Ama and Kongkong

Found a couple of photos of my Kongkong and Ama in my hard-drive and thought I should post them.  These were taken several years ago when both of them were still healthy and able to travel.  First was taken at our house in Richmond, while the second was just taken from one of our family gatherings.  Seventy years together and still counting, what a great feat!  I'm so happy that we grew up having them in our lives and I'm glad that my boys are still able to meet them and know what great grandparents are.  We love you Ama and Kongkong!

It's a Party!

My family celebrated an important milestone last Saturday, July 23, 2011.  We celebrated my grandpa and grandma's 70th wedding anniversary and also their 90th and 86th birthdays.  70 years together, can you imagine?  Because of this important event, everyone was asked to attend the party and all my family and relatives from abroad were able to fly in.  What a grand reunion we had!

We hired Kimberly Evangelista to be our event host, and I think the guests had a blast.  The food was good, the venue was decorated festively, the cake was ginormous, and we handed out some nice prizes during the trivia game, wherein guests had to answer some questions about Ama and Kongkong.  Ina prepared a nice AVP of Kongkong and Ama's old photos.  Donald also performed a number (he sang L-O-V-E), and a few of the grandkids and great grandkids serenaded the guests with Bruno Mars' "Just The Way You Are" with matching choreography!  I was so proud of them!

We also hired a photo booth (snapphotobooth.multiply.com) for guests to take photos as their mementos of the event.  Here are a couple of me and the kids...I didn't know even their yayas joined in on the fun!  hehe....

say cheeessse!

my parent's grandkids with their yayas :)

Happy anniversary Ama and Kongkong, we all love you very much!

ANGELINA FOR LOUIS VUITTON

A single journey can change the course of a life.
A journey can help you realize what’s important.
A journey can be a great adventure.
A journey can help you find yourself.
A journey can make you question your assumptions.
A journey can inspire you.


-Advice for the journey from the world’s greatest travelers

Beautiful...

Gratitude Journal - July 4, 2011

Gosh, half the year has gone by!  And I'm going to be another year older before this month ends...where did the time go?


Anyway, today I am thankful:

• for the food at Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao (restaurant at V-Mall).  My sons especially love their Xiao Long Bao, with the thin skin and not so oily soup inside.  Also love their hand-pulled noodles.
• that my "kuliti" (stye in English daw) is almost healing.  The sucker finally popped the other night and lots of good stuff started oozing out of it.  At least it doesn't hurt that bad anymore.  Just hope it doesn't leave a bad scar on my eyelid.
• that Rod and I were able to watch the show "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber" at the CCP last Thursday.  Even though I wasn't a fan, my husband was...and it was a great way to spend a date night with him!

Have a great day!

I Got a Boy - From Chicken Soup for the Soul: New Moms

I Got a Boy

By Stacey Tucker

Boy, n.: a noise with dirt on it.
~Not Your Average Dictionary

When I got pregnant it was exciting, but scary. I was thirty-three at the time. For most of my twenties, I didn't think I wanted children. But as I aged, I realized I did want a child. So, after three years of marriage, we were ready to try. Throughout the early weeks of pregnancy, I focused on my physical changes. I managed the nausea and weight gain and mood swings pretty well. There was also one thing I knew for sure: I wanted a girl.

Being a girl was all I knew. I am an only child and was always a girly girl. Before I got pregnant and through my early weeks of pregnancy, I did as much positive thinking and law of attraction work that one person can do. I was preparing for my girl. My mother had died in 2004, and I was ready to name my daughter Alexandra after my mother. We had it all set.


Twenty weeks of pregnancy finally arrived. Ultrasound wand on the belly, the technician gave me the news: "It's a boy!" I was in shock. As soon as I started to breathe again, I burst into tears. A boy. I couldn't believe it. The possibility of having a boy honestly never entered my mind. I cried all the way home from the doctor's office and all that night. What was I going to do with a boy? I hate sports and dirt.


