First sunday of the Ber Month 2011

It was one of the not-so-busy-weekends for Mommy and Daddy last September 4.  We've got some time to just sit back and relax.

After church, we went readily back home for some lunch together with Nanay and Tita Ro. We were so full that we decided to go upstairs for some siesta. A sudden brilliant idea hit Daddy's minds and he was off the window and already lying on the rooftop... we were envious... WE WANT THERE TOO! The next thing was David and Cassy got their pillows and they were already cuddling beside Daddy.


I just sit by the window, took some shots and watch them play! I AM HAPPY!


For once again, as we often used to, made another simple move EXTRA SPECIAL! It was the first time we played on the rooftop... and I honestly never thought we'd ever do! We've had fun.

Next up was a joyride to Lola's house and back... (for some haircut for my two Boys!). We ended up at the parlor on the front gate and found ourselves trapped in the midst of a strong rain. Uh-Oh! We forgot to bring an umbrella!

Another brilliant idea came to our mind...

Let us , for the first time, PLAY IN THE RAIN! 


And yeah... OUR REGULAR WEEKEND WAS INDEED MADE EXTRA SPECIAL!

We work, we get tired and work again each day of the heavy-work-week... but our kids never fail to lighten things up! They are our sunshine after the rain... our refuge.. our source of strength!

These simple joys we can't afford to miss  . We are so blessed to be with them , go to church with them, eat together with them, sleep beside them on the rooftop, have some joyride with them, play with them in the rain... AND WATCH THEM GROW. 


Thank you Lord for a blessing called FAMILY...

Marvel time with the kids

There is no greater way to spend weeekend for us than our precious time spent with the kids.

This time it's MARVEL TIME! Captain America is ours for the viewing...

We have watched several movies with them. The first was Toy Story 3 on a Father's Day. The scenes were atrocious then... they call for bathroom times to poop or pee. They did it twice that day. I ended up not really watching but minding over their first-time-at-the-moviehouse-tantrums. I enjoyed watching the downloaded version at home otherwise.

But now, I think it's already our fifth time together. They were nicer, more behave... and they don't request for poop or pee anymore.

And in no time, they'll grow a bit bigger and more independent...

I'll surely miss the atrocity and the pee and poop time...

So for now... all we are doing is enjoying them... WHILE THEY ARE STILL SMALL, MAKULIT and very DEPENDENT ON US!

I so love being a MOM ♥♥♥.

Papa's 48th Birthday called for triple celebration!

It has been 48 healthy and blessed years for Papa.

We celebrated his birthday/father's day plus his getting a new phone for his birthday.Yehey!

We always knew we could easily make Papa smile. Aside from having a new bible as a gift, he always get the giggles when he's got some brand new gadgets. Good news keep on coming and he now enjoys his new toy.(^_^)

Thanks for everything Pa. For being the strictest when I was in high school... to being the coolest Dad who has supported us all the way since Me and Perci got our own family.

I have always dreamt of having a Christian and loving husband like you to Mommy. And now that I knew I already got a dream come true...Thank you... and Thank God you're my Dad.

Love,
Mel

KIDS GRAFFiTi: I hope someday David you'd get to tell us what is this all about

Date created: July 24, 2011 (David is 3 years 10 months old)

Your artwork is pretty impressive baby. Someday you'd see this and you'd surely tell me it is indeed a MASTERPIECE! Just don't do it on our chair next time please...

Cassy's 5th Birthday Celebration

This post was already long overdue. Cassy turned 5 last June 4, 2011.

This year was indeed a milestone in her life. The day after her birthday was her first day to go to school ever! By that time, she already know lots of things- she can already read, write a few lines and send us sweet messages before going to office, read time on a quartz clock ( she just readily memorized counting by 5, while I get to learn it at 2nd grade!), operate the computer, play movies, change desktop backgrounds, draw in MSPaint, create powerpoint presentation, perform basic addition and subtraction, singing, dancing, acting... and all sorts of skills off her age. Were just so proud of her ever since.

