pregnant pause

Upon her doctor's advice, Twinx spent a week back home so that she  could get some bedrest for her growing baby! For lunch, Ma and Twinx made molo soup. It's a chore to make but so satisfying. Good thing sis was here to help make it!

The dumplings before going into the soup. A neighbor suggested we place them in front of the fan for a few moments before going into the soup to help keep the wrapper from slipping off. I don't know the reason behind this but it worked!

With nothing to do but eat, sleep or watch TV, Twinx would often get sleepy or hungry, which she says is part of being pregnant, but I'm not so sure... that would mean she's been pregnant for years! Kidding!

Anyway, the dumplings have been plopped into the steaming hot soup and Ma added the spring onion and toasted garlic.

Here's the finished product. It had just been on the table for a few minutes and it was already half-empty by the time I took a picture.

Just like old times. Twinx with the family. Hope you enjoyed your stay!

For dessert, some yellow watermelon. It tastes the same, but it sure looks peculiar.

New Year 2010

Oct 31:We welcomed the new year with a simple meal of ham, sparkling grape juice and pasta with meatballs by yours truly. We didn't set off fireworks but we heard and smelled them just the same.

Twinx set the camera to take pictures automatically and panicked when it started clicking and we had yet to light our sparklers. Jon had already changed when we said we were taking more pix.

Jan 1: Next day at the Pandayan reunion.

After lunch, we screend the movie Kimmy Dora and I was so glad they enjoyed it. Even the kids who probably didn't understand it laughed at Eugene Domingo's antics. Twinx later informed me that our 20-something nephew even got teary-eyed near the end. It's ok, we got choked when we sawit on the big screen, too!

Some people were trying to pass themselves off as kids to get some aguinaldo

A highlight of this year was the Pinoy Henyo game. The rules weren't made clear so they had to do 3 rounds to determine the winner. In the end they just decided to split the prize money 4 ways. They were so exhausted they passed on a round of videoke.

Jan 2: Jon's birthday! We ate lunch at Conti's then went to Pasay to show old videos of Jon's first birthday and a video of New Year circa 2001.

We shopped for Jon's gifts and had dinner at Max's Fried Chicken before plopping into bed.

black saturday in cavite

Kuya Alan came home for a vacation and invited us all over for a reunion even though it was Black Saturday.

Pampa-inggit: Al fresco dining included inihaw na bangus,roasted chicken, sinigang sa miso, kare-kare, steamed okra, pinakbet and fruit salad, brownies or watermelon for dessert

We also played bingo but had to stop becuase Papa kept winning. Nico said "sana hindi ka na manalo..." We also got to chat with tita gina, kuya nicky and wowa who I hope forgave us for having fun and gorging on food on such a holy day.

visita iglesia 2009

It was the Maundy Thursday and Twinx tested out her new camera.

We started at the spanking new, reconstructed Magallanes Church which was closed when we got there last year. The place is huge and there were ushers everywhere! Next stop was San Sebastian, Twinx's favorite church. She tried many times to get a clear picture of the interior but the mass and low light conditions inside proved to be a challenge.She had better luck at San Beda and its painted ceilings.This was St. Jude. Camera out of focus (gutom na yata ang kumuha)

Quiapo Church had fewer than expected people inside probably because mass was over.

Beautiful facade of San Agustin, the only church in Intramuros that survived the American bombing of Intramuros in World War 2 because it was made a red cross refuge. And finally, we prayed at the Manila Cathedral. Again, the pix are a bit blurred...the photographer was already famished....nanginginig na sa gutom! As a sacrifice, we didn't eat anything from the food stalls around the churches like the isaw or the fried squid. We just ate our baon fudgee bars and water before rushing to Max's for dinner! My cheeks are already sunken from extreme hunger. heehee!

tradisyon na ito!

New year 2009 pix

pix from New Year's eve...

ewwww! I filled up the chicken butt with mushroom following wowa's directions. hope it turns out ok for tomorrow's family reunion!

Twinx sewing up the chicken butt

that's our yellow lab, sasha. i covered her ears to protect from the noise of fireworks outside. poor sasha!
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new year's day:

rodel and his kid, alexa

ate cecille and ate conching

it's a new year's miracle! the boys are washing the dishes for a change!

pandayan kitchen crew ready for action!

happy 2009!!!