Happy Father's Day

We celebrated Father's Day and our 12th Wedding Anniversary by lunching out with the whole family. Tatay Les & Tatay Pepe were happy to have a short break from their seemingly boring routine activities at home. After eating we strolled in the mall so that we could also have our exercise to burn those calories we got from the bulalo soup! The kids also had a great time, esp. Justin who cleverly persuaded Tatay Les to buy him new Transformers toys...well, he just had my promised treat ahead of time ( we actually had a bargain, I'll buy him a new toy if he will sing at Angelica's 7th birthday!!!).


For all the daddies out there, Happy Father's Day!

For you, Dad!

Before we slept last night, my children kissed my father good night and suddenly I realized how time flew so fast...I looked at my Dad, on his face I saw the traces of his true age with few wrinkles, sagging loose upper eyelids and graying eyebrows & hair (but he never got receeding hairline!). His strong hands showed proofs of his hardwork & sacrifices. From an early age (as he told me in his stories) he had proven his self reliance and he taught himself to be responsible and dependable. During my childhood, I witnessed his passion for his work as an architect. He spent sleepless nights in drawing and finalizing the blueprints of his projects. I was so proud of him because I knew that he was really good in the field of architectural works...in fact he received numerous awards which merit his excellent achievements in the Public works Department of the Subic U.S. Naval Base. But I couldn't recall praising him for his accomplishments. I didn't hear myself telling him how greatful I was for having a talented father!

What clearly stayed in my memory was how wonderful my father was. He was a good provider...I knew that he gave everything in his pay slip to my mom. He could live contentedly on a meager allowance in his pocket...sometimes he was even able to save some for our weekend movies. I believe that my mom couldn't ask for anything more...I often heard her say how lucky she was to have a husband like my dad, for her he was a perfect husband!

My father never asked for praises nor recognition for all the sacrifices and good things he had done for his family. I saw how protective and caring he was...how he put our needs first before his.For him, it was so corny to receive cards or gifts for special occasions because by just being together (the three of us!)no matter how simple we celebrated such special events, was enough for him and could make him happy already.

I probably got his trait, his being less vocal...but somehow I am different because I "pour" everything that I feel or want to say into writing...I could tell how much I love my parents and how much they mean to me through cards and letters. I wonder if dad ever read my sentimental notes for him. I just hope he did!

I instantly kissed him goodnight, too! I wanted to say I love you (while his hearing acuity is still good!) to let him know that I really do! We are both persons of few words...but I need to say these important words before it's too late!

So, Dad, I love you very much...nothing could measure the affection that I have for you (and MOm). I am so thankful that you were the one given by God to be my father! Happy Father's Day, Dad....

Back to school, at last!

Yesterday was my kids' first day of school. Both were very excited to see their friends and new classmates. I was torn between relieved and anxious...relieved, because finally our house would be back to its "liveable" state; during their summer break, our abode had always been loaded with their toys all over, now it could become clutter-free again, hopefully! Anxious, because I'll be back to my tutoring job: I need to read their books too so that I can make my review test questions, explain their lessons and do some advance studying! I know I can get through with these...as I did for the past four years. I'm sure my kids are kind of tense too...to face their "terror" tutor hahaha!

Treat them Humanely, please!

I was disheartened by the fact that there are still people who are insensitive to the needs of others...inconsiderate of others' feelings. I believe that even if they are "just our subordinates", we still need to treat them well, we still owe them respect! We should not forget that our institution would not be "in business" without them...without their effort, their efficient labor & loyalty to us. We could not deny that they had given their best with a big hope that soon they would truly become a part of the hospital staff...the "family", and be able to continue imparting their services to our patients. I know that for them, the recognition of their competent performances is more important rather than the slight increase in their monetary compensation...and for me, that's a big deal because I know that they would take care of my patients not because of money nor they would expect somehting in return but because of compassion!

