It turns out that fever of Jasmin's was/is actually measles...
So our Christmas break began a little early as we weren't welcome at the office any more (less vaccination done here, so more vulnerable people)...
And we quickly arranged for a quiet at home family Christmas as we can't visit anyone; don't want to give the gift of measles! - especially the girls' friend Shinji whose mother is pregnant...
Thankfully, it is a mild case and she is already feeling better and playing more with Grace again....
Unfortunately, Grace crawled into our bed this morning saying, "I feel sick"....
What's the chances it isn't measles?
Happy Christmas!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Christmas Holiday Bits n Pieces
part three
Grace also sang a song at the end of it that we recorded bits of - only bits because... well, you'll see when I finally get it cleaned up enough to post!
By the end, things were rather....
chaos or a finale dance?
We are really proud of what our girls accomplished in their short time in this school so far. They have grown a lot!
And for the gift exchange, what did they want and receive? Of course, two more additions to the Hu menagerie!
part three
This last week has been rather a muddle for us. A full week at work with most of the directorate team in town. A full week at school for Christmas production practices. Well, we made it as far as Wednesday. Wednesday night Jasmin came crying into our bed with a burning fever and headache. This tends to happen with her when "everything is too much" for her. So she spent a quite day at home Thursday (except for a family lunch invitation) and most of Friday so she could still take part in the production Fri afternoon/evening. She did manage that okay, but now she is again curled up in bed with fever.
Friday was a busy day for Mommy and Daddy as they had the office party 11-3:30 and then the school production 4-6!
The school's productions tend to be rather chaotic as everything is done in one small meeting room with no real stage... so there are extra kids wandering across the stage at random intervals, kids testing mics and greeting parents... and when the kids preform, a wall of parents with cameras crowds in until it is impossible to see anything unless you join them. I find it remarkable that the kids keep their poise and sing, dance, speak as rehearsed!
Despite all this, we did manage to get a few pictures...
The production was a self-written "musical" that attempted to string together famous Christmas song and stories. Perhaps if we were able to hear what was said by the characters, we'd have a better idea of how Rudolph the red nosed reindeer (Jasmin's class dance)
and the little match girl (Grace's part in the play) fit together...
Friday was a busy day for Mommy and Daddy as they had the office party 11-3:30 and then the school production 4-6!
The school's productions tend to be rather chaotic as everything is done in one small meeting room with no real stage... so there are extra kids wandering across the stage at random intervals, kids testing mics and greeting parents... and when the kids preform, a wall of parents with cameras crowds in until it is impossible to see anything unless you join them. I find it remarkable that the kids keep their poise and sing, dance, speak as rehearsed!
Despite all this, we did manage to get a few pictures...
The production was a self-written "musical" that attempted to string together famous Christmas song and stories. Perhaps if we were able to hear what was said by the characters, we'd have a better idea of how Rudolph the red nosed reindeer (Jasmin's class dance)
and the little match girl (Grace's part in the play) fit together...
Grace also sang a song at the end of it that we recorded bits of - only bits because... well, you'll see when I finally get it cleaned up enough to post!
By the end, things were rather....
chaos or a finale dance?
We are really proud of what our girls accomplished in their short time in this school so far. They have grown a lot!
And for the gift exchange, what did they want and receive? Of course, two more additions to the Hu menagerie!
Christmas Holiday Bits n Pieces
continued
Our mall adventure also included a wait to take pictures in the castle. A free service with the option of funny hats. Grace was quite sure she wanted to do this, but by the time it was our turn, Jasmin wasn't so sure...
A holiday birthday at the office brought in a fabulous decadent cake - the thing was shaped like a hat box, iced with white chocolate, and decorated with icing ribbons and exquisite flowers.
The girls weren't sure at first whether they could believe Daddy when he told them they could eat these flowers!
The girls weren't sure at first whether they could believe Daddy when he told them they could eat these flowers!
Christmas Holiday Bits n Pieces
Last weekend we went to the mall to check out the advertised light and sound show. It was not at all what we had expected, but we did find lots of sound and lights :o) The beginning to our outing was promising:
The stage set in the event center was a castle complete with angels, snowmen, elves, and a ballerina.
