Adventures in Canada, Part 1: Edmonton

Here are some pics of our visit with Jenn's family in Edmonton, Alberta.


So much attention from the Lolas!


Walking!!!!!



Luc entertains Lola Juliet



Any requests?



A few of the cousins together during our cousin Jon's wedding.



Luc asleep during the wedding reception.

Ube

Here's Luc having a taste of ube ice cream. We had a hankering for ube every few months or so in Texas, but considering that the Austin area isn't exactly teeming with Filipinos, ube is not really in high demand. What is "ube," you ask? It's a purple yam, which is widely found throughout South and Southeast Asia, as well as Oceania. According to Wikipedia:

Ube (or ubi) is the Filipino word for purple yam (Dioscorea alata). It contains pigments that gives its violet color. In India, this vegetable is known as ratalu or violet yam or the Moraga Surprise. In Japan, it is called murasaki imo. In Tonga: ʻufi (and is considered there as a royal food), in Hawaiʻi: uhi, in Tahiti: ufi. In the Philippines, ube is cooked with sugar and eaten as a sweetened dessert or jam called ube halaya which is a bright violet color. Ube is also an ingredient in the fruity dessert halo halo, another popular Filipino dessert.

Luc's First Birthday Party

We're now in Richmond, California, spending a few weeks with Jenn's family. We arrived just in time for Lolo's 70th birthday as well as for Luc's first birthday. Here are some photos of Luc's big day, which he celebrated with family and friends.


Luc's birthday cake


Mmmmmmm.....calories!


The happy family posing with the lechon (suckling pig)-- no Filipino party would be complete without one!


Lolo (Grandpa) entertains the guests on the karaoke machine (no Filipino party would be complete without one!)


The kids get busy in the backyard with sidewalk chalk


Drew attempts to take down the pinata