Angelo Anecdote: Your heart talks to me

Mum:  "Angelo, do you know I love you so much?"




Angelo: "I do, Mum! And do you know why I know you love me?


....BECAUSE YOUR HEART TALKS TO ME..."

Razzi Notes: The Matt Maher Experience

Im stoked! Im excited!

I got invited to be the official photographer of the Matt Maher Experience concert on Saturday, 4th of July 09, at De La Salle and Bethlehem College Hall. It's my first official razzi gig and Im having a whole heap of mixed emotions.

They're expecting around 1,000 young adults at the concert and although I have been to many concerts/shows in the past, this time I really dont want to expect as I have to look at the show from a different perspective.

My mood changes from excitement to panic mode every second as it gets closer to the event.

Fingers crossed everything goes well and I make the event organisers (and my brother-in-law) happy and proud once they see the results.

Wish me luck!!! ...

Sibling Anecdote: Who's going to play with me now?

Saturday, as Chantelle was getting ready for her party, Angelo sat quietly on the couch just staring at the TV, not making any sound.  When I looked at him, he gave me the saddest face and I wondered whether he and Chantelle had their usual quarrels...

I asked him whether he and Ate had a fight again and he said no.  I asked whether he got in trouble from Daddy, he said no. So I asked why he was sad and he started to cry....  and he said:

"Ate is going to a party...  Who will play with me now?"

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

They may be a couple of years apart but Im glad that they are still the best of friends and I pray that it always stays that way.

Precious Moments: Always my baby girl...

My baby got her very first invite for a sleepover a couple of weeks ago.  We were contemplating whether to let her go or not.  For one, I was not allowed to go on sleepover until I was in college but then I thought, that was generations ago...

Our major concern is her being a picky eater.  She's not the type to ask for food that is not served but she does have the tendency to ignore her hunger only because she doesn't like the food.  Not the ideal guest, I know, but Im sure she would have eaten what she could anyway.

So our deal was if she can prove to us that she can eat anything that is served to her for the next two weeks leading up to the party, she can have a sleepover.  Otherwise, she can only go to the day activities.  She agreed to the deal but it didn't last long.  After two days, she was back to her picky ways...

Party day came and we agreed that she can go to the party but we'll pick her up a little after dinner time.  She has been looking forward to it for days and she got ready more quickly than usual.  I dropped her off at her friend's place at exactly 1pm but as I was saying my goodbyes, she hugged me tightly and won't let go... and then she whispered, "Mummy, I want you!".  At first I thought she was kidding.  This is something that both she and her brother tells me a lot but it was just weird that she's saying it now.  I told her that everything will be fine and I can pick her up as late as they want me too but she hugged me more tightly.  When I looked at her, I realised that she was a bit teary as she was saying she wanted me and she asked me if I can pick her up at 2pm.  I told her I'll pick her up any time she wants me to.  I was thinking to myself, she'll forget all about it once she and her friends started playing...

I've only been home for 15minutes when I got a phone call from the mum saying that they have an upset Chantelle.  I spoke to her on the phone and she wants me to come and pick her up.  So I rushed back to the party as I didnt want her to feel more anxious than she was already.  As soon as I got there, she hugged me tight and started to cry so I decided to just take her home.  She didnt mind missing the party at all.  When we got home, she just cuddled next to me the whole afternoon until I dozed off to sleep.

Aww, the precious moments when they still choose Mummy (and Daddy) over friends.  I wonder how long it will last before we get pushed aside for the company of their friends... but for now, Im just going to savour the moment knowing that she is still (and will always) be my baby girl.

LP 58: Lahat ay Payak

Simple lamang ang kaligayan ng mga bata... hindi kailangan ng magara or mamahaling laruan...  Sana nga manatiling simple lamang ang gusto natin sa buhay...

Sibling Anecdote: Best Sister

Chantelle got herself a new bookmark from her Borders voucher and gave her old one to Angelo...

Angelo:  "Oh, thank you, Ate!  You're the best sister in the whole world!  I'll never let you go..."  (while tightly hugging his Ate)

Im really happy they get along.  Sure, they have their mini fights but it's all part of being kids...  Good to know that they look after each other...

