Mommy's trip

 My mom and lolo were gone for a week because they went to the Philippines.  Unfortunately, it really wasn't a vacation. It was for the funeral of her uncle, or one of my great grand father once removed (I think). It's been 21 years since she left the Philippines, so it was good for her to be back.

 I told her to take Tiger to keep her company.  

 She did and she took pictures of him in the surrounding tropical plants.

 I think he had fun.

 Don't know what this is but I think a random picture of a neighbor's house. Hi neighbor.

 She got to eat tropical fruits that you can only find there or a few Asian countries. This one they call Atis. She missed this fruit the most.

 Oh boy, she also ate balut.  It's a...well, Google it. 
WARNING: Images that may come up may be more yucky than this.

 There's lots of small stores along the road in their town called "sari-sari" stores.  That means a variety store.

And lots of traffic. It's not for the faint of heart especially traffic in the capital of Manila. 

 She's forgotten how tropical and lush it is there.  See that big tree to the left?  That was the mango tree she used to hang out in to get away from auntie as a little girl (tee-hee).  She would climb all the way up that tree and read her Nancy Drew novels while auntie hollered at her as a toddler at the bottom of the tree. She was in awe that it grew to Totoro tree proportions. Totoro is a character in a Japanese animation film and he lives in a giant tree.

 More trees. And this is just in the backyard.

 One of her uncles showed them this resort close by the family's residence and my oh my, it had a wicked water park!  She said we're going here when we come back as a family.  We better.

 

 Here's our family together on her and lolo's last day there.  The day after the funeral, they attended the baptism of the youngest member of the family, Zach.  So in a way, it was a positive way to close their trip. Circle of life.

*Rest in Peace, Lolo Momung.*

First Day of Kindergarten

Hi! Today I started kindergarten.  New school, new teacher, and new friends.

My mom and dad took me to school.

I was sort of uncertain at first.

Ah, but not really.

My mom and I are discussing what to expect today.

 A mini garden and bench close to our classroom.

 There goes the second bell.  Time to line up.

Here's my new classroom. We're waiting for more friends to come in.

Boy, whatta day!  When we got home, I just passed out on the couch and napped for a good hour or so without moving from this position.  I was tired.  It's a new day tomorrow and I hope to get used to the new schedule. 

A week without mama

My mom cooked a bunch of our favorite food enough to tide me and daddy over for a whole week.  Why, you ask? She going to the Philippines for a week to visit family with lolo.  It was all of a sudden because of a death in the family, unfortunately. But she'll be back home after 21 years. Wow! My daddy and I hope to go there with her on vacation. We will miss her, but I promised her that I won't give daddy trouble...hehe. We'll see how we do for a week without mama.  

Thinking

Early morning. Mommy has time to think.

Video Project by Daddy

Daddy did this arty video about 3 years ago. Enjoy!

Home Movie from katman on Vimeo.

Walking Among the Dinosaurs

We visited the Natural History Museum.  The new 14,000 square feet Dinosaur Hall is now open. My, what gigantic bones these dinosaurs have!  They have a T-Rex growth series from a baby one to a full grown one.  It's cool.  Of course we went to a the gift shop and I pretty much wanted to buy everything I laid my hands on.  I know I didn't need any more stuffed toys, so I came  out of there kinda cranky.  But I did get my stamped penny.  I was happy about that.  

Sleepy Head

I usually don't take afternoon naps on weekends anymore.  But today, it caught up with me.

I was playing dress up and watching "Avatar" and I just zonked out.  Just like that.  

What's happening in the world?

Raising the Debt Ceiling

Downgrade of the U.S. Credit Rating

Stock Market Plumeting

Political Games

Riots in London

Unrest in Syria 

Weird Weather All Over the World

Famine in the Horn of Africa 

All this and much more is happening while I'm in preschool.  Weird.  I know I have no control over anything, but I can bring it to your attention and hope to bring more awareness to what's happening.  I do think I can help in one of them though.  My mom tells me stories about the hungry children in Africa.  We sit in front of a free National Geographic map stuck on my wall and she shows me where the famine hit hardest, the Horn of Africa. We also looked at pictures featured on CNN of moms holding their very sick and hungry children, families walking for days/months to get to Kenya for food, encountering militants that prevent people from getting water and food...really sad stuff.  

Photo courtesy of CNN.

My mom asked if I wanted to help and I said yes.  We found several non-profits online such as the following and donated to one of them:


World Food Program http://www.wfp.org/
Action Against Hunger http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/
Mercy Corps http://www.mercycorps.org/


Help if you can.

There are so many crises around the world. Let's be grateful for what we have and think about our brothers and sisters who are worst off than us when you start feeling sorry for yourself.

This song is on a regular rotation on my mom's iPod.  Thought I'd share it.  It was written before my parents were born, but still is relevant to this day.

"What's going on?"

by Marvin Gaye

Mother, mother

There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today - Ya

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Ah, what's going on

In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on

Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on - Uh
Right on baby
Right on baby

My dog and I

I like to tease my dog. And I think he likes that I do.

 

 

Figuring Stuff Out

My mom was doing something in the living room and noticed that it was quiet.  I wasn't around either. So she called my name, but still no answer.  Then she checked our office and there I was.

My dad was setting up my grandma's new computer and I figured how to wake it up from sleep mode and start playing with the Photo Booth program.  That's what happens when my daddy takes me to the Apple Store and I learn how to fiddle with stuff.