Fast forward to Jackson's birth. When the nurse handed that little bundle to me, I thought I had never seen such perfection. All I wanted to do was take care of this little boy and love him with my whole being. I felt so ashamed of myself for thinking even for a second that I wanted a girl instead of this amazing creature looking at me with his giant blue eyes. I cried tears of happiness and tears of sadness simultaneously. My son was truly a lesson from God. He knew a boy would be good for me. Girls I knew, but boys?


Oh, what a world I have discovered and grown to appreciate. Every day with my son is a lesson for me on stepping outside my comfort zone. Instead of sitting in a chair at the beach, I am chasing a boy who is chasing seagulls. Instead of getting my nails painted, I am getting my face painted to support our favorite sports team. Instead of playing with dolls, I am playing with trucks. I have made peace with dirt, dead things, living things, mystery liquids and chocolate milk on the sofa. I have learned that getting jumped on, stepped on, kicked by flailing limbs and head butts are all forms of "wrestling." I have had to get in shape to keep up with my toddler and change my wardrobe to accommodate impromptu batting practice and tackle football in the yard. I have learned not to wear flip-flops in the woods.


My son has taught me how to remain in the present moment, no daydreaming on the job. My son has taught me how to laugh at myself and at everyday experiences. Rolling down a hill can actually be fun, and water guns on a hot day can be refreshing. My son has taught me how to be more open -- open to love someone else and open to love myself. He is my perpetual lesson in absolute faith in our own perfection. I am supposed to be the teacher in this relationship, but I seem to be learning something new every day. One thing I know for sure: I am so thankful I got a boy.

The Proust Questionnaire - Follow Up

According to the questionnaire, my answers are most similar to the following celebrities:

• Eleanor Lambert - 93.48%
• Ray Charles - 81.16%
• Julie Andrews - 68.50%
• Sidney Poitier - 53.61%

Interesting....

The Proust Questionnaire

The Proust Questionnaire is a questionnaire about one's personality. Its name and modern popularity as a form of interview is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.  Proust answered the questionnaire several times in his life, always with enthusiasm.


Vanity Fair magazine has an interactive version of this questionnaire and I decided to take it, to compare my answers to various luminaries.  Here goes my answers:

1.  What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Sitting on the beach, with my 3 favorite boys, sipping a tall glass of iced coffee.



2.  What is your greatest fear?
Losing my boys, can't imagine my life without them.


3.  Which historical figure do you most identify with?
None really.


4.  Which living figure do you admire most?
My mom.


5.  What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Laziness and my fear of confrontations.


6.  What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Arrogance and sense of entitlement.  Feeling that you know EVERYTHING, when in fact you know nothing.  And feeling that you deserve and are entitled to other people's achievements and happiness, when you did nothing to earn it.


7.  What is your greatest extravagance?
Maybe having my hair straightened once a year.  The time, the effort, the cost, all for vanity!


8.  On what occasion do you lie?
When I know that telling the truth would hurt someone.  And sometimes I lie by omission.


9.  What do you dislike most about your appearance?
I am most conscious about my bulging tummy with its flab and ugly stretch marks.


10.  When and where were you happiest?
I thought I was happiest on my wedding day.  But now, I am happy when I am at home with my family.


11. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I probably wished I was in a different job.


12.  If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
I would probably hope that we all lived in the same country, instead of being so far apart.


13.  What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Giving birth to my two boys.  I hope I can raise them to be good and honorable gentlemen.  That will be an even greater achievement.


14.  If you died and came back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
I hope it won't happen!  I don't want to come back as an inanimate object!


15.  What is your most treasured possession?
My collection of family photos, the probably my wedding and engagement rings.


16.  What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Regret.  Dying and not being able to do what you are suppose to do.


17. Who are you heroes in real life?
My parents and grandparents.  For their wisdom.


18.  What is it that you most dislike?
Crawling, slimy, slippery creatures! Eyyewww!


19.  How would you like to die?
Peacefully, in my sleep.  Nothing violent and bloody please.


20.  What is your motto?
"So in all that you do, in all of your life, I wish you the strength and the grace to make the choices which will allow you and your neighbor to become the best of whoever you are."

Quote of the Day

" Let go of what you think life should be so you can experience the life you have."


~ Rhonda Britten

The Obamas

This is cute...wish our president were more like him...

