Last night

Yesterday,  we celebrated Australia Day 2014 in Rooty Hill, west of Sydney. There were lots of entertainment for everyone: amusement rides, bands playing Aussie hits, food, stalls and  parachute jump with the largest flag in the southern hemisphere, just to name a few. The night was closed with a spectacular fireworkds display, and here are some of the photos that I captured.

My David's b-day

It was his 9th b-day last month. Unlike his previous b-days, we decided not to give him a birthday party because last year he had a big birthday party attended by most of  his close friends from his school.
On his birthday we went out and bought him some presents that he liked. Then we watched a movie. I bought him a b-day cake and something  for lunch too. His Auntie and Uncle, and cousin, Maddie came by to join us on his simple b-day celebration.

While we were at the mall, there was a face painting for free and since he loves face painting, he asked if he can have it, of course I can't say no to my little boy, it is his birthday after all. It is not Halloween yet, but he chose a skeleton face paint..hehehe

His birthday cake.

At the backyard with his cousin, Maddie.

I can't believe my baby boy has grown so fast but he is still my baby.

Mother's Day gifts

These are my Mother's Day gifts from David. He bought them from the Mother's Day stall at their school a few days before Mother's Day. There were a great variety of gifts available and prices ranges from 50c up to $5.00. He bought for me, a hanger, mug with some lollies inside and a pin cushion.

Thank you David for all the lovely gifts you gave me. I love all of them.

For Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is always a busy day for us, but lots of fun and great food. It is our Easter tradition that we have a get together with hubby's family as well as mine in our place to celebrate the special occasion with us. Being the host of the occasion, we always prepare delicious food for lunch and give chocolates bunnies and eggs to the kids. This is the part of the celebration that the kids love most. That's why every Easter, I don't miss the chocolates eggs and bunnies. I always organise Easter egg hunt too, and with the help of the big ones, it is always fun.

Since Easter egg hunt is not complete without Easter egg basket, I made one myself. It is just so simple. I hope next Easter I would be able to make a better one than this..hehehe.


Here are some of the chocolate bunnies and eggs that I bought to give to the kids.

Wishing you all a Happy Easter

Happy Father's Day!

To all Dads out there,
We celebrate our Father’s Day on the first Sunday of September . Unlike US and other countries of the world where Father’s Day is celebrated on the 3^rd Sunday of June. While Australia, New Zealand and some other countries celebrate it on September.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO MY DEAREST FATHER PAPA ROMY WHO IS IN THE PHILIPPINES. WE MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU.

My niece 4th b-day

My niece, Maddie turned 4 yrs old last Saturday and celebrated her birthday on the day itself. It was good that the weather wasn't too bad in their place because they have colder weather than in our place most of the time. Dorothy and David had a great time there and didn't even want to go home.Unfortunately, hubby wasn't able to attend the party for he was working on that day. Maddie had a great time celebrating her b-day with her close friends and relatives.
Picture above was taken before we went home. (Dorothy, David and Maddie)

At the Swimming party

David was invited to a swimming birthday party of one of his best friends in school last Saturday. He was so excited and can't wait for the day to come.It was held in one of the Leisure Centres in the west of Sydney. I accompanied David because hubby was working and since I had no one to look after Dorothy, I decided to take her with us. I just paid an extra charge for Dorothy at the entrance. It was our first time to be in the place and I was amazed of their great facilities. There were about 12 kids who attended the party with 2 ladies from the Leisure Centre to organize the party . They had heaps of fun all throughout the party. When the party was over, we stayed a little longer for the kids still wanted to have fun in the water. Dorothy was glad when she met two of her friends at school there. They had a great time swimming too. Here are some of the photos that I took during the party.
This is David holding on the rope trying to win in one of the games.

Father's Day Lunch

Part of our Father's Day celebration last Sunday was a lunch at the local club in our area with some friends. We booked a place for us a few days before the day came because special occasion like this is hard to get a place. The club is one of our favourite places when it comes to dining . It is a self serve and eat all you can. It was a late lunch and everyone enjoyed the scrumptious food specially prepared for that occasion.

This Sunday, the 5th of September...

We celebrate our Father’s Day on the first Sunday of September . Unlike US and other countries of the world where Father’s Day is celebrated on the 3^rd Sunday of June. While Australia, New Zealand and some other countries celebrate it on September.
The day is fast approaching and I still cannot decide what gift to get for Dad. I have been busy to give it so much thought. He is not that fussy but I really like something that is not expensive which he can enjoy too. Budget is also tight at the moment so it is kinda hard for me to figure out. Last year the kids, gave him various pens, notepads,and a pen holder which he still uses until this time. I gave him a hat which he still uses too.
Today, the school where my kids are, was having their annual Father’s Day stall. It was a fund raising organized by the school every Father’s Day and I gave the kids some money to spend for the things they wanted to give for their Dad. When they got home each of them have a plastic bag on their hand which they keep inside their room for the time being. They always wanted to make Father’s Day special with some surprises for their Dad.
Late also this afternoon we went to the mall to do some shopping and I took the opportunity to look around for something to get for Hubby.

