It's Almost Christmas

I can't believe how time flies so fast. It will be December in a few minutes and we are officially in the last month of the year. It will be 24 days more to go and it will be Christmas already.

Our tree is already up but I am thinking of getting a new topper and a bigger light bulbs for the Christmas tree lights. The picture on the side is our first family picture for Christmas. We were thinking of having a studio picture so we can use it for personalized Christmas cards.

Since it's almost Christmas, have you started wrapping gifts already? I may have to start mine so I can knock it off soon.

Thanksgiving Celebration

How was your Thanksgiving celebration? We had a great one though there were only six of us celebrating it. Last year me and our DD1 went to our friend's because hubby wasn't here. This time hubby wanted to follow the tradition of cooking a little even for just our little family.

We decided not to cook too much but as usual hubby ended up cooking a lot. Good thing our friends came by to celebrate with us. We had lots of food and all were yummy. Now I felt like I really gained weight.

I know I don't need weight loss pills yet nor creatine to build muscles but I have to start doing portion control or else I will gain more this holiday. I am just wondering though why we tend to eat too much during this time of the year. Maybe it is because food and blessings are over flowing.

To end, I am so grateful for all the blessings. I am thankful for my family and friends and for everything that happened to us this year and for the years to come!

Age Gracefully

Are you scared of getting old? I don't. Me and hubby talking about growing old together and at the same time we scared not because of our looks but we wanted to be there for our kids when they grow older and see them have a good life in the future.

On the other note, I know there are people who are vain enough and scared seeing wrinkles on their faces. They wanted to remove wrinkle immediately as soon as it appears. There is nothing wrong with it but I still prefer to age naturally and gracefully. It may be a scary thing but we all com to it. No one is exempted. The important thing is you aged with grace and no regrets in life.

Taking Care of Oneself

The cold season is here and we need to take care of ourselves in order not to get sick. This time is not a good time to be beaten by colds and flu. Ever since I haven't had a flu shot and I still don't want it. I talked to my husband and he wanted the kids to have the flu shot. I know it is for their own good but I have second thoughts on it due to some negative side effects that I heard and read about it.

For myself I am just thinking of boosting my immune system with the best multivitamins and our kids to have their flu shots this week. For the older one I believe she will get the mist and the little one will get the shot which I dread. Oh well, in as much as I don't want to but I want them to be protected and stay healthy this winter season.

Karaoke

Every time we have gathering here karaoke or videoke is always present. I can say it is the trademark for us, Filipinos here in the US, to have such kind of entertainment. Most of my friends here owns karaoke sets. There is now a wireless microphone with built in karaoke songs. The chips that you insert inside the mic holds hundreds of songs. You can buy another chips if you want additional songs or get the latest song releases.

My friend just told me this morning that she asked her husband to buy her karaoke set for Christmas. I am also thinking of getting one so I will not borrow from a friend if we have gathering or party here at home. Now that I'm talking about karaoke I kind of miss it already. Maybe when we have a get together in December. I can't wait to sing my heart out!

Snow Storm

We are still in fall season but we already have snow storm. Accordingly this is the arctic blast that hit the northwest. It is really nasty and dangerous especially if you are driving. We were watching the news and updates of the weather and road condition since last night. It is very scary looking at the news where vehicles look like having a stampede, cars on top of each other sliding in the snow.

This picture below was taken a day after the snowstorm. It's in front of our complex and the water feature just froze. We had a weather like this in 2008. Last year we were being spared and I was so thankful because hubby was in Iraq. So I think this year the winter came so early for us. I hope the weather gets better on Thanksgiving day. I can only hope :-)

Plan for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving day will be this coming Thursday and in as much as we want to spend it with my husband's family we can't do it because of the distance. Most of them live in the east coast. Our time will not be enough to fly there and back plus I have to work on black Friday as well. My husband decided that we will cook on that day just for us and if some friends can come over as well. Now I have to plan what I will cook for Thursday and also what I will bring on Tuesday for our daughter's friendship feast at school.

On the other note, black Friday will be exciting for many shoppers. I read on the news that different retailers are now ready to give consumers great deals to start their holiday shopping. I will be checking out for a good deal on ipod touch 8g as it is our teenagers request for her Christmas gift. I wish I have the guts to fall in line as early as midnight before stores open but I just can't do it. I haven't done it before and I probably will not.

My Friends

This picture was taken last month during my friend's son birthday. This was my last party attended with my friends too. Although there were parties almost every weekend then but I wasn't able to attend. I hope I can attend the next get together in the future coz I miss seeing my friends again.

Anyways, the birthday party was held in a children's play area where the kids can enjoy different arcade games, slides, inflatable bounce houses, and others. All the kids who attended enjoyed it very much. When the celebrator opened up his gifts, which were mostly toys, all the kids helped him out. It was a joy seeing the kids having a great time.

I Want a Wii

My husband asked me what I want for Christmas and usually I will answer him nothing honey. But this time I told him I like to have a Wii. I told him that I saw the red Wii and I kind of like it. We don't have this game console and I like to do the Wii fit thing. I think we can get goo deals with the wii console and wii accessories. He asked me if we have it am I sure I will really use it or it will just around and collect dust. I said to him that I surely will use it maybe three times a week to escape from my online class as well down time after work and when the kids are asleep. So I will see if Santa fulfill my wish. I think he will since I'm being nice all the time.