It's true that the ill effects of the global crisis had loomed over us. Everybody was caught by surprise. We were not ready for the worst, I believe! But there were still some who found it trivial because they could still relish on luxurious ways/things in life...inspite of the struggling economy of our country. God must have endowed them with millions of pesos, giving them the power to manipulate others. What I pray for is for these people to realize that there are humane ways in treating our employees (our partners in business)...ways that won't humiliate them, instead they would leave with dignity & respect for themselves...with a smile on their faces rather than grudge or wrath in their hearts. Nothing could enrage them more than being treated like a worthless piece of junk that after being used would be kicked off mercilessly.

Let us all remember that life is really like a wheel...that when it turns, the ones on top would inevitably go under!!!

Princess got a partner

Princess is not alone anymore! We got another shihtzu puppy...Sparky. Sparky is a 2month old male pup, and it's tiny...soooo cute. Sparky is so playful and can finish its dogfood in a jiffy! Here are some of its pix!

For Your Eyes Only

Angelica had her check up with her Ophthalmologist, Dr. Silvestre Pascual, Jr. this afternoon. We gave her atropine eyedrops to dilate her pupils so that we could prepare her for her refraction. For 2 days she couldn't watch TV, play games in the computer & read books because of the blurring of her vision due to atropine. Her doctor said that she had the highest grade of astigmatism. We were so worried that this could progress into a worse conditon, but we were reassured by him that we could still correct her eye problem with lenses and observe her response!!!She'll have her next & final refraction after about a week before she can finally wear her corrective lenses. We will keep on praying for her good response.

My Brave Kids

I was so surprised when my son agreed to have his flu shot this morning. He bravely said yes...but when he saw the needle, there was a sudden change of heart! We needed Dad's strong arms, in addition to lots of persuasions. I bribed him, telling him that I'll buy him a monster truck that he was so crazy about. After I mentioned the magic word, he gave in!!! Swiftly I gave him his shot...there was no ouch or crying afterwards! He just said: "Is that it, Mom? Yun lang pala!"

Then came the hardest part: to entice Kakay to have hers! I needed to run after her, she locked the bedroom doors so that I couldn't go inside to get her! I also used the magic words: I'll give her dearest pooch to someone else, of course whe hated that idea!!! We finally got her, I was afraid that she would get hurt not because of the needle but because of too much pressure in restraining her. When her Dad "immobilized" her, I gave her the flu vaccine shot...and while giving it she was already laughing as if she didn't feel anything! A brave girl indeed! Now, she has more courage to have more shots :)!!! and now I need more cash to buy the toy that I promised!!!:D

Before I was a Mom

Thanks Cheche for this nice tag!

Before I was a Mom...

~ I didn't feel any guilt even if I would go out with my friends & go home late...but now that I already have kids, I would feel so guilty even if I would be away from home for just a short period; and wherever I would be (without them), they would always be in my mind!

~ I could easily grab the opportunity (offered by the drug companies) to go to different places, here & abroad without having second thoughts...now, I had turned down a number of offers since I had my angels, because I would never go anywhere without them! I usually take them along with me (& my hubby)to all the places I go to, where we could also have the much needed bonding time.

~ I could stay inside my own room & hibernate as long as I wanted...where I could do what I always wanted--- read!read!read! (books other than my medical books :)) & do artworks!...when the kids arrived, I could count with my fingers (with just one hand) the times I was able to hold my favorite books & read them. My reading materials these days were all about parenting (at least I could still read & learn!).

~ I could sleep late...still up as late as 4AM because of any of the following : finishing a novel, scrapbooking or doing stuffs in my Adobe Photoshop, surfing the internet or reading emails, burning wires because of long chats with my buds or just writing in my journal book while listening to my favorite jazz music...when I became a Mom, staying up late meant that I was awakened by my babies' shrieks because they were hungry, had too much pee in their diapers or needed to change due to poop. I mastered the diaper changing & formula preparation...everything seemed automatic, I could do them even with my eyes half open & my consciousness just partly aware of what's going on :)

~ I would shop with priority to MY needs. I was an impulsive shopper before, when I see something that I liked so much, I wouldn't stop until I had it... but now, I frequently go to children's stores rather than my fave shops & usually go home "empty handed" (meaning I ended up having nothing for myself...all the bags were filled with my kids' stuff!).

