WEDNESDAY re-WIND: Niagara Falls January 2008

At the Americana Hotel with Raymond's parents and sisters (and bro-in-laws, and niece) for Mommy Zeny and Daddy's 40th wedding anniversary.

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PIC(s) OF THE WEEK: Disney On Ice

Disney On Ice: Dineyland Adventure

December 25, 2008

Section 119 Row 23 Seats 1-6

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It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Christmas!  I love Christmas!  And our Christmas this year went by really fast...for me anyway.  Well, we got our tree early but was not able to decorate it right away coz you need to put the lights first before the other ornaments and our old lights are broken so we need a new one and were not able to buy until a week later :(.  I shopped early for Christmas presents but last minute changes made me go back to the store to make some returns :(.   Hubby was renovating the laundry room. He spent most of his free time in the basement, so I was not able to hang up some decor coz I needed his held and it was not available (well, it is but I did not insist coz I know he's tired already).  So the basement was a mess too, so we were not able to spend our time together in the basement sitting in the couch, lights lit, sipping hot chocolate while the stove is heating up :(

I know, so many :(s, but it still is the most wonderful time of the year.  And...we can celebrate it anytime of the year (minus the lights and decorations).  And trust me, my :)s are far greater than my :(s. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Okay. Now the for more pics. 

Jakob and his presents from Mommy, Pappi and Tita Dada

Beata giving her present for Mommy and opening her Christmas stockings

Jethro closing his eyes as he tries to get his presents from his stocking

In their Christmas pjs (notice the baby powder on Jethro's; he threw up just before opening presents -- full tummy and jumping with excitement doesn't mix!)

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PIC OF THE WEEK: Aquino Kiddos

From the many attempts to get another picture of our 3 kiddos in their other Christmas outfit; at least we got one good (?) pic. :D

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Jakob's emergency kit

My Jakob loves putting his special things close to him.  He has this shelf beside his bed full of things that Jethro and Beata "cannot touch."  He found an old baby wipes container (that i was gonna use for something else) and decided to put his "precious" stuff inside.  He calls it his emergency kit :).  It has some small toys, flashlight, a half-a-roll of toilet paper (for when his nose bleeds in the middle of the night), and a few more stuff.  I smiled when he showed it to me; he was starting to be like me putting things away for my "just in case."

Well, his emergency kit was tested right away.  He went inside our room in the middle of the night and announced, "My nose is bleeding!".  One hand covering his nose, the other hand holding his emergency kit - unopened!  He remembered his kit but he did not use it in time for his emergency!  So we ended up in the washroom, washing up and using the toilet paper in the washroom...his own half-a-roll is still safe in his kit :D

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WEDNESDAY re-WIND: Gingerbread House

Christmas 2007

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Say "cheeesee"!

Camera is ready.  Dresses are nice.  The background is set.  But we have to wait till the afternoon (see previous post).  We (I) was planning to take our Christmas pictures Sunday morning but we run out of time so we ended up doing it in the afternoon for the kids' pictures and in the evening for our family photo.  And of course, when it comes to taking my kiddos' pictures, one has to be funny :0.  See for yourself...

Beata ...

Jethro...

and Jakob!

Aaaahhhh!!!!  My kids are so funny!

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Sunday School Participation

Weeks of practice and preparation.  Several days of shopping just to find the perfect outfit (that suits my budget LOL).  Then it comes.  Dec 14 is the day of Sunday School participation at Faithway.  We were a little rushed that morning, we just had a Filipino potluck the night before so we were all tired and sleepy.  Good thing I already decided on what the kids (and I..okay, and hubby) would wear for the day coz  I was planning on taking a few pictures before we head to church but we never had the time so we had to do it in the afternoon (see next blog please!).  Everything's ready.  2 cameras on hand; one for hubby to hold, one for me; one for taking pictures, one for taking videos.  And so it begins...

Our seats were great coz we were only 3 rows in front of pulpit (not planned though!).  Beata comes in (with Keaton beside her, as I expected :0).  Hair a bit messy, not the same as when she started the day...ahhhh!  But that's okay.  They started singing; microphone right in front of her you can actually hear her low voice as she sings.  Good job, Beata!  (Sigh) Okay, next kid...

