After the health insurance, I am asked by the husband to check on cheap home insurance available. Well, yes…talking about protection for the whole family. The husband is concern not just to protect our individual selves but to also protect properly our properties. I would like to think that this is a very good move. We would like to secure everything for our children. So bulk of our expenses for the month would actually go to paying insurance premiums.  No joke, it’s kinda expensive too!

this morning. We would stay there for the weekend. Looking forward for this quick getaway with the whole family. I can’t wait to just lounge around and read a book. Brought with me “Eat, Love, Pray” book. Also bought a number of DVDs with us. I’m sure it would be movie marathon as we enjoy the cool breeze of Tagaytay weather. The kids though are hoping to go swimming on the clubhouse on Sunday. I hope I can survive SBD while there. But I am taking a break from my regular menu order on Sunday. Just one cheat day for the week.

Now, got to pack our stuff…

The above photo was taken during one of our stops on our road trips. This was in Hoover Dam. It was a tourist attraction once known as Boulder Dam, that is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado Rover. It is actually a state line between Arizona and Nevada. This was just about few days after we landed in Los Angeles and look how much weight we gained already just looking at our picture. That made me think to buy diet pills then. But instead of looking for one in Las Vegas as we were headed there after this stop, we ended up eating mostly buffet in Vegas hotels. So don’t ask how much weight did we gain from the trip ok?

We welcomed with open arms the arrival of our new baby. We consider it actually as our “baby boy.” My husband was of course very excited. He has been planning to get this one since late last year but we have delayed it a bit. I always believe that it is sweeter when you have patience. We have finally decide on the name. It would be called “Reno.” It was the husband who chose that one. I can’t contradict him for that. He wants to remember the fondest memory we had while we were in US. We really had a great time in Reno, Nevada actually.

It was baptized already last sunday. We are enjoying this new baby so much. I’m now thinking to plan to have a quick getaway somewhere nearby, let’s see.

The best experience I had from this trip was to experience and play in the snow in Reno, Nevada and Lake Tahoe! The husband drove from Las Vegas to Reno at -4 degrees celsius! Then we went to Lake Tahoe (just an hour from Reno) and was at 0 degrees celsius at that time. Of course, aside from pictures, all our happy moments were captured using the camcorder. It is one of a kind experience for us already since it was our family’s first time.

Two weeks ago, our family together with our relatives had a simple get-together in a nearby resort from our place. It is so nearby, that it is just about two lots away from our house. It was so convenient and my cousins and aunts love the place too. It’s a huge venue for parties as well with lots of mango trees, they have a small pond that uses a pressurized pond filter. Of course there is a pool and a resting area too. It was potluck so we had a lot of food. It’s been a while since we had this kind of a gathering since we always find it hard to book a resort with our number of heads. Besides, we are always last minute in planning. Glad the venue was available when I inquired. The place is called The Orchard. Here are some pictures of the venue…

We rented the place for a day.  From 10am-7pm.  My cousins prepared a little something for our dear Margaux.  It turned out to be her birthday celebration too.  They got her a birthday cake and ice cream too!  But it was Bianca who blew the candle on the cake, lol! More pictures…

we moved to our dream house, it was early morning of April 26, 2009 then.  See my post here.

We didn’t change much of the furnishings, except for two few vases which was broken by the kids (aw!) Pictures below were taken last year…

So this morning, we had a mini celebration…we had a sumptuous breakfast also.  We also had a candle-blowing on the birthday cake of our house

Happy anniversary to us!  We are home sweet home home for exactly a year already! I always look forward to coming home to this lovely place.

It was busy for us. Had events over the weekend (work-related and personal). Saturday, while I was in Pampanga for an event, the kids just went to my mom’s place to visit them while the husband went to finish some work in his office. Sunday, we heard mass then off to finalize on what to buy as our anniversary gift for each other. We already ordered it We had a simple celebration also as we dine-in Dampa in Libis. Went home pretty late and I missed watching again those sunday showbiz talk shows. I heard there were some revelations among showbiz personalities who underwent bariatric surgery. I wonder who were those? We capped the night by having a very yummy dessert of Razon’s Halo-Halo.

Glad that some of my blackheads didn’t show on this picture. We spent a day in Tagaytay Highlands two saturdays ago. The kids enjoyed riding the funicular tram while they were waiting for me to finish my meeting. We also had a refreshing halo-halo by the midlands veranda. We went to Little Souls also near Amadeo. It is a nice quiant chapel where you can write your intentions so the nuns can pray for it.  The kids went horse back riding after.  It was a short trip but we just love being together as a family.