I appreciate all of these changes in my life when my children came , my world truly turned upside down. I was able to embrace the changes with a big smile & a loadful of happiness in my heart because I realized that they were the little ones who could make beautiful changes to my life...the wonderful lessons I learned from all the experiences we had together all meant so much to me. I never imagined that I could be a mother who would sacrifice everything for my children. To give up my previous ME is all worth it!

Domestic Queen for 2 weeks

It feels good to be back! I missed blogging & updating my facebook & multiply sites for the past 2 weeks because my kids' yaya didn't come back from her supposedly 1 week vacation! It was really hard to do all the tasks at home...after doing my clinic & hospital duties for my patients, I had to rush to the house to supervise my kids' meals, bathing, etc...to wash the dishes, wipe them dry before stacking them in the closet, clean the ref, the stove, the kitchen floors, keep the bedroom & living room clutter free!!!etc etc...wow, I couldn't believe that I did everything. I also want to give credit to my father who did all the cooking (but he usually does all the cooking in the house after my Mom died) & to my husband who helped in cleaning the entire house, the car,etc etc...Now, I could feel the roughness of my hands. I needed to take vitamin B because of the numbness & stiffness. I slept soundly every night for the past weeks probably because of exhaution! But on the positive side, I was able to hone my time management strategies. I felt good to accomplish all of them...unexpectedly! I knew that I could be a good homekeeper (ehem!!!),IF I would give up my medical practice entirely!(this I couldn't imagine yet!). I realized how difficult the work of our maids were, so it's just fair to be considerate...maybe at certain levels & limits so that we could also avoid abuse of our kindness!

Suite Life

We spent the weekend & Mother's Day at Vivere Hotel in Alabang (thanks for the thoughtfulness of a multinational pharmaceutical company :D). Angelica had a great time practicing her swimming skills in their lapping pool. She slept soundly on her comfy bed (she did not fell out of it...bravo!!!). She still preferred to feast on Jollibee fried chicken & snobbed their array of enticing international dishes. The hotel's staff were very accomodating & friendly. Their room was clean & luxuriously nice...coercing a cozy atmosphere! We concluded the celebration with a stroll at Alabang Town Center!

To all the mothers out there...Happy Mother's Day! Let us enjoy this day that honors us!

Together Forever?!

My husband and I are almost 12 years into marriage and this made me wonder what made it last that long and will this marriage pull through as long as we live? Experts say that marriages that last are healthy relationships...and to have a healthy relationship the following must be present: caring, honesty & respect, all of these should be mutual in order for a good marriage to flourish. They are the bedrock foundation of a lasting union. When these essential components are lacking or not fulfilled mutually, a deteriorating and inevitably unhealthy relationship ensues.

Ours is not a perfect relationship...meaning we had gone through the ups & downs, the joys & tears in putting up & staying in our marriage! When we vowed before God to live together for better or for worse in 1997, we both did not know what we were getting into...all we knew in our hearts was that we had God as our strongest witness of our promises to keep the bond as long as we live, no matter how easy or hard it would be, we had to keep our promises. We were aware of the responsibilities ascribed to our signature printed on the "sacred paper"! It was not just an ordinary document because it entailed our duties for each other & our future family.

I believe that no relationship is perfect at first. It takes time to hone an impeccable marriage. The trials that go along with could make the bond stronger! As the experts say, all the elements should be done mutually and if possible you should forget about yourself & put your partner's needs first. Everything should be given or done selflessly & your love for each other should be unconditional...limitless, nothing should hinder the flow of love from your heart,the care, understanding, honesty & respect for your better half. Remember, you need each other to keep the entity blessed by God whole always & forever!

I am looking forward to more years with my husband....together forever :)

Anniversary Prayer

I was browsing the net a few minutes ago and I came across this beautiful website that gives inspirations about almost everyhting in life. I saw this short but inspiring prayer for couples. suddenly I remembered my favorite "inaanaks", actually they are 5 couples, 4 of which tied the knot last year so they are on their way to their first wedding anniversary. I hope they get the chance to read this nice prayer!

