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.

Baby Marco's First Birthday Party

Nathan only has three friends here in BC (and I got two) so imagine how excited we were because one of them celebrated his birthday with a party last Saturday, December 9.

Baby Marco's birthday is actually November 30 but his mom Tess was only able to get a slot at the Queensborough Community Centre (in New Westminster, BC) for December 9. They live in a townhouse so they opted for a bigger venue for the party.

Tess' invite said the party is at 1 to 5pm. We reached the place at around 2pm (we were so busy that morning plus she asked me to pick the cake up from Safeway) but they were still decorating the place. The food wasn't even there yet. It was perfectly understandable because they rented the place for 1-5pm and they could only start fixing the place by 1pm. Tess also lacked manpower who could help her full-time. That's the thing here in Canada, inasmuch as your friends would want to lend a helping hand, they are restricted by their own situations din. We either have work, other appointments, some familial/household obligations, etc. Like me, I couldn't come early because I had to take a language exam at 10am. Juris couldn't come early too because they have a scheduled heater cleaning at home. Tess only had herself, her husband, and mother-in-law to fully rely on that day so it was really challenging. I am glad though that some of her other friends arrived earlier than us and they helped her arrange the place.

As expected, Mommy Tess went overboard haha! Super dami ng handa and echos. In fact, Juris' Caucasian husband was so shocked, saying that it was so extravagant. In Canadian standard, talagang bongga na ito. Juris' reply to her husband was: "This is how we Filipinos do parties."  Haha!

The place itself was super expensive na for $400/4-hours, if I remember correctly.

The food was overwhelming. Canadians typically serve pica-pica lang for children's parties. Filipinos have it all -- from appetizers, to main dishes, to desserts, to kung anik-anik pa.

Such a long table for the food.

And what's a Pinoy party without a lechon? But yeah, ganito lang ang lechon dito sa Vancouver. Roasted pork na Chinese style/tasting. It costs around $240-280 siguro.

Most of the party decorations were from Pinas. Tess and her family went home last October so they were able to hoard a lot from Divisoria.

So many goodie bags, souvenir items, and prizes. The kids were so delighted!

I am a "cake person" though I generally don't eat cakes (except for plain chocolate ones). Baby Marco had two cakes that day.

This one is nice. It's hard to find a nice-looking fondant cake here in Canada. Very pricey pa. I forgot to ask Tess where she got this.

This is the cake that we picked up from Safeway (a grocery/supermarket). It's worth $30. Ganito lang talaga ang mga normal cakes dito, mas maganda pa ang cake sa Pinas na nabibili sa panaderya sa kanto (objectively). I guess Tess bought this for dessert. The main cake wasn't sliced eh.

At around 2:30, the party hasn't started yet and the kids were getting hungry. It's good that they had green grapes, may nakain ang picky-eater son ko.

Nathan loved his party hat haha!

Feel na feel niya. Bata na talaga siya.

I am now enoying kiddie parties because of this little guy.

It was almost 3pm when the party began with a prayer. Marco's dad wasn't there yet because he went home to take a shower. Sobrang nangarag siguro. But people were starving na so kelangan ng magpakain.

Here's two of my many many plates. It was a total cheat day for me. Aside from rice, I ate a lot of pancit, spaghetti, and puto. Carbs overload talaga. I was super hungry din kasi, my last meal was just a sausage and egg mc muffin from McDonald's.

I really loved the lumpiang shanghai. I must have eaten 20 pieces, seriously. Carbs din ang lumpia wrapper kaloka. But I didn't mind. It was the first time since I was diagnosed with diabetes that I splurged on carbs. I felt that  I deserved it din because the language test that I have just taken that morning stressed me out the past week (I'll blog about it later).

I was expecting a lot of guests, given the size of the venue, but not so many came. It's really hard for all people to be free at the same time, especially here in Canada. Everybody's busy. December na rin kasi so maraming ibang events and parties. Yung ibang friends ni Tess ay humabol na lang yata sa bahay that night.

Nevertheless, we had so much fun. This little tikes inflatable bouncer was a perfect entertainer to the kids. It was lent by Tess' friend.

 

Super enjoy si Nathan. First time niya, lol. If only we have space, I would consider getting one kasi for sure masusulit sa bagets.

While eating, Tess started the "bring me contest." Nathan didn't want to participate at first but when I took him in front with me to bring the Philippine peso that was asked, ayun natuwa sa prize. Nagready na sa mga susunod pero hindi na kami nanalo uli haha.

It was Nathan's first time to join party games. Clueless talaga siya haha.

But he learned fast!

I am glad that he has overcome his anti-social behavior. Though still a bit shy and reserved, hindi na siya takot sa tao, especially to those who he sees often.

His favorite part of the party was the blowing of the cake's candle. He enthusiastically sang the happy birthday song for Marco.

Kuya Nathan and the birthday boy. Nathan sincerely cares for Marco and treats him like a little brother.

Mommy Juris, Mommy Tess, Mommy Ces. I am glad to have met and made friends with these two.

 After much eating, time for endless selfies!

My face looks so thin haha! Anggulo lang yan. I naturally have malapad face and even though I've lost a couple of pounds already, malaki pa rin talaga in person.

Juris took this photo. It is very rare that there's someone who can take our family picture. Medyo pangit lang ang lighting that day.

We stayed until the end. We helped in the clean-up. This is actually the most difficult part of throwing a party here, you'll be the one to clean the mess. Walang waiters or waitresses, walang helpers. Kaya mostly disposable ang gamit -- from utensils to table cloths, etc.

Buti na lang we didn't have to clean the floor and fold the tables. Yung centre na raw ang in-charge dun.

I felt sad when they started bursting the balloons. Nakakapanghinayang. Ang daming bata sa Pinas ang gustung-gusto ng lobo. Though I am now living in a land of plenty, where kids are very much privileged, I still can't help but think of my less-fortunate kababayans in the Philippines. Ewan ko ba.

We were able to bring home a lot of food, sobrang dami nga kasing natira kaya lahat kami sangkatutak ang uwi.

The boy was so happy with his loots. He particularly liked the McQueen plushie.

I loved the Goldfish crackers naman. Ang cute! Sakto, hindi nako bibili nito pambaon sa Pinas.

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Thank you for inviting us, Baby Marco! I am sure that this is just the first of your many birthday parties that we'll be attending! =)

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).