Christmas lunch with friends

December 24, 2017.  We originally planned to hold our Christmas party at Tess' place but we decided the last minute to eat out na lang. Masyadong hassle pa ang ang magluto / magdala / bumili ng pagkain for potluck tapos magki-clean up pa after. Both Tess and Juris are so busy the past days. Tess went back to work already last November (after a one-year maternity leave) and Juris just started her new part-time job this December kaya ang hirap pagtugmain ang schedule nila. I am glad we were able to push through with our get-together bago magpasko.

We agreed to eat at Max's Restaurant since Juris wanted Filipino food. She's married to a white guy kasi and they seldom eat rice haha.

I called Max's the day before for reservation. Buti may slot pa for 6 adults and 4 kids. Their specific instruction was for the whole party of 10 to be present by 11am to avail of the table, or else they have the right to give it away.

As usual, Team Coblancs came early. We were there 10 minutes before 11am. I told the receptionist that we were a bit early and the rest of our companions will arrive shortly. They asked us if we want to sit already and order. I said yes, since the girls and I have already agreed what to order.

Before I ordered, messaged them again to make sure that they are coming haha! Baka mamaya hindi dumating eh aanhin ko ang lahat ng pagkaing inorder ko.

Our order -- 2 fried chicken, 2 pancit canton, 2 liempo sisig, 1 large sinigang na baboy, 6-pcs pork barbeque, 1 chopsuey, 2 large steamed rice. All for $181. Not bad at all. We just chipped in $60 per family.

Group photo before digging in.

Families from Surrey, New Westminster, and Langley

We were all starving. I think nobody ate breakfast that day lol.

The drawback though was that the "party" was over by 12:30nn. Walang masyadong time din for chika because we girls were busy attending to our kids (and our stomachs!). Our husbands were medyo reserved din. You see, it's a bit hard when there's a "foreigner" in a party, medyo nakakailang din. We could not converse well in Filipino for fear that he'll get offended. But though we all can speak English naman talaga, it's still awkward to speak English all the time in the presence of your fellow Filipinos. Kaya nga nagtataka ako whenever I hear Filipinos na slang pa kumausap sa kapwa Filipino (ung mga obvious na hindi lumaki rito ha). Ako kasi nang mapunta ako dito eh parang mas nagtatagalog pa ako.

After eating, we just distributed our gifts to one another tapos kanya-kanyang uwi na. Medyo na-sad nga ako kasi ang bilis lang. Kahit sina Tess biglang nadisplace kasi 2:40pm pa ang next appointment nila sa chiropractor. Nag-mall na lang kami, separately.

Gifts that we gave out.

Gifts that we received.

Hopefully next year, we could plan a better party na. Mas ok nga sa bahay na lang para mas matagal ang kuwentuhan. I am willing to host it kung may place na kami.