My Debutante girl

18 years! Wow! It seems like only yesterday when I celebrated that myself. And now... before my very eyes, my own 18-year old! Look at you all grown up! And all I could say is WOW! I remember one day while watching TV more than 18 years ago, when a baby's face popped in my head from out of nowhere and I was surprised and confused all at the same time. So the next day I ran to a random OB-Gyne and found myself pregnant with you. I was scared but happy, and I was way past my 20's....so way past it. You were my first baby and I was asking myself if I can take the challenge... the new role that life has given me. But when I saw your heartbeat on the monitor while the doctor was taking an ultrasound; I knew that I will take on that role head on! But this is not about me... 

So today as you turn 18, I dare say take a stand! The same way you did when you kicked yourself out of my womb on your 8th month. You could not wait to see the world! Let that be you again! Have the kind of hunger to see what the world can offer you but more importantly take time to find out what you can give the world! 

Look back and help those who have helped you!

Take a stand! Do not wait for things to happen! Meet everyday with fervor, do everything with passion! And for everything that you want to happen in your life, make a stand!

I love this photo of you when you tried to stand and succeeded! 

I love you so much my pabebe girl! You are the first reason why I started to dream! Enjoy your day! Am glad you wore a skirt today, if only for ice cream hahaha! 

Roll those sleeves up and become your own success story!
Thank you for wearing a skirt today hahaha

Birthday Girl

We've had you since 2006. I remember asking a very good friend of mine to help me find someone who can take care of my kids while I am at work. I remember her giving me your details and me calling you up telling you that I will be purchasing your plane ticket for your flight from Iloilo to Manila. I remember how right after my graveyard shift at PLDT, how I had to go to the airport to pick you up. I also remember how coming home from work after your first day with us I found my notepad with scribblings of your thoughts. I wish I kept that piece of paper. It said something to this effect "ang lungkot dito, ang tahimik. parang di ko kakayanin. gusto ko na umuwi" (it's so sad here, it's so quiet, I don't think I can last long in this place. I want to go home) I remember feeling so forlorn knowing that you wanted to go back home after your first day. So we talked about it and I asked you to give it a chance, that my baby needs a patient and loving nanny as he was only 7 months old and I'd have to work nights and sleep in the morning. And so you relented but it was also because I found out that you were able to make a deal with a "tindera" who, at that time, was selling her 3311 Nokia phone at a store near our place. That's how "maabilidad" you were and continue to be up to this time. And now 10 years after...you call our home yours too! 

We are sorry we had to leave you when we had to go to Saudi Arabia 6 years ago. We were at our saddest knowing that we will be apart for so many years. But that journey taught us all to be independent and be able to labor on our own. But most days during our time in that foreign land we would talk about you. Incessantly.

Now we are back and so are you as you choose to. Thank you for coming back into our lives Sheila. We know you have sacrificed a lot for our family most especially for yours. But this is a promise we have always held. We've got your back covered. Whatever happens, we've got your back! We may not be a perfect family... we bicker, we cry... but most times we love, we laugh, we all go out together. Walang iwanan! 

Today is a perfect time to celebrate everything you are to us! So let me take this time to greet you a happiest birthday! We cherish you, we continue to do so, and we will never stop loving you! It is our hope that you continue to be happy with us! It is our prayer that we would be able to help your family someday! We truly love you Sheila!

Cool Kuya

And so we celebrated our youngest son's 11th birthday at The Nook, (AGAIN!) We really had no plans of leaving the house that day as I was thinking of holding a joint celebration the next day, which was also Father's day. But as it turned out, my eldest son would not hear of it. He said it was his younger sibling's birthday and he wanted him to enjoy. He offered to spend his gift money for his baby brother. I was really touched! I seem to be doing something right with my kids! I agreed because I would like to teach my kids a valuable lesson - taking care of each other.

Our favorite!

Triple S Pasta

My husband only likes his sardines with rice, so we got him this :)

Pesto

 Now this is the bomb! Underneath all those fried potatoes is a big hotdog on a bun!