Working After Three Years

I am now back in the work force after three years of being at home. I decided to stay at home when we moved here in the west coast. It felt different and I am still adjusting to my routine. Although I am only working part time still I kind of inching my way towards everything in front of me. I also have my online classes on top of my work and my being a mother and a wife. All in all it is hard to balance but we need to do everything we can if we want to achieve our goals in life.

What made me go back to work is that I want to help out my family. We can get by with my husband working but I want to prepare for our kids future. I want to help my family as well too and if I don't work I felt bad that I know I can do something but will choose not to. It is also my way of proving my self-worth as a person. I have dreams and aspirations for my family and nobody can help me attain it except myself alone. This is why I want also to work hard so both me and my husband can give what our family needs.

Now that I am back at work I feel the difference personally. It is really true that when you are at home and not working you sometimes feel less of yourself. I know you shouldn't be since being at home taking care of the household and the kids is a tough job, but you can not help but feel that way. My stress tolerance was short and I often tell myself I wish and if only. I even took comfort with food that when I gained weight I told myself I will just take healthy diet pills.

With everything that I've been through, I don't have any regrets of being a stay at home Mom. I was able to be with my kids and I was able to take care of them 24/7. This is why I only chose to work part time because I still want to take care of them and when I work my husband will be there for them as well. We have a good set up right now that we don't need a sitter to watch for them. Unless we really have to then I can ask one of my friend to baby sit. It will be a sacrifice for me but I know time will come that I can totally have a full time job and still spend quality time with my family.

Of Being Healthy

Every time I bring our daughters to their check ups the provider will ask about family history of diseases. I always answer it truthfully to the best of my knowledge. I want the provider to document whatever family medical history that I know of so our kids will be given the proper care for the benefit of their health.

Lately, our family was shaken of what happened to our Mom. I told our health provider about it and I was advised to also watch what I eat or what I give to our kids. As a parent I am really concerned of our health as a family. This is why I am doing my best to make the right choices especially when it affects my family's health.

The first thing I need to focus is for me to be healthy at all times. I know that there are times I am slacking and deviate to what I should supposed to do but I am correcting right away. Now I have to exert more effort getting rid of belly fat that is so stubborn. Few months after I gave birth I already saw improvements. Lately I have stopped doing my workout and I see the difference. It goes back to being big again. Sometimes I get discouraged but when I look at my family I am inspired again.

Gift for a Boy

Last Sunday at church we were informed about an operation shoe box for the less fortunate kids. They provide gift boxes, like that of a shoe box, and we can put any kind of toys or art stuff for boys and girls. I brought home to boxes for our two daughters to give out. I asked our oldest what toy she want to give. She said a doll for a girl. So I need to find me a doll that will fit in the shoe box. This leaves me to think of what gift for a boy. I am thinking of personalized baseball bats but it will not fit inside the box. A friend suggested a ball,like basket ball, and deflate it to fit in the box and we just have to include a small hand pump. It's a good idea but I don't want the kid to receive the gift to work on it before he can enjoy the toy. I know I will be able to find one before Sunday. I will just go to the store on Saturday to buy the perfect gift.

Daddy is Back to Work

A whole month of block leave for hubby just fly by so quick! With all our plans to go out of state we ended up staying just here with few trips to other cities. It was a blessing in disguise though because a lot of things happened.

Now that hubby is back to work, we are trying to manage our time differently. We both have our online classes. I am now working outside home and I know it will be a difficult balancing of time but I know we can do it. As long as we are going to stick to our plans then everything will go through smoothly.

I am now also back to driving our preschooler to and from school, except maybe when hubby is not at work then he can do it for me. The whole month that he was on leave he made it sure to do it and I am very proud of him for that. It gives him and our DD1 some time to bond and have the father and daughter moment. So, now as we don't have the luxury anymore to be with each other 24/7, we will just make sure that we still have great time together as a family.

Jewelry Making

Are you a crafty person? This is really a weakness for me. I do love to make arts and crafts but I just don't have the talent. Last week during our daughter's school harvest party, their teacher gave out jewelry making supplies. The beads and other stuffs were those that are kids friendly. We both had fun making the beads necklace. I let her help me glued some of the materials and string the beads in. She told me she want to make another one but I may have to wait when she's a little bit older. I don't want her to choke on the small stuff. Definitely it is one of the best activity to bond with our kids. It will be one of the activities I can share with both of my girls in the future.

Thanking My Husband

I am so grateful for my husband for being there to support me. This past days I have been so down and feeling a little stressed out because of what happened to my mother back in the Philippines. I thank my husband for not only giving me the moral support, love and understanding, but he's been so generous. I know the financial burden would be too much for my family back home to handle and my husband did not have second thoughts in helping out.

It is really tough when you are too far and something like this happen to your family. I am just so thankful that with prayers and support of my friends and relatives I am able to get through. My Mom is now out of the hospital and is at home but she still has a long way to go for recovery. I just hope and pray that she will continue to be strong, and as what they're telling me she is doing great and the progress is fast.

A big thank you to God for all the blessings and thanking hubby too for always there and supporting me.