Cyn, Paul and Kai are back on the road again — flying back to Haiti. We had so much fun while they were here — it was such an action-packed visit. I miss them so much. We'll see each other again in a couple of weeks for Christmas in LA!
You're the coolest kid I know, Kai.
Thanks for the shoes, Uncle Dennis and Auntie Jen!
Uncle D will teach Kai how to play basketball
when he's older.
He's a healthy growing boy! Kai is always so happy during these doctor's visits — he seems to always forget he's about to get some shots. This time he got 5 total shots! OUCH!
As you know, we celebrated Kai's Birthday a week before his actual birthday. On his real birthday, we wanted to take Kai to Chucky Cheese, but unfortunately, he had a cough and cold, so we thought it would be best to just stay indoors. We set-up his favorite playmat, and opened up all his presents. We also had a dozen cupcakes and serenaded him with "Happy Birthday". Nice and low-key.
Happy Birthday, Kai Kai! We love you soooooo much — you have no idea.
Priceless. Kai opening his presents.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! We had an intimate and relaxed Thanksgiving at home — Kai's 1st Thanksgiving. Auntie Liz made the turkey (used Mommy Remy's famous Filipino-style recipe!) and stuffing again this year, and Mommy made her amazing "aipim" - a Brazilian yucca dish filled with cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and heavy cream — it's like mash potatoes but better! Ninong Ray made this mouth-watering garlic butter shrimp — yum!
We're so grateful and blessed for our amazing family and friends who make our life complete. Kai — we're grateful that you are in our lives and you always remind us how beautiful life is.
One of the great things about living in NYC is all the amazing events that happen here! We checked out the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Floats the day before Thanksgiving. Lucky for us, the floats were lined up walking distance from our apartment! Kai loved seeing these huge balloons. Can't wait to take Kai to see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree — that lights up on Wed!
Kai with the Macy's star By the Energizer Bunny
This island boy is not used to this cold, cold NYC weather. He's used to the warm, island climate of Haiti. So, first on the agenda when he came back into town was to get him a whole new winter wardrobe! It's been around 30-some degrees over here. Brrrrrr. He caught a cold/cough but he's a trouper and feeling better.
Kai's preppy look
What an action packed weekend! The day after Kai's Birthday party was Cyn's Birthday — she celebrated her 21st birthday….again. 🙂
We took her out to dinner to Talay Restaurant (yummy Spanish-Thai cuisine) and little did Cyn know what was in store for her afterwards. She kept saying how it didn't feel like it was her birthday — that it was all about Kai now. Well, we kept telling her to prepare herself for what was to come! After dinner, we took a cab to 175th and Broadway to the beautiful Palace Theater, and surprised Cyn with tickets to see her FAVORITE ARTIST OF ALL TIME………….MAXWELL! (As you may recall from the first blog entry, Cyn gave birth to Kai while Maxwell's song 'Fortunate" was playing on her ipod!) Seeing the look on Cyn's face was PRICELESS. Who knew Maxwell would be performing (he hasn't toured in YEARS!), and on her birthday no less — it was also the last night of his tour, so it was a truly magical night. Cyn was so emotional and cried tears of joy.
Happy Birthday, Cyn! We love you and so proud of who you are and all that you've accomplished this year.
We celebrated Kai's 1st Birthday on Sat. Nov. 22nd — one week earlier than his actual birthday. We couldn't celebrate on his real birthday (Nov. 29th) because most people would've been out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday, so we celebrated a week earlier! What a blast we all had! We held his party in our apartment building's party room — and it was decked out in island/luau fashion. The party room was complete with a Tiki Bar (for the adults!), and playground area for Kai and the kids, and an arts and craft table.
Of course, we had to have Filipino food — with all the faves — lechon, pansit, lumpiang shanghai, chicken and pork bbq skewers, and escabeche! We also had some salad and greens, to off-set all this grubbin' unhealthy pinoy food! haha…
A Casasola party always includes entertainment — Ninang Shar surprised Cyn, Paul, and Kai with a hula dance to the Hawaiian song "Kainoa" — she mesmerized everyone! Then Paul's parents sang a beautiful Haitian song a capella. Cyn and Paul sang a song dedicated to Kai called "I Believe" — which always makes me emotional. And I sang "Beautiful Angel" with Paul's dad, Lolo.
We had an arts and crafts table where people enjoyed exercising their artistic abilities. We had a Best Artwork Contest and Kai was the judge — he selected Kaori's innovative car creation as the winner!
The Tiki Bar was complete with cocktail drinks inspired by Kai — "Kai's Kookies and Kream", the "Kai Kai", "Peaceful Ocean" and "Kai-mikaze".
It was a day we'll never forget! Happy Birthday, Kai Kai. You are the love of our lives. You make our lives so happy and you remind us of what's truly important in life. We love you!
Kai, the Birthday Boy 
The playground — see Kai's name??? LECHON! Yum!
Ninang Eug in charge of Tiki Bar The finalists for the Art Contest
"Kai's Kookies & Kream" – the crowd fave Ninang Kyong and a sleeping Kai
Manze (Paul's Mom) & Kai Ninang Shar's captivating hula dance to a
song titled "Kainoa"
Manze & Lolo singing a capella Lolo and Liz singing "Beautiful Angel"
Cyn and Paul sing "I Believe" – a song they wrote for Kai
Kai enjoying his song Kaori's winning car creation – Kai loved it!
Happy Birthday to you!
Runner-up – Gary's artwork with Kai and Auntie Joan
moveable hands/legs.
Paul's beautiful family
Ninong Ray and Kai Kai's amazing Ninangs
Kai and Auntie Liz The Party Favors – Kai Chocolate Bars
Mommy was in much need of a GNO (Girls Night Out) since getting back into NYC! She missed her girlfriends while in Haiti, so we scheduled some fun times for her. On Wednesday, Anne and I took Cyn out to Dizzy's — the best jazz club in the city! She had the time of her life. On Thursday, we took her to Havana Alma de Cuba for some delicious Cuban food — then had drinks at Buddakan! Luckily, Ninong Ray was on hand to baby-sit Kai for BOTH nights in a row. Thank you so much, Ninong!!!
Kai asleep — Mission accomplished!
Good job, Ninong.
Catching Up with Kai and Keila 