Five Chapters

I am writing this a day before our fifth wedding anniversary.

Alvin and I have been a couple (bf-gf) for a decade now but only a husband and a wife for five years. Is there a difference? Many. To those who are married or who have been married, you know and you can understand what I mean.

Two weeks ago I was doing the draft for my second term paper. Our topic for this term zeroed in on Sacraments and I found myself reading a lot of things about the Sacrament of Marriage. At the end of one reading there was a reflection part where it was asked: If you are to write your own book about marriage, what would be the title? What will be the chapter titles of your book? We had to expound on each chapter.

As I scribbled down my reflections I suddenly found myself already reflecting on my own marriage. As a result, my book's title will be: "A Work in Progress." In our wedsite, we wrote that as we start our journey as husband and wife, we don't know what the future awaits...but, after five years in marriage, there are now a few things that we can share.

Personally, the numbers are senseless on its own. What gives meaning to this number are the experiences that we have had for the last five years. The highs and lows that we shared. The joys and the tears. All of these make the quality component of our marriage. To name a few -- our struggle to finish our graduate courses on our 1st year; to adjust to the duties, responsibilities, joys and pains of parenthood for our first-born on our second year; the adjustment, sacrifices and hardships we had to endure and surpass as a family as we uprooted ourselves from our comfort zones and start all over again when we migrated to Sydney on our third year; the adjustment and sacrifices we had to do as our family became bigger, with me getting pregnant with our second child for our fourth year; and the big decision to put my career on hold for the welfare of the kids for our fifth year. I haven't mentioned the fights and arguments that we were able to settle, the times both of us wanted to get out but decided to stay, the times we had to let go of our ego, the times we had to forgive and forget, the times we chose to love in spite of and despite of. The times we had to go an extra mile for the other. Without all of these things, the number 5 will be meaningless for us.

We are now done with the first five chapters of our book and our journey continues. We still don't know what the next five years (and hopefully more years) will bring but just like what we wrote on our wedsite before we got married, "with love, faith, and blessings from The One, Up Above, they know everything will be well" and that being married to each other is the best thing that ever happened to the two of us...

Happy Anniversary my dear Vinot! Love you to the moon and back!

April 28, 2006...five years and two kids ago :)

A Very Beautiful Place

My family went on a three-day holiday at Port Macquarie. Port M is a five hour drive from Sydney.

I fell in love with the place.

After visiting Port M, I am definitely convinced that Australia is a very beautiful (and clean) place! The beaches are clean, the forests are protected, there are plenty of trees. The air is clean and not humid. Glad my children will be growing up in this kind of environment :)

Shelly Beach



Sea Acres Nature Reserve



St. Agnes Catholic Church




Port Macquarie Town Centre Marina



Lighthouse Beach




Tacklepoint Lighthouse





Town Beach



Lake Cathie

Easter Celebration

All our bags are packed, we're ready to go...no, correction, our suitcase is packed. Literally, it's a suitcase! I thought my sister was joking that for our 3-day long drive holiday to Port Macquarie, I will be needing a suitcase, well apparently, she was not joking!

It was a bit stressful preparing for this trip. Well, aside from the clothes, I had to prepare the other so many stuff that we need in the trip, which includes the toys, First Aid Kits, etc. I'm glad it's all over!

Before we head off up north, we spent our Holy Week attending various Church activities. Thursday we attended the Lord's Last Supper celebration at our Parish, Mary Immaculate. It was a bit hard to consentrate as I had Sam with althroughout the mass. Today, we had Stations at the Cross at Mt. Schoenstatt at Mulgoa. After the Stations of the Cross, we headed to Tench Reserve and had a luncheon picnic with our CFC bros and sisses. The kids enjoyed the beautiful weather while playing at the playground. By 3 pm we attended the Veneration of the Cross ceremony at our Parish. Funny, but althroughout these activties, I kept on explaining to Liam what and why are we doing these things, because he kept on asking, "why?" -- the hardest of all possible questions! It's also a bit challenging for me as I need to explain these things to him within his level. Like when he asked, "Where is Jesus now?"..when I told him that Jesus was nailed on the cross. Well, I hope I was able to satisfy his curiosity.

