My youngest nephew celebrated his 11th birthday today, June 13! (Well, it's the morning of June 14th in the Philippines, but it's still Friday the 13th in Texas!)
Dillon, we all love you so much & we hope you had an exciting day of celebrating! You are such an awesome & fun boy!
Amberly holding Nick & Papa holding Samuel at edge of flood water
Papa mowing with Samuel
Papa mowing with Sydney
Dad & Sydney "fishing" at the City of Richardson Great Fountain Plaza Festival
Papa holding newborn Nicholas
I'm a sucker for surveys & the such! On this particular one, you are supposed to answer each question with one word only. Here are my answers... let's see yours on your blog!
1. Where is your cell phone? Counter
We had another fun day on Friday. I'm thinking we need to pace ourselves. I can't keep this going all summer...
Friday, May 30
* I met 2 girlfriends to go on a hike Friday morning. One of the ladies is a very outdoorsy type & hikes all over the Philippines. She has actually paid a few men to clear a hiking trail in the jungle. They clear out the bamboo & vines so that we can enjoy the challenging & shady trek. However, there were a few fallen tree trunks that we had to climb over and some very tall grass at certain areas. All in all, it was a fun form of exercise! We hike different trails every Friday & it's a great way to see parts of the Philippines one wouldn't normally see.
* The boys had 3 friends over to play. And, Sydney went to a classmates house for the day. The kids are staying happy & busy... which makes me happy!
* Several of the ex-pat ladies here got together for lunch. One of the Fed Ex ladies is moving to Hong Kong & it was her last luncheon with us. She & her family have lived here for 5+ years, so it was quite an emotional afternoon.
* Yesterday evening was date night for Sam & I. Before meeting some friends at a Japanese restaurant for dinner, we stopped by another couple's home to say goodbye. They are in the plane now as I type heading back to the states & Canada for their summer vacation. The wife is a teacher at Brent & her husband is the principal. Their youngest son & Nicholas are classmates & good buddies. We have all become great friends & it was sad to see them leave for 2 months. We enjoyed chatting with them for a while. Afterwards, I was finally able to convince Sam to eat at the Japanese restaurant with me! (He is not a fan of unfamiliar food.) The food here is delicious & I constantly crave it, but have never been able to drag Sam along with me. However, I think he really liked it last night. I hope to have many more date nights there!
* After dinner, we went to an outdoor area called Pier 1. They have live music on the weekends & it's fun to just sit & enjoy the music. We enjoyed visiting with friends & enjoying the cool evening breeze.
Today, we have fun afternoon plans. The great thing about living here is that the lifestyle really requires you to rely on friends and neighbors on a daily basis. There is no mall here. There is nothing much in the way of convenience. So, we spend our time with friends! We play outside. We go to the playground. We ride bikes. We go to the pool. And, we get together with lots of other people to keep life fun & interesting! Which is what we're doing again this afternoon. It'll be great!
My goal is to type up a daily recap of our summer activities, but I seriously doubt that will happen. There are days when I don't even see the computer, much less have time to spend blogging on it. But, I do want to remember what all we did while living abroad, so I will give it my best shot.
Since Friday was our last day of school, I will start with Saturday...
Saturday, May 24
* A friend & I went on our Saturday morning walk. About 3 times a week, we walk the neighborhood loop, which equals 5 miles. It's great to have a friend that is willing to commit to this with me. The sad thing is that her family is moving to Canada in mid-June. Makes me sick to think of them leaving!
* After lunch, Sam & I took the kids to the school pool. It was a beautifully, sunny day & the pool was completely empty! Both of those instances have been very rare lately. We had a great time! The kids learned to dive from the diving blocks. Nick mostly did belly flops & with his large tummy, it must have really hurt! Samuel & I raced down the pool trying to stay right along the black lines painted on the bottom. He almost beat me. Lap swimming is definitely not my strength! After we had been there for a while, most of their classmates started showing up. The pool got crowded very quickly. So, Sam & I enjoyed sitting out under the shade while the kids played with their friends.
Sunday, May 25
* Sam had to go into work Sunday morning, so the kids & I enjoyed a lazy day around the house. I read for most of the afternoon. Around 4:30, we joined a few other families at the school football field to play some sports games while the little kids played at the playground nearby. We had such a great time! We played tackle football with a varied group of people... men, women & teenagers. It was so fun! After football, we decided to play ultimate frisbee. My first time to play, but I had a blast. Lots of running, though! Whew... I was exhausted! The kids brought their bikes & showed off their riding skills all around the playground. We finally left close to 8:30, sweaty & tired!
