TREADMILL (Christmas Story 3)

She was trying to "help" his husband think on what to get her for Christmas here: GANDA'S TAG FROM WILL. It was in "desperation" why she had to write what she wanted because many times she caught him browsing the net(eBay)for a laptop. She was confident his better half would want her organize her writings and he would be willing to give her - her own personal computer. So, the "treadmill" was her way of disapproving subtly with out declaring war(lol). "Heck, we don't need another computer!" her mind spoke.

They have a store room underground and the wife asked the husband for the keys that weren't on it's usual place. He beseeched what his wife needed from the room and volunteered to get it for her. Huh? Strange! Volunteered? Strange! Then the third time she needed something from downstairs, he gave her the keys. "Oh mheeen, where's the love?...hahaha... where's the enthusiast of getting things for me?", again, the wife's mind spoke.

Worst than a child, he seriously "demanded" to open his present when its more than a week before Christmas. "Why?", the wife asked and he replied, "Nakita mon ti gift ko(you already saw my gift)!".... Huh?... "When? Why? Where?" she asked in protest.

"Makikita dita matam!"(it shows in your eyes), the husband "accused her" with out the benefit nor reasonable to what ever doubt there is(hahaha). And she swore, she's not guilty and firmly stood her stand, "I haven't seen what ever that is!".

There goes the surprise, he gave it away hahaha... The wife thought, if its a treadmill, it would be too bulky in the storeroom and she would have surely seen it. If its a laptop, the store room would be a dangerous keeping place for such an expensive thing because its damp and full of junk. "Hmmmnnn, we put all the bikes down there during winter and only me who doesn't have a bike. Ahah, SO ITS A BIKE!", she guessed. But, the husband said no and the wife never went in the store room to "investigate"(lol).

Christmas Eve. Everyone opened their gifts except the wife. The husband said she'll have to wait for Christmas morning. "DARE!" the wife answered. "... And you will never get "lucky" in a million years!", she annoyingly added. Bribing never fails to work, the husband stormed the cold and went to get her wife's gift.

When the kids went to sleep and the couple were sipping their wine, the wife wore her new jewelries from Fossil and her "other" presents. The bike was still next to the Christmas tree while they were talking:

SHE: I thought its a treadmill.

HE: It would be too big for our small house and the kids will ruin it knowing how they're fond of pressing "buttons".

SHE: Yeah and I prefer the bike. I can just imagine our rides and picnics on summer..... I thought its a laptop.

HE: Dream on honey!

Then they kissed the dawn away...

WEEKLYQUESTION 29, 30, 31

Before 2008 will finally go to the "archives", I'll sweep my "utang" away. Have to answer 3 questions from Teacher Julie's GreenBucks.


WQ 29: Are you happy?

Some people travel and go far places just to search for happiness. Take Liz the author of Eat, Pray, Love, she went as far as Italy, India and Indonesia. And one, among the many things she wrote that I totally agree with, she said that happiness is a "state of mind" that you yourself make. I'm just very thankful I don't need to "cross over" just to be happy.

Monotonous and equally obvious as it may seem, I will always write that my family (Boogs, Lukie, Dylan, my Dad, my brothers and sisters, my nephews and nieces, my father in law, Mama Becca and Beng) would be enough to give me that "state of feeling", needless of making it as a "state of mind". So YES, I am happy!


WQ 30: What are the Christmas traditions you and your family practice?

Nothing big but recently, we're making it official, a traditional photo shoot for that "frame-able" family portrait on Christmas eve. (How vain and lame hahaha...) Another is ordering pizza and fries for Noche Buena (that would already be a GIFT for a cooking mama).

Last one would be - just the four of us on Christmas eve. Its the second year we've done this and the kids enjoyed our full attention. Its the second year we didn't go to some invites or us inviting people. Its more intimate and relaxing. We could get to dance with Lukie and Dylan with their favorite CD - the Chipmunks.





WQ 31: How was your Christmas?


It was fun and full of surprises. WQ Question 30 is all about it for the Christmas eve aside from opening our gifts from family, cousins and friends. Then on Christmas morning, the kids opened their presents form Santa. And later, my sister's family and some neighbors came for lunch.

