How's your weekend? Ours was just one of the days where we go out and dine for dinner. This time, we went to something different... we dine out to an Indian Restaurant. It's been awhile...

I am no fan of spicies nor curries, but I think Indian Cuisine is not bad, on the contrary to being mistakenly stereo-typed to cause stomach discomfort... The Indian Waiter was entertaining ANzu during his idle time lol







Ohh look at the little person here... so cute! She's really becoming more a little girl everyday...

After months of waiting and umm, few times of discussion whether to vaccinate or not, finally our lil girl had her aH1N1 Vaccine last Saturday. Actually that was her second shot , the first was taken a week before the second...

I have been so reluctant and on the fence about it at first, because I read alot of opinions which were mostly not in favor. Some were over exaggerating the potential problems with the vaccine. Some even said it has not been properly tested yet, blah blah...

But I guess the media was really scare mongering that overwelmed us to be more extra cautious and wait for the Vaccine to be available in the masses. It's so sad to hear the news about kids have died =( It freaked me out a bit that me and my dolly seldom go out, ride a train and mall hop=(

I thought days before Christmas were my busiest days. Japan New Year's Holidays which is OSHOGATSU in japanese, were even busier. はちくち。

I've got loads of things and Japanese Culture to share. so I start with our New Year's Eve.

We celebrated and welcome the New Year in Japanese way which is usually much more like a not-so-quiet evening with loveones. During the day, we dine out to eat Soba with my inlaws.

SOba is taditionally eaten for New Year's Celebration. It supposed to be eaten on New Year's Eve. The long noodle symbolize long life. Most families prepare their home made SOba and serve it with their loveones.

My inlaws just didn't have the time do it so we went to a Japanese Restaurant instead and headed to their home after and stayed for awhile.

During the night, Hubby and I celebrated with beers and foods while waiting for the countdown. Lil Anzu has started to love Chicken since christmas. She even learned to toast by saying "KAMPAI!!!" clearly. She's really funny when she does that, especially with everybody. My lil Anzu continues to change every day and make us laugh with every new thing she learns.

ANyway, half an hour after our New Year's Kiss (azumi was already sleeping), we had the chance to celebrate Philippines' New Year by video telephone.  WOW! SOme of my cousins and relatives were there having a good time while watching my Dad jumpsparking the "paputok" (fireworks). Thanks to technology coz we felt close somehow. I missed another event in our family again. Our house is always the merriest in our street because of the party and fireworks. Hoping to spend our New Year next year with them.

to be continue....

How was your weekend? Ours was entirely spent in our home sweet home with the apple of our eyes, who else? Azumi of course... We had a lazy and yet a relaxing saturday considering the cold and crazy weather--a sunny morning shifting to a cloudy afternoon --, and then the next day, it was a cold cloudy Sunday. MIL and Maruchan (her lovely toy poodle) came over to have lunch with us.

Anyway, I just wanna share some photos of the Park Garden Cemetery we went last week. Okasan would always ask my hubby to take her in her late daughter's grave which is an hour way from our home.

We've been there many times and Im always amazed how they religiously maintain the beautiful garden. The graves are always clean, they're just like one of the decors in the garden. There's even a coffee shop in the 2nd floor of the building, with a full view of the beautiful park cemtery. Not a typical japanese cemetery which is usually in an elevated location, beside or behind a big temple.





The Lil Girl escorting her great Granny
( i wish she'd also meet her Great Granny in my Dad's side before she goes back to US, makakauwi pa ba kami this month? )

Our weekends were almost spent in our home sweet home . It's almost winter in here (is it already?) The days and the nights have been even colder because of the cloudy (and almost rainy) weather . Just a good reason to stay at home and relax. After all, it was a tiring week last week, so we thought that it's ok to be lazy over the weekend lol.

We did nothing but eat, watch dvds, play with our lil Azumi, and sleep. Sarap ng buhay.. if only we could always be like that, lazy bummers

Anyhow, how's little Anzu?... (showing some photos of my favorite baby in the world..)

Look at our lil dolly, she's really becoming more of a little girl each day...


...with her high-pitch squeals, amusing laugh... the way she plays her toys, sometimes she puts them all in a basket by all herself..


