Marriage Enrichment Retreat

After almost four years in the community as CFC members and almost seven years as a married couple, we can finally attend our MER.

I am a believer that it's not a loss to attend such activities.

I know in the end, we'll even benefit from it.

I'm so looling forward to this weekend. Another long drive for us. Another opportunity to learn from other couples. Another opportunity to nurture our relationship as husband and wife. Another opportunity to grow together.

I'm just lucky and thankful that hubby doesn't find these activities, corny or a waste of time. I'm happy to see that like me, he is very much willing to invest time and effort for our marriage.

Watch this space for my full kwento.

Nothing to Prove

Before kami umuwi ng Pinas:

Alvin tumawag sa kaibigan niya.

Kaibigan: "Uy, buti na lang tumawag ka papadala na namin yung mga regalo ng mga bata."

Dumating kami ng Pinas, nakauwi na kami ng Sydney. Hanggang ngayon, di ko maaninag ang sinasabi niyang mga regalo.

Asar talo si Alvin.

Hahaha

Pero, pet peeve ko yun. Ano, trying to impress us? Huwag na lang magsabi ng ganoon kung hindi kaya panindigan, di ba? Or kung talagang wala naman.

Umuwi kami ng Pinas, kinita ang ilang kaibigan. Di maiiwasan sa mga kwentuhan, may mga kaibigan na tila ba ilalabas lahat ng pwede ipagyabang. Tipong obvious naman na, trying to impress us. Are they trying to convince us or themselves?

Actually, siya pa rin si kaibigan na binaggit ko sa unang kwento.

Ewan. Nakakatawa na nakakalungkot.

Napapangiti na lang kami ni Alvin. Buti na lang, humble si Alvin. Nung tahimik lang siya, tahimik lang din ako. Kahit ang dami niyang pwede ikwento.

Akala ata niya nakikipagkompitensiya kami sa kanya.

At this point in our lives, we have nothing more to prove...lalo na sa kanya at sa maybahay niya.

yun lang. The end.

Goodbye, Nappies!

Our little girl is now fully toilet trained!

Yipee!

I'm a happy mum because we get to save now on buying nappies and wipes.

I'm a proud mum because she's just 27 months! :) Still early as compared to other kids her age, right?

I took it upon myself to toilet train her because first, Alvin was the one who toilet trained our son, Liam (well, 3/4 of the credit goes to him). Liam was toilet trained at around 28-30 months. It's still early as compared to kids of the same age.

Second, it's very understandable that I do the toilet training with Sammie, because she is a girl.

Third, I knew it wasn't impossible to toilet train her even at a young age.

When she started talking, I took it as a sign.

At 18 months, I started training her when it came to pooing. It's the easiest part for me. The second phase was when she needed to pee. There were accidents -- added work for me, since it was mostly on the carpet, and she got used to saying "pupu" even if she only wanted to pee. Patience was tested hehehe.

By the time she was almost two and we had to fly to SG and Manila, I was very thankful she was already toilet trained at daytime. You see during our flights, I didn't have the dilemma of cleaning her up and changing her soiled nappy on the plane, because she did all her poo-ing in the toilet :) Sometimes, I'd get so dizzy inside the toilet while we experienced some turbulence hahaha. There were times I'd hurry to bring her to the toilet because she kept on saying she needed to poo when what she needed to do was just pee. I admit, there were times in the flight when I wished she'd just pee on her nappy! hahaha We just put on her nappy as a back up :)

The hardest part for me was the night nappies. I was ready to wait. You really can't force the kids. It might be harder for me (and more work) in the long run especially if she just ends up wetting our bed every night. We started bringing her to the toilet before bed time and as soon as she woke up in the morning. Earlier this month, we have observed that there were days when her night nappies wasn't wet at all. We took it as a sign that she might be ready to end nappy wearing. But still, we didn't force her. We might be lucky, because earlier this week, after we put on her nappy, she started to get irritated and told us straight away, "Mama, I don't like to wear nappy." Alvin and I looked at one another, checking if we are ready for it. We asked her again and she stood her ground, no nappy that night.

And the rest, as they say is history.

I am not taking all the credit. It was a team effort for both me and Alvin. So thank you too, Papa A!

Now, because I am a hoarder, I have two big bags of nappy pants in stock at home and two opened bags of nappy we were trying to finish before that big day. At this point, we don't know what to do with all of it! hehehe :)

the two bags of nappy pants

Now that she's fully toilet trained, I am now moving on to another task...how to wean her from breastfeeding! O-o that is another story :)

Congratulations, anak! Job well done!

As a reward and because we get to save now on nappy and wipes, we bought her Peppa Pig DVD and Peppa Pig shirt, which is now her current favourite ;)

happy with rewards

Going Against the Usual

I was actually inspired to write something about Vday after reading my friend's blog. Hey Mitch, I had a good laugh with your blog, Valentine's Day 2013. Yes, nakakaumay nga hahaha

So here's my share of Vday stories :)

I had work that day so I had to get up earlier than usual.

While the kids slept, Alvin and I had breakfast together, coffee and kwentuhan. It was one of those rare moments for us, so for me it was already our Vday date. Hehehe

What about gifts?

