My daughter Bela will be participating in their school’s year-end program. They are also encouraging parents to join the performance of their kids as well and as expected, I will say no for this, but not for hubby.

As I’ve told you before, hubby can showcase his talents when it comes to singing and playing instruments. I think he is the one that my kids look up to that’s why they are very eager to learn how to play musical instruments.

Since Bela is attending drums lessons, hubby came up with the idea about their performance. Bela’s coach said that she can already read notes and she can even play Roar which is one of Katy Perry’s songs. So hubby said that both of them can jam to the tune of Roar with Bela being the drummer and him being the guitarist. Bela loves the idea that’s why she’s been practicing at home with her new drum set. As per hubby, he’s quite nervous but he said that he’s confident enough that they can nail it. He is even looking for a guitar store where he can order one of the newest models of guitar so they can have the best quality of sounds.

I just can’t wait to see both of them on the stage. For sure, I’ll be the first one to give them the standing ovation and applause. 

For the nth time, we went to Tagaytay again last weekend as hubby wanted to unwind and I was making the most of my last two weekends before I go back to work. But to change things a little, we decided to visit Paradizoo this time. Paradizoo is a mini zoo and themed farm located in Cavite. We left Manila around 11 AM already so we just grabbed food for takeout along SLEX and we head straight to Paradizoo. I haven’t uploaded the pictures yet but this is one of the family pictures that we took inside Paradizoo:

Bela and Cobi really had a blast even though there are just a few animals in the zoo. But they enjoyed it because some of the animals are just freely roaming around the farm so the kids had a chance to play and pet the animals. After our visit to Paradizoo, we went to Carlo’s Pizza for merienda before heading back home to Manila.

Last January 29, we celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. I can’t believe time flies that fast. I can still remember when hubby and I were still preparing for our wedding and now here we are. We were able to stick with each other for 9 years. LOL.

We did not have any big celebration. What is important for us is that we are together on that day and we have spent some quality time together even if it is just for a couple of hours. We left home early and we went to our favorite out of town getaway, Tagaytay. It was an impromptu decision. We actually had reservations at Vikings but hubby decided to take a long drive. I did not even know where to eat as hubby like to try a new restaurant.

Thanks to my viber friends as they were able to give me suggestions in an instant and so we ended up eating at Steaktown at Lake House Hotel and we just enjoyed our sumptuous steak:

I am really thankful to God for giving me hubby and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but with him.

We were just chatting with hubby’s best friend last weekend and they are very busy checking out trailers at texaspridetrailers.com as they will be starting their trailer rental business soon. They are really excited as they moved to Texas from New York to start this business. They have been planning about this and we know how much time and effort they have spent so I am really hoping and praying that everything will turn out as planned.

As for us, we have our own good news too:

Yes, we are expecting our 3rd baby. I did not realize that I was 1 month delayed already and it was only my friend who reminded me to have a pregnancy test and lo and behold, I turned out positive. LOL.

I think this baby is made in Paris, since hubby and I just came back from a 3-weeks vacation after hubby attended training in Frankfurt. I already visited my OB and my expected due date is May 26, 2014.

We are really thrilled and very thankful for this great blessing. I was actually surprised and worried at first because I am not sure if we can afford to have another child, but this is God’s will and we are accepting it with open arms.

Looks like I will be needing plus size sport bras after 9 months. Do you know why?

We received another good news 3 weeks ago when we confirmed that I am pregnant with our third child. I am now on my 10th week, and as usual the first trimester is the hardest as I am experiencing major morning or shall I say all day sickness. I am dizzy almost the whole day with no energy to do anything, but of course I still have to force myself to go to work.

But this stage will pass and the whole family is really excited for the coming of our another bundle of joy.

Last month, my family together with my parents, spent an overnight in Taal Vista Hotel. Thanks to Deal Grocer’s promo, I was able to avail it at a discounted price.

Bela requested that we go swimming before his dad leaves for another out of the country trip and since it is the rainy season already, we don’t want to travel far to do that and our first best choice then would be Tagaytay.

