A very busy October

When I talked to my Grandma last week she said, "It seems like all you ever do it go to parties." Well, sometimes that is what it feels like and a life full of parties can get exhausting! Believe it or not, Manila is actually a very busy place. There is always something going on and there are many weeks you just can't fit everything in.

Halloween has been dragging on for weeks now. Holden has been to at least 3 different parties and none of them are even ON halloween. So many in fact that his costume has worn out. What a difference though. Here we choose a costume based on whether or not it will be cool and lightweight enough whereas back in Utah we were lucky to go out in a costume without a winter parka and boots on top! I stopped taking a camera to the halloween parties because there were so many but here is one of him at the American Women's club Halloween party.

School has been out all week for fall break and it has been nice to have Holden at home in the mornings enjoying our last little time as parents of one child. I don't think it has hit any of us the changes that we will be making soon.

Apparantly October is also fashion month here because 2 fashion shows in as many weeks is where we have been headed. The first was The Cool Britannia show and it was pretty boring but at least the company was good.

The 2nd was Philippine Fashion Week which was actually quite amazing. They have a version of Project Runway on TV here. It would be great to watch if it was all in English but no that would be too easy. Half in English and half in Tagalog makes it pretty frustrating because you only understand HALF of what is going on. It's the same with the magazines and newspapers here so I have just given up on reading them. But back to my main point, the fashion show. We didn't see the finalists show, but we did see some amazing couture gowns and dresses.

Last night we were at US Ambassador Kristie Kenney's home for the American Women's cocktail party. It was fun even without the Ambassador in attendance!

Here's to hoping November is a slower more relaxing month but I'm not holding my breath! The calendar is already full of events, I am turning 30, Deuce is arriving and the Christmas tree is going up on the 1st. Welcome to my world.

First pictures of the new baby

Courtesy of Holden and a sharpie! Ignore the stretch marks, they came directly from Holden.

More than one of us has big news

Holden's nanny had her baby and brought him by last week 12 days after the little guy was born: at home(hers, not ours), after 3 hours of labor, without a midwife. Yeah, and she is the size of a 10 year old. How can some people be so lucky? All little 5 lbs of him was adorable and happy as a clam. Holden was really excited to see both Bic and her baby. Not more than 2 hours before she came by we got the news that our other yaya is pregnant. Oh, just call us babies r us here at the May household. It must be in the water.

Remember when...they sold candy cigarettes?

I do. Most vividly I remember not being allowed to have them because my mom thought they encouraged smoking. And yeah, they did right down to the red tip and the smoke that blew out of them.

Well, now you can get miller lite and lucky strike T-shirts for your kid right here in Manila. Check out the t's sold right along side batman and minnie mouse. Yeah, because THIS is what I want to encourage my 5 year old to do? Jeesh, I won't even let my kid wear cartoon character clothes!

Both of these were Holden's size 5, can you EVEN IMAGINE the looks people would give you in America if your kid was walking around in one of these?

My child hates team sports

He is an "only" and he prefers "only" sports: swimming, golf, etc but he is playing t-ball come hell or high water. We have shelled out of the mitt, the ball, the fees and some killer new kicks. We committed our over-worked(Nate) pregnant(Melissa) and tired(both) selves to show up every Monday for practice and every Saturday for games. We are there in the heat, the rain, the humidity, the sun, the mud; oh the mud, the sloppy yucky all-over-me mud. Come to think of it, it's pretty darn miserable no wonder he hates it but HE WILL PLAY because we are committed to it and he has to learn to play on a "team" because he won't be an "only" for too much longer.

It's been 3 weeks and 2 games and he is actually pretty good. He can hit, he can throw and he can catch and he does all of those things in the first inning without a complaint...it's the 2nd and 3rd that we struggle with. I'll let you know if we survive.

Larger than life

The other day we were strolling through the mall and ran into a poster of Holden that we thought was quite big so we took a picture.





We thought it was big until we ran into this mammoth sized one on EDSA. It has to be at least 35 feet long. Now we are on the look-out for Holden all over the city!

The great American Hoedown

What a better way to bring a little American spice to the Philippines than a Hoedown! Each year the American Women's Club of the Philippines (a group I happen to frequent, haha) throws their annual Hoedown. All of the profits go to charity and it is always a good time! Here are some photos from Saturday night.


Hamilton and I...we have something in common, what is it?

I am afraid this looks like Nate line dancing. I can assure you it wasn't!

a photo of a photo...you know those never turn out quite right!

Marisa, Camilla and myself...always a good time

ISM birthday celebration

The birthday celebration continues with cupcakes with classmates at International School Manila. Holden was beaming to share his birthday with his friends. As you can see we could barely fit all of the candles on the little cupcake.

Getting birthday "bumps" from Teacher Catherine and Teacher Anissa.

So many Grandmas so little time

Is there really anything better than a Grandma? I don't think so, and Holden is lucky enough to have 5 of them in his life. So many in fact, that we don't have enough names for them and he has resorted to dropping the Grandma in front of their names and just going with the first name. There is nothing funnier than hearing your child call your mom from across the room; "Susan! Susan, where are you?" We both thoroughly enjoyed our time with all of the Grandmas while we were in the States.


My Mom, Grandma Susan, but now known as "SUSAN!"

Nate's Mom, known as "Nama."

My Grandma Shirley, known now as "Shirley."

Nate's Grandma Lois, known as "Gramma Gramma."

Time for catch up!

September was a busy month for us. Holden and I traveled back to the good old US of A for serious R&R. Poor Nate, was left behind in Manila, but he managed on his own just fine...with a maid and a nanny and a driver all devoted to picking up after him. Oh, and he had a beard to shampoo and condition! Even through the major sciatic nerve pain and one parent down, we managed to have a great time.

Holden and Uncle Caleb after picking onions from the neighbors garden

Anna me and Danielle. The two people I always see when we come to town. We all have one child the same age and have been close for years!

Holden ate his weight in raspberries and chocolate milk (I am not kidding) at Nate's parents and and equal amount of peaches back in Idaho. He was lucky enough to have a birthday celebration in each state. The one in Utah included a small group of friends he spent the first 3 years of his life growing up with and horseback riding and four wheeler rides courtesy of Uncle Tyler. They all had a really good time and it was a great excuse for me to see all of the moms!

Giddy-up on Lucky. At the birthday party.

Holden and Papa, climbing hay bales in the barn.

Transformer birthday cake and pace bars, what more does a 5 year old need?

Celebrating in Idaho. My first and last homemade cake!

The best part of any party! The presents!

A sure sign of a successful birthday...surrounded by toys and asleep my 6:15pm!

The weather was perfect and I even managed to work through the pain and get a fair amount of shopping done (ok, 4 large boxes and 2 big bags worth!) but a lot of that came from the FABULOUS baby shower thrown by Brooke! Not only were the invitations and decor adorable but it was the icing on the cake to see old friends and extended family. Since we never make it home for any of the holidays or get-togethers it was such a treat to see everyone again. So, for those of you reading this...a million thanks for coming and making my trip all the better!

Family and friends at the baby shower.

The three "Simpson Girls" these two are the best!

Sherri, my maid of honor at our wedding and former roommate in Boise!

Alysia, me and Julie. My two best friends from way back in high school and before! I am behind the ball as they both have 4 kids now but we have all managed to have baby boys this year. Oooh, and their babies are both yummy!

The cake, it was the cutest thing ever and tasted even better. One layer of vanilla lemon and the other chocolate raspberry. Mmmmm.

More family enjoying cousin Katie's baby Amanda, the star of the show!