Anniversary Prayer


Years ago You took two selfish, self-centered people
and taught us to put You
at the center of our hearts and marriage.
You taught us to take our problems to Your first,
then each other.
You taught us the delight of putting our
mate's needs over our own.
You taught us to serve one another in love.
Your taught us that sharing disappointments and pain
was another side of sharing our love.
We have experienced the sweetness
that together we're stronger than either one alone.
From the wellsprings of my heart,
thank You, Lord.

Happy First Wedding Anniversary: Ryan & Lea, Sherwin & CheChe, Epi & Tintin,Mike & Edz! I miss you all very much!!!!

Remembering Mom

I woke up this morning with a heavy heart because today is supposedly Mom's 76th birthday... if she is still alive! It's been almost four years since we last celebrated her birthday, her last one... I did not expect that it would be her last.

Since then, everytime the month of May approaches, I always feel the stabbing pain of loneliness. I miss her so much! I couldn't control my tears everytime I think about our sweet & happy memories together. I long for the moment when I can embrace & kiss her again...like I used to!

I remembered during her wake...I asked her to take me with her...without thinking about my children, husband & Dad...I forgot to think what would happen to them if ever I went with Mom to heaven! I realized that Mom wouldn't agree with my idea, that's why she left me behind...to look after our loved ones & spend more happy days with them here on earth.

On the day of her interment, I thought I saw her ( her spirit maybe ) for the last time. I did not realize it until I was fully awake. I saw a white human figure touching my kids' feet & mine. I thought it was my aunt who was sleeping in the adjacent bedroom...the realization that our bedroom door was locked stirred me to full consciousness. So maybe that was really Mom...saying her last good byes to her loved ones.


On June 18, it will be her 4th death anniversary...another dreadful day for me! I know that gradually I'll be able to accept the fact that she had left us, that God had already taken her from us...for reasons that I still cannot understand nor accept. May God forgive me for refusing to discern His plans. I know that in time...I will accept...I will understand. I always look forward to the day when we will see each other again. Deep in my heart, she is still alive & she is my angel who guides me all the time.

I love you, Mom....Happy Birthday!... Dad & I will never ever forget you!!!

Princess' first dress

After getting Princess, we rushed to the petshop to buy her food, leash & other stuffs. A cute floral sundress caught my eyes, so I bought it right away! We needed to choose the smallest size because Princess is tiny.

Welcome, Princess!

We got our new pet puppy...a princess shihtzu! Angelica named it Princess. Only this morning did my daughter finally decided on what name should we give to her puppy...she's not fickle minded, is she? (actually, she got a long list of names written in her diary ).She finally decided to change Barbie to Princess ( after watching Princess Diaries last night!), this got to be really final!....oooh she's sooo cute! Today Princess is 3 months old. She got a warm welcome from our household, especially from my kids. They instantly fell in love with our new princess( in fact, their Mom is head over heels in love with Princess:D )!!!

Gifts Received & Lost

When I learned that I was pregnant to Angelica, my husband & I were very,very happy. It was a great surprise for both of us because we already gave up hoping. I had gone through a lot...those exhausting ( and some painful ) examinations, tons of fertility pills I had taken and a couple of frustrating miscarriages...all of these seemed to have failed. Nothing is really impossible with God, because when we stopped everything and turned to Him, He surprised us with His greatest gift...the gift that came unexpectedly...our miracle...our baby girl! His gift that we would cherish forever.



However, the rapture did not last long. After a month, my Mom was suspected of having a Head & Neck Malignancy. She had to undergo so many ancillary procedures & laboratory tests to confirm the primary malignancy. I was still hoping then that it was not cancer, it couldn't be! But it was indeed the deadly C...a slow growing Pancreatic Gland Cancer. I couldn't believe it...or I just couldn't accept it. I was so heart broken...I did nothing but cry all day & all night ( almost forgotten that I have a new life growing inside me ). Everybody thought that I would lose our baby. But Angelica survived. "We" were with my Mom in all her sufferings, in everything that she had gone through... from the diagnostics to the Chemo & Radiation therapy sessions...Angelica & I were there with my Mom.