Happy Father's Day to all Dads out there!
And to my dearest Papa in the Philippines, Happy Father's Day ! We love you!

David's 7th b-day

David just turned 7 years old yesterday. I can't believe how fast he is growing, as if it was just yesterday I delivered him. I still remember vividly all the memories when I delivered him by cesarean operation and hubby and Dorothy's excitement the first time they saw David at the hospital.
We had a small celebration at home the day before his birthday attended by few friends and families. We chose that day for it was the most suitable and convenient day for everyone to come. Even if the weather was not on our side for it was showering on and off but still the party was in full swing. The kids had a great time and didn't care about the wet ground. David had a blast and nearly came into tears upon the opening of his pressies. We bought the cake pre-made since he really likes the decoration with trains on it.

Todays flowers

It's time for another Today's flowers and my entry for this week are these chrysanthemums. They are naturally in seas0n at this time of the year and a traditional Mother's Day gift here. It is quite cheap compared to other flowers.


To all wonderful mums around the world, HAVE A TERRIFIC MOTHER'S DAY!
To see more Today's Flowers entries please visit here.

My Daughter's birthday

It is not just Christmas what we are always looking forward to every December, but because our special girl celebrates her birthday as well. Here are some of the pictures I took during the celebration. She turned 11 years old last 17th of December and last Saturday was the celebration attended by few friends and relatives. It was so much fun for her. She had a good time and surprises as well even if it was just a simple celebration at home.

My Mum's Day

Usually my Mother's Day is a day of surprises, excitements and be with my family. Gifts that come from the heart and the home/school made cards are my best gifts ever every Mother's Day.
My kids were getting excited too and cannot wait for the day to come. They'd been hiding the gifts they bought from school a few days before the day came and forbade me to enter their rooms..hehehe..I think that it would also serve right as I didn't like to be able to see what they had in store for me. They slept early that night so they can get up earlier before me . When morning came and with hubby's supervision, Dorothy made my breakfast and arranged the table with all their gifts around my breakfast. This is always her designated task every Mother's Day to be in charge of the breakfast table. I wasn't actually sleeping at that time but pretending to be asleep and listening to the clattering from the kitchen. I think that was because of my excitement building up inside me that's why I cant anymore drift back to my dreamland the first time I opened my eyes.
After a time, the door of our bedroom suddenly opened with David first in the queue to greet me, then followed by Dorothy and hubby. Dorothy and David jumped on the bed to be with me and gave me big cuddles and kisses. Then they asked if I am ready to come out from the bedroom and see what they had in store for me. I was having teary eyes to see my breakfast was all surrounded with their gifts. Dorothy bought me a scented candle, card and 2 packs facial tissue while David gave me a fancy pen, cute teddy bear and a card. Hubby gave me a recipe book which I actually need for my slow cooker. Thanks for all the gifts ! I love everything you guys gave and prepared for me for the day. It's another memories to remember and cherish in my entire life.

Then, as part of the celebration, we had lunch in one of the local clubs here, Penrith Panthers. I devoured again my favourite seafood platter as well as hubby while the kids had salad, fish and chips. I was a bit famish when we arrived there so I eat what my stomach could fit in ..hehehe

Our Easter Celebration

Our Easter celebration was held on the Monday after Easter Sunday. We decided to have it on that day because that was the only time that suited most of us. However, it didn't turn out to be the expected celebration as the day was threatened with on and off light showers all throughout the day and it was becoming a bit chilly. We had the lunch outdoor and while we were having it few light showers started to drop down again. Mother nature had really other plan of her own. The Easter egg hunt was held inside the house. I didn't have any other choice, rather to have it inside or not anymore because of the rain. Thought, it would not be such fun for the kids looking for the eggs behind the vases, bench top, kitchen sink, on the chairs and under the table. But yet, they all had a good time and so busy looking for eggs. The games were unfortunately canceled because I didn't want the kids running and jumping inside our old house and just let them played computers and Wii instead.

My hubby's eldest son's family didn't make it on that day as scheduled because something had just suddenly came up and needed to be attended first. So, it left us no other choice but just to have another celebration for them on the day after the following day. I was glad hubby was so patient doing barbecue 2 times. I was a busy bee again for I did prepare some foods too for them . It was just fun having them always and time wasn't just enough for us. David even cried when they departed home. They went home early for my hubby's son had to work on a night shift in the NSW Fire Brigade.And as Easter is not just for the children alone but as well as for big ones, I have here what I had received as an Easter gifts from my hubby's relatives.

Going away for few days!

I will be away for few days to visit friends of ours up in the North Coast of NSW. It is about 5 hrs drive from where we live. We will start hitting the road on the early hours of the first day of the long weekend as this day is considerably peak for holiday makers who start to go away and we don't want to be caught up with the heavy traffics along the way. That is always expected at this time of the year.
We will be staying in our friends' house in a country side location. We've been there many times and every visit is always fun filled days that we could not afford to forget. The wife of our friend is also a Filipina from the place where I grew up. We were schoolmates in HS and she married my hubby's friend. We always talk over the phone from time to time to catch each other but seeing them personally is something more special.
So, I wish everyone have a good and safe Easter Holiday. I will make it up what i have missed when I come back after our trip.