My Baby Girl is 9!!

Time flies...  MY BABY GIRL IS NOW 9!!

It only seemed like yesterday when she was born...  It was only last year when there was nothing on her wish list but Littlest Pet Shop things...  This year, she asked for a laptop and a mobile phone!!  We had to sadly decline her wishes so she asked for a Pandora bracelet and Borders bookstore vouchers instead...  

We celebrated her birthday with a simple get-together of close friends at home...

  

We had a talk just before her birthday and I told her that I dont have a baby girl anymore and she said, "Mum, I'll alway be your baby!".  It was music to my ears.  I told her never to keep secrets from and she promised.  I know it wont be long when she really grows up and would rather go out with her friends to celebrate.. but for now, Im just enjoying that times that she still longs for my company...  

Happy birthday, baby!  I love you!!!

Mother's Day

Mother's day came by in batches... as in, I got my gifts days before the actual day...

Darrell too got all excited and gave me his present a few days before, the Thursday, a Nokia E71. The kids got me gifts from the Mother's day stall at school... except when they got home on the Friday, they got all excited and gave me their gifts right away.  I got a nice necklace from Angelo which he says matches my Pandora bracelet and notebook from Chantelle with "love story" on the cover, her current favourite song...   Got a couple of Pandora charms too - a t-shirt from my best friend Mac, a pink flower from MIL and a "V" from Vincent...

Celebrated Mother's Day day with family by having lunch at Darrell's Aunt's place and capped the night with a family dinner at Ribs and Rumps!  Yumm!!

It was a nice day!  Thank God for family...  Im so blessed...

Netball Mum Report: MY PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Chantelle had her very first netball game last Saturday.  She's been asking us if she could play sports since she was in kindy.  But we always pushed it back as we didnt want to commit only to disappoint her if we cant make it to training or games.  Extra-curricular activities is a BIG commitment, especially sports.  Training is held on a weekday and games on weekend mornings.  Not to mention, she already has keyboard lessons once a week (since Kindy) after school and Angelo and her have Kumon twice a week on school days.

When she turned Year 3, we thought it was about time that we put her into sports.  Netball was advertised on the school newsletter so we thought this sport was best for her.  It's the girls' version of basketball minus the hard fouls.  Im such a protective mother that I worry about them getting hurt.  That's why there is no way they were going to play footy even if they let girls play!  I dont think I can bear seeing them get tackled!

The problem though is I have no idea how netball is played, neither does Darrell.  All I know is that you dont dribble the ball and the rings dont have backboards.  I know my basketball rules by heart, Ive been watching it since Grade 5!  But netball, NO IDEA!  Chantelle attended her first training but it was cut-short due to bad weather.  Then it was called off for 3 wks due to rain and during the school holidays.  Two Saturdays ago, we got a phone call from her coach at 8am to say that they will have friendly match.  I was thinking GREAT!  How could she possibly play when she doesnt have any idea of the rules.  During the friendly match, she was briefed by the coach on what she was supposed to do and during the game, the other netball mums were coaching her (and the other kids) from the sidelines.  She played GS and scored a goal.  Yey!

Then last Saturday, they had the very first game of the tournament.... her very first REAL netball game...  we were all very nervous.  I even had to get a crash course on the rules from my workmate who plays netball!!  I googled to find out more about the rules and how netball is played!  We got to the courts, full cheering squad in tow - me, Darrell, Angelo, Elijah-our godson & Chantelle's best friend, my brother-in-law and my parents-in-law!!  I think I must have been more nervous that she was!  

She played Center (note: point guard in basketball) throughout the match.  She did everything she could.  She guarded the other C so well she was stuck to her like glue.  She was running all over the court, going for every loose ball!  She even had a steal which was converted to a goal!  The whole match the whole family was cheering like it was the finals!  Starlights won 20-nil!!!   After the match, the coach gathered them around, saying that they all played well.  She awarded Chantelle the player of the match award!!!  She was buggered after the game but Im sure it was all worth it.  

WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU BABY!!

LP 56: Simula Pa Lamang

Kinunan ko ang mga ito nang unang araw ng aking mga anak sa paaralan nitong 2009.  Ang panganay ko ay nasa-ikatlong baitang at ang bunso naman ay nasa kindergarten...

