Cousin Haley's 3rd Birthday!

Haley, Maia's second cousin, celebrated her 3rd birthday with a Snow White swimming party! And just like her birthday celebration last year, this one was also held at the exclusive Palms Country Club in Alabang.

With the sun shining but not scorching...patches of fluffy white clouds hovering against a powder-blue backdrop...and topped with some summer breeze...it was the perfect set-up for an afternoon of swimming and partying with family and friends!  

And when there's a pool, expect to see our Maia splashing in there and having the time of her life. :)

I hope you enjoy viewing the photos I've posted below. Special mention and thanks to our cousin Sem for allowing me to use some of his pictures from the party. :)

Our neighbor Julianne's 7th Birthday and Swimming Party

Maia and her cousin Sky were invited to our neighbor Julianne's 7th birthday celebration and swimming party last May.  Julianne's party was held at the village clubhouse with guests comprising mostly of kids from our neighborhood.  The theme for the party was "Rio: The Movie".

Happy 3rd Birthday, Maia!

Our Maia turned 3 years old last May 27.  We originally planned to celebrate it with a small swimming party for some of her playmates here in our village.  But because Typhoon Chedeng (International name: Songda) was expected to "arrive" that time, we cancelled our reservation at the clubhouse just 3 days before.  Any chance for a simple indoor celebration was also cancelled because, ironically, our neighbors and their kids were all out-of-town.  Perhaps, to make the most of the last weekend before the start of the new school year.  It's either that or they were all trying to get to "higher ground" (you remember my Typhoon Ondoy post?)!

Anyway, I will not drag this any further because I intend to post a lot of photos.  Just read the captions so you can easily follow what transpired during Maia's birthday weekend.  Consider this entry as my Phlog (short for Photoblog), if you will.

Liv's 2nd Birthday Party

Maia was invited to attend Liv's 2nd Birthday Party.  Liv is the sister of Maia's cousin Zoe.  The party was held at the clubhouse of Mahogany Place III in Taguig City.

It was Maia's first children's party for the year, and so we were all very excited for her.  Especially since Liv's party was to be attended by some very special guests...Spongebob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer, and Dora's best friend Boots!

Hubby originally took around 200 photos of this event.  But I've managed to narrow it down to 59 (only!).  So, without further ado, allow me to walk-you-through that fun-filled party, and I hope you enjoy viewing the pictures.

Joey Pepperoni & Beer Belly for Wings' 35th Birthday

We celebrated my brother-in-law Wings Soriano's 35th birthday last December...the way most adult celebrations go (on a regular weekday)...with dinner, and then some music and light drinking.

First stop was at Joey Pepperoni Pizzeria, in their branch at Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City.  It was a gift-treat from Mommy Lily, my mother-in-law, who is based in Los Angeles, CA.  And although all our kids weren't there, as well as family members in the U.S., we tried to make the most of this rare opportunity for family bonding by the Soriano men by exchanging stories and catching-up, showing each other photos of our kids, handing-out Christmas gifts, etc. amidst good old Italian-American food.

My Auntie Arlyn's 73rd Birthday

January 9, 2011 was the day that my aunt, Arlyn, celebrated her 73rd birthday.  In typical Bayot clan fashion, there were plenty of food, stories, kids, jokes, and lots of laughter!

Tita Arlyn's grandchildren made this banner.  They call her "Mommy".

Yummy Sumo Sam

I chanced upon these pictures, as I was organizing and purging file items in my desktop PC.  These were photos taken during our visit to the Sumo Sam Restaurant in Shangri-La Plaza Mall, on my birthday last year.

I totally forgot about these photos.  I guess, because it was just a little over a month after our house got flooded by Typhoon Ondoy (read the story here).  Fortunately, I still remember the flavors of all that we ordered in the restaurant that day... how much I enjoyed them... and how the experience made me forget all our problems that time even for just a moment.   So much so that I believe our gastronomic experience merits a "feature" on this blog.

Join me as I revisit our yummy Sumo Sam experience!  Enjoy the pictures! :-)

Sonny's Bowling-and-Billiards Birthday Party!

October 2 was a fun! fun! fun! day for the Bayot clan as we gathered together once more for Sonny's 9th birthday!  If Jeth's birthday celebration the month before was more "impromptu", his brother Sonny's was (somewhat) planned in that he was given time by his parents to think about and choose where he liked to celebrate and whether or not he wanted to invite friends over. Sonny decided to have his party at the Bowling Center in SM North EDSA and opted to invite "just the family".

Jeth's 13th Birthday at Pancake House

My nephew celebrated his 13th birthday last month at the Pancake House in WalterMart North EDSA. It was supposed to be held at their house but his Dad, John Dee (my first cousin), made a last minute decision to have it somewhere else so they wouldn't have to deal with cooking, as well as washing any plates and pans. I thought it was a great idea! They could have decided to hold the party in Timbuktu, I still would've gone (provided I have enough money!). Because, cliche as this may sound, I personally think that any place where you can gather family and spend time with them is heaven and should not be missed!