Now, in a few minutes we'll be hitting the bed to re-charge ourselves for our long drive tomorrow. I pray that Sam will be able to endure the 5 hour drive (short break at Mackas/Mcdo so she can have a breather from her car seat and I can feed her as well). I pray for a safe and enjoyable holidays for our family. I think I really need this one.

But more than these things, I think I had a good holy week, especially after overcoming another trial -- finally letting go and realizing a lot of things...and getting the answers to things that have been bugging me and making me emotional the past days. Forgiving and forgetting :)

Have a blessed Easter!

the sweetest thing

the sweetest thing is when:
liam says: mama i love you so very much!
liam opens the car door for me even if i didn't ask him to
liam kisses a wound on my hand to ease the pain and asking if i would like him to kiss it again so it doesn't remain ouchy
liam embraces me and says: mama you're the best! for no reason at all!
liam hugs and does an errand and says: i love you mama

the sweetest thing is when:
sam opens her mouth and kisses or is it licks? me during play time
sam shows her sweetest smile when i make funny faces
sam giggles when i make her laugh
sam smiles and babbles when i talk with her

the sweetest thing is when:
alvin surprises me with a long stemmed rose before going out on a date
alvin gives me a massage at the back and the feet after a very tiring day without me asking for it
alvin hugs me and kisses me on unguarded moments :)
alvin wakes up early on a weekend to cook breakfast for me
alvin snuggles up with me and the kids on a cold morning
alvin loving me in spite of and despite of :)

Lynette

Call me a late bloomer, but yes, I am.

After six seasons on the boobtube, I finally found myself being addicted to Desperate Housewives.

The TV series is now on it's seventh season and suddenly I find myself enjoying the show. Why the sudden turn of events? Maybe I can already feel for them...maybe I can find myself in their characters.

Now that I am a full time wife and mum, I am going agog over the so many little things (this is aside from the big ones okay?) that needs to be done at home. I just can't understand why men do not seem to "see" them when they are around.

I see my traits every now and then in all of them, but among the housewives I can very much see myself with Lynette Scalvo the most. She is the housewife that has the most kids and a seem "perfect" family. She has a strong character, dominating at time, and a husband that looks like an underdog most of the time. She likes to have order and she wants things organized. SHe is a doting mother she is an independent woman.

There was one episode which had Lynette and Tom were discussing why Lynette let an opportunity pass to "boast" about her husband. It ended her telling Tom that she is tired of people saying how lucky she is for having Tom as her husband, but not one have mentioned how lucky Tom is to have her as his wife! Paw! Bulls-eye! I mean, for the longest time, people come up to me and tell me how lucky I am to have Alvin as my husband...but not one seems to notice how lucky he is to have me as his wife! Kainis?! I mean with EVERYTHING that I have been doing. During weekdays when he gets home, halos lahat tapos na. The kids are ready for bed time, clean and everything and in an hour or 30 minutes, they are already asleep. I just leave the dishes used for dinner for him to wash, or else wala na siya talaga gagawin. The thing is sometimes instead of saying "thank you" first, mauuna pa yung criticism niya. I tried to correct this habit of him a few times and I can see that he does try to remember it. I sacrifice waking up late in the weekends so I can get things done, so when he does his duties, he can still get to do things he wants to do during weekends, so he can spend more time with the kids. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying I am a perfect wife. I know that he himself have a lot to say about my flaws and weaknesses as a wife and a mum as well but like me, we tend to look at the more positive traits than the negative ones. But sometimes, I just want to zap out and stop being a super mum and super efficient wife! Wishful thinking. Sometimes I just wonder what he would feel if I'll be gone in his life just for one day. I mean everything all left to him. Just for one day. Again, wishful thinking. But actually, I already told him last time, that I knew what I will be losing in my life if he'll be gone, but I asked him if he knows what he'll be missing if I go.

On one episode, the two of them had this big fight and Lynette was so fuming mad at Tom. They were not in speaking terms until Lynette saw how their kids have grown and their family as a whole. Yes, we have our flaws and weaknesses, but seeing our children allows us to forgive and "forget" -- to overlook our indifferences. To move on and keep trying to be better.

