San Francisco Zoo

We took the younger 3--Magu, Selena, and Monica--to the San Francisco Zoo. The weather was good and there were many new animals to see:




gallivanting giraffes



chilean flamingos


magu and the lions




south american penguins


thank goodness for $8 rental strollers!


did you know that chimps are closer to humans in DNA than they are to apes?


a very willing peacock likes to model herself

The highlight of our zoo visit was the Children’s Zoo, where Magu and Ricky delighted in exotic spiders—like the Goliath tarantula or the Black Widow, along with giant walking sticks, millipedes, centipedes, and scorpions at the Insect Zoo.

Meanwhile, the girls and I headed out the to the Family Farm, where they giggled as we petted and fed the Swedish rare pony, English Jacob sheep, Mary’s lambs, Mediterranean miniature donkey, pigs, West African Nigerian dwarf goats, chicks and ducks.

Should you find yourself in the Bay Area with your kids, a visit the SF Zoo is highly recommended.

Rhea's blog

Hello Cousins:

Check out the blog addition Siblings On the Go and check out our Rhea, Reena, Rammy, Ur, Ryan, andTintin and their spouses and kids' happenings!

See you there!

First Holy Communion and Confirmation Ceremonies

Josh, 8, had his first Holy Communion with his Grade 2 classmates of the Learning Child School at the nearby St. Jerome Church on Friday, February 23, 2007. It being a weekday, his sisters couldn't join us. So it was just Bebop, myself and Josh. We treated Josh to his favorite restaurant, Pancake House, afterwards. The other pictures are of the Confirmation Ceremony of Nicole, year 2, & Dani, grade 6 (who were confirmed with about 80 schoolmates), at the St. Scholastica's College Westgrove (Sta. Rosa, Laguna) gym on Saturday, March 10, 2007. Nicole's Ninangs were Gem Manosa (Bebop's sister) & Kristine (didn't show up, had a fever, so my Mom stood in for her). Dani's Ninangs were Reena and Mia Sun. We had a lunch celebration at Gloria Mari's Restaurant at the Alabang Town Center afterwards. The pretty little girl in green is Sabina, Gem's eldest daughter. Jomi (Bebop's eldest brother) & Sandra's (Concio) son Diego had his confirmation that same morning, so they met up with us at Gloria Mari's.

Ricky's Manila Visit

Ricky went home to Manila last February 8 to hatch his many business plans. Here are some pics:



Street 13 band members Paoi, Pochito, and Nico Sun




Cuenca reunion



Zen Japanese Resto renovation






Serendra at the Fort












Robinson's Tower

Kenny's Award

We are so proud to announce that Kenneth received a Scholarship Award today. Guess what he wanted as his prize?...Gummy bears!

Kenneth is in pre-school at Valley View Elementary. He is 4 years old.

Monica

It's always a good idea to keep posting new pics of the kids. They grow up fast and their faces change a lot. Here is Monica in McDo Antioch, CA. She is 3 years old and 7 months.

Her brothers call her a brat. Although Ricky is more firm with her, I am what I would like to call "patient," in other words, a sissy. (E, with a face as cute as this naman, I know Lia is gigil kurutin!) Pag pasensyahan nalang nila at matanda na yung mama niya--wala ng stamina for hard discipline. I believe her kuyas will help us out in that department as they have been trained well.

Parenting a toddler at 40-plus is a challenge I do not highly recommend. How old will I be when her homework comes?? Oh well, I have many designated tutors for that--her kuyas.

Please note lang, pag si Monica na ang nag-dalaga at naka-prom dress, please remind me that I was young once!!

Updates on Blog Account

I have upgraded our Blogger Account. We have been having difficulty with the Old Blogger account. Please check tilamsik groups e-mail for details.

Hope to see new posts, specially from my assigned correspondent, Ricky-tix.

Keep posting!!!

Minotte

Aina goes to the Assumption Junior Prom

Aina had her Junior Prom last Saturday, Feb. 10. It was held inside the Assumption College grounds in San Lorenzo. Her date was Paolo Loanzon, a junior at La Salle Greenhills. He is the son of Jojun Loanzon, a former colleague of Rinnah and me in McCann, and Patty (Ong), also a former colleague in McCann and a batchmate and friend from Ateneo College. Her dress was made by Nora, cutter of the late Joe Salazar and her hair and make-up by Huelgas. Magastos! She was invited to go to the La Salle prom also on Feb. 24 kaya gastos na naman!





