Stories
258 of them, newest first. Jump to 2026 · 2024 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012 · 2011 · 2010 · 2009 · 2008 · 2007
20261 story
20243 stories
Around Here – September 2024For today A glimpse through my window… the weather is perfect — clear skies with a cool 20ºC breeze. The grass outside could use a trim, but a fertilizer treatment was applied…The Height of SummerSummer is the time when the flowers are in full bloom. The seeds that I sowed earlier this year have now blossomed, filling the flower bed with color and life. Each morning, I am…June Stories: Bloom, Bake, and BeyondBloom While May typically marks the beginning of my gardening season, this year was a bit different. We were out of the country for most of May so I missed the opportunity to…
20212 stories
20201 story
20192 stories
Bonjour ParisThe trip from London to Paris was comfortable, but we were tired. We checked into our hotel in Paris by 7pm. We stayed at Hotel Victor Hugo in the 16th arrondissement, and had two…Travelogue: London"When I’m feeling blue All I have to do Is take a look at you Then I'm not so blue..." A very late share of a summer trip in London and Paris that we did a couple of years back. It…
20165 stories
Hometown Tourists: Part 2 (Pointe-Claire)We’re so happy with our new bikes, riding weekly and exploring neighboring towns. Most of the time, we turn left from the corner of our street going East, but on some occasion, we…Hometown Tourists (Part 1: Autumn Ride)Sharing with you what our typical ride day looks like… two perspectives: his and hers.Travelogue: Ottawa (August 2016)We recently renewed our car lease, upgrading our Mazda CX-9 to the Signature Edition. Our dealer gave us a free two nights stay at a hotel of our choice. We chose to go to Ottawa…Cruising the RoadSummer means cycling and this season has been very good to us. We’ve always wanted to bike beyond the 3km distance to the tennis courts but we’ve been held back by Gabby’s kiddie…Currently….Today’s Daybook (Saturday, Aug 6, 2016) Outside my window… gray skies and muggy. It’s 28ºC with humidity index of 44%. I’m hoping for some rain, just enough to quench the thirst of…
201519 stories
Sneaky Raf is Sneaky!Alright, if you didn’t know, I am the son of the owner of this blog. Why am I here you ask? Well, my mom is doing something at the moment and I decided to check on here to see if…Oh Quebec!Although we go to Quebec every year, this was the first time we went there with our friends. This trip was planned during an impromptu barbecue gathering at Mon’s place in late…Season Switch | July 2015Welcome Summer! This is our most anticipated season. School is out, I can rest. Lots of outdoor activities this season, from biking to tennis to gardening and out of town trips…Hello Again | June 2015A few of June happenings around here: This is a typical school day morning scene, around 7:15am. It’s time for Gabby to put on his shoes and head to the corner street to wait for…May…My mom texted me this afternoon and said that she was browsing this blog at 2:30am! I told her I’d be uploading more. So here’s our May 2015. May 2. Typical viber call with my Ate…April…As much as I wanted to keep this blog updated, life happens. I read somewhere that if you want to know what someone fears losing, watch what they photograph. Here’s a day-to-day…March RecapI’m slowly catching up with my Project Life album, simultaneously doing 2015 and backtracking 2014. It dawned on me that among the crafts I do, it’s scrapbooking that my children…Around here…Woke up this morning with two inches of snow… C’mon, it’s spring!March ArrivesIt’s spring forward! We adjusted all our clocks one hour ahead for Daylight Savings Time. Lately, I’ve been waking up to the sounds of chirping birds. Spring is coming! Back in…Wow, Time Flies!A few days after my birthday, my eldest son, Raf, turned 14. Wow! Time flies, ei? I gave Raf some journal prompts. Here’s him at 14: “I really don’t watch TV but during my free…I “heart” FebruaryDear February, I ‘heart’ you. I scrapbook and blog at the same time. I take photos, I document our everydays… and in between, I cook, I clean, I do the laundry, I paint, I plant, I…2014 Memory BankA collection of short clips recorded throughout 2014. A glimpse of our everyday life.Waiting…She’s showing her color! 😍😍😍 It’s such a delight to see color amidst the winter white.Lazy SaturdaySee you soon!I have babies growing… love love love!Projet du BélugaC’etait une journée pédagogique… Gabby invited his friends to come over so they can finish their report on beluga whales. Part of the project was to do an artwork about it that…Back in MontrealNice to be back home…HB Riel!Happy birthday Riel! We feel very blessed that we’re able to spend his birthday with family in Manila.Bonjour 2015!New beginning, new resolutions… Happy new year.
