Thank you Jesus.

I have been keeping this set of papers in my bag ever since September 12, 2011. These were Uno's exam permit together with the receipt and some intructions for an entrance exam to a preparatory school. Honestly, I do not fully understand why this particular entrance exam is so competitive considering they are just 5-year-old boys, but nevertheless, we believe in this particular school and feel that this school will be the best to hone him and so, we prepared him for it. I tutored Uno almost every night until the day of his exam with some basic pre-school exercises and his school also offered extra classes  for an hour and a half, all Saturdays of July to September. Together, we did some mock interviews using possible questions that he may be asked during the exam. I also took him on playdates, which he loved and enjoyed, to that particular school's playground just so he will be familiar with the place already. And oh my, how we prayed and offered this particular exam to Jesus.

On the day of Uno's exam, we were in full force mode to support him. His Papa set time out for him on that particular day even if he was so busy in his office and I  cannot thank him enough for that because his presence made a big difference, for  he is Uno's security blanket :). Uno was not anxious at all that day, was in high spirits and was smiling after the exam and said  that it was easy. In fact, a lot of little boys who took the exam the same time as Uno, said it was so. But of course, we have to wait for the official results to come out in a month's time! Wow, it felt like we were parents waiting for a child's result in a Board Exam:)!

And then, TODAY arrives, October 27, 2011. It said in the permit that results will be mailed on or before October 25, 2011 and the registrar's office will only entertain phone calls starting October 27, 2011. And since we have not received anything in the mail yet, I decided to call today. You would not believe how much I tossed and turned last night! I could not sleep! After all, this phone call will define my son's future, pass or not.

It was so hard to get through the phone lines that they gave! Was it possible that everyone else was calling for the results:)? Finally, I get through and this is how our conversation went: 

Me: Goodmorning Ma'am. I am calling to inquire about the result of my son's entrance exam for prep?

Ma'am: Yes Ma'am. May I have the name of your son please?

Me: I gave her Uno's complete name.

Ma'am: Kindly hold on please. 

These were the longest seconds of my life! So many things flashed through my mind! Bakit ang tagal? Hindi niya makita ang name ni Uno?  And then, FINALLY! . . .

Ma'am: Ano ang name again Ma'am? And then, I relayed to her again the complete name, including the Middle Name this time!

Ma'am again: Congratulations po! Pumasa po ang bata! (These are her exact words:)). Pakihintay nalang po yung envelope sa mail.

Me: I could not hold back my happiness and without thinking, I said: Hay Thank you Ma'am! Kay tagal ko ng itong hinihintay! (I am Bisaya kasi, so I am more at home speaking my native language than Tagalog. So now, I am not so sure if the registrar lady on the other end of the line understood what I said.  And also, I realize just now that I muttered something that sounded like a tagalog movie title. Hihihi:)). But anyway, THANK YOU JESUS!

Oh wow.

I chanced upon this image at sacramentostreet and all I can say is WOW. Makes me wish I had this view and this swing right in my own bedroom. Maybe someday, right? :)

Loyal Friend.

It is Uno's semestral break for two weeks and so I am blessed with a vacation too:). Uno sure does know how to take advantage of the  free time he has! He wakes all of us up at 6:30am with his noise, smiles, laughter and kakulitan and he cannot wait to start his day! He has been going with his Papa to the office for two days in a row now because - just because - HE WANTS TO BE WITH HIS PAPA AND HE WANTS TO BE LIKE HIS PAPA. So he has been dressing up exactly like his Papa even to the last details like his Papa's wallet, Jabra ear phones, his sunglasses and his sling bag.

And so, here I am alone in the house because I need to catch up on some cleaning the closets and other stuff around the house. Right now, I am having some quiet time and my daily dose of wake-me-upper in the lanai.

Earlier though, after I changed Uno and set him and his papa off to the car for the office, I had an extra pocket of time, and so I brushed Sable's hair (remember, my earlier post about my other child? - yes my dog child Sable:)). And she rewards me for brushing her hair with this:

This is my view as I do some reading and typing.

She rewards me with her loyalty and keeps me company.

She just stays beside me and sleep . . .

And sleep. And how i love it so. I am so blessed to have a loyal friend.

Yummiest Fish I Have Ever Eaten.

I opened the freezer this morning, and this is the first thing I see . . .

"Wow! What is this? I do not remember buying these in the grocery the other day?"

Then I remember my hubby saying last night, after coming home from a dinner meeting, that he has pasalubong for me and Uno :).

Looks like one of those noodle soup packs right? 

But it isn't noodle soup . . . it is the cutest, yummiest ice cream sandwich that's shaped like a fish!

When you bite into the wafer, it has milky, vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup in it. Yum!

My hubby said that he got it from a Korean grocery right next to the Italian restaurant where they had dinner. Thank you hubby - such a cute, yummy pasalubong you had there :)!

Beautiful.

I saw this picture in Jeana Sohn's blog. And it took my breath away.

Apple.

It is 7:30am and I already dropped off Uno at his school. Off I go to Starbucks for my daily dose of wake-upper and I sit down and prepare my Macbook, my Ipad and my Iphone for checking, sychronization and whatever. I open my Macbook and I see this - Steve Jobs 1955-2011.  My heart sank and my mouth opened. WHAT? 

I am a recent Apple convert, courtesy of my hubby, and yes, I can never go back to anything else but Apple. My Apple gadgets have amazed me with its speed, beauty and everything in it. As a first time user and not so techy mom, I was just simply smitten with how easy it was for me to switch and how very user friendly my "Apples" are.

I hope Apple will maintain its excellence without their visionary and founder because they sure have a blazing and bright torch to hold on to and pass on for generations to come. I may not know how Steve Jobs was as a person, but he has made a great impact in our lives. And as I offer my gratitude and silent prayers, this I can say to him - you are HOME now.

Doggy Bag.

Hello everyone. Just wanted to post a picture of Uno wearing his Green Doggy Bag by Manuella. I love the bag - it is soft and who can resist animals:)? Come visit the Cookie Shop at ilovecookiepot.multiply.com. You will find this same bag there and it has a kitty cat version too:).

Ang Bagong Harana.

Last Saturday, my hubby and I watched a musical show by Philippine Opera Company titled "Ang Bagong Harana". We were invited to watch by Karla Gutierrez who is my hubby's childhood friend from the village they grew up in so he could not say NO:). Weeks before the show, my hubby made a comment that he might not enjoy the show because as he says "wala naman kasi sa personality ko manood ng mga ganyan" :). But oh my, we both were taken aback: IT.WAS.BEAUTIFUL. Not only for the senses, because the singers were excellent and the costumes were very, very beautiful but also for the soul because it was inspiring. It triggered in us emotions of how simple and happy our childhood was without the ipads, the psp's, the computers and it revived the history of how our country came to be and made us proud to be a Filipino once again. I wish all grade school, high school and college students had the chance to catch it or maybe if they show it again, they would offer it to schools. I tell you, it is very well worth your time, your money and most importantly, your soul. 

This is the cast of "Harana".

The costumes were very beautiful. They showed the different costumes of the different parts and the different periods of the Philippines.

Thank you Karla for inviting us.