December 25, 2018, Tuesday
I am not good at packing, travel packing. I forgot to bring something to wear on Christmas Day and for New Year too. I found this red blouse tucked between my dasters.
Christmas is really about family. Family bonding. But no matter how much you love your family, if you’re not together on Christmas day, the feeling may be incomplete that’s why our family goes out of our way to be together on this day.
Delicious creamed corn by Len.
Len and Raffy
Atty Mike with his friend Monina
For a change, we shunned away from the traditional Pilipino food of lumpia, adobo, menudo, kare-kare, etc. We had grilled steak instead. The downside of serving meat is that it has to be grilled just before eating.
Dimple and Kuya has just recently came back from a three week holiday in Europe.The first one was a river cruise that originated from Nuremberg and ended in Budapest. She later found out that the cruise started in Prague a day earlier. Sayang daw. Prague is beautiful. That’s another reason to go back. We can’t see everything in one go.
After three days they flew to Iceland for the northern lights hunting. Kuya slipped while walking on ice but they managed to have a photo with this natural phenomenon.
My sister made this delicious and not so sweet coffee jello, a favorite among the younger Tans.
Tintin is a computer engineer while Justin is a business graduate.
I gave personalized coin purses to all the ladies.
Against the sun
Every time we have a family gathering, fun games are included in the program.
The first two kids of Ronnie and Kay are born in the Philippines and they speak fluent Tagalog. However lately I notice that the accents have changed.
Their tongues are beginning to roll. Parang slang na. The youngest, Junior, is US born and his first language is Tagalog. I always remind the parents and the grandparents to speak to them in Tagalog. We Filipinos tend to speak English to our children but when your family is US-based, please speak to them in Tagalog. Whether you like it or not, they will learn American English kaya sa bahay, Tagalugin nyo na.
Raffy speaks fluent Tagalog.
Dimple’s gift to the 4 ladies, I thought for the Halloween trick or treat. Pajama pala yan.
Staying alive
My sister has a big outdoor kitchen grill but nakakatamad naman gamitin and too complicated. Gusto ko yung lumang style na de-uling. I bought the cheapest grill I could find at Lowe’s $54.95 plus sales tax. It served its purpose. How many times would be able to use this? Baka swerte na maulit ng isang beses or dalawa.
