Prepping for Sophie's 5th Birthday

Our Sophie is turning a year old on Monday, January 16, and is super excited to celebrate her birthday with her new friends in school. That got me a little worried.

After we checked out from the hospital, I realized I haven’t done much for my daughter’s school party. Aside from calling the cake supplier and making a to-do list while we were in the hospital (I have two kids so I have to multi-task galore!) I haven’t accomplished much for my daughter’s celebration. I’m a little worried because work-wise, we are launching four, not one not two, but FOUR new programs for our primetime block. So I’m so swamped with soooo many things!

Haay, kaya ko ‘to.

So, to start off, last Saturday husband and I met with a cake supplier I found from sulit.com.ph to finalize Sophie’s cake design. I’m so excited about the cake plus the supplier also makes cupcakes for several network parties so I hope she’s really good. This is the peg for Sophie’s cake c/o Deniel's Arts and Crafts. Yep, the little girl wants a Barbie Princess party.

Then last Sunday, I went to a local mall where there are a number of bazaars and bought stuff for the loot bags. Cute right? The string bags are only P20 each.

This week, I would go to Trinoma to buy paunti-unti banners, party prizes, stuff for the games and giveaways, etc. I tell you, I love organizing parties and events but I never realized a simple school party can entail so much work. Well, there's always a first time for everything. 

After a few calls and texts with the school teachers, I got a confirmed slot to hold Sophie’s party.

Our neighbor, who supplies party needs will make the balloons with the Barbie theme.

The celebrant herself made the thank you cards and decorated it. I just asked her to write Thank you and put her name on a dozen blank papers for a personal touch then I'll do the decoration. But the enthusiastic girl got her colored pens and stamps and decorated each paper. Thanks sweetie, that's one less work for mom :)

Finally, the food. Sinong bata ang ayaw ng Jollibee? So we’re ordering the food online for the kids and school staff. Jollibee and BDO credit card has a promo going on right now for online delivery, it's time to put my new plastic money to good use. Then, we're buying ice cream cups from the grocery. I find ice cream cups less messy especially since the party will be inside the classroom. I bought colorful napkins, utensils and cups so we don't have to serve the food with boring white utensils. 

Here's to hoping the party will go well and kids will have a grand time. Tomorrow, we're off to Ocean Adventure in Subic for a pre-birthday celebration and the kids are so excited! They just love Subic :)

Happy birthday our dear Sophia, our wise angel of God. We love you very much! :)

Sam's Birthday Outing

To celebrate Sam’s 2^nd birthday, the family planned an out of town trip to Zoobic Safari.

A call to their Makati office got us a good package of 1,399.00. That covers for the 4 adults in this trip (Stephen and I and the 2 helpers). Children 3ft and below comes in free which means Sam has no charge so we just have to pay extra for her Ate Sophie. Justin, the very accommodating marketing officer of Zoomanity gave us discount card for Sophie’s ticket.

Before heading off to this adventure, I made sure that all the kids’ needs were prepared: water, milk, change of clothes (and diapers for Sam), lotsa dry and wet tissue, sunscreen, anti mosquito spray, hand sanitizer, some meds. I also make sure that we bring their health cards and baby books (esp. if we will be out of town for days).

Of course, mommy has to bring her essentials too: Sunscreen, face mist, make up kit (I only brought my no makeup makeup kit or else I would’ve brought a luggage! J), change of clothes, extra shoes/slippers, camera, shades, maps and other info I downloaded (aside from the set given by Zoomanity, it’s hard to get lost especially since it’s our first time to go there). Okay, so I brought more stuff than the rest of the family hehe J

We left the house before 9am and arrived in Zoobic at around 11am. The sun was high and mighty by the time we got there but the kids didn’t seem to mind. Sam was especially ecstatic to see the animals in the flesh. He was so proud to name the animals he knew: elephant (which he calls epant), tiger (the main attaction), chicken, duck, snake, monkey, horse, cat and diff. species of birds. It was his first time to see a camel and he insisted it was a horse J This place is really for kids. The tour was very educational and fun-filled. We surely will come back. 

Sharing with you some of our pics:

inside the souvenir shop

Sophie listens intently to the orientation

parakeets immediately flew towards my hand as soon as I opened it

more birds to feed

ostrich egg that is equivalent to one dozen chicken eggs. so much calories in there!

with the kids during the Aeta performance

Sophie never missed a photo opt with these standees

Sam kept coming back to this goat in the petting area

An Aeta in flight during a warrior dance

photo opt after the train ride

he wouldn't come close because we don't have food for him

Our next stop...shopping! Stephen was looking for a new pair of basketball shoes while I am trying my luck on a Tory Burch Reva flats (trivia: Reva collections was named after Tory’s stylish mom). No luck for me and Stephen, though, but it’s okay. We were able to buy some home essentials from Royal Subic and Freeport Exchange. I finally got myself a slip resistant yoga mat! J Next stop, kid-friendly retaurant for dinner. While we searched for a place to dine, we passed by the beach and decided to stop a while. The rich color of the sunset and the the lively atmosphere beckoned. There were people playing frisbee, eating, swimming while others simply sit and watch the sun set. Playing and running got us really hungry so we headed off to dinner after a few minutes.

We decided to dine in the nearest and haven’t tried resto: Texas Joe's. This is a nice place for family to dine: spacious, serving is quick and the food is mouthwatering. When you dine with kids, it's important that the service if fast and good. We love the ribs while Sophie and Sam wouldn’t get off the wooden horses on the porch.

tortilla soup, really good for less than 100 bucks

the 7-slab ribs, P760.00. Oh, you have to taste their mashed potato

this chicken is crispy on the outside but tender in the inside :)

the wooded horses are hit with the kids

paintings made by artistic kids :)

the inviting interior