New Year's Eve!

Ron and I ended up staying in with my family to kick off 2008! So, from my family to yours:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Traditions...

Traditions are a great way of keeping the holidays special and making it yours....no matter what your tradition may be. In the last 2 years, Ron and I have started a tradition of giving each other:

1. a book (that the other person HAS to read)
2. a magazine subscription
3. and this year, we added something new: a Christmas ornament!

Since we got a Christmas tree this year, we thought it would be a good way to get some ornaments onto it!

So to kick off our first ornament tradition, this is what I got Ron:

The ornaments represent both something to commemorate the year we started this tradition (the engraved glass tree)...and of course, an ornament to represent his favourite football team: The Raiders!

Ron got me this (please press PLAY):

I loooooove it! Not only does it represent the drive-ins we always go to in the summertime, but it's my all-time favourite movie: Grease!! (the ol' skool version of Highschool Musical! haha)

It's such a small thing, but it's the little things that matter to me most!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very
Merry Christmas!

Maligayang Pasko!
Joyeux Noël!
Kung Ho Shêng Tan!
Fröhliche Weihnachten!
Kala Christouyenna!
Mele Kalikimaka!
Felice Natále!
Koo Ju Syung Tarn!
Sal-e no mubarak!
Natal ni shub kaamnao!
Feliz Navidad!

~ Sally & Ron

Christmas EVE!

Where to start....

I had to go into work for a bit, so after pretending to do SOME work, I left at lunchtime to pick up a few things (mainly liquor) to get ready for the family Christmas gathering!

It was a fun night (although it would have been more fun if Ron could have joined us), but he had his own family gathering that night, so we didn't meet up until later that evening. He did, however, get a gift from my mom & dad. Check out the gift tag: Ron: Merry X'mas
Love, Tatay & Nanay to be...
I couldn't believe my mom wrote that! Could you scare him any more ma'?!?! Too funny!

My family Christmas consisted of about 23 people. After eating, drinking and being merry, I started the kick-off to the celebrations by handing out my yearly family calendars (designed by yours truly). These things are getting harder and harder to do each year but in the end, it's worth it to see everyone enjoying them!

And then the games began...

This year, we decided to try playing the Price is Right! With my brother being the Bob Barker host, and with his 3 sisters as the Barker beauties...we had TONS of laughs over this game! All my aunts, uncles and cousins were totally into it! You'd think they were playing for real prizes...it was hilarious! My Tito Nard's ended up being the Grand Prize winner, winning a 'new car' and his own showcase showdown!

Next, the older generation went to play Mahjong, while us youngins' played the game Cranium (thanks Menalle!). We had 4 teams: Ryan & Sam, Lorna & Sarah, Tirso & his friend Ivor, and me, my nephew Matthew & Shirley. I can't even begin to tell you how much fun we had with this game. There will be some useful insults to use for the next little while based on the outcome of this game (ie. spoon on the table? the answer was tablespoon; spell mistletoe backwards....uh, O....E...doh!). I think we now know who to have on our team for next time...hehe. Winners of this game: Lorna and Sarah.

And then it was time for the gift exchange! This year, my cousin Sam got me, and she gave me a Guess purse! It's quite 'bling', wouldn't you agree? My sister Shirley made magazine covers for everyone, and then my brother played his annual rap song with lyrics he wrote himself!! It's 'dope' (as he would say).

We all ate again, and then everyone called it a night. That was some Christmas Eve!! :)

Kris Kringle with the ladies...

Through the snow, wind, and slippery roads...we all made the trek out to Markham for our Kris Kringle get-together! After eating tons of food, and being entertained by Jared with his singing (it was so cute)...we all opened our presents! I got Di, Di got Mae, Mae got Ev, Ev got Norm, Norm got Gerwyn, Gerwyn got Ron, Ron got Glenn, Glenn got Mel, and Mel got ME! (whew)

As always, it was a fun night had by all! Wii danced with the stars, and some of us were guitar heroes (although some of us were booed off the stage...apparently, not everyone can be a 'guitar hero'! ;)

Date Night 2!

I watched I Am Legend with Quel during the day. It was a movie we had seen filmed while we were in New York City last year, so we had to find that one scene together! Well I did! It was on for a second, but unfortunately, Quel blinked and missed it! You'll have to rent the DVD now Quel. It was a pretty good movie nonetheless.

