Laugh at the Days to Come: 2013 Begins..

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

2013 Begins..

2013

This is the picture we took of our family during the first two minutes of 2013. At midnight on New Year's Eve, we start the year with a cheerful a toast (sparkling apple cider) and then we clump together for the picture. The problem this year is that the couch was too small for the five of us. The bench at the breakfast table is usually the place where we'd pose for the picture but this time we were watching "Pride and Prejudice" prior to midnight and were so lazy to move.

Among the many Filipino traditions that we have adopted as a family is to have the following in place when the New Year comes in: a bountiful table; well-stocked pantry and refrigerator; all bills paid; clean house; and good mood for everyone. Cleaning the house is always the most challenging part of this. For one thing, it is impossible to clean the yard, which is a part of the house, in the cold wet winter days. The garage, which always needs organizing, is also cold. Oh well... I'll just have to suffer with a desire to have a perfectly clean something throughout the year.

Tim brought us to Seafood City in Sacramento and had lunch at Chowking. We don't live anywhere near an Asian community - so this was a treat for me and my kids. It reminds us of the Philippines. It is also a treat for Tim because he gets to use his Tagalog skills and surprise all the unsuspecting Filipinos. Our evening munchies this year included the following: Fruited Chicken/Macaroni Salad; Shrimp Cocktail; Chocolate Fondue; Pumpkin Pie; Apple Pie; Herbed Sausage Croissant; Lewis-style Lumpia; and more.

Shannon and Brahms played LOL (League of Legends) while Miriam played Mine Craft since she's not thirteen yet to be able to play LOL. The three of them played Portal 2 and Lego Lord of the Rings.

The following morning we all watched the Rose Parade and then the HGTV Dream Home. It was generally a lazy day because everything should have been done the day before. :) The only thing I had to do was to go shopping (yes, shopping New Year's day!) for things we needed for the next day to host the Actis family. We also put away all the Christmas ornaments including the gingerbread houses that the kids made.