The angel of lights at the top of the castle trumped the ballerina for Jasmin, but as she insisted on taking the pictures, we don't have one that you can tell what it is :)
About 1/2 an hour late, the "show" started. The lights began flashing in patterns and various parts moved. The music was what surprised us - it was advertising jingles! The first part ended with fake snow being blown down over the crowd, which the girls were thrilled about. The second part we didn't stay to watch because it began with a very adult dance promoting a local company!
We went mall strolling to find some other lights. We liked this example of Manila Christmas tree decorating:
No tinsel or garland, only fake fruit and plants spray painted gold or silver. And of course lots of lights and ornaments. These trees are green, but often the trees themselves are silver, red, or even blue. Takes a different artistic flair to decorate a tree this way.
And, on our way home, we passed 2 giant trees that lit up just as we passed.
But Mommy's favorite lights are the hanging icicles of lights from all the trees
and this that we can see from our bedroom:
Grace likes watching this as she goes to sleep too, and every night she comments that now she knows where Bethlehem is :o)
Monday, December 06, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
I felt creative this week, and the continual Christmas countdown reminders (they start September 1st here) got me in a decorating mood. So this is our new table cloth for the season (or at least until the ruffles get spilled on too badly). Simple colored snowflake cutouts with glitter on white. We also tackled making a table-top Christmas tree with coat hangers and plastic bags.... I'll let you imagine how until it reaches a presentable state :o)
It was Grace's turn for a celebration this evening. A spur-of-the-moment swim on the rooftop after supper turned into a swimming lesson. Jasmin soon remembered how it was done, and worked on keeping her head up this time. Grace, with some encouragement (and "forgetting" the life jackets at home), did finally swim on her own across the jacuzzi pool. She was so proud of herself! We are too - more so that she faced her fears and went for it than the actual swim, which we knew she could do really.
Donuts AND an icecream (Mommy and Daddy's that ended up getting shared among the 4 of us!) marked her accomplishment.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Unexpected Celebration
Coming home from church this morning we learned that the rooftop pool is finally open. So we packed a quick picnic for lunch and headed out. We had the whole rooftop to ourselves (perhaps because it was an overcast and almost rainy day).
Coming home from church this morning we learned that the rooftop pool is finally open. So we packed a quick picnic for lunch and headed out. We had the whole rooftop to ourselves (perhaps because it was an overcast and almost rainy day).
There is a "big pool" that is actually deeper than Mommy, and it seems to really invite you to swim with it's dark blue tiling,
and a jacuzzi-type pool of normal temperature that has a few not too powerful jets. The girls preferred the jacuzzi as they could stand on the bench. 
Jasmin has been almost swimming for awhile now, so we thought to try get her over the hump and swimming on her own. It didn't take many back and forth pushes between Mommy and Daddy across the pool before she was doing it on her own. Then there was no stopping her!
Back and forth she went, launching herself with complete abandon and no fear - even the long way across the pool! Up she'd come, chest heaving and eyes wide, hardly taking time to catch her breath before launching herself into the water again. When we could finally get her out, she was so tired!
We went home, showered and dress, and went down to the little corner store to celebrate with ice cream. Then we came home for a much needed nap. Next week is Grace's turn?
Friday, November 19, 2010
Two stories...
Just before we went on holiday, we suspected that our bank card had been compromised. When we came back we were sure of it. So we met with the bank and set about to change our cards etc. Waiting those few days to get our new cards, we caught yet another transaction on our statement that we didn't recognize. So we decided to hold off activating our new cards and watch our account for a few more days. Even though we could not draw any cash, we thought it no problem as we had some checks to cash that could tide us over. Only it took us longer than we expected to weave our way through the unknowns of being a foreigner trying to cash a check...
By the time we managed to get cash to go grocery shopping, the fridge was pretty lean. In fact, it had less in it than when we purposely tried to empty it before our holiday! Those last few meals were... interesting :) I finally learned how to make congee - after a fashion as we didn't have many of the usual ingredients. It was touching to see Daddy's enthusiasm for it as despite its unsimilarities to what he used to eat, it still reminded him of his childhood breakfasts.
Now we have our new cards our account seems safe, and our fridge is comfortably full. But we'll be using cash much more often from here on, I think. We still don't know if we get our money back.
A story Grace dictated to me this week (her words and grammar as much as I could get down - she didn't wait for me to write often!):
A long long time ago there was an egg lying in the grass. then the egg cracked. Out came an ugly duckling. It started walking in the driffles of long grass. Then the ugly duckling reached to a poor house with one woman, one husband, 8 girls, and 3 boys. When one boy saw the ugly duckling he said, "Mother! Look at that ugly duckling!"
