Mother's Day Lunch

More Mother's day kwento!
a
a
We had lunch at Crepes and Co. I love the place so much, I'm seriously craving for a crepe right now!
a
a

Our friends, the Abuegs, were having lunch there as well. Here's Aly with tito JM and Jianna.
a
aWhile I was making chika with Jenn, Aly chatted up a storm with her tito JM! I wonder what they were talking about. Richard happily clicked away to document Aly's kadaldalan.
a
aThe mommies and the kiddies.
a
aThe Abuegs: JM, Jianna and Jenn.
a
aAly's classmate, Lisa was there for lunch too!
a
aSisters Amy and Lisa -- so cute in their matching outfits! With Aly.
a
a
Aly and mommy.
a
aThe Valdezes at Crepes and Co.

Gifts

Last week was full of surprises -- and I'm talking about the kind that's wrapped in colorful paper with a small tag :)
a

aFirst up, the one for Richard and Aly.
a
a

I was having lunch at the mall the other day when I spotted -- correction, I hunted for this. I had to ransack the toy section for my gift. Good thing I didn't break anything or else I would have been forced to pay for and bring home an entire shelf of toys. Heehee!
a
a
Snakes and Ladders! Our Friday movie nights will now be replaced with board game nights! More than the game, Richard and I also want to teach Aly about winning and losing. Si Aly kasi, pag nananalo, magaling mang-asar pero pag natalo naman siya, iiyak. We'd like to correct that hopefully with the board game. I mean, it's not like we can have a foot race or something. Kasi sigurado ako yung matatalo dun. Haha!
a
a

Now it's my turn.
a
a

Richard and Aly's surprise for me on Mother's Day.
a
aWait, there's more!
a
aBefore I open, picture muna. Mother's day loot for the Domestic Goddess :)
a
aMy first Jamie Oliver cookbook! Yey!
a
aThis baby will start a collection, and I will proudly display them in my dream kitchen.
a
a

But more than the cook book, this was the best gift of all...
a
a

Awww...It made my heart melt. I mean, these are the words of a six-year-old! How can you not turn into putty after reading that?
a
a

Thank you, sweetie and babe for the lovely presents -- and for the wonderful Mother's day :) I love you both!

Lunch Date with Richard at Crepes and Co.

Richard didn't have work last Monday so while Aly was in school, we went to Crepes and Co (thank you, Jenn for the idea!) for lunch.
a
a

R
a
aK
a
a

Dates with my husband have become a thing of the past since we moved to Bangkok, but I'm not complaining! Richard and I used to have a weekly dinner/coffee date back home, but that was because Alyannah had a yaya. We don't have a yaya here and I wouldn't dare leave my little girl with some random babysitter. Thank goodness Richard had a holiday off :)
a
a
Crepes and Co. is set in an old Thai house. They use mostly wicker furniture and they have an outdoor garden as well. They serve savory and sweet crepes and a good selection of Mediterranean cuisine. I love the homey atmosphere and the excellent service. The owner was there when we were having lunch and he really took time to go to each table and strike up a conversation with his customers. Let me show you around the place.
a
a

Blackboard specials.
a
aWe came in early so we had the place all to ourselves -- for the first half hour at least.
a
aGarden.
a
aFor starters, we had the spicy chicken wings with blue cheese dip.
a
aI had the chicken, tomato and onion crepe.
a
aRichard had the pasta arrabiata.
a
aOur dessert: crepe with chestnut cream and chantilly. Yummy!
a
a

The food was excellent! Servings were huge! We will definitely go back to this place.

a
a

It's funny how my husband and I were finally able to go out on a date, but when we were there, all we talked about was Alyannah! I kept telling my husband that we should bring Aly there and I think that she will love the place. Hay...I guess that's what parenting and married life really is :)

Dinner at Tita Wena's House

After that heart-stopping lunch at Kanin Club, we headed to yet another food fest at tita Wena's house in Taguig. Tita Wena is a long-time family friend. She's a good friend of my tita Lori, and a former classmate of mine at Heny Sison. Tita Wena and her sister tita Jojo visited us here last November (too bad they were stranded here!).
a
a
When we got back from Hong Kong, she told my mom that she wanted to see us before we fly back to Bangkok. I was touched by the invitation. My brothers and cousins love tita Wena not only for her good heart and generosity, but also for the many poker nights that she hosted in her beautiful home.
a
a

The kulits plus tita Wena's cute and adorable Allen. Check out Aly's game face. I'm not sure which is more frightening: the toy gun or her pout! Haha! Truth be told, I think this is the first time she played with toy guns ever. Puro kasi dolls, stuffed toys and fluffy stuff ang nilalaro nya sa bahay.
a
aShe seems to be having fun, though.
a
aGo get 'em, Babe!
a
a

I love tita Wena's house! It's warm, inviting...it had all the elements that I want in our dream house! I like the layout of her kitchen and dining room. I also love her lanai. It's perfect for the dinner parties that we will be hosting for our friends in the future :)

a
aMy cousins at tita Wena's lanai.
a
aMore photos of tita Wena's beautiful home.
a
aHere's the dining room/kitchen area. I like how the kitchen, dining room and lanai are connected.
a
aMy cousins.
a
a

Tita, thank you for inviting us to your lovely home and thank you for the wonderful dinner. I hope our dream house will be as nice as your house. Pag natayo na, it will be my turn to invite you for dinner naman :) See you again soon!

Angel's Birthday Lunch at Kanin Club

We had to cut our beach trip short from 3 days/2 nights to 2 days/1 night to spend more time with our family and relatives. Akalain nyo, naging in-demand ang Valdez family! Hehe!
a
a
With barely enough rest from our Batangas trip, we had to wake up early on Sunday, hear mass and go to Alabang for Angel's birthday lunch at Kanin Club Westgate, Alabang.
a
a

Waiting for the birthday girl.
a
a

Too bad they didn't accept reservations even for a big group like us so we had to wait until they had enough tables. We were all hungry so the wait seemed like ages. But with the food at Kanin Club, it was definitely worth it!
a

aThe birthday girl.
a
aThe gang.
a
aBlack gold. When you're eating at Kanin Club, you must try the crispy dinuguan!
a
aAngel doesn't eat dinuguan. You know, being a doctor and all...she studied all the body parts so she knows each and every function...she has her "medical" reasons not to eat it. Bah! I always tell her she's so KJ! I urged her to try it nonetheless. Birthday naman nya eh. Hehe!
a
aMommy and my favorite tita Papot.
a
aAngel and Nikki.
a
aAly. She loved the sinigang na salmon, by the way. It was the only thing that she ate!
a
aThe kulits.
a
aWe surprised Angel with a birthday cake -- I mean, cakes pala. Jof and I bought it from Poquito Mas. After Kanin Club, you should go to Poquito Mas for dessert and try their chocolate cheesecake. Soo heavenly!
a

aAngel, Gabbi, Aly, Erika and Nica.
a
a
Richard, dad, my brothers and my cousins.
a
aJeric.
a
aErika and Kuys.
a
a

Whooo!!! That was some lunch! We all probably gained at least five pounds from all that food that mommy ordered. I love Kanin Club! The food is great and it's not that expensive too!