We just spent almost the entire time in the hotel as the kids just didn’t get tired swimming. They just got out of the pool when it was almost 5 PM already and they are already feeling cold because of the cool Tagaytay breeze.

This is my kind of weekend. I will try to see if I can get another promo in Deal Grocer so we can have another staycation in our favorite city away from Manila.

Hubby arrived at around 9 PM last Saturday from his tour of duty in Majuro and looks like he really missed us so much that he wanted to go on an out of town trip the very next day of his arrival.

He really wanted to go to Zoobic Safari and so we just had breakfast and drove North to Subic. It was actually our first time here, except for hubby who had visited the place a few years ago. I was actually reluctant at first because I can’t imagine being in a place where I can experience a close encounter with the tigers. But I know that Bela will enjoy it, so I gave in.

The entrance ticket is P499 for adult plus P50 for the tram ride. It includes 11 attractions already like the Forbidden Cave, Bone Museum, Tiger Safari, Close Encounter, Aetas Trail, Coco Loco and more. They do the tour per group and so it was like a field trip where you will visit each attraction per group and they will just give you a set amount of time to enjoy each attraction. This limits your freedom to choose which attraction you like as you really have to follow the flow of the tour.

The entrance also includes the Tiger Safari where we rode a jeepney and we entered the safari area where we can have close encounter with the tigers. Bela was surprised though when the safari was already over as we only encountered 2 tigers during the trip.

Overall, it was a unique and fun experience (although a bit scary for me). Next time we go back here, we should leave early so we can watch the shows which are scheduled at 10:30, 1:30 and 3 PM before or after our guided tour.

Last Tuesday, we received very sad news that our Labrador Sophie passed away. Sophie was hubby’s gift to me when I was pregnant with Cobi so he was Cobi’s age. We got a text from our care taker in Bulacan that Sophie was sick for 3 days now and she was not eating. Hubby arranged for a jeepney to pick Sophie in Bulacan right away to bring here in Manila so we can have a veterinarian checked her.

On the way to Bulacan, we received a text message that Sophie passed away already. Hubby was mad. We should have been informed of what was happening with Sophie since she was sick for 3 days already. We felt guilty also because we could have made a way to save her life.

But there is nothing that we can do anymore. But we still have one Labrador left and we just have to make effort to save her also. We haven’t visited Bulacan in months now so we were really surprised when we saw our other Labrador Sassy, so thin and really malnourished. Hubby decided to bring her back here in Manila so we can personally take care of her.

That is why we are looking for wireless electric fence so Sassy can roam freely in our garage. We will also take her to a vet this weekend and have her checked. I just hope that it is still not too late for Sassy. I don’t know how we will take it if she too will leave us.

And dad is finally home after 1.5 months of being away from us:

This is the longest that we have been separated from each other but we have no choice because it is part of his work. But I am close to going crazy from missing him. LOL.

Thankfully there is Skype, my family, my friends and my kids who kept me sane during the 1.5 months that hubby was away. And this trip just proves that there is no way I am letting Howell find a work abroad. Or if he does, we will all go with him as I can’t stand being far away from him.

From 33 days:

to 22 days

And now, we are down to 14 days to go and hubby will be home.

Gosh this is the longest that hubby and I have been away from each other. Last time he went on temporary duty was more than a year ago for three weeks. Every time he goes on training, we try to join him if budget permits. But the destination of his temporary duty now is in a remote location and we have nothing to do there plus the fact that airfares are steep.

But I am glad I have my family, my kids and my friends who kept me sane during the first 4 weeks that hubby is away. If not for them, I might have gone crazy.

Cobi will be having a Hi5 inspired party for his 3rd birthday, which is in 1.5 months. I haven’t prepared much for the party but one this is for sure, hubby and Cobi has to bring out their banjo from musicians friend because they will be doing a musical number.

