Hello November!

This was the last school activity for the kids before they went on sembreak. Instead of doing the more popular tradition of Halloween trick or treating, the school told the kids to go dressed up as a saint and introduce themselves to class. After much thought about it and with the brilliant suggestion of my sister, I decided to let them go as Padre Pio and St. Cecilia after deliberating it over whether getting an Aldelo System for a restaurant a friend is putting up would be more cost-effective of not.

Of course I had to make sure they dress the part (I have Google images to show off the seamstress!);
Here is my Padre Pio and St. Cecilia:

Matthew joined a couple of contests as well. Martha almost cried trying to memorize her “little” speech. Haha. I seriously do not know what approach to take with the little girl.

She was supposed to say:
“Good morning everyone, I am St. Cecilia, the patroness of music. My feast day is November 22. Music is the language of the soul. I thank you.”

And she told me, all she was able to say was “Good morning everyone, I am St. Cecilia.”

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First Day:

Stage Parents

Their Artwork:

Manning the Drive-Thru:

Arranging Condiments:

Making a Coke Float:

Talent Day:

Singing Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

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After the kids’ swimming lessons, we decided to let enroll them in the McDonald’s Kiddie Crew 2011 Workshop the week after. I want to maximize their month of April as I plan to have them at home next month (too many celebrations as well – Mother’s Day, Martha’s Birthday, Yahoo’s 7th Birthday and my Mother-in-Law’s Birthday) to prepare for school (and rest). We also have not scheduled our summer outing so I need to set time for that as well.

Anyway, I learned from my Twitter Mommy friends how nice the workshop is so we decided to enroll them for the second batch this April.

For a fee of Php550, your child is entitled to a 5 day 2 hour workshop where she will learn the basics of counter service, drive-thru and leadership + discipline. They get to do some arts, dance, sing and make new friends. Your kid will get a McDo Kiddie Crew shirt, cap, ID, bag with a tumbler and art puzzle (The last two they will make during the workshop).

During the orientation, we learned that being a Kiddie Crew Member entitles you to:
1. Have 10% discount when you celebrate your birthday or have a party at McDo within a year.
2. Addl Happy Meal toy every purchase (need ID)
3. You can buy Happy Meal toys exclusively (alone) for only 29.50 *need ID too*

You can read more about it here.

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We need to schedule a trip to the dentist the soonest possible time. We are all due for the routine teeth cleaning every six months and the husband and I need to have some temporary fillings for some of our teeth. The kids need to have their teeth checked for cavities too. Martha’s four front teeth might need some restoration done.

Take a look:

We call her shark teeth – as her two front teeth have been slowly chipping off (bad carries). Last week, after swim class, I guess the kids were tired so they were both hogging the couch. They were both in their element so they started kicking each other. Matthew “accidentally” kicked Marts in her mouth. Hence, the chipped tooth. It actually looks better that the untouched shark tooth but I think I might bite the bullet and have the two front teeth capped once I have extra money. Martha was crying when part of her tooth chipped off. She asked me, “Mommy, am I ugly already? I have no tooth!” Martha is scared to death of having falling teeth that she considers our Raleigh Family Dentist her friend, not unlike other kids who are deathly scared of one. In fact, she would always tell me to take her to the Raleigh Dentist every time one of her teeth would ache!

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We decided to have lessons for the kids this summer. It will be a way to beat boredom for the two, and I especially want them to be physically active because of health concerns. The kids naturally love swimming so it was a natural first choice. It was an added bonus that their cousin enrolled in the same school so they get to be together. We were pleasantly surprised that the resort we enrolled them to was beautiful, well-kept and clean. It wasn’t an indoor pool so I am quite resigned that I’d have nognog kids by the end of their lessons but we had them transferred to the afternoon class because the initial class we enrolled them in was at 9AM.

PLUS, they were the only students in this batch so far, so for the price we paid, they got one-on-one training sessions with their instructors already. Super sulit.

