PJ's 17th birthday: fun preparations and family bonding

Nothing beats a mother's love

PJ turned 17 this year and everyone was excited to celebrate her special day especially je mother who loves her so much unconditionally.

A few months after PJ was born, her mother noticed he having seizures in her hammock and alarmed everybody in the house. Her mother brought her to the doctor and found out that she has cerebral palsy and has been on meds since then. Her seizures stopped and everyone loved her even more knowing that she is more delicate than other children.

In her growing up years, she had been tot0 the hospital many times especially when she was teething and her mother has been by her side every second of her sickness. But thank God she had been well for many over ten years already.

He simple gesttures makes everyone happy, especially when she works hard to walk and talk a few words she could. Her mother's heart skips when she calls her mama, and her kuya but she calls for my mum, her granny wawa often.

Last night, we were amazed how she worked hard to walk towards the ice cream we had on the table because she could not wait to eat some when we were still preparing for her share.

Her birthday was on October 24th, and her brother and mother made everything they could do to make the day memorable and most of all, make the birthday girl happy.

Her birthday was on Thursday and I was at my workplace then my mum called if I could lend a hand to my sister in cooking and preparing the table and decors. I was caught offguard but I was able to go home at 2pm and helped her with everything.

My kids were at home at that time too and I was even more happy to help. And to make the kids stay put, I let them borrow my phone to watch movies and to entertain the birthday girl as well. On the above photo, PJ was grumpy because she didn't have space to watch.

There was a power outage that day too and only the first batch of lasagna was cooked; good thing my sister baked the cake the night before.

While waiting for the power to come back, my sister cooked her pork adobo and I prepared the spring rolls so we will only have to cook a few minutes before dinner.

I really like to be of help in the kitchen because I would increase my knowledge in cooking. Honestly I am a bad cook and there was a time when my daughter frankly told me that my cooking is bad and prefers my sister's cooking instead.

I am used to multitasking and so while waiting for the springroll fillings to cook, I prepared the ingredients for the macaroni salad in a huge bowl. My sister was not able to buy kaong and asked her son who was in the city to buy her one but did not respond so my sister got to panic mode and asked me to cook the gelatin to replace the kaong and so I did as I was told.

When putting on the raisins, I kept some and reserved it so I and the kids could munch in it later, my mum saw me and laughed for my silliness.

Soon my nephew responded to my sister's request and said he already bought some so we did not mix it yet and put in the chiller so it will be cold when we serve it later. It turns out my nephew took bery long to come home because he brought his girlfriend with him to introduce to the family. He then gave us the kaong and grapes for the salad and I thought it was all the ingredients until my sister pointed out we were jot able to pit the cheese on it when it was already served. But ut stull taste good anyway

We finished a few dishes then my sister asked my daughters to blow the balloons for the decorations. My mum and me set the curtains up and hunged the balloons. And it's clear that we don't have any experience at all in decorations because it doesn't look very good yet in the eyes of the kids, it was perfect and they already chose what balloon to take after dinner and play with it.

Past 6 in the evening, my nephew came home wiht his girlfriend and dinner started, my uncle lead the prayer thanking the food and then my sister set her cake out for PJ and pictorial. The nephew helped and PJ was very happy acknowledging that the celebration was for her and I bet she felt that she was so loved.

My kids did not eat much of the food and wanted to go straight to the dessert I mean why not when the cake was too pretty to look at!

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The food was very delicious bit I was not able to enjoy it that dinner since I was already full from tasting food while preparing them. It was also too hot while cooking and the smell had probably made me full.

Preparing food for many people is never easy but I had so much fun serving at PJ's birthday celebration. I am now more familiar on how to cook springrolls which I planned to attempt cooking on my son's birthday but I got short of time and my sister suggested we cook another dish and she will be in charge.

Good thing my uncle's wife volunteered to do the diahes after dinner and I was relieved because my sore feet has been budging me after hours standing and walking around.

All in all, helping prepare for PJ's birthday celebration was so much fun; it gave me time to learn and bod wih my sister and mother at home which now seldomly happens because I was too busy at work and I barely have time at home and my kids need me as well.

So PJ has turned 17, my sister had some huge plans on how to celebrate her birthday next year and I realized that she does this because sehe wants he daughter to feel that she was special, and that is is very loved and her mother is willing to give all for her happiness.

This will be all for my blog today, thanks for your giving your precious time and I hope you enjoyed the experience taht I shared today. Keep safe and stay happy!