Halloween 2019: Firefighter Costume

Not the most fascinating Halloween costume, do you agree?

It's so generic, so common, so boring...

Pero syempre nabigyang justice nya naman haha! He's the cutest little firefighter ever! #proudmomhere

We saw this costume at Costco and he liked it. He was a police officer kasi the previous year (I haven't posted it yet) and he kinda decided that he'll be a fireman naman the following year. So nang makita namin yang outfit na yan (mind you, August pa lang noon ha), binili na namin. Plus it was cheap -- $33.59 lang, (tax included). Mas mahal ang bili namin sa mga previous costumes nya.

The costume came with complete accessories na. May hat, hammer, etc. It's a little big for him kaya tinupi pa namin. But it's ok, magagamit nya pa naman uli ang costume na yan sa school this year. May Halloween dress-up sila every year kaya he'll wear what he wore the previous year para twice naman magamit hehe.

 PS. Bawal palang labhan ang outfit na ito! Buti na lang ipinapatong lang. kaso naman, dudumi pa rin syempre.

Halloween 2019: Our first ever pumpkin

Simula nang mag-migrate ako dito sa Canada, aliw na aliw na talaga ako sa mga pumpkins na binebenta sa grocery stores kapag fall. Wala nyan sa Pinas eh.

October 6, 2019. At dahil may bahay na kami at big boy na si Nathan, time na para magdecorate kami ng aming first-ever pumpkin! I was able to buy that big pumpkin at Save-On-Foods for $3.99. Medyo mahal pa nga, may mas mura pa sa iba lalo na kapag sine-sale na.

But the problem was -- Ford and I didn't have any carving skills. Again, lumaki kami sa Pinas kaya malay ba namin dyan noh! My husband is the most uncreative person in the universe kaya wala talaga kaming mapapala sa kanya sa mga ganyang bagay. At lalo namang hindi ko keri ang mag-carve, tapos ang messy messy pa after.

Buti na lang may reliable na Dollarama. They have this pumpkin decorating kit for only $1.25 (plus 12% tax = $1.40)!

Nathan was so excited to decorate!

Pero syempre ang nanay din ang tumapos lol! Cute naman hindi ba?

We placed it in our frontyard. Biglang sumayang tingnan ang bahay. =)

Medyo nagregret lang kami ng slight kasi the following week, we went to a pumpkin patch (first time din!) and we brought home three more pumpkins. Kasama na pala sa ticket yung pagpili ng pumpkins. Naisip namin na sana hindi na kami bumili. Tapos nag-field trip pa rin si Nathan sa apple barn at nag-uwi ng isa pa. So we had five pumpkins all in all. Oh well, magsisi pa raw ba sa $3.99 lol!

Halloween 2019: Treats

Sorry for the many Halloween posts. Nasa Halloween-mode na kasi talaga ako. Also, ina-aspire ko talaga na madocument lahat ng important happenings sa life namin sa blog na ito kaya marami akong hahabuling posts. Please bear with me.

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Guess what we gave out last year to trick-or-treaters... our extra happy meal toys and books!

I was cleaning our garage a few days before Halloween and realized that I won't be able to bring these toys in Pinas naman na (kasi mabigat at may iba akong valuable items na pwedeng paggamitan ng baggage allowance) so I came up with the idea of just giving them away on October 31st.

I counted the toys and books but I forgot na kung ilan. Medyo madami kasi nga simula naman ng 2 years old si Nathan yan. We had a lot of extras kasi nga usually isa lang naman ang available na toy sa McDonald's kaya hindi ka makakapili. Madalas tuloy nadodoble.Yung iba naipapalit namin kaso medyo hassle din kasing pumunta ng ibang branch para lang magpapalit.

As expected, happy ang mga kids sa toys!

The only trick-or-treaters who came in our frontyard.

When we realized na sa garage side nagpapamigay ng treats ang neighbors namin, sinabihan ko si Ford na tumambay na lang sa garahe. Hindi kami prepared sa garahe (ang dilim pa naman kasi sira ang mga ilaw ng townhomes sa gawi namin that time) kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko na paghahandaan ko talaga next year. Kailangan may maraming pailaw hehe.

