Top Ten

Just like Vin, Sam also is adjusting to their new school, and slowly every quarter she inches her way to the top. This quarter, she surprised us with a merit card when we got her report card ... and it only means one thing ... she finally made it to the coveted top ten roster!

Yahoo!

I am so proud of my children, especially when it comes to their attitude towards school. I really hope and pray that their zest to learn never wanes.

Keeping my fingers crossed :)

Challenge

Vin started this year in a big school for his grade one and i am so proud of how he is coping being with around thirty five classmates everyday. Our last school was small and he only had 10 classmates, so i was quite apprehensive on how he will fare in this years school year. I am glad that he is doing really well, and has adjusted fairly fast.

At first, we had some crying episodes when he would miss being at home but after a while he warmed up with the school and is now holding the top three slot in his classroom. Love it!

Their third quarter report cards were released last Saturday, and here are his grades.






I have always told them about the importance of school and how it will help them in the future. I even told them that i am actually interested to go back to school myself as i was looking into Online bachelor degree programs that i can enroll in while staying home, teaching and tending house. This is really a great time for me especially since summer is coming in so i would have a lot of free time to go online.

I have to be an example to the kids, and the fortunate thing here is i really like to study again. I want to challenge myself further.

Answer Key

This is the first time that i made answer keys for my exams, and after Christian's prodding that i make a copy that i will save with answers to help me in my checking. I gave it a try and i have yet to see if it is any better.

One thing is sure, it sure did take some time answering the test on the computer and saving it in another file name. Just sent the files to Christian so he can print it out for me since our ever reliable printer conked out on me.

I can't wait to use this Thursday when my finished answered exams come in.

Birthday Coming Up

Bea and Sam's birthday is coming up, and again the hunt for the best gift is on. Their birthday is four days apart and i want to give them something they really want.

Vin wants a laptop ... but thinking that he is just going to be eight leaves me in the dark, i feel he is not yet ready for one of his own. I am leaning towards the latest PS3 that will cover both Bea and Vin's gift.

We have a ps2, and they really enjoy playing with it, so i guess an upgrade would do them wonders, since i hear there are more games they can play with it than the ps2.

I will start looking around for one now, so i can canvas and save up for it.

Creating Tests

Here i go again, making my exams ... and no matter how many times i do it every year, i still can't get used to doing it. I always say i will do it in advance so i will not be rushed, but inevitable always happen, i always lose sleep in doing them.

I really give a lot of thinking when i create my exams and take in consideration my students. I love teaching, but making exams can really get the best of me.

I am so tired.

Researching

Bea has a lot of assignments in school and i am very happy that we have the internet handy in our house. I remember back in my olden days (hahahha) when i had to stay longer in school to do my researches at the library. I relish on the thought that for anything i may need to search on i can get the information with just a few strokes of my fingers.

Sam has an assignment for a copy of the poem, "The Tree", and in less than fifteen seconds the poem is on my screen ready for Sam's taking. Love it!

Bea has an assignment to research on industrial bearings and i would readily help her to get the results she needs.

I wonder how i would be able to get all our assignments done if not for the availability of information on the internet. I heart the internet!

Under The Weather

Sniff. Cough. Cough.

That is the only things you will hear from me these past days ... i have been under the weather for almost two weeks now and today i developed fever. :(

I had to take a leave from school today as my head is so heavy and my body is aching all over because of the fever.

I hope i get better really soon ... it's the new year, i must be up and about.

Post Holidays

The victims of typhoon Sendong has been given quite a number of relief goods like old clothes, ready to eat food and some cooking utensils, but there is now a need for toys (since the kids lost all their loved toys during the flood) to play with during the holiday season. My egroup is ready to take in any kind of play things, may it be old or new, the kids are really longing to play with something while they are still staying in the numerous relocation centers. Another need that has been overlooked are baby disposable diapers, adult diaper and cloth diapers that are essential for their everyday use. My friend even said if there is a possibility for some people to give ready to eat baby food or formula for the infants who are victims of this ruthless calamity.

I am fixing my donation box for distribution by the end of the week.

Quiet

The girls are having a sleep-over in their grandmother's house for two straight nights now. Vin is with me the entire day and he was busy playing on the laptop while talking to his cousin on the phone about their every move on the internet game. It was like i was alone.

The house was really quiet, and i really miss the girls coming in the room with their stories or small anecdotes every now and then.

Will go pick them up tomorrow night ... how i miss them.

Surfing

I have time to surf!

I am officially on vacation!

School resumes January 3 ... whooohooo! I am like a grade schooler on my Christmas break, lol!

I know have time to update my website that i have neglected for some time, i may now be able to watch some youtube videos that are people are talking about but did not have time to look at before. I also now have the time to search for a reliable free youtube downloader that i can install in my laptop so i can save the videos that i want to watch over and over again.

I have so much online time, i don't know what to do first ... hahahah!

But, seriously, i will also use this time to start doing my tests for next year so i won't be cramming during school week ... i promise to do this right after Christmas.

Surf away!

Two Weeks

In two weeks time we will be on vacation ... yey!

I can't wait!