Parang kailan lamang ng mga sanggol pa sila...  

Ngayon ay simula pa lamang ng kanilang mahabang paglalakbay...

(I took these photos during the kids' first day this school year 2009.  My eldest is in Year 3, my youngest just started kindergarten...

It still feels like yesterday when they were only babies...

Today, they start their long journey to life...)

LP55: Tulay

Kung tulay lang naman ang pag-uusapan at ikaw ay nasa Sydney, Australia, pwede ba namang hindi mabanggit ang sikat na Sydney Harbour Bridge?!  Dito nagaganap ang isa sa pinakamagandang fireworks tuwing bagong taon.  Sa tuwing nalalapit ang bagong taon, usap-usapan kung ano ang bagong gimik na ipapakita nila dahil ang madalas na finale ay nasa Harbour Bridge.

Hindi lang ito magandang tingnan.  Pwede mo din itong akyatin.  Ilang taon na rin nilang ginagawa ang Harbour Bridge Climb.  Di ko pa ito nasusubukan dahil takot ako sa matataas na lugar.  Pero marami na rin akong kaibigan na sumubok at sabi nila ay sulit na sulit ang karanasan dahil kitang-kita mo ang buong Sydney!  Balang araw siguro, susubukan ko din to.

Ito naman ang pantaong tulay sa Darling Harbour.  Ang Darling Harbour naman ang madalas na puntahan ng mga tourista.  Ito ang tulay na nag-uugnay sa CBD at sa mismong Darling Harbour.  

LP 54: Gusali

Ito ang unang akda ko para sa bago kong proyekto - PROJECT LP...

Noong isang taon lang ako nahilig sa potograpiya kaya nagdesisyon kami ng pamangkin ko na kumuha ng

 maikling kurso sa potograpiya dito sa Sydney.

Ito ang isa sa mga kuha ko mula sa kurso....  GUSALI SA GUSALI...  kung saan ang isang gusali ang nagsilbing isang salamin para sa AMP building...

Ito pang ang isang litrato ng isa sa pinakasikat na gusali dito sa Sydney... ang Sydney Opera House...

Project LP

Arrgghh!!  

I failed on my Project 365... BIG time!!!  It only lasted a week...  I knew it wasn't going to be easy but I didn't think it was VERY difficult... but I feel I need to find time for my photography, so i decided to join an online camera club... so now...

PROJECT LP ...  LITRATONG PINOY!!!  

The easy part is done for the photographer - they choose the subject for you... Now, it's up to the photographer to come up with something creative...  The challenging part?!  Writing the blog in Tagalog!!!  Hala!!!  I speak fluent Tagalog but I was never good at creative writing, let alone in Tagalog!!!  

Im really looking forward to this new project...  so for now, watch this space for Project LP...

Where did my Angelo go?

Angelo's been needing a haircut but I could not find a time to take him the hairdresser.

Perfect opportunity... We had birthday party to go to last Saturday, so I asked Darrell to take him to the hairdresser in the morning (which is 3-minute drive away from our house), while I go to sleep as I have just come home from work...

I woke up a little before lunch to prepare for the party. Imagine my SHOCK when I woke up to this...

WHERE DID MY ANGELO GO?!

Because of shock, the first thing that came out of me is "I dont like it!". I saw he was upset but he told me "It's ok Mum. It's going to grow back." I immediately called out to Darrell to vent out! He said it was Angelo's request that his head be shaven. He started shaving it on "2" but he said more... so Darrell did "1", but then Angelo said "more Dad! Like your hair!"... so Darrell shaved it to a "0"!

In the afternoon, the look grew on me and I apologised to Angelo and took back what I said. I said, "I like it now."... He hugged me and said, "Oh, thank you Mummy, thank you, Mummy!"... I felt really guilty but it was pure shock!

And he really does love his hair. He showed off to everyone at the party! I was worried about him being teased as school but Chantelle said, as soon as they got to school, he took off his hat and showed everyone his hair! And he loves it when people comment about his hair.

Oh, my baby is now a big boy... Where did my Angelo go?