Our Christmas 2010

My kids are so very excited to open their presents.  They had been tracking Santa Clause for whole day and some part of Christmas Eve. I was surprise with my two kids Leona who just turn 9 is more excited as her sister.  Leona woke up 1am to go to the bathroom and sneak down stairs to see if Santa already left presents under the tree; that made her sister to wake up.  They keep begging to their grandmother to go downstairs ad start opening their presents.  They did finally open their presents after Roger and I said so @ about 2:30AM.  Seeing their reactions while opening each presents is so priceless.  Since it will be a long day for all of us we went back to bed afterwards.

We all get up by 8:30 and I was so nice to prepared breakfast for everyone.  I bake egg casserole w/ crescent rolls, ham, a homemade French toast and bacon.  It was a hit. 

The family went to Denise’s house for our yearly Christmas get together.  We had swap presents each presents worth $25.  But it was not that fun because what everyone brought if not gift cards it was hard liquor.   We even end up bringing back one of our own presents.   As usual foods are great.  Dave Denise’s husband is an excellent cook.  We stayed until 5:30PM because we have next party to go to.

We went to Shine’s house for a Filipino Christmas party.  We were there after 6:00PM. And left after 9:30PM.  This is more fun.  Girls had some kids to play with.  Roger had a good chat with the American husband while all the wives were busy talking.  We did swap scratch tickets that everyone brought and it worth $5 each.  Surprisingly for 12 tickets not 1 ticket is a winner.  We are all losers, lol J, the important part was we all had fun

Our Christmas 2010 was a full day that full of activities. We all had fun overall. The most important was my family is together for this full whole day.

We want to thank God for this opportunity to let us celebrate this very important holiday

What Christmas is All About?

Christmas is not about what is under the Christmas tree but it is about the family. Growing up in Philippines where this holiday is so very important to us. As preparation we usually go to church so early morning as early as 3am for 9 days before Christmas. On Christmas Eve as family we all go to church together and enjoy our noche Buena w/ the whole family. This is the part I missed. In Philippines I felt there is more Christmas


Spirit unlike here in US it is much commercialized. Everyone is busy buying presents for everyone. They even forget what the whole celebration is all about. I admit it I am one of those people who are busy of buying presents. But I do more for my kids. I know in my heart and mind this holiday is all about the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.

I am so very proud of my girls at least if you ask them about Christmas why we celebrate this holiday? There response is not about presents but it is about Jesus birthday.

Hope everyone know about the reason for this season.

Leona's 9th Birthday

my oldest daughter Leona born today December 16th @ 0204AM.  She brings so much joy not only w/ Roger and i but thru the entire family.  Roger's family are so happy for us having a baby. 

She is our Christmas present sent from above.  We thank God for her everyday.  She makes our family complete.  She is a very good big sister to Angel.  We are so very proud of her.  She is doing great academically. 

I don't want to her to grow up to soon.  She will always be my baby.  I/we love her very much.

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY LEONA. 

long Weekend

Yes I am looking forward to my 5 day weekend.  Tomorrow is like a Friday for me being at work.  I have scheduled PTO on Thursday, Friday and Monday.  I will be back to work on Tuesday and off again Friday Christmas holidsy.  It is not bad.  Right now I love it not to be at work.

Leona's 1st 9th Birthday Bash

My oldest daughter leona will be turning 9th this December 16th.  Per her request we are having a party just only for her friends and classmates in school and we are going to party today. 

As activity they will be doing some crafts, do some line dance, and sing karaoke as well.  The party will last for 3 hours.  I will be having 14 kids.  My house will be full of kids.  And pretty sure we all be having fun especially my Leona. 

I made a cup cake w/ Big time rush for the topping design.  I will let them make their own sundae ice cream.  They will have pizza as well.

I just love to throw a party especially if it is for my love ones. 

To my leona HAPPY 9th Birthday.

Want to Sell you house?

If you are one of those people who are going to lose your house.  Before it is too late try putting them in the market you might be lucky. 

I you want check this site this might give you an idea what to do in selling your house. 

Cash or Card

I heard that sales for stores are higher this year compare to last year.  It doesn’t mean that economy is getting better.  People are getting smart when it comes to spending their money.  A lot of people are paying cash w/ their Christmas shopping. Credit Card Company is being so ridiculous; they charge you too much interest. Using cash is better because you have to budget your money wisely.  Buy things that are more important.  Once money all gone then you are done.  Using card might be convenient but only at first.  After the holiday you will be paying all this massive credit card bills for months and months.  People should know and hope to realize that Christmas is not all about present it is all about Jesus Christ’s birthday.  As Christian this is the time we have to spend more quality time with our love ones.  Life is so valuable; enjoy every chance you have to spend with your family. 