Not making an excuse or anything, I'm not expecting anything from Alvin. I have reached the point in our relationship where I have realized that my husband shows me how he loves me, everyday. He gives me gifts and lets me buy things I like even if there is no occasion. More than the material things, he makes and does a lot of small things, which for me are big proofs that he loves me!

That is what actually inspired me to write a poem for him, as my Vday gift.

I actually made a simple poem for Alvin. I've long planned about it. But since I was working that day I decided to just email it to him hehehe I thought sending him an e-mail that day with that poem was still a surprise, right? :)

I customised the poem: How Do I Love Thee....

My poem went like this:

How do you love me?

Let me count the ways....

You love me when.....

...and then I listed down all the small things he has been doing for me and the kids like waking up early at weekends to cook breaking for us, watching a movie with me which he really doesn't like, making me coffee in the morning, making me movie snack at night time, getting me a cold glass of water when he's all set to sleep, when he takes charge of the kids when he gets home from work, when he puts up with all my craziness and mood swings whenever I have my PMS...when he gives me massages, when he doesn't disturb me when I'm eating and the kids need some washing after the use of the toilet...and the like...I listed a lot ;)

My purpose? I just wanted to let him know that I remember all those "small things" he has been doing and I appreciate all of it. All of it goes to show that he really loves me ;) I'd rather have those "small things" than having a bouquet of roses for Vday :)

He was bubblier when he got home. He thanked me for the poem and told me that he liked it. And believe it or not, it worked wonders hehehe I've seen him doing more of those "small things" because he probably realized that I was taking notice of his efforts.

Anyway, even if I wanted to share it, I deliberately didn't because I knew almost everyone will be sharing something about Vday hehehe. Like what my friend Mitch said, sandamakmak nga ang posts about flowers, cards and dates lol :)

Anyway, he still had something during our HHPM the next day. The hubbies gave each of the wifeys a long-stemmed tulip and honoured us before our discussion.

Happy to hear hubby say how he appreciates me and how I bring out the best in him :)

There, my Vday might have been ordinary, but who needs that one day of expensive flowers, chocolates, fully-booked restaurants, when we can make everyday Vday, right?

Surprise, Surprise!

I'm a happy and proud mum.

Last Monday, my son brought home his first blue award from school.

Then yesterday, while checking his bag for school notes, I saw another blue award!

Two blue awards for one week? Just on his second week in school?

I'm not complaining :)

It says in the handbook that a Deputy Principal Award will be given after the kids have collected 15 blue awards.

A principal medallion after the next  15 blue awards.

I'm very proud of you Kuya Liam!

It's just unfortunate that I wasn't there when it was presented because on both days, I had work :(

But I'm happy because it only proves that you enjoy going to school :)

And So It Begins!

And so it begins!

Another chapter of my son's journey starts today.

He is now in Kindy. Yes, the big school!

As you start with this chapter:

We pray you'll find learning fun and enjoyable.

Meet friends you can have for keeps.

Learn about life, inside and outside the four walls of your classroom.

Realize the value of hardwork and perseverance.

Savour the fruits of your labour.

There's no denying, it's time for me and Papa to let go of you some more.

So, go ahead, spread your wings some more and start making good memories. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and try again. They are one of life's best teachers ;)

We're here to support you.

Remember that wherever you may go, Papa, Mama and Sammie are always here for you. We will always be here for you.

We love you, Kuya Liam!

Note: I cried last night and this afternoon. Just a mum,  getting sentimental :)

the night before :)

even the props are all set!

before leaving the house

Waiting for his teacher to collect their class.

first output for the year, which he read by himself. the only one in class who was able to read  it :)

What's Keeping Me Busy?

It's been a while!

Several things has kept and are keeping me busy :)

- Reading books has kept me busy. I finished two e-books and is now in the process of finishing a paperback. After finishing the e-books in a span of a week and then going back to paperback, I suddenly felt I want the e-books more, mainly because I can stay up late, stay with the kids and still read, even when the lights are already out.

- I've been driving my parents around since I am the only one available to do so most of the time during the weekdays.

- I've been catching up on movies we have missed on the big screen.

- I've been doing a lot of arts and crafts with my children. My Mama was actually amazed and said that I was so patient doing these stuff with them. I told her that it's my way of catching up with them. I felt guilty because I get to do these with my students and not with my kids. So why not do it with them? Right now it's been painting, paper mache' and a whole lot of other things. Most of our outputs are in my Instagram account.

- I've been driving the kids to the local libraries. They love it there!

- I've been helping Liam do school activities at home.

- I've been teaching Liam some household chores.

- I have been preparing Liam's school stuff and mine as well, as I will be resuming with work any day now. I already have my bookings for the next three weeks. (Yay! Keep 'em coming! ;))

- Liam had his Best Start Assessment last Thursday and I had to accompany him. He'll start going to the big school this coming Wednesday. His tennis lessons has resumed as well.

- My parents' Mega Photobook. Yes, I'm making a mega photobook of the great OZ adventure of our family. Laying out the pics are...arrrrgh! hehehe :)

- Cleaning and organizing stuff has kept me busy too :)

It's been a productive, very productive summer for me. I was able to relax, choose the things I wanted to do, and recharge for the school year!

Till my next entry! :)