An Update On Their Adventures

I'm updating this blog - finally!  It's been more than a month since my last post and I haven't shared anything about my precious kiddos.  Well, they've been really busy with school and their weekends have been pretty occupied, too.

Early this month, we met with my uncle and cousins from Dubai, and together with some relatives, had lunch at Savory near Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.  They spend their summer vacation here yearly and stay for about a month.  My kids were happy to see them, enjoyed the food, and just loved chillin' at the hotel where they're staying.

my kids and my beautiful cousins 

my little boy with his new toy 

my precious kids! :) 

quiet time - busy watching cartoons

We were also a part of the Moose Gear Grand Fans Day  held on July 3, 2011 at the Robinson's Galeria Activity Center.  They enjoyed watching the performances of the celebrity kids, the magic show by Ala Kim, and they also had a photo opp with Mika Dela Cruz, Moose Girl celebrity endorser.

My kids truly enjoyed their first cupcake decorating experience at the open house of One Serendra the other week.  They also had a great time listening to the live story telling of the teachers from Make Believe.

More adventures of my precious ones to come, so stay tuned! :)

My Gwen is the Pinay Gwen Tennyson

I've posted a couple of times in my other blog, The All-around Mom, about my daughter, Gwen, winning the "Is There a Gwen in You?" contest from Cartoon Network Asia.  She was chosen as the Gwen Tennyson of the Philippines among the 3,500 participants who logged in and joined the contest.

She was selected as the winner December of last year, and she had her photo shoot a few weeks after we learned of the good news.  Then last month, the announcement of the winners were shown at the Cartoon Network channel, Gwen10.com website and was also published on the Inquirer.  Then a few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from Cartoon Network Asia that Manila Bulletin was interested to feature my daughter, and yesterday she was featured at the entertainment section of the Manila Bulletin (in print and online).

news article at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Feb. 20, 2011 

winners announced at the Gwen10.com website

some of her pictures online

news article at Manila Bulletin, March 24, 2011

I'm really happy for and proud of my daughter.  I do hope and pray that new opportunities will come along her way right after this blessing that was given to her.

More power to you, Gwen! :)

They're now in Facebook

My kids now have an account in Facebook.  Well, I know I shared in my other blog last year my reasons of why I don't allow them to have Facebook accounts just yet, but I just thought that I'm keeping them in the dark by not letting them know how to use these tools.  I thought that at least if I teach them early on how to use and navigate these online tools, such as these social networking sites, they'd know how to be responsible users, and of course, they would have something to share with their friends.  I'm a soft-hearted mom, and when my daughter shared that when their friends are talking about Facebook, they couldn't share anything in the conversation because they don't have one, and I know how it feels to not belong.  I realized I can't control them being a part of the modern world, so I agreed to, finally, creating their Facebook accounts.

Of course, they were really happy that they could finally chat with their friends and play games in Facebook.  I just made sure to set their privacy settings to be viewed by only those that they know and that they're really friends with just to keep them safe.  

For now, they're sharing one account, but probably by next year, I'd allow my 2 girls to have their own Facebook accounts.  I'm sure they'd love that even more. :)

Gwen's first baby bra!

I'm just excited to share that my daughter, Gwen, has now started to wear a baby bra.  I just bought a couple of baby bras for her to try because I know she'd have an uneasy feeling wearing a bra at first, just like I did when I first wore a bra.  She had been asking her dad to buy her a baby bra a few weeks back and so she was thrilled to open the shopping bag on Thursday with the 2 baby bras I bought her.

Well, she had muttered a couple of complaints that the bra is itchy and that she's feeling a bit weird wearing one, but I just told her she'd get used to it.  When she's comfortable wearing a bra, I'll be buying her more and she'd stop wearing the sando-type ones.

I now have a teen in the making! :)

their Birthday gifts to me

Kids are very thoughtful in their own little way, and I was very happy with the gifts I received from them yesterday.  They were simple birthday cards that they made, and it's such a warm feeling to receive these cards from my precious ones.  Gwen made the card from Gerard so that my little boy would hand something to me.  So thoughtful! And Gaby made her own unique birthday card for me. Such a sweetie! :)

Love you, babies! :)

my little savers :)

My kids were finally able to open a savings account.  I've always wanted to do this for my kids, but every time they get money during Christmas, they just end up buying toys and other things they want.  Well, I can't blame them.  But I am thankful that this year - after all my "lectures" on saving (lol!) - my 2 girls finally gave in and decided to save the money they got in the bank.  Well, my little boy has no choice because I have his money (lol!).  And with monthly help from their Dad, they'd start building up their savings.

my girls are now proud savers! :)

still had to take that picture even though he's sucking his thumb (lol!)

We really want to train our kids to be more of savers than spenders.  And having their own savings account is a good start. :)

she's a star!

I've already shared in my other blog about my daughter winning a contest from Cartoon Network Asia and about the photo shoot she had on Sunday.  Gwen really had a great time last Sunday, although I can tell she was a bit tired from all the poses and never-ending smiles she did for the pictures, but still having this experience was a dream come true for her.

She won a lot of cool stuff for winning the contest, which she shared with her sister, and was very happy with the Nintendo DS Lite she got.  The merchandise she got are not yet available here in the Philippines, so she's very happy and proud that she's the only one here in the Philippines who has those cool stuff.

Being her mom, of course, I'm very happy and proud for the blessings she received.  I hope that this would open more opportunities for her in modeling.