Hanukka

Not one of my families is may not be a Jewish but believe or not we lit Menorah

Candle. We celebrate Hanukkah every year.

Hanukkah known as the Festival of lights is an eight-day Jewish Holiday. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days. As tradition they lit candles and give presents with each other. My kids love it especially because they are getting special treats every night.

You may wonder why we celebrate Hanukkah. We celebrate Hanukkah it is because my husband used to go to a Jewish congregation. He wants the kids to open to any religion as long as they believe in God. But our main religion is Catholic.

Property rental Update

With today's economy you might think that buying a house are now cheaper.  It mught be but the problem now is getting approved for a loan.  This is why rental property is still on demand, they are still getting more and more tenants.  In the area where I leave at least 3 or 4 apartment complex.   I am one of those owners I have to update my entire apartment.  One of them is making sure I have cable competition like having to have 2 cable companies. As far as I know cable contractor and electrical contractorare busy working in one of this apartment complex.  They are already done with fiber optic installation.  Residents are patiently waiting for them finishing up the wiring and they can call cable company to get their subscription.  How smart it is for this apartment owner to have another cable company to be in their complex?

Big Mistakes

I was a bit disappointed with how my father is acting today.  One of my niece left a message in facebook showing no respect on my dad.  My dad might did something that she was not happy but it was enough that she will just call my dad by his name.  So to correct her;   I posted a comment no matter what happen he is still her grandfather her grandmother brother so please still show a little bit of respect.  i thought everything is find but my sister comment back and now my dad.  My dad will tell the whole world through facebook what kind of girl she is.  As the older person he should just ignore but instead try to make everything go bigger.  Sometimes I just wish my dad to grow up a little. 
Now I am thinking was it a big mistakes of me leaving a comment to this girl?

What I need in the Kitchen

When my husband I just get married I don’t know anything about cooking. I only know I am only good in eating. My husband was the first one who cooked our first meal. I was so proud of him. Being married and having kids challenge me a lot. Now I could say I know a lot of recipe that can think of. My mother was even surprise. Cooking is now one of my past time activities. I cook variety of foods. Cooking is easier if I have bigger kitchen and if I have special racks like spice racks where I can put my spices. Right now I place them in one of the cabinets. Keep telling my husband to buy me one kitchen spice racks; a wall spice racks is probably more fits on what I need. I hope this is one of what I will be getting this Christmas. What do you think?

Hate Winter

it is not yet officially winter but feels like it is.  So fricken cold today.  I have been sneezing, water eyes and stuffy nose this is because of cold.  I really not going to git rid of this cold.   I just need to take Vitamin C.  Inside the huse is also cold.  i don't want to put the heater too high not only that it will crank up my electric bills it worries me that it will dry my Christmas tree too early.  Whaaaat i need to do.  i better go hid in the bed and finish wrapping the presents. 

Are they lucky or what?

I remember when my husband and I went to my kids school for open house.  I was more excited compare to my kids.  It is not that I can’t wait for them to be in school but I am excited to learn the curriculum their school teaches them.  School in Philippines and here in US are very different.   I love the school here because kids have their own locker.  Leona got so excited when she found out that she would be having her own school locker.  I learn that when they get off from their school bus.  They will leave their backpack in their locker and just carry w/ them their folder to their classroom. I wish I have my own school locker especially a gym locker where I can leave all my gym stuff instead dragging them with to my class.  My kids are so fortunate or what?

Todays Schedule

Sunday morning still up early.  We are all going to church.  Today is 2nd sunday of advent.  As always we have to thank God for all the blessings we received. 

Things I need to do today:

1. church of course
2. need to buy christmas and birthday wrapping paper
3. wrap presents
4. finish the chocolate peanut balls

I this just this.  I may not wrap all the presents but at least I did some of it.  I have to think also about Leonas bday party for friends and classmates for next week. 

Coin collector

Last week we visited our best friend in Fall River, Massachusetts. The guy who owns the house where they live showed us his whole house. It was so beautiful. Everything he own worth something. They are most collectibles. He collects valuable things from different countries. One that makes my husband excited was when he started showing us his coin collections. Everyone not aware off my husband is a coin collector. I can see in his eyes how much he was amazed looking at each one of the coins. I was curious where did he buy gold coins. But I did not ended up asking him this question because I left the two talking about their common collection.

