CHRISTMAS is for CHILDREN

HOTWHEELS REPAINTED

Nicolas repainted a Hotwheels car as a gift for his cousin.

LETTERS TO SANTA

SHIELD

"SHIELD" - by Nicolas

(Materials Used: Paper, Pencil and Crayons)

CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCES

"The Reason for the Season"

"Good King Wenceslas"

Photos courtesy of Oslec Lopez

"EL CLASICO"

FC Barcelona  3 - 1  Real Madrid CF

Savion and Nicolas woke up early 

to watch their first "El Clasico".

BEEF MISTAKE

After waiter brings wrong steak order,
Nicolas joked, "That was a big misteak."

TARGET SHOOTING

Nicolas used his toy blowgun for target shooting.

BECKHAM & PACQUIAO

As David Beckham handed his game jersey (LA Galaxy vs Philippine Azkals) to Manny Pacquiao, I remarked, "Pacquiao is bigger than Beckham."

Nicolas asked, "Really? How tall?"

HOW TO TAKE A PICTURE OF AN AIRPLANE

"Clap, Frame and Take A Photo of an Airplane"

(Students of Everest Academy took pictures of airplanes this way)

"WATER HEART'

Nicolas took photos of this 'Water Heart' 

on the walkway leading to the house.

STARTUP DESIGN: PENCIL CASE

Pencil Case 1-000 by Nicolas Garcia

KARTING

Savion's 1st Karting Session 

(City Kart Racing for Classmate Miguel's 12th Birthday)

Photo courtesy of Harold Tan

"NOOGIE"

Noogie - "Too big to be a nugget, too small to be a cookie."
- Nicolas' Dictionary -

BAMBOO BOW & ARROW

"Bamboo Bow & Arrow" created by Nicolas

(Materials Used: Bamboo and Rubber Bands)

REAL STEEL

"Are the toys available?" - Nicolas

VIRTUE AMBASSADOR

At morning school assembly...

Joaquin: "I really don't want to be 'Virtue Ambassador' because there are lots of meetings and you miss most of recess."

After a few minutes, an announcement was made... "And our new Grade 4B Virtue Ambassador... Joaquin Azanza!"

Joaquin: "Ahhhhhh!!!"

Santi, Nicolas and Joaquin guffawed with tear-streaked faces at the announcement. 

Photos courtesy of 4B teacher/adviser, Ms. Rinna Puno

LOOPHOLES

Nicolas asked, "Mom, I need the school's Student Handbook." 
He added, "I want to check if there is anything in there about 'crushes'." 
After being assured there is no mention of crushes in the handbook,

Nicolas happily remarked, "I love loopholes."

FIRST BLACKEYE

Nicolas injured by a playground trapeze metal bar.
(The Piazza Playground at Venice, McKinley Hill)

CHRISTMAS BOX ORDER

Every year I send a Christmas box to my family across the sea.

I asked my 9 year old nephew what he wants for Christmas to which he replied, "I just want candies, Transformers and jeans.  I really need jeans."  He's growing up so fast!

 Snippet from M.G. Brown, Aunt of Nicolas

"THEY ARE BIRDS IF THEY FLY"

Savion and Nicolas at their aunt, 

Pamela Yan-Santos' exhibit "They Are Birds If They Fly".

 

"Minuet 1" by Johann Sebastian Bach       Performed by Savion Garcia

STOP MOTION VIDEO

"You're Under Arrest"
Stop Motion Video by Nicolas Garcia

ORIGAMI SHOP

"Manolo and Nic's Origami Shop"
See link: http://ipisnippets.blogspot.com/2010/11/origami.html

THERAPY 101

"You know mom, your mood swings may be 
a sign of a deeper emotional imbalance." 

- M.S., 11 years old -

POTATO CHIP

"Biggest V-Cut ever!"

FOOTBALL: Earning A Spot

Nicolas' reaction after learning he made it to the varsity football team.

Photo courtesy of Nicolas' teacher/adviser, Ms. Rinna Puno 

CRUSH

"If you have a crush they can always crush you back." 
- Nicolas Garcia, 8 years old -

PANCAKES by BELLA

"Pancakes for Dad" by Bella (5 years old)
(Ingredients: Ready Made Pancake Mix and Ready To Help Mommy)

THE END OF CUTENESS REDUX

The first teeth are gone and perfect eyesight too.  

Nicolas wears his first set of eyeglasses today.

See link: http://ipisnippets.blogspot.com/2008/08/end-of-cuteness.html

WHEN A BABY ARRIVES

After learning his mother will be having a baby, Juno asked, "When the baby comes, what's going to happen to Juno?"

DEAR PHOTOGRAPH

Dear Photograph,

I wish my mother were here to take another photo of her grandchildren.

SG

Inspired by: http://dearphotograph.com

HAWAII FIVE-O

Nicolas hummed the theme song and declared,
"I love 70's classic chase music!"

SOLAR POWER

Dancing Solar Flowers
Paper flowers with light-powered mechanism
© Artist Alexandre Dang / www.dang.be

SAM Link: http://www.singart.com/exhibitions/details.php?id=71

NICOLAS & NICOLAS

Nicolas Cage & Nicolas Garcia

FLEA MARKET

Nicolas misheard the tour guide say Flea Market. He excitedly asked, "Everything free there?"

REAR VIEW

"Woo hoo!"

THE SUM OF HEALTH

"sick lolo + medicine = well lolo" 
- Nicolas Garcia -

(Materials Used: paper and colored pencils)

"TRACY"

Nicolas' Nike T90 football. He named it "Tracy".

JOAQUI 2004-2006

"Be grateful for the little things - the ability to chew, taste, swallow - the way your kids enjoy Jollibee chicken or McDonald's french fries.  Be aware of your child's deep breathing when they sleep, and the smell of their hair when they snuggle up to you.   When they ask you for a new Playstation - remember Joaqui, who could not even hold a spoon, let alone a video game controller."

Joaqui Imperial was born 1 year, 11 months ago with a congenital heart disease called Tetralogy of Fallot.  It was a stressful birth for him, and the doctors immediately informed us that he had to have a major heart operation to survive.   He was rushed to the Phil. Heart Center - in the ambulance, his oxygen saturation was hitting the mid-30s (normal is 99).   Aside from his heart defect, he had Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy or to put it simply, brain damage from lack of oxygen.   He underwent a stop-gap procedure that let him live in spite of his heart defects.

He was a fighter, and was eventually discharged from the hospital after more than 3 weeks.  During our stay, I witnessed 6 other children who did not make it - Joaqui was one of the lucky ones.

JUNO'S SHIRT DESIGNS

Juno's Street Light shirt designs for Collezione C2.

FOOTBALL: Silver for Nicolas

Futbol Fanatics   2nd Place   
May 29, 2011   Cuenca Field, Alabang   (Nicolas #10)

FOOTBALL: Silver for Savion

Everest Academy Pioneers   2nd Place
May 21, 2011   Nuvali, Sta. Rosa   (Savion #14)

(Photo courtesy of Rica at http://heart-2-heart-online.com)

NINONG NEWS #1

Nicolas received a monetary gift from his godfather (ninong) and received his first ninong lesson -
"Save 20% of whatever is given to you."

GRADE 5 GOODBYES

Grade 5B boys wrote their goodbyes.

BASKETBALL: Season Ender

GRAPPLING HOOK

(Materials Used: paper clips, string, masking tape)