The 8 year old girl said, "Father, that duckling looks ugly." The ugly duckling went away from that house. It reached to a farm.
The farmer telled all the animals, "I think a ghost is coming near this farm."
When it came nearer, the cow mooed, " I think it is an ugly duckling coming." Then, when the ugly duckling turned around and went to the right. Then he was going to a field where people were planting rice.
One who was putting in the seeds said, " Look something is coming. Maybe it is telling winter is coming."
The one who was making holes for the seeds yelled, "plant the rice quick! I think it will eat the rice!" When the ugly duckling heard all that he turned past the field to a graceful pond with nothing in it just right for him. The ugly duckling was a boy.
Suddenly when the ugly duckling stepped in and swam half way across, something came in and the ugly duckling didn't know what it was. Then he saw big snow flakes coming. This meant winter was coming. If he didn't find a place to stay he would freeze. Then, suddenly when he reached the end, a big snowflake flurried on him and he froze!
As soon as spring came his wing was sticking our like this. He said, "Oh! I didn't know that!" Then he did the other wing and flapped and flapped and flewed. He said, "Maybe I am a beautiful swan."
By the time we managed to get cash to go grocery shopping, the fridge was pretty lean. In fact, it had less in it than when we purposely tried to empty it before our holiday! Those last few meals were... interesting :) I finally learned how to make congee - after a fashion as we didn't have many of the usual ingredients. It was touching to see Daddy's enthusiasm for it as despite its unsimilarities to what he used to eat, it still reminded him of his childhood breakfasts.
Now we have our new cards our account seems safe, and our fridge is comfortably full. But we'll be using cash much more often from here on, I think. We still don't know if we get our money back.
A story Grace dictated to me this week (her words and grammar as much as I could get down - she didn't wait for me to write often!):
A long long time ago there was an egg lying in the grass. then the egg cracked. Out came an ugly duckling. It started walking in the driffles of long grass. Then the ugly duckling reached to a poor house with one woman, one husband, 8 girls, and 3 boys. When one boy saw the ugly duckling he said, "Mother! Look at that ugly duckling!"
The 8 year old girl said, "Father, that duckling looks ugly." The ugly duckling went away from that house. It reached to a farm.
The farmer telled all the animals, "I think a ghost is coming near this farm."
When it came nearer, the cow mooed, " I think it is an ugly duckling coming." Then, when the ugly duckling turned around and went to the right. Then he was going to a field where people were planting rice.
One who was putting in the seeds said, " Look something is coming. Maybe it is telling winter is coming."
The one who was making holes for the seeds yelled, "plant the rice quick! I think it will eat the rice!" When the ugly duckling heard all that he turned past the field to a graceful pond with nothing in it just right for him. The ugly duckling was a boy.
Suddenly when the ugly duckling stepped in and swam half way across, something came in and the ugly duckling didn't know what it was. Then he saw big snow flakes coming. This meant winter was coming. If he didn't find a place to stay he would freeze. Then, suddenly when he reached the end, a big snowflake flurried on him and he froze!
As soon as spring came his wing was sticking our like this. He said, "Oh! I didn't know that!" Then he did the other wing and flapped and flapped and flewed. He said, "Maybe I am a beautiful swan."
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Last holiday pictures and random this week pictures and happenings:
One night and morning on holiday we had a good rain storm. The girls enjoyed the quietish morning inside at the kids' bookshelves.
Once the rain cleared, we had great fun with the windfall of flowers off the two frangipani trees. Such plain elegance in sight and smell a handful or two of these flowers are! So we decided that if we were to be flower fairies, this is the tree we would belong to.
And tried to make some crowns for the fairy princesses. 
We've been lent a new stroller to use as the two we brought with us have not survived the rough sidewalks and increasingly heavy passengers. Soon they will have to graduate to walking all the way, but right now Mommy is still happy to have a way to make sure where one kid is all the time when she's out and about with the two of them.
It is much sturdier than our own two, so hopefully it will last better. Jasmin likes the extra canopy so she can make her own little hideaway.
This last Sunday was missions Sunday at our church. They had a parade of flags held by members from different countries, making a very strong side point that the nations are right here in the Philippines. Each "delegate" spoke God's name over their country in a rousing declaration of God's glory to the nations.
