Lolo Ed's Visit

This past week, Lolo Ed (Ray's Dad) came to Vancouver for a visit. Not only did he get to spend time with the kids, celebrate Erika's birthday, and meet Dan's parents, but he also witnessed Tessa walking!

K & T had great fun with their Lolo. We hope to see him again in New Year's!

Belated happy birthday, Lolo Joju!

Happy Birthday, Tita Rika!

Happy Birthday to the Tita that K loves to always hang out with! He always wants to go to Rika's house, as he usually says. Enjoy your special day, Tita Rika!

Belated Happy Birthday, Tito Mike!

Okay, I've been neglecting my blog again and did not get to do my usual birthday greeting to Tito Mike who just celebrated his birthday this week.

So, happy birthday to my favourite uncle in NJ whose like a second dad to me.

Belated happy birthday, Tito Mike!

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we must remember...

We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument.

-Heather Robertson, A Terrible Beauty, The Art of Canada at War. Toronto, Lorimer, 1977.

Karchy goes to Madagascar

Karchy saw his first ever movie in the movie theatres today! While Ray and I watched a movie and while Tessa stayed with my mom, Tita Rika and Tito Dan went with Karch to watch Madagascar 2! I didn't bring a camera to the theatres, but, according to reports, Karch was mesmerized by the big screen and big sounds. He symphatised with the lion and got sad when he got hurt! And when we met afterwards, he was all smiles! I'm so excited. Now that I know he can sit through an animated movie, I can take him more often and we can share some quality time at the theatres.

Obama Wins!

I find it really strange that I am more interested in American politics than I am in Canadian politics. But when American politics is all over the media, then of course I am bound to have an opinion about America's election today. I am so excited to see what Obama's presidency will bring to America, to us Canadians, and to the world.

Here is a snippet from one of Obama's speeches; here is his American story:

"I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton's Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. I've gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the world's poorest nations. I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slaveowners - an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters. I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.

It's a story that hasn't made me the most conventional candidate. But it is a story that has seared into my genetic makeup the idea that this nation is more than the sum of its parts - that out of many, we are truly one."

-Remarks of America's newly elected President Barack Obama from his speech, "A More Perfect Union," in Philadelphia, PA on March 18, 2008.


Congratulations to all you Americans who voted for change! As a Canadian, I hope that this change will bring an evolved and united America.

Yay, Obama!

Trick or Treating in the mall and in the 80s

The weather was not cooperating this Halloween, so Ray and I took K & T to the mall for some trick or treating. Surprisingly, our neighbourhood mall was awesome at keeping the kiddies in order.

The next day, we went to Jack's birthday and we partied like it was in the 80s. It was great fun for everyone. As you can see, the Bueno clan were good sports and dressed as an 80s family. Ray even wore his Guess bomber jacket from the 80s. Ray and Karch dressed the same as 80s sports stars. Tessa was Punky Brewster with her mismatched outfit and funky sneakers. I also dressed up... as an 80s mom. All the Filipino moms (as in Jack's grandmas and grandaunts) at the party said I looked just like them in the 80s. I guess, that should be a compliment since that meant I mastered the 80s look (Thanks to Value Village and my mom's jean leggings circa 1989); I'm not really sure. What do you think?