And the day she turned 5 was just plain FUN-FILLED!

It was just simple celebration for Cassy on her 5th birthday. Little Kids party at lola's house and some family time at the mall. We watched Kung Fu Panda, Ate a lot, Play a lot. We went home with a full stomach, a smile in our face and a exceedingly abundantly happy heart. Thanks for another special year for our daughter Cassandra Pauline!

Busy Four-day holiday during HolyWeek 2011

We unlocked milestones last Holy Week 2011. Lots of first time experiences and lots of fun! We never got some sure rest for a typical holiday, but the four-day break from work gave us a BLAST of first time adventures and really offf-the-record merrymaking!

Day 1: FIRST STOP: Remedios Resort for some FIRST TIME SWIMMING for Cassy and David!
- This is the first time you-Cassy and David made it to a BIG POOL. We've got a cool inflatable pool at home but that was to small. Herein we've got a whole lot bigger one where you guys really had some giigles and jiggles around! 


We are also with Nanay to watch you over as you swim. She'd love to see you guys in your first time swimming... 


One memorable day indeed!




Day 2: Good Friday is our day spent at the church!

It was Good Friday, the entire day was spent for church' activities. In the morning it was a supposedly youth celebration where we get to bring the kids too! And in the afternoon, it was a dose of team building celebration for church workers, where Mommy and Daddy is also included. We've got Pastor Rod Bacus around for some Lenten Season message which is by far so inspiring..



Day 3: Cassy and David got some hands-on Black Theater Practice

It's David and Cassy's first time to do Black Theater. Cute kids ! Nice moves!



Day 4: First ever swimming with Lola Love, Papa and Family! PLUS: It's our car's first out-of-town (out-of-Metro Manila!) getaway!
We've got the whole Cortez Family with us on this Special Day. Papa, Lola Love, Tito Miki, Nong-nong, Tita Neng, Tita Moka, Tita Ina, Tita Bea, Dodoyt plus Tita Anne, Tita Ichay, Nang Nang Rox, Tito Jason and the jolly fellows at Papa's church! First time swimming with the BIG FAMILY! Happy and tired at the end of the day...



Indeed it was a memorable holiday! Four Days of Fun and FIRSTS!

How to have a HAPPY on Valentines Day... let me count the ways...

... AND THIS IS HOW MOMMY AND DADDY HAVE A HAD A HAPPY VALENTINES FOR 2011...

Year 2011 was Mommy's Silver Year

Daddy was lucky to have a Birthday on a Holiday

It's Daddy's birthday that's why there's a holiday every last day of the year- December 31.

It is as always a joyous celebration. Daddy's birthday being the end of every year is a very busy and much awaited day.

For the year 2010 where Daddy celebrated his 26th, we went to the mall for some family bonding. You Cassy and David had some really good bunch of fun at KIDZ REPUBLIC. Next up is the motorcycle ride where Cassy seemed to be an expert rider while David this time is really starting to learn. I can still remember how David seemed to bang almost every wall when he tried this ride when he was still 2 years old. Now @ 3 he surely learned a lot.

At home was the usually special Media Noche which we can't afford to miss. Daddy's favorites were served every year. Macaroni salad (don't forget the raisins!) and leche flan (fresh from the pan!) was his BLOCKBUSTER TREAT!

As we say goodbye to yet another fruitful and blessed year, we whisper a silent prayer of thanksgiving and praise... for indeed we have been blessed to spend a year long together as a family and celebrate Daddy's birthday every end of that BLESSED YEAR!

It was a busy Christmas break for us last December 2010

It has been a busy Christmas break for us last 2010. But yeah, we had a BLAST!

Before Noche Buena, we went to the mall for some family time. We ate, we played, we shop, ate again and played again.We've had our Noche Buena at home on Christmas Eve.

 On Christmas Day we went to Lola's house for some feast and gift giving. As usual, you kids have been so lucky to have all those new toys as gifts. We also gave our presents to our "inaanak". It was indeed a joyous day...