Well Cobi loves to sing and dance and it fits really well with the Hi5 theme so why not take this opportunity to show his talent on stage, right? He knows a lot of the Hi5 songs, Maroon 5 and One Direction songs so it is just up to him to decide what songs he want to sing. Yes you heard me right, Cobi will be the one to choose what song he wants. At almost 3 years old, he acts like a grown up already and he makes his own decision.

I just wish that he will not chicken out and he will be in the mood to perform and entertain her guests.

I was on holiday last December 26 and hubby took a leave too so we find this as an opportunity to go on an out-of-town quick getaway with my family. Where else but to our favorite, Tagaytay.

Since it is not a holiday, we thought that it will not be too busy in Tagaytay and we did not make any reservations on the restaurant where we planned to eat. Wrong. We went straight to Pamana for lunch and we were surprised when we were told that there is a 1-hour waiting time, to think that it is already 1:30 PM (since we left Manila around 11 AM). So we just decided to go to Josephine’s for lunch.

After lunch, we went horse back riding again but it was really cold and it was drizzling so after just a few rounds, we decided to go back to Manila since Bela is requesting to go to Mall of Asia anyways as she wants to go ice skating.

It was a short but fun day with the family, perfect before we all go back to work the next day.

A few weeks before Christmas, I was telling myself that I couldn’t wait for it to be all over. From the numerous get together, last minute shopping, and more, I got so tired and stress that I want for this season to be over and just relax and rest.

But now that Christmas is over, I can’t wait for the next Christmas season to come. Weird huh? What I love about the Christmas season is the overflowing of love, joy and gratitude. It is only the chance where we get to see and spend time with friends and family members that we don’t spend that much time with.

As for our Christmas, we had our usual family traditions. We all heard mass at my alma mater and then we all went to our home for our Noche Buena. On the morning of Christmas, all my relatives went to our house too for our family reunion and gift giving. We initially planned to go to my in-laws house but they went out to watch a movie.

The kids are ecstatic with their gifts and they can’t contain their happiness as they received a lot. As for me, we did not find the time yet to get my present but I am checking out kraftmaid kitchen cabinets here as I am thinking to ask this as my Christmas gift from hubby.

It was a very meaningful Christmas for my family. Hope you had a fun and memorable celebration too of Jesus’ birthday.

Almost every Saturday, we are always out as this is the only time in a week that we can spend the whole day with the kids. We either go to malls, use coupons to dine in restaurants, go to their favorite place like Ocean Park and Avilon Zoo, go out of town and visit Tagaytay or Nuvali and more.

But last week, we decided to spend our Saturday differently. My husband and I attended the parents’ orientation in Bela’s school in the morning and then we went home to fetch the kids and instead of going to the mall, we went to…..Luneta park.

It is the first time for the kids and it has been ages also since my husband and I went there. And boy we were surprise as they have a lot of new gimmicks.

They have the tram ride which goes around the park for a fee of P50 for adults and P30 for the kids. There was also a horse-drawn carriage, though we were not able to try it.

After our tram ride, we went inside the Chinese Garden and Bela and Cobi got really excited and they keep on referring to it as Kung Fu Panda’s house.

After playing inside Chinese Garden, we watched the dancing fountain and I must admit it was indeed entertaining.

Bela kept on saying that this was the best day of her life and how she wishes she could go here everyday. What a very fun and affordable way to spend our Saturday.

Just look at hubby’s new project:

He has been planning to have this picture printed on canvass so he can have it framed and make it as a decoration for our home but it was only a few weeks ago that he was able to find the time (and the budget), to have it done.

This is one of our favorite pictures of our family. It was taken during Cobi’s 1st birthday party by our photographer friend, Kathy of K Snaps Productions. It is so simple, but yet this picture is so full of emotions that is why we love it.

Hubby edited the pictures to highlight us and he had it printed at InfoStation in 168. Then he had it framed in one of the stores just outside his office. Once it was done, he excitedly brought it home so he can immediately hang it on our wall.

Thanks to durable nail and the help of some wiring duct, this framed family portrait of us is now one of the best highlights in our home.