201424 stories
Pre-Christmas DinnerFallThere are plants that I let them drop seeds, like this foxglove. When they dry, they create seed pods that contain hundreds of seeds. I let them drop to the ground.Morning VisitorHere in Montreal, we call them ‘the undesirables’. Not just one but two of them. Good thing they were just passing through.Outside…Picking up some flowers before frost hits us.Il fait beauFriday… No classes… Journée Pédagogique. Gabby invited a few of his close friends for an afternoon playdate. They were out in the garden playing Nerf. It was a beautiful day. I…Happy Birthday Twins–—— Ice cream cake from Tito Mon and Tita JojieToday’s LensMy autumn tradition… Starbucks Anniversary Blend and….Free VeggiesFresh and pesticide-free vegetables given by a local farmer for free. She goes around the neighborhood, door to door, giving away bags of fresh veggies. Free for now, and if we…Today’s LensMarco wrote his wish list for next week’s menu. You can tell that he misses one particular meal more than the others.Florida FunWe were at Disney World and Universal Studios last August 11 to 15. We had one of the best days of our lives!Throwback ThursdayA throwback video post…Just a sec…Daybook July 23, Wednesday. 10:05am Outside my window… heavy rainfall. It is expected to rain all day today. I am thinking… consistently about my mom and siblings in Manila. I’ll…A Weekend in VermontWe spent the July 4 weekend in Vermont to catch up with Riel’s college friends. Saturday was a free day so we went up Vermont’s highest mountain, Mt. Mansfield. Below is the video…Busy “B”Sorry for the lack of post. It’s been very busy these past days (weeks and months) that I could only use Instagram to inject snippets of what’s happening around here. Hopefully I…Posting Hubby’s Email Response……to a close family friend. Dear… Thanks for your email! It was indeed a memorable milestone, and truth be told Bern and I started feeling the moment since a couple months back when…Tonight……Riel gets to sleep with a Canadian. Lol 🙂 Bernice Bernardino, Maria Lorraine Cabreros Gutierrez, Margaret Yrastorza Berina and 89 others like this. Melissa Villafranca…Ice TsunamiWe had ice tsunami last night (ice shove or shoreline ice pileup) at our nearby lake. The Municipal officer said that this was caused by the strong winds last night, pushing the…The Snow is Snowing, the Wind is Blowing…But I can weather the storm! What do I care how much it may storm? I’ve got my love to keep me warm. (Thanks for all the birthday greetings) Ghie Puda, Ana Pagsanghan Gutierrez…2013 Memory BankEach year, I compile video snippets taken throughout the last twelve months into a so-called memory bank. Twenty-thirteen has been wonderful. Tess Uy, Tintin Gutierrez and 24…Christmas at HomeFirst time spending Christmas holidays in Manila since 2008, it’s been that long! The looong flight, the jet lag, the traffic, the crowd, the heat…. and family were all worth it…More of Manila (Part 4: Hitting the Beach)Our post-Christmas and pre-New Year week was spent in the south of Manila: four days in Pico de Loro and three days in Tagaytay Highlands. It was a full house. We waited for about…More of Manila (Part 3: More Food!!!)No wonder I gained weight after the Manila trip. No regrets though 🙂 Lunch with the family at Mango Tree in Bonifacio Global City. All ready for lunch. Gabby and cousin Yago…More of Manila (Part 2 – Kalamunda)Two days after landing in Manila and still jet-lagged, we drove to Kalamunda Farm in Silang, Cavite to join Riel’s office’s lunch Christmas party. I want to live on a farm. My…More of ManilaAnother super late post. Nevertheless, I’m putting these up before they become orphaned photos. You know you’re in Manila when this kind of traffic hits you on a Monday at 8:30 in…
201339 stories
Christmas Home TourThis year, I have an excuse for not putting up christmas decorations as we’re spending the holidays back home in Manila. So no tree this year, no garlands, no christmas lights…Mars… Venus… Whateverby Riel After an hour or so of business television earlier this morning, I switch over aimlessly to the Food Network. Or was it the Travel channel. I don’t remember what channel it…Monday DaybookNovember 11, Monday Outside my window… currently 3˚C, light rain, real feel -8˚C. DH and I raked the leaves this afternoon. On my mind… I can’t stop thinking about our fellow…October RandomnessI journal in photos. ————————- October 1, Tuesday Marco and Gabby had their one-year recall for ortho check-up at 7:55 this morning. Gabby still has 12 baby teeth, a bit late for…More September LensMore photos in September… a few snippets of our everyday life… ———- In the garden… ————— Driving in Autumn… wonderful colors, ei? ——– Hmmm…. one of a mother’s many surprises… ……The Twins Turned ElevenWe had a small party for Marco and Gabby a week after their birthday. For a change, we invited their classmates this time. Being in charge of thirteen boys was a huge task, so I…Two Months RecapThings have been pretty busy the past two months. Boston trip in August and then back to school in September. I’m also back to early morning rise, fixing breakfast, snacks, and…OntarioWe spent six days in Ontario in late July, two days in Niagara-on-the-Lake 👍👍👍 and four days in Toronto. Love, love, love family road trips. The Little French Shoppe. Riel was…Before I forget… (Part 3: Upper Canada Village)This was our last stop for the day, the Upper Canada Village in Eastern Ontario. Upper Canada Village is a tiny town that transports you back in time to the late 1800s: the…Before I forget… (Part 2: Glengarry Fine Cheese)Still in Lancaster Ontario after the strawberry picking…Before I forget… (Part 1: Strawberry Picking)Earlier this month, we went strawberry