Monday, May 26
* I walked my 5 mile loop in the morning.
* Nick went to a friend's house to play. Five of his classmates all got together & he had a great time!
* I had a group of ladies over to play board games. We do this every Monday & it is so much fun. My games are finally getting lots of good use! I can't wait until my kids are old enough to play board games with me.
Tuesday, May 27
* I took Samuel to the optometrist only to find out that we can't get what we need here in Subic. So, we will have to make a trip to Manila this weekend to replace his glasses for the 3rd time!
* After lunch, the kids & I headed out to the beach to meet friends there. We stayed until 6 pm. It was another beautiful day! Perfect beach weather. Right before we left, we listened to a local band play some tribal music on their goatskin drums. The kids danced around on the sand & created quite a show of their own.
* Sydney's friend, Rebekah, spent the night with us after the beach. We were all exhausted by the time we got home!
Wednesday, May 28
* I picked up Nick's friend, Griffin, to come spend the day playing at our house. He & the boys had a great time running around outside.
* Sydney, Rebekah & I decided to spend some time in the kitchen. We made grape Jell-O and chocolate chip cookies! And, I probably undid all that walking I had done earlier in the week!
* Later that afternoon, I met up with a couple of girlfriends to walk our 5 mile loop again. One of the ladies will be leaving Saturday for the summer, so it was great to spend some time with her before her family leaves.
* The kids & I spent the evening outside riding bikes & waiting for Daddy to arrive home from work. They love riding their bikes these days!
Thursday, May 29
* My friend, Julie, and I met to walk again this morning. It was HOT today!
* After showering, I headed out to do my grocery shopping. In Subic, you can't find everything in one store, so you have to visit multiple stores to get all you need. It's such an ordeal. I went to 3 different stores, then finally headed home with a car full of groceries. I don't like doing that very often, so I try to stock up as much as I can each trip.
* At 3, I took the kids to a birthday party for one of their classmates. They had a little magic show at the party & the kids were thrilled by it! I think 5 and 6-year-olds are the perfect age to enjoy a magic show.
* We got home at 6 pm & enjoyed a relaxing evening.
We'll see what tomorrow & the rest of the week holds...
A bit ago, Nick & I went to pick up a friend of his that was coming to spend the day at our house. I was waiting in the car for Nick who decided to do anything but obey me. I finally asked him:
"Why can't you obey me?"
He responded:
"Because I'm not supposed to."
On days like this, I wonder if all my kids think that. 3 days into summer & counting...
The kids' school holds a 30 minute chapel service each Wednesday morning. Every class takes a turn at presenting a special message during this time. A few weeks ago, it was Nick's Toddler Class' turn. Their wonderful teacher, Mrs. Reyes, prepared a little skit for the 3 and 4-year-olds, which they performed beautifully! We were all amazed at what a fantastic job these little people did on stage. Truly a testament to their awesome teacher!
Nicholas & his lion friend, Juwon
The possibilities are endless:
May 30 - The Click Five in Manila, Philippines (I have no idea who they are, but that is beside the point...)
June 12 - Air Supply in Subic Bay, Philippines (WOO-HOO!!! We are definitely going!)
June 14 - The Osmonds in Manila, Philippines
July 11 - Disney's High School Musical on Ice in Manila, Philippines
July 29 - Chris Daughtry in Manila, Philippines
August 1 - Rick Astley in Manila, Philippines
And, I'm sure there are some other loser American Idols thrown in here & there. Because those are the ones that always seem to make the Philippine tour. Like Taylor Hicks late last year. Oh wait... he was a winner right? I can't keep up...
Anyway, the Philippines is definitely THE place to be this summer!!
And, to think... some people actually prefer to spend their summers elsewhere away from the torrential rain & plethora of "has been" artists the Philippines has to offer. Not us! We are riding it out here in the land of over 7,000 islands!
Here's to the summer of '08! (Say a prayer for me...)
The twins were inspired by one of their good friends here to learn how to ride their new bikes without the training wheels. So, one evening last week, Sam & I took off the wheels & pushed them on their way. They had it down within the first 20 minutes! We realized then that they were probably ready to master this skill quite a while back. But, they have it down & they are riding around the neighborhood like they have been doing it for years!
Sydney learned how to swim on her own here & now they have both learned how to ride a bike here. The relaxed, outdoor lifestyle we lead here seems to suit us beautifully!
