Missy's 6th Birthday - Part II

After celebrating Missy's birthday at their school on Thursday, we celebrated her birthday at home last Saturday. It was not a big party, just some close friends who were available but still having a party at home always entails some preparation and we just have to divide some chores. I always end up as the cook as I'm the only one who can cook. Nothing spectacular but I made some beef adobo, bacalao a la vizcaina, bihon guisado and laing. All the others, we ordered from a Kapampangan caterer whose daughter is Ophine's co-worker. Additional food were kare-kare, lumpiang sariwa and bringhe. We also just bought some fried chicken from Publix and baked some frozen pizza especially for the kids.

Cooking for a party is always tiring and after resting just before the guests arrived, I still had a job to do and of course that was taking the photos. Along the way, Missy developed some "S" and she was quite moody as you can see from some of her photos below. Some girls' stuff that she had with her playmates. Nothing serious but fortunately she forgot about the whole thing later in the party. At this stage, I'm not that anxious to experience her being a teenager someday.

Anyway, after a tiring day, I was still able to manage to squeeze some shots. Just a few to say photos were taken.



Missy before the party.

Ed and Edna Trepanier with Glenda.

The Freitags with Edna.

Freddie with kids JB and Faith. Wife Marilyn on the other side.

Lovebirds Fria and Ronald

Missy as she is about to blow her birthday candle.


With close friend Lauren.

Missy opening her gifts with Lauren and Julinna.

Most of the girls.

Some of the boys.

Missy's 6th Birthday -Part I

It was Missy's 6th birthday on May 24 so we all went to her school to bring some cupcakes, juice, some goodies for the kids and just celebrate her birthday in school. It just so happened that another classmate had the same birthday as Missy so it became a double celebration. What a treat for all the kids! Again, here are some photos.




Andrew and Missy


With birthday boy Gian Carlos.


With Martina, Samantha and Mia.



Blowing the birthday candle.



Sylvette and Lauren




With Andrew and Karolyn.

Headshots of David...at last

Finally, I was able to convince David it's time for me to make pictures of him (with a little bribery) and yesterday was D-Day. I just waited for the right time when the afternoon light was soft and diffused. But first, one very important thing that needs to be done is to have some gel on his hair so we can make the look more pleasant. The gel...he hates that a lot, that's why his hairdo is always so 'oriental' looking but he doesn't really care. Typical boys his age. Second, I kind of have to teach him how to smile without making his two front teeth too prominent and it was kind of hard at first since David would just burst out laughing once I point my camera at him. When Missy saw him, she said it was too 'Bugs Bunny'.

I shot in open shade, no flash and just a small white reflector to fill-in the shadows. Actually my favorite way to shoot portraits outdoors. Nothing fancy about the surroundings as I intended to make only headshots and shoot using a very shallow depth of field (thanks to a fast lens) so we just went to the backyard and BAM!

Here are some from the shoot.

So Proud of the Kids

On Tuesday, Ophine and I went to David and Missy's school for the Kindergarten Award Ceremonies. We went to the cafeteria and settled ourselves among probably a hundred parents. They first had a 'slide showing' of photos taken year round that involved the Kindergartners. Among easily 500 photos that was included in the show, Missy was in some maybe 4 or 5.

Then they gave a medal for all the students who had perfect attendance. Well, due to Missy's not so seldom bouts with allergy, cough and colds and fever altogether, obviously she didn't get one. After that, they give a trophy for Character Education Award to the student that exemplify the student with the best 'character' if you know what I mean. There were six sections and six students got a trophy. Missy was somewhat unhappy, she didn't get one. Although we know, she's doing good in school, it's just not meant to be.

After the show, we all went to the kids' respective classrooms for the class awarding. Ms. Hicks, Missy's teacher gave a certificate each to the parents for being a part also of our kids' education. Then she started handing out special awards to each student. Missy got a 'Kitkat' Award for always being there to help the teachers. A real Kitkat chocolate bar went with it.

It was fun as their teacher hands out the awards, from the best comedian to the friendliest and we really admire the teacher's creativity in thinking of these special awards for all the kids. Each student got a treat just like Missy. Here are some photos from the event.

Video clips:










And now today, April 17, it was David's turn for the 2nd graders' Award Ceremony. It was done in their respective classrooms. Last year, David received a medal for being a consistent honor student while in 1st grade. Only 3 kids from their class received medals and one of those is another Filipino, a Filipina girl to be exact.

Well, David is still a consistent honor student so were were expecting he'll get a medal just the same.

The 2nd grade team somewhat varied the awards. Unlike last year, all honor students were given a medal by the principal in a special ceremony. This year, the medal available was for perfect attendance and David was the only one in class who had an unblemished attendance record. Quite unexpected. Then he was also given a trophy just like what the Kindergartners had during their award ceremony. He also received a certificate for being an honor student and another one for being the friendliest and this was based on the votes done in class, then a few more certificates for excellence in Reading, Social Studies and Computers. We were thinking of Science and Math since these were his favorite subjects but the outcome was a little strange but of course it was okay. David is normally a shy kid (outside the house) but we were so happy that he got the trophy and the other awards as well.

Hopefully, David will continue to do well in school. Missy was a little bit envious but she's very happy for his 'kuya'. She is really a very sweet and very unselfish little girl. She'll finish kindergarten very soon and as she gets better in reading, the more it will be likely for her to garner awards like David, that is of course when she becomes more focused in her schoolwork.

David's teacher, Ms. Downey

David receiving his awards.

David with his best friend in school, Ramiro.




With classmates Josh and Eric.

video clips:

David receiving his awards. You can really see how happy he was.