Life according to The Reds

Meet Bryan, the stick horse

2011-11-20T21:49:00.000-08:00

Project time! For now its a stick horse made from an old sock. I got inspired to make one after Nigel cried over Zoe's stick horse she wouldn't let him borrow. Eager to make my little boy happy, I googled pictures of stick horses to give me ideas. I made it out of materials just lying around the house. Well, except the stick itself which is from a broom I bought from a discount stor- 85 php.

How I made it:

1. I stuffed the sock with cotton I got from an unwanted-just-lying-around-the-house penguin stuffed animal (Yeah! make new toys out of old ones.)

2. The mane is yellow yarn I found in my mom's sewing kit. I stitched on the yarn at the back of the horse. Yellow nicely compliments the sock's blue color, I think.

3. The eyes are old small white buttons. The other button is from an old blouse purchased at BAYO so it says "bayo" on it. I'd like to think it has finally fulfilled its destiny for now it serves as the "kabayo's" eye! lol

4.I stitched the mouth using a thick brown thread. I figured everything has to be stitched on. It needs to withstand the rough playing of a toddler like Nigel. I didn't want the parts falling off here and there.

5. The bridle is the handle of a paper bag lying around the house. I think it adds a lot of character.

As I was making the stick horse, I showed it to Nigel. "Look Nigel, mama's making you a toy horse!"

With a wrinkled forehead he said "No mama, donkey yan. donkey." I was a bit disappointed when he said that. But when I added the bridle (which is actually the handle of a shopping bag) It looked more like a horse! I inserted the stick inside the sock and secured it with hot glue gun. Fortunately, Nigel loved it. When I presented it to him he said "Wow! that's a nice horse!" I told him his name was Bryan. I came up with that. It was the first name that came to my mind when I finished it.

I had loads of fun making Bryan. But the best part was giving it to Nigel and seeing him enjoy it!

Bitten by the Biking Bug!

2011-11-08T23:28:00.000-08:00

Butch got bitten by the biking bug years ago. He loved it so much he rides his bike going to work every day. I only learned to ride very recently and found myself hooked as well. I rode every morning around our neighborhood. But soon enough I grew tired that. I knew it was time to take it up a notch and ride in U.P. Butch and I have always dreamed about riding together with Nigel as a family bonding activity. So we scheduled it on the next holiday. It was raining days prior to that. Hoping the weather would cooperate, I took Nigel’s hand and we prayed together “Dear Lord, Please make it nice and sunny on Monday so we can ride our bikes in U.P. Amen.”

And a beautiful sunny day it was! As I rode my BMX on U.P. academic oval, I felt the warm sun on my face. My heart lightened and knew that the sunshine was a kiss on my cheeks from the Lord! NO ONE IS LIKE HIM!

Butch didn't ride his bike that day. He guided Nigel pedal his small bike equipped with training wheels. In his own slow toddler pace, our li’l one was able to do 1 ½ lapses of the academic oval. FYI the academic oval is 2.2 k.m. long! We are both very proud of him. On our way home, I asked Nigel if he liked riding and answered YES! When I asked why he said “Because daddy is with me…”

Dear Lord, Thank you for the sunny day and the fun time we spent together as a family. Amen.

Dress-up-as-someone-else- and- gimme- candy day 2011 (a.k.a Holloween)

2011-11-03T03:53:00.000-07:00

Candy day 1: Nigel dressed up as a handyman- unbuttoned checkered polo, red hard hat and a toolbox. Whilst Butch was the Joker! Nigel was able to gather a plastic bag full of candies from the trick or treat at Butch's office. Candy day was fun for the li'l one. He ate about 4 lollipops and countless choco and gummy candies. Not healthy but what the heck its candy day! It only happens once a year. He also played with Butch's office mates and other kiddos present.

If Nigel had fun, I think Butch enjoyed the day more. "I wish everyday was Halloween." He said putting on his green chaleco he purchased in an ukay ukay for 100 php. Joker is his fave villain and underdog. He even has the character tattooed on his left arm. Butch was practically a mascot that day. People came to him to have their picture taken with the Joker. He won best in costume which bought us pizzas for dinner the next night! It was a Friday. And Butch actually conducted his office Bible study in the Joker costume. " Some of them couldn't even look at me hahaha." He said amused.

Candy day 2: was spent outdoors in the village of Mira Nila,Quezon City with cousins Zoe, Iris and Chloe. We missed the magic show the homeowners organized but it was fun just the same. We went from house to house asking for treats. Such could be tiring for toddlers and mommies. Good thing my sister Ivy's car followed us nearby to save us from all the walking!

Thank you Northgate Arinso! Also many thanks to the Ablang family of Mira Nila for accommodating us and for the delicious merienda!

Butch enjoyed dressing up, Nigel loved receiving the treats but I ate of most it!! Dear Lord, please don't let my blood sugar go up. Amen.