Ford didn't take pictures, sayang. Buti may ilan pa akong nakunan. But he said na sobrang happy ang kids pagkakita sa toys. Syempre naman.

Hindi kami nakaubos. May ilang books na naiwan. Bukod sa medyo "late" na kasi kami lumabas sa garahe, nagpack-up na rin si Dad nang umuwi na sina Ian (and family) para sumunod sa amin ni Nathan sa pagti-trick-or-treat. Still, I was happy kasi medyo nabawasan kami ng kalat at hindi na kami bumili pa ng chocolates.

This year, we only have a few happy meal toys and books at baka hindi ko na ipamigay. Now that Nathan has friends and classmates, I might use them na lang later on for birthday goodie bags, etc.

Halloween 2019: Frontyard Decor

September 17, 2020. I was feeling bored as usual so I walked to Dollarama after bringing Nathan to the school bus stop. My agenda really was to buy a couple of cheap decors kasi nae-excite na talaga ako sa Halloween. Imagine, one and a half-months to go na lang pala. Nakita ko rin kasi na may decor na yung isang neighbor namin kaya medyo nainggit ako haha.

I ended up buying "pumpkins" (or Jack-o'-lanterns) so I can stick to my Halloween "pumpkin patch" theme last year. Ayaw kasi namin ni Nathan ng scary decors, yung mga cute lang dapat.

By the way, Dollarama has tons of Halloween stuff kaso dapat medyo ingat lang kasi mapapagastos ka rin talaga. Items range from $1.25 to $4.00 and before you knew it, napasubo ka na lol.

I plan to buy ng paunti-unti kasi nakaka-guilty rin mag-splurge sa mga "nonsense" stuff ngayong panahon ng pandemic. Kaso naman, kailangan ko rin ng spice sa life ko. And Halloween really makes me happy. Saka sa dollar store nga lang ako namimili eh. Kung may budget lang ba ako talaga, magfu-fullblast ako at sa Homesense mamimili.

Oh well, sige na, let me show you our simple Halloween set-up last year. Minimalist lang ang peg ha. Last minute ko na rin kasi nilagay, October 28 na. Ulan kasi ng ulan that time at noon lang tumila (we were lucky to have a 'dry' trick-or-treating, sana this year din). Ayaw ko rin kasing masira ang decors ko kasi I plan to reuse them sa mga susunod na taon. Sayang naman kasi.

The pumpkin patch theme was inspired by our first ever pumpkin patch experience on October 12, 2019. Parang ang cute kasi ng idea ng "farm"for our frontyard.

It was our first Halloween here in Roundhouse and my first time to decorate a house for Halloween. Naaliw ako nang sobra! I had very few decors (kasi nga noon lang uli kami nagkabahay) kasi nga ang mahal din kapag namili ng isang bagsakan pero naisip ko that I'll add up na lang every year.

Here are some shots on the actual Halloween.

By the way, the three pumpkins on the left were from the Richmond Country Farms (where we went to). The small one in front was from Nathan's field trip at Taves Apple Farm. The decorated one was bought at a grocery store. Since we don't know how to carve, nilagyan na lang namin ng mga stick-ons from Dollarama.

View from the inside.

I am actually faced with a dilemma this year. You see, our house is facing the highway. Hence, it is not strategic for trick-or-treaters. Hindi rin kasi gaanong dinadaanan ang harapan namin. Our neighbors gave candies in their respective garages (para facing the inside of the complex) kaya wala ring naging silbi ang decors ko (except for a few minutes of enjoyment for us) kasi nga wala namang nakakita. 

So ang tanong, shall I decorate the frontyard this year o not? Sa garage side/driveway na lang ba ako mag-aayos on October 31? We have a narrow driveway kasi at dinadaanan siya ng car kaya hindi pwedeng ayusin in advance. 

Oh well, let's see. Kahit ano pa man yan, may pandemic man, basta I'll surely enjoy this year's Halloween. Kailangan ko yan para maaliw naman.

