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.