Advance Happy Mother's Day

The country is still celebrating Pacquiao’s big win last Sunday. The print and broadcast media (and the blogging community too) are all talking about him. But why not. Pacman is one big newsmaker indeed and he always makes the Filipinos happy with his conquests in the boxing arena. I can just imagine how jubilant his family must be with this recent victory. I bet Aling Dionisia must be the proudest and happiest mother in Las Vegas these days. The victory must have been an advance Mother’s Day gift to her. *grin*

Now speaking of Mother’s Day, I’m so stumped as to what I’m going to give my mother this weekend. I surely am no Pacquiao in terms of wealth (and strength) but I’d also like to give “something” to my mother on Mother’s Day. The only thing is, I still don’t know what that “something” would be. *smile* I’m actually deciding whether to buy her a gift myself or to give her the resources to buy herself a gift. But I'm leaning on the latter.

Now how about you, what are you giving your mother (or the mother of your kids) on Mother’s Day? Are you picking up a book for her? Or a new car perhaps? Jewelry?

For those of you who are looking into jewelry gift items, Gemz N Gold, a designer and manufacturer of high quality jewelry in California USA has a wide collection of eye-catching designs that will surely capture every woman's heart. So why not say Happy Mother's Day with these diamond-studded pieces?

I'd have given my mother one of these too if only she's fond of jewelry (but she's not). BTW, as Mother's Day offer, Gemz N Gold is including a red jewelry box for your every purchase of jewelry on or before May 11, 2009.

(To all moms out there: Happy Mother's Day!)

A Special Day

31 years ago, Ringo releases "Drowning in the Sea of Love"

31 years ago, my mother was in a delivery room huffing and puffing to bring a daughter into this world.

31 years ago, I was born.

Smile

When your kid grows up with their grandparents, you just have to expect that they know how to sing this. :-)

Maybe not all. But at least they know some of the lines.

I woke up this morning with my son singing lines from Nat King Cole's famular song.

Smile!

LP:Liwaliw

Eto and paboritong gawin namin pagmay oras kaming mamasyal. Ang saya naman talaga maligo sa dagat man o sa pool lalo na kung mainit ang panahon!


Translation: Here's something we love to do when time permits. Now it really is fun to take off the clothes and just enjoy the coolness of the waters -especially on hot summer days.

LP: AKO

Matanda na. May wrinkles at varicose na. Nde yata klaro sa litratong ito pero nadyan sila, maniwala kayo :-)

Translation: Old me and my wrinkled and varicose-laden foot. Okay, they're not too clear but trust me, they definitely inhabit my feet.

Happy To Be Back

Though I didn't miss it much, it's good to be back blogging. I had a forced blogging hiatus for almost five days due to my son's hospitalization. I have kept my blogs alive though - because I had few scheduled posts which were prepared in advance. Now I have lots of catching up to do. :-)

Boy Talk

Clothes, clothes...

Few days ago, I saw the need to purchase a new cabinet to house our clothes. And we did purchase one. Matt is growing up and so are his clothes –the size of his clothes at least. Considering the increase of size, his baby clothes took up most of the space of our old cabinet especially the unused ones that he received as presents on his birthday and Christmas.

And yes, I really don’t buy him much clothing because there are always family member who shower him with clothes as if there’s no tomorrow. And then he also receives a lot of hand-me- downs (that don’t look hand-me-down at all) from his cousins. So I rarely buy –except when really needed or really tempted.

Now speaking of temptation, look at these cute baby clothes at Sand Couture. Lovely right? The store is on sale and you can save up to 90%. Also, they offer free shipping for purchases over $75.

Project ToyBox

Every end of the year (for the past 4 years), I'd receive supplies in a box like the one below. Last year was no different.

And every year, rather than leaving it to rot or discarding it, I'd be thinking of ways to re-use it.

But this time, I decided to glam it up a bit and utilized it as my son's toy box to help me cope with the headache of seeing broken toys, old toys all around the house. Last year's box was made into a toy box also, sans the trimmings.

Materials used: Sandpaper, cupboard liners and double-sided tape. Tools: scissors, ruler, pencil.

So after the sanding and cleaning of the box, then measuring and tracing of the liners (to fit the sides), here's the work-in-progress.

And finally, after more than an hour (or maybe more because dear son was bugging me to let him do some cutting), here's the finish product.

Thankful Thursday

This week, I am thankful...

...that my hub is getting enough rest. I couldn't say that when he was working in his previous employer (when even in his sleep, his project would haunt him).

...for Matt's creativity. He always bring pleasant surprises for us all.

...for the music. They are the perfect drug to take on a hectic day.

...for friends who keep in touch. And who share their lives.

...for the sleep I get even when I am working on night shift (Aha! Working while sleeping is not really a good idea but we are allowed to do that when there's no activity in the network).

...that I am able to open my lids this morning. It's good to be alive! And it's the best to come to a kid who jumps when he sees you, hugs and tells you "I love you."

Thanks be to God!