Trick-or-Treat 2017 Loots

Wanna see the result of my son's hard work and perseverance?

Here's a closer view.

Haha, my bestfriend Raxie commented na she remembered TanTan's 3 candies last Halloween 2015. Ang laking improvement daw lol!

To be honest, hindi naman namin kinarir ang trick-or-treating because of the candies. I am diabetic (also my husband) and Nathan doesn't eat chocolates. At kung tutuusin ang dali-daling bumili ng sandamukal na candies sa Walmart at Costco noh. Pero it was super fun lang talaga, ewan ko ba. Saka nakita naming nag-enjoy ang mga bata, ayaw nga nilang tumigil eh.

After our pictorial, Nathan wasn't even tempted to taste the sweets in front of him. Itong Hotwheels lang talaga (na binigay ng isang grupo ng riders) ang trip niya.

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So what to do with all the candies and chocolates? We'll bring them to Pinas this January. For sure marami kaming taong mapapasaya hehe (particularly our employees and their kids). Dadagdagan ko na lang. =)

Trick-or-Treat 2017 (2) -- Murrayville, Langley

It was already dark when we reached Juris' place in Langley at around 6pm. Maaga na kasing dumilim. I called Juris and told her we were outside already. I asked Ford to go to Costco to buy some chicken wings for our dinner later. Nag-order na raw kasi si Juris ng pizza.

Princess Zoey was ready. It was her first time to trick-or-treat, she was sick daw last year eh.

Juris' husband was about to leave na. He's going back to the mining camp where he works (one week duty, one week off). So before he left, kami muna nina Juris an Zoey ang nag-ikot sa neighborhood.

The advantage of trick-or-treating on townhouses is that you can go to one house to another very quickly. Tabi-tabi lang eh. At first, Juris thought that only homes with pumpkin/Halloween decors are giving out treats (first time niya ring magtrick-or-treat). I told her na ang alam ko basta bukas ang porch light kahit walang decor. So ganun nga pala yun. First time ko rin magbahay-bahay eh lol.

I could feel the enthusiasm of homeowners whenever trick-or-treaters buzz their bell. Lahat sila very welcoming. Sabagay, kung hindi mo naman talaga feel, magsara ka na lang ng ilaw di ba?

Enjoy na enjoy sina Zoey and Nathan. Tuwang-tuwa sila pag nadadagdagan ang candies sa basket nila. We had to bring additional bags pa pala kasi hindi kasya sa baskets nila ang treats na nakukuha nila.

One thing we learned that night -- some people who won't be home during Halloween leave their treats in their door/porch pala. Nakakatuwa at nakaka-touch. 

At mas nakakatuwa ang mga trick-or-treaters kasi they are not abusive. Talagang paisa-isa lang ang kinukuha para meron pa yung iba. Honestly, kung sa Pinas yan, na-hoard na ng mga nauna. Baka pati lalagyan kinuha na.

It was dark and not so many kids were trick-or-treating but we felt safe. 

When Juris' husband finally left, ayan kasama na namin si Jack (who is 1-year-4-months old). The more, the merrier! If only Tess (our other friend) wasn't in Pinas that time, syempre kasama rin namin sila ni Baby Marco.

It's interesting to know na talagang kinakarir ng ibang tao ang Halloween decorations. If only I have a house, kakaririn ko rin (fan din ako ng Halloween eh). Sayang ang dami kong hindi nakuhanan ng pictures.

Nathan was so tireless that night! He walked and walked without complaining (kahit naka-stroller na si Zoey with Jack). He kept on shouting "Happy Halloween!" Haha! Hilly pa naman yung lugar, akyat-baba kami sa mga houses at sa kalsada.

It was getting colder as night went on so I asked him he wants to wear a jacket like Zoey. He answered: "No... Captain America!" Kaloka, feel na feel talaga ang outfit niya. I was really so worried kasi ang nipis lang nun pero mukhang di naman siya nilalamig. Galaw naman kasi ng galaw.

