TOTS continues to meet every other Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30. Host homes alternate.

Yang Mommy

…I can smell turkey and stuffing so near!

Growing up in a small family, with both parents from Europe, we didn’t really “celebrate” Thanksgiving like most American families. Sure, we watched Santa arrive in the parade and had some turkey for dinner but that was about it for the traditional activities. No large feasts, no touch football in the back yard, no days spent in the kitchen in preparation. Some of my friends thought I was missing out on the big day and I agreed with them. I wanted the big family table, full of laughter and good cheer, with plates piled high with good food–I wanted the quintessential Hallmark holiday.

Yet looking back on my childhood, I realize that although we didn’t have the Hallmark holiday, we really did have a great day, year after year. Because my parents didn’t stress out in the kitchen and because we took the day easily, we spent the day as tight knit close family. Some years we’d all take long walks in the woods, looking for animal tracks. Other years we’d simply go feed the ducks at the local pond, or if we had a white Thanksgiving, we’d definitely go sledding. Those were wonderful Thanksgiving days.

Nowadays, since marrying  into a larger family & having my own little one, our Thanksgivings have become much larger and grander, and more Norman Rockwellish. Add to the fact that we invite family friends over to dinner too and we end up with a 25 lb+ organic turkey on the table with slim chances of leftovers for the weekend! (I admit, my husband and I have on occasion bought our own little turkey breast to have “leftovers” with–I have to have my turkey and cranberry sauce sandwich on Black Friday!) This week is being spent in preparation for Thursday’s big day, with home-made food being whipped up hither and yon. Stress in the kitchen? You bet ya. Fun in the kitchen? Absolutely! Trying to make it all work whilst a toddler runs around pretending to be a turkey–hilarious!

So as I march forth into the kitchen today and well on into the night, and after I’ve trudged through the supermarket crowds, I’ll be reminiscing about my childhood Thanksgivings and looking forward to my grown-up day of feasting (and in the back of my mind, making sure I also have food my tot will eat, LOL!). And I’ll definitely make sure to create  my own special family memories with my little girl and husband on this day of thanks.

…And when it is over and grace has been said, it won’t be the turkey but me stuffed instead!

Lots of ideas to interact with your toddler. Crafts. Books. Devotionals. Meals. Websites. Activities. All suitable for 12-47 month olds (1-3 year olds). And you can show off your tot during the month of their birthday, as a Cute Tot, or as a featured tot.

Check out more Sites We Love!

Yang Mommy

Over this past summer, my daughter and I ate out quite a lot. We were either on the go hither and yon, or on vacation, or simply wanted to get out and enjoy a beautiful afternoon outdoors. So our adventures took us to various eateries, from sandwich shops to nice restaurants. Sounds fun, doesn’t it? Well for the most part it was, and is, fun to eat out with her. But as a toddler, she still has those pesky, picky, toddler taste buds.

Experience has now taught me to always, always bring some food I know my daughter will like and that’s good for her. Regardless of the stares and looks the restaurant staff may give me, I will continue to whip out a banana or mini-sandwich for her while kindly asking the wait staff for extra napkins.  The  number one reason I bring food along is not because she’s such a picky eater, which she isn’t really (although she has her moments), but because I’m a picky mom.

It seems the standards on kids menus in America today are: Mac n’ Cheese, Chicken Fingers, Sliders or Hot Dog and fatty sides like fries or chips. In and of themselves, these menu items are not all that bad for occasional treats; my girl loves her homemade mac n’ cheese.  And I’m all for letting her try items off my plate. But what gets me is that the flavoring of these items is often cooked to adult taste bud standards, not little children. Yes, trying new flavors is important, and fun. But if it burns my epicurean tongue, well then…

Take for instance the time we ordered off the kids menu some mashed potatoes. Well the potatoes were the same potatoes they serve to adults, including the garlicky seasoning which was even strong for me, who loves garlic, let alone a 1 1/2 yr old. Then there was the time we ordered her chicken fingers from another establishment and the batter was spiced, greasy and hardly any chicken underneath.  And lest I forget, on vacation we ordered her scrambled eggs for breakfast, another dish she loves at home. I had to protest when it came to our table, not only for the plate being too hot to touch, but also with a dollop of butter still melting on them! Belly ache, anyone?

