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J  U  L  Y       2 0 1 0


Our annual July 4th celebration at Jun & Emy's home with the Sison's including their newest edition . . .  Lauren Emily held by Joy as seen from this picture. They are the only young kids around to celebrate with us as most of the older kids are gone or have their own party to go to!!


J  U  N  E      2 0 1 0


Dinner at Marlen & Alvin's home in honor of their sonTimothy's passing the grade and starting his High School next school year. Alvin's Mom,Tita Lita and brother Allan and wife Gigi was there also as were Marlen's Mom and Dad who came over from Manila, and her sister Gay, husband Niel and their three sons and also Marlen's youngest sister and her boyfriend. We had a couple of beers while reminiscing with the Marlen's Dad about life back "Home"!



Chona and the twins pose with their piano teacher, Miss Barb after another successful Recital last  June 19th 20110. Dani & Gaby playeda duet , "Venitian Gondolier"by Oscar Fried. Dani's solo was "Sonata in G" by Beethoven and Gaby's piece was "Romanze" also by Beethoven.


M  A  Y      2  0  1  0 



We take a  break by the trails that go around Mohonk Lake and savor the beauty and serenity of this natural habitat.. The grounds offer miles of marked trails and roads on 2200 acres and an additional 6400 acres of preserved woodlands for a total of 85 acres of hiking pleasure!!.


 

Dani,Gaby & Chona relaxes under a bed of wild roses at this peaceful garden at  Mohonk Lake Mountain House in upstate New Patlz, New York.



Infront of the house in Bacoor with the Umali and  Putong clan during the town fiesta celebrations...          May 9th 2010 ...


We start this merry month by commemorating Papa Ja's Death Anniversary, May 9th with a nice jam session by us three, Jojo, Mke and me at the garage in my home. It took a while before we finally got the amps and the mixers tuned to the right voloume and sound. We drank to Papa Ja's memories and reminisced on all the good things we shared with him while he was here on earth.


We also called Manila to greet Mama Nati a nice Mother's Day over there while she was with friends and relatives celebrating also the very famous Bacoor Town Fiesta!! We look forward for more happenings for this month of May.



A  P  R  I  L      2  0  1  0

This month ends with remembering the death anniversary of our dear Karl, son of Joey & Jenny, brother to Killian and Aiza. I was surprised to see some flowers already by his tombstone so I added more. I met Mama Nati & Manny at the Phil-Am store in Colonia where we ate lunch before they also headed to visit Karl's grave. The family also celebrated Mama Evie's birthday last Sunday, a day earlier than her actual birthday on May 3rd. It was also an advance Mother's day celebration and DEspedida for Mama Nati & Manny who left for Manila last May 4th. All in all, April was a quiet spring month.

 

The Family went to this National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA for our Easter Sunday Mass. Mama Nati, Manny, Tita Lu ,Joy and Steven all went with us for this solemn mass to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We ate brunch at a nearby Perkins restaurant before heading back home to NJ. We all felt holy and blessed after the mass and the rest of that Easter Sunday!

Mike, Papa Dolphs, Mama Evie,Dani, Gaby, Rene, Mama Nati, Chona and Steven


 Manny, Mike, Joy, Mama Nati, Tita Lu, Chona & Mama Evie

        

We welcome this Spring month by spending the afternoon in Central Park in NYC. Gaby invited her friend and classmate, Dariya to join us to savor the spring weather and just to absorb the sights and sounds of the season. We went into the Central Park Zoo and just mingled with all the other people eager to break free of the winter doldrums of the past month! We look forward to Easter with renewed strength and hope for our body and soul.


The girls posing by the seals' pond at the Central Park Zoo, NYC.


Gaby,Dani & Dariya


M  A R  C  H     2  0  1  0

We skip this month since the only news was the flooding in some low area towns near rivers, streams or beach that pummelled the Tri-State area. We were fortunate enough to be spared the grief that some residents had to endure not to mention the downed trees and power lines that some towns were out of electricity for at least a week!