Hindi lang ang mga bata ang nag-enjoy, mas lalo na siguro kami ni Juris lol! Never namin na-experience ito before so we were like kids din haha.

By the way, Ford was in Costco the whole time. Itext ko na lang daw sya kapag matatapos na kami. Sayang, di niya nakita kung gaano kasigasig ang anak niyang mangalap ng candies!

When were done with the towhomes, nagawi na rin kami sa mga big single detached houses. Dahil ginto ang bahay dito sa Metro Vancouver, expected na na "mayayaman" ang mga nakatira doon (unless matagal na nilang nabili ang bahay). As expected most of them have bigger bars of chocolates.

We finished at around 8:30pm. Whew, 2 1/2 hours kaming nagbahay-bahay! My son never complained that he's tired, talagang game na game pa siya. Tumigil na lang kami kasi kami na lang yata ang nasa kalsada saka naubos na namin ang mga bahay.

Pero yun na, pabalik sa house nina Juris, nagpakarga na si Nathan! Shaiks, ang bigat pa naman ng bags of treats na dala ko. I called Ford and asked him to pick us up. Sinakay niya sina Nathan and Zoey tapos naglakad na lang kami ni Juris (with Jack na nasa stroller) pabalik sa house nina Juris.

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Naramdaman ko lang ang gutom at uhaw nung nasa place na kami nina Juris.

I just ate a slice of pizza though (carbs!)...

But lots of chicken wings. Haha, nanginginig na kasi ako sa gutom talaga.

The little boy was still full of energy. Buti na lang nakapag-power nap siya sa kotse on our way to Langley from Guildford Town Centre. He just asked for McDonald's french fries and orange juice before we went home.

I bought this Halloween board at Daiso for $2 pero di na gaanong namaximize.We were all tired na kasi to get nice shots. Ang gulo rin ni Nathan at ayaw magpapicture.

It was indeed an uber fun night! Juris and I vowed to start on an earlier time next year. Teka, saan na nga kaya kami nakatira noon? Baka sa Langley na rin?

But inasmuch as we want to receive, ok din ang feeling ng nagbibigay (I remember, my first experience of giving treats was in 2014).  If ever may new house na kami by next year, I'll make sure na mag-iiwan din ako ng candies sa labas (unless sa condo kami mapadpad syempre).

Trick-or-Treat 2017 (1) -- Guildford Town Centre

It's almost December and I am still not done with my Halloween posts. Haha... please bear with me, oki?

Juris (my new friend here in BC) and I have agreed to do trick-or-treating in their neighborhood in Langley. At dahil medyo malayo ang place nila (around 30-minutes car ride or at least 1-hour public commute), Nathan and I had to wait for Daddy Ford pa after office hours para may masakyan kami.

So para hindi naman masayang ang araw at outfit ng bagets, sabi ko sa Guildford Town Centre muna kami magtrick-or-treat. We live just across this mall kaya naglakad lang kami. I wanted to get there by 3pm sana kaso nawala ang Captain America shield ni Tantan. Kaloka, kung kelan kailangan saka hindi mahanap! Halos one hour ko yatang hinanap, tapos nasa ilalim ng dining chair lang pala.

Past 4pm na kami nakarating sa mall. Hindi ko pa binihisan ng costume si Nathan kasi baka mairita at ayawan agad. Pero pagpasok na pagpasok namin sa mall, sangkatutak na batanag naka-outfit ang bumungad samin kaya naatat kami pareho. Haha, dali-dali ko siyang binihisan sa may couch, hindi na kami nagpunta sa washroom. Feeling ko late na late na kami lol. Medyo naloka lang ako nang parang ang sikip ng damit ng maisuot na. Parang gusto kong maiyak at tumakbo sa Walmart para bumili ng bago. We fitted that costume two weeks prior to Halloween at ayos naman ah. O siya, wala ng magagawa. Hindi naman nagreklamo si Nathan at feel na feel pa nga.

It's good that Nathan saw agad a lot of other kids na nabibigyan ng candy. Ang bilis ko siyang nabigyan ng instruction na lumapit sa nagbibigay.