These days, we still bring food she’ll like with us, but we tend to avoid the so-called kids menu. Rather, we’ll order her a side of fruit or some salad, or even let her pig-out on some fresh bread. From our encounters, we’ve found on average that the general seasoning is just not made in mind for tender palates, nor are the portions, let alone the nutritional value in most menu items.  I guess the same can be said for many adult menu items, can’t they!

So with that in mind, I’ll have to make sure that at this year’s Thanksgiving table, there’s some tot-friendly food items to go  along with the beloved standards.

in my twitter news:

few seconds later..

believe me..
i tweet too much!

and while lurking at tumblr..
i saw these two berry nice photos..

it has this old america look..
but it’s teh vintage manila y’all..

ngaun ang sikip sikip na nya!
ang dumi dumi..
at puro sidewalk vendorz!
we want teh old manila back!

last saturday morning while cleaning teh car..
[puro teh ah!]
i can’t help but hear neighbor kids talking..

kid #1: ayos ah! nagpapakalalaki ka na!
kid #2: oo! t*ng i*a mo!
kid #1:
kesh:

and a neighbor greeted another neighbor belated happy birthday..

neighbor #1: jaime, belated!
neighbor #2: gag* tapos na..
neighbor #1: kaya nga belated eh..
neighbor #2: t*ng i*a mo.
kesh: WTF!

haha
buti nalang lumaki kaming hindi ginagawang comma ang mura..
tho i say things such as WTF (what the fact) and shayt and xet..
mabuti paring conservative tayo verbally hindi ba?

and yes..
i can’t end the post without saying tenkyo0o~ to all my friends who gave and pledged bears to me..

sana marami pa magbigay sakin..

at muli..
shalamat!

We live in an apartment.  It is not small, it is not huge . . . its adequate in its 3 bedroom capacity to house our small family of 2 boys and a set of parents.

A couple of times a week I watch two more tots . . . same age as my boys, 3 and 4 . . . close enough that I can say that.  I think Jordan turns 3 in December.  Thats beside the point.

When you get 4 boys under 5 in an average sized 3 bedroom apartment . . . trapped indoors due to rain and hail and cold winds . . . it is amusing, trying and “I-should-be-documenting-this-for-some-reality-show-revealing-of-tot-behavior-whilst-trapped-indoors-for-hours” kind of feeling.

I’ll leave it to the producers to think of a shorter name for the documentary.

Perhaps

“Trying Times in Tot-Land”.

Or something stupid like that.

The boys I watch are fantastic kids.  The listen and help pick up when I announce those times.  They eat politely and are mostly nice to my boys.  They use the potty . . . without me reminding them too much.  They stay out of the garbage and leave the fridge alphabet magnets on the fridge . . . while and after playing with them.  They buckle themselves in their carseats . . . no help from me, just a bit of supervision.  They share, for the most part, and enjoy interacting with my kids.

Unlike some other tots that live here . . . that listen on when I get that tone in my voice and pick up if I’m standing over them.  I’m pretty sure Tob had his dinner plate taken away tonight for throwing carrots at Sam, across the room, so the eating politely thing is stricken.  I don’t think I’ll talk too much about the “being nice to others” bit . . . except to say that wrestling and rough housing is fine for a little while and then the boys were done . . . well, not my boys, just the boys I was watching. I hate poop . . . poop in the toilet!!  ”Didn’t I just throw that empty Wheat Thins box in the garbage, Tob? Huh? Why are you using it for a car ramp? And, no, you can’t have the lid off he discarded milk carton either!” Gross! The stove is not my favorite spot for the alphabet magnets to be sported. You know, hefting a 20 pound 15 month old in a car seat . .. oh, who am I kidding . . . 30 pound 15 month old in a car seat was a feat of sorts.  I do believe that constitutes as an all-body workout.  Hoisting a 45 pound 4.5 year old into a car seat that now sits in a 4×4 SUV. . . I think my back is out.  I don’t think Sam ever relinquished the highly sought after ‘Mac’ truck (from the movie Cars) . . . the one thats made of plastic that is missing half its parts, not to mention missing the trailer that attaches to it . . . piece of plastic crap.  ”Take my friends back,” Tob kept saying all evening.  I didn’t really comprehend what he was referring to . . . then Aaron decided to clarify . . . “I think he wants to you take us back home.”  So frickin sweet my kids are! Like merchandise . . . just take them back.  Hmmm . . . is there return/exchange for kids?

