We celebrated the New Year's Eve at my MIL's house. Every year, we have to choose whether to spend the Christmas eve or the New Year's eve with my in-laws. For years, I have hated the idea. Don't get me wrong, I get along so well with my in-laws (more than you can imagine), but I believe, the eve should always be celebrated at home—where we live. Anyway, we could always spend the actual day with them. My husband always tells me that it's alright if I want to spend it at home. But of course, deep inside him, he wants to be with us, at the same time, be with his mother, brother, sister, nephews, and nieces. So to make things easier for him, we always spend either one of the two important evenings at his mom's house. Plus I love my mother-in-law, that's why. - Enough said.
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| Pristine and Julianna |
Just in case you're wondering why there were gifts on New Year's Eve. My sister-in-law and her husband are from a different religion (not really an issue) where they don't celebrate Christmas, so they give away presents during New Year's Eve.
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| My daughters with their cousins from father's side |
I didn't have the chance to take photos of our feast since almost everyone ate earlier—fact I was not so happy about. Salo-salo (eating together), more so Media Noche lost their meanings. No way can be done at home. Anyone could take snack prior to Media Noche, but at least save some tummy space for full meals during the salo-salo dinner. Well, it didn't happen at our home, so it almost became an ordinary dinner just with extra-ordinary amount of food.
Anyway, I baked Braso de Mercedes the day before. We had Palabok, Kare-Kare, Rellenong Bangus, Biko, and the good old bacon and ham. The table wasn't anymore pleasing to photograph even before 11 p.m. hehe
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| Lighting up their sparklers |
I used to buy trumpets for kids during New Year's Eve, just so they could have their own way of contributing to noise. LOL But my oh my, after seeing vendors trying on every trumpets they were selling just to be able to convince buyers how powerful the trumpets are, I have changed my mind. hehe I was supposed to pick plastic ones, thinking I could disinfect them anyway, but we all know most of the toys are from China. And we were already informed about the amount of lead that most of made in China toys have. Why put lead into kids' mouths? Never mind.
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| Picking up their presents |
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| Roca |
The above picture was Roca earlier before the New Year's Eve, looking cute and active as ever. Picture below was during the time fire crackers are on everywhere. It broke my heart that I had to feed her under a short table because she was so scared hearing all the fire crackers.
And because someone didn't cook that night, she got the chance to iron curled her hair. haha
My sister gave me prosperity candles to light before 12 midnight.
I had to queued them up starting from the shortest to tallest. Lighted them from the tallest to shortest at exactly 11:30 p.m.
Color represents:
Orange - long life
Green - money
Pink - health
Violet - material wealth
Blue - peace
Red- love
Yellow - harmony
I had to put their lights out at exactly 12 midnight. It says: "The candle that melts the quickest will signify the most bountiful blessing you will have."
While I carry a Chinese birth name, I'm not a big believer of *lucky stuff or rituals*, but hey I had so much fun waiting for the candles to melt! And almost a fool for anxiously waiting which candle would melt the quickest. Now, I'm giving you the right to call me foolish for being somehow disappointed as obviously, the green candle was still standing proud by 12 midnight. hahaha
Entertaining good vibes and thoughts are always the best way to start off a year. It was a tough 2011 for our family—financially. The toughest year by far. But still grateful to God that everyone in the family was in good condition—health wise, and the fact that we survived is enough to be thankful for.
I thank God for the year that was. Just hoping for a better 2012! I hope we will all have a better one.