This was his very first gig. Medyo shy pa siya.

But later on, ayun super enjoy na sa panghihingi ng candies! Kapag may tinuro ako sa kanya na store na nagbibigay ng treats, tatakbo siya agad papunta haha.

Ito yung first trick-or-treat niya na may muwang na talaga siya. Buti rin nakapanood siya sa youtube so may idea na talaga siya how it's being done.

Guildford Town Centre is the second biggest mall here in BC yata kaya marami ring tao. Pero hindi naman advertised ang trick-or-treat nila. According to one Pinay mom na nakausap ko last year, nagstop na sila maghold ng formal trick-or-treat. Kaya nga hindi kami dito nagpunta last year. Siguro nakagawian na rin lang ng mga stores na mamigay ng treats kaya meron pa rin kahit papano.

It's safe to go trick-or-treating sa mall kaso konti ang treats syempre. Paisa-isa lang ang bigay at syempre hingi gaanong bongga ang candies. Hindi rin lahat ng stores nagbibigay.

Haha, panalo sa costume ang pamilyang nasa upper right! Kinarir talaga nila ang Halloween!

This for me was the highlight of that afternoon. Captain America meets Spiderman! Hahaha!

Nathan is actually very scared of mascots. Duwag talaga yan. Pero nanaig ang excitement over fear, ayan at nagpapicture rin kay Spiderman.

Daddy Ford arrived at around 5pm. Medyo maaga kasi galing siyang site. After changing Nathan's nappy, konting lakad pa at picture-taking syempre.

We didn't get that many treats (half lang ng Chase basket) but it was fun. Nathan had a great time seeing other kids in different costumes. And when I told him we'll go to Zoey's (Juris' daughter) house para magtrick-or-treat uli, ayon lalong na-excite. More candies daw.

Nathan as Captain America (Halloween 2017)

I can't believe it's already November 23. One week to go na lang December na! Pasko na talaga!

But before November ends, let me post muna Nathan's outfit last Halloween. Isn't he the cutest little Captain America ever?!?! #biasedmomhere

But objectively, I think he really nailed this outfit (that I just bought at Walmart). Parang medyo maliit na nga pero keri lang. Yung next size kasi is way too big, pang 5 years and older na.

I was actually skeptic that he would wear this for even just an hour. Baka kako makatihan. He is also very picky rin sa clothes, gusto niya yung simple lang. Ni ayaw ngang magsuot ng jumper, ang gusto ay shirt at pants lang. Pero eto at feel na feel niya. He's worn it for at least five hours.

This is Captain America's fierce look daw haha. Sariling sikap yan, napulot sa youtube.

I am so happy! Sulit ang pinambili ko ng costume! I am so looking forward to next year. Si Chase of Paw Patrol naman daw ang isusuot niya. =)

#LatePost: Nathan's First Halloween (2015)

Halloween is just around the corner and I am so excited. Then I realized that I haven't posted Nathan's first and second Halloween experiences pa pala. Sobrang dami kong kailangang ipost, kailangan lang ng time haha. So please bear with my #LatePosts every now and then.

Anyway, we were in the Philippines on October 31, 2015 and I wasn't happy. Mas masaya kasi syempre ang Trick-or-Treating sa Canada, mas authentic kumbaga. Hindi naman kasi uso ang celebration ng halloween noong kapanahunan ko sa Pinas eh, medyo recent lang sine-celebrate due to western influence. Kung nasa Canada kami, we would have had a lot of fun because I have so many friends there with kids. Sama-sama kaming rarampa at mangongolekta ng M&Ms at Snickers.

I regretted din not getting a nice Halloween costume in Canada before we went home (on July 2015).  Konti lang kasi ang choices sa SM. I didn't look anywhere else kasi SM girl lang talaga ako.

