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.

Note:  This post is picture overload…

We went to Disneyland Hotel to have the character buffet breakfast.  We took the 2nd serving from 10am-1130am.  So while waiting for our turn, we took advantage to take pictures within the hotel lobby and garden. The kids loved their maze garden.  It was a nice spot to take pictures.  We also tried to come inside and let Margaux led us the way.

More pictures at the back of HongKong Disneyland Hotel…

Margaux so love the jumping shots so she recommended that we do it again and again and again…

And she wants a solo shot this time…

Arg, I was too tired after those jumping shots.  (nakailan kaya ako no!).  I think I have lose weight after it, like 5lbs! *harharhar* so I don’t need to  buy diet pills But the 5lbs have all been recovered right away after taking a sumptuous great buffet breakfast.

Oh my, Margaux was still jumping on the picture above even though I told her that it’s time to rest already. I can’t even walk already after those jumping shots!  

Afterwhich, it was time to eat with the characters of Disneyland…coming up in next post!

At around 130pm, (yes at the peak of the sun) we went to enjoy the park on our 1st day.  We took the shuttle from the hotel lobby and the kids were pretty excited on what would they see inside Disneyland.  Of course, the dad was taking pictures every step of the way.  Its our way for the kids to remember that happy vacation.  We took some jumping shots as well before we boarded the bus.

Off from the bus, a picture in the arc of HongKong Disneyland shouldn’t be missed and to the surfing Mickey.

Then to the Mickey Mouse Flower Garden…

First ride, the Disneyland Train.  Bianca loved the train so much.  We took off in Fantasyland and watched the 4d Magicshow. This time it was Margaux who had a blast in the show.  Bianca didn’t quite get why she had to wear the glasses inside the dark movie theater.  She ended up  watching it without her magic glasses. 

We proceeded by taking all other rides like the Winnie the Pooh (Bianca’s favorite), Dumbo Elephant (Margaux’s favorite) and the Carousel of course (Bianca’s favorite also).

We then realized that we were hungry so we ate in one of the al fresco cafe’s which has nice patio furniture covers along Main Street. It was timely after taking our snacks that it was time for the Disney Parade.  Oh, the kids had a blast waving at their favorite characters.  Margaux was “kilig” when the Disney Princesses waved their hands and even blew kisses on her.  While Bianca was shouting on the glimpse of Pluto, Goofy and the most popular couple in town, Mickey and Minnie Mouse! 

After the parade, we took our chance to take pictures in front of the magical castle…

The kids enjoyed watching also the High School Musical show in the main ground.  Then we tried Autopia and the Astro Blazers (which is Margaux’s most favorite).  I think we took that ride for like 8x for 2 days!  ;)

We were in the park till evening since we waited for the fireworks display.  I took this pictures of Dicky while we were waiting for the fireworks…

Although the fireworks in Disneyland Anaheim is whole lot better, we still enjoyed the final attraction in HongKong Disneyland.

We headed back to our hotel through the Resort Shuttle.  The kids were already low-bat this time.  We ate quickly in the lounge since the restaurant only offers dinner buffet.  We felt that it would be such a waste if we would take that.  The kids just had their kiddie meals while Dicky and I had noodles for dinner. Margaux was already sleeping in the couch even before we finished eating.  We capped the night early as we were prepared to take another long day in the park on our 2nd day.

We are back! We arrived home Saturday evening. I was dead tired tending to the kids. They were so playful, at times rowdy but was able to manage them still.

We left the house wednesday morning before 5am to be in the airport early. Oh, I lacked sleep that night since I finished last minute packing at 1am.  We took the first flight to HK via PAL. The kids were so easy to wake up during the time. They were so excited. They were up until we boarded the plane till we landed in HongKong. (ibang energy level! ) We were the first one to board the plane.  Yes, super excited lang naman! 

Some pictures while in NAIA Terminal 2…
  

They were  behaved all throughout the trip.  I was happy cause they were easy to manage on the plane.  Its a test if we can go for long haul flights next time.  Bianca was so obedient when I told her to put on her seatbelt.  She didn’t took it off all throughout the time that we were on flight.  The Ate (Margaux) was just busy with her writing books.  When it was time to eat, they both ate the food that was served.  