House is Peace and Quite

The house is quite right now.  My mom and my oldest daughter went back to bed.  Roger my husband drops my younger daughter Angel to her CCD class; while I am here making a couple posts and at the same time listening to Filipino Tagalog music. I will be cleaning my house from steam to stern.  I will be having a 2-birthday party for my oldest daughter Leona; one for her classmates and friends that will be on December 11^th and December 18^th for family and close friends. 

Money matters

Having no enough cash on hand is very tough. I don’t know if I can remember when the last time I won’t worry if I have enough to support the need for  my family here in US and in Philippines. The Demands are so high but no enough supply. I have a sister we are sending to school and thank God this is here last semester. We are avoiding cranking up some bills especially for credit cards.


I have a friends that they been doing good for a while they have a rental property but due to illness they lost everything and they are now in debt. They end up filing for bankruptcy. This is why I don’t want to let my self to get use on using credit card.

But if for some reason there are people out there that can help you give you some advice that you need. If you are in this situation right now better contact this people the creditpeople.com they absolutely can help. You do not want to be in a situation that you will lose everything. They can help you the help they know that you needed most. They have credit repair services. It is better to talk to people like them who are specializing with helping people in a bad credit situation. They can help you improve & fixed your credit score. At least for me I know now who are the people I need to talk to.

Plan for the coming Months

Now that I know in a couple of months sometimes around March and April I will be jobless. I am looking for some ways I can make extra money while I am home. I already plan to stay home for the summer and start putting my resume on September. By this means even that I am collecting unemployment, I still want to make extra bucks on the side. I might be taking over of baby-sitting my friend’s daughter because my mom will be in the Philippines for the summer.



1. With that I will have at least $125/week.
2. I am looking if I can do ebay again. I did this before; I was doing well until I found a full time job and no enough time.
3. I am also thinking to sew clothes for 18” dolls like American doll and sell them on ebay.
4. I will be also doing blog.

So many plan that flying on my head right now. Hope I won’t fail my family and myself.

Christmas presents

Christmas is one of the holidays that I always love.  Not counting this is the time I will be spending more time w/ my family.   As an appreciation of their kindness I love to get something nice for them.  Just too bad that I am not rich if I am I will buy gold for each one. I better start buying lottery never know.  J I heard this is the best time to buy gold.  The prices are high, oh what if I will sell my hubby’s gold collection and buy nice one for him for Christmas or I will buy more shoes. 

How To Keep Your Christmas Tree Alive Longer

My family will be having a first real Christmas tree. We own one artificial but when we are trying to put them together seems like the tree shrunk. I know it is because my kids are growing up.
Having a real Christmas tree stresses me out a little. Especially after someone told me that it is too early for us setting up. We might be having issues like pine needles will start falling off.

I was browsing over the net to find what I can do to keep my tree in great condition at least before Christmas. This is what I gather:

• cut about 3 or 4 inhes off the bottom and placed it in the tree stand and add hot water ; about every 4 to 5 days
• cut it as fresh as possible. drill holes into the trunk and straight up the trunk to help absorb water. add aspirin to the water and keep away from heaters and fires. they will make your branches dry out faster.
• Use a teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water and your tree will stay fresh.

I am hoping that by just keep checking making it sure there is still water will help to keep my tree last longer.  If not I will try any of this the next year. 

End of the Month

It is again billing day, time of the Month wherein we don’t know if we are going home on time or not. We received emails from our supervisor and Manager informing us to be ready to work overtime. Once it is not done wither we like it not no one can go home. They are trying to be fair for those in charge for billing day but not thinking what the rest of us will do like me who will not be there to help them because I never done the billing part yet. If all of us will be there will be also no room for everyone.


Anyway once again we are crossing our fingers hoping that we will be able to go home on time.

It's that time

Winter time is the time people are getting sick.  Cold weather ot only causes everyone to be lazy but also cause them illness.  Once 1 person gets it it will spread around.  That is why if you thought you are getting better wait, after a day or two you willb e sick again. 

Having kids in school I always tell them to wash their hands all the time especially before their lunc.

Oh getting evryone in good health is the 1st thing i have to worry about.

No Permanet Address

I have a best friend who married to a navy. Every two years they moved. I don’t know how they handle this moving part. Not only that they moved from house to house but they moved from one to state to another and even countries. Just only about the concept of moving again I don’t know if I can handle it. The packing and unpacking part, I already give up on it.