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Young Engineer

Coming home from work one afternoon, my son - after our initial display of affection- said “Mama, remote” and proudly showed me something he had been holding in his hand.


“Oh.” I was surprised. No, that is not a remote. I was almost tempted to say but held my tongue in check.


“What is this remote control for?” I playfully asked instead.

“Remote for [the] yo-yo.”


And I pulled all my reserved acting skills to keep a straight face.

***

So presenting Matt's self-made remote control.



Made out of sticking a cottonbud (arrow) on a hole of wrist toy (that makes sound by pressing the red triangle). He said the cottonbud is the antenna!




And this is my son's entry for this week's MakeIt FromScratch! Eugene Polley- step aside.

Wordless Wednesday: Lovin' and Playin'

Taken during our family reunion last December 2007. Hub and Matt had a great time in the pool. They were in there 80% of the time!

For more of Wordless Wednesday participants, visit here or here.

Christmas Hoopla

I know this is late but I promised myself to do this Christmas meme hoopla from Melanie, so here goes.

Rules:

1. List 12 random things about yourself that has to do with Christmas.
2. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word
3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere.
4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible.
5. If you want to -- please give me, Andrea, some link-love as the 'Hoopla-Creator'. I love new blog-traffic.

******

1. When I was younger, I -along with my friends- had tried going around our neighborhood singing Christmas carols. It was then that I inadvertently introduced myself to this running-for-your-life game. Kids vs. askals (stray and seemingly-stray dogs).

2. We always have fake trees at home.

3. I prefer to be the one take the tree down- and put away the rest of our decorations rather than be the one to set them up. By then (the former), I will not have to worry about "presentation."

4. I like shopping gifts in December - despite the traffic, despite the long queues by the counters, despite the fact that I have to squeeze myself in between warm bodies just to get to another section.

5. I like to wrap gifts. I always volunteer to do the gift wrapping because I could make that as my excuse to not do the dishes, miss my date with the iron board, skip the laundry...

6. I love to re-use Christmas gift wrappers - or any gift wrappers, for that matter.

7. Every year, I always wait for December to come. Mmm, very much like a kid. No kidding.


8. I've spent a handful of Christmases working in the office. Yes, Christmas Eve.

9. I have spent more than a handful of Christmases away from home.

10. When I was kid, my father would sing Christmas songs to make me sleep. I just love listening to my father sing Christmas songs - until now.



11. Fireworks, I definitely love but firecrackers give me a nightmare. I am terribly scared of firecrackers - ask my parents.

12. I am sporting a scar on my knees as proof to #12. I will never forget one Christmas Eve, on the way to my cousin's house after hearing mass, when the crash-boom-bang rat-tat-tat-tat-tat got me too scared surprised I literally jumped out of my skin. I fell hard on my knees and in our mad rush, I got dragged (by my cousin) while on my knees.

Now because it's late, I just have to break Rule #3 and not tag anyone. Why do I hear sighs of relief? :-)

Thankful Thursday

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I know this is a late post.

But before I slept last night, I'm just amazed at how God has blessed me with so much. What did I do? What have I done to deserve such blessings?

I'm just this tiny, tiny speck of dust before God and yet I know that He loves me. And that is SO much to be thankful of.

Christmas Meme

Found this in Regina's place :

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both

2. Real or artificial Tree? Fake

3. When do you put Christmas tree up? First week of December

4. When do you take the tree down? Mid or last week of January or when not too tired

5. Like egg nog? Sometimes

6. Do you have a nativity scene? This year, none; in the past, yes

7. Favorite gift received as a child? A doll

8. Hardest person to buy for? My father

9. Easiest person to buy for? My son

10. Worst Christmas gift? I have none that I can remember

11. Mail or email a Christmas Card? Mail

12. Favorite Christmas movie? Home Alone

13. Favorite food to eat at Christmas? Everything because I have a voracious appetite Okay if it's just one food then it has to be the ham.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? How's that?

16. Favorite lights? White

17. Favorite Christmas Song? Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer -that's the first thing that came to my mind

18. Travel during Christmas or Stay Home? Stay Home

19. Can you name Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen & Rudolph (I know you knew I cheated!)

20. Angel or Star on Tree top? This year, we have a star.

21. Least favorite thing about this time of year? Traffic

22. Which one person do you really want to see blessed this Christmas and why. Why limit to one? Everyone -all around the globe (especially those reading this. Hehe).

***

Andrea is giving away a copy of the Booples DVD's. If you're interested, check it out.

And Redhotfranchises.com is giving away an Ipod Nano. Just comment in here and you'll have one entry already. Contest ends on New Year's Eve, so go visit them now.

This week's the Carnival of Family Life has long been up and running at AdventuresInJuggling. Thanks Laura!

Also Make It From Scratch is up over at Mrs. Micah's.

The Other Wacko

I was tagged by Cheh to do this Meme.

