Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts

New Family Tradition from 2011 and Beyond

4:46 PM by Riza
Thinking of how I used to celebrate New Year's Eve back then made me feel homesick. The surroundings is so quiet. The complete opposite of the environment where I lived before I got married. There is no New Year celebration as noisy, as busy, as jubilant as the one in the Philippines. Words and pictures are not enough to describe the merriment and festivity. In able for you to fully comprehend what I'm talking about, you have to witness and experience it yourself.

A "New" New Year Tradition

I know that I couldn't stay feeling homesick every New Year with my family here. So, I told my husband that maybe we can start a New Year's Eve tradition. I want to get busy in the kitchen. I want to cook. And perhaps when Evie's older, we can wake her up few minutes before clock strikes at 12 so we can greet each other a happy New Year and snack on some of the food prepared.

We went out that night and headed to Fry's. We bought ingredients of a Filipino dessert I wanted to make (which I haven't tried making before) and macaroons. Ryan picked ingredients for the bruschettas he planned to make. A bottle of champagne should complete the celebration.

Indeed it was a busy night for us. He helped me prepare the dessert and later took care of his Italian open-sandwich. The macaroons and dessert I made were not very successful. Well, a little consideration is fine with some of the "failings" on the food made since it's our first time to make it. Not a big deal at all.

We shared the night snacking on the tasty bruschettas and later sips of champagne. Evie was past asleep on the couch. She actually went to bed  two hours and a half later than her normal schedule. I thought she'd make it until midnight, but the little girl already got so tired at 10:30.
We didn't catch the NBC New Year's countdown but was able to watch a bit of the entertainment. It never came to mind that NBC might have a New Year's program, so that's what happened. Went to bed at 1 A.M.

Hopefully this is the start of a New Year's Eve tradition for my little family. There might be some exceptions in the future, but, we can always adjust.
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Christmas 2010

2:02 PM by Riza
This is my third Christmas in the U.S. and of course my young family. I can say that I am getting used to my husband's family tradition in celebrating Christmas. It's somehow different from what I was used to almost my entire life, but I am starting to love it.

Greeting Cards and Letters


I'm grateful that we're able to send our greeting cards and letters to family and friends before Christmas. We might have mailed it at the last minute, but it's an improvement. Some recipients who live just within the Valley received the cards before Christmas. Last year, we sent it so late. Embarrassing. Next year, we'll try our best to be better than what we did this year in sending out our greetings. Ryan wrote the letter. I assigned him to do it because he's so much better with writing letters and his humor is superb.





Purchasing and Wrapping Gifts
Fortunately, most of the stuff we ordered online arrived on time. I began to like buying stuff online after I get hooked on eBay :). I learned that I can get great deals at online stores as long as I have all the patience to search stuff "on sale." Well, there's also online coupons which you can't avail if you buy it in traditional stores. Another plus.

We wrapped presents for the family on the 23rd. My husband who once told me that he couldn't think of a gift to give me turned out wrapping my presents. He had to do it in the baby's room so I can't see it. He brought out 3 gift boxes, specially adorned with ribbons and bows. Hmmmm...I thought I don't have a gift, how come there's 3? The heavy one really intrigued me. I kept guessing that it's a kitchen gadget, but had to wait until Christmas morning and find out what's inside.

Because I already gave him the Tron shirt (which was supposed to be a surprise), he only got one box to open. It was already wrapped, so I didn't have to find a place to hide to wrap it.

Christmas Eve Church Service and Family Get-Together

It's already a tradition for us to attend church service on Christmas Eve. This time, we decided to go at 4:30 in the afternoon instead of the 6:30 service. As usual, the Worship Center was filled with churchgoers. I love Christmastime in church, not only because of the nice decorations around, but also the beautiful music that we didn't get to hear and see on typical Sunday service.

We headed straight to parents house after church. Mom's richly decorated tree was surrounded with wrapped presents. I remember in my first Christmas with them, I was in complete surprise of how much presents they gave us. It's a total opposite of what I was used to. I'd already be lucky if I will get at least one gift from a friend or family member.

I was very happy that Dad made BBQ ribs. It has been my favorite since then. On my first few months here, he'd ask me what was my favorite food here so far. I couldn't give him an answer until I tasted his BBQ ribs. Dad's BBQ ribs are special. It's because he made them with pure joy and love. Whenever I get BBQ ribs in restaurant I always compare it to Dad's. There's no BBQ ribs as tasty as what he makes for us.

