2018 was a fun year for us and we did a lot of things with our kids. I can't believe it is now 2019, time really flies! We had a relaxing Christmas at home. We attended a Christmas Eve mass and then went to bed early. Even though the kids are 13 and 11, they are still excited for the Christmas morning to open some gifts.
I miss seeing the Christmas pageant that the kids at St. Joseph School used to do but this year, there is none. Our former music teacher is no longer teaching music and we have a new one.
Our daughter served at the altar and our son was part of the choir.
Aside from piano, our daughter also plays violin so we got her this music note stand which she can also use as an easel. She love to paint so this is a double purpose thing she can use. I also prepared a box full of girly stuff for her to use ie; lotion, hand cream, snacks, undies, etc.
Our son love watching the series "Attack on Titans" and he wanted a shirt that has his favorite characters in it so we got him a couple of long sleeves shirts.
We also got him a new pair of shoes. We got my husband a weight lifting belt, shoes, knee sleeves and other fitness gears, that's all he wanted.
They got me a pair of Steve Madden purse and wallet.
We spent our first two days of 2019 putting away Christmas Decors. The weather has been very nice for the last couple of days so we took advantage of it while it is not freezing outside. Today, I was able to run outdoors which was great.
My oh my, where did the time go? I feel like 2018 is slipping away so quickly. I don't even have the time to write about everything that we have done this year. I am still trying to catch up with the adventures we had last year, tsk, tsk. So much have happened this year that I don't even know where to begin lol. Oh well, the good thing is, I haven't miss any of my children's important events, being present in the moment is what matters.
Anyway, we officially have a teen at home. Our daughter turned 13 in July and we were on vacation when she had her birthday. We met up with our family friends who flew all the way from Texas and we had fun in Kentucky. Their presence made her birthday extra special. They brought a cake and gifts at our hotel and we celebrated. We met their youngest daughter for the first time and we all had a blast.
Thank you very much Dias Family! We've known them ever since I started blogging, the only one I knew from the blogging world who became my real friend and eventually my whole family's friend. It's awesome when you can meet someone and ended become your guinuine friend.
When we got back home, we gave her the presents. I pre-wrapped them before we left to Tennessee so she wasn't expecting it. So far her treenager attitude is tolerable. She doesn't act out, she's always mature in dealing things except when she is frustrated with her homework. She is a smart cookie and does her projects in advance but when there's so many to be done at once, she get overwhelmed and cry in frustration.
Our daughter is not really good in expressing her emotions so I was surprised that she got emotional reading our messages. She is growing up after all.
Hugs and kisses are the best gifts. Just being there for each other is enough and the most important.
I am blessed to have such great kids.
I am glad that she doesn't have an attitude that I can't tolerate. She is growing up to be a respectful, well-mannered young lady and I am grateful.
I just can't believe that in few years, this young lady will start driving. Being a parent is such a blessing. I think that you really have to invest time if you want to see your kids grow up because it doesn't take long, they grow up so fast. I am glad I get to spend all of my time with my kids. I got my husband to thank for this opportunity for letting me stay at home and attend to our children's needs. We might lack in financial aspect but that's the sacrifice we are willing to make to raise our children the way we wanted them to be. I hope and pray that we could continue to be good parents to them.
"Peace is the beauty of life. It is sunshine. It is the smile of a child, the love of a mother, the joy of a father, the togetherness of a family. It is the advancement of man, the victory of a just cause, the triumph of truth." - Menachem Begin
This is long overdue. These photos were taken almost three months ago. My slowpoke pace of posting about stuff is terrible. The flow of ideas doesn't really come easy sometimes, no matter how I try. I end up staring at the computer screen and then leave because this tiny nugget of a brain of mine does not work! However, when I get lucky, I can post like 5 articles in a day but that is very seldom. I can remember when I was just starting to blog, I am always excited to write different things everyday to the point that I would ran out of things to write. These days however, I have so many pending stuff to write but my brain does not cooperate.
Anyway, our Easter celebration was awesome. We just went to church and attended a mass then came home and eat. Ever since my FIL went to a home and then passed away, our holidays are spent just the four of us at home. I miss the family gathering when my FIL was still alive and we are all on the same page and got along so well. We still get invited to family gatherings, it's just that it feels so different without my husband's Dad so most of the times we chose not to go. I wish that my side of the family is near, I'd probably have my Mom over everyday or I'll visit her often. It sucks to be so far away.
For Father's day's celebration, we visited my brother-in-law whom we haven't seen since my FIL's funeral. It was so nice catching up with him and his wife. They live quite far from us but it was worth the drive.
"Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored." - Earl Nightingale
Aretha Franklin once said "Every birthday is a gift and every day is also gift", and I completely agree. I think that we should be grateful for each day, as we woke up in the morning and as we go to bed. We should consider ourselves wealthy when we have a a roof over our head, food in the table and a family that we can turn to no matter what situation there maybe.
