Lola's In Town!

Today marks the close of my mother-in-law's nine day stay with us in the Pacific Northwest. She's Dee Dee to me, mom to Ron, and Lola (well, "Ya Ya" was as close as she could get) to Lia which is actually the word for grandma in the Tagalog language. She made this trip out here to rebond with Lia during the final days of summer as she has only seen our little one two times in her life! Being true to Dee Dee's form, she spoiled us rotten and cooked up a storm every day while she was here. My favorite thing about her visits is that she literally takes over in the kitchen and all I have to do is the dishes for the week. I absolutely love the break and love eating all of her food! Here is a quick run-down of some of the events during her time here.

I took Dee Dee and baby into Seattle to wander around the waterfront on one of the days that Ron had to work at school.

Since Dee Dee was unable to fly out for Lia's 1st birthday, she decided to throw an one-and-half-year-old birthday party instead (Lia turned 18-months on the day she flew in). Here are Lola and grand baby with the birthday cake. Lia was apparently more interested in the cake than Lola or posing for the picture.

Li Li using the "pincher approach" to eating cake. I'm going to have to try that one out.

We went on a walk one day around the pond (they have the nerve to call it a "lake") found in a park a few minutes from our house.

We joined Ron's Uncle Oscar (Dee Dee's brother), Aunt Patty, and Ron's cousin, Gina, and her kids for dinner one night at our favorite Filipino restaurant in Tacoma. Please notice Ron's model-worthy, gorgeous, small boned, exotic cousin on my left. He's got several of these on his mom's side of the family....it's just a good thing I've got some self-esteem in my back pocket or I would have thrown myself off a cliff years ago! :-)

We hosted a Filipino-themed dinner party one night for 12 adults with food Dee Dee had cooked herself. It was absolutely divine! It seriously was as good, if not better, than what a restuarant could provide! Here is the master-cook taking care of some last minute details.

Some pics of the line-up that night. From left to right: calderetta (a meat dish), sinigang (a tangy soup), lumpia (Filipino egg rolls), and fried rice.

Some other delightsome members of the line-up: pancit (a noodle dish) and turon (banana egg rolls = yum!).

Some of our guests serving up.

Three generations of lumpia eaters.