Catching Up!

It's the school holidays and the kids are in Yogies so I get to finally catch up on my blogging!

Pardon me because it might be a long post. I just decided to put everything here than make or write separate blog entries for each of the stories I want to share :)

We are already on the last quarter of the year and yes, it is becoming busier by the day!

While on school holidays and I have my niece and nephew to help me out in taking care of Sam, I decided to start preparing for her birthday party. I know it's still a month away, but since I'm already booked by the first three weeks of Term 4, I decided now is the best time to do it. As I have mentioned it before, I don't work well with pressure hehehe :)

Here are the things that are keeping me busy the past few days:

I made the lolly bags, prepared the birthday banner, bought the balloon pack, bought the lollies, made my own pinata (I find the ready made too expensive!), did and put the thank you tags for the party favours and bought the plates, cuttlery etc. needed for the party. I'm still thinking if I will be making  personalized name tags for the kids...haven't decided at this point, although I already bought the materials :)



sorry upside down! lollies for the big kids' lolly bags
(the little ones will have a separate one c/o the venue)

additional lollies for the pinata

my DIY pinata, saving me $15 bucks!

labels of the girls' party favours



the props -- birthday candles, sparklers, trumpets, face paint, tattoos,
 birthday banners, balloon pack, medals, lolly bags

I have already updated the guest list as some of our guests have sent their "regrets" of not being able to join us. I still need to place the food orders, I'm giving myself until a week before because I have given our guests until 14 October to confirm their attendance. That way, I won't be ordering too much food.

I still need to ask and think of people who can help me out with the face paint, putting on tattoo, giving of prizes, and of course documentation. I can already ask my two nieces to give the party favours for the kids after the party. This is the hardest part of having a party, the small details -- they are driving me nuts hehehe. I am stopping myself because I originally planned to have a VERY SIMPLE one, so I'm not going to stress myself with this (fingers crossed!).

That is the big event for next month. Although prior to that, most of our weekends have been booked with other kids' parties, not to mention that we will have the annual family day of BAT by the 13th of October, again at Luna Park.

Another thing that is keeping me busy is our next travel as a family!

Yes, I can now spill the beans as we decided not to surprise hubby's family anymore!

all ready to fly again as a family! weeee!

My sister-in-law is tying the knot soon and we decided that we will all go home to be there with her on her special day. Weddings are very special occasions where we think, the whole family, as much as possible, should be complete. On our original plan, it is only Alvin who is to go home. We wanted to bring Liam with him, but I'm not 100% at peace with the idea. Besides, Liam had important events here, Moving Up Day (Pre-school grduation) and Kindy transition and of course, we had to think of the expenses. We had to be practical as well, right?

Anyway, to make the long story short, God in His goodness put everything in place, Liam's graduation and Kindy transition will be happening before our the wedding so no conflicts whatsoever, including providing for the funds that we will be needing for the tripS. Yes, we will be stopping over Singapore first before heading to Manila. We will be staying there for four days :) Another bonding activity for the family and another opprtunity to expose our children to another culture. Lucky (very lucky) kids! (Kami ng tatay nila malaki na ng makasakay ng eroplano!)

God has been providing and we can't thank Him enough for allowing us to live comfortably and enjoy plenty of extras (more on this later). We haven't left for our trip but we already incurred expenses like passport renewals (for me and Liam) and flights (SQ flights are not that cheap and we didn't get the ones on sale because we had to consider the chances of possibly rebooking the flights just in case, touchwood, something happens). I'm excited to fly SQ this time because even if you pay more than the other airlines, your travel will really be very comfortable and relaxing. Additonal expenses are of course the hotel bookings (hotel booking has been confirmed, just waiting for the costings from our travel agent), the pocket money we will be spending both in Singapore and in Manila, the entrance fees that we will be paying for the sites we will be visiting in Singapore. Not to mention the wedding gift we will be giving to the newly weds and the early Christmas presents we will be giving to hubby's other siblings.

The funny thing though is we will only be staying in Manila for 7 days. That already includes our  flights to and from Sydney! hehehe Most of our friends are saying, sayang naman ang ginastos sa pamasahe, but we can't stay long since Alvin cannot take a long leave from work and my parents and two younger siblings are scheduled to fly down under to celebrate the holidays with us. This is the first time, in years that my family will be complete, so extending our stay in Manila is non-negotiable.

Anyway, ganoon talaga, ipipikit mo na lang ang mga mata sa gastos para mapasaya ang mga mahal mo. I was actually very excited to see the faces of my in-laws when they see us arrive at the airport if we decided to keep it as a secret to the very end. Natakot lang ako, baka wala kami tulugan when we keep it as a secret hahaha. We just told them about the good news last week and boy, the smile on my MIL and FIL's faces? Priceless :) Joy radiated on their faces. I know they are very happy and excited to see and spend time with their grandkids again after almost a year :)

(My SIL and my parents knew we were all coming home, they had to because we will be part of the entourage. Trying to keep this one a low profile because we don't think we can meet up with friends as much as we would like to. Alvin's relatives from the US are also flying to Manila so I'm already expecting a lot of time catching up with them).

God is good. If this blog can be an instrument to sort of evangelize other people, then so be it. Last Sunday hubby and I were talking of how we felt so "maluwag" ...since I started working. Hubby's salary is more than enough to meet our daily needs and our "luho" every now and then. But me working again made us feel the difference. Some people learning that we will be going to Singapore and Manila are saying that we should grab the opportunity to shop because it's much cheaper there. It made me think, I don't have to go to another country just to shop because, God in His goodness, has allowed me and my family to buy the things we want (and need) here in Sydney. This includes maintaining our two other savings account, the kids' savings account and swiping everything on the credit card bills every month.