And on the last episode I just watched, Lynette and Tom decided it was time for their twins to move out and learn about living, it was hard for her to see her boys leave but it was the best for their children. I guess I have that same attitude, wheret try as I might to shield my children from the reality of life, the sad and bad ones, I know that I have to let them aware of what is happening so they will be better prepared. Life, after all, is not really a bed of roses. So if they have to experience pain like accidentally bumping head while playing, to learn how to be safe and careful next time, then so be it. If they have to lose a toy because they were not taking care of it, then so be it. I know that in the long run, it would do them more good.

Lynette. Oh , I just love her character. She makes me laugh, she makes sigh, she talks and speaks for me, she entertains me :)

Guilty!

i feel guilty!

i just came back to pick up my niece and nephew from their holiday class and before picking them up i bought something.

this might be the most expensive swimsuit i have ever (and will ever?) bought!

i was looking a swimming shorts the past few days because I am not comfortable to just wear my swimsuit (without any shorts for that matter) when Sam starts with her swimming lessons next term.

shop after shop i tried to look, but most of them have already packed up their stuff and replaced it with their winter collection already.

now, there was this sports shop in stanhope and i just tried my luck...yes there was a short that i loved...but the impulse buyer in me saw these swim tops that i was also hoping to find as well in my shop hopping. so the end result? i did not only buy the shorts but the top as well...i feel guilty, one because it is expensive (for my standards) and it was not in the budget?!



the tp cost 60 bucks and the shorts 50 bucks...it's just that i'm converting it in Php and I can't believe that i just bought these two items! i mean, if i were in Manila, i would not buy a swimsuit for almost 4,500pesos! that is why i feel guilty.

now how did hubby react? i still don't know yet since he is still not home, but i already told him that i did something "bad" when he called before going home this afternoon.

i'm just thinking at least now i don't have to buy for our trip to Cebu and I can also use it in our Port Macquarie trip...trying to make an excuse...

It's a two piece swimsuit, yes, just like my older/other collection, but it's now more conservative. i guess after undergoing 2 cs operations, i am not in the position anymore to show my remembrances hehehe :) and i haven't really gotten back into my pre-pregancy figure/weight.

but, that still does not erase the fact that i still feel guilty @-@

the power of PRAYER

I am soooo happy for my second cousin MJ, finally, after seven long years, she and hubby Myx are expecting their first bundle of joy! :) She callled me up early this morning to share the good news :)

I'm so happy because we prayed with them for this intention. Proves again the power of prayer! And the power of prayer when shared by many!

In my life, I have had a lot of experiences that I was only able to hurdle thru prayers! It's just too many to mention :) so I know what prayers can do!

Now that I have two kids and I am starting to teach my children how to pray, I am inspired to pray not only for us but also for other people, especially for loved ones -- family and friends, who are asking for prayers :) I feel euphoric when an intention of a loved one, which we have prayed with them, is granted :) I feel good when now I slowly see my son starting to pray and to take notice of other things he has been blessed with and asks Bro to bless other people who don't get to enjoy it like he does. I feel good when we also pray for people who are not really asking for prayers and for people who do not have anyone to pray for them. The power of prayer is unexplainable!

Prayer allows miracles to happen in our lives, but I believe the greatest miracle of all is the transformation one gets to experience when you pray not only for yourself but for other people as well. So when I promise you that I will be praying with you, be assured that we would...:)

Wonderful Weekend :)

After spending a very tiring and emotional week for me, I'm glad to have spent a beautiful weekend with hubby and kids :)

I'm just fortunate that Friday evening, after coming from work, hubby asked how I was and I was able to pour out and share everything that has been bothering me (my last post Toxic Thursday). To top of it all, he asked, "How can I help?" and then I told him everything that I need to probably re-charge myself :) Lucky me! I think it helped a lot because it set the mood for the weekend :) I'm not as grumpy as last week :)

It was a busy weekend as usual but it was lighter and happier for me :) Liam had his swimming lessons, the last session for this term. We were able to find a place to stay for our holidays this Easter.Yay, we're off to Port Macquarie! :)Now, with the help of a dear friend, we're looking for things to do on our 2 night-3 day stay in Port Macquarie! It's a big place and I know that this duration is enough and we will definitely be back :)

