Bitten By The Shutterbug

Xmas Eve, after the rocus and the almost-ended-up-in-the-ER incident ,we had our dinner ( instant noodle soup....my sister would not believe that we didn't have a feast just like in the Phils) .Kids went to bed quietly.I took a quick shower and got ready to watch tv before we go to bed. DH pointed a box sitting on our ottoman and he told me that "he thinks it's for me". My husband is not very good in giving surprises to this is a big deal for him. The box was not wrapped ,actually it was an old box.....but it was heavy when I lifted it....so I thought " hhmmmmm..must be a brick and he wants to play trick on me ......." Inside the box was another paper bag..a more christmassy looking box and so then I got really excited and I thought " hhhhmmmm maybe a brick wrapped inside this paperbag..."
The "brick" was wrapped with those thin colored tissue papers so I could not really make out what was inside and my brain was going " if this is really a brick I hope he could dodge fast enough coz its surely will land on his face"....
Slowly I unwrapped the thing and voila!!!......a new digital camera!!!!!
At 11:30 pm I was jumping up and down like a kid ...I was really surprised!!!
I didn't asked for anything this xmas because I figured he already spent so much money helping my family in the Philippines but he knew that I wanted a more powerful camera coz I love taking pictures. I think this is one of the best Christmas present I have ever had so far..

So what do you do with your new toy???!!!
You play with it till you learn all the tricks and make the full use of it.

I'd like to share some pictures that I took with my new cam.Pls. click on the images to make it bigger.

The picture quality was so good you can see the details of the xmas tree so clearly

Santa Said She'd Been Really Good So She Got Her Wish

Shinjo Wont Be Left Behind.He Got Some Nice Presents Too

Trigger Happy Mommy Captured Shinjo's Goofiness

He Luvs Modeling For Mommy

Practicing With The Color Effect. Shinjo In Sephia

Soo Busy With Her New Gadget She Wont Even Look At The Cam

Happy New Year Indeed To All!!!

Our Little Xmas Story

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

But all of a sudden mommy heard a scream from the kids' room..
It was Princess yelling..."mommy come...help!!"
Mommy dropped the spatula she was using to mix the pumpkin puree for the pie...
She dashed to the room to see what was wrong and to her horror she saw her son's left nostril swelling like a cherry tomato...
Shinjo stuck a piece of candy to his nose!!!!
Mommy yelled for dad who was in the bedroom working on his computer.
Panic just overwhelmed my whole senses and my heart just started pounding ever so hard. Daddy held Shinjo's both hand so he wont shove the candy further inside his nose. I found my twiser and tried to pluck the candy out but it wasn't working.
By then mommy was really scared...she started imagining the worse thing that could happen to her son. Daddy yelled at mom to get the phone and call mother-in-law ( she's a former nurse ) .Mommy couldn't think straight anymore and she knew every minute pass is crucial. She so frightened that her baby might end up in the operating room and have his nose cut open so the doctor can get the candy out. So while dad was holding Shinjo's hands and talking on the phone at the same time...mommy decided to sucked Shinjo's nose...literally....with her mouth....
Mommy pressed on Shinjo's right nostril while she tried to suck on the left side where the candy were and after a couple of tries.....Shinjo's nose was free on any obstruction....even his snot was cleared...

Mommy was so relieved and happy that his son was out of danger that she held him really tight and sobbed uncontrollably.

This Candy Is Now Officially Banned In Our House

His Nose Still Slightly Red The Following Day. Thank God We Didn't Have To Spend Xmas In The Hospital

5 Days Before Christmas

Shinjo had their xmas party at his school today and he wont see his classmates & teachers till next year, January 4th. Princess have until Friday at school and then she'll have a two-weeks long winter break.

When Do I Get A Break???
....in your dreams Mel...

I talked about ordering toys online and so I did...and guess what??
I returned most of it because I didn't like the toys when they arrived...very disappointing...so no choice but to head out to the store before it gets emptied by the eager shoppers. Whew....thank goodness we found all of the toys on our list.

We got our tree too..but not as big as last year . I think my dear husband was distracted about something because he was obviously wasn't paying enough attention when he bought it.The tree was not perfect ( according to my taste) but I didn't want to say anything. I had to re-do the decoration because the tree was leaning so much it looked like its gonna fall over my head. ...patience....patience......and with a little bit of trick the tree stood perfectly straight & still. I just love real tree...I know that with all this "environmental issues" that it's probably more ideal to mother earth to juts have a fake tree but I thought...come on....I don't pollute ( not too much) and I recycle so its not like I'm not doing anything so I think I can be forgiven for having a real fresh cut tree for xmas.


My MIL came and help put up the ornaments so it was fun. Kinda like our family tradition as well , to be together , helping each other decorate the tree and have the same holiday spirits. We also discussed about what are we gonna have for Christmas dinner and I dunno if it was clear on my face that I was a little disappointed . I explained that I just missed the holiday feast that we have in the Philippines where we have so much food and desserts for the whole family ,friends and neighbors to enjoy.

Mas masaya ang Noche Buena sa atin!!


I hope all of you guys will have a joyous Christmas and a wonderful New Year!!!

Here are some latest pics of my little kiddos.

Ang Mga Mahal Ko Sa Buhay

A Wish Come True

Sunday night , I got a text from my brother Mark. He was scheduled to leave for Abu Dabhi the next day and that his flight had been confirmed. I felt a sudden rush of emotions and couldn't help the tears.Half of me was happy and proud of him.He'd come a long way from being a hard core punk to a grown up man. The other half was sad and I couldn't explain why. I felt like he was leaving me too. What a silly thought I told myself. He's heading to world unknown to him and there'll be no parents or sisters who's gonna tell him what to do...he is on his own. He's 22 but I think of him still as my little baby brother . I couldn't thank my dear husband enough for helping Mark all the way through and even making sure that he's enough money to survive till he gets his first pay check. What a great kind soul my husband is. He'd made such big difference to peoples lives and had given my family a brighter future. If not for him my sister would have not finish college and my brother getting a job in the middle east. His next plan is to help rebuild my parents house.

It is always been my prayer ever since my younger brother started having problems at school and hanging out with some less desirable bunch of teens that he would take life seriously and think about his future....Well, that wish was finally granted and I could have not ask for anything else...now I pray that he continues his journey to a better future and don't look back . I miss him already.

My brother Mark (The guy on the right)

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We still have not gotten a tree because of the rainy weather las t weekend .
This Saturday for sure ,come rain or shine , we will get our tree :)
My xmas shopping is half done. I think I bought enough for the kids. That's the
beauty of shopping here in the states, you can always return stuff so I'm not too worried about the kids presents. This Saturday I have to find presents for the adults and I know I am a little late but I already have an idea of what to get so it shouldn't be a problem.

I think this xmas will top off the previous year . There's a number of great things that happened to our family and I am so Thankful to our good Lord.


I will add more about the rest of our pre-xmas events.
ta-tah for now.

Have a good one everybody!!!