All my kids are pretty darn funny at times, but Nick just really makes me laugh. It's his age. He's too cute!
Friday was the kids last day of school & the day of their anticipated year-end program. Nicholas requested to have "spiky" hair on his special day, so Daddy obliged. After his hair was perfect, he looked at me, gasped & exclaimed:
"Oh my gosh! All the people are going to look at me & say, 'That boy is so cool!'"
I had to turn my head to laugh because he was completely serious when he said it. It would have broken his heart if he saw me laughing. Where does he come up with this stuff? I told Sam I couldn't even correct him for saying "Oh my gosh" because it was just too priceless!
That same evening, Sam & I went to see the new Indiana Jones movie that just released here. (We're a little late here in Subic!) We arrived home a little after 9 pm & the kids were still up watching a movie in Sydney's room. We peeked around the corner & surprised all three. Nicholas jumped up out of bed, quickly looked from me to Sam & wondered aloud:
"Hmmmm... who should I like?"
I was quick to inform him that he should definitely like me & he was quick to respond that he also liked Daddy. I can't argue with that.
Silly boy!
Today was Labor Day in the Philippines, which equals no school! (I've come to believe that the Philippines probably has more holidays than any other country in the world!) So, we joined another fun family for an outing at the beach. It was a beautiful day when we arrived at the beach resort, and we decided to take a bunka boat (shown in the picture) across the way to a small island, known as Camera Island (also shown in the picture, along with the Capones Island). The ride was smooth, the water was gorgeous & the island was nice & quiet. Unfortunately, we didn't bring a snorkeling mask or any gear, but luckily our friends did. After they both swam far out to view the exotic sea creatures below, they swam back & offered their goggles for me to use. Sam put on Sydney's kid sized goggles (not the look for him!), I borrowed our friend's goggles & we swam out pretty far ourselves. However, I did not have an actual snorkel to use... only the goggles. So, between swimming against the ocean current to get out far enough, coming up for air every now & again & swallowing some nasty salt water, I started to panic a bit. I kept looking back at the island which was getting further & further away & that also made me nervous. In turn, as my heart started racing, my breath got shorter & shorter. So, my time enjoying the fascinating sea life was shortened by the constant need to come up for air every second, it seemed. The first time I snorkeled, I freaked out a bit as well because I couldn't get enough air into my lungs. Sam finally advised me to take steady, shallower breaths instead of deep breaths. I practiced for a while in shallow water & finally got the hang of it. This time, however, I was too far gone to stand anywhere. And, even if I could have stood, I was not wearing any flippers so my feet would have been completely exposed to the sea floor. Not a good idea when you don't know what's down there... sea urchins come to mind. (I did see a dried one on the shore, so I know they are definitely out there!) Anyway, we got out quite a ways & decided to just hang out at that spot instead of swimming out any further. Sam, who was absolutely fine, kept diving down to explore a little more closely. I, on the other hand, floated on my back as much as I could in an attempt to slow my heart & control my breathing. When I did feel a little more normal, I joined Sam and explored a bit as well. The water felt great & the coral was breathtaking. The fish were still rather small, because apparently, this area had been previously used by the military for target practice... bombs & such. They killed off all the beautiful fish & plants underwater. Only recently have the fish begun to return to these waters. Maybe by the time we leave, they will be large & plentiful!
We both swam back to the shore & unanimously decided on two things:
1. That we will add swimming to our exercise routine from now on. We were completely out of breath after that excursion.
2. That we will invest in a good snorkeling mask & gear for each of us. This opportunity is just too rare to pass up! We have got to take advantage of the awesome snorkeling that is so easily accessible to us.
I also decided that we need to splurge on an underwater camera. I have kicked myself twice now for not getting amazing photos of what we are seeing under the water. Any recommendations?
We would love for you to come visit! I know you would love the beauty of the Philippines also!
There is just not a graceful bone in little Nick's body. Poor guy.
As he & his brother & sister were running around the living room tonight, Nick slipped on the hardwood floor & landed smack dab on his chin. And, like it always seems to do, his skin just split open in the shape of an "L". Why doesn't he just get a bruise or a raised knot like most kids? Maybe he just has super thin skin. Is there a name for a condition like this - where skin splits open so easily? I just don't get it. Sydney & Samuel were never injured this much.