After closing our booking for our Port M holidays we were off to Sydney Family Show in EQ Moore Park at the City. It was a beautiful day to go to the city. It was not very cold, nor very hot :) Liam enjoyed the rides with me and his Papa and eating ice cream. I tried the ferris wheel and boy oh boy, I was mad dizzy after! The things you do for your children! hehehe






We ended our happy Saturday with a yummy dinner with Ochok and Vera at their home. Hubby's frat brod and Sam's godparent :

Our Sunday started by going to Church as a family then a relaxing Sunday afternoon followed. We just went out to go to the CLP and do some grocery at Woolies. Our weekend ended well and happy. I am re-charged! Now, to start another tiring week ;) (School holidays are supposed to be relaxing but for parents? it's definitely not! LOL)

Toxic Thursday!

Am I bad to feel this way?

Yesterday was supposedly my Thursday night but I ended up hitting the bed by quarter to 9. Why? It was a toxic day! Well, it has been for two days in a row.

Been busy with house chores and taking care of the kids. I do have breaks every now and then when they have their naps, but it's still a working break. It's just that I am already exhausted doing all of these things day in and day out. Yes, I do get to go to the shops but hey, I still have my two kids in tow. I don't know what the hell is wrong with me. I just want to go out do something without anyone in tow, you know, me time, in the strictest sense of the word!

Selfish na kung selfish but I just become grumpy at the idea that hubby gets to have "free time" when he is at work. I know working and driving to and from his office is also stressful and tiring, but hey, nakakapagod din kaya sa bahay?! Most of the time he is patient with me but there are times when our hot heads collide! There was this instance when he actually told me, "Palit na lang tayo" I was so close to saying yes, but I just kept quiet not to make the situation worse. Hmmph! Kala niya madali sa bahay. Game ako na magpalit kami. I mean, when we do exchange roles, he has to do EVERYTHING that I have been doing. Taking care of the kids, doing almost all the chores at home, and the extras, like breastfeeding (LOL?!) Kainis, sometimes, when he gets home and he has to eat dinner, he wants me to carry Sam while he's eating. Parang ako, hello, sosyal ka, ako nga magaling na kumain ng may buhat buhat na bata! Parang sa akin lang, kung kaya ko mag multi tasking ng ganoon, e di gawin mo rin yun. Hay! Ang selfish ko no? Isip bata.

It's not like this everyday. I love where I am now but probably there are just those days that I want freedom and relaxtion to the nth degree. Actually, hubby has been telling me not to do all the chores at home and let him do those chores that are "designed" for the males (like mowing). But I already told him that I am doing these, all of these, because I would want him to spend more time playing with the kids when he gets home. You see, since his office is an hour and a half drive from our place, he has to leave early. By the time he gets home, the kids are a bit sleepy already, especially Andrea. Good thing Liam can still delay his sleepiness. But for Sam, he gets to see and play with her for 5-20 minutes in the morning...in the evening, he's lucky if Sam gets to play with him without crying for an hour. Sometimes I have to put Sam to sleep first before he can carry her. Oh life. The biggest blessing is that he doesn't have to work on weekends and he gets to be hands-on with Sam and Liam as well on those days. I can see his effort to make it up to the kids and to me as well. Syempre, huli ako sa listahan, which is fine with me.

Yesterday was a toxic day because I had all four kids with me until 8pm. Sa isip ko, ang daya! Gusto mo magreklamo, pero tatahimik ka na lang. Ang hirap kaya mag-alaga ng bata! Oh well. Life. They say, minsan lang sila bata kaya konting tiis. Yup, konting tiis. Iniisip ko na lang, maswerte ako dahil wala akong nagiging problema sa mga anak ko. Maswerte rin ako dahil kahit hirap na sa pagba-balancing act ang asawa ko para sa kanyang 3 babies (ako yung pangatlo), ginagawa pa rin niya. Lilipas din to. Bilog lang siguro ang buwan :)

P.S.
Buti na lang may blog ;)

Puzzle Mania

Liam had his first puzzle late last year. Now he has three puzzles which are all 28-piece puzzles of different themes. These are not so challenging for him anymore especially after the 5th time onwards. But he still plays with them.

