Save-The-Date

Yey, tuloy na tuloy na! Ford's vacation request has already been granted last Friday so we will be going to California again this November 4 to 14. Makakapag-birthday na rin si Nathan doon.

As I have mentioned on this post, Nathan will be having a Paw Patrol party at his grandparents' house in Moreno Valley. We are very excited! Sana lang maraming relatives ni Ford ang makapunta.

A PAW Patrol Party for Nathan's 3rd Birthday

I know, I know, it's still very early. But I can't help but be excited for my son's third birthday celebration on November. Kasi unlike his previous two birthdays, maeenjoy na niya ngayon ang party niya. Mahilig na siyang kumanta ng "happy birthday" saka marunong na siyang mag-blow ng candle. He gets super excited na rin kapag binibigyan siya ng gift. Bata na talaga siya!

We will be celebrating Nathan's birthday in his grandparents's home in California. We went there for a brief holiday last May kaso nga nabitin. The oldies are requesting na bumalik kami agad. The grandaunts suggested na doon naman daw mag-birthday si Tantan (sa Pinas na kasi yung first and second birthday).

Ford and I talked about it. It'll be ok nga kung doon kasi wala naman kaming friends dito sa BC kaya hindi kami makakapagpa-party. Noong una ang plan lang namin ay mag-travel na lang to celebrate our son's birthday, kaso parang kulang. I want a cake, balloons, and tons of gifts for my little boy. Hanggang kaya (at hanggang gusto niya), ipaghahanda ko siya kahit simple lang. Hindi kasi ako pinaghahanda ng nanay ko noon kaya medyo fixated ako sa parties, lol. Seriously, ganun pala kapag may anak ka na, gusto mo palagi nyang maramdaman na special siya.

Ford has so many relatives in California kaya for sure it will fun. Kaming tatlo lang ang magkakasama on this side of Northern America kaya nakaka-overwhelm to be with family in the US. And I know they adore our son kaya lalong nakakataba ng puso.

Anyway, I had a very easy time deciding on TanTan's party theme this year.

PAW Patrol it is!

Picture taken from the net (credits to the owner)

Nathan is currently addicted to PAW Patrol. He loves Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Zuma, Rocky, Skye and Everest! Haha, pati kaming mag-asawa eh aliw na aliw na rin sa kakapanood nito. Kaya perfect na theme talaga. Sana lang gusto pa rin ng anak ko ang PAW Patrol in four months time haha.

Nagsimula na akong bumili ng party materials as early as June. Alam mo na, BORED HOUSEWIFE mode on nga eh. Saka para hindi rin kami mabigla sa gastos later on.

What I like about the PAW Patrol theme is that supplies are everywhere. Meron sa Dollarama, Walmart, Superstore -- meaning, MURA. Kung iba ang theme mo, you will end up buying in Party City. Ang mahal dun ha.

My husband advised me to just buy the party paraphernalia in California. Ayoko nga, ang taas kasi ng US dollars ngayon, talo kami sa conversion. Saka ayokong mangarag, gusto ko pagkain na lang ang iintindihin namin pagdating doon. Marami rin akong DIY ideas na gustong subukan kaya kailangan ko na ng materials ngayon pa lang.

A PAW Patrol theme is very common these days but I don't care. My son truly likes it at iyon ang mahalaga. Also, I've already mentioned in this post that I now prefer a 'generic' party theme. Nathan's first birthday party was 'barnyard"-themed and it was difficult to execute. Ang mahal pa kasi kailangang customized lahat (walang Party City sa Pinas eh, at di gaanong uso ang barnyard theme doon).

Dito naman sa Canada, limited ang suppliers kaya mas ok kung available na kaagad sa market ang materials na kailangan mo. Mas matipid din. Never mind na maraming kamukha, diskartehan mo na lang kung paano magiging extra special ang output.

I wish ma-post ko ang progress ng party preps ko. Oops, I also hope na magkaroon ako ng time na mai-share din dito ang first and second party ni Nathan. Time, time... I need a lot of time to blog!

