SUPERHERO DRAWING for DAD

This is Nicolas' first superhero drawing. (pencil-drawn on scratch paper)

JUNIOR PICTIONARY

Savion, Nicolas and their mother Mimi played a game of "Pictionary" and this is Nicolas' first ever "Pictionary" drawing:

KINDA LIKE

Nicolas told his brother about a classmate having a crush on another classmate. Then he turned to me and said, "Daddy, do you know what 'crush' means?" I asked him what it meant. "Crush - is kinda like love..."

HEART DRAWING for MOMMY

 

"This is for you, mommy." - Nicolas

THE END OF CUTENESS

Savion remembered being told a year ago that when a child loses his first front tooth, it will signal the end of a child's cuteness. Well, this week he lost his first front tooth. And also this week, he had an eye examination. He now wears his first set of eyeglasses.

BEATING THE BULLY

The usually enthusiastic Nicolas was looking downtrodden. He explained that he was tired and was not looking forward to going to school because of the teasing he was getting from his classmates ("You're a scaredy cat" & "Patrice is your girlfriend"). We suggested not to mind the teasing. Nodding in agreement, his brother Savion said, "Nicolas, last school year I was bullied for half a year. But, I just did not mind them. I did not get affected." And brimming with pride, Savion added, "Now, I got their Respect."

GLOBAL TREE

"There are no strangers in the whole world.
Because the whole world is a family tree."
- Nicolas Garcia, 5 years old -

OLYMPIC TRIBUTE

This is Nicolas' drawing of the Great Wall of China after he watched the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. (pencil-drawn on scratch paper)

POTTER'S DAY

Today, Nicolas finished his 1st Harry Potter book (read to him by Wilma) and he was able to also see his 1st Harry Potter movie, "The Sorcerer's Stone". This week, Savion finished reading the last book in the series, "Deathly Hallows" and is looking forward to seeing the last 2 movies with his parents. Today is Harry Potter's birthday, J.K. Rowling's birthday, Ignatius of Loyola's feast day and Savion and Nicolas' mother's birthday ("Happy birthday, Mommy.") Today is a magical day.

"PEOPLE IN TIME PORTALS"

Savion's Time Portals in Different Shapes

LEGO LET GO

I started my collection of LEGO Star Wars in April 1999. Kiko, who is now in his teens, remembers looking up at my shelves and seeing all the LEGO boxes and dreaming of one day assembling them. Today, the last of my Star Wars collection (Millenium Falcon) was assembled. When Kiko saw the box opened, he could not believe it. He remarked to his cousin Savion, "I can't believe your dad allowed you to open and assemble this!"
Toys were made for children. My toys...they are for my children.

Be it jewel or toy, not the prize gives the joy,
but the striving to win the prize.
Robert Bulwer-Lytton

CHILDHOOD DOESN'T WAIT

I had to prepare for a training session the next day. Nicolas and Savion both sensed my need to prepare for this session. But Nicolas asked, "Dad, I know you're busy. But is it okay if you just spend just 10 minutes with us before we sleep? " As I stayed with the kids, Nicolas fell soundly asleep quickly. On the other hand, Savion was still wide awake. He was very aware of the time as he said, "Dad, it's already 10:30 p.m. You can go now. We'll be alright." I stayed and told Savion that no training session will ever be more important than him and his brother. As he fell asleep a few minutes later, I remembered a poem my friend Cay sent me entitled "Childhood Doesn't Wait". It was sent to me a decade ago.

GUARDIAN ANGEL

This morning, a colleague's 2 year old girl had surgery to correct a broken arm. I told Savion about the operation. Savion said that, just for today, he sent his guardian angel to be with her.

MINOR PROBLEM

At a family reunion, the children were having fun going through the menu as they ordered their choice beverages. Wanting something new and different to drink, Momoy went through the menu meticulously. Momoy noticed a bottle of whiskey that the older family members were enjoying. Reading the label, he excitedly suggested to his 13 year old brother, "Kuya, puede ka na dito!" (Brother, now THIS one, you can drink.)

"WHEW!"

I asked Savion what he felt when his name was announced as the recipient of a year end school award (an award he mentioned he hoped to get). I asked him if it was a victorious "Yes!", "Yahoo!" or "Yeah!" for him.

Looking at his award he answered, "Sigh of relief."

TO LIVE OR DIE

Nicolas reflectively asked his nanny, "Ate, do you want to live or die?" His Ate replied, "Die." Surprised with his nanny's answer, Nicolas remarked, "What! Don't you want to have a husband and have a child?" He added, "Don't you want to have a baby cut from your stomach or come out from your "puwetet" (butt)? Why? Why die?"

ALL ON A SUNDAY

"I can't find hell!" exclaimed Savion.

I was concerned with the question until Savion clarified that he was looking for the word 'hell' in a 'Find the Word' puzzle titled "All On A Sunday" (words like heaven, gospel, creation, ark, etc.).

THANK YOU MOM

"Thank you mom for taking care of me and helping me in my homework. Maybe I will do some chores on Mother's day. Thank you for not putting me in the orphanage." Savion Garcia

ENDEARING GROSSNESS

Nicolas asked his mother to pick him up as he wanted to snuggle. He was very affectionate as he did a nose-to-nose act* like the way the Inuits (formerly called the Eskimos) express affection. Nicolas then asked his mother, "What if my booger goes to your booger?"

*The act known as Eskimo kissing in modern western culture is loosely based on a traditional Inuit greeting called a kunik. A kunik is a form of expressing affection, usually between family members and loved ones, that involves pressing the nose and upper lip against the skin (commonly the cheeks or forehead) and breathing in, causing the loved one's skin or hair to be suctioned against the nose and upper lip. A common misconception is that the practice arose so that the Inuit could kiss without their mouths freezing together. In fact, it is a non-erotic form of greeting that serves as an intimate way of greeting one another for people who, when they meet, often have little except their nose and eyes exposed.

REST HOUSE ARREST

Savion asked about the word "incarceration". I discussed with him the concept of freedom and it being taken away when incarcerated. I informed him about the difference of being inside a prison cell and being under house arrest. Citing Aung San Suu Kyi's* house arrest situation in Myanmar, I explained that even if she is not inside a prison cell, she is not free to leave her house without permission.

Savion remarked, "House arrest is not like prison. It's like a rest house, right?"

I smiled and did not get what he meant until he reminded me of our country's former President who was incarcerated not in a jail cell but in his personal rest house outside the city.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi

RAIN RAIN COME TODAY

Savion and Nicolas had fun playing all afternoon until it was time for Savion to leave for summer soccer camp. Nicolas had been ill for the past few days and had to skip camp to avoid a relapse. As Savion prepared to leave, Nicolas remarked, "I wish it rains so that I can continue playing with my brother."

Savion returned early from camp as the rains did come, canceling all soccer play. Their afternoon play resumed to the delight of Nicolas and Savion as well.

"Rain rain come today...Little Nicolas wants to play..."

THE BIG RED SIGN

Nicolas and Savion saw big red "Sale" signs in a store. Nicolas asked, "What do we do when we see those red signs?" Savion answered, "We have to run away so that we don't lose all our money."

NERD DEFINED

Savion asked his classmate, "Am I a nerd?" His classmate replied, "No. Because you don't wear glasses."