picking with friends and visited a little town called Upper Canada Village in Ontario. A few selected pictures were posted on Instagram but I…More SproutsPoppies. I have the Oriental Scarlet variety and Iceland variety. Couldn’t tell them apart, I forgot to label. Age: 6 days from sowing. Marco’s brocolli seedlings. He chose it…Say Hello to Mr. SeedsI’ve been reading about plants and gardening stuff since the start of July. Our backyard and flower beds are kinda crappy: Colorless and weed-infested. We tried combating the weeds…The Missing MaySuper late post — all about May, when two jumpy little girls joined our household for six weeks. A huge picture post, before everything gets forgotten in the hard drive. Backyard…InstagramCheck out my Instagram widget for my photo updates —> there at my right sidebar.The Wannabe GardenerI felt that I needed to take photos of what’s growing at our front porch before they wilt. I spent a good few hours researching on the web to help identify the plants growing in…Canada DayCelebrating Canada Day (July 1) with good friends.Andi-potFacetime with my pretty niece, Andi. This early, she’s already being trained to be a baker. That’s how we were brought up by my mom and aunties. Now it’s our time to teach the next…Today’s DaybookFor today, June 25 (Tuesday) Outside my window… gray skies and damp ground, intermittent shower. I am thinking… do I finish all the laundry now or continue tomorrow. I am thankful……Throwback ThursdayNot too long ago, all in 2010. I love being a mom to these kids.Mainly Cloudy, 25ºCFor today, June 10 (10am) Outside my window… the sun is out but the skies are far from blue. Blooming flowers on the front porch. Organic waste pick up truck. In the kitchen……Throwback ThursdayA weekend trip to Sleepy Hollow, NY and a 30-minute drive to see the famous cats in Catskills town back in late August last year.Photos à PartagerSorry for lack for post despite the numerous things to tell… I just couldn’t find the time to sort the photos out and write about them. The coming days look better so check back…April RecapSome stuff from April. Outside… after being cooped up inside the house for months, spring is finally here. Expérimentation… par Gabriel. Fabriquer sa crème glacée sans congélateur…Il Fait Beau!For today, Monday (April 15) Outside my window… il fait beau! Clear and sunny, contrary to the cold, wet and slushy weekend weather. Enjoying the scent of… Vanilla Macadamia…Easter BreakOur Easter weekend was good, spent it in Montebello with very good friends. It is something that the boys were looking forward to since we planned to join our friends in February…Project LifeWell I can’t avoid it any longer, I miss scrapbooking. Blogging and picture posting on facebook and instagram took over my scrapping process of memory-keeping, but these pictures…Bento MondayBlame it on Pinterest…. I recently got hooked on the bento-way of packing the kids’ baon where different courses or snacks are contained in separate compartments within a single…Spriiiiiing!For Today… March 20, Wednesday Outside my window… it’s immaculate white. Spring officially starts today, yet we were dumped with significant amount of snow yesterday. Some school…Belated Birthday CelebrationWe celebrated Raf’s 12th birthday and quietly, my –th birthday too. Being surrounded with our adoptive family and good friends is always a delight. Thank you all for coming.Wednesday HappinessFor today, Feb 27 Weather… 1˚C and snowing. Thankful… for Wednesday art class. I have a new project I’m working on: Connecting… regular facetime with my niece, Andi. Husband……Friday PostFor today, February 22 (Friday), 10:39am Outside my window… more snow; two inches more that piled up in the last couple of days. Cloudy at -4˚C. Noticing the sound of… CNBC…FebruaryHappy birthday Raf! Twelve years had gone by so fast, that’s twelve years of motherhood too. Found this set of photos in his DSi memory card dated June 2009. I love this boy. –…Observing My SensesSunday, February 3, 2013 (10:15am) I am seeing… a chilly sunny morning at -14C outside with light snow. I am hearing… the whistling sound of the furnace. I am tasting… my morning…Hey Mom, we walked on a frozen lake!I sent the video link below to my mom and she called my mobile as soon as she saw the clip, scolding me for taking the whole family to this expedition. Is it wise to cross a frozen…Morning RoutineA peek into the kids’ weekday morning routine. Documenting the everyday life either through photos, videos, or words help me remember my family as it is now or as it was or as it…Nothing For GrantedWe’ve been in Canada for exactly three-and-a-half years now. Time goes by so fast, but time has not passed us by. I was browsing my hard drive during the slow holiday break, and…HB!Happy birthday, Riel…. we’re the same age now, for a month at least 🙂 The kids are back to school after the two-week Christmas break, which by the way, we didn’t enjoy as much as…New Year!Welcome 2013! My mom recently complained that I don’t update this blog as often as I should. But then, I regularly keep in touch with them thru viber, facetime, facebook and email…
201217 stories