Anyway, after cleaning up his wound, I realized he might need stitches again. Unfortunately, Sam was not home from work yet & I wasn't quite sure where the closest clinic was. So, I texted a few friends & the twins' teacher was the first to respond. She informed me that a school nurse was always at the school until 7 pm. So, the kids & I quickly drove to the school to allow Nurse Gladys to assess Nick's chin. She informed me that since the cut wasn't deep, stitches were not required, but that it would leave a nasty scar on his face. I informed her it would match all the other scars poor Nick already has. So, instead, she put on a couple of steri strips & a butterfly bandage. We have to get it changed every day & he can't get it wet, but atleast it's not another set of stitches.
The twins' Kindergarten teacher is in charge of the school yearbook. She asked each student a set of questions to include in this year's book & one of the questions she asked Nicholas was, "What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?" Nick's reply:
"I like to go to the hospital and get stitches."
Nice.
We attended a going away party for a friend on Monday & this is how Nick ended his evening...
I may not at the moment, but I know one day I will look back fondly on these days:
* Tonight Samuel & I were cuddling in my bed, when all of a sudden he quickly pulls away from me, yells "FIRE IN THE HOLE!" & proceeds to let out the longest, most disgusting toot. Sydney thought it was hilarious!
(I just want to clarify that when I say "Samuel" I am talking about my son, NOT my husband! Although, I wouldn't put it past him to do the same thing, but I sure wouldn't post it on here! In fact, I'm wondering if that's where Samuel learned it in the first place...)
* Friday night we went out for dinner, drinks & dancing with some friends. (Although I abstained from dancing, which is a good thing considering...) So, since I have lost some Nicholas baby weight (finally!), I decided to treat myself to a new dress for the fun evening. Well, as I was walking out of the bathroom at one point, my right ankle completely gave out on me & down I went in front of several wide-eyed Filipinos! With as much grace & dignity as I could, I picked myself up, brushed off my new dress & quickly walked far, far away. Twisted my right ankle... skinned my left knee... bruised my fragile ego... but it still makes me laugh (and cringe) every time I think about it three days later! Laughter is the best medicine, right?
* The kids get their feelings terribly hurt when one of their siblings says they are "bad". I am constantly hearing, "Mom, Sydney said I was bad! I'm not bad!" Or Samuel. Or Nick. Unfortunately, Nick picks up on every negative thing the twins do & say & mimics them. So, I'm sure his pre-k teacher appreciates all the comments he repeats at school to the other younger students. It's just the beginning...
* Nick has become fiercely independent dressing himself. He does not want any help at all. Which is great, except that it takes so much extra time getting ready for school each morning. It doesn't help that we are pretty much usually running late anyway. (Story of my life!) And, in addition, he doesn't care if he has his shirt/shorts/underwear, etc. on backwards. He says, "It's okay if it's backwards." Doesn't bother him one bit! He did it by himself & that's all that matters. Boys!
Happy Monday!
Congratulations to my wonderful friend, Christy, who delivered her baby boy, Cooper, on April 17.
(The same day as my nephew's birthday! Happy late birthday, Jared!)
I think he looks just like his beautiful older sister, Isabella. Such a sweet, chubby face!I haven't been on the computer much lately, but dedicated this evening to playing catch up. Surprisingly, I haven't missed it as much as I thought. It's good to have a computer break for a few days. Makes me realize there is so much else that can and should be done with my time. (I just used the word "much" way too much!!)
So, since I have been catching up with my Texas friends online, I will also catch all of you up on our life...
Life is good here! We have been thoroughly enjoying our new home. It's spacious, which is a blessing & a curse. The kids are scared to go in one part of the house by themselves and yet, it's nice to have all the extra room. But, I'm sure it will all become familiar to them eventually.
Most days after Nick gets out of school, this is the scene here:
And I love it!
Typically, 3 out of the 5 school days, we have atleast 3-4 additional kids come spend the afternoon here. It's great! The kids have a blast together & they completely wear themselves out. Sam & I have always desired for our home to be fun for our kids & their friends. It's so easy at this young stage in their life, but as the kiddos get older, I pray their friends continue to want to come to our home to hang out. One of my favorite quotes is a line from Yours, Mine and Ours: "Homes are for free expression, not for good impression." Amen!
And, speaking of homes... we had a small housewarming party last weekend. We invited a few friends over for a cookout. The kids had a blast playing & swimming in the backyard. We are truly blessed with wonderful friends here in Subic!
He is the absolute cutest cowboy I know!I just called the local pizza delivery company in an attempt to order a plain, cheese pizza. This is how our conversation went:
Me: I'd like to order one large cheese pizza.
