morning. We spent the rest of the dawn at Nad's crib, reminiscing and laughing about our college days. Literal na tawa lang kami ng tawa hanggang umaga -- lovelife, thesis, professors and what have you.

nad's crib

I guess what made that get together more special is that I was able to maintain constant communication with some of them. I suck at getting connected too and the fact that I've been chatting nonstop on Facebook these days is a good sign. Welcome back, social life!

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