Last June 29 was the 87th birthday of my grand mother. It is a weekday so instead of celebrating it on her actual birthday, we had a party on July 1 instead so my aunt and her family from Rizal can join us.

We just had potluck and each family was asked to bring something to share for lunch. I brought chicken from Chicken Bon-Chon, my sister brought California maki and sushi, my cousin brought ice cream cake, my brother brought lechon, my three aunts brought pansit, estofado and lumpia and my cousin Tessa baked cookies.

We also rented a videoke machine and so the oldies really had fun partying as they sing and dance to their favorite songs (which makes me think how many wine bottles they consumed as they really party hard. LOL).

My relatives stayed until dinner and so it was a great bonding moment with the whole clan, which made the birthday celebrant really happy.

To our dear Nanay Puti, Happy, happy birthday!! We love you very much!!

I am looking for Grandparent gift ideas as my kids’ gift for their grandparents on their joint birthday celebration on Saturday:

My dad just turned 58 years old last March 21 and my mom will be 60 on April 6 and so we thought of having a joint party for them on Easter Sunday.

I have made arrangements already for the party and have booked the following:
• Blue Petals Catering for the food for the party. I have paid the 75% down payment already to confirm the event.
• Cake and cupcakes for the event from That Looks Tasty Goodies. I have finalized the cake design with Iya and I can’t wait to see how the cake will turn out.
• Mobile Bar from Bartenders at Work. I purchased a voucher from Groupon and have finalized the arrangements with the owner via SMS. This is the first time that I bought a voucher from Groupon site and have transacted with Bartenders at Work unlike my other suppliers who have either been recommended to me or I have tried already, so hopefully they will be able to deliver.
• Invitations care of my cousin, Joseph.
• Styro backdrop and additional food for the party courtesy of my sister in law.

We are all excited for this party. This is the first party that we will host in our new home and hopefully the celebrants and the guests will have fun.

My mom will be celebrating her 60th birthday next month and since it is a big milestone for her, my siblings and I are planning on a special way to celebrate her birthday. I am in charge of the research and so far, here are the ideas that I came up with:

• A cruise party: I found a yacht for rent and I contacted them to inquire the price and it is reasonable. The problem is the yacht can only accommodate up to 30 guests and our family alone is more than 20 already. If this pushed through I am planning to order custom pins for the souvenir.
• Spa Party. I know a spa salon that accepts party and my mom can invite her close friends and have the party there then we will just have a separate birthday party for family and relatives.
• Party in a Restaurant or Hotel. I can book for a small function room in a restaurant or hotel (and I am sure I can get a voucher for that from any of the discount sites) for a small celebration for my mom’s friends and relatives.

My mom is a bit choosy as she doesn’t want us to spend that much for this party so we are having a hard time deciding. But hopefully we can finally everything soon.

It all started when we had dinner at our house after our visit at Eternal gardens last All Soul’s Day. Almost everybody was present and my brother just had a brilliant idea to revive the old time tradition of enjoying dinner together at my grand mother’s house. So he suggested that it is a date every Sunday at dinner time.

It has been 3 Sundays already and none of us failed to miss the Sunday dinner at our place. Every Sunday, one of us will sponsor the dinner and my aunt, our resident cook, will prepare lovely meals for our family.

It was a good idea of my brother to revive an old family tradition. My cousins and I enjoyed those times during our childhood and it is one of our cherished childhood memories and now with the new generations of kids in our family, it would be nice that they enjoyed the same kind of family bonding too.

Any moment now, we are expecting birth announcements from my sister in law as she is due to give birth this month.

This is their second baby and they are expecting a baby girl again. Everybody is excited to see the new bundle of joy to add to our family.

I know they are thinking of naming the baby “Martina”, “Georgina” but I am not sure if the couple is definite already with the name that they are going to give to their daughter.

Their first child looks exactly like my brother so we all can’t wait if their second child will be a mini me version of him again.

To my sister-in-law, Grace, we are all praying for your safe delivery. And we all can’t wait to see your little Martina or Georgina or even Grace Jr. soon. LOL.