We havent been going out for days to our usual walk due to the crazy weather and its really cold.

SO she settles nearby the window to say Hi to our friendly neighbors.. She really says Hi and waves her hands to someone passing by..

The scary and yet one of the things that excites her since 11 months old is climbing upstairs. We really have to be more extra attentive coz one second, she already climbed a few steps up the stairs. She already figured out how to open the sliding door in the living room to get her way to the stairs.




well I guess ito na yung umpisa ng sinasabi nila na papayat nako sa kakulitan at habulan.


TAGS: climbing upstairs, weekends, almost winter, lazy, pretty in pink, windows, milestones,

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Hope it's not yet too late for my pixelbug weekend sharings...

Last week we went out of town together with my mom's Parents In Law whom we call Okasan (literally means mother), and Ojisan (grandfather). They're old but very much healthy (and not mention young at heart lol). So happy and thankful because they invited us to join them on a trip to Nagano, which is a 3 hour drive away from Tokyo. I was worried at first because that would be Anzu's longest drive (without a childseat) but thank God, she endured it without having a fussy phase. We had few stopovers of course.


Anyway, Im really really thankful not because it was an all expense paid, but it was a wonderful experience for me and my dolly. We stayed in a Japanese Ryokan where in you experience the elements of Japanese culture and customs: living in a room with Tatami (straw mat) flooring, changing into a typical Yukata (robe) after taking an Onsen hot-spring bath, sleeping on a Futon (bedding) put down directly on the Tatami floor, and etc. It's a traditional Japanese hotel. Our rooms are decorated in Japanese style. Each room is equipped with a hot spring bathroom. It's really quite a great experience especially for foreigners (like me lol)


We also had a full course Japanese dinner and breakfast which was really terrific, the prentation and the food itself.


And the best of all, me and lil Anzu had our first Apple Picking experience... I never knew that they are lots of kinds.. Havent seen apple trees in my whole life lol and now Ive been to few fields of apples.






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Some photos at the hotel...





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I realized that it's also fun being with the oldies. You learn a lot and you become more sensible conversationalist lol.

TAGS: japanese ryokan, japanese culture, traditional hotel, apple in nagano, nagano ken, onsen, onsen hotel, okasan, ojisan

Halloween is practically not much celebrated here in Japan, although you will see loads of Halloween decorative bits n pieces here and there especially here in Tokyo. From Malls to restaurants... I should've taken more photos so to show you more about here =( OK next time since I am already getting tired of taking Anzu's photos lol..


Before the day ended, I was really glad to see my hubby's friend whom I havent seen for almost 2 years.. なつかしい。。He's the one on the last picture in the slide. Anyway, that's another story. Im just so glad he finally meet our lil dolly princess and he can't believe that time has indeed flown so fast.

That's how we spent our weekend.
More weekend happenings here (click the badge)

Last Saturday, our lil girl was invited to watch Undokai (or sports day as we may call it in english) at my mom's MIL's school which is just a block away from our home.

In Japan it seems as if there's a big event for every occasion, and the idea of encouraging a sports-minded culture is not outside the realm of reasons to celebrate. If you're following KIZUNA (my good ol friend ate clang) and Seiko's Diary, you may already have known what Undokai is all about. It's a sports festival which is one of the highlights of the year for many young Japanese students. An all day affair which is attended not only the family members but also oftentimes the extended family and close friends.


Parents also get to participate in the games. My gosh, I feel pressured just thinking about it. I should ready myself in the coming years when my baby will finally be attending her kindergarten. Usually Moms rise early in the morning to prepare obento (lunchboxes) which really add more appeal to that event. Some kids may even show off their Obento with their classmates. Have you seen Ate Clang's Obentos?



ANyway showing off my lil dolly Anzu again. As usual, my camera was with me because it was her first time to watch an UNDOKAI. Of course, I wouldn't want to missed to capture her one of HER First FIRSTS...

Anzu kept on cheering the kids by waving and clapping with enthusiasm in her face.. Can't help but to catch some attention because we were the only one watching upstairs that's why I decided to go on the ground and be with the crowd lol It's more fun..




Our great weekend didn't end up here... will post about it next time