Fifteen First

This year, Javier celebrates his fifteenth birthday and his first birthday in TX!

Happy Birthday Javi Boy! We look forward to visiting you in Houston soon!

Why so serious?

Looks like my nephew and grand nephew are busy and seriously watching something on the small screen. Their intensity makes me wonder what is it their watching.

Wish I could be there with them in Utah. Hunched down and seriously watching with them, too.

Our Teen Titan!

And just like that, our little Javi boy is now 14 years old!

The bigger he grows, the more he's starting to look like Dad and me. Harhar.

Happy, Javi Birthday, Javier!

Javi-Davi-Do-n't grow up too fast!

Javier has always been the baby of the family. I've called him Javi-Davi-Doo since he was a toddler, and I still do so until now.

It's been a year since I last saw him, and I'm surprised to see how much he's grown within a year!

Don't grow up too fast, Javi-Davi-Doo!

Boys of summer

This is such an adorable summer photo of my 2 favorite boys, my nephew Javi and grandnephew Noah.

Can't wait to see you again, kids!

The teen scene

And just like a blink of an eye, our Baby Javi is now a teener!

I know this line is often said, but I'll say it again:

"Don't grow up too fast, Javi!"

Hello-ween!

Yes, Halloween was a few days ago, but I can't help but talk about this tres adorbz photo of three adorable kids.

What makes this photo special is that it's the first Halloween of Javi in the U.S., and it's also the first Halloween of Baby Noah in a costume. (And trick or treating, too.)

I don't know about tricks, but this photo is a pure treat for me.

Two adorable

This photo is one of those that paints a thousand words. Heck, I'd like to "caption this" photo over and over again.

BABY NOAH: Uncle, uncle, I think these beads are the key to another intergalactic dimension.

JAVIER: Uhm... no...

And that's just the beginning.

Baby... Baby... Ohhhh...

Here are my 2 babies in one photo.

(Check out those faces! Cuteness overload!)

Javier is my youngest nephew and he will always be my baby no matter how grown up he gets. And Noah is the family's youngest member and the first grandson.

Too much adorbzness in one photo!

Javier is not impressed. Or is he?

Last Saturday, we ate at 8 Cuts as part of our send-off to Biboy and family. Javier was with us, and we ordered his favorite restaurant combination - fries and coke.

When it arrived, he looked not at all impressed.

But surprisingly, he loved it! He finished the skinny fries on his own. (And kept us from getting from his plate in the process.)

Never judge a book by Javier's first reaction.

The Sweetest kid

There were packs of pastillas de leche on our dinner table when I came home. These pastillas turned out to be not any ordinary pastillas. They were the handiwork of my adorable nephew, Javier!

They handmade these candies as part of their schoolwork, and they were supposed to sell it. The proceeds will go to their piggy bank, which will be their savings for the school year.

One pack of pastillas - P15.00
Knowing that this is the product of Javier's hard work - Priceless.

(Thank you, Mastercard. Just for the tagline. I bought this using cash.)

Mine, o Minecraft

Found these two Minecraft stuffed toys - pig and bison - and immediately bought them as a surprise for Javier.

Needless to say, he was thrilled to get these two toys. In fact, he excitedly said "I love you," after I gave him the toys.

Yup, it was a good decision to buy them.

Color me interested

The first time I saw these crayon-looking bottles from afar, my first question was: "What the heck are those?"

Upon closer inspection, I found out that they're colored catsup!

Ate Bullet got them from her friend, and she gave them to Javier.

I haven't tried it yet, but if it tastes like the usual UFC banana catsup, then I know it's good.

Now this is sure to make meals a bit more colorful.

Bro-dorable!

This photo of Miguel and Javier is just so adorable. I'm especially digging Javier's smile. It's very mischievous. Harhar.

And still more little style...

Javier likes to wear shorts. In fact, he prefers to wear shorts over long pants. I think the only time he wears pants is in school. But apart from that, it's shorts all the way. (I don't blame him, if not for the office dress code, I'd wear shorts everyday.)

That's why whenever I see stylish shorts for kids, I automatically buy them for him. Just like this pair of shorts from a mall run a few weeks ago.

First is this cobalt blue pair of cuffed shorts. It had a free belt, and that's always cool.

Since they're in a dark color, I decided to buy a light colored polo at H&M. This is a nubby, linen type of material that has an interesting texture.

The light and dark combination is very preppy chic!

Being a person who's a big khaki fan, I also had to buy this pair of shorts.

This time, it was paired with a light blue shirt with a bow tie! Also from H&M.

With these ensembles, Javier will never be short on style.

Starting them young

One of the most important lessons that our parents taught - and continue to teach - us is being charitable. My parents are two of the most generous and giving people ever!

And it's something my siblings are inculcating in our nephews and nieces at an early age. Just like how Ate Lissa donated to the TV5 foundation's Mamasapano project through Javier.

Keep up the good work, Javi!

Mini (It really wasn't) Me

When I showed Mother Lyli this photo of Javier, she exclaimed: "Clest, alam ko na ang hitsura mo nung bata ka!"

Well, we didn't have jogger pants or Crocs when we were kids, neither did we have really cool statement tees from H&M. But judging by his features, I must say Mother is right.

Javier and I are look-alikes!

Here Kitty Kitty

Ate Lissa is a Sanrio fan. Since we were kids, she already loved buying Sanrio goodies from Gift Gate in Quezon Avenue. There were times when she'd get them straight from Japan, courtesy of Mom's Japanese friend and pen pal, Sachiko. 

Whenever I'm in Japan, I try to scope Sanrio goodies to bring home to Ate. During my last trip to Tokyo, I found out that the Happy Meal toy was Hello Kitty, so I dragged Mark to the nearest McDonald's so I could get a few.

It's very apt that the tumbler had this line that said: "Making Families Happy."

Ate Lissa was happy when I gave her the toys last week. So was Javier, as he asked Ate to open them all and wear the trinkets inside the toy.

Javi Loves... part deux

Stevie!!!

That's his favorite Minecraft character, and I was able to find 3 different types of Stevie toys on different occasions.

And Javier loves each one equally.

Javi Loves... part un

Today is Javier's birthday. My smart, adorable and extraordinary nephew is turning 9 today!

One endearing trait of Javi Davi Doo (that's what I call him until now) is that when he loves something, he really, really, really, really, really loves it. There are certain things that he loves with so much passion that he gets super excited whenever he sees it.

Among his loves is the "Dumb ways to die" series. From the TV commercial to the on-line game, he's super duper into it. That's why when Ate Bullet made him a "Dumb ways to die" inspired cake, his eyes lit up and he couldn't stop admiring it.

Javier loved the cake so much, he couldn't help giving Numpty and Ninny a kiss. (Yes, they have names apparently. Good thing Ate Lissa knows.)

This cake is one reason why he had a lovely birthday today.