F  E  B  R  U  A  R  Y   2 0 1 0

With this month we also take note of another milestone event with the 50th Birthday celebration of our dear brother Joey. His wife, Jenny prepared a sumptous buffet of selected dishes that I'm sure Joey enjoyed as well as their guests' which included Mama Nati & Manny who flew to Phoenix just to help celebrate our brother's special day.

This is what we may call a real hole in one !!   Cheers Bro !


Joey blows the candle as his "apo", Brianna looks on anticipating the cutting of the cake!



The winter has really taken hold on us with several snow storms and a real Blizzard which brought some real headaches to the eastern region from the DC area all the way down to Virginia. School was closed for a couple of days over here in the tri-state area to the kid's delight. We take a break over the weekend with a cold outing on the deck of the famous World War II aircraft carrier USS Intrepid with our cousin Alvin MK and family.

Gaby & Dani frolicking in the snow the day after the winter storm. Hooray!! No School!!


Dani,Gaby,Paulo & Tim marvel at the "Captain's Bridge" on the USS Intrepid !


J  A  N  U  A  R  Y    2 0 1 0

New Year, New Month .... let's hope that this new beginning will be the difference in making this year better than the previous one! We greet all the birthday celebrants, Mama Nati, Trish, Boots, Boycie & Kuya Eddie. Nothing much to report except for a very special delivery last 18th January.... Trish, Ruby's only daughter has given birth to a healthy baby boy, Joshua. Mother and baby are doing fine and you can check out more pictures thru Ruby or Trish's "Facebook" page!! Congratulations Trish and Joshua, Welcome to the clan !!!


Hi everybody! My name is Joshua, son of Trish !!


Lola Beng with her "Apo", Joshua.


Gaby & Dani with their piano teacher, Miss Barb after completing another successful recital last Saturday, 16th January.




D  E  C  E  M  B  E  R       2 0 0 9

The Holidays came by without much going on probably due to the recession the whole country is going through. But Christmas cannot be denied specially to young children who will stick to the story of Santa Claus will always be true to his word to show up on his designated time and place. So we close out 2009 and welcome a New Year, 2010 , and hope this will be a good year if not better!

We greet the new year with the three Kings ...I mean the three Chef's - Gaby,Derick & Dani ....



Our traditional Christmas dinner at Jun & Emy's home with fewer people since most have either gone to their own parties and also most of the kids are now grown-up !!



Christmas morning before heading to church ...at least the children got their Christmas presents...



Our "Noche Buena" at our home with Mama Nati, Mike,Jojo & Manny...



Our first snow storm of the season dumped at least 18inches to make it really feel the Christmas Spirit !!




N  O  V  E  M  B  E  R      2  0  0  9

November ends with a short excursion to Princeton with Steven and my family. We visited the university's museum and admired the tour given by the staff. The pieces on display were really immpressive as compared to a larger museum.




Thanksgiving 2009 held at our house with friends and relatives.


Dani & Gaby poses with our parish priest, Fr. Roberts outside the church after their Installation as Altar Servers.



November started with Paulo's birthday celebration held at their home in Matawan,NJ. The proud parents,Marlen & Alvin show-off their team spirit for the World Series Champs...Go Yankees !!!




O  C  T  O  B  E  R     2  0  0  9

We end October with a "Trick or Treat" Halloween with Paulo in their neighborhood in Matawan, NJ . . .


October has always been a busy month for the clan starting with the birthday of yours truly... not to mention the wedding of Angel to Aubrey which was held at this chapel in the middle of a park in central NJ.


We all came dressed nicely for the occassion and ready for a celebration. This was a time also for the DLS clan to be complete again with Kuya Eddie,Mama Ces & Mae flying in from Phoenix as well as Joey,Jenny & Killian. Ruby & family drove all the way from Florida.


It was also a time to see and party with some relatives and friends that we haven't seen for a while.  Of course a gathering won't be complete without a bit of drama which I guess every family occassion witnesses' and experiences'!! But the main thing is we all gathered for a nice family happening and welcomed and added another branch in our expanding family circle.



