chocomusette.com

It's the end of the school year and my 5th grader is onto a different heights. But before that happens I want to thank my little nerd for making it through despite me being away every now and then.

Thank you for:

1. Being a dork
2. Being obsessive-compulsive
3. Calling me dude.
4. Studying on your own.
5. Working hard for your future
6. Being lovable
7. For making everything I'm doing worth it.

The downside of living in a small town is having limited places to hang out in. We just decided to check out the coffee shop that's in our family friend's old house.

We love the cozy ambiance. We love the tea and the smoothies!

And the wall artwork is way cool.

What I love about the place is there's a variety of books and magazines that you can borrow.

And my brothers love that there's wifi and of course it's a good getaway from the common coffee shop crowd.

Well hello there, it's been a LONG time! I can't say that I'm back for good, but we'll see.

Life has been swell for me and that probably took a toll on my blogs. One thing's for sure though, we continue to do what we love...dining. It's a first in years since we re-visited this Italian restaurant in Iloilo, and like all things, it had some minor changes, but it was all good.

Tonight, I have two of my favorite boys all for myself. Jason and Jerard.

When you're with the boys, you act like them, eat, laugh and talk like them. It became less about the food and more about of the people you're with that makes you enjoy every bite.

Al Dente

Sarabia Manor Hotel, Gen. Luna St., Iloilo City

She's growing up way to fast! So fast that I realized she's talking sense now.

I recently read her notes in Facebook on October 23, 2010 "My Mind Getting Wider."

"If ever you wondered if a child like me would like Geography and History, yes we would. But it takes time to be interested into these kind of topics. Mom, Dad, did you ever notice that when I was a child, I never liked news or Geography and History? I know your answer would be yes.

Mom, Dad, now, did you ever notice that I like news and other stuff, like watching Discovery Channel? And your answer would still be yes. I do hope you know why. It's because my mind gets wider and it needs more information. That's why I'm making a note all about Geography and History. Perhaps this is just the first post about my mind getting wider but this one is about Geography and History, so here it goes

I say Bermuda you say Triangle. Could someone please tell me why accidents happen in that Triangle?

I love the sea, but I love Atlantis more, let's say it's the "Lost City"

When I grow up, it's either I'll be a doctor or  a lawyer, but I don't want to be a pilot, that's why I'm looking up to Amelia Earhart "The first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean". Oh but whatever happened to her?

If Anne Boleyn were a queen who brought up Queen Elizabeth 1, so I would be Kiara Nicole J. Lo, a kid who's about to know more about the world."

*happy tears* I'm a proud mom of a nerd girl!

I've recently attended a wedding and the groom's father gave a lovely line for a toast:

"Here's to love and laughter...ever after." Mr. Brunner

I may be a cynic, but I'll toast to that! Cheers!

My cousin Katya in red and white.

Is this my first post for 2011? Yikes.

Advance Happy Lunar New Year instead.

Mornings in Hong Kong are made of these:

Yes, you got that right! McDonald's breakfast. Still one of the most reliable breakfast for travelers.

Shops open quiet late in this side of town. Perfect for a few shots.

Now boarding the bus to take them around.

Now on the roads of Hong Kong. There's the signature double decker bus, the red cab and the blinding lights. If I were single and a lot younger, I would have killed to live in this city. I was born a country mouse, but I love the riot of the busy cities. Now I could see the possibilities since my husband's roots are from a nearby town in China and now most of them lives in Hong Kong.

A quick stop at the hotel and now to binge up for the night.

To start off the night, everyone should have a cup of tea.

Now next is a skill my daughter should work on -- eating with chopsticks! Kiara doesn't look Chinese at all, she should at least eat like one! LOL

Let me give you some food coma straight from Hong Kong...

Now this family has one big happy tummy!

To burn down the grease, what better way to do that than to walk down the streets of Hong Kong, father-daughter style.

Some people has been asking me to post this. But it took me 9 months to do so, a couple more months and this post would have been useless!

Late February this year, the Lo family headed out to Hong Kong to meet up with their relatives both from Hong Kong and China in time for the Chinese New Year celebrations.

My daughter was looking forward to this, not just because she's going abroad, but because she loves anything that comes with heritage or a little history. That's clearly her thing. Plus this will be the first time she will be travelling with the Lo family, minus mom. LOL

They were lucky because they got on board Philippine Airlines new Boeing 777.

Compared to others, my daughter loves flying! She enjoys every minute of it. You wouldn't need to keep her busy, but then again, a game of bookworm wouldn't hurt. PAL's Boeing 777 has ways to keep your flying phobia tucked in.

Now, touchdown Hong Kong!

My daughter's a little agitated, clearly bonding with the family begins right now.

If I had the power to make time stand still, I would. My daughter's growing up all to fast.

One time when my in-laws were out shopping with my daughter, she brought home a handful. Then she held out one particular shopping bag to me.

Kiara: "Mom...." *teary-eyed*

Me: "What's that?" (I took it and checked out what's inside.)

Kiara: "It's...." (Then ran off to bed and cried.)

Me: "Oh...." (I took out a handful of starters.)

Kiara: *loud cry* "I don't want to wear that! I'm not up for that! I'm too young!"

Me: "There's nothing to cry about. You're not YET wearing these but soon you will."

Kiara: "Please don't say soon mom! Please give me at least 5 more years before I will have to put those on!"

Me: *grin* "Whatever you say."

Now that the horror is over, she'd even go "intimate shopping" with my brothers!

Now it's my time to weep. Please time, go a little slower...please!