Here are the guidelines :

1. First name
2. How and where did you meet?
3. Characteristics
4. Your plans 20 to 30 years from now.

***

1. Let's just call him "Cris" - but I have never used this or his birthname when I speak with him. I used to call him Tiyoy (a term referring to someone old or has similar characteristics; and yes, he calls me Tiyay, too) and alternately, Honey. Now, it's Pops (short for Papa).

2. We were classmates in College, but we had a one-or-two-sentences-to-each-other relationship. When I moved out of our town to work elsewhere and he moved to the same location where I was working (after his short teaching stint), we both remained reserved. Ummm, despite seeing each other regularly during group gatherings. It was only when I returned home (and he remained in that other town) that the calls and text messages started to come. ;D

3. He is the exact opposite of me. I'm more of a chatterbox, he is not. He is calm and patient, I am not. He has the slow-and-easy attitude on everything that almost always drives me nuts!

Here's the ONLY pic I have with hub when we were in College.

(And I only became "aware" that he was in the pic when I scanned old pics for our wedding!)

4) Lots. But at 50 or so, I would like to see us still holding hands. We'd be real Tiyoy and Tiyay by then but I pray the love would still be smoldering.

Thoughts on Care Homes

In a country where the sense of familial responsibility, including taking care of aged family members, is strongly encouraged by parents (to their children), care homes are not an “in” thing here. In fact, the mere mention of bringing relatives in care homes will not just elicit an are-you-crazy kind of look, it could cause major conflict in the family.

Reality is, getting aged parents or relatives in a care home is not even considered an option here because the norm is for able children or relatives to do the caring. Or in most cases, especially for well-off families, hiring a nursing aid or maid to carry out this responsibility, is commonplace but definitely not putting them in a nursing home.

Truthfully, I, for one, will never consider this an option for my parents. And it’s not because that is expected of me but because I know I will be happy doing that for the people who have given me everything and who have made me ME.

How about you, what are your thoughts on this issue?

By the way, if you you have questions about caring for the members of our family or yourselves, there’s a forum at Bettercaring where you can discuss your concerns, ask questions and share your experiences.

Busier and Happier

After being away for almost two years, my younger brother's back home.

Needless to say, everyone is just too happy to see him - ecstatic may even be the right word. Matt is really thrilled to see him and they instantly hit it off like a house on fire. ;D

His is just a short vacation before he goes back to SoKor. But that's better than none at all. And it's also a blessing because he'll be able to celebrate his birthday with us next month.

My mother's really busy preparing meals - isn't she always? ;D - and I guess in the coming days, I'll be busier, too. But happier.

It just feels good to hear his baritone voice again. It's been awhile.

Free Books are fun!

"Books are fun, books are fun." Matt repeatedly said while jumping on our bed. I know my son loves to read but I was surprised when I heard him say that. I reckon that he must have parrot-ed (not really in the dictionary, huh?!) this line from Barney. Matt is in this "parroting" stage that I am walking in a tight rope trying hard to filter my speech these days.

Anyway, I almost didn't get to work. Reason: son was unusually cling-y. And I didn't know why. We were in our room and he'd go "Waaaa. Beside Mama." That's his way of telling me to lie down beside him on the bed.

I gave him my generic spiel that I have to got to work to be able to buy food, etc... (and that I'll be back later in the evening). He always accepts that but yesterday, he did not. So I told him I needed to take a bath because "I'm collecting germs already" but again, that didn't work. Like the "buy food" story, it always works in the past but not yesterday. He really was being such a baby and was wailing the moment I lift my head off the bed. Just raising my head few degrees and he would go "Waaaa...Beside Mama" and would make a sign for my head to resume its position on the bed.

After come coaxing, thanks to my mother, he finally relented that I had to go to take my bath. But it was quite a time before he relented. Thankfully, after my bath, "his moment" had already passed and so I was able to go to work.

Anyway, when I came in the office, the guard handed me this package. I was just too thrilled and couldn't wait to read the book. Thanks Nicole Baart!


Wednesday, Nov 28

Going To Be A Daddy Soon

Few days ago, I was on the phone with my brother and he excitedly informed me that they are expecting a healthy baby boy early next year. Boy, I really am thrilled but it’s such a pity that we have to wait for a little longer before we can see the baby because they are living away from us. Matt would surely love the baby.

I also learned that he and his wife are already in the process of finalizing a birthing plan and finding the right medical care. Actually, they plan on having the baby delivered in a hospital up north, and near where most of our relatives - from my mother’s side- live. That’s really practical because, being a first time mom, my SIL will surely need all the help she can get when the baby arrives and my brother, being in the military, may not be able to stay with her for long.

But it was while we were seriously discussing money issues i.e. healthcare insurance, family insurance policies, hospitalization rates, expenses and more possible expenses that I was suddenly struck with the realization of how much we have changed. We used to be two teenagers who love to squabble over anything petty under the sun. Oh, how we loved to annoy each other. And last year, he was still this carefree officer who kept us amused with tales about his life in the military. But listening to him few days ago, he sounded so different; he sounded like a Big Daddy already and I could only smile.