The next day was a busy day again. We celebrated a Christmas Party at the church. We also received some warm greetings and lots of presents that day. Include the games and awesome performances as part of the fun.

Include the periodic car maintenance in our itinerary for the Christmas break as it has been our most serviceable comrade for this very busy season. On the 27th, we're happy to be having the time to give some fresh makeover for our faithful ride..

We are indeed more than blessed to belong to a big family. Our loved ones are abounding. We belong to our Gleaners' family, family with Nanay Cordia, and family at Lola and Papa. We are so happy, proud and blessed to be spending our memorable Christmas' with them all.

More of these in the coming years! CHEERS!

We played with glowing balls at Technohub

Since we've got our car, our lifestyle has been so mobile and quite exciting. Now mommy and daddy can bring you to church without having ton take a cab or tricycle or jeepney. We can even go out during rainy days. We can bring and fetch you to lola's house anytime without having to worry on our ride. These were the simple blessings we can't take for granted. God knows we need one so he gave this to us. We're more than thankful for such gift.

This is an instant fun at Technohub, near mommy's school/office and tita Roan's office. We just planned to bring her to SM Fairview, but yeah, we headed all the way to Diliman while you Cassy and David are on your pajamas.

Spell HAPINESS... we got it there that day!

Daddy and mommy can't be happier than to see our little darlings grow so well. It has been David's third year last September 20, 2010. He's grown even more today... grown up in height, grown up in weight and grown up in skillls! He's been so active and sometimes naughty... but yeah, he surely never fail to lighten up our day with his bright and shining moments. My little-big-boy is also super sweet! He hugs me to death and kisses me like crazy at times... I super love to be a mom to our DASHING DEBONAIRE David!

The day we reached a hundred month older...

Last September 11, 2010 we celebrated our 100th month together. And here's a Facebook note that I've created for my one and only honey.

Nung mag-boyfriend palang tayo, halos buong araw magkasama tayo. Lahat ng lakad, lahat ng kilos, lahat ng oras... magkasama tayo. Naging magkamukha na nga raw tayo eh. 
Ngayon, kung kelan mag-asawa na tayo, mas kumonti oras na kasama kita. Sa gabi darating ako, konting oras na lang, tulugan na. Sa umaga naman, antok pako, papasok ka na. Sa trabaho naman, bihira naman tayo makapag-chat manlang. Parehas na tayo busy. Bonding moment nalang natin sa simbahan , tuwing Sabado at Linggo. Atleast doon, magkasama tayo - nang mas matagal.
Pero sa pang-100 na 11th day of the month after May 11, 2002... first time, na monthsary date, di na lang tayong dalawa. Me mga sabit na. Yung dalawang makukulit nating chikiting. 
Nag-playground, kumain at namalengke. Simple lang. Pero Ibang klaseng date yun. Ibang klaseng araw yun. Mas masaya, mas memorable. 
Nung pauwi na tayo, habang nagd-drive ka, ako naman sa tabi mo at mga bata sa back seat,
naisip ko, Sabado - September 11, 2010 – pang 100 monthsary natin. Nag-date tayo with the kids. Sa iba nakakatawa yun. “Anu daw, monthsary? Sine-celebrate pa ba yun? Diba pag lampas isang taon, anniversary nalang?” Hahaha.. oo nga naman. Feeling mag-boyfriend parin daw tayo. Oo naman, feeling mag-boyfriend parin. Crush parin kaya kita.
- Tuwing bagong gising ka- pupungas pungas pa.
- Tuwing hawak mo ang manibela at sakay mo kami ni cassy at david.
- Tuwing naglilinis ka ng kotse .
- Tuwing nag-iiskala ka habang tumutugtog ng gitara .
- Tuwing lumalabas dimples mo pag naka-smile ka.
- Tuwing pinapanood ko kayo habang naghaharutan kayo ng mga kids.
- Tuwing sinusubuan mo ng pagkain si david at cassy.
- Tuwing tinuturuan moko mag-troubleshoot sa computer. Sabi ko pa “I'm not stupid honey.”
- Tuwing nagt-tricks ka sa yoyo.
- Tuwing kinukwentuhan moko tungkol sa mga bago mong nababasa sa bible, parts ng kotse, parts ng computer, sa gitara, sa music theory, sa 3D, sa animation, sa pyramids of egypt at mga aliens.
- Tuwing puma-punchline ka sa mga jokes na narinig mo lang sa bus na sinakyan mo nung umaga.
- Tuwing sinasamahan moko mamili ng shoes at dress ko.
- Tuwing lumalabas ka sa fitting room pag nagsusukat ka ng damit. 
- Tuwing naka-towel ka lang pagkatapos maligo, kahit malaki tyan mo at may baby fats ka sa bewang.
- Tuwing pawis na pawis ka pagkatapos mo mag push-up.
- Tuwing excited ako makita ka sa “dating tagpuan”para mag date. As if di ko alam kung ano suot mo nung umalis ka nung umaga.
Masarap lang isipin pagkatapos ng 100 buwan, crush parin kita. 

