Friday, December 28, 2018

Christmas Eve 2018

2018 was a fun year for us and we did a lot of things with our kids.  I can't believe it is now 2019, time really flies!  We had a relaxing Christmas at home.  We attended a Christmas Eve mass and then went to bed early.  Even though the kids are 13 and 11, they are still excited for the Christmas morning to open some gifts.
I miss seeing the Christmas pageant  that the kids at St. Joseph School used to do but this year, there is none.  Our former  music teacher  is no longer teaching music and we have a new one.
Our daughter served at the altar and our son was part of the choir.
Aside from piano, our daughter also plays violin so we got her this music note stand which she can also use as an easel.  She love to paint so this is a double purpose thing she can use.  I also prepared a box full of girly stuff for her to use ie; lotion, hand cream, snacks, undies, etc.
Our son love watching the  series "Attack on Titans" and he wanted a shirt that has his favorite characters in it so we  got him a couple of long sleeves shirts.
We also got him a new pair of shoes.  We got my husband  a weight lifting belt, shoes,  knee sleeves and  other  fitness gears, that's all he wanted.
They got me a pair of Steve Madden purse and wallet.
We spent our first two days of 2019  putting away Christmas Decors.  The weather has been very nice for the last couple of days so we took advantage of it while it is not freezing outside.  Today, I was able to run outdoors which was great.  

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Celebrated Our Daughter Rylie's 13th Birthday

My oh my, where did the time go?  I feel like 2018 is slipping away so quickly.  I don't even have the time to  write about everything that we  have done this year.  I am still trying to catch up with the adventures we had last year, tsk, tsk.  So much have happened this year that I don't even know where to begin lol.  Oh well,  the good thing is, I haven't miss any of my children's important events, being present in the moment is what matters.
Anyway, we officially  have a teen at home.  Our daughter  turned 13 in July and we were on vacation when she had her birthday.  We met up with our family friends who  flew all the way from Texas and we had  fun in Kentucky.  Their  presence  made  her birthday extra special.  They brought  a cake and gifts at our hotel and we celebrated.  We met their youngest daughter for the first time and we all had a blast.
Thank you very much Dias Family!   We've known them ever since I started blogging, the only one I knew from the blogging world who became my real friend and eventually my whole family's friend.  It's awesome when you can meet someone and  ended become your guinuine friend.
When we got back home, we gave  her the  presents.  I pre-wrapped  them before  we left to Tennessee so she wasn't expecting it.  So far her treenager attitude is tolerable.  She doesn't act out, she's always mature in dealing things except when she is frustrated with her  homework.   She is a smart cookie and does her projects in advance but when  there's so many to be done at once, she get overwhelmed  and  cry in frustration.
Our daughter is not really good in  expressing her emotions so I was surprised that she got emotional reading our messages.  She is growing up after all.

Hugs and kisses are the best  gifts.  Just being there for each other is  enough and the most important.
I am blessed to have such great kids.
I am glad that she doesn't have an attitude that I can't tolerate.  She is growing up  to be a respectful, well-mannered young lady and I am grateful.
I just can't believe that in few years, this young lady will start driving.  Being a parent is such a blessing.   I think that you really have to invest time if you want to see your kids grow up because it doesn't take long, they grow up so fast.  I am  glad I get to spend all of my time  with my kids.  I got my husband to thank for this opportunity for letting me stay at home and attend to our children's needs.  We might lack in financial aspect but that's the sacrifice we  are willing to make to  raise our children the way we wanted them to be.  I hope and pray that we could continue to be good parents to them.

Friday, June 22, 2018

Easter 2018

"Peace is the beauty of life. It is sunshine. It is the smile of a child, the love of a mother, the joy of a father, the togetherness of a family. It is the advancement of man, the victory of a just cause, the triumph of truth." -  Menachem Begin
 This is long overdue.  These photos were taken almost three months ago.  My slowpoke pace of  posting about  stuff is terrible.  The flow of ideas doesn't really come easy sometimes, no matter how I try.  I end up staring at the computer screen and then leave because  this  tiny nugget of a brain of mine  does not work!  However, when I get lucky, I can post  like 5 articles in a day but that is very seldom.  I can remember when I was just starting to blog, I am always excited  to write   different things everyday to the point that I  would ran out of things to write.  These days however, I have so many pending stuff to write but my  brain does not cooperate.  
 Anyway, our Easter celebration was awesome.  We just went to church and attended  a mass then came home and eat.   Ever since my FIL went to a home and then passed away, our  holidays are spent  just the four of  us at home.  I miss the family gathering  when my FIL was still alive and we  are all on the same page and got along so well.  We still get invited to  family gatherings, it's just that it feels so different without my husband's Dad so most of the times we chose not to go. I wish that my side of the  family is near, I'd probably have my Mom over everyday or I'll visit her often.  It sucks to be so far away.
For Father's day's celebration, we visited my brother-in-law whom we haven't seen since my FIL's funeral.  It was  so nice catching up with him and his wife.  They live quite far from us but it was worth the drive.
"Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored." - Earl Nightingale

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Every BIrthday is a Gift: My 45th Birthday

