Batangthomas@7: Thanksgiving mode

5 & 6 December, 2009. Batangthomas not only celebrated his birthday that weekend. It was also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be with family and closest friends' in Thanksgiving mode. It was also an opportunity to thank his classmates (we wrote a letter thanking the teachers, too) for the warmth, support and encouragement they gave Batangthomas. From the days when we brought a wheelchair (lent by one of Loloheart's closest friends) and carried him all the way up the stairs, to his saklay (crutches ) week to the following week when he insisted walking to his classroom without us supporting him by the hand left and right, his adviser and classmates cheered him on from time to time. They welcomed him with applause the first day he entered the classroom and walked to his seat all by himself and that really gave him a moral boost that his ear-to-ear smile and twinkling eyes gave away that very moment. Thank you Lolos and Lolas, Ninongs and Ninangs for making that weekend possible!

A number of things about that weekend were for us extraordinary: having been able to gather Batangthomas' cousins, workmates' kids, Batangthomas' classmates & our closest friends' kids in a bunch; the treat those two afternoons were and how we were even able to extend Jollibee goodies to neighbors and friends and how that became extended greetings to other bday celebrants on Tay's side namely (Lolo) Pa, Ate A, and Ninong Padhem; the beautiful Thomas cake which Red Ribbon printed on using a design we sent; the wonderful cakes baked by La Gelay na pinag-tig-isa-isa ng December celebrants Ninong Doosch, Ninang Abs, Tay & Batangthomas...

Batangthomas and his cousins are already fortunate to have such loving, doting Lolos and Lolas. So it was an even more pleasant plus when his Saturday Thanksgiving treat was graced by his friends' and classmates' Lolos and Lolas also!

For sure Batangthomas had lots of fun, and the cards and greetings and gifts that followed -- PLUS the precious photos so diligently taken by Ninang Doc, other Titos and Nay/ Tay-- serve as valuable reminders of that weekend...