Happy New Year!

It's our 5th anniversary . . .

I Finally Found Someone . . .

I finally found someone

Who knocks me off my feet

I finally found the one

Who makes me feel complete.

It started over coffee

We started out as friends

It's funny how from simple things

The best things begin.

This time it's different

And it's all because of you

It's better than it's ever been

'Cause we can talk it through

My favorite line was

"Can I call you sometimes"

It's all you had to say

To take my breath away

This is it, oh I finally found someone

Someone to share my life

I finally found the one

To be with every night

'Cause whatever I do

It's just got to be you

My life has just begun

I finally found someone.

Did I keep you waiting?

I didn't mind

I apologize.

Baby, that's fine

I would wait forever

just to know You were mine.

You know, I love your hair

Are you sure it looks right?

I love what you wear

Isn't it too tight?

You're exceptional

Can't wait for the rest of my life.

This is it, oh I finally found someone

Someone to share my life

I finally found the one

To be with every night

'Cause whatever I do

It's just got to be you

My life has just begun

I finally found someone.

What did we get?

Here's what we got for Christmas :

A havainas slippers for Ate Kaila from mommy and daddy . . .

A kitchen play set for Ate Kaila from Santa . . .

A havainas slippers for JM from mommy and daddy . . .

A remote controlled car for JM from Santa . . .

Another bag for mommy from daddy . . .

A leather wallet for daddy from mommy . . .

Our Christmas Day Celebration . . .

As expected, the kids woke up late on Christmas day itself. We were bound to Cavite to celebrate Christmas with my aunts ( father's side ). This has been our tradition ever since so even without my parents we bravely went to Cavite with hubby as the driver. :) We arrived there past 1pm already so most of them were already eating their lunch already. We spent the afternoon there and went home around 4:30pm. Next destination was Pacita in San Pedro. We visited my in-laws and we had our dinner there already. We went home around 8:30pm. All of us were dead tired and sleepy already. But upon arriving home, the kids got excited again and still played with their new toys.

Our motiff this time is white . . . Next year sana white Christmas na talaga :)

Our Christmas Eve Celebration . . .

Our Christmas Eve was spent at home in Cabuyao. Hubby reported to work so I did all the preparations for our Noche Buena. We heard mass in Don Bosco in Canlubang so that we could spent a little time with my siblings in our Canlubang home. We stayed for a while after the mass and the kids had lit some sparklers ( a preview for New Year's eve celebration ). We already gave our gifts to Tita's and Tito as well as our gifts to Wacks. We went home in Cabuyao past 12 midnight already. The kids immediately opened their gifts when we arrived. But they saved the best for last - Santa's gift. Here are some of our pictures.

Our noche buena . . .

Kaila doing some poses in the Christmas tree . . .

JM does his antics as well . . .

The kids opening their gifts . . .

Santa's gifts . . .

Kaila received a kitchen play set from Santa . . .

and a remote controlled car for JM . . .

It's almost 16 hours . . .

before Christmas so I want to greet all of you "A Merry and a Blessed Christmas. May you and your family find the real meaning of Christmas amidst our joyous celebrations. Let us not forget that Jesus Christ is the reason for this season".

Got this from a friend yesterday . . .

25 Ways to Share the Joy This Season

1. Mend a broken relationship with a friend or relative during the holidays.

2. Every night of the Christmas Season, (or everyday of your life) before going to bed, ask yourself, "Whose life did I make brighter today?"

3. Give your toddler the honor of placing the star or angel on the top of the Christmas tree.

4. Try the Swedish custom of writing a short, lighthearted poem on each of your gift cards that half reveals the contents of the present.

5. Take a holiday family photograph each year in the same spot, such as by a favorite tree in your yard. In the years to come, you'll have a wonderful record not only of the growth in your family, but also of the growth of your tree.

6. Tell your children about Christmas when you were their age.

7. Offer to run Christmas errands for an elderly friend or relative.

8. Record a cheerful Christmas greeting for your answering machine.

9. Learn to say "Merry Christmas" in several languages.

10. Remember that Christmas carols never sound better than when you sing them in church.

11. Tip someone who doesn't expect it.

12. End an evening with family and close friends by forming a circle, holding hands, and singing a favorite Christmas carol.

13. Reserve a night for the entire family to make ornaments for your tree.

14. Set aside some time at the beginning of the holiday season to help your children plan their gift-giving lists.

15. On a clear night, find the bright North Star and recall the story of the Wise Men.

16. Open Christmas cards as a family activity each night at the dinner table. Read the messages aloud.

17. Toast your friends when they are in your home. Tell them how much it means to have them there.

18. This Christmas, write letters to several people who have had a positive influence on your life. Thank them for this gift they have given you.

19. Take a decorated miniature tree to someone in a hospital or nursing home.

20. Secretly shovel the snow off of your neighbor's front walk.

21. Instead of giving gifts at the office, take up a collection to donate to a designated charity.

22. If you have friends who have lost family members since last Christmas, make a special effort to call and cheer them during the holidays.

23. Begin a Christmas journal. Write down memories your family will share: events you attend, presents you give and receive, and the inevitable crises that occur.

24. Don't try to do everything yourself. Remember, even Santa needs helpers.

25. Take time to remember that the greatest holiday gift is a home filled with the people you love.

Our two little angels . . .

The kids gamely posed for pictures before we left for Kaila's Christmas party. Look at those smiles. I wonder if Santa could bring out those smiles again? Hmmm, what's in store for these two cuties? Let's just wait tomorrow night when Santa drops by . . .

SJWMS Christmas Party '08 . . .

The pre-school department of St. John's Wort Montesorri had their Christmas party last December 19 from 4pm to 6pm. The junior casa prepared a jingle bells dance number and each one of them recited in front the meaning of "MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERY 1". Unfortunately, Kaila was not at her best by the time they have to dance since it was quite late in the afternoon already and both kids have not slept before the party. Here are some pictures :

The kids in the waiting room . . .

Kaila with Marcus . . .

"R" is for red leaved poinsettia and a white Christmas rose . . .

The junior case getting ready to dance . . .

Gift giving time while the senior casa and prep students were having their Christmas play . . .

Kaila giving her gift to Marcus . . .

This time with Kane . . . one of her classmates during her "crying days".

With Baby Johan and his mom . . .

With Zsara . . .

Marcus playing with Kaila's hair . . .

With Ate Lanie . . .

Kaila opening her gifts . . .

JM helping Ate Kaila to open the gifts . . .

A reward . . . .

As I previously posted, I celebrated my 5th year anniversarry here in Ford last September 24. There was a simple awarding ceremony last December 09 but I was not able to attend since it was the day my parents left for Canada. Anyway, here's my plaque and the simple token from Ford :

On a holiday rush . . .

It's barely six days to go before Christmas and I'm not yet done with my Christmas shopping. As expected, there will still be last minute shopping though we started to buy gifts already as early as October. For the past 2 or 3 days, I've been sleeping so late because of gift wrapping. For Kaila's classmate alone it was about 19 sets of colored pencils and coloring books. It will be their Christmas party this afternoon.

Hmmm, who's still in my list? We haven't bought Lola Norma her gift yet. I still don't know what to give her. With limited time already I might opt to do an online shopping for her. I surfed the net for the popular online eyeglasses shop and I find the holiday glass frames from Zenni Optical interesting. Aside from it's wide array of holiday glass frames it's very affordable including the $8 complete Rx eyeglasses.

I need to ask hubby since he knows better what we should give Lola Norma. She deserves only the best for helping us take care of the kids when we're out to work.