Aretha Franklin once said "Every birthday is a gift and every day is also gift",   and I completely agree.  I think that we should be grateful for each  day, as we woke up  in the morning and  as we go to bed.  We should consider ourselves wealthy when we  have a  a roof over our head, food in the table  and a family that we can turn to no matter what situation there maybe.  
As Voltaire have said "God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well."   A lot of people  says to live in the moment but there are  times in our lives that we are  consumed with worries and other petty things.  If we learn how to live simply and appreciate all the little things, we  will be happy.
 I turned 45 this month and I couldn't ask for more  of what God has given me.  Two lovely kids and a great husband.  What else  could I possibly ask?  Unless of course if God would give me the chance to travel the world, that would be great ha ha.  But in all honesty and seriousness, I am happy and content.
 I can't help but think of my father during my teenage years.  He was very strict and I thought that it was   so selfish of him to always laid out rules of what not to do and all that stuff.  But looking back at it now, I am very fortunate to have a very loving Dad who just wanted the best for me.  I am glad I listened, I just wish he would still be around so I can tell him a lot of things that I never got to do when he was still alive.
Anyway, when it comes to celebrating birthdays, we   always get a cake  that the celebrant love.  I got this  carrot cake from the Amish store that we went to at Walnut Creek Ohio, as part of my birthday celebration.  
 The cake was delicious!   I want to go back there again and get more of these lol.
 If you happen to notice, my long hair is gone.  Summer weather is creeping in so I asked my husband to cut it, he couldn't say no because it's my birthday ha!  He  love  my hair long  so when I told him to cut it shoulder length, he  kind of  resist a little bit.


My partner in crime, my sweet tooth son, patiently waiting for the  piece of cake.  I thought he wouldn't like it but he said it was very good.  Amish people  can make really good cake.
 He couldn't do  a crossed eyes like I did so this is the face he made ha ha.  My silly little boy, who doesn't want to be called a boy anymore.
My daughter painted this  for me.  It's a very thoughtful gift and I love it!
Thanks to my husband and kids for  pampering me  on my birthday. My daughter painted my nails and my husband cut my hair and  cooked breakfast. We ate at a restaurant for lunch since they didn't want me cooking, how sweet!  They might be tired of my cooking though ha ha.
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So yeah, in five years time, I will be a golden girl.  Bring it on!
I love this quote by Booth Tarkington.

"Cherish all your happy moments; 
they make a fine cushion for old age."

Monday, May 14, 2018

Diploma Ceremony at Duquesne University #MasterOfScienceInLeadership

When my husband finished  college in 2012 at Robert Morris University, he did not attend the  graduation ceremony.  I  asked him to attend but he didn't want to.  I would have loved it if he did because he graduated Magna Cumlaude.  I urged him to  attend this time in finishing his master's degree because it would be nice for the kids to  witness their Dad graduate even at an older age.
The Duquesne University McAnnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts had their Diploma Ceremony last Friday, May 11th. As we entered the gymnasium, one  older gentleman congratulated my husband and he looked at us and congratulated us as well, I thought that was sweet and thoughtful.
My husband did not attend the  kickoff to graduation  so he relied on the information available online on where to  order his graduation gown and cap.  During the preparation at the back of the gym, an older lady who was administering all the graduates, she told my husband that he got a wrong color of hood.  He told her that  he just followed the school's instruction online.  He said he saw one older woman who have the same  hood as his so he talked to her and asked if she did the online thing as well and she confirmed it.
So there's two of them that  falls in the crack of ordering the wrong hood.  Oh well, as the woman have said, she doesn't really care, she is just glad it is over and now graduating.  That's what matters anyway but being a former military  man, it kills my husband when he is doing a mistake.
He told me  that listening to the young graduates talk, it makes him feel old and  experienced lol.
There are some who finished  master's degree at such a young age, I thought "Wow, they must have continue going to school after graduating college."  I have the same experienced, I continued my masters right after graduating college but the only difference is that, I  had my undergrad degree at an older age.  I  worked right  after graduating high school for years so I did not really go to college till later when I saved up some money.
What's inspiring to me  was seeing someone in the wheelchair attend the graduation.  I think that is so inspiring that she did not let her situation get in the way of  pursuing her education. 
Anyway, these photos were all taken by my daughter as I was  recording a video while  they were marching.
My husband told me that after taking his last final test, he was so relieved.  All the weights have finally dropped off from his shoulders.  I understand  how he feels.  When I went to graduate school, writing a thesis/book was  one of the requirements to graduate.  It involves a lot of researching, interviewing, gathering of data, and all that stuff, it was tough.  It took time and money to finish it but  when you  graduate, it is all worth it.
Now that he has his degree, he can actually pursue a managerial position which I doubt he would.  He is happy of what he does for now.  His degree helped him  get a raise from his job though so that's a good thing.
While, we were leaving the campus and dealing with the heavy traffic, my daughter thinks she can see herself going to this school for  college.  I was thinking that attending my husband's graduation would inspire them.
Time flies, our daughter  will be graduation from elementary  next school year so I am glad that my husband  is finished with his because our daughter's highschool tuition would be  expensive.  During the open house that we attended where is wants to go, the tuition is $5k+ and it increases every year so that would be something we have to continue saving up for.  The good thing though is that, now with the current administration, the rule about the  529 savings have changed.  We can use it  for highschool expenses instead of waiting for college so we might do that.  Glad we have started saving up  for their school ever since they were born.

Good luck and congratulations to all the graduates!   
 

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