Pizza Girl: Cheese only?
Me: Yes
Pizza Girl: Just one?
Me: Yes
Pizza Girl: Your name please?
Me: Amberly
Pizza Girl: Excuse me?
Me (knowing better that I should always shorten my name to "Amber" for situations such as these): A-M-B-E-R-L-Y
Pizza Girl: A?
Me: Yes. A-M-B...
Pizza Girl: A-M-B?
Me: Yes. E-R...
Pizza Girl: A-M-B?
Me: Yes. E-R...
Pizza Girl: A-M-B? Is that it?
Me: No. Please let me finish.
At that point I should have just said, "Yes, that's it."
We'll see what's written on the ticket when it arrives... if it arrives!
We visited a new church on Sunday. It was small, as I'm pretty sure all Christian churches are in this area. The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic region, so the non-Catholic churches are few & relatively small in size. (Atleast in this area of the country.) But, we went with a FedEx lady (I wonder if they call us TI ladies?) and I think her invite was just the push we needed to get us off our lazy rears on Sunday morning!
As I said, it was small. Their auditorium was about the size of a large classroom at our church in Richardson. And, they had a band on the stage with large speakers set up on each side. So, it was LOUD! Sydney covered her ears during most of the praise & worship portion. She said it was "too loud". I couldn't blame her.
I had a hard time focusing on the singing during this time because there were about 4 little boys standing 2 rows ahead of us who kept turning their heads to watch us & would laugh uncontrollably. Then, I would look at my own kids, who were standing in a daze with their mouths hanging open. They had never seen such movin' and groovin' in a church service! And, the little boys ahead of us had never seen so many white people in their church. It was pretty comical.
When the music ended, it was time for the kiddos to leave for Bible class. Luckily, all 3 of mine are taught in the same room (ages 3-6 are all together... small church!), but only Nick & Samuel were willing to go. So, the boys attended Bible class together, while Sydney stayed in the auditorium with us & colored. Near the end of class time, Sydney whispered that she wanted to go with Bub & Nick. So, her Daddy took her to their class and she stayed until it was over.
Afterwards, they all came back out to the auditorium to join us for a couple more praise & worship songs. This time, both boys felt the spirit moving and started groovin' right along. It was quite a sight to watch two little white boys dancing out of rhythm! Adorable!
After the service ended, so many sweet & friendly strangers came to welcome us to their church. They invited Sam to a men's Bible study the following day. They invited me to a ladies' fellowship event. And, they invited our entire family to an upcoming sports day. They were so hospitable & loving.
The best part of it all is that Sydney announced that evening that she wanted to go back to church in the morning. She said she liked her Bible class. When shy, timid Sydney declares that she enjoyed a new environment, you know that it was good!
As I told my mom on the phone last night, if we continue to attend this church, my kids are going to think our church services back home in Texas are completely boring! No band... no dancing... boring!! Maybe on our return, we can shake it up a bit at RE!
I love playing tennis. I would have never known had I not given it a chance, though. Actually, I took lessons in middle school, I think it was. (Or elementary. Not exactly sure, but maybe my mom remembers.) But, I didn't like it much back then. In fact, I don't remember anything about the game, except that I went to the high school tennis courts each day. That's it. However, I really enjoy playing now.
Thankfully, it is a popular sport here in the Philippines. Many expat women take lessons because it is so incredibly cheap here. Therefore, it has become an activity that binds us all together. When I lived in Manila, 4 of us ladies met atleast 2, sometimes 3 times a week to play doubles tennis. We would play for atleast 2 hours & had so much fun together. Here in Subic, I've been very blessed to be included in the FedEx ladies tennis games. They meet every Wednesday morning & play for 2.5 hours. It has been so neat to get together with these extraordinary women, play an exciting sport & learn a little more about life in the Philippines through their eyes.
I hope that I will be able to continue playing when I move back to the states. I hope that I can find friends that enjoy the activity as much as I do. And, I hope I make the time to continue doing what I love.
For now, I'm off to bed to rest up for another game of singles tennis tomorrow morning.
If not, GET IT!!
I finally used my Skype account to talk to my sister & nephews last night. It was so neat! I could see them & talk as if we were face to face. And, the best part is, it's completely free! Completely! No hidden costs whatsoever. Unless you want to upgrade to more features & services, then you have to pay. Otherwise, it's a free & easy service that allows you to talk over the Internet.