Nook Overload

I love almost anything with cheese! But I guess it would be nice if they'd change the cheese they use on this sandwich. Perhaps something with a bit tangy. Perhaps next time I can request them not to put the parmesan,

Grilled cheese panini

These bacon wrapped chicken are also yummy! Served with maple syrup :)

Our tummies enjoyed the food! Our eyes feasted on the place (yep even if it was our second time)! I could see that even my husband enjoyed himself too! All in all everybody had a good time! The place usually opens at 1pm but we were really lucky that day as we were allowed to go inside even if it was an hour or so before opening. So thank you so much Kuya Alloy for being a part of your younger brother's birthday! Your gesture certainly made it into Allen's treasured memories! Thank you for being a good kuya to Allen, your daddy and I love you so much!

Happy Birthday bunso!

I'm trying to recall when I first learnt about you. It seems so far away now... that memory. But what I can clearly remember was how I felt when I found out that a very tiny you was slowly growing inside my womb. I felt genuinely happy because I know that I was about to give your dad another great news!

Today you celebrate your 11th birthday and I sigh... my baby. I know you will always be that to me - the child of my heart. I thank the Lord everyday for trusting me with the role of motherhood, the opportunity to be a mother to you, your ate, and kuya. I would like to think that I am doing a good job of being that kind of mother.

So as you celebrate your 11th, your dad and I continually pray that you grow up in faith, and in the knowledge that you are loved...you are everything to us!

Of surprise birthdays, family, and everything unspoken

My mother celebrated her Platinum Jubilee this year and we are just so elated that she has reached another milestone! After 6 heart attacks, she is still in full swing and just celebrating life the way it should be. She had 3 celebrations, 1 done in our family home, the other a surprised visit from my aunt (her only sister), and the most recent, another surprise birthday party spearheaded by her youngest brother who is currently abroad. Boy! Was she happy to have been in the midst of relatives! Needless to say, her most recent celebration is not only to celebrate her birthday but a celebration of family, forgiveness, reconciliation. 

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi, All Men are Brothers: Autobiographical Reflections

When forgiveness is real in the hearts of the giver and the receiver, then there is real peace. I would like to thank my cousins, my nieces and nephews, my aunts and uncles for coming! 

I'll never stop dreaming that one day we can be a real family, together, all of us laughing and talking, loving and understanding, not looking at the past but only to the future.

LaToya Jackson

Indira Gandhi, once said that "Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave", I am glad to be in the midst of people with like minds. Because family is everything! And that should always matter! So let me share with you something I came across online...

DECIDE TO FORGIVE

Decide to forgive

For resentment is negative

Resentment is poisonous

Resentment diminishes and devours the self.

Be the first to forgive,

To smile and to take the first step,

And you will see happiness bloom

On the face of your human brother or sister.

Be always the first

Do not wait for others to forgive

For by forgiving

You become the master of fate

The fashioner of life

The doer of miracles.

To forgive is the highest

Most beautiful form of love.

In return you will receive

Untold peace and happiness. Here is the program for achieving a truly forgiving heart:

Sunday: Forgive yourself.

Monday: Forgive your family.

Tuesday: Forgive your friends and associates.

Wednesday: Forgive across economic lines within your own nation.

Thursday: Forgive across cultural lines within your own nation.

Friday: Forgive across political lines within your own nation.

Saturday: Forgive other nations.

Today she decides to wear a dress and fix her hair

My daughter, I guess, woke up on the right side of the bed. I was surprised to see her on the eve of her birthday in a dress and wearing a clip on her hair. I was so happy yet did not want to spoil the moment by joshing her about it. You see, my daughter and I are very much alike in a lot of things. The way our mind works is pitch-perfect! Her sense of humor, her spontaneity, her bursts of emotions, oh and I'd like to think that her artistic skills and singing voice came from me too (though her dad is so sure that those came from him). When I was her age, I never liked wearing floral dresses, for me wearing a shirt and a pair of jeans is always fine. And she is very much like me in that area. But today! Boy! Her dad and I were both pleasantly surprised! I guess our little lady is finally growing up! 