I have to include, Lukie enjoyed when we played Lucky 9 and Monkey-monkey after all our guests went home. Another great way to teach him Math hehehe...

LUKIE'S GIFT(Christmas Story 2)

Christmas morning. Lukie wasn't as enthusiastic as he did during our gift opening on Christmas eve. I haven't seen "this look"(picture below) he had last night.



Flash back.......just after Halloween, Lukie asked me to prepare for Christmas. He told me that Santa might be very busy and can't see our home if we don't decorate early. He came from school the next day and had his request granted. From then on every grace before meals he adds, "....... for the love of Christmas........ the house is ready....... Santa is coming".

Then my son made his Christmas list and also did his brother's. Its all up for Santa now to decide if Lukie had been "naughty or nice".

Back to Christmas morning.....I was puzzled why my son's excitement wasn't showing at all, so I asked:

MAMA: "Lukie, why aren't you excited with your gifts? Open it honey!" ......

LUKIE: (looked at me seriously and said in Italian) "Mama, I know what's inside it. I wrote the list, remember?".

DYLAN'S SHOW(Christmas Story 1)

Christmas Lunch 2008. As we were all seated and about to feast on the food before us, with my sister's family and some neighbors joining our banquet, Dylan stood on one of the chairs and sang... "Appyyyy bitdey ehhh yooo.......!"

Happy Birthday my son intoned dauntlessly. He belt out his song lost in the magic of his 2 years old innocence. Then everyone laughed and we said "bravoo!!!".

True enough, Dylan was right! We should have joined him in his singing. Its Jesus Christ's birthday - the reason for all these holiday cheers. We thought we knew but how many of us sang Happy Birthday amidst all these gifts, food and this event gathering or reuniting our families?

BOUN NATALE EVERYONE

Myspace Comments, Christmas Comments at WishAFriend.com

WEEKLY QUESTION 28

What frugal or practical Christmas tips (does your family practice) that you can share to cut down on Christmas-related expenses but not necessarily sacrificing on quality?

Tips? I'm not good in giving one so I'll just share our Christmas decors made out of scratch. I hope its frugal enough to answer the question hehehe...

Since real live tree for a Christmas tree is NOT frequently used here, "reusing" our 6 years old artificial one is I believe economical itself. (I would prefer a real fir tree though. But transporting it from an hour travel with the boat, I'd stick with my fake ornamented evergreen).

When we first bought our Christmas tree, silver and blue were the theme color of our decors using Lukie's excess tokens during his baptism. Its a mini basket with a little baby figurine that was made in the Philippines. I just added silver ribbons to go with it.

I changed our motif into gold and red two years ago giving in to my husband's comment that the blue and silver is more of "for adults". He suggested that it would be more exciting for the kids seeing bright and bold colors(Yeah, more catchy for Dylan who runs away like a thief with the red balls).

Only the Christmas lights and the Christmas balls were bought, the ribbons were recycled. Its a gold fish net that was used to wrap a big gift before. I just cut it and made it into bows. The angel came from the hotel where my husband works. They change Christmas decors yearly so we're happy with their "hand me downs".

Out in our terrace I used real tree branches I had cut from outside. I just bought gold and red strips and made bows and flowers out of it. the blue balls were from my old blings.

Our windows too, adorned with "true" branches and old ornaments from the hotel.

Lastly, my gift wrappers. I bought a plain red paper, the cheapest in IKEA costing only 1.40 euros (10 meters long and 1 meter in width). Then a simple white ribbon(10m) for 99 cents and gold costing 2 euros more. It wrapped 3/4 of the gifts I sent to our friends and relatives. I also asked some stores where I bought some of our give aways to wrap it or they give me the wrapper and I'll do it at home.

STRAIGHT NO CHASER

The group's name is "coolness" itself 'aight'? Been clicking around their YouTube videos and they're really good. My favorite is their "Teen Sensation Medly".



Maybe I need to upload Boog's videos soon. His "singing powers" might make us rich hahaha!