The flight was on time so we were in HongKong by 10am. The checkout from immigration only took few minutes and we were off to get our luggages.  We took a cab going to Disney Hollywood Hotel where we stayed for 2 nights. It was a breeze during check-in and we were allowed to come in to our room already as early as 11am. It was hot when we arrived in HongKong. The sun was up and so we were so glad. But we were informed by the reception staff that a storm might come the following day based on their forecast so instead of going to TungChung first based on our IT, we decided to rest for a while, freshened up and proceeded to the park right away.

Next up, our 1st day in Disneyland Park.

One day to go…this is the planned “Itinerary” for the trip…

Day 1 – Wednesday, Sept 9
8am – Depart Manila via PAL
11am – (hopefully) in Disneyland Hollywood Hotel already
– check-in and drop luggages
12nn – travel to TungChung outlets for lunch and quick shopping
2pm – be back in Disney hollywood hotel to freshen up
3pm till closing – Disneyland in time for the parade

Day 2 – Thursday, Sept 10
8am – breakfast in Disneyland Hotel
10am – Disneyland again
* could go to TungChung again in case the kids are sleeping in the afternoon

Day 3 – Friday, Sept 11
8am – breakfast in Disneyland Hollywood Hotel
9am – swimming in the pool of Hollywood Hotel
12nn – check-out, move to city
130pm – check-in Marco Polo Gateway Hotel
3pm – take Star Ferry to go to HongKong Island (for kids to try this so as the tram in HK island)
330pm-5pm – move around Causeway Bay, Central
5pm – back to TST via MTR, shop and dinner
730pm – go to Avenue of Starts to watch Symphony of Lights at 8pm
9pm – back to hotel, rest

Day 4 – Saturday, September 11
8am – breakfast in Harbour City
9am-1130am – last minute shopping
12nn – check out; leave luggages in concierge
1pm – lunch and move around TST area
3pm – off to airport, airport shopping!
6pm – flight back to Manila

We are hoping for a good weather! Can’t wait to be back in HK again!

Me, I spent quality time with the husband and the kids as I didn’t have any events and we just didn’t plan anything over the weekend. We just enjoyed lazing around the bedroom, quickly went to the mall last saturday so kids can play and buy few sale items.  We heard mass yesterday, run few miles around the village, then footspa and massage last night.

But I think I also gained 5lbs just over the weekend. I cooked a lot and also ate a lot. Bad!  Prepared Beef Tenderloin Chinese Style last saturday and pan-fried cream dory in light soy sauce yesterday. Yes, it was chinese cooking over the weekend! Also prepared banana cake and boiled sweet corn for merienda. We also had some left over chocolate cake and ice cream so all we had to do was eat while doing some DVD marathons.

The husband decided to have his executive medical check-up this week so today is the official start of his cleansing diet. Aside from colon cleanse reviews I have given him, he also would like to try other diets that he was able to research over the net. But of course all of it should still be consulted to his doctor. We would be checking in St Lukes Hospital this wednesday till thursday. I am going to camp with him in the room. I wish, they are going to give him a nicer room!  

Here’s to hoping that husband is fit and healthy aside from being slightly overweight!  gee!  :-<

our family had lunch together with husband’s relatives in Zong in Fort Bonifacio.  Then we decided to stroll around Bonifacio High Street to kill time and have dinner also at Abe in Serendra.  We don’t want to go home anymore since we wanted the kids to be sleeping by the time we were home.  (yes, pagurin ng husto!, lol!).

So after the lunch, we all went to Krispy Kreme to have desserts and coffee.  The kids saw the Club Princess store so we decided to go in.  I have seen this store already before and in fact, I know that Adworks own it as well.  But when we got there, Margaux insisted to have a hair styling cause she saw a little girl being made up as well.  

I had them both tried the hair make-over.  We then strolled and played in the grounds and we let them play inside Landes and Hobbes store.

Here are some of our pictures last weekend…

I am just grateful for some weekends that I am not working!  ;)

so it makes the kids and even the husband to stay at home.  We all want to just stay in bed.  But there are a number of good news today.  My mom is getting better although totally not well yet.  She still need to be assisted whenever she has to stand up and walk.  We are still praying for her full recovery.  So we are all just home now.  We would have a DVD marathon later probably as I want to watch all HP movies again, in preparation to watch the new release.  