Before Angelica was born, I couldn't forget what Mom said "Gusto ko pang mabuhay so that I can see my apo!". My Mom took care of Angelica when she was still a baby. She lived until Angelica was almost 3 years old. She lost her battle in June of 2005. I lost the greatest woman I have ever known & had in my life. I felt as if a big part of me died with her. My Mom was truly a big loss for me & my Dad.

I always reprove myself when I start thinking that God gave us Angelica in exchange for my Mom...my baby's life in exchange for my beloved Mom's life. I know that God is not like that! Soon I will understand His reasons...His plans...His answers.

Counting My Blessings

I made a list of the countless blessings that I have received from God. I am very thankful for all of them.

I feel so blessed for...

1.... being born to this wonderful world & given a chance to stay here for 43 years & still counting!

2.... having two great persons who made me who I am today & brought me to where I am now...my dearest parents.

3.... being married to Orlan who was given by God for me to be with forever!

4.... being in this sacred relationship for almost 12 years; having survived the various trials that made us & our marriage stronger.

5.... achieving my dream of becoming a doctor & being able to strive for a stable practice.

6.... having two amazing kids who completed my life...they made me realize how challenging & exciting it is to be a mother...I love being their Mom!

7.... having true friends whom I believe are always on my side ready to support me.

8.... my dearest Auntie Anching, my Mom's sister who became my second mother since Mom's death.

9.... my patients who have faith in me...who believe that together we can heal whatever is bothering them.

10... the strength in facing all the trials in my life.

These are all I can think of for the moment...I know that there are still more to be thankful for!

Purse Talk

My inaanak, Dr. Cheche Tayag tagged me for what bag I recently used. It need not be my favorite one but the one that I just used. Well, I do use one bag most of the time when I do my rounds, shopping or dinning out with my family or friends...and incidentally, it is also my favorite bag.




This Coach bag was given to me by my beloved cousin, Iris as a birthday gift last year. She sent it to me from US via a Balikbayan package so I really don't know how much it costs. But knowing the brand, I guess it cost her big bucks & probably ripped out her purse hehehe! Anyway, as a sign of great appreciation, I take care of it and use it often (...to remember my dear cousin who lives in the other side of the world).





It is not so big & not too small, I think its size is just right for me...for my things that I usually bring when going out. ooops...I think i forgot to put my cell phone in the pix.




Here, I took one more picture of what you'll find inside this bag. It has 2 pockets inside, where I put my cell phone and some cards or notes that I need to see to remind me of something...like a grocery list or to-do list for the day. So, I really find this bag very useful, aside from its pretty looks.


Thanks Che! This gave me a chance to show my cousin how much I love her gift!
So, what am I going to do next???Oh, tag my another inaanak, Lea!

Here are the rules:

1. Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you can't go into your closet and pull out your favorite purse! We want to know what you carried today or the last time you left the house.

2. List how much it cost. And this is not to judge. This is for entertainment purposes only. So spill it. And if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, we'd love to hear it.

3. Tag some chicks. And link back to this post so people know why the heck you're showing everyone your bag

The Way It Used To Be

As I put Angelica to sleep last night, I was amazed to see how she has grown...the bud is starting to blossom into a beauty! As she blooms everyday, there are a lot of transformations taking place not only in her own life but in my life as her mother as well. Here are some "used to be" features of my darling daughter's life that I will always cherish:

*My baby used to snooze in her crib (that stood beside our bed) tucked in her pink blanket whle I sang a medley of lullabies some in my own version:). Everynight, I gazed at her angelic face as I softly caressed her smooth skin & silky baby hair, as if I was trying to keep her picture in my memory...saving it, so that someday I will have something to reminisce about.