Before I actually review the North Carolina health insurance that my aunt is asking me to read, let me post first the pictures from our quick get-away during the Holy Week. We took advantage of the vacation time two weeks ago. The husband cannot take off any additional vacation leaves so we are relying to regular work holidays to have quick trips like this. We really have wanted to take the kids for a trip to the beach but we just couldn’t find an available resort during that time. Lesson learned really to book way in advance especially if it is the Holy Week.

We went to a nearby resort, Thunderbird Resort in Rizal. After staying in their othe resort in La Union, I find their service very good. I love the spacious room, the amenities, value for money for their room accommodation. Both of their resorts (La Union and Rizal) have a casino inside.

We only stayed there for overnight from Holy Thursday to Good Friday. The kids of course enjoyed swimming to bits. It’s just good to have a relaxing moment during that time.

Some of our pictures…
 

We are currently here in Thunderbird Resorts in Rizal. We are just having a relaxing time. The kids are enjoying in their nice pool, while the husband and I are talking by the pool side. This is my kind of vacation. Laid back, no hurries and just enjoying fresh air. The husband and I have talked already about a lot of things. Can you imagine, we even discussed hemorrhoid treatment for a friend who has one? Yeah, everything under the sun. But what I love most about we discussed are plans we have for the next half of the year! Life is definitely getting exciting!

So what are your plans for the holy week? Hope everyone would get to have a blessed and meaningful week ahead. As for our family, aside from the usual Bisita Iglesia which we would actually do by early Thursday, we are also off to stay in a nearby resort. I heard the resort exemplifies a very refreshing ambiance and even have those mahogany shutters on their rooms. I am just excited to relax a bit before I get off to a very busy April.

Visited a friend yesterday who actually gave birth to a bouncing cute baby boy. It’s their first and I could see the happiness on the daddy’s eyes. They even gave out fuente cigars for all visitors in the hospital. Interesting huh? They said that you should give out a cigar when you have a baby boy. I didn’t know that. Oh well, I shall keep that in mind as we hope to give out the same thing as well in the future My husband was so green with envy when he saw the little boy in the nursery!

I believe 2010 is a very good year for us. Could it be the talisman? lol! But I would like to think it is God’s faithfulness to us! We are very grateful. Husband and I have been blessed to have the careers we have. My husband’s work is at its peak! He is really very good on what he does and I am very proud of him. Though, there have been numerous offers for him from other sales job search, both locally and internationally, we are just praying all the time for God’s guidance on what’s going to be best for us. On my end, I also love the fact that clients have been putting good words about us and that we are continually getting new clients to trust with my services. I’m confident that we are on the right track. (cross-fingers), I think we are hitting our targets for the end of the year! yipee!

It was a great weekend indeed.  Nothing compares to spending quality time with the whole family. We had too much lounging around actually. And staying at home was our best option since it was so hot already when you go outside. Atleast, we do not have much concern about it while inside the house because the 3-toner aircon and the basement dehumidifier were both on almost the whole day. So goodluck to our electric bill Nevertheless, it’s just good to relax for this weekend as we look forward to a very busy week ahead! 

Have a fabulous week ahead to everyone!

that there would be a new addition to our clan since my SIL announced her pregnancy last month. But God knows what’s best for her and the baby. So even she was taking prenatal vitamins and she was asked to take bed rest, still the growth of the baby inside her didn’t progress But God has been faithful to have prepared my SIL and my brother for this fate. It is God’s plan and will. We are happy that my SIL is safe now after undergoing her D & C procedure. I love how much she’s keeping the faith.

It’s indeed a great 2009…

We moved to the new house, a realization of a dream!
The husband did very well with his job. Kudos to him!  He ended the year with flying colors! 
I had a good number and quality accounts for my business.
The kids were safe and healthy despite having flu once in a while.
We had a number of celebrations with friends.
We had two out-of-the-country trips (HK and Guam).

And most of all, our family is complete and united. There are so many things to remember for 2009 and I just can’t count them in my fingers.  Life is happiness!!! 

Now, I claim that 2010 would even be better!!!