After the movie, I ran a few errands and then it was time for DATE NIGHT! It was Ron's turn to plan it this time around, so I was curious to see what he would do. I got to his place, and dinner was ready on the table with slow music playing in the background. Ron actually COOKED me dinner (and it wasn't from frozen either!). Due to the upcoming winter storm, he thought this was a safer way to have our date. I sure as heck didn't mind...he made my absolute favourite: Surf n' Turf!! AND, it was REALLY good! You better believe he'll be cooking more from now on (right Ron?). Now that I know what his capabilities are...we can't let it go to waste! :)

Sushi Christmas dinner!

Today, I had the day off! What does one do when everyone else is working? Not much. I slept in, finished my Christmas shopping, and then Ron and I met up with his Chinese Rye Crew at Yang's Kitchen for an all-you-can-eat sushi Christmas dinner.

I was soooooo full! But the dinner didn't sit too well in my stomach, so instead of heading over to his friend's house after...we just headed back to the condo. A few of his friends joined us, and Ron ended up having an Xbox night, while I played with my DS!! :)

A Fieldgate Home Christmas...

After work, Ron and I headed to Copper Creek Golf Club for his work Christmas party...all the way in Kleinburg! Because Ron has only been there for a month and a half, he didn't really know a lot of people there.

To my surprise, I saw someone I knew! A guy named Jose, from my McDonald-working days (11 years ago)!! I thought that was hilarious! He doesn't work for Fieldgate, but his cousin does. It was a nice night out. I met his boss and team that he works directly with, and they were all very nice...and funny! They seem to be really happy Ron's part of their team. It was a great dinner too! Our table was the last one to leave...what can I say, we were the life of the party! hehe

Weekend in a nut-shell...

Saturday, my nephew Matthew had his 10th Birthday party! TEN....he's TEN years old! I remember I was writing an exam the day he was born! He had all his friends at the bowlerama, but I didn't stay too long for that, since it didn't seem too 'cool' for his Tita to be there with all his buddies.

Next stop was the University of Toronto Gospel Choir's concert. Our friend Mike is part of the choir and Quel and I have gone every year for the last 3 years...almost seems like tradition now.

Here's a bit of the show:

Sunday, I met up with Ev and we checked out the Umbra Sale. I spent $10! There was barely anything there! The place was cleaned out...we couldn't believe it! We then ate at Jack Astor's, and then Ev helped me print out my yearly family calendars. Thanks EV!

Early Christmas Dinner

Tanaz and her family are leaving for 3 weeks on a holiday vacation to Thailand and Malaysia! So before they headed out, Ron and I invited them over for a Christmas dinner! What was on the menu you ask?

appetizer: Bruschetta
main course: Steak, shrimp, scallops with roasted potatoes & green beans
dessert: Pecan pie with vanilla bean ice cream

After dinner, Zarius opened his Christmas present and then it was game-time for the adults! We played with the Wii, Guitar Hero and even Halo! Zarius had so much fun, he stayed up 2 hours past his bedtime. It was such a fun night and it was sad to see Zarius go, but he didn't leave without thanking Uncle Ron with a kiss goodbye. Awwww...

I'm warming up to the 'newbie'...

So it's been exactly one-month since I've had the 'newbie' vehicle. My whole attitude was that it's just a 'car'....no biggie. I was still not over losing my Civic...

But I must say, after the Canadian winter weather we've been having, I'm warming up to this new car of mine! I've been testing the capabilities of this car, and it's been fantastic! For example, there was a parking spot at Ron's that was covered with a patch of snow and ice, and it obviously wasn't going to be used as a parking spot...but I went right in there and parked with no problems! There was also a 4-way stop that Ron told me to be careful at (it was completely iced over, and he had to reverse and go forward a few times to get through it)...and the CRV did it with no problems! (yes, I tried it Ron!)

There have also been a few areas that I know my Civic would have gotten stuck in (hence, the snow shovel I kept in the trunk!)...and the CRV has been able to get through it NO PROBLEMO! :)

I'm feeling a sense of power, excitement and SAFETY when I drive this car now....

Zarius & I

How CUTE are we?!? This is Tanaz's little boy, Zarius. I can't believe he's almost 2 years old! He'll always run up to me and say "Tita Sully"....and I'll say 'Yes?'....and he'll say "HEYYO!"

So cute!