So...
Mom & Dad - First of all, you need a faster Internet speed. But, if not, maybe you can go somewhere else to use Skype. Like the...
Rice Family - Come on! The kids & I miss you guys! I'd like to see my handsome nephews & beautiful niece soon! And, of course, the kiddos are dying to talk to their cousins.
Aunt Cindy - We could wish you a happy birthday to your face tomorrow! :)
Uncle Jake - You & Sam could catch up in person & of course, the kids would talk your ear off, as usual.
GNO Girls - Download this so I can join you every once in a while on your girls' evenings. I miss you all terribly!
BAD Girls - I can "be" at the next book club meeting! And, all the following meetings.
Christy - We can talk face to face again & I can see baby Cooper when he's born.
Jennifer - I can join you for your early morning coffee time again!
I could go on & on. I am so thankful for amazing technology that helps me stay connected to my family & friends back in Texas. This overseas assignment would be so much more difficult without the conveniences of the Internet!
I miss you all!
* Someone recently found my blog by googling the phrase "european boys in speedos". I bet they were utterly disappointed!
* Nicholas sleeps with his eyes open. Always has. It's a bit unnerving at times.
* This very well might be the first Easter that we have not bought into the commercialism of it all. I think I like it better this way.
* I played tennis with Sam yesterday morning & kicked his butt! He is used to playing racquetball, so he had a hard time keeping the tennis ball inside the lines.
* We just found out that Sam's brother, Uncle Jake, may be getting married soon. We are trying to convince him to get married in the Philippines so we can attend, but I don't think he's going for it.
* Sydney is currently addicted to her High School Musical 2 DVD that she got for her birthday. I think she & Nicholas can sing almost all of the songs on it.
* Even after 6 years, every time I look at my handsome Samuel, I am amazed at his beautiful blue eyes.
* It's time to go stick my traditional Easter pot roast & veggies in the crock-pot. YUMMM... I can't wait for lunch!
* I am really glad we had this opportunity to move overseas. It has been a fun ride!
I have encountered quite a bit of culture shock while living in the Philippines, but this recent experience had to take the cake. On our way to the beach, we passed several groups celebrating Holy Thursday by publicly flogging themselves. It was very unsettling to see these men walking the streets, whipping their own backs that were already completely bloody & raw. I found a video that accurately portrays this disturbing ritual we witnessed:
As if that weren't bad enough, it is a Filipino custom to re-enact Christ's crucifixion on Good Friday. So, this is what happened throughout the Philippines yesterday:
I understand that these rituals are steeped in tradition, but I still cannot fathom anyone voluntarily injuring themselves as penitence. I have not read in my Bible where Christ has commanded or even asked that we do that. It seems to have turned into quite an Easter production that draws thousands of tourists to the provinces to watch the spectacle. So senseless!
Remember this post? The last part described a funny bird sound I was constantly hearing, but could not locate.
I finally discovered what creature was making this peculiar sound... and it's not a bird.
“I have never seen these animals, but I have often heard them in Manila. They ordinarily live in houses. One first hears them utter two or three cries in a trembling voice -- something like the cry of an owl, but stronger and quite loud enough to make their presence known throughout the whole house, however big it might be. Then it says quite distinctly, ‘Toco, toco,’ and repeats this sound ordinarily seven times in succession, but sometimes as often as 11, allowing the tones of the voice to drop toward the end of each sound; so that the last cry the creature gives is not so loud as the first, and in a much lower key.
“I have not seen this animal, as I have said, although I have frequently heard it; and I have been given a picture of the creature that looks like the picture of a lizard. Notwithstanding this, however, I have always found it difficult to believe that the creature I heard was a lizard, for I could not believe that there are any lizards that could sing.”
Unlike Le Gentil, all Filipinos know the tuko. Reading about our country and people from a foreigner’s eyes can be very delightful and informative."
I'm convinced this name means trouble! If trouble is around, this kid will definitely find it!
Here is a recap of 4 days last week:
Day 1 - Samuel accidentally shut the car door on 2 of Nick's fingers. I was already in the driver's seat, so I had to get out & run around to the other side of the car before I realized what had happened. He screamed for a LONG time! I had neighbors all around me asking what was wrong.
Day 2 - On one of those same 2 fingers, Nick gets stung by some sort of wasp looking insect.