S  E  P  T  E  M  B  E  R      2  0  0  9

The Brrr... month starts the fall season and so with the new school year for all grade school kids, high school and college. With parents getting frantic again about everything from the clothes they would wear to the the fancy book covers and sharpened pencils and erasable pens!! We greet the celebrants of this month starting with our brother Jojo and nephew, Angel. We add also the surprise "Baby Shower" held for Carla Sison by their friends from Flushing, Queens.... We look forward for the next month with birthdays and a wedding ....Check it out !!!

Jojo blows the candle while Joy,Mama Evie,Mike and the twins look on...


L-R Me,Manny Gaby,Dani,Mama Evie,Chona,Joy, Ian & Carla + baby girl or boy ???




A U G U S T    2 0 0 9

This summer month came and went by without much to report about except the emergency surgery that Jenny, Joey's wife, had to go through. Mama Nati went to Phoenix accompanied by Manny. I came also with the intention of escorting Mama Nati back to NY but since Jenny's surgery was moved to another date, I just decided to go anyway to help and be with our brothers Joey and Kuya Eddie. The surgery was successful and Jenny is on her way to recovery. The doctors will monitor her recovery to make sure everything goes well.

The Mayo Clinic hospital were Jenny had her surgery. Joey ,Tita Dolly, Mama Nati & Aiza watch over her.

L-R  Rey,me,Joey, Mama Nati, Kuya Ed,Ces, Mae & her boyfriend ...


My family and I had a short weekend trip to Cape Cod and went on a side trip to Boston on the way back home.          L-R  Mama Evie, me, Gaby & Papa Dolphs.


Fanueil Hall , Boston, Ma. - Dani & Gaby



J U L Y    2 0 0 9

What a busy month with our usual July 4th at Jun & Emy's home then followed by the Twin's birthday on the 8th by taking them together with one friend each at the NJ Aquarium in Camden,NJ. We also mention Mama Ces' visit. We picked her up while helping to take care of our recuperating Tita Lu who had a major surgery, which I'd like to mention that she's doing just fine after this seriuos surgery! From there we went to the city to enjoy the sights and then had a nice Sunday Bar-B-que at home. We end the month with a quiet celebration of Mike's Birthday held at our backyard for a nice juicy "inihaw na baboy" by our Grill master, Manny. We all look froward for the coming month of August!

July Birthday Celebrants ...

Mama Ces !! Sunog na yung BBQ !

Visiting Tita Lu at St. Luke's hospital in NYC .

L-R Dariya, Anna, Gaby & Dani at the NJ Aquarium.

L-R Jojo, Jun, me, Mike ...  July 4th at Jun & Emy's



 

J U N E   2 0 0 9

This month came by and went with out much going on except that our cousin Joanne and son Steven came over to check-out the university that he's going to attend until he graduates ! The kids are mostly on vacation now and starting to get bored! It's been a wet summer so far but good for the trees, plants and the grass...



M A Y   2 0 0 9

We top-off the month with a nice gathering with Aiza's family, husband Jason,son, Joseph and daughter  Brianna. They came over to our house and we all drove to the city to view Joseph's favorite animals, the dinosaurs!! Funny how he reacted as soon as we got inside the museum . It took a bit of coaxing from his dad before he decided to finally enjoy the artifacts of every archealogical display in that part of the museum. Next day, they all came back to enjoy the barbeque we had prepared for our "Memorial Day" celebration. We also had a celebration to celbrate the bithday of aubrey's Mom and also Jason's. Both days had perfect weather for a nice family feast !


L-R  Angel,Aubrey  her Mom & Dad, Manny ,Dani & Gaby ...


L-R Jojo,me, Mike,Papa Dolphs & Manny-our official "Grill Master" !


Aiza & Brianna with the two "Lola's" ....


Tita Gaby & Tita Dani with their neice,Brianna & nephew, Joseph !!

