Prelude to Christmas

Ray got his dream Christmas tree from his family home this past week, and we decided to put it up right on/after Erika's birthday (according to Bueno tradition). And now we decided to have our own tradition to have K & T put up the star on top of the tree.

Here they are in action:

A Flashback from 2006: Here's K and I putting up the star. I would have posted a picture of us putting up the star last year, but I guess we were too busy with K & T and Ray's many jobs!

While the parents are away, the kids will play...

My mom kindly took the K & T for the day (which is a first, so we're all proud of her!), so Ray and I could go Thanksgiving shopping across the border on our own. It has been so long since Ray and I were able to shop on our own that it was a wonderful treat for us, but not so good for our pockets. It is crazy how much we can spend without the kids rushing us to just get our shopping done! Oh well, it was our first shopping date in a long while, so I guess it was all worth it. 24 days til' Christmas, and we're almost done shopping!


K & T relaxing in the morning:



My mom's makeshift gate:



Tessa making a mess eating spaghetti:

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.