Saturday Brunch

Our Saturday kicked off with a meal at Easy Restaurant in Parkdale. Rama had the Toast Soldiers. She polished off both eggs - she had so much fun dunking the pieces of toast ("Stripes," she calls them) into the soft-boiled-egg-in-shell.

Toast Soldiers, I think, were supposed to be either the strips of bread, or the eggs standing at attention. (That would make them stout soldiers, no?)

But the way Rama explained it to another adult later in the day was a bit different:

"It's called Toast Soldiers because the bread flies and then crashes into the egg."

She also noticed the soldiers in the movie poster over our table: The Bridge Over River Kwai. "More soldiers!"

Oink!

I was reading one of Rama's bedtime stories - this one has lately been on heavy rotation: Ang Pinakasakim na Raha at ang Pinakamaputing Ulap. It starts out like this:
Noong unang panahon, mayroong isang napakasakim na raha. Gusto niya ang pinakamalulusog na baka, ang pinakamatatabang baboy...

She interrupts. Ewww. I don't like baboy.
Me: Uhm, actually, you do.
Rama: No!
Me: Don't you like chicharon? That's baboy.
Rama: Oh. I like baboy

OC

Saturday night, 1030 pm. All she wants to do is scrub away. It all started with a smudge of cherry juice on the back of one of the chairs. I asked if she could wipe it off. She obliged. And then some. She goes manic and proceeds to wipe down practically every wall. We ended up deep-cleaning the tub and bathroom walls. 

Saturday Round-up

It was a wonderful day. For the most part, we were at the Brickworks, formerly a quarry and industrial site on the fringe of the downtown core, now a wonderful urban park.

Rama witnessed a thanksgiving ceremony by a Sioux. It involved chanting, calling the 4 directions, stories of nature spirits. I don't think we got everything - to her, I assume, it was part of "the show."

We ran around, checked out the ponds, climbed hills and saw turtles.

On our commute, as usual, we encountered interesting characters. One such character today was a man who seemed mentally ill. He had a pained expression on his face as he made intense gestures - fists in the air, posing like the thinker, moving back to standing position with arms overhead, shaking his head, etcetera.

Rama and I noticed, of course. We looked at each other. Rama, unfazed: He's just pretending he's a rock star.

Just Sayin'

Rama: Were you so happy when you had me?
Me: Super! Baby ka pa lang, alam ko na special ka. Wala kang katulad.
Rama: Except for you. Magkamukha tayo.

Windows

Rama and I were window-cleaning this morning. Just getting a few chores done before breakfast. She does the bottom part. She wanted to spray-and-wipe a section that I didn't think needed any cleaning.

Me: Rama, 'wag na yan. Hindi naman kita from inside.
Rama, after some pause: Ya, pero kita naman from outside. People will see that it's dirty and might think that we're not taking care of our house.

Spring Has Sprung

Friday today. Both Rama and I played hooky and took on a spring project.

Quite the little helper.


Voila!

Ka Diyan-Ka Diyan

Just when I thought Rama was losing her Tagalog, she pulls this on me.

Me: Rama, when we're eating, let's not go away from the table to play. Let's just eat.

In a sing-song, I kept reminding her: Keep going, keep going...

Rama: Keep going-keep going ka diyan.

Bruschetta!

Rama: What are you cooking?
Me: Bruschetta.
Rama: What's that?
Me: Remember, kumain tayo sa restaurant, nagustuhan mo yung bread tapos meron sa ibabaw na tomatoes and herbs and stuff?
Rama: Sounds like a bad word. Like something you say when mad. Brrruschettaaaaa!

Makes an angry face, scowls, and says again, Bruschetttaaa!!!

Pink Kung Pink

Normal school day. No, her other classmates don't quite get so dolled up during a regular day. This ensemble got oohs and aahs on our way home on the subway.

Strings

I caught Rama doing this with the pink guitar that I gave her for her birthday. Maybe she really would've preferred a violin.

For My Mommy

Rama had an early Mother's day gift for me.

Rama: I can't wait for Mother's Day, Mommy. I made something for you. It's a handprint. Color purple, 'cause that's your favorite color. And I learned a poem for you.

For My Mommy

Sometimes you get so discouraged
Because I am so small
And I always get my fingerprints
On the furniture and the wall

But everyday, I'm growing up
And soon I'll be so tall
That all those little fingerprints
Will be gone beyond recall

So here's a little handprint
That you can put away
And remember how my fingers
Looked in kindergarten in May

This she recited perfectly. (Props to her teacher, Mrs. Shearham, for teaching this heartwarming poem to the kids). The handprint, though, will come on Sunday. This was just a sneak preview.

Me: I love it, Rama! But you know what, the first part of the poem, not so true. I'm never discouraged!
Rama: I know. You don't really get upset. But just in case.

Teaching Adults

Rama's Mamu (grandmother, her Papi's side) is in town from the US. Because they see each other so rarely, Mamu wants to cram as much quality time with her as possible. So I thought I would let them have time on their own. That means being away from Rama for the next few days.

Me: Rama, I won't be seeing you for a while, OK? So Mamu can take care of you and you can play together.
Rama: Until when?
Me: Tuesday. Is that ok?
Rama: (recites the days of the week to herself) That's a lot of days.... Ok. You have fun, Ok? Have coffee, because you love it. And go to the jacuzzi. And have fun. Don't be sad. Have fun.

Calling Carlo Vergara

Rama: Why is Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah nakalabas ang puwet?

Check out Rama's Slide Show!

6th Birthday

The highlight of Rama's birthday party was a special guest, Princess Jasmine. The girls were simply in awe.
Jasmine had games and gifts for all the little princesses. They played Hot Potato and Jasmine Says. She also put magic make-up and nail polish on everyone. But Rama, of course, as the birthday girl, got ultra-special treatment. Which made Rama just melt, I imagine.
We invited 6 friends - I like the rule-of-thumb that whatever the child's age, that's just how many kids she gets to have over.
Her lola from Manila texted, asking about the party. I said that Jasmine was a hit. She texted back, buti naman, coz Rama might be missing her Jasmine doll which we left in Manila. I had to text back, Totoong Jasmine. So here's the proof.

Stumped. Again.

Rama: Why do they call it ball instead of just party?