Birthdays Slideshow - 2010

With Renz's Birthday Celebration over, it's time to compile all the family's birthday celebrations for the year. I've had this idea for some time now.

Here are all of our wacky birthday pictures for 2010 in a slideshow. This year would be the first time that I was able to take pictures of all celebrators (celebrants?) on his/her birthday at their seats in the dinner table.

Even with Tita Gay out to care for my mother-in-law's hip and wrist injury recovery, I'm able to take pictures. Tight spaces are no problems either, thanks to the flexible mini tripod I bought for my old point-and-shoot digital camera.

Renz Birthday 2010

It's Renz's turn for a birthday celebration and his birthday caps the year's birthday celebrations for the family.

I've already thought of compiling each family member's birthday picture at the dining table and turning them into a birthday slideshow. A tradition of taking pictures around the dinner table just evolved this year, so that'll be fun to watch.

Sandra's Birthday 2010

It's that time of the year again when the regular healthy diet gets sidetracked a bit with the kids' birthdays. Last week was Che's birthday and come Dec. 6, it's Renz's turn.

This year, it's Sandra's 14th birthday. We're grateful she has overcome her bout with dengue. Because of her illness and confinement at the hospital, she missed a whole week of school.

After her release from the hospital, she had to catch up on lessons as well as school practice for an event. The first quarter periodical exams proved to be a challenge.

Che's Birthday 2010

It's time for another break from the regular healthy and fit diet. In other words, it's time to indulge a bit for Che's 18th birthday. Indulgence came from the Ho Chai Lai restaurant platter we picked up on the way to my mother-in-law's house in Makati.

My mother-in-law is still recovering from her hip and wrist injury at home. She completed her physical therapy exercises for her legs and her wrist therapy exercises will soon follow. We figured as we celebrate Che's birthday there, we could cheer her up a bit.

Birthday 2010

My birthday celebration this year was a day late. This is because the actual date coincided with the Grand Reunion which DH and I attended.

The reunion finished at 5pm. By that time, according to DH, there was limited selection of cakes to choose from in bakeshops like Red Ribbon.

The food from Leslie's restaurant was aplenty and we were just full. I was able to get a second serving (no more rice!) just before the buffet table closed at 3pm. Luckily, there were plenty of fruit juices to wash all the food down.

Happy Birthday Karen 2010

Right after the Pizza Pigout Celebration for Father's Day, we celebrated Karen's Birthday later in the evening.

As we were still reeling from pizza overdose, we had a simpler fare that night: spaghetti (c/o Makati), barbecues and cake (Rocky Road again?). Also, Karen received a nice new watch as a present from us - a Ladies Timex Indiglo!

Here's the gang with Renz and his "sad dopey face". He wasn't so quick to flash his "hungry alien face" this time.

Irene’s Birthday 2010

Last Tuesday was DH's birthday and we had a feast. Instead of the usual inihaw (grilled) chicken or liempo, we had lechong paksiw. We also had special spaghetti, shanghai and lomi guisado, a fave.

DH's cake was Red Ribbon's Choco Mocha Crunch. It's good. I wasn't too crazy on the "crunchies" on top of the cake that tasted like crispy yema.

Renz's Birthday 2009

Renz turned 8 last December 6. We originally planned on coming home after the mini-reunion on December 5.

But I was too tired from driving through heavy traffic that we decided to go back on the next day, Sunday.

Tita Divine bought a birthday cake for Renz. And it was no ordinary cake. It's a Belgian Chocolate cake from Ala Creme Bakeshop in Pampanga - which I heard is "one of the best if not "the best" bakeshop in all of Angeles and Pampanga..


What's so special with Belgian Chocolate?

Well, supposedly, Belgian chocolate is considered to be the gourmet standard against which all other chocolate confectionary is measured. Even the Swiss, known for their own high quality chocolate, imported the basic recipe from French and Belgian chocolatiers.

The majority of Belgian chocolate is still made by hand in small shops using traditional equipment. These small chocolate outlets are actually a popular draw for tourists visiting Belgium today.

Similar to wineries, tours of Belgian chocolate shops often involve tastings and exclusive souvenirs. Not the same as the sugary treats offered in American candy shops, these Belgian chocolate pralines could be filled with a variety of different flavored nougats or creams, such as coffee, hazelnut, fruit, or even more chocolate.