Day 3 - Nick, Sydney & Samuel are chasing each other through a circular path in our house. Somehow Nick runs straight into the metal doorplate. Immediately, I could tell this cry was different. I ran right to him only to watch the bump on his forehead develop into a huge goose egg. It was evident where he hit because he had a dark, bruised line right on his forehead in the middle of the swollen area. However, he did not break the skin. It was bleeding under the skin, but thank goodness, there was no open cut.
Day 4 - Nick hits the very same spot on his forehead on the corner of the metal slide at the park! The skin, which is already very taut from the swelling, immediately splits open & blood comes gushing down his face. So, now he has a huge scab on his forehead that several people have told us should have probably required stitches. I think his poor forehead will eventually just be one big scar!
I am praying that he will develop a little more grace & balance before attempting any sports. If not, we will be setting up a medical fund in his name & accepting all donations.
My friend, Kristi, just recently posted about some frustrations she is experiencing. I can relate. It made me think of the conversation Sam & I had just this evening. I tried to explain to him that I was just feeling down & cannot figure out why. There are certain times of the month when my mood & temper & attitude can easily be explained with hormones. This week, however, cannot be attributed to hormones. I don't understand why meaningless, unimportant events seem to set me off & frustrate me. Yesterday, I got mad because Sam asked me to cut the chicken breast a certain way so that it will cook more evenly. Well, I didn't know how to do it properly & I got angry. Not at him. (His cooking skills are far superior to mine & I will happily admit that.) At the chicken! So, I figured while I had the big knife in my hand, I would take it out on this raw chicken breast. And, I did. But, it didn't make me feel any better. However, it did make Sam realize he better take over the dinner preparations before I ruined anymore food. Tonight, I got angry because we don't have any clean beach towels to pack for the beach tomorrow. And, to make a long story short, I cannot get into my laundry room until about 9 am tomorrow morning, when our housekeeper arrives. We are supposed to be leaving for the beach at 10 am, so I have to see if I can quickly wash & dry a load of towels in about 1 hour. I don't think our dryer can do it, but we'll see.
Maybe it's stress. Maybe I need more sleep. Maybe I need to pop a happy pill. But, in hindsight, I realize how silly & petty my frustrations are. I just wish I would realize this as it's happening. As Samuel likes to say, I need to chill out!
UNRELIABLE INTERNET SERVICE!!!!
I am sorry to my friends & family that have checked this site for almost a month now anxiously awaiting an update. Here is the update I've been promising...
Don't get me wrong, I love living in a quiet, remote, mountainous, jungle area, but I sure wish the Internet service was reliable. I went almost 2 solid weeks without any internet at all!! That was HARD! But, I did get all caught up on my book club reading. So, it wasn't all a waste. And, I did discover how beautiful this area is when explored on foot. And, I also found out that I need to get out & hike more often to use these muscles that have been dormant for a while. Maybe I need to take an Internet break more often...
The kids have been enjoying school. The twins studied Dr. Seuss last week in school & had so much fun! They had a "Wacky Wednesday" where they got to dress up in crazy, mismatched clothes. They were quite a spectacle amongst all their uniformed classmates in chapel that morning! Their teachers also turned their classroom upside down. They loved it! On Thursday, they wore crazy, mismatched socks with their uniforms. Sydney had some fun colored socks, but poor Samuel only had white socks. So, I dug through my box of winter clothes that somehow got shipped to the Philippines where we do not have a winter. I pulled out several of my long, striped winter socks & a couple of warm, fuzzy patterned socks. He put a few of those together & thought it was great fun! My camera battery died, so I don't have pictures of either, but I will get some from their teacher. On Friday, they made green eggs & spam. Their teacher mentioned that some of the kids gobbled it up, some ate only a little & some didn't touch their plates at all. I'm willing to bet my kids were grouped in that last category! I can't even get them to eat "normal" food at home! They had a fun & full week at school.
On Tuesday, I made a special presentation for Nick's class all about America. His class is studying different cultures & apparently, I was the only American (out of 3 in his class) willing to do a special presentation. The Koreans did a fun project, one Canadian put together a nice morning for the kids & the Filipinos went all out with yummy food & stories. I think I represented the Americans well, but it sure would have been nice to have help. The kids had a great time & learned about the American flag, so my job was successful!
Sam & I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on Thursday, 2/28. TEN years?! Seriously?! Come on... we're still just kids ourselves! Time is sure catching up with me. I turned 31 on Valentine's Day, we've been married for 10 years & the twins will be 6 on March 12!! Some days I feel like we've been married forever & some days I think back to our dating years & long for the simplicity of those days. But, never have I ever regretted my life with Sam. I can't imagine my life being any better than it is now! I love all the adventures he has taken me on & I love growing & learning new things with him every day. What a ride these last 10 years have been & I sure hope to have just as much fun the next 10+ years!