As Voltaire have said "God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well." A lot of people says to live in the moment but there are times in our lives that we are consumed with worries and other petty things. If we learn how to live simply and appreciate all the little things, we will be happy.
I turned 45 this month and I couldn't ask for more of what God has given me. Two lovely kids and a great husband. What else could I possibly ask? Unless of course if God would give me the chance to travel the world, that would be great ha ha. But in all honesty and seriousness, I am happy and content.
I can't help but think of my father during my teenage years. He was very strict and I thought that it was so selfish of him to always laid out rules of what not to do and all that stuff. But looking back at it now, I am very fortunate to have a very loving Dad who just wanted the best for me. I am glad I listened, I just wish he would still be around so I can tell him a lot of things that I never got to do when he was still alive.
Anyway, when it comes to celebrating birthdays, we always get a cake that the celebrant love. I got this carrot cake from the Amish store that we went to at Walnut Creek Ohio, as part of my birthday celebration.
The cake was delicious! I want to go back there again and get more of these lol.
If you happen to notice, my long hair is gone. Summer weather is creeping in so I asked my husband to cut it, he couldn't say no because it's my birthday ha! He love my hair long so when I told him to cut it shoulder length, he kind of resist a little bit.
My partner in crime, my sweet tooth son, patiently waiting for the piece of cake. I thought he wouldn't like it but he said it was very good. Amish people can make really good cake.
He couldn't do a crossed eyes like I did so this is the face he made ha ha. My silly little boy, who doesn't want to be called a boy anymore.
My daughter painted this for me. It's a very thoughtful gift and I love it!
Thanks to my husband and kids for pampering me on my birthday. My daughter painted my nails and my husband cut my hair and cooked breakfast. We ate at a restaurant for lunch since they didn't want me cooking, how sweet! They might be tired of my cooking though ha ha.
When my husband finished college in 2012 at Robert Morris University, he did not attend the graduation ceremony. I asked him to attend but he didn't want to. I would have loved it if he did because he graduated Magna Cumlaude. I urged him to attend this time in finishing his master's degree because it would be nice for the kids to witness their Dad graduate even at an older age.
The Duquesne University McAnnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts had their Diploma Ceremony last Friday, May 11th. As we entered the gymnasium, one older gentleman congratulated my husband and he looked at us and congratulated us as well, I thought that was sweet and thoughtful.
My husband did not attend the kickoff to graduation so he relied on the information available online on where to order his graduation gown and cap. During the preparation at the back of the gym, an older lady who was administering all the graduates, she told my husband that he got a wrong color of hood. He told her that he just followed the school's instruction online. He said he saw one older woman who have the same hood as his so he talked to her and asked if she did the online thing as well and she confirmed it.
So there's two of them that falls in the crack of ordering the wrong hood. Oh well, as the woman have said, she doesn't really care, she is just glad it is over and now graduating. That's what matters anyway but being a former military man, it kills my husband when he is doing a mistake.
He told me that listening to the young graduates talk, it makes him feel old and experienced lol.
There are some who finished master's degree at such a young age, I thought "Wow, they must have continue going to school after graduating college." I have the same experienced, I continued my masters right after graduating college but the only difference is that, I had my undergrad degree at an older age. I worked right after graduating high school for years so I did not really go to college till later when I saved up some money.
What's inspiring to me was seeing someone in the wheelchair attend the graduation. I think that is so inspiring that she did not let her situation get in the way of pursuing her education.
Anyway, these photos were all taken by my daughter as I was recording a video while they were marching.
My husband told me that after taking his last final test, he was so relieved. All the weights have finally dropped off from his shoulders. I understand how he feels. When I went to graduate school, writing a thesis/book was one of the requirements to graduate. It involves a lot of researching, interviewing, gathering of data, and all that stuff, it was tough. It took time and money to finish it but when you graduate, it is all worth it.
Now that he has his degree, he can actually pursue a managerial position which I doubt he would. He is happy of what he does for now. His degree helped him get a raise from his job though so that's a good thing.
While, we were leaving the campus and dealing with the heavy traffic, my daughter thinks she can see herself going to this school for college. I was thinking that attending my husband's graduation would inspire them.
Time flies, our daughter will be graduation from elementary next school year so I am glad that my husband is finished with his because our daughter's highschool tuition would be expensive. During the open house that we attended where is wants to go, the tuition is $5k+ and it increases every year so that would be something we have to continue saving up for. The good thing though is that, now with the current administration, the rule about the 529 savings have changed. We can use it for highschool expenses instead of waiting for college so we might do that. Glad we have started saving up for their school ever since they were born.
Good luck and congratulations to all the graduates!