Sandra's Birthday 2009

It's Sandra's 13th Birthday today. Yup another teenager in the house (now three). She chose Rocky Road for her cake. We also had macaroni and sinfully yummy (read: cholesterol-packed) barbecues.

This year, Sandra gave herself a really nice present. She improved more on her grades (she moved to the pilot section this period) by moving to rank 7 in the pilot section. Congrats, Sandra!

Che's Birthday 2009

The Pacman fever is on (again). Yesterday, a local barangay kagawad stopped his car in the middle of the street to hand out free tickets. This is for the Manny Pacquio - Miguel Cotto fight. The viewing will be at the local multi-purpose covered court of the subdivision.

For a while I thought he was campaigning and was handing out pocket sized calendars.

Birthday 2009

It was a quiet day yesterday and I spent most of the afternoon watching the complete downloaded youtube videos to date of Survivor Samoa. Yeah! :) Yup, I downloaded all 5 episodes. Thanx Youtube!

For dinner, we had special Lomi Guisado from Madam Billones. For Php35 for a big order, it's quite cheap! The Rocky Road cake was announced late. Here, Karen took the group picture since Tita Gay wasn't around.

Karen's Birthday 2009

It's also been a year today since Snoopy died. And Karen remembered it. How time flies. This is Karen's first birthday at the new house.

Karen had the choice for the cake (coz she bought it herself!) and got Rocky Road from Red Ribbon. What else did we have?


Lesee, from the above photo, there's Inihaw na Isaw ng Baboy, Inihaw ng Bitukang Manok, Inihaw ng Tenga ng Baboy (streetfood galore!). The sweet and spicy sarsa with vinegar was very good. We also had the usual Lechong Manok and Billones' Pancit Canton with tansan. :)

Irene’s Birthday 2009

It's Irene's birthday today.

She's got this really nice boyish haircut for summer. The card she's holding was hand-drawn by Renz. Yup, Renz was just excited giving it to her.

It's the first birthday celebration in the new house. And since we now have a table were we're seated around, I plan to take a picture of the birthday celebrant WHERE he or she is seated. The rest can pose beside or behind her.

Karen was out practicing for a dance project.

Happy Birthday Sandra 2008

Yup, after exactly a week (7 days) from Che’s birthday, it’s Sandra’s turn.

This time we had Chinese takeout: It’s mostly assorted cold cuts, century egg, dumplings, seaweeds and sweetish asado pork (yummy). We also had inihaw na tainga and spaghetti.

Happy Birthday Che 2008

I was hoping for another Marjolaine cake from Red Ribbon but nopes, it was not to be. Che wanted Rocky Road. So we had that, Carbonara, Liempo and Lechon Manok.

Birthday 2008

Meetings, meetings.

I was practically at the Calamba office the whole afternoon yesterday. Good thing I managed to reach the Carmona office just in time to get the Baked Lasagna I ordered from the cafeteria. It was a half-pan worth Php250 and good for 15 persons.

So what did Tita Gay and I have for this year’s celebration at the renthouse?

Happy 14th Birthday Karen!

This is the first birthday celebration at the rented house. It’s too bad it was preceded by Snoopy’s death and told Karen to remember (I’m sure she will) the date. But hey, it’s STILL Karen’s day and so we had cake and a special treat from Ho Chail Lai resto!

Mommy's Birthday 2008

Since we didn't visit Pampanga during Holy Week, we went there today. I brought along the vcd I created out of the pics we took in Jakarta, Indonesia. And I was proud of my editing too!

Later in the day, we had cake and ice cream and some photo-ops. Renz was super excited singing and clapping Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday at Le Garden Restaurant for DH

Today was DH's ??th birthday! Renz is in a zombie-like trance as he hands over his present.


By this time, Che and Karen were already worried that Renz was giving away one of their personal belongings as Renz was becoming notorious for giving somebody else's stuff. Here's Renz's gift. A couple of his marbles.

Renz's 6th Birthday - 2007

I took under-time to catch up on Renz's birthday at school. Mama, Beng and Sam were also there. Food was already being served when I got there. Of course, I was still introduced by Teacher Beth to everybody as Renz's dad.

Here's a part of the class with Renz.