If all goes well, we will be moving into our Subic home about the middle to end of this month. I cannot wait! I'm a pretty carefree, happy go lucky, easygoing girl, but it has been a bit hectic not having all our belongings unpacked & within reach. Of course, living in temp housing for 2 months has also taught me how much "junk" we actually have that we do not need to survive. Why do I have SIX mixing bowls?! Why do I need TEN purses when I just use the same one over & over?! I always hope to downsize when I unpack boxes from a move. We'll see how good I do in a few weeks.
I have made so many new friends here in Subic, for which I am so grateful! There are about 70 FedEx pilots & their families stationed here. I have met several of them & they have taken me under their wings. (Not literally... although I wish! Only free flights for immediate family members.) We play tennis every Wednesday morning & meet for lunch every Friday afternoon. They are a fun bunch of ladies & I would literally be lost without them! They have helped me navigate the streets of Subic & it's outlying town, Olongapo. They have helped me locate the best markets, the best spas (ahhhhh...), the best restaurants & so many other great hidden places that I'm sure I would have never found otherwise. I am blessed to have met so many wonderful ladies & their families!
We are attending the International Food Festival tonight at the kids' school. This is their big fundraiser for the year & is a pretty huge deal for the school. Each nationality is responsible for setting up a booth. I am providing chocolate chip cookies & cornbread for the American booth. I volunteered to make chili, but a few other northerners beat me to it. I'm scared. If it tastes like a can of Wolf brand, I will be so mad! I have heard that the Japanese booth has the best food, so I need to get there early to taste it before it's all gone. We'll see...
Have a great weekend! Hopefully, it won't be so long before my next post!
I'll leave you with a few of the latest cute photos:
in Boston.
And, how do I know this?
Because, my husband, who happens to be in Boston, just sent me the following text:
"Don't mean to make you sad, mad or jealous but it's snowing here."
And, of course, I am sad, mad AND jealous!! UGH!
Either title could be appropriate.
I downloaded the photos on my camera this evening to find LOTS & LOTS of pictures taken by my budding photographer, Nicholas. The kid LOVES taking pictures!
Out of the hundred plus that I deleted, I saved my two absolute favorites:
Who else would take a picture of themselves diggin' for gold?!
Gotta love it!
I saw this on another blog & thought it looked fun. So, of course, I'm stealing...
The Rules
1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question.
4. NO CHEATING.
Q: What does next year have in store for you?
A: Our Town by James Taylor
(Maybe that means we'll be moving back home!!)
Q: What does your love life look like next year?
A: Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz
Q: What do you say when life gets hard?
A: Born on Christmas Day by Brad Paisley
(Yes, I still have my Christmas music on my iPod!)
Q: Song that reminds you of good times?
A: A New Anointing by ZOE Group
Q: What do you think when you get up in the morning?
A: Thank God I'm a Country Boy by John Denver
(Well, not exactly...)
Q: What song will you dance to at your wedding?
A: Don't Stand So Close by The Police
(Ha! Perfect!)
Q: Song that reminds you of your first kiss?
A: Silent Night by Third Day
Q: Your favorite saying?
A: Little Wonders by Rob Thomas
Q: Favorite place?
A: Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts
Q: Most Missed Memory?
A: Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad by Def Leppard
Q: What song describes your best friend?
A: The Hand That Feeds by Nine Inch Nails
Q: What song describes your ex?
A: Everything by Buckcherry
Q: Where would you go on a first date?
A: I Burn For You by Danny Peck (Secret of My Success Soundtrack)
Q: Drug of choice?
A: Armageddon It by Def Leppard
Q: What song describes yourself?
A: Anytime by Journey
Q: What is the thing you like doing most?
A: I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Countdown Kids
(Kids' Christmas music downloaded for school parties)
Q: The song that best describes the president?
A: My Grown-Up Christmas List by Kelly Clarkson
Q: Where will you be in 10 years?
A: Policy of Truth by Depeche Mode
(Deep...)
Q: Your love life right now?
A: How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) by James Taylor
(How appropriate!)
Q: What is your state of mind like at the moment?
A: You Picked Me by A Fine Frenzy
Q: How will you die?
A: Animal by Def Leppard
(YIKES!)