Gratitude Journal - June 17, 2011

Today, I am thankful for my two brothers, who have been with me since...forever!  Haha...I'm the eldest so it feels like I've had them with me my whole life.  Even though we all live in three different countries now, I still feel close to them and we manage to keep in touch as often as possible.  We've been through a lot together - first loves, first heartaches, new schools, new homes, new friends, new places to visit, new experiences, etc.  But we've managed to enjoy the ride and turned out okay :)  


They used to tease me a lot, since I was the only girl, but having them has toughened me up and made me competitive.  They also pushed me to keep up with them and being an only girl has not stopped me from trying out some of the "manly" things that they do.  I think living with them has also prepared me now in how I relate to my two sons.  I learned that boys are just as sensitive and emotional as girls are.  And they are also just as loving and malambing as girls are.  So thanks bros, for being a part of my life, and for being a part of me.  I love you both very much!

this was taken on my wedding day in 2006

A Beautiful Letter of a Father to His Children

Found this is my inbox today, forwarded by my Ninang to me.  Thought it was a nice way to start the day:

**********************************************************************************************************

The following is a beautiful letter written by a father to his children.  The words are actually applicable to all of us, young or old, parents or grandparents.  We can all learn something out of it for sure and use this in guiding and teaching our children.   

Dear Children,

I am writing this to you because of 3 reasons.  Life, fortune and mishaps are unpredictable and nobody knows how long I'll live.  Some words are better said early.  I am your father, and if I don't tell you these, no one else will.  What is written is my own personal bitter experiences that perhaps could save you a lot of unnecessary heartaches.

Remember the following as you go through life...

1. Do not bear grudge towards those who are not good to you. No one has the responsibility of treating you well, except your mother and I. To those who are good to you, you have to treasure it and be thankful, and ALSO you have to be cautious, because, everyone has a motive for every move. When a person is good to you, it does not mean he really likes you. You have to be careful, don't hastily regard him as a real friend.

2. No one is indispensable, nothing in the world that you must possess. Once you understand this idea, it would be easier for you to go through life when people around you don't want you anymore, or when you lose what/who you love most.

3. Life is short. When you waste your life today, tomorrow you would find that life is leaving you. The earlier you treasure your life, the better you enjoy life.

4. Love is but a transient feeling, and this feeling would fade with time and with one's mood. If your so called loved one leaves you, be patient, time will wash away your aches and sadness. Don't over exaggerate the beauty and sweetness of love, and don't over exaggerate the sadness of falling out of love.

5. A lot of successful people did not receive a good education, that does not mean that you can be successful by not studying hard! Whatever knowledge you gain is your weapon in life. One can go from rags to riches, but one has to start from some rags!

6. I do not expect you to financially support me when I am old, either would I financially support your whole life. My responsibility as a supporter ends when you are grown up. After that, you decide whether you want to travel in a public transport or in your limousine, whether rich or poor.

7. You honor your words, but don't expect others to be so. You can be good to people, but don't expect people to be good to you. If you don't understand this, you would end up with unnecessary troubles.

8. I have bought lotteries for umpteen years, but I never strike any prize. That shows if you want to be rich, you have to work hard! There is no free lunch!

9. No matter how much time I have with you, let's treasure the time we have together. We do not know if we would meet again in our next life.

Your Dad

Gratitude Journal - June 13, 2011

Today, I am thankful:

• that my allergies are gone for today!  My eyes got swollen a couple of days ago after lying down on a "lint-y" blanket and I looked hideous!  Even Joshua told me "Mommy you're pangit."  Seriously, I looked like Quasimodo :P
• for the Soondubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) that I had for lunch last Saturday at Kaya.  I learned eating this Korean food from a friend...love the spiciness of the broth, together with the softness of the tofu.
• that I had "alone time" last Saturday afternoon.  I was able to run some errands and was finally able to find that elusive Dinosaur book for Joshua.  He loved it!
• for my son Kenji, who has no qualms about singing and dancing in front of us.  He's such a charmer...and a joy.

Have a great day! 

Sung-Bong Choi - Korea's Got Talent

Here's a hopeful tale, hope he succeeds...