Now we bought him a new set of puzzles which I am excited to do as well. Hehe It's Dr. Seuss puzzles and now it has 48 pieces. Will see how he does here :)




Puzzles are good. Aside from hand and eye coordination, it also teaches problem solving skills to children, which hones their higher order thinking skills :) I'd rather have these puzzles than the tech-y toys like DS and PS3 or XBox. :)

SPORTs for My Kids

Migrated because of our kids so taking the most of what Aussie can offer for our children.

Liam already have Swimming lessons every weekends, now we were looking for another activity that will not only keep him busy but will also allow him to develop his God given talents and skills (Nature-Nurture). We thought of enrolling him to Piano lessons but I came across an article that discusses the best age for piano lessons to begin is 6, so we still ahve to wait for 3 more years. Tennis lessons are offered for 5 years old and above so we are trying out soccer :) We enrolled him to Soccer lessons and will be starting next term. He is excited. I am excited :) Who knows, he can be an Azkals someday? or a David Beckham? Wishful thinking! But for now we are just happy to see him happy and happy that we have the resources to send him to these activities :)

Sam on the other hand will be enrolling for her swimming lessons next week. Hopefully she'll get a good schedule next term. Her swimming lessons are still with a parent so I guess I will also have to get wet ;) When she's a bit older I plan to enrol her on a dance school or a gmnastics school :)

Yep, sports for my little boy and little girl. I know that thru these, they will learn lessons and skills not only about the sport but more! :)

Bebe Girl

We were thrilled when we found out that our second child will be a girl. We'll have one of each. We were excited because we can dress her up like a doll.

Now that our little sweetheart is here, we, rather I, realized that it's a challenge to have a girl, dressing up alone is quite challenging...choosing what she'll wear is one big dilemma. Unlike before, it was just shirt, polo or jeans or shorts for her Kuya Liam.In addition to this, fixing her hair is a challenge, it remains to be one because up to now she still does not have enough hair to fix! :)

When I went to a Ralph Lauren outlet and bought her a blouse, I was toying between a midnight blue or yellow colored blouse. Pink was out of the choices because I didn't want to follow the rule that pink or purple will or should be the only colors for baby girls. I chose the yellow polo shirt. For two times she wore it she was mistaken for a boy. Can I blame them? No ribbons, no earrings to help them realize she is a girl.

We tried to have her ears pierced for two times now. The first one declined because she was still too small, only six weeks old. The second time she was almost 3 months old but they still declined. I wanted to tell them that in Manila newborn kids have their ears pierced. Well, their way is different so I might as well follow. Before deciding to give it a go, I asked my friends who have daughters as well. They gave the pros and cons based on their own experiences. After hearing both sides of the story we chose to have her ears pierced now that she is still young, ver young in fact (in Aussie standards).

Today, on our third attempt, her ears were finally pierced. I hope that this time people will no longer mistake her for a boy :)

super friday!

yay! it's friday already! and boy what a day did i have! :)

started when alvin went to work...
changed sam's nappy
prepared breakfast
ate breakfast with the kids
gave the kids a bath
washed the dishes
hanged the laundry outside
mowed the garden
put baby sam to sleep
took a bath
cleaned the house...

with Liam and Sam in tow,
we went to Asian to do our weekly market
went to Blacktown to buy cooked food
stopped by a shop to buy an additional uniform for alvin

back at home:
sorted the food we bought at the Asian market
cooked lunch
ate lunch with the kids
washed the dishes
put the kids to afternoon nap, power nap for me as well :)
fetched my niece and nephew from school
prepared afternoon tea for the bagets
cooked dinner
folded our dry clothes
tried to look for a place to go to this Easter holidays
cleaned our mower
put baby Sam for another late afternoon nap (which she likes to have while she is carried the whole time, or else, she'll wake up ;)
prepared dinner
ate dinner

...yehey! alvin got home early! :)
loaded our coloured clothes
hanged the laundry
helped alvin with the dishes (washing)
cleaned and prepared the kids for sleep :)
played with Liam
DARNA!

mind you, i'm a breastfeeding mum! :) so i get to have "breaks" when Sam needs feeding :)

finally, my time! :)

(watching ASAP XV on TFC while doing FB, blogging, and school work)

DARNA! :)