Nathan is turning three in less than 2 months and I still haven't posted his first two birthday parties yet. Let me start with his second, kasi I couldn't find the USB (from the official photographer) where his first party pictures were saved. Nag-pack nga kasi kami ng gamit kaya nagkagulo-gulo na. Most of our stuff are in storage. But I am not worried naman kasi I have a copy in the Philippines. So I might be able to post it by next year pa.
Anyway, Mamoosh and I gave a very small and simple party at home for Nathan last year. Unlike his first one, which I admit was sort of 'bongga,' I decided to just keep it low that time. My reason: "Pagod pa ako sa first party ni Tantan." It was actually true. Sobrang nangarag ako sa party na yun (saka sobrang napagastos si Daddy Ford haha) which took several months to prepare.
We deliberately went home to Pinas just a few days (November 8, 2016) before TanTan's birthday so we could throw nga a party from him. We just moved here in BC then so aside from wala kaming own house, wala rin kaming friends dito na pwedeng iinvite. Kaya sa Pinas na lang para mas masaya. Sunday ang birthday niya noon but we held the small salo-salo in our Marilao house on November 12, Saturday, para walang hassle sa mga cousins ko kahit mag-stay ng late.
Please read here na lang why I chose minions as party theme.
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I am glad because our every reliable secretary/assistant Joanne knows how to photoshop. Siya lang ang nag-design ng tarpaulin na ito tapos pina-print namin. Ang mura ng tarpaulin printing sa Pinas, yun ang mahal dito kaya hindi uso for parties.
Ang cute ng color scheme noh? It all started from the plastic table minion table cover that I bought in Dollarama. Teal color yata yan, saka syempre orange and yellow. Ang aliwalas tingnan.
Bitbit ko yang mga balloons from Canada, binili ko sa Dollarama (orange balloons) and Party City (yellow and teal balloons). I would have bought everything from the dollar store kaso wala sila ng teal-colored balloons eh. The NATHAN balloons naman were bought at Divisoria by Joanne. Dito sobrang expensive ng mga ganyang letter balloons.
We just rented a couple of tables and chairs. Konti lang naman ang bisita namin. Ang konti lang kasi ng close relatives namin sa mother side. Sa father side naman, puro nasa States.
Joanne's husband Louie helped us set up the place. Natuwa ako kasi nag-match sa color-scheme namin ang chairs pati table cloth (na pinatungan ko ng yellow plastic table cover from Dollarama rin).
Balloons make me happy! Gusto ko talaga ng nice balloons kapag birthday.
As I have said, super simple lang ng party na ito. Walang kahit anong eklat (like games, give-aways), just food and balloons and cake.
We just asked my cousin-in-law Ate Janet (the Francisco family's official cook) to prepare some dishes -- fried chicken, pancit, lumpiang gulay (without wrapper), menudo, and beef caldereta.
We just ordered one small-sized lechon. Nathan's Grandpa Jim and Lola Elsie (hubby's parents) gave us some moolah for it haha.
Dito nga rin pala sa Canada galing ang mga disposable plates, utensils, and plastic cups. My old-fashioned mother wanted pa to use "real" (as in babasagin) plato and baso but I told her mahirap magligpit noh. She said, may kasambahay naman kami who would help. Sabi ko wag na dahil ayan nga at may dala na ako. Sobrang na-impress pa nga ang mga guests namin sa quality ng mga disposable na ito, ang kakapal naman kasi. Ayun, I later found out na hinugasan pa rin pala nila yung plastic cups and utensils kasi sayang daw lol.
The cake's so cute, I loved it so much! I ordered it from Box of Sweets, same maker of Nathan's barnyard cake. Ang gaganda ng cakes nila as in! And since since province-based sila (sa may amin lang sa Marilao), affordable pa.
This cake only cost me Php1,150. I just sent them my design (ginaya ko lang sa cake na pinost ng isang FB friend ko) at ayan, maganda naman. We agreed on a 6-inch cake at mas malaki siya sa expectation ko. Probably kasi malapad and the hat made it taller.
Ok, let't admit it. Good-looking cakes seldom taste delicious. Kaya bumili pa rin kami ng additional cake na "edible" haha. Salamat, Goldilocks!
The candle is from Walmart. Buti nakapagdala ako kasi ang chaka ng mga candles sa Goldilocks at Red Ribbon eh.
Nathan was still very shy that time. Kagagaling lang sa bundok eh (i.e. Canada). And shaiks, I was so bloated! Grabe ang bloating ko that time (sign na ng disease ko) na wala akong maisuot na damit kaloka.
Tsk, tuwing birthday ni Nathan ay may insect bites sya sa face. Grrr.
We had few guests. My BFF Raxie wasn't able to come kasi her brother died, tapos yung isa ko pang BFF was heavily pregnant. Tinamad na rin yung iba.
Aside from an aunt, my cousins, and nephews and nieces, I also invited Ford's two aunts and one uncle who live just a town away.
One cousin from my father side also came with his girlfriend (I only have two cousins left in Pinas).
We also called some of our kapit-bahays. We invited all our employees kaso konti lang ang nagpunta. Nahihiya daw.
Medyo na-overwhelm si TanTan at the start of the party kasi nga maraming tao. As expected, ayaw humiwalay sa akin. But later on, medyo nagloosen up na rin. Tumambay na rin sa labas with his guests.
They were just kids dati grabe! Ngayon ang lalaki na, may asawa na nga ang iba. They are my son's second cousins.
Nagpa-prepare nga pala ng isaw bbque ang isang cousin ko and that extended our night. At alam nya kasing paborito ko yun. #preDDSdays
It was so funny, Nathan hid under the table cover when we sang happy birthday to him. He was smiling pero hiyang-hiya talaga siya haha!
Nung bandang gabi, binaba ko na lang ang cake niya para maka-face-to-face niya si "bab-ba."
Amazed na amazed din siya sa cake nya, katuwa.
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| He actually didn't know how to blow the candle yet. |
Nathan's second birthday gifts (which he opened the following morning, his actual birthday).
The only sad part about Tan's second birthday was that his dad wasn't there. Oh well, he was with us in spirit naman.
I would have to thank my Mamoosh nga pala uli for Nathan's handa. Siya talaga ang nag-shoulder haha! We love you, 'Nay!
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Nathan will be celebrating his third birthday naman with his dad's side of the family in California. Yung first two bitrthdays niya were in Pinas na eh. Kelan kaya sa Canada?
