Thank You 2012... Welcome 2013

     It was just like 2012 was starting and now we have to bade our goodbye to the year it was. But before I totally welcome 2013 let me say a few thanks to the past year, 2012. I have to be honest that 2012 has been a good and at the same time trials came, and these 2 made me a better person than I was before. As they say LIFE IS NOT A BED OF ROSES. Trials in life will either make or break you. In my case, "MY" trials in the past year made me  A BETTER PERSON.  

On my being a WIFE to my husband

Francis, I could just say that where ever we

are right now, I am so thankful to the good Lord

that we have maintained a good relationship.

Despite and inspite of. And on this note, I 

would like to say THANK YOU very much for just 

being there for me. And for his Christmas

gift, thank you so much. You 

knew how much I love it. 

On my being a MOTHER to my 3 beautiful,
intelligent daughters. I don't think I am even half
way of what my own parents has done
for me and my siblings. But then as I see my 3
girls growing into fine young ladies,
I guess I could give my self a pat in the
back and I could say I AM DOING
A GOOD JOB and CONTINUE doing it so.

On my being ME, as my own person, I guess I
haven't forgotten to really look after my whole-being.
Once in a while I go on my "ME TIME",
whether just going to the public market, doing
grocery shopping, or just staying
at my favorite place, National Bookstore.

      It was only this year that I have rediscovered my love of reading. Thank you to the mommy bloggers I follow at twitter for the big fuss they made out of the 50 Shades Trilogy and yes I do have them all. After 50 Shades, I started reading other authors like John Green ( the first book that I read was The Fault In Our Stars, and I loved it), Paulo Coelho (I am a late bloomer that is) and Mitch Albom ( I love his latest story, The Time Keeper).

    On me being a mommy blogger, I know I am only beginning my "career" as a blogger but with people who leaves comments on some of the posts I do, they are my inspiration that I could do better. I may not be the best like the bloggers I really look up to, but sharing my thoughts once in a while, what I love to do and read is far more than enough. I am looking forward to more posts though this coming 2013.

     So to 2012, my heartfelt THANK YOU. Thank you for ALL THE TRIALS that came my way. It took me a while to bounce back but here I am still standing and I made it. Thank you for the wonderful time you have given me, my family, my friends and my blog. You really made me a better person, 2012.

     Thank you and good bye.... And now looking forward to the New Year, 2013...  

Amaya's First Hair Cut

 After 6 years, it is only yesterday that my youngest daughter, Amaya had her first real haircut at David's Salon here at Robinson's Place Lipa. If you're wondering who cuts the hair of my Amaya, Me. Yes, Me. Since she is uncomfortable of going to the salon I did her hair cut for the past 6 years. And so when she agreed to have a hair cut, My 2 older daughters and I really cheered on her because she might not get the hang of having her hair cut at the salon. And since it is indeed her first I took my ever reliable digicam with me. Here are the photos.

Finally! Amaya got comfortable
washing her hair, because she
hates cold water it took a while
to pacify her. hahaha!

Yey!!! the first cut... Finally done
by a professional. hahaha!

And now on to the blow drying

  

Why the face? because she
hates the noise of the blow dry makes
and hates the hot air
that comes out of it. hahaha!

Voila!!! Newly cut hair by Sir Mark of
David's Salon Robinson's
Place Lipa.

       

Amaya's World

     I can't help but share this little funny story. Ever since Amaya learned how to read and learned a lot of things from school, feeling ko nalito na ang bunso ko. Here's what I mean:

Amaya (reading her Filipino book): KA-MA-TI

Grech: KAMATIS, Amaya with an S.

Amaya: oh, madami pala.

     Me and my 2 older daughters can't help but really laugh our hearts out... Haay Amaya!!!

Must Go: The Mind Museum

     Ever since I read this Mind Museum from one of the mommy bloggers I follow (click here), I have always wanted to go there with my kids and husband. And last Sunday, November 25, it happened. Yes I feel a kid who is so excited to go on a "field trip". I have to admit, my husband and I really saved up for this. For a 3 hour trip within the museum, it cost us 2,550.00 pesos. And I could really say that it is really worth it. My 2 older daughters really don't know where to start, where to look at, excited to go to the next floor. While my youngest, really enjoyed. It is THE one museum where I really allowed my youngest to really touch everything but of course with my guidance and my hubby's as well. Anyway, without much further a do, let me show you, my dear readers, via photo our trip.