I remember getting Nathan a cute french fries costume which was on sale but he refused to wear it. Nang makita pa lang, nagwala na. Nasayang tuloy, buti na lang Php150 lang. My son wasn't the type to wear anything "bulky" or "weird" so I had to look for something that has a 'normal feel' for him. When I saw this pumpkin outfit, sabi ko pwede na ito. Maiisip niya na sando at pajama lang ang suot niya. Di ko na maalala kung magkano ito pero basta namamahalan ako, parang Php600-700 yata. Eh very simple lang naman ang cut at tela.

No shoes or slippers because he was naiinitan. Mainitin si Canadian boy!

Objectively, Nathan wasn't looking at his best that time. His hair was too long na but we couldn't cut it yet because we were waiting until he turns one (his birthday is November 13). Alam nyo naman, wag daw papagupitan ang bata kapag wala pang isang taon. Sinunod na lang namin kahit hindi naman talaga  kami naniniwala.

Also, three weeks before his first birthday, sinimulan na siyang atakehin ng lamok. Ayan ang dami-dami niyang insect bite marks sa face hay. Talk about timing talaga.

To be honest, hindi ito ang na-envision kong first halloween ng anak ko. I wanted a very fancy costume for him that will match his cute flawless face. Oh well, things do not always go as planned. Pabayaan na nga lang.

We live in the province so we had very little choice on where to celebrate Halloween. In fact, sa SM Marilao nga lang talaga. I know that there are places in Manila that held fancier celebrations (like in hotels, for a price of course) but TanTan was too young then so naisip ko keri na sa SM na lang (saka super trapik pa noh at wala rin kaming kasamang ibang bata). Basta mairaos lang namin ang Halloween.

We were at SM na by the time it opened. Sobrang daming tao. Talagang kinakarir na rin ng Pinoy ang pagti-trick-or-treat.

Some shops were giving out candies. Syempre pinagkakaguluhan. My son was so serious the whole time, nakapa-oblivious sa paligid haha. Mas ako pa at si Ate Lani (our kasambahay who helped me take care of TanTan) ang na-excite haha. First trick-or-treat din kasi namin lol.

There were so many kids who were in costumes, pero marami ring hindi (and I could see envy in their eyes). How I wish all Filipino kids could be whatever they want to be during Halloween. Ang saya kasi nun sa pakiramdam di ba.

 The ambiance at the mall was very festive. Naisip ko, ba't nga ba walang ganito noong bata ako?

Nathan wasn't walking yet so he was in the stroller the whole time.

The lines to the stores that hand out treats were very long. Pinakamadaming tao sa Jollibee, as expected. Hindi na kami pumasok kasi siksikan talaga. Hindi ko na tuloy nalaman kung ano ang meron sa loob haha.

If only Nathan could already recognize candies that time, bibilhan ko na lang siya para mapuno ang basket niya haha.

SM Marilao isn't big at hindi lahat ng stores ay nagbibigay ng candies kaya ilang piraso lang talaga ang makukuha ng kids. Sobrang dami pang bata kaya talagang malaki ang demand sa maliit na supply kaloka.

I seriously had this thought pa nga -- sana bumili ako ng maraming candies tapos umupo ako sa may foodcourt at nagpapila ng mga bata. Pwede kaya yun?

After going to just a few stores, hindi na kami nakigulo. Nag-window shop na lang kami. 

Buti kasama namin si Ate Lani or else hindi ko kakayaning mag-isa.

We got hungry after 1 1/2 hours so we searched for a place to eat. Kaso sa sobrang dami ng tao, wala na halos kaming makainan. We ended up at Wendy's na lang.

Lalong dumami ang tao later that noon. I felt bad for kids who came in late, lalong wala na silang naabutan. If your are going to 'public places' like SM for trick-or-treating, dapat nandun ka na agad pagbukas pa lang.

change-outfit na :)

I know wala pang appreciation ang anak ko sa Halloween that time pero kaya nga may pictures naman. Someday, he will go through all these photographs and and learn that once in his life, he became a little pumpkin. :)

And if you are curious, here's what Nathan took home from his trick-or-treat adventure. Three candies, toink! Awang-awa tuloy ang daddy niya haha. Even his Ninang My felt bad for him that she promised to fill his bag/basket the next time they see each other haha.