My brother has been recovering from his vertigo attacks as well.  So that’s another good news.  Then my friend from Fremont California called asking about the condition of my mom.  I am grateful for friends who are concerned and are praying for our family.  It is just so good to receive support from them.  Well, she also mentioned that she would finally be reunited to her parents in New York.  My friend was assigned by her IT company for two years to work in Fremont.  But now that the contract is done, she would move back to New York.  She looks forward to finally getting back home.  She told me that she might not be able to call me for few weeks since she would be busy packing and doing some cross country moving. Good thing she is contracting the best moving company from CA to NY. I wish her well. Next year, we hope to see her in New York. It has been her long standing invitation. I really hope to get together with her.

a walking zombie already after lacking sleep for like a week now. Gee, I hope all these things would be over. I hope my mom would get back to recovery soon. I am frustrated that doctors cannot find what’s wrong with her, clearing her up from all MRI and CTScan results. But the jerky movement of her eyes is still present that causes her dizziness and vomitting. Her sickness is related to vertigo as well so she was given medication for it. We would be sending my mom next week to another doctor so we could get a second opinion. As for me, I hope I could rest already by tomorrow. My husband said he could see some fine lines already around my eyes because of lack of sleep. But he says that I’m still the apple of his eyes. lol! Oh, now I am considering if I should get some wrinkle cream already? What could be the criteria in considering the best one in the market? Of course I would base it if it is safe, effective and cost efficient. Would find time to research on that.

from the husband last monday which was handed over to me by the kids…Sweet!

The husband wrote…”I know we are not getting any younger but atleast we are growing old with each other!” 

Need I say more?  he’s such a romantic guy!  I married the right guy and true to his words that he would court me forever!  Just having the family together and always being healthy is the best gift I could ever receive for my birthday.  They are my life, my precious ones!

So where did you guys go for the Holy Week?  Our family took the traffic route to Tagaytay on a Holy Thursday and stayed there till Friday afternoon.  We were with a company of one of the husband’s friend from his previous work.    We had bisita iglesia as well, starting off with 3 churches here in Manila and ending the rest in Tagaytay.  We also went to Flower Farm, where the owner is a good friend also of Dicky so we were able to take nice pictures inside the farm.  Dicky was practising with his dslr actually.  But the pics am posting here are from my ever reliable sony digicam. 

Easter Sunday, we went to the Easter celebration of Eastwood City.  It was a fun afternoon with lots of treats for the kids.  There was egg painting, pony rides, encouters with some animals (real ones and fakes, hehehe), glitter tattoos, inflatables.  Dicky and I were so tired after just capping with a dinner in Dencios.  But the kids were still up and about to play.  I wish I have all their energy!

Here are some pics…

Holy Thursday

Easter Sunday

Oh and I’m missing the good friday pics as all were from Dicky’s dslr.

I’m bad! I missed sending christmas cards to most of our friends and relatives abroad because we weren’t able to have a decent pictorial with the family to make it as our christmas card, like what we used to do before. And now that easter is coming, I am thinking to just send them online greeting cards to make up with all of them. I don’t think I could be able to do some writing and sending via snail mail some cards by April since we are gonna be so busy by then. Thanks to technology, we can still be in touch with our loves ones even miles away. It has already been widely accepted. And to make-up with our lost touch with them, I am browsing as early as now beautiful online cards to send so I can just pre-set the time to send it. At least it is a guarantee that they would get it on time now.

Yeah, I know it’s Valentine’s already on Saturday, but I’m backtracking and just like to share our pics during the new year’s eve dinner at mother-in-law’s place…

We bought a number of fireworks from Dragon Fireworks for the new year’s eve.  Dicky said we would buy more next year as we celebrate the new year in the new house!  

after christmas, I still have a hangover for too much partying during reunions with family and friends.  We spent well the christmas eve and the christmas day itself.  It was so much fun to be with the company of relatives.  The kids had a blast in opening the gifts from Santa and also the ones from mom and dad. (sorry pics were not downloaded yet).  We had a sumptuous feast of the noche buena and of course the potluck reunion with my side of the family.  Dicky and I also enjoyed opening our gifts from friends and family.  We also love our gifts to each other.  Will post about it next time.  The husband was so ecstatic on what I gave him.  Yes, he deserve another one aside from the dslr.  But he also gave me something nice and useful for me.  I love his gifts!  We also got a number of nice gifts for the future house.  Yes, friends and family knows that we are building the dreamhouse so they gave us interesting stuff for the house including an electric blanket would you believe?

I just love christmas because of a lot of christmas giving and receiving!  Don’t you just love both?