Warning: LOADS OF PHOTOS... Enjoy....

Me and my daughters at
the lobby of the Mind Museum

This is KAL, as soon as you
enter the lobby, you will definitely
meet him

See how amazed my Amaya
with KAL

Here we are waiting for the
time to go inside the museum
(excited much!!!)

As you enter, you will definitely see this,
just a few reminders while inside
the museum

This is Aedi, spelled the idea
backward

Here is one of the guides
whom shared a few things
before we really explore the whole museum

Meet Stan, and my Amaya is
scared of this.

This is one of the things I really
liked, I tried it and I tell you my hair even
in my skin really stand up. Look
at my older daughter's hair.

The periodic table. You will what products
symbolizes each element

Lucky for us we were
able to see simple experiments
from these two guys.

It is nice to be an archaeologist
even just for a few minutes. hehehe!

just like in the movie Jurassic Park

The different parts of the brain

The evolution of men. And I tell
you that woman with the long
hair really looks kinda real. It scared me
the first time I saw it. 

 The following pictures are inside the Mind Museum Store

My daughter taking picture
of some of the cards. While at the back
are some drinking bottles and other toys.

There are shirts and caps as well. 

Books for the kids 

This is nice a gift, a USB. too bad
I wasn't able to buy one.

The next photos are taken at the Mind Museum park

My Ate Joie, tried making
this giant bubble but when she
was about to stand up,
it burst.

This eagle, you could peek behind the holes
and you could see how the eagles
see at things.

the slides, where my 3 daughters
really enjoyed the most.

      This is one trip wherein my daughters and I really had a great time. So if you're not busy this coming weekend or this coming Christmas break, try going to the Mind Museum.

Click here to visit their website: The Mind Museum

My Current Favorite Song

     Before I go to bed, I just want to share with you my dear bloggers my current favorite song. Thanks to my 2 older daughters for introducing me to this song, ate Arielle and ate Joie. So enjoy it my dear blogger friends and readers. Good night... Sweet dreams...  ;)

The Time Keeper: My Favorite Quotes

     So the last post I talked about my current favorite book, The Time Keeper. In every book that I read, or we read, there will be those lines that will really stands out and that will remain in our heads. What I usually do is I have a stabilo or marker beside me so that I could underline or mark those lines that I really love.

just like in the photo... this is
what I usually do. hehehe!

 

     From this book, let me share with you my favorite lines or quotes...

- " Man alone measures time.

    Man alone chimes the hour.

   And, because of this, man 

  Alone suffers a paralyzing fear

  That no other creature endures.

  A fear of time running out..."

- "Mankind is connected in ways 

   it does not understand -

  even in dreams..."

- "It is never too late or too soon.

   It is when it is supposed to be."

- "You marked the minutes. But did you

   Use them wisely? To be still? To cherish?

   To be graceful? To lift & be lifted?"

- "Remember this always:

 There is a reason God limits man's days"

- "But man who can take

   Anything will find most things unsatisfying.

  And a man without memories is just a shell."

- "Time flies with you"

- "We all yearn for what we have lost.

   But sometimes, we forget what we have."

- "What will you do with the time you have left?"

- "A heart weighs more when it splits in two;

   It crashes in the chest like a broken plane"

- "Knowing something and understanding it

   were not the same thing."

- "Living without love was something he knew

   More than any soul on earth"

- "When does it stop hurting?

   Sometimes never..."

- "Time is not something you give back. The very

    next moment may be an answer to your prayer.

   To deny that is to deny the most important part

   Of the future. What's that? HOPE"

- "Ends are for yesterdays, not tomorrows."

- "With endless time, nothing is special, 

    With no loss or sacrifice, we can't 

    Appreciate what we have."

- "There is a reason God limits our days.

    Why?

    To make each one precious"

- "There was always a quest for more minutes,

    More hours, faster progress to accomplish,

   More in each day. The simple joy of living 

   Between sunrises were gone."