Merry Christmas!Joyeux Noël!The twins turned 10September 2012. Celebrated this occasion with family and friends.Ah… Summer!School is out! Our first outing was to OKA Beach, the closest plage to us, about 55km from our place. Later on I learned that OKA was inhabited by Europeans in the early 1700s. The…June, Oh June!June 12 is Philippine Independence Day. It also marked our third year here in Canada, yay! We’re done with the required three years stay. How time flies. Riel will be submitting…Up and Away!The family was in Mont Tremblant again, only for the weekend though. We were there to meet with our good friends from Toronto. We wanted to bring my sis-in-law’s family there last…May RecapHappenings in May… On faith: The twins had their first communion last May 5. They’re actually behind by two years. They had to finish the two-year requirement of Faith First course…La Deuxième Exposition de PeintureLast week, our community’s artists association held its annual painting exhibit and I was one of its many participants. This is my second exhibit. Pleasant Bay, 14×18 in acrylic…Action PackedApril was the much awaited month this year as my sister-in-law and her family visited us. They stayed with us for three weeks. I tell you, it went by so fast. They left yesterday…Meantime…Meantime, Marco’s latest iPad craze: Draw Something. And he’s pretty good at it. Current status: Excited. Two little girls are visiting us for three weeks! Ain’t that awesome?!?La Petite Cabane À SucreLast weekend we took a trip to little farm called La Petite Cabane de la Côte, 60km northwest of us. This is our second sugar shacking in Montreal. While this farm is not as big as…Welcome SpringSpring is officially here! —- Daybook, March 20 at 12:36 Just this morning... nice weather outside.Spring BreakSpring break in Toronto with the Layugs. March 9-12, 2012. We all had a good time. Thank you for your hospitality. We’ll visit you guys again.A lotsa lotsa…It’s been awhile since I’ve last posted and I miss it a bit, although I do post some updates in Facebook. A lot of things happened in February up to halfway of March. On Faith: The…As Winter Days Go By…Outside the window… After the snow play which we took a video of almost three weeks ago, we had freezing rain and above zero degree temperature that turned our snow playground into…It Snowed!Finally, we have enough snow to play in the backyard! We hope you enjoy this Part 2 video as much as we had fun making it. Part 1 is here.Lazy DaysMaybe not a good start of the new year with so much lazy days these early part of January. We pretty much lounged around the whole first week of 2012, savoring the time with the…Year-end Dinnerwith our Montreal family and friends. Dec 30, 2011
201128 stories
Merry Christmas!Sharing with you our Christmas video, Part 1… the behind the scenes in shooting the perfect family Christmas portrait. When you have three boys to manage and a husband, it can get…Oh What Fun!Today’s Daybook Dec. 23, Friday, 3:00pm Outside my window… light snow and temperature of -4C. Inside is 22C and very comfy. I am thinking… what gift will Santa give to the…UntitledFrom Facebook wall… TFL. (Thanks for looking)Finding Time to PostWell, here I am now after several weeks of online hiatus. Many things have been happening and not happening at the same time. Fixing the basement (from September flood) has been…Some of our SeptemberFall is here and there is a distinct change in weather. It’s very chilly in the morning when the boys walk to their school bus stop. We also noticed the shorter day as we had to…Maritimes TripIt’s A Beautiful World (We’re All Here)Dear Manila, It Was Good To See You AgainIt’s almost a month now since I came back from my two-week vacation in Manila and my post about it has been sidetracked by a lot of things. All in all, it was good to see Manila…Out in the MaritimesFollow me… ?set=a.2190054758158.128112.1450788475&l=1a9d24b601&type=1Dear AndiYou’re beautiful like your mom and your aunties. – Tita Bern P.S. Kuya Raf said that by just looking at you, he already knows how their sister would look like. But there’s just one…In and Around Our PlaceDays before my Manila trip, we biked several times altogether as a family. We’d get up very early in the morning, dress up, fix our bikes, and head to the local coffee shop for a…Make Hay While the Sun ShinesPlaydates, swimming, badminton, biking, golfing, basketball, walking, gardening, grilling, road trips. In Manila, you can do any of these activities almost anytime, sometimes even…Project 365 (#10-#26)#10 – Ready for them. (June 10) #11 – F1 Week (June 11) #12 – Pista sa Nayon – Phil Independence Day (June 12) #13 – Pasalubong (June 13) #14 – See you in a Month (June 14) #15 –…Hoops and LoopsFor Fathers Day: basketball and skydive training experience. For Today, June 21 (12:55 am) Outside my window… very dark, except in the back porch lit by halogen lights. It’s an…730 DaysOr exactly two years ago, we packed our bags… Year 2 is a year discovery. We learned new things about ourselves, started to put down roots and cultivated new relationships. It was…Project 365#1 – Sunny Side Up (June 1) #2 – Loonies (June 2) #3 – Carrefour Angrignon Foodcourt (June 3) # 4 – Suisse Patisserie, Plaza Pointe-Claire (June 4) # 5 – Selecta Mango Ice Cream…InstagramI’ve known you for just a little time and I love you already. I’m hooked. Instagram rocks! ———– Ad said: If you don’t have an iPhone, well, you don’t have an iPhone. He said: I…On A Sunday AfternoonIt was a pleasant sunny Sunday so we all got out and went biking at the park. I also got the chance to film my boys.What Blooms in Your Garden?We got weeds! But I got my little helper: Today’s Daybook: May 20, Friday (11:20am) Outside my window… a beautiful spring day that holds a lot of promise… and hubby’s out there…Just a Quiet MorningBreakfast is done and all the boys are downstairs. Their father asked them to fix the basement as we prepare for the house guests coming this week. There’s not much to clean…Ma première expositionMy first time to join an art exhibit here in our community center. April 7-9, 2011 Below are the works of other artists.Bonjour April! (and a big news)Yesterday I was chatting with my sister and I excitedly told her the big news: we’re expecting a new family member! She immediately called my mom. They were very happy