Jethro comes in with a baby doll in hand.  We rehearsed this at home to make sure he does not shake, toss or swing the baby while saying their lines and he is doing well.  He saw me while they were walking towards the pulpit.  "Mama", he said.  Melts my heart :0 but he has to join his class.  He did a great job, too.  Though he moved from his row to the next just about the time they were to start singing his favorite Sunday School song - B-I-B-L-E!  I also choked in fear that he might accidentally lean or push one of his classmates and it would lead to a domino effect on everybody.  But thankfully, he did not knock down his classmates or dropped his baby Jesus.  Awww...my baby boy is getting so big now.  I love kissing and hugging him all the time.

They will still be in the same class next year so I'll be looking forward to my "little grown-ups" by then.  Merry Christmas everyone!

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PIC OF THE WEEK: Peace, Love, Hope

From our Christmas tree this year...

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WEDNESDAY re-WIND: Christmas 2007

I really don't remember why we were not able to get a decent family picture last year.  Here's the best we got from the many attempts last year (this year, I WILL make sure we got lots of good ones).

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Choooo-chooo!!!!

All aboard!

Our Playmobil train is now ready.  I was having second thoughts about putting the train under the tree this year because of the new hardwood floors, but hubby said it would not scratch the floor so I agreed to it.  And I am glad I did because the kids love it.  A little reminder here and there every now and then to tell them that yes, it is a toy train but really not for playing (does that make sense?)
 ...well, at least after the tree is gone :D

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PIC OF THE WEEK: Our Decorated Tree

Phew!  I finally finished decorating our tree this year (took me a while for some reason).  My theme this year is Red and Gold.  I bought my ornaments from Boxing Day and end of season sale last year.  I thought I bought enough already but looking at my tree, I think I need more ornaments--big ones actually, with our tree being so tall and wide, my ornaments look so small on it.  I'll be on the lookout for clearance ornaments this year and add them to my tree next year.  But for now, I would have to be content and to enjoy what we have.  Hubby says it looks nice; it's just me, I'm too perfectionist :D

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We got tickets!!!

We're going to Disney On Ice on Christmas day!  I bought this Entertainment Book '09 for $25 from a lady doing fundraising on kijiji primarily for the coupon for Disney On Ice.  50% discount off regular price up to 8 people!  Wow!  That alone is worth the price of the Entertainment Book.  Kids are excited...I am excited too!  We went once years ago when Jakob was still the only child.  I am sure the kids will enjoy it a lot (especially Jethro who's always fascinated by all the Christmas lights he see).  Can't Wait!!!!

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Rice Crispies

I bought a a box of holiday rice crispies last week and Beata was so excited to make our own rice crispies squares so today, I let them dig in and make it themselves (okay, I helped them a bit).  At first, they were a bit hesitant to do it coz it's sticky and a bit messy.  But I assured them it's okay to use their hands and be messy (well, I made sure they did not wear their best clothes for this, and that we have a big tablecloth and lots of papertowels. LOL).  Jethro did not like the way it's sticking to his hands.  I said put more butter in your hands but he ends up brushing his eyes or face so he just gave up.  Beata and Jakob enjoyed it. Literally.  They were moulding it and licking it too!(see the second picture below; notice the greasy mouths) I know, yucky.  But that's fine coz they are the ones who'll eat them all anyway...maybe some for daddy, but he doesn't mind.  They're his kids anyway! :D

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WDENESDAY re-WIND: Daddy and son

November 28, 2007

Raymond's 30th birthday

(And Jakob's "all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" smile)

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PIC OF THE WEEK: Sky

While we were in the process of picking our Christmas tree this year, I accidentally pushed the camera button while trying to juggle between taking pictures and helping Jethro and Beata get up from falling in the snow.  To my surprise, here's what the camera took -- a view of the great sky that day.  Made me stop and thank God for that lovely day. 

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O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

It's that time of the year.  Time to get a Christmas tree.  It's just our third time to do this but I was really looking forward to it.  We went to Horton's Magic Hill Farm (Taylor Tree Farm closed so we went here instead) and it was great.  They have a hill for sleds, tractor ride, playground for kids (though a bit covered in snow; but still fun) and the treat shop where we enjoyed some hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies.  It was a mild weather so ended up spending 2 hours there.  It took us a long time to find my "perfect" tree but that's okay.  We enjoyed playing with the snow while we were hiking.  There was a little disappointment coz hubby did not dress "properly" for the activity but...that's okay.  He was sorry.  I love you, honey.  We will definitely go back here next year.  Now if I can only finish decorating our Christmas tree.  Hhhhmmmm!

