6th Birthday at Singapore and Malaysia

I love that our birthdays are only a week apart! I don't really need to plan anything on my day because we celebrate together-- less leaves filed at  the office and joint celebrations are more pocket friendly.

The one year between him being 5 and 6 really brought a lot of changes and in a lot of ways, he really is a big boy now: independent, can speak his mind, has developed his interests (in science, particularly about the universe, dinosaurs, legos) and those we seriously took into consideration when we began planning this birthday trip.

It should be noted it was also a year of setting aside extra funds for this trip so we can enjoy what we felt will be a treat for our boy--Singapore and Malaysia.

Airfare
My simple pleasure in life is to do mock bookings on Cebu Pacific's website. Yes, I almost always book every time I see a promo with no intention of ever going on a trip but the 75% off tickets to Singapore were too hard to resist. At P6,000 per RT ticket, this sealed the weighing in I had been doing for several weeks prior.

My real target though was the Singapore Airlines promo for just $210nett but never reached them by phone or email.

Here are some photos as we boarded the (very early) morning flight to Singapore.

Intently studying the inflight safety instructions. Good boy!

With grandma as seatmate

The a little more than 3 hour flight went by in a breeze. Kept the boy entertained with snacks and movies on the Ipad.

And before we could get bored, we have arrived in Singapore!

Everything at the Changi (which he early on pronounced as Tiangge) Airport fascinated him. The vastness of the space, the walkalators, even the drinking fountains!

Raring to start going around the city, we bought our EZLink cards at this stall.

His first ever MRT ride in SG. Of course, mom has to capture it on cam.

We went around the city by MRT and Jared so loved the efficiency of it all. Fascinated with all the stop,s platform changes and various exits, he really got to know this system and by our last day knew our surrounding stations better than me!

Stand by for Part II!

Feeling Nostalgic

I will turn 37 tomorrow, but age doesn't affect me anymore. I've long embraced how wiser, more experienced, calmer and ehem prettier I feel as I get older. Never mind the gray hair, I've had those pesky ones since high school and I blame it more on genetics than age.

I'm teary-eyed because my baby boy is graduating on Friday! I should put my emotions in check because it might be a little funny if I cry on a graduation for kinder students! We have at least 11 more years of schooling to go.

From a small preschool, he'll be moving to a much bigger school so I shouldn't be a selfish mama and focus more on my feelings when this time is also all about big changes for him. New school, new classmates, new schedule, new level, new everything!

Thankfully, he seems to be really excited and is looking forward to being a "big kid" who goes to a "big school". This line from him sums up his torn feelings about being mommy's baby and being a big kid:

"Mom, I'll try to still be a baby, okay? If I can't do it, then I'll be a Grade I. But I will still love you mom."

I love you more little big boy.

5th Birthday: Road Trip

His real birthday was low key unlike in 2011 in Boracay and 2012 in Hong Kong when we celebrated with a big trips. Dad and mom took the day off to be with our 5 year old, but there are pressing errands that we need to do.

First, we woke up the boy with this banner, balloons left over from my birthday a week ago, and 5 yummy donuts!

This made his day. I agreed to him eating donuts for breakfast and he opened his first gift of the day (actually a Christmas gift that I kept).

 

Since our day started later than planned, we just dropped by our parish to whisper words of prayer.

 

 Then, it was time for the tour. We toured the Metro on Jared's 5th!

First stop: pick up some documents at Makati.





Next: Go to Mandaluyong

3rd: Lunch at Festival Mall

It was supposed to be quiet lunch: just the three of us. But the receptionist overheard me and Jared talking about his birthday which she confirmed to me when she was taking our order.



He was shy and reluctant at first to blow the candle. I wish I had captured that priceless expression on his face when the piped in music began playing the Happy Birthday song. And his eyes got wider when the restaurant staff went to our table bearing a small cup of ice cream topped with a candle.

Surprise, surprise!