for me and…Twenty Photos1) Something that I’m always with: 2) A place we went to at the beginning of the month: 3) A late birthday cake: 4) Photo of our latest craze: 5) A mid-month photo: 6) Another…On This DayFor Today, February 28 (10:29am) Outside my window… light rain. It’s 1ºC out there. I am thinking… about the weather tomorrow. What’s the driving condition going to be like? We’ll…The Big 10Ten random things in chronological order (huh?) 10) Winter Festival in Brossard. Hi Tita Mely, hi Tito Phil! [Tito Phil, your tuque reminded me of Raf’s joke –> Raf: Where’s the…I Am So Far BehindSo many things had happened since I last posted. I am back to my painting class and am just so happy about it. At home, the twins got to use the gingerbread cookie jar mix that…For TodayJanuary 20, Thursday, 8:10am IN THE GARDENS… snow-covered lawn with squirrel tracks. It’s snowing lightly and it’s about -12ºC out there. ON MY MIND… that in my next life, I need…I’m Raf and I’m Baaaaack!Hi. This is Raf and I am hijacking my mom’s blog, hehehe. She said it’s alright for me to do it because she did not write yet for 2011. Check this video below. This is mom in her…
201025 stories
Christmas 2010Thanks Lisa for the videos.MonopolyThis is the game I enjoyed playing with my siblings, cousins and friends when we were kids. At such a young age, we were exposed to big words like acquisition, rent, property tax…Joyeux Noël!I had fun filming this, my boys had no idea that the camera was on video mode. Merry Christmas… from our family to yours. Enjoy! KQOTD. Raf is overly excited for Christmas. He’s…It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas……ev’rywhere you go. I’m done setting up our Christmas tree. It looks decent although I wanted to put more lights and trinkets. DH capped a strict budget on me so I guess that will…The Month That WasI haven’t been much of an updater lately and my brother (over skype the other day) asked why I haven’t posted for weeks. Sorry Dennis, your Ate Bern had been very busy and there’s…Wonderful WeekendThree weekends ago, we drove to north of New York to a place called Sleepy Hollow Lake of the Hudson River Valley. I especially liked passing through a line of green pines against…Eight And SomeThe twins turned EIGHT last September 17. We celebrated it twice. Our second celebration was on Sunday with family. I made a cake for them. It was a chance for me to play with…A Bit of UpdatesI was backing up some files in our Time Capsule and found some photos that I haven’t uploaded here. So let’s catch up on the news too, shall we? I made my first almond sans rival…Sanctuaire Sainte-Anne-de-BeaupréAround 20 minutes outside Old Quebec is a beautiful church, the Sanctuaire Sainte-Anne-de Beaupré. This basilica is believed to be a place of miracles because one of the first…More from QuebecBut I just let him click anyway. We inquired how much it would cost to have our family portrait done. It ranges from $75-100 per head and takes around 45 minutes per seating. We…Strolling Through Old QuebecWe spent the weekend in Quebec City. It was our third time there and I still love it. We were there in October 2008 and in July 2009. This time, let me show you the city in a…Some Stuff from NiagaraVisiting Niagara Falls for the first time. ———– Perhaps the highlight of this Niagara trip was the ride on the Maid of the Mist. ——— Other activities: ———– Before heading back to…Where the Deer and the Antelope PlayNot really antelopes but there were deer outside the house! So I wandered around… —————- We were supposed to visit Washington DC but the change in schedule prevented us from the…A Visit to Cornell UniversityWe’re back from our summer road trip! Our first stop was Ithaca, New York… we visited Cornell University. I was very excited for this trip because, when I was growing up, my Papang…June SnippetsI’m catching up (again) on my posts. Some random happenings: ————— Gabby got sick during the last days of school that he had to stay at home to rest. Kuya Raf and Marco missed…Reminiscing…Below is a collection of our photos in the past twelve months.How Does My Garden Grow?Come see my garden… It’s overgrown. I almost wanted to give up because of the endless weed pulling, watering, and pruning. But then, Mama said that I should enjoy them while they…Free Museum DayEvery last Sunday of May is free admission to most museums in Montreal. Tito Phil suggested we visit at least one or two different museums each year, which we think is a good idea……Taking a break… before I breakOur newfound passion…. gardening! Gardening is very therapeutic. As soon as we get home from school, DH and I go straight to the garden to clean up: rake dried leaves, mow the…Comment Allez-Vous?I have neglected this blog for too long. Many times I’ve planned to post but had been too busy and too tired that at night, all I want to do is relax and tend to my virtual cafe…C’mon, Let’s Take A WalkSo we’re new in town. We moved to further west of Montreal Island. Our city-suburb is called Dorval. So airplanes take off and land every now and then. But seeing the planes up…I Had a Momentto spare and catch up with my post. I have fallen behind and family and friends have been wondering what we have been up to. The transfer to the new house is a bit overwhelming…NinthRight after we finished painting the basement, my darling husband (DH) excitedly scheduled our big move on the 12th as a birthday gift for me. What he didn’t realize is that with…Meet HerUne maison. La maison. La belle maison. We took possession of the house two weeks ago. The previous owners had moved out their things and the house is bare, except for some items…Bonne Année!Happy new year! My postings had been sidetracked by cafe management, and lately, farming… know what I mean? *wink wink* And it didn’t help that I had to manage the cafe and farm…