1st Day:

They were taught by T. Cesar. And they were taught breathing techniques, how to breathe properly under water, bubble up, floating techniques, etc. Martha was so scared. She kept on looking at us and telling the teacher that she was cold (jitters). She also was scared of the big pool. Edil and I were talking how different our kids are. Mato can be anti-social and can basically live alone, very independent. Martha wants to have companions, friends and someone her age to experience things, like trying something new. Martha can run for public office with how many friends she has! (sounds like me and Edil huh?)

2nd Day:

We went to the 9AM class and the sun was oh-so-brutal. They had a new teacher, T.Mon, today and he had better rapport with the kids. This time, their cousin was here too.

They were taught the star fish and angel float, and this time Martha was more confident. She can even hold her breath under water for more than 5 seconds sometimes.


3rd Day:

We transferred back to the 4PM slot — and had Teacher Mon for Marts and Teacher Cesar for Mato. The way it was set up, it looked like they were having private lessons in separate pools. This time, Mato’s lessons were more intense. He can now cross from end to end and Marts was braver. In fact, she received 2 stars for today. Grabe ang improvement agad!

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My kids’ Recognition Day was held last Monday and both of them got awards from their respective levels.

Martha received the 10th Honors distinction (over-all Nursery Level), and we were so proud of what she has accomplished! Remember I was even scared she would not even make it through the first week of school? Well, she passed with flying colors alright!

A funny thing – when the kids went home on the last day of school, Mato told us that he was 9th Honors and Martha was either 8th or 9th – Marts instantly said:
“Hindi, Top 2 ako!”
“Wow, really Marts, top 2?”
“Opo, top 2!”
Mato butts in – “Martha top 8 ka lang!”
Marts gets mad and pikon – “Hindi nga, top 2 ako! Top 2 sa pinto!”
(Their top ten ranking are displayed —- in their classroom’s door – pinto)

So I say (and believe her): “Wow, si Ninia top ten din like you?” (that’s her BFF)
Marts then delivers the punchline:
“Oo! Si Ninia Top 2, si Dzos Top 2, si Marcus Top 2!”
(Those are her friends in school, apparently everybody is Top 2! Hahaha!)

Matthew was 9th Honors over-all, with awards: Best in English, Best in Math, Best in Religion and Best in Hekasi.
I hope he gets a good conduct grade next year, he deserves to be within the top 3 in his batch.

You bet we were proud parents. We ordered pizza from Shakey’s and celebrated with my parents. They were going to have their swimming lessons in the afternoon so our celebration would be “extended”.

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The culminating activity for the kids’ Foundation Day Activities was the Field Demonstration. It was a bit new to us, having two kids to watch perform. I took care of Martha and Edil went to Matthew to fix his hair. I made sure that our digital video cables were complete and the batteries fully charged so we can document it and show to the stage grandparents and ninangs.

It goes without saying, we were so proud of the kids!

Martha was in her element – she loves to dance and I was near tears because she wasn’t even shy during her performance. I would love to post more but the pictures had some of her classmates in it so I am not sure that would be appropriate.

She would even wave at us after her performance! (I also realized how much of a giant she is, she was towering over everybody).

Matthew, on the other hand, was a revelation! They danced to some ballroom tunes and he rocked it! This little man has rhythm in his body, he was into the beat, and he was enjoying himself. And how handsome is my son?!

We can’t wait for next year!

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Matthew joined most of the games for Palarong Pinoy: luksong tinik, sack race, sungka and hampas palayok. They had the games under the sweltering heat in the middle of the afternoon so you can imagine how tired he was after. (Good thing he inherited his Dad’s genes – I hope – so he isn’t tipping the scales just yet because his appetite is HUGE!).

He was ahead of the game until the girl beside him tripped and he fell down as well.

But he was able to catch up:

And look at the burned crisp to the skin big boy:

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