,


L-R- Chona,Dani,Aiza,Brianna,Gaby & Mama Evie.


Even after his dad was carrying him,Joseph still seems scared of the dinosaur ...T-Rex !!!


L-R Dani,Gaby,Brianna,Aiza & Joseph pose infront of this huge skeletal turtle ...


They all take a pose infront of the American Museum of Natural History on 81st St. and Central Park west, NYC


Taken in front of the "Outback" restaurant where we had dinner to commemorate Papa Ja's 27th Death Anniversary, last May 9th 2009.


We also celebrated "Mother's Day" that night as you can see the "Mom's" displaying their beautifull corsage on this important night of celebration!



A  P  R  I  L      2  0  0  9

April ends with a nice gathering at Alvin & Marlen's home in celebration of their son Paulo's "First Communion". Tita Lu,Joy, Mama Naty,Mike & Manny except for Jojo was there. So was the whole Sales family of Jun & Emy, sons David & Jeffrey and daughter Elaine. Two of Marlen's sisters and family where there also to help celebrate Paulo's indoctrination to our christian way of life.







This spring month was surely a busy one for the clan. We had our vistors from Manila via Albany,NY in the presence of Caloy Umali and family. His wife Dada, son, Miguel aka "Osh" and daughter Aui. They drove from Albany,NY were they attended several family events on Dada's side and were able to drop-by at Angels and Aubrey's house in Bridgewater,NJ. They stayed overnight at our place and we helped them do some serious shopping at this new outlet called "Jersey Shore Premium Outlet" in Tinton Falls,NJ. They hardly could fit in the car with all their suitcases and the stuff they bought at the outlet !! All-in-all, we all enjoyed seeing each other again after all these years.

Taken from the dining room with our "Bisita's" ...



L-R Standing ...Caloy,Angel,Alvin & Osh                  Sitting ...Aui and Dada 


                                 


We take a pose the morning before we took them to the new outlet stores near our house...



M A R C H    2 0 0 9


L-R- Chona,Steven,Lauren, Joanne & Mike ...  Relaxing with a nice bottle of Cab courtesy of Mike B.


L-R  Mama Evie,Mama Nati,Tita Lu,Joanne,Manny,Joy & Mike B.   Saturday afternoon as we start the celebration in welcoming the our cousins from the West coast ...


We take a pose while listening to Jojo serenading the guest's ...



F e b r u a r y    2  0  0  9


Alvin's Birthday as we celebrate it together on Valentine's Day ! It was held at their new place in Matawan.

Gaby & Dani playing outside in our backyard after a small snowstorm hit our area.


J a n u a r y     2 0 0 9



Mama Nati blows her candle celebrating her 83rd Birthday...



We greet the New Year with songs of Praise !!



D e c e m b e r    2 0 0 8



L-R Tita Lu,Joy,Jun.Emy,Mike,Jojo,me & Chona...

After welcoming the New Year we take a break by eating again !




Posing in front of the dinner table kina Jun & Emy ...



Our "Noche Buena" sa aming bahay...




November 2008



Thanksgiving Feast at the 4 Sison's home in Flushing ,Queens.



Everybody smiles and say good-bye to our hosts' after a very sumptous meal ...



October 2008


Chona, Mama Evie and Mama Naty infront of Dani's school to watch their "Halloween" parade while I drive to Gaby's school to watch hers...Happy Halloween !!


Our yearly devotion to Karls grave to wish him "Happy Birthday" and a Happy Halloween.




L-R Olga, Fe and daughter Stepahnie, Chona & Manny looking at some old picutres with Toto while he lived in Queens,NY.



With great sadness we say goodbye to a good friend and my "Kina-kapatid" Francisco "Toto" Sarabia Jr. He passed away last October 21st 2008 due to an unfortunate vehicular accident at EDSA in Manila. We would like to give our heartfelt condolences to his wife Sylvia and all the Sarabia clan. A memorial mass was held at Boying & Fe's house last October 26th 2008 with close family and friends. We pray for the eternal repose of his soul and may he rest in peace.



