This is the first time that we celebrated Christmas eve together. Last year, D was out on a flight on Christmas eve and we only spent Christmas day together – then he had to work for the rest of December, while Sky and I spent a week in China with my parents…
Getting on that flight bound for Cebu on the 22nd was an extremely good decision for ALL of US.
Our Christmas celebration started as soon as we got off the plane. I had on a messenger bag around me, I was carrying Sky with my right arm and pulling our luggage with my left hand. Sky didn’t sleep for the whole trip – as he was excited as I am to see his Dad.
When we got to the room, we were welcomed by an endearing letter, a “Lion King” flotation device and colorful pouch with little trinkets inside. The letter was extremely SWEET.
The following day was Christmas Eve, we spent the day at the new Ayala Center Cebu and swam in the hotel pool. We tried to get Sky to take a nap for the long evening ahead – but it didn’t happen! Oh well. 
We were able to bond together so well for Christmas. We had Noche Buena while running around after Sky. And it didn’t seem to matter when D’s arm went numb from carrying Sky the whole time we heard Christmas eve mass. All that mattered was we were together.
It was also the first time D brought us to TOPS in Cebu. Going there was a 20-minute uphill taxi ride from Marco Polo. The view up there was breathtaking. It reminded me of Baguio – where I spent most of my childhood Christmases. The hotels by the beach were fully booked for the holidays, so we just stayed in the hotel in the afternoon – and PLAYED some more. I didn’t want to go to the beach without a decent room, specially with a toddler in tow.
We arrived back to Manila on the 27th, but we are still celebrating Christmas up until now. We heard mass last Sunday to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. Coincidentally, our FIRST FAMILY CHRISTMAS together. This week is not just a week of gift-giving, dinners or parties – but a week of GRATITUDE for all the blessings that we were given and the blessings that will still be bestowed in the coming years.
We are still in the octave of Christmas. So it’s still perfectly fine to greet your friends, family and loved one’s, “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
Enjoy and EMBRACE the week of FAMILY and LOVE! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!
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hi G, i had goosebumps while reading your post (touching kasi eh).
i’m happy that everything went well with you and D. trials lang yan at kayang kaya nyo yan malampasan. you have such a beautiful family and soon magkaka baby girl ka pa. keep on loving each other and Merry Christmas too.
[...] from our home. We are spending our holidays in the Queen city of the South, Cebu. We also spent Christmas last year in this no-frills [...]