I remember our humble beginnings here in Sydney -- hubby doing manual labor, me helping re-pack hairnets  he brings home from work and be paid 10cents  for each pack, and comparing what we are now, I can't help but get teary-eyed. I get teary-eyed because my heart is just overflowing with gladness and thanksgiving, BIG TIME. And so when I see someone who looks like a new migrant (folders, papers on bag, holding a map)...I can't help but remember that three years ago, hubby might have looked like that person...I say a silent prayer for that person, that he will also be blessed in the same way we have been blessed. When I started working as a teacher again, I was extremely surprised with all the calls that I got this year! I mean, the past years, there were days when I didn't get any calls! This year, the calls just kept coming, not that I'm complaining, but I was and am amazed! I was also given my very first 2-week teaching block starting next term. This opportunity made me decide not to push thru with my enrollment. God has been giving me the signals, I'm just too stubborn, ignoring them, still doubting. But when this offer came? It's like one BIG SIGN from God,  flashing in front of me saying: I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU! BELIEVE! HAVE FAITH! Not keeping all the blessings to ourselves, we try in our own small way to help others in need.

Hubby didn't get the job he applied for (the one which was 15minutes from our place) but we are okay. We after all prayed for humility to accept whatever He wills for us and for Alvin, during the time that we were also praying for him to get the job. So if He says no, then, we know that something better is in store for us :) Keeping the faith.

I'm already a self-confessed Facebook addict, but there are days when I feel it's starting to get boring. Recently, I have discovered new apps which takes my time away from Facebook. It's Instragram, Goodreads and Pinterest.

I am loving Goodreads because I get to have ideas from fellow friends who are book lovers, what books I can read. I have made it my own book club. I get to have ideas about good books and I get to share my ideas of good books that I have read. It reignited my love for reading :) I just finished reading The Time Keeper of Mitch Albom and now I am currently reading Days Like These. The book I am currently reading is a memoir of a cancer patient. Gave me a chance to see what they have to go through just to get Cancer free. I feel it is a good book to read after the Time Keeper. There were "lessons" in Albom's book that were proven in the life of author of Days Like These.

The other one which is keeping me busy is Pinterest. I get to see plenty of nice, cute, brilliant photos! Not only that, it also gives me plenty of ideas about anything under the sun -- weddings, photos, parties, fashion, schooling, home decorating, home keeping and a lot more! Try it :)

Weee! Natapos din. I hope you had fun reading my stories. I hope to be able to update you, time permitting, but if not, you know very well the reasons ;D

Goals for 2012

Is this blog lost or a late post? Neither. I am really writing this post today, the 29th, a day after Alvin and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary.

Alvin and I actually started with this tradition 6 years ago, when we first celebrated our wedding anniversay.

During our anniversary date, we would sit down, reflect and talk about how our year has been. Giving feedback and setting some goals. I actually love doing this with hubby and I am thankful that hubby was and is ok with this activity :)

Anyway, we had our anniversary dinner last night with Liam and Sam and so it was quite impossible for us to have our usual discussion. On the way to another commitment, the kids fell asleep in the car and so we had the chance to have our heart-to heart talk.

What are our goals for 2012?

Me:
Will do my very best to make myself more pleasant when hubby gets home. You know, no more sungit (even if I am dead tired because of the day's activities).

Will lessen my being utosera. hehehe We actually had a good laugh as we recalled the classic story of "remote control utos" a few months back.

Alvin:
Will do things without me having to say it.
Will lessen his "walk-out episodes" (we were actually able to clarify this issue, of him snapping too quickly when he gets irritated. for him, it was his way of avoiding a bigger fight, but for me, it feels like he was walking out on me. so there, clarified and settled)

As a couple:

Sorry, x-rated ;p

As parents:
Alvin: will spend more time with Liam, so Liam can change the way he treats him hehe
Me: will start teaching Sam how to pack away her toys (poor Kuya Liam is always the one doing the packing away), read more books to her and Liam (sayang since she really shows interest with books) and will lessen my whining and have a more positive attitude towards house work (like what I read in an article, kids absorb our attitudes and I can say that Liam is starting to sound like me, a whiner, everytime I ask him to do little errands. i know, sorry, but it's not yet too late).

Because we assessed our actions, we had the chance to say "sorry" to one another. I was able to ask him questions like, "does he look forward to going home after work, because of the kids only or because of me and the kids"? And of course, after our talk, we were able to affirm our love with one another.

Sorry, mushy, but we both felt good afterwards.

Our projects for the coming year:
to continue bonding as a family and travelling as a family
to continue saving for our first home
to do well in our service, especially that we already accepted the roles of being Household leaders in our community

After six years, Alvin and I can only be thankful and grateful for:
the two wonderful and beautiful children whom God has entrusted to us
immediate (relatives included) and second families (CFC and BESA) who continue to help us and guide us in our growth
real and genuine friendships which surpassed the test of time and distance, 
new real friendships
which sincerely share in our joys and triumphs and
the comfortable and good life that we have
for opportunities to make our imperfections, perfect
weaknesses to strength
for challenges and struggles for us to keep the faith

we really can't complain, God has blessed us with our hearts' desires and more!

Alvin and his date :)

Happy anniversary to us Papa A!
I love you very much!

me and my anniv date :)

We just had a simple family dinner to celebrate our sixth! :) What made it more special was that we were prayed over by our CFC brothers and sisters a few minutes after 12midnight of 28 April 2012.

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 :)