 

Thanks to the staff of Don Henrico's at Festival Mall, Alabang. You made a simple lunch very special.


He also enjoyed 3 rides in his favorite race track in the metro.

After lunch and still high from his surprise,we went to the Las Pinas City Hall.

As a treat, we went to the toy store so he can choose his gift. We always give him a budget and thankfully, he always agrees to it (not knowing the value of the peso so much). I have never bought him a toy gun before, or allowed a toy gun in the house-- but this water blaster is such a magnet for the boy and I can't say no....

I felt a bit guilty having to drag him to all our errands. But he said " I love you mom and dad" at the end of the day with so much sincerity that maybe, the only thing that mattered to him is being together.

Last installment in this birthday series coming up: Tagaytay weekend

5th Birthday: School Party

In the Philippines, school ends usually by mid-March. The boy really wanted to celebrate his birthday at school. But those 2 weeks in March is usually reserved for exams and programs. What do we do, what do we do as parents of an over-eager 5 year old beaver?

We talked to Teacher and we agreed on March 1. Never mind that it is a full month before his actual birthday. To him, he now has 2 birthdays and isn't that better than having just one? =)

Still in his Angry Birds phase, I was looking for a unique invitation. Came up with boxed invites, inspired by a DIY I did last Vday (which I have not posted yet).

This came out cute and the kids loved the "bird treats" inside.

One the day of the party, here he is waiting for teacher to arrive. He's holding some of the loot bag content. Anxious and excited you can see it in his face!

There was no time for games and I had to be content with having the boy blow his little Red Ribbon cake, distributing the snack packs . and preparing the loot bags for distribution.

The loot baskets were small but were chosen because they looked like an egg: perfect for the angry birds there! We also distributed coloring books, stickers, their party hats and a happy meal toy.

Doesn't cost much to make the kids happy.

The boy got to blow his cake candle in school, a first!

 They seemed very happy with their happy meal toy, loot bag and coloring materials.

Then, they started playing. It was a riot. This was our cue to leave (hehehe).

Before we sneaked out of the room, I requested for the group shot.

Happy Birthday again, little boy!

Five!

To us adults, 5 is nothing. But to my boy, our bright light in this world, 5 is everything!

To him, 5 means he's not a baby, but a kid (even sometimes referring to himself as an adult).

From a teeny 5.2 pounder baby, all skin and bones, where my efforts at eating all the beef and other protein my tummy can take didn't make him bigger inside my body, to being a hefty 55 lbs  as he turned 5 years old.

From a boy who used to be attached to me to feed until I cry of frustration and exhaustion, to a boy starting to seek his independence by asking to sleep on his bed (which I also cry about).

From a bundle of joy we coo and stare at all day, to someone  who we can hold long conversations with.

From the one who I hummed to and carried whenever he cries, to one who comforts me today and says" mom, it's alright".

We love you with all our hearts. Happy 5th birthday, baby!

A series of posts on how he celebrated his birthday will follow.
 

TagayTay-Canyon Cove-Nuvali Birthday Celebration: Tagaytay Leg

We planned it to be a road trip with designated stops. In celebration of the husband's nth birthday, we are going on this Tagaytay-Canyon Cove-Nuvali outing.

We left our place early, picked up his lolo and lola and went straight to Nuvali.

The backseat passengers.

Arriving at the destination, we went straight to the main attraction: fish feeding.

It was a bright and sunny day, perfect for this little family's outing.

Among the many meals we were to share on this adventure, the first was his all time favorite.

After finishing off that ice cream (which was a breeze), we were off to Tagaytay where we planned on having breakfast at Mile High Diner.

 This little boy enjoyed the entire trip the most.

The Diner.

 

We filled our tummies with Filipino and Continental breakfast fare. We have an hour more to go  before we reach our final destination that morning.

It's easy to please a man, or a boy for that matter, Give them food and look at their smiles after.

Of source we will not leave Tagaytay without this pic by the ridge.

Next stop: Canyon Cove