200969 stories
SnowplayIt was noontime and the sun was high. It looks like this now: Here’s a clip of the boys enjoying the snow:Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…We had our first snow storm the other day. I guess you can say that we’re not yet true Montrealers because we were too excited for the snow. My boys were the only ones outside…First DayWe woke up this morning and saw snow on the ground! We have real snow! First day today, not like the light snow dust we had in October. It’s pretty out there. We were like crazy…Oh, wouldja look at thatThe other week, Raf asked me if it’s possible to let them stay in the school daycare until 7pm, just like some of their classmates (maybe because both their parents are working and…The Return of Raf(Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with this post. It’s just that Raf inherited my old Canon and played with it. Then he raided my blog.) ————– Hi, this is Raf. Je suis huit ans…AlexandreaIt seems just like yesterday when our kid sister was born…. ——– Digging up photos of my sister made me feel nostalgic. Here are some photos from our childhood. I found them bunched…Yesterday was JeudiI got a call from school yesterday, Thursday, around 1:30pm. The secretary said that Gabby was not feeling well and I must come and get him. I picked him up thirty minutes later…Baby, It’s Cold Outside!“I really can’t stay (baby, it’s cold outside) I’ve got to go away (baby, it’s cold outside) This evening has been (been hoping that you’d drop in) So very nice — I’ll hold your…It’s Happening!!!For this I am not prepared at all. Raf went home this afternoon talking about what a (misguided) kid in school told him. That this kid (two years older than my son, and mind you…Apple PickingEach year, Tito Phil’s family go apple picking and we’re happy to be part of that activity this year. Our destination is Rougemont, meaning red mountain in French because of the…SevenLook who just turned seven last Thursday… We got an ice-cream cake from Dairy Queen. Riel let the twins choose their own cake but we ended up buying the cake that I wanted! Hehehe……Third MonthI can’t believe a quarter of a year has passed living in a different country and we survived it! Yep, third month today, September 12. So what’s happened here? Well, the kids are…The Yellow BusMont Tremblant (Slideshow)Complete photos here…. and yes, I do have a few decent pictures here 🙂Mont Tremblant (Part 2 of 2)Eating is one of our favorite activities and restaurants are scattered everywhere. We had a taste of smoked meat sandwich, bought from the same place we had our breakfast on Day 1…Mont Tremblant (Part 1)I apologize for the late posting. It took me quite a while to wade through all the photos. We spent three days in Mont Tremblant, around 140km away from our place. While Mont…Mystery SolvedThe boys were unusually quiet one Wednesday afternoon. They were there inside their room. Then Marco came out, asked for a pencil. Minutes later, Raf came out and asked for a…At The LaurentiansLast Saturday, we attended an afternoon get-together at the Laurentians, a ski resort region located north of Montreal. It’s about 70km away from our place. We planned a side trip…My Number 4Ooops, I accidentally deleted the Number 4 in my previous post. Thanks Kate for pointing it out. This one is for you. Number 4: After almost two months of renting, we finally have…Give Me FiveNumber 1: And so they left…. The boys already miss their Grammy and Grampy. Number 2: We are on our last piece of Ikea D-I-Y furniture. Yay! Number 3: I got a new toy, a Canon G10…ChangesIt’s a hard life here. Not very easy. For me, for the kids, for Riel. Things are different. People say we’ll become a closer family but I don’t see it that way. Riel and I have…Good NewsIf you recall, on the day of our arrival, Gabby left his backpack inside the airport taxi. Six weeks later, my sister-in-law in Manila texted us that a Canadian government office…QuebecWe were in Quebec City last weekend with Grammy and Grampy. We took the train and enjoyed the countryside view. The hotel offers a spectacular view of the St. Lawrence River. The…Random ThoughtsSo we’ve been here for a month-and-a-half. Our rented apartment is getting complete. Last to build is the Buffet Table we got from Ikea. Here are the Random Thoughts: a) I truly…My Little ChefMeet Raf, a food lover at birth. He looks for food all the time. Eggs are his favorite. Fried egg, scrambled egg, boiled egg, quail eggs, balut, century egg… heck, even eggplants…RevelationsOur internet is up, finally! And so, here I am again. We moved to the apartment the first of July, coinciding with Canada Day and the traditional Moving Day in the province of…Proof of LifeWe’re still alive…. and having fun! It’s been a while since I last posted. Many things happening… securing a lease contract, furnishing a house, applying for our IDs, getting our…What We Have Been Up ToAnd so the adventure continues. Last Wednesday, an agent took us around West Island to look for a place. We saw two places that we like, both in the suburbs. One is nearer to…Dear MomDear Mommy, in case you are wondering, we are doing extremely well. I’ve worked a system that helps speed things up and lighten my burden. Like dressing up your grandkids, for…From the Minds of ChildrenTraveling with kids can be amusing. KQOTD-1. Aboard the plane, Raf wonderingly asked: Mommy, why are girls not allowed inside the plane? Me: Of course girls are allowed on the…SnippetsAnd so we left… An hour later, we realized that Gabby left his backpack inside the taxi. There goes his extra clothes, gameboy and chargers and favorite wii game