Now, my little girl sleeps on her own bed (still adjoining our bed) snuggling her pink comforter. I still sing to her our favorite songs "When you wish upon a star" & "Twinkle, twinkle little star" until she dozes off. I still caress her thick, black hair that has beautifully grown long up to her waist. Sometimes, I brush her hair while singing...such simple things that I cherish so much. I always think that soon she will have her own room, I'm not sure if I can bear it...thinking that she's going to leave us and I won't need to sing to her anymore.

*I used to cuddle our bundle of joy whenever she cried or just wanted to hold her very close to me...now, we snuggle each other just before we both close our eyes everynight. There would be exchanges of "I love you's"...and sometimes there are wild moments of tickling until we are both laughing to death.

*I used to decide on which romper or jumpsuit she was going to wear...now, it's always her choice that rules her wardrobe. She still loves pink color, so you'll guess it right...PINK dominates everything that she owns, from hairclips to shoes (not to mention her toiletries...all of them should be pink!).

*She used to be satisfied with just milk...now she feasts on eggs, chicken (McDonald's please...), some veggies, chocolate cakes & cookies. Pork & chicken Adobo is the new addition to her favorites. She still loves to drink milk. Thank God that she never loses her appetite; she finishes her food most of the time & occasionally asks for second servings.



*Teddy bears & beanies were used to be her "playmates"...now, she has true playmates, with Kyrie (her cousin)& Joice as her BFF & SBSA (bet you don't know what this means!...sometimes bati,sometimes away!!!:)). When she was a baby, I used to be the apple of her eyes (with her Dad & grannies in the 2nd & 3rd places only :)), she would cry when I disappeared from her sight! Now,her constant companions are her Barbie dolls & her playmates. Whenever they are together, they talk about...boys!!! yes, boys! These are 6 year olds who already have crushes & "boyfriends"& who like the Jonas Brothers! They also have their secrets & swear to never like boy stuffs...ever!


There seems to be so many developments in her life, physically, mentally, socially & spiritually...all of them I want to memorize! I am so thankful for all the moments that we are together...I always tell myself to cherish each moment because it might not (or will not) happen again. She will pass through the different stages in her life only once, and I want to be in all those stages with her until I see her blossomed into a beautiful lady. I love you, Kakay!

Determination

I know that it is not easy for my son to be in a swimming class. I feel that it's too much pressure on him.
During the first day, he was excited...in fact, too excited that he woke up as early as 5:00AM because he was looking forward to his first encounter with the swimming coach & other members of the Milo Swimming Clinic. But at the end of the first session, I noticed that he was quiet while in the car until we reached our house. I could trace some frustration on his face. When I asked him what was wrong, he told me that he felt bad & he knew that he wouldn't learn how to swim. "You see, Mama, I couldn't cross the pool as fast as the others...I always sink, kaya they were laughing at me! Nakakainis!" After hearing this, I gave him all the encouraging words I could think of at that very moment because I knew it was an indication of a beginning frustration! I don't want him to feel & think that he is a loser. He is not!!!I nagged him to continue, anyway it was just his first day. And it was not only him who had a not so good performance during the first day (of course, what do you expect from a novice? the reason why they were there was to learn and not to show off!) I stressed to my son that he should have the determination to learn & become a good swimmer.
So on the 2nd day, he told me that when he was asked to float on his back, do the flutter kicks & cross the pool, he thought about what I told him : determination! So what he did was he told himself (with eyes closed) "I can do this!" several times until he hit the other side of the pool! He was so happy (inspite of the occasional "sinking strokes") because he made it! Keep it up, son!

For You, Mom

I recalled this special moment when my daughter drew something for me. There was no special occasion...it was just an ordinary weekend at home. She didn't like me to see her while she's still busy making her "masterpiece". She said "Mama, don't peek! I want it to be my surprise for you." Alright...so I waited and let her finish her drawing. After awhile, she proudly showed her work with a smile and said "Mama, this is for you! Those pretty girls are you & me!"Then, she hugged me tightly & said I love you. I was so touched because I knew that the big heart on it symbolized her heart and her love for me. It could be a simple artwork done by a little girl, but for me, it was a very special gift that I could never forget. Thank you, my dear daughter. I love you so much!