- "Everything man does today to be efficient,

   To fill the hour? It does not satisfy. It only makes

  Him hungry to do more. Man wants to own his

  Existence. BUT NO ONE OWNS TIME."

- "We do not realize the sound the world makes -

    Unless, of course, it comes to a stop. Then, when

   It starts, it sounds like an orchestra."

- Dor: "I tried to stop your suffering"

  Alli: "We cannot stop what heaven chooses"

- "TIME FLIES"

How about you? Have you read the book? What are your favorites? Can't wait to hear it from you...

Happy 13th Birthday Ate Joie!

     Today, is the 13th birthday of my 2nd daughter, Josephine Therese better known as Joie in our family and as called by her friends as well. Since last year I made an open letter to her already, (click post) this year I decided to use pictures as to let everybody knows how my little girl is now a young lady. Naks!

Joie when she was in 

junior kinder at ESLC

Ate Joie member of

the school choir

Ate Joie and her sister Ate Arielle

are both members of the

school newspaper

With me, during our

family outing here at Laiya

goofing in front of the 

camera with Ate Arielle

Ate Joie...

another profile picture

taken during the time we

went to MOA

Ate Joie's achievement as a

runner-up in the Binibining Kalikasan 2012

Another feather in her cap... She placed

5th in School Press Conference, 

and she will be going to 

Tagaytay on December

     To our Ate Joie, thank you anak, for always making me and your tatay so proud of all the achievements you have done... And I know you will go places for you know how to really strive hard. I love you so much anak, always remember that... God bless you...  :)

Book Rave: The Time Keeper

     I have seen this book, The Time Keeper, on display at the National Bookstore here at SM Lipa. Since I have been looking what book to read after The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, a good book by the way. This book caught my attention. To be honest, it will be my first time to read a book by Mitch Albom. Since it is one of the best-sellers I bought it immediately.

     But then due to my busy schedule as a mom to my 3 daughters, it is only recently that I began reading it. I would usually read the book every morning after my 2 older kids have left for school, and while my youngest and husband are still asleep. And last Friday, I finally finished reading the book. Yeah it took me a while to read it. But I could say IT IS INDEED ONE DAMN GOOD BOOK.

NOTE:   I am not really what you could call someone who is a book critic. It just so happened I love reading books but what I am going to share is how I felt about the book, the story and yes it made me realize a LOT OF THINGS... and most importantly ABOUT TIME.

   The 3 main characters are Dor, also known as the Father Time. Victor, a self made billionaire and married to the beautiful Grace. Sarah, a fat but intelligent girl. Three different stories but they have one thing in common: TIME. Dor, wanted to know more about time; Victor, wanted MORE and LONGER time despite of his old age and that he is sick. Sarah, on the other hand wanted to slow the time so she could spend a little longer with Ethan (the boy she thought "loves" her).

     I could honestly say that as one reads this book, one way or another, you could related to either of the 3 main characters. On my part, I could really relate more with Dor and Grace ( yes the wife of Victor). I admire her love for Victor despite her husband's busy schedule, travelling here and there, she still stood by him. Knowing that their marriage or relationship as husband and wife were greatly affected. On the other hand, I admire Dor's love to his wife, Alli. For Dor, his world is his wife and kids. His never-ending love for Alli, I felt that.

MY THOUGHTS/REFLECTION:
     As every second passes by be sure to really make a good use of it. Never waste any single moment dwelling on the past because it is IN THE PAST. What had happened cannot be UNDONE anymore. What is important is that we still have the PRESENT, to at least correct whatever wrong doing we may have done in the past. This is why it is very important for me, as a mother, to have a good relationship with each of my 3 daughters. I could do so much as a mom. The rest are still up to them.

     As for me being a wife, being in a marriage, is really a TOUGH JOB. Both of you must REALLY STRIVE to get the relationship going and working. I could assure you, every relationship, whether you're married or not, has really its ups and downs. All relationship go to tough times and it's up to both of you how are you going to resolve it.