Actually I love my kids . . . no worries.

I mean . . . who couldn’t love this!

Two  . . . two is a good number.

~blessings

*sings*
didn’t know how lost i was until i found you..

bakit nga ba lagi nalang ako napipili maging member ng committee?
hindi ba nila alam na ayaw ko ng ganung stuff?

anyway..
in news..
yesterday me and me family watched teh manny fight..
walang kwentang pldt watchpad..
forever buffering..
good thing i found a streaming site..
ok na sana kaso nung round 10 nagsimulang mag-lag..
pati yung nakikinood na nangungupahan samin naiirita..

kelangang manaka-nakang irerefresh..
at bago mabuffer ang round 12..
w00t!
i read tintin bersola’s tweet..

“referee stops d fight! Manny WINS!”

and momma was like
at yun na nga..
cotto was just in surviving mode at around round 10?
and after the fight..
we always wait for quotable manny..
and this was his:

“You know sometimes you also have to be smart in the ring. I let Cotto hit me because I wanted to test his power. I was actually pretending it didn’t hurt but it really hurt, you know.”

it’s like vitwater you know?
hahaha
such a funny guy!
he’s really a good boxer no?

and yesterday also was my last day of 15-hour actual driving lesson..
mejo B.I. yung trainer ko..
sabi nya magpractice daw ako after ng learning..
sabi ko wala ako kasamang me licensya..
sabi nya mas ok kung magisa ka lang..
kaya pag-uwi..
niyaya ko pamangkin ko at si rodababes..
nagdrive ako at pumunta kami sa moa..

hindi naman kami nahuli..
hindi rin naman kami nabangga..
i was happy to realize..
marunong na ko magpark..

i’m so proud of myself!
hahaha

in other news..
i’ve been updating my twitter account for like every 10 seconds..
for my friends who have twitter..
ano pa nga ba?
follow meh!

Hey Cazmos,

I just wanted to remind you that Toys for Tots is coming soon! Personally, I think it will rock. Tell me what you guys think!!

Hey Cazmos,

I just wanted to remind you that Toys for Tots is coming soon! Personally, I think it will rock. Tell me what you guys think!!

nax!
napapadalas ang pagblog!

three things that made me smile today:

1. crush said “blooming ka ngayon..”
   i said “kiss me..  “
   [joke lang.. that was just in my head.. ]
2. i caught kuya guard smiling alone while listening to the song “t-shirt” by shontelle..
   i wonder if he imagines himself singing the song..
   *kesh starts to imagine..*
   *kuya sings like no one is around* “with nothing but you t-shirt on..”
   *magkakatinginan kami*
   
   *awkward silence*
   
3. and this photo!



cute izn’t?

 

and i finally found my matipunong magsasaka!
in onion form!
haha

it’s such a shame i can’t understand chanis!
*sings* kung nagaral lamang ako noon..
ay..
kung hindi ko pa nababanggit..
or i think nabanggit ko na..
pero babanggitin ko uli kasi nabanggit ko na na babanggitin ko sya..
nag-aral ako sa chinese school before..
may chanis name pa nga ako..
“ma-bi-hwa”.. something..
sabi ng principal namin ang meaning daw nun..
maganda.. mabait.. matalino..
yeah..

hahaha
hindi ko man lang nagamit natutunan ko..
ni wala ako maalalang salita!

according to bits..
ang law daw na namention ko last time..
is kulang..
dapat daw bago maabswelto yung nakapatay ng nangangaliwang spouse..
may conditions..
pag lalaki yung nangaliwa..
dapat mahuli ng babae na nangangaliwa si lalake sa bahay mismo nila..
(what the fact! lokohan!)
pero pag babae yung nangaliwa..
kahit magkaholding hands lang..
pwede na patayin..
hahaha

life is so unfair in so many levels!
but anyway..
the bottomline is..
wag magpapahuli kahit saan..

