The Christmas Season is also the season for family reunions.
But since we were busy on Christmas day, our family (Father's side) decided to have a mini-reunion at my Grandmother's house last January 1, 2024. It was a few days before Christmas when my Aunt who lives in Singapore messaged me through messenger telling me to come over to my grandmother's on January 1, 2024. She prepared some food for us.
By the way, my father is the eldest among the 7 siblings. I have four aunts and two uncles. My aunt Virgie lives in Singapore and my Mommy(Aunt) Tata lives in Cebu City with her family. The rest of my aunts and uncles live here in Bohol. Only two of my siblings of my father still didn't have grandchildren.
For now, I am not sure of the total count of our family members I guess we are more than 60 pax in all. Including the husbands and wives of the grandchildren of my grandmother.
In our GC my Aunt Virgie said the call time would be around lunchtime or noon.
I woke up early even if I didn't have work but since my body clock is already used to waking up early so I don't have any choice but to get up and prepare some breakfast for my family.
When I tried to wake up my husband he told me that he would be working in his uncle's house that day. I told him we had to be at my grandmother's house around noon time then he said he couldn't accompany us since he had to work.
After we had our breakfast we headed to my parents' place first using my motorcycle. It's been a long time since the last time I visited them. We arrived there around 10 am. Only my dad and my two brothers were there and the girlfriend of my eldest brother. Dad said that Mom goes to church and she will directly go to my grandmother's house after attending the mass. We stayed there for a couple of hours just to relax for a while.
I wasn't feeling well at that time as I had acid reflux. My stomach was bloated and I didn't have the appetite to eat.
We had the chance to rest there for a while. My son was busy watching cartoons on the Television while my daughter was sleeping. After resting for a couple of hours we headed to my grandmother's house.
Perfect timing when we arrived since they already started giving some Ampao or money gifts to all the kids in the family. Lola(Grandma) is the one who distributed the money gift from my Tiya Chona(Aunt) and the money gift from my twin cousins Mary Lou and Mary Lee. Then my niece Yoona was the one who distributed the money gift from her parents Jen and Aldin. Jen is my boss and the daughter of my Aunt Virgie.
After giving all the Ampao, my Tita (Aunt) blessed our food and then they started eating.
Lots of food choices. Aunt Virgie ordered some Chopsuey, Spaghetti, Sweet, and Sour Chicken, Pork menudo, chicken Cordon, Lumpia, and Buttered Shrimp in Bilao.
Lola also cooks her favorite recipe which is Pork Humba(Adobo). We also had Lechon Manok and I don't know who brought it since when we arrived everything was already prepared on the table.
Desserts and sweets are also available from the cake, Suman, Puto cheese,maja blanca, cassava cake bites, sweet potatoes, macaroons,biko,bukhayo, different flavor cake bites, and some fruits.
We also had a Ube ice cream but I forgot to take a picture of it.
Everyone was eating and enjoying while I was suffering from a gas pain. They have been telling me to eat but I refuse to since I am not yet in the mood to eat.
After an hour I decided to eat some shrimp, pork humba, and sweet and sour chicken with a little rice then I had a small bite of the cake.
After eating everyone is relaxing and chatting. The boys started drinking hard liquors. It was around 2 pm when I had to find a space where to sleep since my son is already sleepy and he has a fever too so he is not in the mood to play with other kids.
It was too hot wherever you stayed inside the house. We stayed in the underground room and I had to use a manual fan so my son would not feel hot while sleeping. He slept for almost an hour. When he wakes up he keeps on telling me he wants to go home. He was so fussy and clingy so I told my grandma that we would go home early.
We got some bring house from all the food that we had and also the dessert.
Ending thoughts
I am always been thankful to my aunt Virgie who lives in Singapore and always tried her best for us to unite now and then. And to all the members of the family who share their blessings with all the kids.
I know I was supposed to just stay at home since my son had an off fever and I wasn't feeling well but I had to attend that once-in-a-year celebration with the family and for my kids to have their late Christmas gifts from the Santa's of the family.
How about you HIVERS how did you celebrate your New Year?
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Published: 1/03/2024 04:41 pm (GMT)