Last weekend, we packed up the kids and drove 2.3 miles to that Emporium of Excitement, that Factory of Fun, that Holy Grail of Gadgets: Toys-R-Us. After weeks of deliberation, we finally scheduled the time to take Mary on a surprise trip to Toys-R-Us to buy her very first bicycle. She chose a "Barbie" bike complete with a shimmery front pack and a toy plastic bicycle attached to the handlebars, designed to carry a Barbie doll. If Mary so wishes, she can position Barbie on the toy bicycle, and the two of them can ride off into the sunset together. The look on her face was priceless as she perused the bicycle department, wide-eyed and bursting with excitement.
Yes, our little Mary is reaching milestones one pedal at a time.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Festival, Fil-Am Style (Part 2)
Due to technical difficulty, part 2 of Festival, Fil-Am Style will be posted at a later date.Check back soon!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Festival, Fil-Am Style (Part 1)
This past weekend, our parish held its 4th annual church festival. The local community came out en masse to partake in the festivities. There was a variety of ethnic fare, game booths for those who dare, vendors hawking their wares, and music and entertainment to take away your cares. In keeping with past tradition, the Filipino-American (Fil-Am) youth group, including Danielle and Joseph, performed folk dances as part of the entertainment program. This year, our choreographer chose to showcase a suite of dances from Mindanao, the second largest island group in the southern-most tip of the Philippine archipelago. Although eighty-five percent of the people in the Philippines are Catholic Christians, Muslims in the Mindanao region make up the largest cultural minority group. Their music and dances are renowned for their mysticism, beauty, and royalty. Filipino Muslim dances are characterized by intricate hand and arm movements, and colorful, shimmering costumes.
The Fil-Am dance program was a runaway success! Much of the credit goes to our choreographer, whose patience, perseverance (and sense of humor) set the standard of excellence. Equally deserving are the Fil-Am dancers who worked tirelessly and selflessly, and devoted every weekend over a three-month period to learning and mastering the Mindanao suite. Amateurs though they were, the Fil-Am youth group performed with undeniable skill, talent, discipline, grace, and professionalism. We are extremely proud of our young dancers.
Among Filipino-Americans, there is an adage: "You can take the Filipino out of the Philippines, but you can’t take the Philippines out of the Filipino." In some ways, the church festival has become, for us, a reaffirmation of our Filipino identity and pride.
Stay tuned for video footage of the Fil-Am dance performances on Part 2 of Festival, Fil-Am Style. For now, enjoy these photos courtesy of Dan Howell Photography.
The Fil-Am dance program was a runaway success! Much of the credit goes to our choreographer, whose patience, perseverance (and sense of humor) set the standard of excellence. Equally deserving are the Fil-Am dancers who worked tirelessly and selflessly, and devoted every weekend over a three-month period to learning and mastering the Mindanao suite. Amateurs though they were, the Fil-Am youth group performed with undeniable skill, talent, discipline, grace, and professionalism. We are extremely proud of our young dancers.
Among Filipino-Americans, there is an adage: "You can take the Filipino out of the Philippines, but you can’t take the Philippines out of the Filipino." In some ways, the church festival has become, for us, a reaffirmation of our Filipino identity and pride.
Stay tuned for video footage of the Fil-Am dance performances on Part 2 of Festival, Fil-Am Style. For now, enjoy these photos courtesy of Dan Howell Photography.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Back to School
It's time once again to sharpen those pencils, shine those lunch pails, and set those alarm clocks!
Gone are the carefree days of summer for it is now back to school!
I miss them already............
Gone are the carefree days of summer for it is now back to school!
I miss them already............
Sunday, August 30, 2009
S is for SUMMER..STRAWBERRIES..SUNSHINE
Autumn Announces its Arrival with the changing of the seasons in shades of yellow, orange, red, purple, and brown. Winter Wallops us with Wind gusts and freezing cold temperatures. Spring Slowly Softens and Surrounds us with beauty and grace. But, ah, SUMMER. Its long, SUNSHINY days have a SALUBRIOUS effect on our SPIRITS.
This SUMMER, we:
SOAKED up lots of SUNSHINE
SIPPED lemonade on SIZZLING hot days
SPRAYED each other with SQUIRT guns
SIFTED SAND at the playground
SWUNG on SWINGS
This SUMMER, we:
SOAKED up lots of SUNSHINE
SIPPED lemonade on SIZZLING hot days
SPRAYED each other with SQUIRT guns
SIFTED SAND at the playground
SWUNG on SWINGS
SPLASHED around at Folsom Water Park
SAUNTERED to the ice cream shop
SELECTED the SWEETEST STRAWBERRIES at Gizdich Farms
SMOTHERED them in chocolate
SOCIALIZED with neighbors at our 9th annual block party
SWIRLED, SWAYED, STEPPED at dance practice for our church festival
SPED around the neighborhood on our bikes
SKATED around the block
SANG praises at VBS
SAW beautiful SUNSETS
SLEPT in on most days
SPENT time with family and friends
STOPPED to SMELL the roses
SAUNTERED to the ice cream shop
SELECTED the SWEETEST STRAWBERRIES at Gizdich Farms
SMOTHERED them in chocolate
SOCIALIZED with neighbors at our 9th annual block party
SWIRLED, SWAYED, STEPPED at dance practice for our church festival
SPED around the neighborhood on our bikes
SKATED around the block
SANG praises at VBS
SAW beautiful SUNSETS
SLEPT in on most days
SPENT time with family and friends
STOPPED to SMELL the roses
SEIZED the day!
SO long SUMMER! Please come again SOON!
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