Love Language

After reading Chis' new entry in her blogsite (www.mommyjourney.com)about Communicating in your Child's Love Language, I was made to analyze each of my children's unique expression of love. It's truly amazing to find out how different their love language is. I made a recollection of moments with my children that I can never forget and examine each one's type of love expression...

...my first born, Justin is the type who perceieves love through acts of service. I notice that everytime I prepare his meals, put him to sleep, fix his toys, help him with his schoolwork, he always flashes a smile that really warms & melts my heart, then he will hug me tightly & say "Thank you, Mama. I know that you love me because you are doing all of these for me!" Whenever I hear him say these two lines, I really cannot think of anything to say, so I'll just embrace him tightly...I know this action tells him how right he is, that I truly love him very much. Even without saying it, I know that Justin understands everything I want to say! In return, I know that whenever he does something for me, like helping me with my chores or volunteering to do simple errands or just simply behaving...he is saying "I love you" without words. Now, I realized how to communicate love well with my son.

...my daughter, Angelica, on the otherhand, is one who needs to constantly hear compliments & receive gifts to let her feel that we love her. But I also see that Angelica is a very thoughtful child & very sweet. She is fond of making simple cards for everybody in the family even if there is no special occasion. In her cards, she expresses her love...there is always the words: I love you! So, I believe that Angelica's primary love language is gifts. She also loves to hear us say how pretty she looks & asks me all the time if she did well in activities like in her swimming class, in her drawings & scrap arts. She, in return is generous in giving compliments to people close to her. So she also has a love language of words of affirmation.

I agree with Mr. Gary Chapman that a child may likely express love in the language he desires most to receive.

Thanks, Chris for sharing this important and interesting topic in Parenting... by reading & understanding the different child's language of love will somehow make it easier for parents like us to understand our children & be able to let them feel love in ways that they can easily understand.

the Soberanos

Make your Stick Figure Family at FreeFlashToys.com

Thanks Cheche...I enjoyed doing it. I missed my Kindergarten years hehehe!I let Justin & Angelica "draw" their own figures & both of them had a great time!

Mini competitions

My kids brag about their achievements for today. Their coach intended to develop competitive swimmers, so he holds mini competitions at the end of each session.All of them show off their skills...and try to get the "gold". Angelica boasts that she won twice...she said that she used all her might to be the fastest novice swimmer in their category. She showed off her powerful kicks as she paddled accross the pool. Kuya, on the otherhand is still slower, but I'm still happy because he is showing signs that he has gained more confidence & has overcome his fear to water...I'll post more of their pictures next time!

Kids' First Day at the Milo Swimming Clinic

My kids woke up early this morning, probably because of too much excitement...it's going to be their first day of their swimming lessons. They hurriedly had their breakfast, wore their swimming get-ups, including their gears like goggles & swimming caps (though they both didn't like to use the tight caps, especially Angelica who complained that it's hurting her head & it felt so warm)and put on a dollop of sunscreen creams. Then at 7:30 AM, we were off to the resort where the Milo Swimming Clinic is being held!

After the registration, the kids all lined up for their warm up exercises for about 15 minutes. Afterwhich, they had their briefing with Coach Ronnel.





The first thing that was taught to them was how to do the leg movements properly. They all sat along the pool side with their legs hanging. Coach Ronnel instructed them to extend their legs together with toes pointing down, then moving each leg alternately up & down splashing into the water. They should do a nice splash.



Then they do the same leg works on a prone position.


Then, each of them was given a kick board so that they could cross the pool one after the other. I think they were beginning to conquer their fear to water. Kakay & Justin were able to cross the pool (on kick boards )using their stong kicks. Keep it up, kids!

They will be training for 2 weeks...I wonder how they are going to look like by then!Their skin were already showing signs of sunburn...they'll be needing tons of sunscreen, perhaps in order to protect their skin to the max! They seem not to care at all...as long as they are enjoying their swimming lessons, that's all they care about!