I have been chosen...

I would like to share with you that I was chosen to share my story the at the Blog Carnival of the Wifely Steps. I hope that you could have the time to visit her blog and enjoy my story as well... To Miss Toni thanks for choosing me... I really appreciate it so much. Thanks for giving me a chance to be a part of it...

Our Very First Family Outing

Last April 2011 Francis surprised the kids by going to our very first family outing. Our destination is at the Kabayan Beach Resort here in Laiya, San Juan Batangas City. Since we are all excited, we woke up quite earlier than the usual since it was still vacation for us. We ate breakfast then left the house around 7:15 am so that we wouldn't be caught in the traffic jam.

But since there was no traffic at all, we arrived at the resort at 8:45 a.m. We asked the front desk if they could accommodate us since we didn't made any reservations at all. And they allowed us. Francis decided to rent an air conditioned room complete with a cable t.v., bathroom, refrigerator, a nice comfy bed and others. It cost us big time (4,500.00 pesos) just for the whole day rent but it was okay since we all had a grand time swimming on the beach and in the pool.

After lunch my eldest daughter, Arielle and I slept while Francis, with Joie and Amaya

swam on the beach. When I woke up I followed them on the beach then swam on the pool after. Before 4:30 p.m we decided to rest and take advantage of using the room (since, it was quite expensive). The kids watch Nickelodeon while Francis and I stroll down the beach and he took few pictures of me.

By 6:00 p.m. the whole family took a stroll to the beach side. Since it was low tide already we were able to go to the farthest part of the beach. The kids and my husband had a grand time. I also had a grand time but seeing them, my hubby and kids, enjoying it was more than enough for me.

It was one vacation that we will never ever forget. I hope next year we could do it all over again.

To Francis, tatay, thanks for taking time out from your hectic schedule to take us on this one unforgettable vacation

Amaya Isabell: The Youngest

April of 2006 when period didn't came, I bought a pregnancy home kit to see if my hunch is correct. And it was. I was pregnant. After 7 years and I was 32 at that time, I am pregnant for the 3rd time. Both our families were happy with the news. Since Francis and I already have two girls, I've prayed so hard that this time it will be a boy.

The first trimester was the most difficult for me. I usually throw up every after meal. I hate clothes that has been washed with fabric conditioner, I easily throw up. On June of 2006 I underwent an ultrasound just to be sure that my baby is okay. And the baby was just fine. October 20th 2006, I had another ultrasound. This time the sonologist told me that I will be having a girl. Again. It's not that I am not happy. Let's just say disappointed BUT in the end all of us are happy because another angel has been added to our family.

December 20, 2006, Amaya Isabell was born. She weighed 2.4 kgs. Among my 3 daughters she was the smallest in terms of weight. After 3 days I was allowed to go home leaving her at the NICU for 2 more days.

December 24, 2006, I have asked pediatrician, Dra. Elizabeth Javillo, if we could bring her home already in time for Christmas and she agreed. It was a wonderful Christmas for us because finally we are complete already. I decided to breast-feed her as long as I can, and in fairness, among my 3 daughters, she was the longest to be breastfed.

By December 20, 2011, which will be 3 more months, she will be turning 5. She is very talkative, very playful, likes Justin Beiber and Taylor Swift. She loves her 2 older siblings which she fondly calls: Ate Arielle and Ate Joie.

It may be the most difficult pregnancy of the three but it is worth it. And we are excited for her when she goes to school next year. Amaya Isabell will always be our precocious youngest member of the family and for that alone, we love her.

Josephine Therese: Our Middle Child

One year and three months after Arielle was born came next our newest member of the family, another baby girl we named: JOSEPHINE THERESE or Joie for short. Born on November 20, 1999.

With her it is totally different from our eldest Arielle. She was one and few months old when she learned to walk, talk and learnt he basic things any child should learn. But when she learned how to talk, my gosh, is she a talker?! Even though if we couldn't understand half of what she is saying.

When she started attending kindergarten, she excelled as well. She didn't attended daycare but instead she went to pre-school when she was ready. She loves to draw and experiment in combining different colors and I tell you, the end result is really good. She inherited from her father the gift of being "artistic".