Pero Paglipas ng panahon, lilipas din ang emosyon, matatapos ang “crush”, matatapos ang saya at kulitan... pero ang pangakong mananatili ako sa tabi mo, di lilipas... gaya ng linya ng madramang theme song natin... “I will be true, to the promise I have made, to you and to the One who gave you to me....” 

Now, we're past nine years and counting... and still I LOVE HIM MORE...

Celebrating Cassy's fourth birthday

In a few days from now, Cassy will be turning 5. That will be June 4, 2011 and it is a Saturday. Apart from her birthday, she's even more excited with her first ever school day. Yes my little Cassy will be a school girl soon. I really can't believe it's been that long since Me and Perci started our family...first we've got two cute and brilliant kids, now one of them is already starting to school, the next time we knew it, they will be having their own families too.

So really, time flies just SO FAST. It was almost a year since our little Cassy turned 4. Here's to the fun on her 4th Birthday Celebration.



Can't wait to celebrate her 5th birthday and share all those fun right here...

DADDY DID DAVID'S FIRST HAIRCUT...

February 21, 2010 marks history for our little David, for he has just had his first-ever haircut that day. To make the event even more special, it was Daddy who did it for him. At first we were actually hesitant to let him handle David's haircutting (computer's and guitar's are his expertise, not comb and scissors! gosh! ) but surprisingly, Daddy is really our real-life MacGyver, HE IMPRESSIVELY DID IT!  Amidst the pressure of handling kids during haircutting, Daddy made one successful shot of giving our little David a brand new groom.

Envious of her brother's new look, big sister Cassy also requested Daddy to have her hair cut. Daddy seemed like an expert by then, turned his little baby girl into a real princess with her beautifully cut hair (just trimmed to remove split-ends.that's it! haha!). It was really hot these days and long tangling hair is really a hassle to both Cassy and David plus the fact that they're extra active these days so they really sweat a lot. A shorter hair is really ideal for them.

Now my two kids enjoy flaunting their nice new look courtesy of none other than their MacGyver Daddy!

P.S. All of David's cut hair were swept outdoors! Daddy never wanted to slip it inside the pages of an encyclopedia or whatever ! I'll just have the memory of David's first ever haircut clipped in the largest library world-wide... and that is simply through this blog! :-)


Repost from my multiply account, dated 2/21/2010: http://ehmmjhey.multiply.com/journal/item/7/Daddy_did_Davids_First_Haircut_...)

MOMMY'S CASSY

This is mommy's little girl cassy. this cute plus smart plus brilliant kid is mommy's real joy. me and daddy can't be but get stunned by her almost impossible, really out-of-her-age thoughts and acts. singing telenovela theme songs, mimicing and almost memorizing every tv advertisement and being able to fluently narrate with almost complete comprehension  of the story she has just watched or listened upon simply amazes us- her audience most of the times. 

