Showing posts with label Nadine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nadine. Show all posts

Welcome back to Laguna, Lolo Ben

Posted by Papa Sez | Tuesday, December 21, 2010

It's been about eight months since we last saw Lolo Ben.  We are fortunate to have him here again in Laguna where we're having an extended vacation sort-of.  He stayed in Manila overnight with my brother and today was his first day in Laguna.  We immediately went to Jose Rizal's house in Calamba, Laguna.  Watch out for more photos of this historic place in Island Travel blog.

Lolo Ben proudly poses beside Jose Rizal's image.

Since he taught a course on Jose Rizal for many years, he got to show off his knowledge about the Philippine National Hero to the kids during the tour in the house, which is also known as Rizal Shrine.

Here's Nadine and Lolo Ben taking a break, while Rica, Leon, Zeki and the yayas are completing the tour.

Nadine and Lolo Ben taking a break.  Notice Lolo Ben's tired look and Nadine's playful mood.
Nadine trying to catch Lolo Ben's attention with her pa-cute smile.
Nadine got Lolo Ben's attention and brightened his mood again.


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Moments

Posted by Mama Sez | Monday, October 04, 2010

Checking my Hubpages account reminded me of my backlogs in writing. I should be publishing my Christmas hubs by now…

A video project is waiting for soundtracks to be added…

It’s been almost two weeks since I last posted a blog

But while in front of the computer, attempting to finish an article and several tabs were open, my arms opened up for Nadine who wanted to sit on my lap. She immediately fell asleep nestled on my chest. I can feel her heartbeat next to mine. I can smell her sweet baby scent. I should lay her down to bed but no, not yet…let me savor the moment some more. I stared at her angelic face and it just feels great. I am not accomplishing any tangible thing and yet it feels sooo right!!! Nadine feels so secure in her Mom’s arms but I guess it’s both ways because I find comfort in her warmth. If I was able to defer my professional career for my Nadine girl then everything else can wait for this wondrous moment. For a moment, I rested all my thoughts and worries and focused on this lovely being I am currently holding. That moment is gone when my school kids excitedly arrived to tell me that they did well in their exam.



I had to put down Nadine to attend to the needs of her newly arrived Ate and Kuya from school then the other Kuya shouted. The noise awakened Nadine. Now I have to attend to the simultaneous demands of four little kiddos…mainly attention, attention, attention and attention. This is the moment of truth!!!

Anyway, my kiddos won’t mind if I have many unfinished and unpublished works
I just don’t know with Papa Sez :P will he?



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Our baby is one-year old today. Although each day, particularly the more trying ones, seems long, the year was indeed short. I can’t believe that it’s been a year already…from that period of so much impatience…emotions were high not only because of what we’ve been through in our ventures but also because of two false alarms that just made our anticipation for her more intense. God must’ve really been testing our patience by putting us in a situation that we just had to learn to accept the things that we have no control over.

One of the reasons for traveling to Luzon is to have Nadine baptized and to present her to relatives and friends in Laguna. This happened on Palm Sunday, March 28 at Immaculate Conception Parish, Los Banos, Laguna.


The reception was held at Kamayan Sa Palaisdaan in Bay, Laguna to celebrate both her christening and first birthday.  Everyone enjoyed her chocolate cake from Mer-nel's, the most popular bakeshop in the Los Banos area.  More photos are in our travel blog.


It was an opportunity to reestablished ties and friendships. In choosing godparents for our kids, we have at least one pair who are relatives (brother, sister or cousin) and two to three pairs who are close friends. For Nadine, we vouched for friends from our college years.


Our first two kids had nice invitations as memorabilia, while Zeki had seedlings of fruit trees as giveaways. Nadine has these lovely key chains as souvenirs custom-made by one of her ninangs, Christine Joy.


Note: You may email us at phen009[at]gmail[dot]com if you’re interested in these custom-made key chains that you can use as giveaways for any occasions.



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Early Morning Reflection

Posted by Papa Sez | Tuesday, March 16, 2010

When I woke up this morning, I realized that my school kids didn’t need to go very early. Instead of the usual 6:30am in a carpool, it was 7:30am with their Papa bringing them to school. That meant an additional hour for me. What did I do with it? I spent extra 30 minutes in bed waiting for our baby to crawl towards me (the first thing she does is look for me), and for our toddler to gleefully utter his Good Morning Nadine! He greets his dear baby sister first before me. Then it’s time for the bottle challenge.


After preparing breakfast and packed lunch for the school kids, I still have a few minutes to spare before the family assemble in the dinning room for breakfast.  They were still getting dressed. I remembered my coffee moments in the west terrace of the house, so I eagerly prepare to spend quiet time in my special spot with a mug of hot choco. It’s a good chance to reflect, I thought.

As I prepare my drink, here comes my two-year-old son and then the interview began…actually it was more of an interrogation. Though he is too familiar with the choco drink even the brand in particular, he asked “What is that Mommy?”

He kept following my every move probably sensing that I’m up to something. As I picked up the mug he popped another one “Who's that for?”

On my way to the terrace, he asked again, this time it’s a series and he is starting to panic. “Where are you going Mommy? Are you going to Dapdap? (It’s the street along the west terrace.) Where are my slippers? Can I come with you?”

Gotcha! Well, I knew it from the very first question. So you might have guessed the little boy got what he wanted. Picture the mommy and her little boy sharing a mug of hot choco in the terrace, watching the villagers doing their morning walk, calling the stray cats and dogs passing by and counting the birds flying high. You will hear the constant demand for a piece of bread that needs to be dunked in the choco drink before eating. Ever heard of that eating style?


I thought it was a good chance to reflect...and it remained so true even with my little boy beside me. It was not quiet, though. But then, it was a lot better than what I planned.

This morning’s reflection showed me how lucky I am to still have little children wanting to tag along like ducklings following mother duck. My little angels needed care like hatchlings in the nest waiting for mother bird to feed them. Good for my son, it was bread and not worms, lol.

Before I know it my little kids will all be grown ups, longing for a life on their own. Moments like this are indeed treasures to enjoy now and cherish forever.


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About Us (circa 2009)

Our journey led us to this place. A little more than 10 years ago we began our journey as husband and wife. Three years later, we found ourselves with two bundles of joy- a daughter and then a son. They're the children we've dreamed of having.

About five years since the birth of our son, an unexpected gift came- a younger brother to our school-age kids. And soon enough, a baby girl arrived to round the family membership.

Brave was a term used by a friend to describe us. Challenging... and loving it -- yeah, this journey is not for the faint of heart.