i’m tired!
i’m tired!
i’m tired!
i’m tired!

but i promised myself i’ll blog tonight..
so uunahin ko to bago ang aking mga labahin..

last night while trying to get by the traffic..
my friend mentioned that there’s already a law or something..
(ano ba tawag sa ganun? *scratches head* wala akong alam sa history haha)
na aabswelto sa isang husband or wife if in the event..
na mapatay nya ang asawa nya..
habang nahuli nyang nasa akto ng pangangaliwa..
ala temporary insanity.. (marami tayo nyan)
how true?
much like the twinkie defense? harvey milk?
i think it can be good in a sense na matatakot mangaliwa yung mga may asawa..
pero it can be bad too kasi it tolerates murder..
[wanna die?]
and i think one of the pillars of marriage is trust..
[kesh clings to the imaginary man of her life]
and not just .. you know.. fear..
well..
we all have opinions..
and beliefs..
so yeah..
magkanya-kanya nalang tayo..
*sings* mechu on a springtime day.. [sad to belong mode on]

may ikukwento pa sana ako kaso magtu-12 na..
bukas nalang after ko maglaba..
hahaha
goodnight world..
goodnight _____!

and bang bang i’m in love!

i guess it’s not that healthy reading a crush’s blog..
entry by entry..
word by word..
emotion by emotion..
little by little..
coz i end up liking him more and more..
haha
gahk~!
i read too much!
i imagine too much!

tho it wouldn’t hurt having the future man of my life..
fall for me while reading my blog entries..
wahahaha
makatulog na nga!

but before that..
let me leave you with an onion poem..

Pink petals passing　桃色の花びらが舞う
Scents above so high　香りが高まる
Painted porcelain perfection　完璧な着色で
Blossoms caress the sky　　花の群れが空を包む

Swaying silent shroud　ゆれる静けさに包まれ
Suitors strolling by　お互いがすれ違う
Pink petals passing　桃色の花びらが舞う
Lover’s gentle sigh　恋人たちのやさしい吐息

Pastel hues falling　淡い色が落ちる
Slow fluttering grace　ゆっくり羽ばたく優美
Pink petals passing　桃色の花びらが舞う
Lining streams in lace　レースが裏で流れる

Pink petals passing　桃色の花びらが舞う
Smoothest transit by　なめらかさが横切る
Soft essence floating　柔らかな香りが浮かぶ
In most subtle lullaby　精細な子守唄で

let’s fall in love again..

This season is one of the main things I love about living in Ohio.  I love college football, wearing a comfy new sweater and all the leaves on the ground.  The look of fall comes and goes so fast, so my girls made sure they got some quality leaf jumping in this year.

Happy jumping!!

and tada~
i’m inspired to blog!

morning started with my morning fail..
*in lola techie tone*
bat ba kasi nauso yang tag tag na yan!
but it’s a reality..
it’s a comfort to see..
an ex looks far less gorgeous than the way he did..
and even tho 100x na syang suggested friend..
100 million common friends..
i refused to add him..
kasi..
kasi mapride ako..
meron pa pala ko nun..
hahaha
i guess pagdating sa lalaki..
mapride ako..

now i disassociate my blog from my fb site..
at pati picasa..
nang matapos na..
ayoko nadadawit dawit sa mga issue nila..

anyhoo..
how’s the life outside my life?
i guess i was too busy these days..
or rather i kept myself too busy these days..
you know?
vitwater?
hehe
i started my first driving lesson last.. last sunday..

mas tarantahin pa sakin yung nagturo sakin!
he was like..
“yung clutch mo! ibrake mo! ibrake mo!”
and i was like..
“kuya binreak mo!!!”
in the end..
after 3 hours of learning..
parang nasuka ko sa ginawa ko..
hahaha
was fun tho!
marunong na ko magpaandar..
marunong narin ako magbangga..
konting practice pa..
12 learning hours to go..
weee~

sana pumasa ako sa driver’s license exam..
(mahiya naman ako kung hindi no? haha)
will be taking it this november 20..
yeah..
lakasan lang ng loob..
fighto~oh!

