DRAWING IS EVOLVING

Dear Naomi,


Your drawings are starting to be more precise.  They are actually cute.  I love your turtle and snail here.  Also, the way you draw girls, they seem to be manga-like.

Keep it up, Naomi my love so sweet.  Keep doodling until you perfect those strokes.  But most of all, have fun!

Loving your artwork forever,

Mommy 

NATHAN DOODLES TOO :)

Dear Nathan,

You drew this last July 27, 2015 and proudly showed Mommy and Daddy your artwork.  Hahaha of course, it's about Minecraft, Stampy, the creepers and all.  And there's a dragon too.  

Keep it up, cool kid.  The drawings are starting to make sense hahaha  Just the same, I love them!

Your fan forever, 

Mommy

Do you see the dragon up there? :)

Stampy with the Creepers :)

8TH WEDDING ANNIV LOVE DOODLE FROM NAOMI

Dear Naomi,

Thank you for this lovely surprise for Mommy and Daddy's 8th wedding anniversary!  You even stayed up late last night to wait for us and to give this.

I hope you stay this sweet and thoughtful until you grow up.  I will never get tired of your love notes.  And you will be Mommy and Daddy's precious gift forever.

Love much,

Mommy 

WE SURVIVED JUNE

Yes, we did it!

I have written in a previous post that June is a period of transition not only for myself but for the whole family.  So how did we survive?  By trusting our instincts, by trusting the capability of kids, by believing in ourselves again, and most importantly by letting go and trusting in God's great providence.

Here's what happened:

• Naomi and Nathan went through their first day high's by themselves.  Yep, no Mommy with them.  I must confess I was so uneasy waiting for them to come home.  I was imagining so many things and was so worried they wouldn't find their school service or might ride the wrong one.  But God's protection is with them and legions of angels did guard my chikiting patrol.  So there, they went home safely and with lots of stories.

• No stay-in helpers.  I have two stay-out helpers who do the laundry and ironing of clothes.  Both go to our house twice a week.  Despite this, we badly needed a stay-in helper to cook food, do the dishes, watch over kids, and clean the house.  Since we did not have any for about 2 weeks, we needed to do things by ourselves.  Good thing the big kids cooperated.  They looked after the little kids.  They helped clean the house and washed the dishes.  Everybody contributed and extended a helping hand to keep everything in order.  So how did I manage cooking for the platoon?  I did not! hahaha I cooked once then decided to utilize food delivery (with the strong support of hubby)!  Isn't that cool (and expensive)?  But hubby kept telling me the cost is nothing compared to the stress of cooking.  So there, we survived.  But shortly after this, we were lucky enough to have been helped by hubby's sister and soon found a stay-in househelp.  But that short stint allowed everybody to do household chores again.  A discipline that will help these kids when they're on their own.  Also, this  allowed me to revisit parts of the house that need attention.  Most importantly, this experience reminded me that I am strong and that yes, I still have that extra energy to do chores to make a lovely home.  Not bad at all.

Nathan's first entry to his assignment notebook :)

• Nathan wrote his assignment all by himself.  How awesome is that!  Writing is a big chore for Nathan.  So this is really a big milestone for him.  I guess this time he does not have a choice but to write.

• Naomi does her assignment and washes herself without yaya's help.  Yep, because in the first place we don't have a yaya.  This has now become a routine for her so Mommy just checks and reviews her when Mommy gets home. 

• Gab's timing of college is a blessing in disguise.  Good thing Gabs will start college not until August 2015.  So back in June when we did not have anyone in the house, there's Kuya Gabs watching over the kids when they get home from school.  And if you're reading this Gabs, I want to thank you so much for taking care of your little siblings and for reviewing them.  Not just a big help for me but most of all for Naomi and Nathan.  You get to review them while there is still energy left for the day.  When they are not cranky yet.

So there. That's it.  And right now, even with our stay-in helpers back, we still do some chores.  It's much more relaxed now.  And we are not afraid.  

I just love my family.  And I thank you so much dear Lord, for helping me and the whole family get through this.  More challenges to come.  But you have shown so many times that you are with us.

P.S.  I am so busy as of this writing because of tons of office deliverables.  But I just have to write this now because my heart is just full of gratitude :)

JUNE 2015

June, please be good to me.

I think June 2015, or the whole year 2015, is a period of transition for me.

... Re-org at work resulting to my office's shutdown with an option to transfer to the company's plant.  I am not finding the company's plant an option.

... Helpers on vacation leave.  Not sure who's coming back.  June 1 and I don't have a helper.  School starts in a week.  So good luck naman.  I really have to adjust my sleeping schedule so I can cook breakfast, baon, lunch and dinner.  Good thing though our college kids will start school in August.  So they are a big help especially in looking after the little kids.  May be hard at first but I can do this.

... Career opportunities.  Starting to explore.  Let's see what the future holds. 

These transitions make me uneasy.  It's really moving me out of my comfort zone.  But I hold firmly to this:  IF GOD PUTS YOU TO IT, HE WILL PULL YOU THROUGH IT.

So June, please be good to me.  Great even.  

Holy Spirit and Mama Mary, guide me as I go through these transitions.

Amen.

MAN WITH MUSTACHE

Hey there, Nates.

You drew this on Feb 23, 2015.  You are 4 years and 9 months :)

This is the first time that Mommy saw you REALLY draw something hahaha

You said it's a man with a mustache, and well, uhmmm, and everything else :)

Mommy is just amazed with this milestone.  And I hope to see you draw and write some more (instead of playing with gadgets or watching tv).

