It's Beginning to Look a LOT Like Christmas!

I have quite a long list of excuses as to why I haven't updated this sweet blog: exams came and went: I had tons of marking to do; progress reports had to be made: I wrote a lot of remarks and keyed in a lot of grades; I spent lots of time outside with my boys;

the little one learned to swim;

I updated the school blog and did photoshoots for the students, teachers and what-nots at work. I should have documented it all - but should haves don't seem to count now. I'm here in the now and Now says I should write this about it. It's Christmas and all our days are merry and bright.

In the midst of all the busy-ness, we made time for the season. We went to the lighting ceremony of the tallest Christmas tree in our part of the world! Thirty-eight meters tall! One Million Led Lights! And to sweeten the deal, Magical Fireworks went on display. Boy, these people celebrate in a big way!

In our little bit of the world, we've put up our tree...

I think it's only when we become parents do we realise just how good traditions are for the family. I now truly understand why my mom made me go to all those family parties and why she'd want us to be home when we put up the tree - even through my rebellious ty-age years. (I only started skipping down that particular dark alley when I was 21 or so.)

We've gone to check the Christmas Lego structures in our favorite mall.

We might have some problems with skirts when he figures those out...

School's closed for Christmas as well. And we had a great time welcoming Santa Claus when the kids were around.

We also celebrated when they were all gone.

Jingle the bells, make it look a lot like Christmas, prepare for kisses under the mistletoe!

And Now. Again. The Here and Now. We're doing a countdown for when we go home to where they make puto bumbong in the corner and bibingka by the plaza. I can't wait to fly the friendly skies so my son can finally set foot for the first time on one of his home lands. There's food for the soul waiting for me and I can hardly wait to have my fill!

Water Babies, City Boys, and a Visit to the Zoo

"In fact, the fairies had turned him into a water-baby.

A water-baby? You never heard of a water-baby. Perhaps not. That is the very reason why this story was written.

(...)

"But there are no such things as water-babies."

How do you know that? Have you been there to see? And if you had been there to see, and had seen none, that would not prove that there were none. If Mr. Garth does not find a fox in Eversley Wood—as folks sometimes fear he never will—that does not prove that there are no such things as foxes. And as is Eversley Wood to all the woods in England, so are the waters we know to all the waters in the world. And no one has a right to say that no water-babies exist, till they have seen no water-babies existing; which is quite a different thing, mind, from not seeing water-babies; and a thing which nobody ever did, or perhaps ever will do."

— Charles Kingsley (Water Babies)

My very own water baby. Born in the islands and happiest in the water. His smiles are so much bigger when he plays in the water than when he plays inland. Could it be because he knows where he was born? Or that because his first breaths were filled with the smell and texture of the seas and oceans? Does he feel that on some level, the water is part of his home and birthplace?

My very own water baby. His soul seems to sing when immersed in the blue silk of the elements.

My island baby is also my city boy. He walks the malls like it was his own private backyard. He knows no fear and runs through the wide halls like it was one open field.

And then he stops at his own idea of a haven. We stop and watch him - our little boy and his little park.

Our little city boy and his tea.

Our litte boy falls asleep.

Sunday brings him further inland as we visit the zoo!

Now we know, Elijah, you don't really like giraffes...

not impressed with the elephants...

not as enamored with the monkeys...

real serious when you drive...

and, no matter where, you always find new friends to meet.

My little charmer, always ready to take the world on. You make Mommy and Daddy proud.