in other news..
i watched This Is It a while ago..
tinatamad ako gumawa pa ng movie review..
anyway..
just like after seeing a mariah carey concert makes you feel like singing..
watching michael jackson concert just makes you feel like dancing..
i have billie jean intro at the back of my mind habang niraramdam ang alikabok ng jeepney pauwi..
iba talaga talent sa hilig..
there are like 9 million musicians out there who plays music even without musical talent..
pero once you encounter someone who really has the talent..
it’s just not the same..
like meeting mariah carey.. (ehem)
michael jackson..
the beatles..
and local musicians like the eraserheads..
and rico blanco..
i bet working with perfectionist is just awesome..
and stressful too~
hearing someone with such raw music talent makes me feel small and insignificant..
hahaha
as if i’m not really!

and while watching this is it..
i had BK’s mocha joe..

last month ko lang sya natuklasan..
at ang weird kasi sa BK 2nd floor glorietta pwedeng upgrade to mocha joe frost yung drink ng meal..
pero sa 3rd floor ndi..
kala ko ba “no mocking of orders? no odd order ever?”
ridiculous!
haha

and out of random ridiculous yet almost brilliant thought..
i’m thinking of naming my next band “Band..Duh!”
our debut album “All..Bum”
and our debut single “Can’t Ah”
almost brilliant, isn’t?

I have finally come up with a portrait package to capture baby’s first year.  I created a postcard that will be going into the baby bundle bags for all new parents at my local hospital.  I’m so excited.   Below are images of the postcard.

Front:

Inside:

Back:

Please contact me if you or anyone you know would be interested in this package.  You can email me at jeri [at] jeriamrinephotography.com.

I want to thank everyone that stopped by and showed me love.  I sincerely appreciate everyone’s support and encouragement. You guys rock!

So I decided as a way to show my appreciation, I will occasionally toss out snippets of my stories for your amusement.  They will be previously unpublished and seen by few, so it’ll be like a veritable ’sneak-peek’ of insanity.  Whether or not they amuse you, well… I guess you can tell me what you think.

Tidbits of Terror… a.k.a. ‘Tots’

For the very first TOT, I will share just a little bit of ‘Love Me, Love My Alpaca’.  It’s a horror-comedy hybrid tale that  coincidentally involves… an ALPACA!  Enjoy!

***

Josephine, more vocal in her displeasure, emitted a bellow that mimicked a flattened French Horn.  The couple stopped and turned.  Four pairs of eyes locked across the highway in a moment of silence.

Jericho and Josephine both winced as a feminine shriek rattled their eardrums.

“Hold steady, girl,” Jericho warned, as the woman barreled towards them.

“Ain’t she just precious!”  The woman squealed.  “I’ve never seen a llama up close before!”

“She ain’t no llama,” Jericho huffed.

The man approached casually.  “No dear, that’s not a llama.  That’s an emu.”

“Oh Teddy, don’t be silly!  An emu is an ostrich!”  She reached out to pet Josephine, who warked and jumped back.

“An ostrich is a bird, Mary, not an emu,” Teddy replied.  He scratched his chin.  “Is she… a goat?”

“With that long neck, pumpkin?”

“Hmm.  Good point.  Maybe she’s one of them miniature ponies,” he said.

“Good God, what is wrong with you people?” Jericho said.  “She’s an alpaca, for Christ’s sake!”

The couple didn’t move, staring at the old man as if he spoke a foreign language.  Finally Teddy spoke.  “Isn’t that a lawnmower?”

“What are you, some kind of moron?” Jericho snapped.

***

SO there you have it. TOT #1.  I’m still doing edits, but when it’s submitted and accepted I will let you know where to find the story in its entirety.  Thanks for playing!

Until next time~

Jezzy

INO Mommy has posted a great blog about celebrity mums who are using BornFree™ to keep their tots safe. From Halle Berry to Jessica Alba and more we’re honoured to be the feeding choice for so many parents!

Thanks INO Mommy for spreading the love!

1 Good News & 1 Bad News:

Good: My height increased by 2cm! amazing! incredible!

Bad: I Gain Freaking 5kg over a yr! T_T

had health check-up last wk… it’s the UGLY TRUTH.. >.<