Just Before Going Back to the Grind
by Linnor
Let me post the following pics (taken on the last month of 2009) for posterity :) November 29 - We checked out the CIS Bazaar in Marco Polo and took pics with the giant Christmas tree at the lobby.
November 30 - Santa Claus, who we met by chance at Metro Ayala while we were panic buying for new shirts for Jake, posed for a pic with Jake.

December 2 and 4 - While I was busily planning for the December events in the office, I juggled between that and being mom to Jake, who ended up sleeping either in Jerry's office or in Starbucks. 
December 4 - Our tree was finally completed. From outside our window, this looked as if it's a full-sized 6-foot tree when in reality, it's a 3-foot tree on a 3-foot high round table. ;)
That night, Jerry and I attended Globe's Pasasalamat Night at Marriott Hotel. The event had a Las Vegas-theme with the ballroom decked with casino-looking paraphernalia complete with slot machines. Luckily (pun intended), Jerry won an iPod Nano. 
December 5 - Jerry's birthday and posted separately here: http://www.arrezaph.com/2009/12/ginza.html December 6 - We made time to attend the boys' Christmas fair in school. This was Matt's last and Jake's first. :) 
December 11 - Our office outreach activity. A separate event page was created for it here: G2iX Outreach Activity
G2iX Outreach Activity2
December 14 - Morph's Christmas dinner. Pics courtesy of a colleague: Morph Christmas dinner
December 17 - Jake's K1 Christmas party. It was amusing to watch the kids enjoy the games, the visit from Santa, and the giveaways. However, when it came to eating, the mommies, including myself, ended up finishing the leftover pork barbecue, chicken and spaghetti. 
This was the day we had the end of year business update meeting. This was also Junnie's 2nd day in Cebu so we decided to have dessert at the nearby La Marea. Being the generous boss, Winston ended up paying for our warm brownie cups and cups of tea. :) 
December 18 - Our office Christmas party with a Back to (High) School theme. I didn't have pictures of this event but my FB account has numerous copies tagged by colleagues: G2iX High The After-party G2iX Christmas Party 1 G2iX Christmas Party 2009 G2iX High School: Christmas Party Back to G2iX School: Cebu Christmas Party
December 20 - We were invited to dimsum lunch (buffet) at the Shangri-la by Jerry's aunt. This was to host another aunt who was visiting from Taiwan. 
December 22 - We attended the compound's Christmas party. By this time, Jake started running a fever.
December 23 - We all flew to Manila, viral infection and all and went straight to our Ortigas office for the kids' Christmas party: G2iX Kids' Christmas Party
December 24 - We spent the afternoon at Bonifacio High Street where the younger kids played with their bubble "gun". Early dinner was at Abe in Serendra and then we all heard the 8pm anticipated Christmas mass at Santuario de San Antonio. 


And on the way home, we drove and passed the long way to show the boys the festive Bamboo Organ church in Las Pinas (part of my early memories of Christmas).

December 25 - Ma craved for Pepper Lunch for dinner after spending the afternoon at Rockwell. :) 
After dinner, we all went to Marriott Hotel at Newport where Ma played a round at the slot machine/s and won. She treated us to coffee / tea after. 
December 26 - This day was mostly spent with the boys shopping in Greenhills as I sat in Starbucks reading and FBing since I wasn't feeling well.
December 27 - Lunch at Tootsie's, pictorials at the Lake Hotel, horseback riding, and snacks at Taal Vista Hotel. (Photo credit: Junnie)

December 28 - I met up with my college friend Baby at the Chelsea in Serendra. 
December 29 - We went to the Technohub in Diliman where we had lunch at Le Ching and yummy halo-halo at Razon's. 
Then, the rest of the afternoon was spent at La Mesa Ecopark boating, doing the zipline, biking, and hiking. 
December 30 - In the morning, we passed by Rizal Park since it was Rizal Day. 
Then lunch was at President Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown. 
By mid-afternoon, we stopped at Sofitel for Jake's nap. 
By 7pm, I was already at Cyma in Alabang with my former high school classmates from De La Salle Zobel. Four doctors, a celebrity (no it's not me, lol), and a magazine editor were among us. :)

This brings my 2009 posts to a close. Succeeding posts will be for 2010. Happy New Year all!























your boys are getting bigger (like mine) and I'm getting older.. lol
ReplyDeletehappy new year.
hi mai! you could say that again. hehe. :) there's no stopping them from growing up and getting bigger. the youngest one balances things out for me as his kuyas now venture into their own non-family related activities.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun-filled December 2009....the plan is to celebrate the next Christmas in Cebu!
ReplyDeletepant pant...kakapagod...but rewarding vacay...thanks for coming up to Manila to spend Christ's birthday season.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Wala pa diyan ang Paparazzi and Mamarazzi Anniv dinner, opening of Gifts the next day and the day long activities at MOA :)
Wow! I got tired reading your activities for December, esp thinking about the traffic in LP.
ReplyDeleteIt's seems like you had a fab month!
Happy new year to all of you! Cheers!
hi den,
ReplyDeletemiraculously, there was NO traffic AT ALL :) we breezed thru from ortigas to las pinas or ortigas to quezon city / diliman without getting stuck on the road. it was in tagaytay that we experienced slow (but moving) traffic. i think that was the best time to drive around the city after all. hehehe...
wow! that was a very busy month for you and your family!
ReplyDeleteJust hope everyday is Christmas Day. No dull moments! It brings our families from far-flung places--Cebu, Signapore and Toronto, Canada happy together.
ReplyDeleteIt really is so nice to always declare: FAMILY, to everyone!
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