     Now I believe that TIME IS INDEED GOLD and we should not waste a single second. If you're working, work hard but DON'T FORGET the people around you, especially your family. They are your backbone, I tell you. If you're "SINGLE" enjoy being one until the "right" one comes along. If you're YOUNG, enjoy your youth, for it will only come once.

   Lastly, don't forget to ENJOY LIFE for this too is just a once in a lifetime for all of us.

   Remember this: TIME FLIES

A Fun Day at Swimming Class

     Today is the last day of the swimming class of Amaya and her classmates. The teachers had a fun day of just having a contest among their students. They were grouped into 4 with 3 students each. All of the lessons they have learned in the past quarter were used. Here are some of the photos of the class.

The kids are being grouped 

into 4 members

This is my Amaya, instead of using

the kick board, she just clinged

to the neck of the teacher and kicked

her way to the other end. Hahaha!

The teachers let the kids use

the NOODLE, so that they

could kick and paddle

Amaya doing the bubbles... Instead of

putting her whole face down the

water, she is just LITERALLY 

doing bubbles on top of the water.

Hahaha!

The whole class with teachers from
Bert Lozada Swimming School

     To the ever reliable swimming teachers from the Bert Lozada Swimming School, on behalf of all the mothers of the students, our heartfelt THANK YOU for all of your patience, understanding, and love you have given to our kids. We know that it is difficult to teach these kids but it paid off. Until next year. See you again.

I Am Still Here

     Hello!!! I know... I know... it has been a while since the last time I blogged. It was a busy one for me last month, October. My 2nd daughter was included in the Binibini at Ginoo Kalikasan, where she won as 2nd runner-up in the division level. For a first timer, she was really lucky. Here is my Ate Joie.

Her gown is made out of
plastic and the upper part
of the gown are made out
of straws

     Then exams for my girls came up so I have to be guide my 2 older ones while I did the reviewer for my youngest. I really did missed blogging. But there were those times that I don't know what to blog about, what to write about. But there are those times that I have ideas that I want to share but I am so shy to share for some might think that it is so shallow to be shared. And now that I don't have to be embarrassed if there are simple ideas, or thoughts in my mind that I want to share. Because THIS IS MY BLOG. Hahaha! So for the time being, this is going to be my first post for this month of November and I will definitely be blogging regularly.

Amaya's Girls

     A few weeks ago, Amaya drew this, in a scratch paper. She told me: Mom, I am the one in the middle, (the big one actually... hahaha...) and the 3 girls on the left and on the right are her friends, whom she calls MY GIRLS. Hahaha! I am so proud of her drawing.

   

Teaching Aid For Amaya

     Hello! I know it has been a while since the last time I posted. I apologize. It has been a hell week for me. With the field trip (another post for that), the swimming class of Amaya which I swear really takes a toll on me. As in after the class and all, as soon as I reached home, I really lay down, I am so dead tired. Anyways, enough of the blah, blah, blah. So what's with the title? Amaya is an English speaking child. I guess you can't blame me if I teach her how to speak the language. Please don't get me wrong, we are pure Filipino but I guess IT IS NOT A SIN to teach your child another language, since it is the ONLY OTHER LANGUAGE I know how to speak as well.

     Though here at the house, as of now, with Amaya, all of us are trying to talk to her in Tagalog. She could understand if we talk in the native language but most of the times I have to translate SOME of the tagalog conversations here at the house. And since she is attending school already, Junior Kinder, part of the curriculum is the Pilipino subject. Let's just say she is confused between: BA, BE, BI, BO, BU and DA, DE, DI, DO, DU. So I went to this mini-mart at the public market and looked for booklets that could help her read Filipino words. And yes, I was able to find, A LOT. But I just bought 2 of the booklets. 

These are the booklets I
am talking about, if you have kids having
difficulty reading in tagalog,
I tell these are 2 of the booklets
available to help your children.

     So aside from the said booklets, I decided to buy blank flashcard and write all of the letters so that it will be easier for me to know if Amaya could really do this on her own. 

I bought this marker to use it on

the blank flashcard, which can be 

bought at the bookstore...

and this is how it looks like, after

you have written. Then you

could practice your kids doing the

PAGPAPANTIG...