Jasmin was in church with us, and kept asking me the rest of the service when the flags would wave again - it was the only thing she was interested in - but she still says church is better than Sunday School.
One night and morning on holiday we had a good rain storm. The girls enjoyed the quietish morning inside at the kids' bookshelves.
Once the rain cleared, we had great fun with the windfall of flowers off the two frangipani trees. Such plain elegance in sight and smell a handful or two of these flowers are! So we decided that if we were to be flower fairies, this is the tree we would belong to.
And tried to make some crowns for the fairy princesses. 
We've been lent a new stroller to use as the two we brought with us have not survived the rough sidewalks and increasingly heavy passengers. Soon they will have to graduate to walking all the way, but right now Mommy is still happy to have a way to make sure where one kid is all the time when she's out and about with the two of them.
It is much sturdier than our own two, so hopefully it will last better. Jasmin likes the extra canopy so she can make her own little hideaway.
This last Sunday was missions Sunday at our church. They had a parade of flags held by members from different countries, making a very strong side point that the nations are right here in the Philippines. Each "delegate" spoke God's name over their country in a rousing declaration of God's glory to the nations.
Jasmin was in church with us, and kept asking me the rest of the service when the flags would wave again - it was the only thing she was interested in - but she still says church is better than Sunday School.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
We're home and a few days back into work again. The journey home went fairly smoothly, except the last bit: we got off the bus in Ortigas, thinking it would be faster, but then we took over an hour waiting in line for a taxi, so maybe not. That wait was tough after a long afternoon of traveling for the girls. We were very glad to get home! Even though it was about 8 o' clock by then, they set too playing with EVERYTHING to say hello.
Yesterday was the girls' first day back at preschool. They were dressed and ready to go, hanging on the door handle a good 20 min before Mommy was ready to take them! And when we got in the gate, they left me with a delighted cry and took off for the door.
It is good to see that here is home enough for the girls, and indeed, Mommy and Daddy were quite happy to be "home." Thank you God. For a great holiday and a home to come back to.
Yesterday was the girls' first day back at preschool. They were dressed and ready to go, hanging on the door handle a good 20 min before Mommy was ready to take them! And when we got in the gate, they left me with a delighted cry and took off for the door.
It is good to see that here is home enough for the girls, and indeed, Mommy and Daddy were quite happy to be "home." Thank you God. For a great holiday and a home to come back to.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Yesterday we went out of Calapan to explore a few more beaches. It was interesting to watch the scenery go by and observe the differences and similarities to Cambodia/Thailand. It is much more hilly/mountainous, there are many more trees, and the houses are more often cement block than wood. This is because it is illegal to cut lumber. Too bad Cambodia isn't as good at protecting its dwindling forests...
We first stopped at a "grey" sand beach. It was a beautiful long curve of beach.
Mommy enjoyed beachcombing. But it was Jasmin who "accidentally" found this beauty of a shell.
The waves were a little strong for the girls to enjoy the water, but there was plenty of sand and shells for building with.
And waves afforded a great opportunity for wave jumping and victory dances.
And the sun on the sand made Mommy's new sandals glow and brought a smile to her face as all things yellow always do.
We had planned to stay there all day, but come lunch time we discovered that the one and only restaurant there was closed, so we packed up and drove on another hour to a white sand beach where all the resorts are. We went past the main beaches and on to the end of the road. The last bit of the road was like a rough cart track along the side of a mountain, inspiring comments such as "Who ever thought to build a restaurant out here!?" But, one has to remember that until recently, all guests would have been arriving by boat...On our way in, a cloud of butterflies surrounded the truck. We stopped till they passed.
After a late lunch, this beach was also explored. Jasmin decided this was the best beach of all because it had pockets of wave-smoothed rocks. An inordinately big number of them were flat and almost perfectly round. Jasmin filled her pockets so full of them I wasn't sure she'd be able to stand up, or if the pockets would hold!
There were also caves to explore - but it took a fair bit of encouragement from Mommy to get them to dare enter!
The gentler waves here Grace enjoyed, but Jasmin couldn't be persuaded to leave her rock collection for more than one quick swim.
Needless to say, we all slept well last night!
We first stopped at a "grey" sand beach. It was a beautiful long curve of beach.
Mommy enjoyed beachcombing. But it was Jasmin who "accidentally" found this beauty of a shell.