The (long) process of finding the "perfect" tree.

(dried) flowers for mommy.  awwww!

Our tree (above) and the kids (below) fascinated by the machine. :D

Whoa!  My strong man!  lol.

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Our Full day Friday!

Raymond is now 31!  I am always kidding him that I am older than him (by four months) therefore wiser but then the first to go to Heaven.  Now we are both 31.  He celebrated his birthday last Friday, November 28.  He stayed home (mainly beacuse I need him to look after Jakob and Jethro -- story to follow!) and we ate a BIG dinner at Imperial Palace.  For all of you who knows Imperial Palace, you know it's all-you-can-eat and that's exactly what we did.  :D  The server was very kind to honour our 2 for 1 dinner coupon plus free birthday meal for the birthday boy.  We enjoyed it a lot - specially the "butter"fly shrimps ("butter" because they put a lot of garlic butter hence delicioso!).  Right, hun?  Even Beata ate a lot considering her event that day (read next paragraph).  Saturday night, I invited his immediate family for dinner (and a last minute invite to all his realtives which did not turn out well coz only one family came; so the lesson learned -- plan ahead! haha!).  But even though we were not that many, we had a good time (proof: our guests left at midnight).  We were rushing today for church coz everybody was still sleepy but we made it on time!

Now for the other story.  It was Beata day to get a "princess crown" for her tooth.  We were at the dental office at 8 am until about 11 am.  She has this big cavity.  The dentist said it was weird coz all her other teeth were ok, no cavities except for this one.  Usually it's either little cavities here and there or one big cavity and a small one beside that.  So they gave her a medication to drink, waited one hour than they did the procedure.  She wore a mask for the laughing gas (no pics this time -- I forgot the camera!  bad mama!).  And thank God, everything went well.  She ate soft noodles for lunch, no other complaint of pain and she even ate well at the dinner buffet.  She loves her "shiny tooth".  She would even ask me every now and then if the shiny tooth is still in her mouth; she said she doesn't want to lose it :)  I am glad she's okay.  I was the one who's actually nervous the day before the procedure that I even want to cancel it and ask another dentist for a second opinion.  LOL. 

All in all, a full but fun Friday. 

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WEDNESDAY re-WIND: Raymond's younger days

Raymond with his new toy train (back in his younger days).  He'll celebrate his birthday this Friday, so this rewind is for you, Honey!

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We're a decade!

10 years!  Wow!  Can't believe we've been married fro 10 years.  Time flies so fast.  10 years passed but it seems like only yesterday when I said "I do".  10 years married; 14 years acquainted.  We thank the Lord for blessing us through our 10 years.  We can't wait to see what else He will do!

To celebrate, we went to Niagara Falls for two days and one night.  Kids stayed at home with my sister (who they really adore, so no worries leaving them with her, though Beata was a bit dramatic days before we leave but could not wait for us to leave come Friday).  We enjoyed every minute of being together (alone).  We dined at fine restaurants, we played at Midway, we rode the Skywheel, drove by the Falls at night, crossed the border for the first time (almost got into trouble when we parked the car before proceeding to go :P).  It was an amazing time!  The most memorable days of our married life.  Thanks, Raymond.  I love you so much!

Day one.  Walking around; here by the Heshey's Chocolate Factory near the US bridge

Dinner at the Keg overlooking the Falls (and it's beauty at night!)

Rode the Skywheel (we were nervous and scared at first but it was awesome!)

Cliffton Hill

Him and me (being us!)

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"This is fun, Mom!"

Raymond and I are going away this weekend for our 10th year wedding anniversary.  Since we will not be with the kids for our weekly Friday Family Night, we decided to do it yesterday and bring them to Chuck E. Cheese's (since it was a hit when we went there for Jakob's birthday).  It was a good time; not a lot of people.  We purchased 75 tokens and food (way too much food, I should say.  I ordered too much food to eat for one sitting that's why we have lots of leftover pizza to take home. 

You can just see the fun and excitement in my kiddos faces as they move from one game to another.  Jakob can't contain it, he said, "This is fun. mom!"  Glad they enjoyed it.  It was so cold outside but my kids all have red cheeks from runnning and playing for 2 hours. 

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