that he insisted…I’m Standing Here Outside the Door…I hate to wake you up to say goodbye…. (sing with me!) ———– Well not really outside, but out in the garden! Tee hee, Ha ha So my cousins came to bid us farewell last Sunday. I was…All Our Bags Are Packed……and ready to go. Almost! It has been a toxic week, full-blown packing. Packing our warm clothes. It’s supposed to be summer there in Montreal but my weather widget tells me that…Big Things HappeningWelcome June! Nasty weather outside. I’ve cancelled dates because of rains and traffic. Hopefully, the coming days wouldn’t be as wet and dreary. Anyway, the countdown begins. The…I *heart* the detailsExactly one week ago, we were at the beach. How time flies. And exactly two weeks from now is our big move.I Had a Good Weekend, Did You?It was a fun-filled four-day weekend spent further down South, hosted graciously by my SIL. I have lots of stories and photos to share. Firstly, I crossed to the other side. I got…Grillin’ and Chillin’We had some friends come over for an intimate dinner last Sunday. It was a lovely evening. The weather cooperated; it was drizzling before they arrived. I did a little sun dance…In Case You Haven’t Noticed……. I’ve been very busy lately, taking care of a lot of things. It’s less than 30-days till the big day and guess what? I’ve started packing! Highlights of the week: Saturday……M.I.A.Yep, I’m missing in action! We have balikbayan guests staying over the house and everyday is crazy but fun! I love having guests around; they make the house livelier than it is…Friday Mosaic#2: Six tubs of this mascarpone from SIL. #3: Coffee + Mascarpone + Liqueur = Tiramisu in the making #4 and #5: Seven silly cousins got all together. #6: Sudden rainfall on a…Monday Daybook (and randomness)Monday, April 20, 8:12 am OUTSIDE MY WINDOW… the morning sun shining so brightly. Today is going to be another warm day. I AM THINKING… what time I would leave the house to do…Day 3: Zoobic (mis)AdventureFor our last day, we went to Zoobic Safari. I’ve heard about it and wanted to visit it for the longest time. I was a bit disappointed that Zoobic was not initially in the list of…Day 2 in Subic: Spending the day at AnvayaWhat was supposed to be a lunch visit at Anvaya Cove became a full-day affair. Anvaya is Ayala’s first foray in the leisure sector. It was a 20-minute drive from our hotel. The…Day 1 in Subic (the rest of the story)Our breakfast became brunch. We ate past 10:30am. Food was so-so. But the kids devoured their set meals in record time, all eager to resume their beach activities. At this point…Day 1 in Subic (morning)This is my first time in Subic beach. My sister-in-law (Riel’s sister) planned this outing a couple of months ago. We took the SCTex going there. Behind me, I saw Riel taking…Summer HeatFeeling warm here. My pamangkins Iya and Diego were here until Saturday. I’ve been taking the kids to the village pool every afternoon. … my mistake! Gabby was anticipating my…Day 2We’re only on the second day of the kids’ official summer vacation and I already heard the dreaded “B” word: “Mom, I’m bored!” I promised the kids the other day that I will take…Friday Already?Guess what? School is officially out! Today is Raf’s last day in school. What a relief! The twins started their vacation a couple of weeks ago and given a choice, I would prefer…My my myyy…When I came home Thursday afternoon from Makati, Marco greeted me at the door showing me his wound. It was a tiny wound, no blood, about the size of a black ant. But by evening…For Him, For ThemWhenever Riel enjoys something whether food, place, or gadget, he takes a mental note to bring me there or get it for me so I experience it as well. This time, his recent favorite…Weekend HellosHello#1: Recognize the twins? They are total opposite. One big, one small. One heavy, one light. One dark, one fair. One shy, one aggressive. One soft spoken, one too loud. One…It’s Chewsday!Our Culinary Tuesday group was held at the house of Rose P. at the nearby village. Hers was my dream house. It has a Filipino / Mediterreanean feel with a little touch of Moroccan…This Post is Brought to you…by Raf. Raf wanted to have his own blog. I said no, but he can be my guest blogger anytime. The following are his own work and words, so pardon the syntax. He loves reading your…Remember Him?Remember Him?Sunday Road Trip (A photo blog)Two-and-a-half hours later, we reached our destination: Victoria, Tarlac. The house above is where my Dad grew up. When we were little, my Dad would bring us there to spend a few…Bless his little heart….Last Saturday:On Raising BoysScenario 1: I turned on the computer, pulled out my keyboard, then found this: Scenario 2: I needed to sign a document, I opened my drawer, then this: Scenario 3: I went to their…February 14We spent the day at Raf’s school in celebration of Fathers’ Day/Family Day. Like last year, it was a lot of fun. ——- BTW, thanks to all those who greeted me. I love you all. ——–…Tuesday Al FrescoI have mentioned before that every second Tuesday of the month, I go to a gathering of ladies where we invite a chef to teach and cook for us. The call starts at 9am, followed by a…Uh… hi!Just wanna share some of the things that happened lately. First, one of the highlights of the week: Last Wednesday, right after I dropped the kids to school, I headed to Manila to…SundaySunday was the wedding of my kid sister Liezl. She looked so beautiful and I’m so proud of her. Unfortunately, these photos were not captured by my lens. But the photographer did…SaturdaySaturday was a full day for us. I wasn’t able to go to my Mom’s place anymore to help for the next day’s wedding. In the morning, Riel and Raf attended a Father and Son…Didyaeatyet?My high school