Happy New Year

NEVER READY TO SAY GOODBYE

It is the 31st of December and in a few hours from now California will

be welcoming year 2012.

Our family closed the last week of December in a not so happy note

due to the passing of my father in law.

He passed away the day after Christmas which made it more

difficult.

We adore my father in law so much, he is very good to us.

I have only known my father in law for more than 16 years but

through all those years he had been a wonderful father to me 

and an awesome grandfather to my children.

I am very lucky to have a wonderful husband ... but mostly because

he had a GREAT DAD growing up.  

We were never ever ready to say goodbye ...

If it were up to us ... we'd always keep Papa here

But God has reasons of His own and plans we cannot know

and these are always for our good

though it may seem not so ...

But knowing that Papa is happy in God's arms right now

brings a smile in our hearts

To my father in law ... JUAN N. WILSON

you are the best and we miss you!

Dec 25, 2011

Christmas Day

Nothing is more sweeter than to see a very innocent

smile on a chilly Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas everyone !!!

Dec 24, 2011

Together

Filipinos celebrate Christmas Eve with a feast called 
Noche Buena.
Families gather together at around midnight and
partake of  a sumptuous Filipino meal.


We had our Noche Buena during dinner time and
not at midnight.
We cannot do it at midnight since baby Jayden
will be asleep by that time.


I did not cook this time.  Instead we
had our food catered. 


We had Filipino food (and one american) like
Pancit, Fried Chicken, Barbeque, Pan de Sal,
Leche Flan and an American Pie -- Apple Pie.


It doesn't matter if you have an elegant or
simple meal or if you celebrate Noche Buena
or not ... the best part of all this holiday season
is being ...


TOGETHER

Dec 23, 2011

The Smell of Christmas

I just finished baking Cinnamon Buns for breakfast 

and our house just smells HEAVENLY !!!

The scent of cinnamon plus the pine scent from

our tree is just a wonderful aroma that lifts

our spirits this holiday season and makes us

look forward to a wonderful and joyful

Christmas Day !

These are the kind of scents that when we

close our eyes we remember ... HOME.

Dec 22, 2011

Treasures Up Our Tree

These are some of the ornaments that we used this year
to decorate our tree.

Dec 21, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

Dec 20, 2011

Blooms for Mom

Today is my Mom's birthday.
She passed away 3 years ago.
She loves flowers so this photo that I took is for her.

I think when you lose somebody so important to you
the grieving doesn't end ...

I think as the years go by it just gets easier but you will
still grieve ...

There seems to be a hole in my heart and
it will never be complete.

Life is never the same without my Mom.

Happy Birthday Mommy Ming !

We love you!

Dec 19, 2011

Not how I imagined

I planned for my daughter's First Birthday since she was
six months old.
I exactly know how things will go on that day.
But when the party day arrived (Dec 17, 2011)
my husband was so sick with flu and
the birthday girl had COLDS for the first time.
Talk about right timing.
I wasn't able to enjoy the party that much since
I was worrying too much.
Honestly, I was DISAPPOINTED.
But then as I looked back on what transpired
that day, I cannot help but tell myself
IT'S OKAY
The guests had fun and enjoyed the party.
My daughter over all is doing well ... it's
ONLY COLDS
and Now my hubby is feeling much better.
I think when things do not go as we planned
we should just step back and relax and 
remind ourselves ...

IT'S OKAY

Dec 18, 2011

The FIRST Present

There was a sense of excitement in me like a giddy child
when I received and placed under the tree the
first present that we got in the mail !
My excitement grows as I see the presents
multiply everyday ...
woohoo !!!

I love the Holiday Season !!!

Dec 17, 2011

Party

My daughter Jayden Marie Wilson 
celebrated her First Birthday Party !!!
This day was also our 16 years 
wedding anniversary.
Two celebrations in one day ...
it cannot get any better than that !!!

Dec 16, 2011

Sniffles

I am getting convinced that there is such a thing as
a SNIFFLE FAIRY and she is very active on the
holiday season !!!
and her timing on our family cannot be more perfect
right on time when we are about to celebrate my 
daughter's FIRST BIRTHDAY !!!
oh my ... oh my ...

The Sniffle Fairy ... don't be a victim !

Dec 15, 2011

Lemons

I love lemons ... they are always present at home
I use them on mostly anything I could put them on.
The more lemons ... the merrier
I think lemons should be part of the Holiday Season
like the apple, pumpkin, pine cone, etc...
hahaha silly me

oh well as they say ...

When life gives you lemons ... USE THEM !!!

Happy Holidays Folks!

Dec 14, 2011

Target

A lot of people have been raving about their Dollar Store finds

and have been blogging about it.

So one day I was so excited to go to the Dollar Store

nearest to our house (which is still far )

but I went out VERY DISAPPOINTED ...

I did not get anything wonderful at all compared

to the ones that I have read in other people's

dollar find blogs.

So when I first noticed that Target started having a dollar section

I got excited (again) and voila ...

they indeed have wonderful things in there.

Every time they change the stuff in the dollar section ... 

it gets better and better ... hooray !!!

Dec 13, 2011

Love in Box

I just finished packing my present for a dear
friend who lives in Virginia.
It took me awhile before I was able to send
this present because I ordered it online and
I chose the regular shipping.
I hope my friend will love what's in the box.
It is still best to send presents through the mail.
These are not the kind that we could just click and
send through the web.
There is still "MAGIC" in opening the box and
untying the bow and see what's inside.

Dec 12, 2011

Contest

I entered for the first time my daughter Jayden in a contest.
The contest is for Pottery Barn Kids Holiday Photo Contest.
This is the photo I entered.
I don't think we will win because it is a voting contest.
But the thrill of seeing my daughter's picture in there with
the rest of the cute children is so fun.
Jayden has come a long way since she was born a
preemie and had to stay at the NICU for quite sometime.

Dec 11, 2011

Waiting

It is still Fall here in California.
We still have to wait a few more weeks before
Winter Season begins.
Some trees looked spectacular even with bare branches.
Some trees looked sad with a few leaves still clinging
for dear life hehehe
Oh well ... i guess no matter what kind of trees or season
we have, nature would always be ...

AMAZING

Dec 10, 2011

First Stop

As I was walking around our neighborhood I snapped a photo 
of our rooftops .
While looking at all the rooftops I can't help but smile like a
kid and started thinking ...
wouldn't it be nice if ...


Santa makes our neighborhood his 


FIRST STOP !


don't worry ... yours could be next ...

Dec 9, 2011

Simple Joys

I went to the park with my daughter and she played on the swing.
As I was pushing her gently on the swing she was shrieking with glee!


Then I realized ...
if we approach life with a heart of a child 
and find joy on every little thing life brings us
then I think we will find more joy than sorrow
everyday ...

Dec 8, 2011

Colors

Red and Green
you can't get any more Christmassy than that
I think they are the best colors for Christmas Season
Red to bring cheers into our life and
Green for a freshness


Okayyy ...
I think Silver and Gold are nice too
hahaha

Dec 7, 2011

Sweet Love

I usually just bake one kind of muffin or cupcake and yesterday
I was already prepared to make Chocolate Chip Muffin.
Then my son John made a sweet request for Blueberry Muffins.
Instead of baking just blueberry muffin for everyone to share
I baked two kinds of muffins --- chocolate chip and blueberry.
It entails more work for me but I don't mind.
Seeing the smiles on everybody's faces 
is PRICELESS !!!

Blueberry Muffin

Chocolate Chip Muffin