Nathan is turning 2 next month!

For the nth time, I will be saying this: "Oh how time flies!" Imagine, Nathan will already be two next month!

Nathan and I are going "home" to the Philippines next month and we'll be celebrating his second birthday there. Kung dito kasi sa Surrey, hindi kami makakapag-party. Wala pa kaming maayos na place at friends dito eh. Yun nga lang, wala si Daddy Ford sa party. Di bale, in spirit na lang.

Anyway, unlike like year when we gave him a really big first birthday and baptismal party (which I haven't posted yet, sorry), we'll keep it simple this year. We'll only be inviting close friends and relatives. Sa bahay lang din namin gagawin ang kainan.

It will just be a simple salo-salo lang at home. Walang games, walang anumang arte. Parang Canadian party lang sa house. Basta marami lang balloons.

I chose a minion theme kasi gusto ko ng yellow motif naman (wala pa namang preference ang birthday boy kaya si Mommy na lang ang pumili). Nung 7th month kasi ni Nathan at naghanda kami sa Edmonton, Mickey Mouse theme na. So red. Tapos red na rin sa first birthday niya kasi barnyard. Kaya yellow naman ngayon para may distinction.

Plus may mga minion paper plates and other party materials na available dito. Ang sabi ko kasi last year when I had a hard time gathering stuff for a barnyard theme, ang next na party ni Nathan ay something generic na. Para hindi ako mahirapan.

So there, I will be bringing home some minion-themed party paraphernalias like plastic table cloth, paper plates, balloons, loot bags, etc. Mostly sa Dollarama ko lang binili.

Lola Mamoosh (my mother) will be shouldering the food (haha, ang sarap ng may nanay!). I have a cousin-in-law who cooks very well kaya walang problema. We will also have lechon courtesy of Nathan's Lolo Jim and Lola Elsie (Ford's parents). I ordered a small minion cake na rin from Box of Sweets (the same maker of our barnyard cake last year).

I wish lang na mag-cooperate si Nathan sa birthday niya. He's very shy of people kasi, Ayaw niyang lumapit (lalo na sumama) sa mga hindi niya kilala.

Oh well, excited na ako! Sana lang walang bagyo sa November 12.


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Nathan's birthday is November 13. Gagawin lang naming November 12 ang party para Saturday, hindi masyadong maha-hassle yung mga bisita na me pasok on Monday. =)

Excited for Nathan's Mickey Mouse Party

Ford and I have decided to throw a party for Nathan this coming June 13 (his 7th month "birthday") for our Edmonton friends because we (Nathan and I) are going 'home' in Pinas this coming July and will be back only after his first birthday in November.

Noong una, sina Mylene and Cecil and Joy (and their kiddos) lang naman sana ang invited pero naisip naming imbitahan na rin ang ilan pang kaibigan at kakilala namin dito. Sayang naman kasi ang preparation kung ilang tao lang.

Anyway, I am super excited. This is the very first kiddie party that I'll be organizing. Small party at home lang naman but still, I want to make it a little more special for our little boy. I have sort of planned everything na (from the menu to the decors and trimmings) in my mind, execution na lang hehe.

Yesterday, while we were at Dollar Tree, I've chosen Mickey Mouse as the theme na lang. Since we are strictly on a budget (magastos umuwi sa Pilipinas so kailangang magtipid), naisip ko na mas economical kung Mickey Mouse na lang kasi nga it's practically everywhere - mura at madaling hanapin. Eto nga at nakabili na ako ng ilang items (for just $1.25 + 5% tax each).

Plus Mickey Mouse is so adorable! Bagay na pang-baby kasi uncomplicated. When Nathan is a bit older, I am sure he would prefer different cartoon characters na. So baka ito na lang ang chance ko na magka-Mickey Mouse theme haha!

Ooops, this cap ang nagpa-final ng decision ko. It was given to Nathan yesterday by his Ninang June and it looked so cute on him!

I will try to tabulate all the expenses for this upcoming party. We'll be allocating a budget of $300 for this, sana magkasya. #goodluck