One thing I know that is why it is less stress on their part because they have moving companies who do the moving for them. This moving company hires some movers. With the amount of money they will pay for this company, the moving services they get in return overall are great. If not they will not have them for the next time. With how many times they moves they should have an idea on how much each moving will cost them if not at least just a moving quotes on how much each time they move.

I am so glad I don’t need to move in the near future. If I do that will be into a new house. Moving is not easy unless my husband will hire moving company.

Busy or What?

Everyone doesn’t want to get up this morning. The girls have been out from school for 4 days. They love it because they don’t need to get up so early. Roger may have long weekend because he have Friday off but still no rest for him because he had to take everyone out to shopping and not to forget to mention he drove me to work and picked me up. It was a long and busy day for him last Friday. Everyone did able to relax after 9 because we all decided to go to Lasallette Shrine in Attleboro.
Saturday was a busy day for everyone as well. We all went out to get all what we needed in order to put our tree up. Sunday was church day and went to couple stores not that we need to. We all stayed home for the rest of Sunday afternoon while I finished putting all the Christmas decorations and move some furniture.

So there it goes everyone’s weekend in my house. We all have a productive weekend.

Life Saving investments

I have been working in PharMerica for almost 4 years now. One the best investment I did is having a 401k. I consider this is my life investment. I have 401k and invest this to some different stocks. This way if one investment drops not all of my money will crush. I have to think for my future. With what’s going on w/ our economy by the time we retire SSS is no longer exist because they already bankrupt.

Getting familiar with different brokerage to invest your money is very necessary. There is a lot online broker or not that can help you. Wither you are going to invest your money through online trading, mobile trading or stock trading or if you want invest your money to IRA accounts.
The earlier you start investing you money is the money.

Christmas Tree is up

Day after thanksgiving kids keep begging me to put our Christmas tree up.  Finally we did.  it was the first time the family is havng a real Christmas tree.  The tree we have since the kids were still little.  The tree looks smaller compare to them now.  We all decide to buy a new one but instead we decide to buy a real tree.  It was a fun  and adventurous day for everyone. 
Now are tree officially up.  The kids did a great job putting all the ornaments.  It was a busy day for me as well moving all the furnitures and putting all the rest of our christmas decoration minus the lights on the window. 

Everyone in the family are now in the spirit of Christmas.  Have a Merry Christmas everyone. 

Looking for a new Car

I been in the US for over 10 years.  Believe it or not I still don't have a drivers liscence.  I don't have the motivation to get one until when my husband end up in the hospital for few days.  I felt so useless.  I have to asked relatives to drive me to visit him.  That was a wake up call for me to start working on getting my drivers liscence. 

Right now I will be going on my last drivers lesson and will schedule for a road test. Having a drivers liscence is a christmas gift for me for my self.  This will make a huge change in our lives. 

By next year 2011 my husband and I will be looking to buy me a new car.  I was thinking to get Chevy Hhr, Kia Forte, Grand-Marquis or wiki cars.  Anyone of this will do.

Right now it is not only that I need to get me a car but we also despirate to have a new one.  The van we have we bought this 5 years ago.  It is start giving us some issues.  Not counting that every time we get the sticker it always failed for break reason. 

I am hoping by March i will be driving around with my own new car.  Wish me luck everyone!!!

Long day at work

Holiday really screwed up everything. It causes less motivation for everyone to work. Everyone is looking forward for the day to get over. This makes day feels like longer as it used to.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Everyone will have Holiday off. A lot of people already scheduled out today and day after which is the Friday. But I will be here on Friday though. I am not one of those who got the luck.

My husband will have a day off. He will be able to bring the girls and my mom to stores and get their Christmas shopping done. Hope they will get a nice one for me. J What a wishful thinking though.

What I am thankful for

I am thankful for my family and friends.

I always thankful of having an awesome husband that always there for me good or bad times; a husband who always there and always willing to take all my crap. I know I am worst than my kids. I am also thankful for my girls Leona and Angel. They are both great. I couldn’t ask for better kids than what I have now. They are doing great in school. I am thankful for my Mom who spends 2 years w/ us. I know how hard it is to be away from your husband and kids. I so adore her for this.

I am overall thankful for this year to God who always there for us. My family been through tough time this year but we all survive, we made it through to this entire obstacle.

Thank you Lord for all the blessings you bestowed to my family.