Now that you are (secret) years old, I want you to make this moment and the days and years to come the very best of your life! Put into good use the talents that the Lord has given you. You were given those talents for a greater purpose, use them wisely!

Happy Happy Birthday Ally! May you grow in grace! May you always be happy! May I be able to contribute only good memories into your childhood. And if there ever are some of them that were not so good, forgive me but always remember that today and tomorrow are here for us to be able to change bad memories into good ones. I love you darling baby girl!

Hubby Birthday!

This is the 2nd year that we get to celebrate my husband's birthday as a family! When he left for Saudi Arabia 3 years ago, we celebrated his birthday without him. But thanks to technology, he was "electronically" with us, as my children and I shared the dishes that I prepared back then. I'll forever be so thankful that we are together because by being so, we do not merely celebrate my husband's birthday but celebrate the fact that we are no longer apart. 

To my SM (because You've got it all), my Metrobank (because I'm in good hands), my Meralco (may liwanag ang buhay), our Philippine Airlines (with us, you're always number 1), and my Lucky me noodles (Lucky me...but Luckier you! lol).....

So to you, my husband....

Need I say more?

Have one's cake and eat it too!

This is the 2nd month that salary is delayed and I feel that it will always be this way. An unwelcome reprieve most especially where celebrations like our son's birthday is concerned. It's a good thing I know how to bake  (or so I thought) and that we had enough baking supplies that I was able to use for yesterday's occasion. But I guess that's part of our life here in Saudi Arabia. Unlike Henry Sy's, SM (We have it all for you!), our tune is more towards..."we can't have it all..."

Anyway, I was so excited about baking a cake for my son yesterday. I had no design in mind because for one, I've no background in cake decorating. Second, I've never done a 9" round cake. Third, I've no idea how my oven would treat the cake mixture I was about to prepare. And lastly, I haven't tried doing the recipe that I saw from Rachel Ray's website.  I didn't want to disappoint my birthday boy so I promised myself that I'll have to decorate the cake as attractive as possible. How? I dunno... All I know is that I have a bag of flour, 3 types of food coloring, red, green and yellow, 2 kinds of candy sprinkles, marshmallows, sugar and eggs. 

I decided to bake a Chocolate mocha cake with Mocha frosting...it was actually a good idea. I guess my own excitement got the better of me because surprise!!! My cake turned out lopsided and I was supposed to do 2 of them so that I can fill the cake in between with mallows and nuts. Both turned out lopsided and mushy at the center. And.... to top it all,  the second half got broken! The cake without the icing looked like a big Molten Lava cake. I was panicking because I still had to cook pasta and prepare green salad. So when my son asked me, I told him the cake is actually his favorite Molten Lava cake. While telling him this, my guardian angel was poking at me and reminding me about Easter Sunday which, was a day before my son's birthday. Already guilty! and just after the Holy week! haaaay.... 

first half of the cake lopsided but
I was able to save it by
covering it with frosting

I tried to salvage the cake by covering every nook and cranny with the mocha flavored frosting that I made. But this went bad too! Why? I was so intent on fixing the darn thing that I forgot to let the cake cool down first. Hence, this made spreading the frost quite difficult to do. It's a good thing I was not on a Food network challenge or else I would have failed miserably...big time! I still went on though, and just covered the ugly spots with marshmallows and the edge of the cake with his birthday candles. So when it was done, it looked better. I felt bad though because I wanted my son's cake to look fabulous and taste fantastic!

When my son saw the birthday cake I made for him, I was surprised at how his face lit up! He beamed and was so happy to see that it was done. He told me excitedly, how he has the best birthday cake ever!

That the cake he has now is far far better than all the cakes he has had during his past birthdays! I was consumed with an overwhelming emotion! My worries just flew out of the window! I was no longer a bundle of nerves. I was a mother again...so impressed by my son's unconditional love! 

Thank you son! Your dad and I have no gift for you (refer to first paragraph of this article for the reason). Yet you gave me the gift of Encouragement. This will be my guide in every cake I will be preparing from now on...in every new recipe I still have to try, and in every new road I have to take.  I love you!

My Birthday boy!