I really need a break .. tee hee. Another reason is i really want to do my laundry who is getting taller as i type this. Yup, my laundry is catching up on me, and my wish is to come home to am empty hamper. I will have to dedicate a lot of serious laundry days to get it done, and i can't do it after i get back from my classes because i am already too pooped to make more than two cycles of wash.

That is my wish ... an empty hamper .... that would be bliss.

Chilly

For the first time in a long time, Manila was covered with fog yesterday morning, there was actually poor visibility for cars and you could hardly make out the tall buildings that you usually see at the highways. When i woke the kids up yesterday they were feeling cold and they all wanted to wear their jackets. I wanted to relocate to Baguio the other year but decided to forgo it because the kids might not be able to withstand the cold weather every day, unless of course i wrap them up everyday, or maybe get them some heated vest or thermal jackets to combat the cold air.

I am still not giving up on the plan to transfer there, maybe soon, in a few years maybe ... it will happen, i just know it.

Exchange Gifts

Just read the school the diaries of the kids, they are all required to bring their Christmas gifts this week. There are small rules to follow though, the first one is that they all have to be not below one hundred fifty pesos, second that they not be candies or sweets and the third is that they not be edible, no food of any kind. I imagined there has been times that since they store the gifts for almost a week before the party there is a great chance for the food product to spoil before it gets to its recepient. Good rule then.

I already have Vin's exchange gift ready, got an Angry Birds game for the lucky grade one classmate. Will still have to think of a unisex gift for Sam and Bea's classmate. ill try to go to the mall within the week to avoid the crowd and the long lines.

Friday Sale

It's Thanksgiving Sale at a lot of malls today till weekend ... i love it! The only problem is i still don't have enough moolah to start on my Christmas shopping, bah.

I passed by the mall this afternoon and saw the red letter SALE posters were displayed in almost all the window displays, but sadly there was not much people today. Blame it on our economy. Times have been hard for everyone that makes the malls give out more Sale dates than ever to attract the wise and thrifty buyer.

I wish things pick up really soon.

Smokey

My cousin Julio, who originally was from the Dominican Republic has many stories to tell my kids every time they see him, it is as if he has never left the place. He was there ever since he was born and now that he is thirty years old and recently transferred here permanently he says he misses a lot of things, and the top of his long list is his favorite brand of cigarette, la flor dominicana double ligero that he says relaxes him and is the perfect flavor for him. I come from a family of smokers and i know how important it is for them to get their smoke after a hard day's work. I never smoked though, but i know that given the hundreds kinds of cigarettes in the market it makes you feel lucky if you finally find your brand that you can stick to.

Three Elevens

Yesterday, when i was checking papers and seatworks in class i was really amazed that the dates were all written 11-11-11. I loved how it looked!

I remember i was aiming for a triple date for Vin's birthday. I scheduled my cesarean section operation April 4, 2004 .... 04-04-04.

I would have loved that!

But as you all know, it did not turn out the way i planned ... Vin wanted to be born days earlier, March 18, 2004.

The next cute date will be next year December 12, 2012 .... i will have something planned special to do on that day.

One Of A Kind

I am starting early this year, i want to get my mama o one of a kind present for Christmas. Since my father's passing, i know this year's celebration will be totally different from all the other Christmases. I want her to feel special and not just get anything that i can buy from a department store. I have been thinking of making a collage of her and my papa and have it done on photo canvas prints and give it to her. I feel i will be giving her a special gift at the same time the memory of my papa is still there with it. It could start from their courtship days, wedding photos all the way to when they had us up to this years 45th anniversary celebration photos last June.

I know she would love it!

I will just have to coordinate with my sister to get the old photos and have them scanned right away without her even noticing that we took it from her box.

One of a kind it sure will be.

Boo Boo

Vin fell while playing soccer last week ... just look at his face ... tee hee.

This small mishap slowed him down for a full ten minutes before deciding it was nothing and ran again to join the game.

Kids are so resilient!

Stylish Presents

My girls are growing really fast that i cannot keep up with them really. I am actually thinking on what to give them now that Christmas is approaching. I usually would not have any problems getting them gifts because they were into Barbies and Bratz dolls so that would easily solve my list. This year they no longer like to play with dolls especially since they play a lot of dress me up games online.

Sam has been showing some interest on clothes instead of toys, while Bea has been leaning towards bags, so i am planning on getting them trendy tops, cute skirts, north face backpacks so they have a cool bag for their knick knacks and laptop, and maybe some colorful hair accessories to complete their tween look.


I will be starting my shopping on November 15 ... so excited! I just love buying presents for the kids.

My only brain twister is what to give Christian ... hmmm.

My Roles

I am enjoying my new found career as a teacher, but who would think i would land to be one. I graduated from a degree in Bachelor of Science and majored in Hotel and Restaurant Management and i was actually groomed to belong to the hospitality business either as a front office person or back office like filling in Pastry/Baker Chef Jobs or sales and banquet related. I like teaching, but my calling to belong to the hotel and restaurant business is still in me which is why i love attending seminars and cook fests when time permits.

I have many roles to fill but i find ways to do things that i also want to keep me balanced.

I love being a wife, a mom, a tutor, a cook, a playmate to the kids, a graphic artist, a photographer and now a teacher.

I love being me!