Date w/ my husband

My husband and I  been married for almost 11 years.  Since we have kids we never been to any gatherings with out my kids. 

Last Saturday November 20th, wa PAMAS night (Filipino Night event).  Thanks to my mom who volunteer to stay home and babysit our kids.  Roger and I went and all dress up nice.  Wow I think the last time we went somewhere and all dress up was at least 5 years ago a wedding of a family friend. Anyway it was a pleasant and wonderful night for us.  A sit in table dinner.  Foods were been served.  We had a chance to dance, slow, line dance and dance and more dance.  I almost don't want to leave at the end. 

This is a wake up call for hubby and I.  We will try to do something for us not just all the time with the kids.  My moms next suggestion was going on a dance to Foxwood on valentines day.  Take the opportunity while she is still w/ us as she said.  :-)

Wide awake

I may not admit to anyone or even to myself, i maybe depressed. It is not me, I went to bed so early and get up early.  As you can see here i am my finger is busy, lol.  It is Saturday anyway.  A busy Saturday for us.  The good news is we are done w/ our christmas shopping.  This is excited.  

I maybe done w/ my christmas shopping but I am thinking of buying a plaque to put outside my house or maybe buy a gift for a family. An address plaques and numbers is better this way for first time visitor who is coming to my house will not get lost.   This will help them to find my house easy. 

I am still thinking to get address plaque or an address sign for my family just on time for Christmas.  This is a unique gift that everyone can give, right?   

Too Many Pictures

Owning a video camera is great.  I don't worry that my memory card is already full and I need to print some copies instead i will upload all my pictures to my PC.  The only problem is if i don't keep them in a CD and something went wrong w/ my comouter then I will lost all my pictures.  Its almost happen to me. 

One thing i like to do w/ my pictures is making a slide show.  I have a video converter but this one is already old and I need to upgrade what I have.  If you have a right video converter  you can create a video from pictures further with flexible merging, clipping, editing, splitting features.  You can convert them to HD.  Add even music to it.  If you own a mac pc you have nothing to worry about becase there is also a video converter for mac even ipad video converter is already available. 

With todays technology nothing will be behind.  Everyone getting the upgrades the only big problem is the cash.  Of all of this you need money.  Hey at least now you know there are some ways you can save all those important memories. 

Vacation Plan

After that anouncement yesterday at work that we will be losing our job my March.  We will be getting a severance pay but still losing job w/ this economy situation is not good. Anyway,  next year my family will difinitely be going on a vacation.  No matter what.  A vacation what this family needs.  My mom will be in the Philippines.  If you ask me how long?  I don't know.  But our life will not stop. 

I am just thankful that even I will lost my job I still have my family and I will be receiving unemployment for a while.  So it is not a bad thing at all. 

What A Day

Today is not a good day for me, for everyone at work especially on my department.  One of my call pilot box are full, been rerouted to another call pilot box that another RBO who handle this box and this messages been forwarded back to one of my call pilot box.  Gave me head ache most of the day.  Not counting my co-worker who also incharge of doing call pilot are on a day off.

Before lunch time we had an emergency meeting.  We all receive a bad news.  This is all what we need before this holiday?  I wish I am rich that not to worry about this changes.  

I will leave everything to our God Almighty.  I know there are some positive thing are coming on my way. 

Phone call Away

This couple day is an interesting day for us especiall to my husband.  We got a call from his dads wife.  First thing came into my mind something emergency happened.  She never call before.  I guess somehow our phone line not working.  they been trying to call again and again but call are not going through. 

But anyway.  Roger got a chance to talked to his dad from Texas.  He sound okay.  Next day receive a call from his wofe again letting us know that Roger's dad been brought to the nursing home.   I know hubby not saying anything; I know he was worried w/ his dad.  Whatever happened in the past he is still his dad. 

Thank God that a phone call awy make everything better.  Rogers dad is fine.  he just need to be in the nursing home so that someone are always there to take good care of him. 

No more Ideas

Now because i am somewhat back to blogging I am running out of ideas on what to write.  If I don't have a pr of 3 on this blog I won't bother posting but while pr still in then I have to take this opportunity to make money.  Hopefully just on time for Christmas i will have enough to buy something for my self. Maybe enough to by a shoes.  Not thinking how many I already own.   Am I greedy or what.  But hey I am working hard in here.  Not all of what i earn have to go to the family right?  It is no that I am already spending so much to my family not here but way back in Philippines.  I guess i am just too good.