classmate, Alma, who now lives in Denmark, is in town to attend my kid sister’s wedding on Sunday. She had lunch here, came with me to fetch Raf in school, then we…#@%^$!! *sniff*sniff*cough*cough*I was so sick since Thursday. Anyone knows a good cough remedy? One that works for a dry, throat tickling cough and runny nose? Raf passed it on to me then I passed it on to Riel…Multiply meIt’s exam week once again, and somehow I am more stressed than the kids. I put too much pressure on myself that they must do good in school. Since I am with them 24/7, I can help…Salut, Je m’appelle Berne.As future settlers of Quebec, where french is widely spoken, the children, by law, have to be enrolled in a French school. While it was not initially a concern, it developed into…Boy, oh boy!New addition to the family: Marc and Gab had their first football tournament last Saturday at Xavier. And some photos during the game: After the tournament, we headed to Serendra…Today is the 7thAnd my roommate turns a year older. So for his birthday, I’m focusing on the good stuff… the things I like about him. He is very dependable. He is a good son. He is a good father…All is CalmAfter two weeks of chaos, the kids are back in school. We spent our new year in Tagaytay like we used to in the past eight years. We took home some food for midnight snack, but I…
200820 stories
G’morning!So yesterday, we packed our bags, dumped the kids at the backseat and headed there. As soon as we were settled, we took them to the sports club. I don’t know if it’s just a boy…Post ChristmasSome Christmas scenes: —– With Christmas over, I’m busy with other things… And speaking of weddings, I went through some of the stuff I got from my own wedding. I wasn’t born with…Pick Me Up!I made my special Tiramisu last Sunday for contribution to Riel’s Christmas Party Monday night. It was a hit! The cast of characters: Tiramisu in Italian means pull-me-up (Tirami…ExcitementThe kitchen is up! The island is taking shape. Gabby is acting goofy! He likes to annoy me. Actually, all my kids like to annoy me. It’s a habit of theirs; a habit they got from…This, That, and the Other…Yesterday was my mom’s birthday. We celebrated it last Sunday at Caffe Puccini at the Fort Strip. Everyone was happy. Everyone was full. burp How old is my mom? How good is your…Handmade ThursdayI’ve been busy in the kitchen the past days, baking carrot cupcakes topped with cream cheese frosting. (1) The recipe calls for three cups of shredded carrots. Its health benefits…Countdown BeginsFifteen days before Christmas and we haven’t put up any decor yet. The house, being renovated, badly needs a general cleaning now that the carpenters are already on their holiday…Not much to sayOne of the perks of having a work-at-home mom is that you manage your time. In between work, you bring your kids to and from school, do the grocery, chat with friends, bake, cook…Happy OccasionI was at my cousin Pia’s wedding yesterday. It was so beautiful that makes me want to get married again. ——- KQOTD-1. Believe it or not, the kids, particularly Marco and Gabby…*sigh*Just having one of the typical afternoons…. when the kids do the silliest stuff. This time, Marco jumped on the thirty-year old bamboo couch. I heard a snap. Looked at the couch…YesterdayMy sister Liezl had her pre-nuptial pictorial yesterday. Me and my mom went with her as her “alalays,” carrying her set of clothes and shoes and assisting her as she changed…Check This OutOn our last day in Montreal, DH brought me here: See what this baby can do: The photo above was a night shot taken from our hotel balcony in Vancouver. See that red circle up…We Are HomeWe’re back in Manila and I couldn’t be any happier. It’s nice to be back in the comfort of your home a.k.a. no laundry! *tee hee* And oh, we received our missing baggage in…Bonjour!Greetings from Montreal! I’ve been meaning to post photos since Day 1 here but jet lag and exhaustion overruled me. Things were not as pleasant as it should be as we were greeted…Hey Sugar!My sister is attending a birthday party for a little girl later and she’s tasked to bake some cupcakes. The birthday theme is “fashion” and my sister told me to make fondant…You Guessed It Right……I’ll be posting football photos and more! Last Saturday was the third RIFA Cumulative Tournament and the venue was at San Agustin. I thought the game would be cancelled because…DoodlesFunny how you get inspiration from kids’ drawings. This one is from Raf which I scanned and digitized and made into a birthday card for his teacher. The thing is, Raf just needed…***waving hello***Some houses in the village have started to decorate for Halloween. We had a great time last year and would want to do it again this year, except that we won’t be spending the…TransformationIt has been a year since the house renovation started…. and things are becoming brighter as ever. Can’t wait for the holidays when everything is complete. KQOTD: Marco: Mommy, can…Bless Me Father…Sunday morning we were at Ateneo to visit a friend priest. He was DH’s Theology professor and also the one who officiated our wedding and baptisms of our three punks. It’s always…
20073 stories
*cough* *cough* *cough*It’s cough and colds season and my eldest caught the bug. I got a call from Raf’s school informing me that he was in the clinic and his temp was 39.8. He was sick two weekends ago…Back ThenMy eldest son (6yo) asked me to show him some yoyo tricks so I did a few basics and the break-away. My performance was awful; I didn’t do it right. Still, my kids were just amazed!…100% Mommy ModeHubby is out on a business trip so my children own me 100% for the next three days. Yesterday, he left work early and passed by the house to get me. He treated me to a relaxing spa…