    This bright kid is a real performer. at an early age of one, her interest in singing and dancing is really  exceptional. when she's not on the mood, just a dose of a YouTube video clip of her favorite jollibee song or the usual nursery rhyme or maybe just another tv show theme song would really set her on the right mood to flaunt her
dancing or singing prowess.
    But singing and dancing are just the icing on the cake. as parents, we can't be but get a bit boastful everytime people notices her exceptional intelligence.books, puzzles and write-and-wipes are the most worn out articles on her toy box. they say we're of good chemistry to be able to combine the right genes that would make up the DNAs of the next Albert Einstein (and that's when we get a BIT boastful!huh!).

    She really makes her mommy and daddy proud and it has been our legacy and continued commitment to god that we will at the very best possible way we can as mom and dad raise her as the person God wants her to be.


(Reposted from my multiply account, dated 5/19/2008: http://ehmmjhey.multiply.com/journal/item/1/Mommys_Cassy)

MY HEART MELTS WHEN HE SMILES

They say he has a"killer smile" and he has..he really has.and i'm his number one fan.
    just a wink of his chinky eyes will drop me off my feet and will keep me running towards his magnetic and truly captivating smile. but what can be more fulfilling than to see him grow more handsome and more brilliant than we expected him to be.
    the pains i've had while carrying him for nine months in my womb were truly exceeded with great joy the moment he was born. today he continuously makes me feel more blessed having him as a child.
    he keeps me almost awake all night knowing he'll cry in need of me. yes boys do really cry..and he does this as often as he just feels like doing so.he wakes me in the morning with the hush of his soft tender hands and     although confronted by a stressful and really off-the-record tiring day at work and at school..a smile from this wonderful angel turned baby boy stunner would truly sweep all my troubles away.
   they say we're lucky to have such a handsome baby boy as my legendary super David...i say "of course not!" ...it's not just luck...it's in the  genes no!!! (proud parents huh!)
    but these smiles are just traces and would almost keep us wondering of  what he will be 20 or 30 years from now...will he be a star on the Hollywood walk of fame or maybe the next Man of the Century Awardee or maybe a great artist like his dad...well whatever that may be...we'll just be right behind him, just watching him close enough to lead him towards the direction GOD still wants him to be.


(Repost from my multiply account, dated:05/20/2008 http://ehmmjhey.multiply.com/journal/item/2/my_heart_melts_when_he_SMILES)

Missing my scrapbooking days

My passion for scrapbooking started more than eight years ago. High school graduation letters and photos inspired me to do so. During college, I stopped scrapbooking about my friends and crafted another book full of "scraps" from the memories shared by me and my husband (he was my boyfriend at that time). One for each year. I collected almost everything- photos, event programs, chocolate and candy wrappers, giveaways, fast food tickets and even bus tickets! All of them intricately crafted in the pages (as in literal pages) of my life. 

Every page I can finish gives me a sense of fulfillness. And browsing upon it after some time makes me remember those sweet old days. A sense of reminscing those days when we are so carefree about life. We can stay out late at night, go anywhere we want, spend hours with just the two of us together... basically everything we want to do, we have the time to do! 

Now the carefree days are gone, I even stopped scrapbooking since we got married. Not because I never wanted to but because my schedule can't accomodate such task anymore. We are so busy as a bee. So many things to do and we have so little time to do it. With so little time for some break, we'd rather spend it with our kids than do things for ourselves. We never get to spend more late hours out at night, the kids are waiting at home. We can't go anywhere we want unless we bring the kids with us. And simply we can't do anything we want anymore... because the kids matter most for us. 

The glory of single blessedness we had already enjoyed, some are documented on the pages of our scrapbook. And now a different kind of bliss is making us smile each day. Knowing that two people in the world highly depends on us each day, sleeps together with us at night and wakes us up with a smile each morning, the glory of being a parent is overwhelming. 

And eventhough I can't do scrapbooking anymore, a living proof of the goodness of life to us is there for us to witness everyday. Each day they grow bigger and taller, the only thing we could say..." ang laki na nila, ang tagal na pala no" (they're already big and it has been a while...). That's when we begin to look back and remember those sweet old days...