This month begins with our usual double Birthday celebration of Manny & yours truly at our home in NJ. It was a nice Saturday event with friends and relatives joining us for this happy occassion.





September 2008

This month went by so fast that we didn't even notice it except for the sad state of our financial downfall in Wall Street and the terrible outcome of our banks and other lending institutions! It sure paints a gloomy outlook for the coming fall and the months ahead leading to probably a cold and sad winter. But we are hopeful that things will turn around right after this Presidential elections.




A toast to Jojo's birthday bash with Papa Dolph and Mike. 


This month starts with a picture of the twins on their bikes right after the first day of school.




Aug 2008


Tita Carmen & Tito Jess' 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration at their resthouse in El Dorado in Sacramento, Ca. Pictures sent courtesy of our cousin Jonathan. A Big Congratulations to our dear Tita & Tito... Way to go cousins !!



L-R Gaby,Dani,& Derick  with their Tito Mike showing-off his model car & auto collection ....




Kuya Eddie's "Moving Crew" ... L-R Mackie,Angel,Norman & Michael"tulog" ....




Kuya Eddie hanging out with us before going back to Phoenix.

Aug 29 2008



The birthday girl  with son PJ.



The "New Generation" of cousins posing like in a "Gap" commercial !!


L-R  PJ,Jeffrey,(L'il Matthew), Mae,Dang Jackie,Elaine & David.


PJ poses with his cousins, Jackie/Apple, Dang & Mae.



PJ & Winnie with Ate Vangie, Mike & Kuya Ray Umali.



The mother & son poses with family clan members.


L-R (sitting) Mae,Mama Nati, PJ  -(standing) Apple,Tita Lu,Joy Winnie,Mike & Jojo


The busy month of August continues as we welcome Madame Winnie and son PJ in our home in anticpation for her birthday celebration to be held at Mike & Lisa's home in Oldbridge.



The 2nd weekend of this month was busy with a very elegant 80th birthday party for Tita Inday Sarabia Brillantes, which we attended last Aug 9th.





This month started with a delayed celebration of the twin's birthday with their classmates held at our backyard with a Hawaiian theme ....it's a Luau party ....


L-R  Kiera,Kristen,Gaby,Ariel,Sydney,Sarah,Michele & Dani...(Ania & Elizabeth D. came shortly after...)


July 2008

And lastly, we end the last weekend of the month with a Sunday brunch with Tita Doris and her cousin from Queens,NY at Mike & Lisa's home in NJ.



Dani & Gaby pose with Apple to join the celebration of their Tito Mike's birthday, 24th July by having a dip in the pool on this warm and sunny day.




We all take a break after a long drive coming from Las Vegas straight to the Grand Canyon and now we rest here in Sedona to cool off before heading back to Phoenix. It took us all of 800 miles round trip !!



With the Grand Canyon on the background we all take time to admire the beauty and splendor of this amazing sight that nature had sculpted thru millions of years!




The family lounges in this huge lobby of the MGM Grand hotel on  the "strip" as we men take care of the formalities of "checking-in" for the the three rooms we booked earlier.



This super month comes with a lot of excitement. We start it off with our annual summer vacation ! We start the journey to Phoenix, Arizona to visit our dear brothers "Lolo Doc" Joey and family and Kuya Eddie's family. We arrived last July 1st after we missed our flight last June 30th !! I will update this entry as soon as we come back from our vacation......"abangan and susunod na kabanata !!"


In front of Kuya Eddie & Ces' house, as we load up our baggage in his pick-up truck for our road trip to Las Vegas & beyond ....



