Onward and Upward

2009

Our New Year's was a much-needed and preferred quiet celebration.

Joseph and I are most proud of our Kare-kare! We nailed it! I was half-day at the office on the eve of New Year's. After work, the hubby and I ran some errands and looked for Ox Tails for our Kare-kare. Earlier that week, there were no oxtails to be found anywhere, not in Wal-Mart nor Albertsons. We had a plan b to just use beef chuck but I was all for the ox tails. Kare-kare is never the same without the good ol' ox tails. So, for one last chance before the year ends and everything closes, we went to Albertsons and there -- Ox Tails!!! We were so happy and excited. When we got home, I started cooking right away! We had dinner around 10pm and watched movie(s) in between. That meat required serious boiling time. but it was worth the wait! We loved it. And it was the first time I cooked it since I moved here in the US. Lalot had cooked it before back in Jax. I would say I had to give myself a pat in the back for this one. With the bagoong and bokchoy.. mmm... it was good. And most importantly to me, the hubby loved it.

When midnight rolled in, for the first time, we did a tradition we both picked from our families. We had "money" in our pockets (or hands) and I had all the faucets (water running) and all lights on. Joseph shook our coin can for some more noise. It's supposed to bring abundance for the new year. My lola would always shake and make noise using her coin jar and throw coins all over the house. Maybe we'll throw money and coins for the next year. Hercules ran with me as I opened all the lights and water before midnight. It was fun. After midnight, after the commotion and after the delictable dinner, we watched another movie to wind down.

It was a great celebration. Life will never be the same after last year, and specially after the baby comes. But for now, the 3.5 of us (me, hubby, Hercules and the baby) were happy just how it was. So 2009.. we are here with open arms.

posted by abi @ 10:09 AM