(Pics were taken by myself last year)

Easter chocolate eggs and bunnies

Apart from the Easter hats, this is the other thing that kept me busy which we could not afford to miss too . I went out shopping early for we will be away before Easter Sunday. It took a great deal of time for me to decide because there is always plenty of varieties to choose from and there are the price and the quality to be considered as well. The thing that the shops this time are not yet full of people in preparation for Easter Celebration is a good relief for me because I don't like standing in a long queue and as much as possible I always try to avoid it.
Easter Sunday for us is always a big celebration with my hubby's family and my sister's family. It is a family gathering, a great opportunity for us to catch up with each other again. The highlights of our celebration aside from lunch and Easter egg hunt is the exchanging of Easter bunnies and eggs. I know the kids can't wait for this as this is always their most awaited part. We always host this occasion and we always make sure that everyone has a great time. I will be busy again because aside from being the host I have to organize games as well for the kids to give them an extra excitement and fun for the day.

Easter hats

Easter hat parade has been a popular event every Easter Season in the school that David and Dorothy attend. It gives the kids a great opportunity to expose and show their talents and hard work, making and decorating their very own hat. The parade will be this coming Thursday in the afternoon at the school ground and parents are cordially invited to witness the forthcoming event. Dorothy and I had been thinking over whether we will be going to make a new Easter hat for herself since her Easter hat is getting old already and had been in two Easter hat parades. It is not that she is bored with it already but the fact that some of the decorations start to come off and need a bit of mending and retouching which surely takes time for us to do it. She made it by herself with my help when she was in year 3.While me and hubby were busy shopping in preparation for our Easter celebration, I came across this cute pink and blue bunny hat which I thought at the very first sight, it will surely suit Dorothy's liking. Well, I was not wrong though, because she feels in love with it right away.
As for David, I don't have any trouble with what hat he is going to wear because he prefers to wear the Easter hat that he wore last year while he was in Pre-school. He seems to still like it. He decorated it by himself. I just took out the old Easter egg chocolates around the hat and replaced it with new ones.

Anniversary Lunch

Despite hubby's busy time both at work and home, we still managed to spend quality time together without the kids as part of our anniversary celebration. Just us alone, reminiscing memories and talking something else. We had a good time together even if it was just for a short time . We had lunch in one of my favorite club in Penrith. It was a surprise from hubby because I didn't know it, that he was really into a plan of taking me out for lunch. Thought we will just have lunch at home. I was really in heaven the moment he said that, thinking of their delicious seafood platter. I love it and the thought made my mouth waters . The seafood is cooked just the way I want it. I devoured everything in my platter and its a no surprise to hubby because he knows that is happening always every time we come there.

No photos of us as i was so shy to ask someone a favour to take it coz it seemed everyone was busy ordering and eating for it was lunch time.

Our 11th Wedding Anniversary

How years fly by quickly and we are counting,
Seems it just happened yesterday,
The day when we said vows to ourselves,
That the two of us became as one,
In front of witnesses, family and friends,
That was our special and most wonderful time,

Can't believe that we have gone this far,
With the ups and downs that we've been through,
We both worked it out with our LOVE and TRUST,
With God's blessings and guidance, we make it,
After all these years, our love never fade away,
Yet, it grows, stronger and stronger with each passing day,

Today, is the start of another year of our life,
Another year for our love to increase as we go,
With faith, hope and trust always remain in us,
What we have in the past is already part of our life,
With memories to remember and cherish forever,
To my dear husband, Happy Anniversary!

What Dorothy was up to on Australia Day?

Yeah, you see it right, a python snake on her. You probably don't like the look of it on her especially if you are not fond of snakes. But to her, they are one of the cutest and coolest creatures in the world. She has an unusual interest of them and can't stop looking and touching them if ever given a chance. Even to any sort of spiders and lizards that cross her path is something she cannot resist to admire. The python snake licked her couple of times yet to her it was fun and the most amazing thing the snake did to her. She thought the snake liked her. She was having a good time with it curling up and down around her.
Contrary to what you might think by now, the snake is not venomous and dangerous type. The care taker said she is the coolest and the friendliest snake they have. That's why they decided to bring it to the show for the public to meet on time of Australia Day 2009 celebration in Penrith Panthers. All the animals on display were all natives from Australia. There were two baby salt water crocodiles and possums, as well as a beaded lizard (picture below). It was on the little boy's hat when i took a first glimpse of it. I can tell how uncomfortable he was because he didnt even move and smile when some people took a picture of him but he was quite brave though. And mind you, I dont have such nerves to hold such kind of creatures and the same with David. When I took the pictures, I was few feet away from her for I was afraid the snake would come and crawl on me unnoticed. The very thought of it scares me until now. Whilst David he was not interested at all either. Once he saw what his " Ate", (as what he calls Dorothy) was up to, he kept a good distance away from the animals and just watched them from there. Since that moment, he never showed any interest to be in the group again. Dorothy stayed most of the time with the animals until they went off.