As customary, I always prepare a birthday poster
on the eve of my children's birthday to make
the occasion extra special. I want their birthday
mornings to be greeted by a birthday poster.
This time I made a string of paper buntings. 

A Son is adventure

And action and wonder,

Excitement and joy all in one,

A heartwarming mixture

Of mishief and kindness -

He's everything special and fun.

A son helps remind you

How lucky you are

Each time you are warmed

By his smile-

And when he's as fine

And as special as you,

He's someone to love

All the while!

~Anonymous~

It's my son's birthday and this morning I was brought back to the time I found out that I was pregnant with him, the time I carried him inside my womb, and finally gave birth. Coming from a family of girls, and already having a daughter, there was nothing I wished more but to have a son. But other than that I was hoping to give birth to a healthy baby. Alloy's coming to our life was akin to a breeze of wind. He was my "now you see me, now you don't" baby...my miracle!  One pregnancy kit led to another and all proved negative then one pregnancy test later, I was told that they could see a sac (just a sac and nothing else) and the result of my ultrasound showed that it can either go through or just melt away. I don't recall being afraid because that particular moment, I knew that the sac was already a promise!  I didn't have a difficult pregnancy with Alloy, but it was different compared to his Ate (older sister). While pregnant with Alloy, I was lethargic, and was always craving for Pepsi blue. I recall being able to finish off 1 liter easily. 

Nine months later, on the 9th of April, which coincides with "Araw ng Kagitingan" (Day of Valour or otherwise known as The Bataan death March). I was on induced labor for more than 12 hours but did not feel pain, I just felt very uncomfortable lying down the whole time. It was finally decided that I undergo caesarean section due to my baby's "failure to descend." I only got to see my son the next day and I instantly fell in love with him. I was asked a couple of times if my husband is a foreigner. My son was the biggest among the babies inside the nursery room and he was pinkish! I kept saying "ang guwapo ng anak ko (my son is so handsome)..." over and over again. I was beaming with pride and my husband, though without sleep, was a picture of happiness too! 

(...back to present time...)

Today son, you celebrate another birthday! And look at you! You've grown taller, brought me so much pride, and continue to make me feel that I'm the most beautiful girl you ever know! Thank you for coming into our life! May you always grow in faith! Don't worry about your teeth, that will change beautifully in time. Be more patient with your little brother! Eat faster and dream bigger! Be the best that you can and challenge yourself to be greater and do better! May you never run out of kisses for me and your dad...and may your hugs be more tight even as you grow older!

We love you so much Alloy! Your dad named you after their school's beloved founder, Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz.  I pray you look up to him as your role model and live the life that he has lived. In his humble wish to be of help to the poor.

Happy Happy Birthday!

Love,

Dad and Mom

Ate Ally and Allen

"Gift from Virgo"

My daughter just turned 13 while my mom 72, several days ago. I was not able to post my birthday blog for them as after that day I was really swamped with orders. It's the beginning of my daughter's teen years and I don't know what to expect. Perhaps I do, though in denial because being a teener once, I definitely know how it works! So should I be afraid or should I be prepared? I choose the latter though. I want my daughter to enjoy her teen years so that she would have fond memories of this particular stage in her life. I don't want her to grow up afraid or unable to say what's on her mind. I want her to grow up confident and yet respectful of the opinion of others. I want her to be able to strike a balance on what she wants to do and doing things right. Perhaps these are all easier to write about as compared to the execution but I've promised myself to be the kind of mother my daughter will need during this "hormone-crazy" stage. I'll cross my fingers to that!

And to my mom, who I drove bonkers during my own teen years... I can never compare myself to you. Once, my sisters and I were casually talking about our current life; we realise that we can never do the things you did when we were little. It seems that you were tireless... Coming home from school, you would cook, sometimes do the laundry, while making sure we did our homework or studied for an exam. Sometimes I catch myself these days wondering how you managed to do everything while I struggle with my own domestic responsibilities. But that's you! :) Am pretty sure you've crossed your fingers a hundred times for me too! :)

That said... I just want to greet both of you the best birthday ever! I've lived with a virgo for most of my growing up years and now have a virgo of my own. It seems that I'll be surrounded by virgos for the rest of my life. Am not saying it's a bad thing but do Aquarians and Virgo match? really?