The waves were a little strong for the girls to enjoy the water, but there was plenty of sand and shells for building with.
And waves afforded a great opportunity for wave jumping and victory dances.
And the sun on the sand made Mommy's new sandals glow and brought a smile to her face as all things yellow always do.
We had planned to stay there all day, but come lunch time we discovered that the one and only restaurant there was closed, so we packed up and drove on another hour to a white sand beach where all the resorts are. We went past the main beaches and on to the end of the road. The last bit of the road was like a rough cart track along the side of a mountain, inspiring comments such as "Who ever thought to build a restaurant out here!?" But, one has to remember that until recently, all guests would have been arriving by boat...On our way in, a cloud of butterflies surrounded the truck. We stopped till they passed.
After a late lunch, this beach was also explored. Jasmin decided this was the best beach of all because it had pockets of wave-smoothed rocks. An inordinately big number of them were flat and almost perfectly round. Jasmin filled her pockets so full of them I wasn't sure she'd be able to stand up, or if the pockets would hold!
There were also caves to explore - but it took a fair bit of encouragement from Mommy to get them to dare enter!
The gentler waves here Grace enjoyed, but Jasmin couldn't be persuaded to leave her rock collection for more than one quick swim.
Needless to say, we all slept well last night!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Holiday thoughts:
Thursday:We made it! The estimated 3.5 hour journey turned into 7, but there were no adventures that made it that long. Just traffic that delayed our bus so we missed the 3pm ferry and had to wait until 5. The crossing was a little rough - leftovers from the typhoon earlier in the week. Grace surprised me with being slightly seasick.
Friday:
We are the only guests so there is the perfect balance of people interaction and doing our own thing. We tried out one of the local beaches. A lonely place of thatched-roofed beach "picnic tables" inhabited by a goat and her two kids, a water buffalo, and two white dogs. The girls and Daddy immediately got busy with building in the sand. Daddy even let the girls bury him - and Mommy helped. Just about then, Mommy discovered our camera has no battery - despite being fully charged the night before we left Manila. Thankfully, Daddy's phone also has a camera.
There were OMF team meetings here today and 2 kids were here most of the day. Grace, Jasmin, Ben and Lucie had a blast together. When they had to leave, Jasmin was crying because she wouldn't see them again. Mommy and Daddy comment wryly to one another that we are doing a great job of not getting any photos as usual!Saturday:A fruitless search in the town center for a camera battery turned up some other needed things instead.
Later, following an invite from Ben and Lucie's dad, we went to their house on the beach for some more beach time. Jasmin cut open her big toe on a barnacled rock, but after some doctoring and a borrowed pair of water shoes, played on until dusk.
After supper we explore the basement pool/ping pong table, soon settling on pool as the ping pong table has a few too many unpredictable bounce-killing spots for any semblance of a real game.
Sunday:Having been told the best place to go to church for an English service was the Chinese church, we made the effort to get up for their 8am service. They had a guest speaker - who spoke in Tagalog, and the Chinese used was something other than Cantonese or Mandarin. Thankfully, they provided an interpreter for us. It was a small church on a covered porch at the pastor's house. Grace and Jasmin were the only kids there - afterward we were told their sunday school was at 10:30 at the school... The saving grace of this church in the girls' eyes were the caged dogs out the front and the fish in the pond at the back.
This afternoon, we were taken to yet another beach. This one is obviously where everyone comes to hang out and swim. We immediately become the main attraction (after the small boat for playing with).
Far from being intimidated, Grace and Jasmin thrived on all the attention! It wasn't long before Grace was bossing them all around, sometimes it looked very much like she was a small queen with her courtiers. I'm not sure how much real communication was going on though! Mommy was so pleased for them to have this very first time of real playing with Philippino children.
The boy with the white shirt and yellow bucket became the girls' protector. Despite the fact that he himself cannot speak, he managed to keep their beach toys from disappearing into the crowd, and tried to fulfill all their desires.
Both Grace and Jasmin took time out of thier play to wade out to Mommy who was swimming to exclaim breathlessly, "I have friends! 10 friends! Lots of friends!"
We started a new trend: a sandcastle factory was born.
And this evening, we saw the sun for the first time this holiday - in a spectacular rosy red sunset.
It has been overcast, with some light rain, but very pleasant - almost better than full sun. Though I would really like one clear view over the ocean with blue sky and sea!
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