June 2008

We close the month with a very significant celebration of Jacqueline's "Apple" graduation from The University of Maryland and Birthday party all rolled into one. Apple had several classmates come all the way from Maryland to party with her. We also had some friends from Tita Lu's old place of work from "MJGC". Dong & Sonia was there and so with Alvin's mom, Tita Lita and youngest daughter, Gemma come to celebrate with us. Kuya Rey and wife, Ate Vangie was there too and several friends of Lisa from her place of work. Food was catered by "Leo's cuisine".  The party lasted way into the early morning with some of Apple's friends sleeping over for the night. Everyone had a good time which was quite obvious by the way Apple looking a bit tipsy due to her overflowing feeling of happiness and gratitude to her parent's sacrifice and care thru all the years of her college life. "Way to go Apple!!"



This month of June is for all the Fathers and "Erpat" in the family. We all had a nice gathering at Kuya Eddie's home which coincided with Mama Ces' return from Phoenix. They will be driving back to Arizona sometime before the end of this month. Food was provided by "Lutong Bahay" and cake and sweet offerings brought by Tita Lu and Joy and Mama Naty.




May 2008

The month of May comes to a close with a couple of happenings together with some gorgeous weather for this three day Memorial Day weekend.

Mike & Lisa's home ...We  had a surprise visitor in the presence of Ate Cora Umali Juan, who is the eldest sister of Rey & Boy Umali ! She attended her daughter's Master's graduation at NYU.

 

Ian & Carla's homeIan & Carla's house blessing and also Michael's, "Pudgo" birthday celebration.


Matthew's Room ...The twins, Dani & Gaby posing with Matthew inside his room at their new house in Flushing ,NY. Nice room ...



We welcome this merry month of May with news that Mae-Mae's graduation ceremonies at the  Arizona State University/ASU went smoothly which Mama Naty, and her parents, Kuya Eddie and Mama Ces attended. Apple's graduation ceremonies at the University of Maryland  will be held sometime at the end of May, or actually it's on Thursday, 22nd May 2008. So, Congratulations to both "The Graduates" and may you have more success in your future endeavors in life.


Martin DCX1EWe also would like to mention that Jojo brought home a new member of our guitar collection and we tested it the night of Papa Ja's 25th death anniversary last May 9th. 

 Martin DCX1E acoustic/electric guitar. It sure sounded good and very easy on our fingers to play. We are just waiting for Mike's 12-string guitar next !!

A parade of Guitars ...L-R Ovation, Aria, Martin, 12string Ovation ...



April 2008

The twins had their 1st Communion last 26th April 2008 at our parish, Church of St Gabriel. We then had a nice get-together at our house with Mama Naty,Manny,Kuya Eddie,Jojo,Mike & Lisa and also Jun&Emy with David,Jeffrey & Elaine and lastly, Alvin & Marlen with their son Paulo. Food was provided from "Lutong Bahay" and a whole tray of different dimsum treats brought by Marlen & Alvin. Everyone had a wonderful time making "Kwento" and getting stuffed with all that good food!

April 19th brought us a surprise visitor from Manila. Rey Umali was here in the east coast in Washington,DC for some training/meetings and was able to make a side trip to NYC/NJ to see us. He brought along a fellow Deputy Commissioner by the name of Rey (also) Nicolas. Mike & I met them at Penn  station in Manhattan. After a quick lunch we drove them around the city for a bit and headed to Mike's house where we hanged-out till early morning. We did get up in time to attend the Sunday mass in honor of Tito Monding's 1st death anniverssary at St. Patrick's cathedral and was lucky enough to see Cardinal Egan celebrating  the mass. We all headed to "The Modern" restaurant at the MOMA for a nice elegant lunch hosted by Tita Auring, and children, Arvi and Jose, to honor and remember our dear Tito Monding. The webmaster would like to apologize for not being able to take some pictures of this event. I forgot to bring the damn camera with me kaya walang picutres !! Anyways, I'm sure Tito was there with us in spirit and may he rest in peace.

Rey U,Mike,Me & Rey N.







 











 









 




 







 

 



 



 


 



 


 



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Please send us any pictures and events you would like for us to publish and e-mail it thru my e-mail address at rudls54@optonline.net . Salamat Po !!

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