To sister number Two!

To my sister Minpi Carreon Bailon, who celebrates her birthday today.

Sisters are different.

They heard the sobbing in the darkness.

They lived through all your triumphs, all your favorites, all your loves and losses.

They have no delusions.

They lived with you too long.

And so, when you achieve some victory, friends are delighted -

but sisters hold your hands in silence and shine with happiness.

For they know the cost.

- Pam Brown

Because of you I always had something... a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear...whatever it was you were always there. No one else knows me like you do sis! Thank you for believing that I can, for believing that I am and for simply believing. 

I love you and miss you :) enjoy your day buy that expensive bag, or that nice little pair of shoes, or that pretty dress that you've been eyeing for weeks! :)

Happy Happy Birthday! With my wishes are our prayers that the Lord shower you abundantly on this day and always!

The month that was...featuring my son's birthday

I would like to think that I am good at multi-tasking, but the absence of any news since my son’s birthday probably proves that I am not. I have always been meaning to put in something after work, which by the way, would mean after preparing dinner, after bathing my younger children, and after marinating tomorrow’s lunch. However, by the time I get my “ME” time I’m often dead tired that I would always choose to parlay starting my blog.

Anyways... so where do I begin? Let me start this very much delayed blog by sharing stuff about my son’s birthday. 8 years ago who would have thought that I was to give birth to a healthy pinkish baby boy? Well, I guess God would have that idea beforehand ha-ha but other than the Almighty, even I would not have thought of giving birth to a baby boy. I have always thought that our family had this thing about hoarding homologous chromosomes and that a male son would either come in scarce or none at all. Hence, Alloy’s arrival was a very welcome and pleasant surprise. Back in the hospital where I delivered him, people thought I had an American husband lol. And those damn nurses would only half-believe that I am my son’s own mother because of my skin. Imagine being discriminated in my own country? Hahaha Dark or not I was still the mother of a pinkish, handsome baby boy and that alone made me ecstatic.

Fast forward to 2011, my son celebrates his 8^th birthday in a country not his own. Starting 2009, when my husband went abroad, I set out a birthday tradition; and Alloy was the first to experience such. We had a “birthday date.” Sadly, this is something that we are unable to do at liberty now that we are here. My children have always looked forward to our birthday dates but I could only guess their feeling of how much better it is now that we are able celebrate every occasion with their dad.

So where did we go and how did we celebrate? We brought them to Sparky’s at the Mall of Dhahran. This is the same as SM’s Storyland or Festival Mall’s Pixie forest. Rather than have them just play the Pachinko machines, we also encouraged them to try the rides that were not available in the Philippines. We enjoyed lunch with the kids and ice cream afterwards then decided to go to Al Ramaniyah to buy Alloy’s birthday wish – a pair of Supra. My kids are so crazy about these kinds of shoes I don’t know why. Most of the stores though only carry big sizes. It’s a good thing that we were able to find a pair for him. My youngest son who is already getting into the same kind of “shoe wave” pressed me to buy him a pair too. And because there was no size available for him, I coaxed him into buying a pair of chucks instead which I told him where called Suprettes. For a 5 year old who adores his mother, he believed this little concocted name. I would have had it no other way because it was late; he was growing a tad irritable and was inching his way through my nerves already. We all went home very, very tired but glad to have brought out the kids to celebrate their brother’s birthday.

The birthday boy with her Ate hiding for unknown reasons

Dad's treat BR! Yeah!

A closer look!

They could not resist the bump cars!

The birthday boy still ecstatic as he alighted from the bump car

My bunsoy on his first highrise train ride

The birthday boy with his Ate on the same train ride

They wanted to dare

They did dare but they started with this ride...still smiling

The birthday boy about to cry hahaha

You should have seen their faces as this went higher and higher

They were bawling out loud by this time

my husband trying his hand on one of the pachinko games while our daughter tries another game

show offs! wearing their new shoes while waiting for a cab ride