Mamang - New York APOs

Victoria & Rhovia (Seated)

Rhodora & Vincent (Standing)

Canada Day Adventures

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In addition to the Carandang's planned City Tour with a Splash, was an afternoon adventure of The Ontario Place.  The Ontario Place did not happen as they can not get on the King street car which would take them to their destination...." too many people" they say.  They opted out with a few hours of strolling along the Harbour Front.  JV tells me, he saw ducks, boats, birds.  He says one word sentences and motions to riding a "bus" "train" and "bus". He must have slept on the subway train coming home and on to the Birchmount bus.  He was cranky and sleepy when they got home.  Jiro was all excited telling me about the places they went to and the restaurant they ate in . JV has been pounding his fists on him again and kicking him on the sheens... ahahayyyy...

but he poses very well for pictures

Mamang's July 1, 2011

The younger brood scheduled themselves a tour of the city with a splash.  They decided to take on the Toronto Hippo Tours, the hippest way to see Toronto.  It is a continous journey on both land and water to experience the thrill of the "splash" into Lake Ontario.

Mamang and I have designated ourselves to stay put at home and enjoy the coolness of the air condition.  As soon as the younger set were out of the house, Mamang decides to narrate her stories of old.  She was talking about her buying "in-kiwar" in the corner store and was looking for a black rice in-kiwar called binalayagan.  I think this term means "not pounded to the purest pulp".  [[ I need to verify this terminology from my Ilocano resources, as I am not quite sure]].

After an hour of story telling, she starts conversing in simple but gramatically correct English.  When she does this, I worry and worry myself that her brain must be really working hard and reverting back to the language part of her brain.  Mamang is tired and she goes to bed, still talking in English.  I asked her why she is speaking to me in English, when I am a full blooded Ilocano. She can not be bothered and quips..."so, you can understand what I am saying to you".  Ay, motherrrr !!!! I exclaimed.

9 Celebrations for Jiro's Bday

Jiro has been celebrating his 9th birthday since the beginning of June. Every week-end, starting Friday nights, his dad fires up the BBQ grill. Saturday nights and/or Sunday nights, we have another backyard party. I can still remember the "liempo" being marinated, sometimes just a few hours and it is good to go.

JV exclaims..WOW !!!! (everytime)....... Na-imas latta !!! 

We found giant squid at the nearby T & T grocery.  We stuffed it with onions/tomatoes and grilled it... ay, sarap !!!  Most times, we have accompaniments of grilled eggplants, sweet pepper, zucchini... and we even tested grilled Romaine lettuce leaves. We just seem to have a lot of grilling ideas from steak to fish ( we had turbo, red snapper, grouper).  Yvan seems to struggle with the fish, but seems to perfect the liempo. Sanan tu aramiden didiay "pulpog" nga kuna da!

No problem with left overs.  For grilled eggplant, we have eggplant "torta" for breakfast.  The sweet peppers/zuccini, we add mushrooms to make "gulo-gulo" omelet for the following day's meal. Nag-kirmet kami ania? It just takes a few imaginative brains to come up with left over specials.  Awan iti masayang.. na-imas latta met iti ka-ka-anan mi !!!

June 21, the first day of summer was Jiro's 9th birthday... He must have received 9 presents including the blue car, a present from his school, which was earnestly acquired by the younger celebrant JV (lol !!)

The culmination of the  9th Birthday celebration happened at the Skyland de Shanghai on June 25th with Uncle Buzz's (Lightyear of Toy Story series) timely arrival in town.