If you take a dog to school...

Holden's class is studying pets this term and dogs in particular. Today was Holden's day to bring his pet to school and for 2 weeks...every day...two or three times a day...he has been asking if it is pet day. You can imagine the wait has been exhausting for he and I both!

He was so very excited when we showed up today Percy on hand for the BIG DAY. He kept saying things like; "Mom, isn't this just the perfect day." and "Dad don't you think today is just such a great day?" He was thrilled to introduce his classmates to Percy and explain everything about him. "Percy barks and runs all around when the doorbell rings." and "Percy and I have the same hair color."

Percy was a trooper and was even patient enough to stamp all the kids papers with his paw dipped in ink.




the class

Pink!

One of the lovely ladies in our playgroup (Bernie) is pregnant with a little girl and so last night we CELEBRATED, it really is what we do best here! It was unlike any baby shower I have ever thrown OR attended and by far the most fun! Here are some photos from the Pink Party.

The girls on diaper duty: Teresa, Amy, Bernie, Michiko, Joanna, Renu and Sabine

Table of a pink persuasion

Michiko, Yours truly, Bernie and Hels

Teresa, Susanna and Michiko

Bernie in all her pregnant glory and pink tiara!

Helen, Renu, Joanna, Anna

Michiko, Mei, Vandana

How did we get ourselves into this?

Holden was "found" if you will by a local talent agency. Like every mother, I think my child is the most beautiful, talented, smart, athletic, etc child that there is, so naturally, like any mother (I hope) I thought of course he is cute enough to be a child model! Turns out, not only did the talent agency want Holden, they wanted Nate and I too. "You have GOT to be kidding me," was my first thought, but they insisted so we went on to do a video tape recording. Within a week we were all heading to various casting calls around the city and much to our dismay, or disdain, depending on how you look at it, we were all cast in various things from commercials to catalogs to billboards. Serious, I know that you dear reader are as shocked as we are.

Here are some photos from the commercial Nate and I are both in for Sanyo 42" LCD televisions and of Holden at a photo shoot for a catalog. But the excitement certainly doesn't end here, upcoming are restaurant commercials and billboards. I will keep you posted as the May clan takes on the Filipino advertising world. Still not sure how I feel about this, but I have to admit, it's kind of fun and the pay isn't too bad!

Yeah, the clothes are cute aren't they? haha

The girls with with the make-up artist

The Director

The costume designer

Nate's "crew"

The lead Brazillian actor...yeah, he's hot!

We're still here

Something is wrong with blogger and I can't post pictures, anyone else having this problem? Ah well, when I finally can get everything loaded you will all be in for plenty of laughs from our crazy life! Until then celebrate our 5 year anniversary for us would you? We don't have time to do it ourselves right now so it would be great if you could!

I have a few funny stories just waiting to be published including

• Funny staff stories, because you can never go wrong with these!
• Nate and Holden: soon to be local celebrities (I know you are holding your breath for this one-Nate has an acting gig now to supplement the family income!!!)
• A day in the life of: (insert one of our names here)

Check back regularly to find out about these latest adventures. In the meantime, feel free to enjoy the latest client pictures from some of my photo shoots here at: http://www.simpsonmayphotography.blogspot.com/

There's no place like home: UTAH

Back in Utah found us busy with more family and some beloved friends! Holden spent time with his "best buddy" cousin Jaxson and little friends he grew-up with. He played with the favorite member of the May clan: Uncle TYLER, made a snowman, played in the snow fort and "helped" nama Connie push snow with the four wheeler. Nate and I had a great time catching up with family and friends while enjoying the fresh-mex food we miss the most. I spent a lot of time in both states shopping and collecting more shoes...oops.