Have a fantastic new year everyone!!!

and we are bound for the island of Guam. We would be staying here…

The Westin Resort Guam

We are excited of course. Although I haven’t done our itinerary yet. I need to finish it by today as the husband would look at it tonight. Aside from the Guam Itinerary, he is also asking me to check out Fort Worth apartments as he wants to consider including Texas for the trip to mainland next year to see and meet his bestfriend. I wonder how we could fit all our schedules by then.

For the meantime, I need to print all necessary information we need for the upcoming trip to Guam like transportation options, attractions, dining options, and shopping of course. We are praying for Mr. Sun to shine on us while we enjoy the beach and sands of Tumon Island! Can’t wait!

is already up inside the house. We bought it early November and we just can’t wait not to put it up right away. We fixed it last weekend. The kids helped as we placed the decors in the tree.  It would definitely become a yearly family tradition for us.  We want the kids to participate as we put up all our christmas decorations. The husband and I agreed on the traditional colors of red and gold so it could last very long. Well, we also intend to use it again in the next few years. . Not to mention that the colors are appropriate for our furnitures.

It’s our first christmas in the new house so you bet, we are pretty excited . I have changed also other stuff in the house to make it more christmas feel. We also bought new stuff like the lanterns and the singing Santa Family. I have yet to post the pictures of those next time.

For the meantime, here’s our tree…

The finished product with the lights on already …

was affected by flood over the weekend.  It was chest deep high that entered their first floor.  In our longest stay there for more than 20 years, it has never happened to us.  I could imagine how it could be if we were still staying with them that time.  We had so much stuff on the ground floor.  My files, my work, my home office then was practically at the first floor.  I felt the sadness of my parents on what happened but I told them that furnitures and appliances can be restored and replaced and what is more important now is that they are safe and still healthy.   I am concerned more about their health actually.  It would probably take weeks to finally clean up the place.  They still do not have electricity and clean water from MWSS.   I do bring food to them everyday as they really cannot cook due to lack of utilities.  We are also helping them clean up the mess, the sticky mud that Ondoy had left.  This calamity have taught us a lot.  Most of us have picked up a learning from that experience.  It is really necessary to be prepared always and even those senior life insurance should really be considered for our parents.

Thank God! Our house was spared from flood. It was knee-high deep in our street but the main streets of the village were waist and chest deep still up to now due to the heavy rains brought by the storm, Ondoy! I practically walked through the flood from Masinag to our house. I came from the market together with the househelps. We were stranded there from 11am. Was able to arrive home at 530pm already. The husband and the kids were so worried. No choice but to leave the car infront of one of the buildings in Marcos Hi-way. We braved the flood which was waist-deep to chest-deep. It was indeed a scary experience.

As per our neighbors, it was the first time that our street got flooded. This is indeed a calamity for the whole Luzon especially Metro Manila. I hope relief and rescue arrives soon to those in need. Next to this calamity would be diseases spreading. Let’s all pray for safety and health of everyone. I hope we would all be spared from these concerns. All help we could get even those Mesothelioma lawyers might be needed.

So it’s time to have our Character Breakfast Buffet in Disneyland Hotel.  (Tip:  Do reserve in your hotel’s reception for the coupons for this breakfast since it would be cheaper by few dollars rather than a walk-in guest in the restaurant) Cost of the buffet breakfast was at 196HKD per adult and 99HKD for child.  Kids from 0-3 are free of charge. 

On this buffet breakfast, saying that Bianca had a blast is an understatement.  She was ecstatic, super happy actually.  She loves the disney characters so much that she really wasn’t able to eat since she has been running around after Goofy, Pluto, Mickey, Minnie and Daisy.  The ate (Margaux) seemed not to care at all.  She doesn’t even want to have pictures with them as she was only concerned to see the Disney Princesses.  Oh well, the Princesses didn’t go down that time.  They were preparing for a show in the lobby instead.  So notice that all pictures with characters are mostly with Bianca only.

Wasnt really able to take pictures of our food but it was all good.  I think I returned a number of times getting their friend noodles and dimsums!  Yum, yum, yum.  The husband was of course very happy too!  We managed not to have lunch anymore since we were so full from that breakfast. 

More pictures…

I wasn’t at all concerned that Bianca have been really holding the characters.  I know how much the Disneyland Company are paying special attention to the use of safety products on the suits of their characters, so I feel safe.

Finally, Snowhite was in the lobby so we also had a picture with her.

It was almost noon when we went to the park for our 2nd day.