Covid19 is such a pain in everyone's life. It hinders so many things that people normally do. I sure wish it's over already because wearing mask in public places is really making my migraine worse. During the months where my kids have to do cyber classes, I thought it would be easier since they don't have to go to school but it was so hard for both of them especially to our son.. He started with a high A for his grade in Algebra but it slowly going downhill.
Aside from the online struggle, the kids also missed out on so many school activities. Covid took out the fun for sure. I am just glad that none of us got the virus. I mean, we got sick when we went to DC for the March for Life but I don't think it was Covid. I think we were too exhausted from the trip that my daughter and I did not feel great for a couple of days when we got back.
The good thing about their cyber school though is that, they don't have to get up early and they can do their lessons in their own desk or even in bed. My son's Chromebook was having issues so he had a hard time doing his homework.
2020 was like a disaster, it wasn't a good memory for all of us. I am just glad we survived it with having major sickness especially with my kids.
This year is a full on roller coaster 🎢 with everything. The pandemic have changed almost every aspect of the way we do things. We have been doing our own Thanksgiving at home ever since my father-in-law have passed on so this year was no different for us but I’m sure a lot of families were forced to celebrate without other family members due to Covid restrictions.
I started cooking early in the morning so by noon time, I was almost finished and we had our dinner around 2. Despite many hardships, we also have a lot to be thankful for. First and foremost, my husband and kids are healthy. They did get some type of cold but not bad. The kids get to go to school as well although they had to do remote learning within the Thanksgiving period. Hopefully they’ll be able to go back sometime soon. They appreciate the extra tome to sleep but find it a bit harder to do all the lessons by themselves without the physical presence of their teachers.
Hopefully this pandemic I’ll soon be over. I think when election result ends, this will end as well, I hope.
Oh my, August is almost over, time slips by so quickly even with pandemic. We didn't really travel much this year because of Covid but we have been busy with our home improvement projects.
Father's Day and other special occasion came and passed and here I am just trying to catch up writing about it. I want to dedicate this late post as a tribute to a veteran Dad who didn't let age deter him from finishing his school. He became a father at a very early age with his first marriage and he had to enlist in the Navy to provide for his two children. Unfortunately they grew apart and the kids grew up not knowing their father very much. I wish they have a good relationship but it's sad that they don't. Anyway, I am glad that he is very dedicated to our children.
John signed up in the military when he was 20 years old. He did not go to college after he finished high school because he had to work. Realizing that the place he grew up in will not give him anything challenging, he signed up in the Navy. He originally planned to go to Air Force but the recruiter he talked to did not show up. Since the recruiter of the Navy next door was there, he decided to try them. The guy showed him pictures of his travels in the Navy and my husband got inspired.
These photos were taken when he graduated from his Master in Science degree with a major in Leadership and Professional Administration at Duquesne University two years ago (May 2018).
This was the simple gift that we gave him.
I am glad that he was able to get his master's done. He didn't get to do schooling until he got done with his 20 years in the service but I think it's worth it.
The kids handmade cards.
Hooray, I finally got to finish this post. It's been sitting as a draft for almost two years, holly guacamole. What have I been doing all these time? Lol. Oh well, I hope I can finally get back to writing regularly again now that our bathroom renovations are almost done.
My husband started a new position at Industrial Scientific this year so he had to go on a week training and classes. The scheduled event was on the week of Father's Day so he had to leave on Father's Day. Since we knew he was leaving, we have pre-celebrated this special day a week ahead. We took him out to eat at our favorite Greek restaurant.
My kids are blessed to have such a wonderful Dad. He always make it a priority to attend to their need no matter how hard it is. Sometimes, I think that he spoils our kids but he always justifies it as giving the opportunities that he didn't had as a kid.
We attended mass and then headed to Theo Yianni's after. Not sure why but the three of us were color-coordinated that day ha ha. I would say though that red looks really good on pictures.
"Neither man nor woman is perfect or complete without the other. Thus, no marriage or family, no ward or stake is likely to reach its full potential until husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, men and women work together in unity of purpose, respecting and relying upon each other's strengths." - Sheri L. Dew
"You go through life wondering what is it all about
but at the end of the day it's all about family." - Rod Stewart
Our daughter was born in the summer so when she celebrates her birthday, we usually go on vacation. We stopped having birthday parties ever since she started school and does traveling as a family instead. This year however, was different. Due to school expenses, we decided to just celebrate her 14th birthday at home.
I am glad that she is so understanding about the situation. Although we did not go to a major vacation this year, we did some traveling because of her history bowl competition and educational field trip. Those activities really dented our finances that's why we had to adjust our travel plans. We're also planning to go visit my family next year so that's another big expense that we are trying to save up for.
Her birthday wish is to have her own sewing machine. She has been watching sewing tutorials on YouTube so that's what we got for her. She wants to sew her own dress. She reminded me of my youth, I was so interested in tailoring when I was in high school. Unfortunately, I couldn't take dress making course because I couldn't afford the materials needed. I went to a vocational high school so when we're on our junior year, we had to pick a major which were food trades and dressmaking for girls. I didn't like baking but I took it since our projects are done by group so it's affordable since all of us in the class contributes. I think if I could have afford dressmaking, I would have definitely chose it, it would have been better. I never liked the food trade class, even now I don't like baking at all.
Her brother got her some cosmetics and she was very happy about it.
Ice cream cake completed the celebration. Another year has turned for this sweet lady. She's excited to start her high school experience at Madonna High School.
We wish good health Anak and good luck on your high school journey this year. May God always lookout for your safety when you are not at home. We love you.