We went to Snowbasin and Holden thoroughly enjoyed his first time on the slopes and impressed Nate and I both (another post of this later).

outside the lodge after his first time skiing

sword fights and pretend pirates were a popular activity in Utah

Spending time with Grandma Grandma

Making sugar cookies

Ready to go

plowing snow

3 generation trying to figure out how to build a snowman

ALWAYS throwing snow at mommy

The finished product

Holden, Jaxson and Oakley after the UnBirthday party Nama had for them

There's no place like home: IDAHO

Our trip back the States was very much needed as our frustration level in Manila has reached an all-time peak. We wanted snow and cold and boy did we ever get it! One day in Idaho, we woke up to -18 degrees farenheit (that is -27.777 celsius) THAT IS COLD and even more cold to us coming from the muggy humidity and heat of the tropics. Holden was so thrilled to play outside in the snow he barely noticed the temperature and there were days we struggled to even get him back in the house to warm up.

While we were in Idaho we recovered from some serious jetlag and spent some much-needed time with the folks that matter the most to us and Holden was adored and spoiled to pieces my his grandmommies. He was tolerated quite well by his 11 year old Uncle Caleb, who was great to mimick and play with. We spent a few days in Sun Valley where we really enjoyed the snowy blizzard and went ice skating and sledding!

A few Holdenisms from our trip:

"Holden pick that up please."

"I don't want to pick it up, I'm not a yaya!"
(Oh please, this sounds like trouble!!!)

"Grandma, can I have a drink of water?"

As she turns on the sink faucet and fills him up a glass, "I didn't know that is where water comes from!" (Obviously we don't drink tap water here and unbeknownst to him, other people do)

enjoying the warmth of the fire place

ice skating in Sun Valley

the mountains....ah...

There was a lot of snow eaten

family picture

Holden and Uncle Caleb

The boys

Ice sculpture in Sun Valley

A lot of following of Caleb

just snoozing with great grandma Shirley and the cat

A lot of PSP and Wii playing

More attention for Uncle Caleb

A lot of throwing mom (grandma Susan) in the snow

A few family photos

Go west young man

or east depending on how you look at it. Either way, we are headed to Utah and Idaho this next week for a little holiday. Oh to wear boots and pants and layers upon layers of clothes and coats and scarves and hats, I can hardly contain the giddy built up inside!

BUT WHY am I sick? Why before I head to the frozen tundra that is Utah do I have to get sick? Why before a 16 hour plane ride do I have to get sick? Why why why? I have 4 days to recover...wish me luck, because there is nothing worse than being sick AND cold!

Overheard tonight

While playing a Monopoly Jr.

"You owe me 3 dollars, you landed on my ticket booth."

"How about I give you 1 dollar instead."

This little 4 year-old is as ingrained in the Filipino method of bargaining as you can get.

Did you know there is such a thing as WEDDING ELVES?

Wedding elves are these little known creatures that pop into your head while Christmas is fresh on your mind. They are around to make sure that little boys (Holden) are on their best behavior for wedding events, including but not limited to, pre-wedding dinners, preforming duties as ring bearer, etc. If you are REALLY really good, they deliver small tokens and gifts as rewards! Yeah, what ever happened to just expecting good behavior? I don't know but it worked like a charm.

Our good friends Keith and Shirley tied the knot last night at a BEAUTIFUL wedding. Holden was a perfect little ring bearer and even Nate behaved.

A few "Holdenisms" from the night:
During the ceremony: "She looks like a real-life princess"
During the ceremony: "Keith! When are you going to kiss her!?!"
During the ceremony: "Mom, the day after tomorrow I am going to marry you!"
During the ceremony: "Mom, I changed my mind, tomorrow I am going to marry Sophia!"


The boys in their traditional barong tagalogs


Just being perfect


Holden and his first love.


The happy couple!

Happy New Year

Mele Kalikimaka...again

We spent our second Christmas in the Philippines this year the easy way, at the beach. While it sometimes is hard to be away from the things we are used to for Christmas it seems to make it easier to be at the beach. Everything is easier at the beach!

This year we went to Puerta Gallera; but it wasn't easy getting there or back! With a 2 1/2 hour car ride, a 1 1/2 hour boat ride and a 15 minute tricycle ride all in the RAIN it was a little rough.

The view from our resort made it all worth it though. We were very secluded, I think we saw a total of 10 people the entire time we were there.

Santa miraculously found Holden both on vacation and again when we returned to Manila.