The highlight of the night was the opening of presents. My daughter got tons of toys and clothes from her grandparents and Uncle Grahm, Aunt Alice, and cousin Marcus. We thought that this time since she's bigger, she'd be more interested ripping off the wrappers to find out what's inside. Most of what she cared for were the ornaments hanging on the Christmas tree.

As always, Ryan and me got a bunch of gifts from parents. They gave us most of what we listed on our Christmas wish list. :)

After we reached home from Mom and Dad's, I set up the Christmas tree and my husband assembled the kitchen we got for the little one. It took him a gruelling three hours to put it up together. Whew!

Christmas Family Morning
We got up so late—9 AM! Evie was still sleepy and was a bit cranky. She whimpered when we forced her to get up and led her to where the Christmas tree and gifts were. As soon as she saw the lighted tree full of ornaments, her excitement was stirred. All she wanted were the ball ornaments. She didn't care much of the wrapped presents until we showed her the kitchen. She checked it for a little bit and went back to grabbing the ornaments. The tree only lasted for a day. We decided to put it away because she already broke three glass ornaments and didn't want to cause her any cut from the broken pieces.
We had to help her open her gifts. She loves the kitchen a lot. I'm glad we got it for her.
Well as for the wife, yes me... she got a Snuggie, massager, and a box of Bath and Body Works lotions, shampoos, and conditioners from the dearest husband. I also got a pretty scarf from Jeff (thank you Jeff!) The wife gave the husband two pairs of Levi's jeans. :)

Christmas Get-Together at Uncle Tim and Aunt Pam's

Another tradition that Ryan's family does is a family dinner get-together at Aunt Pam and Uncle Tim's place. Yorkshire pudding and Standing Rib Roast are the traditional Christmas food they make. I stuffed myself too much—so were everyone who was there. The food was too irresistible to tell myself "stop eating." :)

The Scribblish game was a hit. We had so much fun showing off our talents in drawing (ha ha) and making up phrases of the drawings that the other people did. I personally like the game. Unfortunately, Mom was not there to have fun with us. She was still sick from the stomach flu so she stayed at home.

Our Christmas 2010 was fun, bountiful, and merry! I thank the Lord for such a great blessing!
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Advance Christmas Surprise for the Wife

10:13 PM by Riza
One night my husband asked me about our Christmas gifts for each other. He said he could not think of anything to give me. Maybe because everytime he'd ask me what gift I want, most of the time I do not have a concrete answer. So he told me that maybe instead of giving each other gifts for Christmas, we can just combine our money to buy a new computer. I absolutely love the idea! I thought it's a great, practical suggestion. But, I've already purchased gifts for him. Nonetheless, I still committed to give my share to buy a new PC. Then he said, he's got a surprise for me though. And I will have it before Christmas. Made me wonder why before Christmas. Besides, I thought he's not going to buy me a gift.

My curiosity of his surprise followed us until bedtime that night. I kept bugging him about it even if he was all ready to close his eyes and travel to his dream world. I made myself sounded so pathetic telling him that he didn't love me anymore because he won't tell me—not even a clue. It made him laugh so much. I love it when he laughs like that. So, I kept making myself sound miserable. I didn't get what I wanted that night. He was so determined to keep his Christmas surprise. 

Unfolding the Surprise
On our way home after we shared dinner with our friend Jeff at the Macaroni Grill and returning stuff at Target, he asked me if I wanted my surprise. Of course I do. Who doesn't want a surprise? But it was already 10 in the evening, what could the surprise be? Perhaps he'll take us to the Mormon's Temple to see the display of Christmas lights and various decors. "Nope," he said. "Are we going to Fry's?" I asked. "How did you know we're going to Fry's?" "We're on the street on the way to Fry's," I answered. Then he complimented me of how I had been good with getting familiar with the streets around.

Indeed we stopped at Fry's. Huh? Is he going to buy a bouquet of flowers for me?

He ushered us to the customer service area. They were almost closing. When he asked the person in-charge if they're already closing, she said yes and asked him what he wanted. "I'm going to rent a Rug Doctor." (ha ha ha). "Oh my, is Rug Doctor my husband's surprise for me?" I asked myself. My guess was absolutely right. SURPRISE—RUG DOCTOR!!! Grrrrr...my husband wanted me to clean the house. What kind of Christmas surprise is that? Whatever.

So this morning, we cleaned the carpet. But guess what? The Rug Doctor was actually not the surprise. It's...


Yeah, my great, loving husband doing all the "surprise cleaning" using the Rug Doctor. Awwwww, I love my husband's advance Christmas surprise so much. It's not the material thing that counts, but the thought...the action.
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