Haley Bondoc's 2nd Birthday at Strikes, Palms Country Club (June 6, 2010)

Haley Bondoc, Maia's cousin, celebrated her 2nd birthday at Strikes in the very posh Palms Country Club in Alabang on June 6, 2010.  Haley's mom, Cathy, did a REALLY good job decorating the place with pretty stuffed toys (Haley's and sister Trixie's), which were used as cake toppers, as well as table centerpieces.  I will admit that, at first, I thought that I can take home one or some of those toy-table-centerpieces...until I realized they were the actual toys of the Bondoc girls!  Good thing I realized it soon enough.  I do not and never ever want to be accused of stealing from a child.  Hahaha!  The thought of it just makes me laugh...or even hide from shame...yikes!!

May 28, 2010 (Maia's Party c/o Ninang Angel and Tito Vic)

Maia's Ninang-Tita Angel and Tito Vic held a party for her at their condominium in Ortigas Center.  The intimate get-together was held just the day after Maia's actual 2nd birthday.  Even though there were just a few of us there (about 13), Ninang Angel made sure that there was food for both the adults and for the kids.  Thank you, Ninang Angel, Tito Vic, Kuya Waxx and Kuya Seb!  Maia says, "I love you! And you all rock!"

May 27, 1010 - Maia's 2nd Birthday Celebrated at Fonda St.

Our dearest Maia celebrated her 2nd birthday by spending time with my family at my parents' house in Filinvest 2.  Hubby Cupid took time off from work and so we made it a point to drive out very early in the morning to avoid the rush hour traffic from Pasig to Quezon City.  We arrived at the house and saw my dad, my sister Janet and Maia's cousin Andie.  But what pleasantly surprised us was seeing my mom there in her house clothes and then knowing that she also decided to stay home and spend it with us and Maia.  It would have been complete had my brothers Mikko and Marc, and brother-in-law Mark were also there but they all needed to be at work early.  But it was okay since they were all there, anyway, for the celebration that night.

Maia's First Birthday Gifts (an extremely late post)

I was just browsing through my Windows Explorer and saw that I see still had a few pictures there which were originally meant for posting in this blog.

One such set of pictures is the one taken the day AFTER her 1st birthday party.  The day when my one and only child opened her gifts.  I've decided to not include all photos from that day since they are just TOO many!  And if I remember correctly, Maia was really all over the place that day.  She couldn't sit still.  Perhaps she got a little excited seeing all the boxes on the bedroom floor...and in different shapes and sizes!  I even thought, then, that in the beginning, she liked the gifts in their "un-opened" state...for she went a little irate when we started to tear the wrappings and open the boxes.  But she did ease up once she saw what we were pulling out from them.

Maia's 1st Birthday (Super late post!)

The year 2009 was a year of highs and lows. I've written about a lot of things, mostly mainstream...then I've also posted some lows. I got so caught up with so many things, I almost forgot THE MAJOR HIGHLIGHT OF MY LIFE this past year...my Maia's 1st birthday party!

I assure you, it wasn't deliberate. It's just one of those things that I said I would really prepare for so that I may come up with a really good post. Until 1 day became 1 week, which turned into 1 month, and so on.

I think that if I can do a late post about my husband's nephew's birthday, and about our "food escapades", then I can easily write about my only-child's 1st birthday celebration.

Taverna Verde for Waxx's Surprise Birthday Party

A late post, yet again! My husband's nephew, Joaquin (fondly called "Waxx" for short), celebrated his 12th birthday last September 5, 2009. It's now what...January 4, 2010? But as I always say, "Better late than never." Besides, I have an excuse. Remember my Typhoon Ondoy ordeal? Now sit back, relax and read. I tell you, this will be worth-the-read, gastronomically-speaking. Smile! :)

As I have stated, Waxx turned 12 last September. His mom and grandparents thought it best to celebrate it differently this time by throwing him a surprise party. And they held it, where else? In his stepdad's bistro/bar, Taverna Verde, located at the popular MetroWalk complex here in Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City. Cupid, my hubby, has been there, twice, with his officemates. It has become their office's favorite happy-hour place whenever their bosses from Washington, DC and/or officemates from other foreign offices come over. I was told that the food is really good and moderately priced. So I was excited to go...not just for the food or to finally see the bistro, mind you, but also for the chance to take part in the celebration of Waxx's birthday. Waxx just happens to be my original, favorite "nephew-in-law." This is true.

Partying at Somerset, Salcedo Makati

My husband's niece (Zoe) celebrated her 13th birthday at the Somerset, Salcedo Makati...inviting only family and a few select friends. The overall "feel" of the party was intimate, yet relaxed. The room was decorated with purple balloons just scattered on the living room floor, a "Happy Birthday, Zoe" banner showing pixary cartoon characters the birthday gal created herself (see her website here) was mounted on the dining area wall, and pictures of other Zoe pixary characters were pasted on the bedroom doors.