Coming November she will be turning 12 already. And yes up to now she is still a talker (hahaha!). She dreams of becoming a chef someday or a fashion designer or an artist. She loves to watch all these cooking shows but she definitely loves Giada De Laurentiis. She told me that if she fails to become a chef, her fall back is to become an "artist" or a designer since she loves to draw, mix and match colors.

I just wish that she will continue to do what she loves and that she study very hard as well. I do love her as much as her Ate Arielle and our youngest Amaya.

She is our middle child. Our ate Joie. Our Joie who is a happy and fashionista daughter.

Katherine Arielle: My Ate

Over 13 years of being married, Francis and I were blessed with 3 intelligent, beautiful, and loving daughters. Let me introduce you to each of them. Let me introduce my eldest.

August 28, 1998 Katherine Arielle Q. Racal came into our life. Our eldest and we fondly call her Ate. When she was 10 months old she already knew how to say the alphabet, knows how to count from 1 to 20, she could show the different parts of her body.

When she was 3 and a half years old we enrolled her to the nearest day care center here in our place. She was the most talkative of them all and every time I pick her up from school, there will be stars stamped on both of her hands until on her arms.

But she wasn't able to finish her daycare because her tatay, as my kids fondly call their father, was admitted in the hospital and stayed there for almost a week and a half. So my daughters, Arielle and Joie had to stay with my parents back in Calamba, Laguna. She developed a separation anxiety so the teacher and I agreed that Arielle has to stop.

Fast forward to today, last month, August 28, she turned 13. My hubby and I have a pre-teen already in the house. I'm both excited and has this fear for her as well. Excitement because this is a new chapter in her life that she has to discover on her own, of course with my help as well as the help of my hubby. But there is definitely some fears as well because I know that the world we live in is full of people who are not honest and good.

I know she will make better decisions when I was her age. I just hope that she will choose friends that will help her grow to be a good person, inside and out.

I just want my Ate Arielle to know that no matter what happens, her father and I, will always be here. And that she will be forever our Ate Arielle...

Just Another Sunday

It is just another boring Sunday for me and the whole family. Since we don't have enough funds to go out, we are all here at home watching the ever reliable HBO or Star Movies over the cable channel. Then brought out our snacks which we bought it yesterday.

While I, on the other hand is still thinking what to post to day until the week to come. Well have to go for now. Have to prepare dinner earlier than the usual then eat dinner then time for me to iron some clothes and uniforms. Yes it's I who do all the things here in our home.

Until my next post... :))

Francis Vargas Racal... The Love of My Life

I got married at the age of 24. For some at that time, is early while for others it is the right time and age to settle down. I married my BEST-FRIEND whose name is Francis V. Racal. met during our college days here at De La Salle - Lipa.

April 4, 1998 we got married at the Archbishop's Palace with just the closest family members who attended. The reception was held at my mother's ancestral's house here at Lipa City as well. It may be a simple one but we all had a grand time.

Last April 4th of this year we celebrated our 13th years of being husband and wife. It was not an easy feat to reach this far. We had our own petty quarrels; big fights and disagreements in these 13 years. But in the end we always try to settle it out. Most of the people will tell all couples to settle their differences before the night ends. But I guess this does not work for everyone. I believe that it is better to take a sleep then talk it over when each other had cooled off already.

I used to pray for someone who is tall and good looking but I guess God has His own way of answering my prayers. Instead He blessed me with someone who is intelligent, very funny person, not that tall (average I would say), cutie-cute-cute (as what my kids and I would call him) and most of all LOVES and ACCEPTS me for who and what I am.

We are totally opposite in terms of music, our likes in foods and others. But despite and in spite of these differences we are still each other's strengths. As in a Chinese symbol we are: yin and yang.

I have been blessed with someone whose patience and love for me is never-ending and I wouldn't have it any other way. He is my strength... He is my life... He is the Love of my life...

I love you so very much Francis V. Racal, and as I always say, don't ever let go of my hands because I will not....