I feel fulfilled seeing Aina grow into a lady. But, she will forever be my baby.

- Franco

Carmela's 18th Birthday

Carmela celebrated her 18th Birthday last January 27, 2007 at the C3 Events Place in Greenhills. There was a lot of fun, music, dancing, food and some drinks. The party started at 9pm and ended at 2:30am.

tilamsik3

tilamsik3: "Friday, February 02, 2007
Feast One Hundred & Twenty Nine

Appetizer
What was one of the fashion fads when you were a teenager?

Levi's, Ralph Lauren, BangBang

Soup
Name one thing you think people assume about you when they first meet you.

Rich boy

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how hard do you work?

mentally 110%, physically 8

Main Course
If you were given a free 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl to sell anything you currently own, what would you advertise?

my underwear

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I love to smoke when it is cold.

Guess who?

Friday's Feast for All of Us

Check out Friday's Feast--a good chance for those who haven't posted in our blog to do so.

While our questions may sometimes be related to food, the main idea here is to feed your mind by asking thought-provoking, mind-stimulating questions.

Each Friday when you visit this meme, you will find 5 enticing courses for your mind to gobble up.

Join in na! (Just copy and paste on a new page, with your answers)

Friday, February 02, 2007
Feast One Hundred & Twenty Nine

Appetizer
What was one of the fashion fads when you were a teenager?

Soup
Name one thing you think people assume about you when they first meet you.

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how hard do you work?

Main Course
If you were given a free 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl to sell anything you currently own, what would you advertise?

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I love to ________ when it is _________.


Hope to hear from many of you soon. . . .

Happy 93rd Lolo Soc

Today, January 29, 2007, would have been Lolo Soc's 93rd birthday. We really miss him a lot especially in times when we need sound advice or when we need someone to comment on the situation of the country. We sometimes catch ourselves talking to him and surely he has heard us and is doing his utmost to assist us and point us in the right direction. We should be assured to know that he is in the company of our Lord, whom he has served all throughout his mortal life. Let Lolo Soc's wise sayings console us in times of trouble and desperation:

"HINDI NATUTULOG ANG DIYOS" and "GOD WRITES IN CROOKED LINES".

Please say a prayer for Lolo today.

Happy Birthday Lolo!

Our San Diego Weekend

My family went to San Diego last weekend to visit Rey's relatives and we decided to spend the night there. Our hotel was overlooking the ocean and the view was awesome. The kids had a blast at the beach.

NEW JERSEY RODRIGO BOYS

RODRIGO'S AND ONE VELEZ DURING CHRISTMAS

Snow in LA...WOW!!!

On Janaury 17, 2007 it snowed in our city. It never snows here and that day it snowed from 9:20 in the morning until about 2:30 pm. We had 1 inch of snow. That is a WOW for us. Kenneth and Jorell played outside and both of them got a snowflake which they proudly displayed.

Maui comes home (again)

Maui enjoyed his Christmas break in Manila. He arrived safely last Jan. 22. We all missed him. He will go home to Manila again in June. (Dapat siguro mag trading business na ako--libre ang courier!)

Thanks to all who took care of him when he visited Broadway.

Tala ng Belen

Sa ngayo'y laganap na dilim at lagim
Sa buong daigdig at sa bansa natin,
Huwag tayong masindak … tayo'y dumalangin –
Saka sama-samang ating taluntunin
Ang landas na tungo sa Tala ng Belen.
- Soc Rodrigo, Disyembre 23, 1990

Maligayang Pasko at Malayang Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat!

Franco, Rinnah at Aina

Nico Sun's Birthday

Little Christmas Tree

I am proud of our little 6 ft-Christmas tree. Kahit hindi siya fresh, may 1000 lights na siya for $9.99. Almost all the decorations are from the kids' art, the dollar store, tirang candy-canes from lat year :) or bigay. Read more about it in Frugal Immigrants.

Post pictures of your Christmas pics or trees, or anything that signifies the Christmas spirit fo you and your family.

And though hindi tayo magkikita-kita sa Broadway this year, I will miss pala the lechon and the reunion with the Enriquezes and the Ayuyaos, and the lack of space in lola's room to eat!

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

Minotte

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

TO OUR ENTIRE FAMILY,

MERRY CHRISTMAS! AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

TENG JASHZ AND TICO.