tugged at the heart

10-9-8-7-4-3-1.

these are not today's lottery winning numbers, rather these are the ages of my nephews and nieces.

i was visiting my parents' place last weekend. with the presence of my little nieces and nephews in the house, the place is transformed into a quite opposite dwelling, compared to how it was then while i was growing up. these bambinis and bambinos just effortlessly turns the house upside down, and cause havoc at almost all its corners. seven kids are running about the house, with an accompanying orchestra of squeals and cries, one after the other, almost at every hour. it's really quite a scene observing them as they go about their daily adventures. now, i could relate to the movie, Cheaper by the dozen. :)

on last weekend's visit, i told my "pamangkins" that we'd make some pastillas de leche. Early saturday morning, they were already bugging me with buying the ingredients.

"Auntie, gising na. di ba gawa tayo ng pastillas today?" (It's still 9 in the morning! Tulog pa ako. Later, ok?)

After lunch.

"Auntie, di ba sabi mo gawa tayo ng pastillas?" (Wala pa tayong ingredients.)

After two hours later.

"Auntie, sige na bili na tayo ng ingredients. Ano ba ang ingredients ng pastillas?". And a younger one asks. "Ano ibig sabihin ng ingredients, Auntie?"

On our way home, from the city.

"Auntie, punta pa tayo sa mall para bili ng ingredients." And the others chorused, "Oo, auntie, bili pa tayo ng ingredients."

they didn't stop until i finally got to buy it (of course, with them excitedly tugging at my back inside the grocery store).

Then, together with the older ones (those from aged 7 up), we went to my cousin's place and did the pastillas over there. i could only manage up to four kids. at least they're at the stage where you could reason with them already. but still they are a handful. After a broken glass, a table covered with powdered milk all over (some even reaching the floor), and four hours later, the five of us managed to create the pastillas and had our fill of the sweets. it was such a feat to have 8 little hands work with you. but it was all worth it by just looking at them gather about you and actually listening to your instructions.

everytime i go home, i always do my best to be the good aunt. and being the aunt that they rarely see, it's always a heart-warming scene each time i see them. i beam at their big smiles, warm hugs and sweet kisses. well, that's one part i always look forward. kids will always be kids, despite how much hurly burly they cause at home, they too could be just the sweetest :)

having my "pamangkins" around, it makes me not want to have kids of my own yet. there are already so many kids at home, so why add to that :) but when i go back to cebu, i can't help but miss all of them. and seeing my brothers and sisters hover about them, makes me wish that i too have my own.... BUT, Wait. that's kinda scary. it's only a feeling. i'm not ready yet. he-he-he.

I always treasure my time with my nephews and nieces. And when i feel kinda homesick, and have some "maternal instinct" kick inside me, i'd just pack my things and head home. cause for now, that's where my heart is :)