Anyway, I look forward to more art works from you.

Keep it up my "grown-up-baby"!

Hugs and kisses,

Mommy

PORMA MUCH AT 4YO

"Mommy/Daddy, I want my hair up."


"Mommy/Daddy, I want a rock star hair."

"Mommy/Daddy, I want to be like stegosaurus."

"Mommy/Daddy, I want a hair cut."

Yes, Nathan, at 4 years old, you are so vain when it comes to hair style hahaha Porma talaga eh.  And you want to put gel to your hair.  I don't agree very much with the gel thing pero sige minsan puede.

I am glad though that at this age, you are conscious about good grooming before going to school (not only because of Yanna hahaha). And great that you know what you need to do and what you want to look good.  

Dahil dyan, Daddy bought you your own gel.  And I am giving you your own brush.

Your own hair styling set

Happy good looking! :)

You said we did not put enough gel to hold your hair up :)

Love,

Mommy

NAOMI, NAOMI, NAOMI

Dear Naomi,

Congratulations!!!  You did a good job being the first place in your class and you did a whole lot of other great things in just the first semester of SY 2013-2014.  You are 5 years and 4 months old as I write this letter.  Mommy and Daddy are just so proud of you.  Most importantly, I’m glad that you are enjoying school. 

Let me enumerate your milestones:

August 16, 2013 – First Parent-Teacher Conference (Kinder A, 1^st Trimester, SY 2013-2014

According to Teacher Dianne, this is more of a behavioral assessment.  This is what Teacher had to say.

 Teacher told us that you are so lady-like.  You are so poised!  You are soft-spoken and yet starting to show leadership skills.  Teacher said you just need to learn how to speak louder and to work faster on your seat work.  Yeah, anak, you can do this.  And I’m glad to know that your first two months started well.  Mommy is just so anxious at first as to how you will adjust to the big school.  But look at you now :)

October 18, 2013 – Little Archers’ Olympics

 

Yes, finally, your dream of being a cheer dancer is now a reality.  You auditioned for La Salle’s pep squad and you got in!  I think you were about 3 or 4 years old when you started dreaming to be a cheer dancer because of the movie “Bring It On”.  And so your first performance happened last October 18, 2013, when you performed at La Salle Greenhills for the Little Archers’ Olympics.  Mommy and Daddy are so impressed of you because you woke up really early for it (without us waking you up) so we can be in school at 6:15 am.  You went to La Salle Greenhills without Mommy, Daddy, or Yaya.  Sorry, Mommy was not there to watch (parents can go to La Salle Greenhills but on their own).  But when I asked if you looked for Daddy and Mommy, you said no.  When I asked if you got sad because there was no Mommy or Daddy to watch you, you said no.  Gosh, Mommy was so relieved because Mommy was feeling guilty to have missed this.  But more than the relief that you gave Mommy, it was the thought that you are showing signs of independence that made me really smile.  Parents are not really there to protect and shield you all the time but it is more to train you to have the traits and values you need to live the life you have.  For some reason, Mommy is more concerned on how you’ll have a high emotional quotient than just being good at academics.  I’m glad that I see La Salle as a partner to that goal.  I’ve been seeing various activities in your school that I think train students to be independent and confident.  Ooops, carried away na naman yata ako.  Umo-OA na naman si Mommy.  Wala lang, I’m just so happy for you anak.  I saw your video in Facebook since Sofia’s mom shared it.  Ang galing!  Winner ang kembot mo hahaha

October 24, 2013 – Science Quiz Bee 

Another first, my princess.  We got a note from Teacher that you were chosen to be one of the representatives to the Science Quiz Bee.  When I got there, you just finished the quiz bee.  Good thing Daddy took a video of it.  And Mommy was really impressed.  Especially during the difficult round where there were no choices and wrong spelling will not be counted.  Example lang.  One of the questions was “Where do orchids live and grow?”  You answered, “pot”.  Tama yun, my princess hahaha you see naman that our orchids at home are growing and living in the pot (some of them lang kasi others are in a drift wood kaya nga si Daddy puno ang naiisip na answer hahaha). But the correct answer was “air”.  Hihihih that’s okay, anak.  This is just the start.  For sure, there will be more quiz bees for you.  And I really admire La Salle that they expose students this young to activities like this which I think train students to be confident and competitive.  Sige bawi tayo next time, my princess.  And don’t worry, we are still buying you a new pair of rubbers shoes ;)

October 25, 2013 – Card-giving day for the first trimester of SY 2013-2014

You did it!  You’re the first in class!  In fairness, ang galing mang-surprise ni Teacher Dianne.  She showed me first your Exemplary Deportment Award, discussed with me your grades, and finally showed the First Place Award.  Yiiiiiiiiii!  Can’t contain my happiness then.  Galing mo!  I remember Daddy would always tell you to aim to be number one because 2^nd place is the first loser.  Syempre to the rescue si Mommy because I’m not sure how you’ll take the pressure in school.  I just would like you to adjust to the “real” school first.  But look at that.  Maybe, I’m babying you a little.  Maybe, I should trust you more :)  Anyway, I’ll leave the pushing to Daddy and Mommy will be that safety emotional net ;)  Good deal? :D

 

Hayyy baby ko.  How time flies.  You are now starting to build yourself.  I hope and pray that you will continue to aim high, love learning, and act with integrity and with heart to others.  Pray always my baby and  know that your family is always here to support you.  

I love you so much,

Mommy