Congratulations, Gwen!  Mommy loves you and I'm so proud of you! :)

Gwenevere's first Holy Communion

This is the day that my daughter's been waiting for - her first Holy Communion.  She was very excited that finally, she'll be able to join his Dad and me whenever we take communion every Sunday at mass.  She has also been waiting for this day because she's very excited to wear the simple yet pretty white dress we bought. :)

Isn't she just adorable?  Congratulations, Gwen! :)

nail art

My girls didn't sleep in the afternoon after coming home from school yesterday, because they just wanted to play since it's already weekend.  They played with their Barbie dolls while their little brother was asleep (because he keeps on bugging his sisters while playing with their dolls) and also bought nail art stickers at the nearby store and did this to their nails:

I'm kind of picturing what our favorite activity would be when they're teenagers already: we're going to be frequent visitors of a salon or a nail art spa and getting our nails done. :)

pomelo peeling flower

Yesterday after lunch, my kids, Dad and I ate pomelos, that were my husband's "pasalubong" when he came home from a business trip in Cagayan de Oro.  My dad was the one peeling the pomelos and my daughter, Gwenevere, was beside him.  After a few minutes, she called me and said,"Mom take a look at this," and was impressed with the flower she created from the pomelo peelings.  Take a look:

I took a picture of it, because, of course, we'd be throwing away the peelings. :)

I just really admire how kids, like my daughter, can be so creative and imaginative!

my talented dancers :)

Every parent’s pride is to watch their kids perform in school programs or plays, and I did get to be one of those proud parents who watched their kids showcase their talents.

Gwen on their school's Linggo ng Wika Presentation last year, 2009

This year was Gabrielle's turn to perform for Linggo ng Wika.  Every year, Linggo ng Wika performers not only perform for their school, but they also get to perform in malls.  Last year, Gwenevere's group danced at SM Muntinlupa and this year, Gabrielle performed at SM and also at Festival Mall in Alabang.

Gaby during this year's Linggo ng Wika Presentation in their school

Gwenevere participated in this year's United Nations celebration in their school. It's her first time to join for the United Nations program, so she was really excited about it.

Gwen wearing a Malaysian costume with sister Gaby

What costumes will they be wearing next year?  Well, like them, I'm also excited for next year's Linggo ng Wika and United Nations celebration and I'm hoping that they'll be chosen to participate in these programs again.  :)

my Girl Scouts

My daughters are now officially Girl Scouts! :)

Gwenevere on her Girl Scout Investiture, September 25, 2009

Gabrielle with her little brother on her Girl Scout Investiture, September 23, 2010

Aren't they pretty in their Girl Scout uniforms?

I didn't experience being a Girl Scout when I was still in grade school - being a Girl Scout back then was not a requirement, unlike today when every grade schooler automatically becomes a Girl/Boy scout.  So seeing my girls wearing these uniforms just made me happy.

Proud of you, babies! :)

birthday celebrations

I haven't updated this blog for quite some time now, so I'll start updating it with the birthdays of Gwen and Gerard.  Gwen turned 9 on October 16 and Gerard 3 on September 30.

Well, we didn't have a grand birthday party for the kids - we just cooked their favorite foods, like spaghetti and fried chicken and bought a birthday cake so they could make a wish and blow their candles.  

my little boy and ate Gwen

The day of Gerard's birthday was a bit sad, because it was the day that Gaby got admitted into the hospital because of asthma and pneumonia.  It was somehow severe than her previous asthma attack that's why the doctor advised that she be confined in the hospital.  My husband was the one who stayed in the hospital then we went home and still tried to celebrate my little boy's birthday.  Although I was a bit heart broken that day (because I felt sorry that Gerard was celebrating his birthday and we weren't complete in the family), I was  encouraged with the happiness my baby showed.  He was still beaming with smile and clapping and laughing while eagerly waiting to blow his birthday cake.

It was still my husband who gave the name for our "bunso" because I wanted to give him the privilege of naming his one and only son.  I know how proud and excited he is of finally having a baby boy, especially when we first learned through ultrasound that we're having a boy.  Of all my kiddos, he was the heaviest and I'd say the most painful one to deliver.  I had all my children through normal delivery, but it was only with Gerard that I had to have epidural because I was experiencing extremely painful contractions.  Then after 15 hours of labor, we finally have a cute little baby boy of our own. :)

With my eldest, it was me who gave her the name Gwenevere.  I've always been fascinated with King Arthur and her lady Guenevere, so I promised myself that I would name my daughter the queen's name.  But my mom didn't want that name for her "apo" because she thought she might grow up to be a mistress just like the owner of the name (because Guenevere was King Arthur's mistress, right?).   So what I did is that I just changed the spelling - changing u to w, just to ease her apprehension.  

Since it was my first time giving birth, I was nervous but excited, of course.  My blood pressure was 140/100 at that time, but thankful that I was able to go through with the safe normal delivery of my very pretty firstborn.  

Another fruitful year for my precious ones, and I know that the Lord will greatly bless them as they grow. :)

future fashion designer

Gwenevere was only 6 years old when I first saw her like for fashion.  It was after taking a bath, when she "artistically" wrapped the towel around her, forming it into like a backless dress.  She would always do that to her towel and pretend to be wearing all sorts of dresses.  She'd always say, "When I grow up, mommy, I will design all sorts of beautiful dresses and use the money I would earn to help other people."  Gwen also loves to look at magazines with pretty clothes and would also draw her own styles.  She now keeps drawings of her collections and I always encourage her to keep those drawings, to look at it everyday and visualize as if she's already a fashion designer.  Most of all, I always tell her to pray for her dream to come true.

Never give up on your dream, Gwen!  You're going to be a famous fashion designer when you grow up :)

a good role model

When my eldest daughter, Gwenevere, came home from school, she proudly narrated how she had been a good example to her classmates today.  They were given a piece that they needed to memorize for the their Elocution Contest for the Linggo ng Wika.  She was able to memorize it last night after finishing all her homework.  They were asked this morning by their teacher if they had already memorized even a part of the elocution piece.  My daughter was the only one in her class who had memorized the piece as she was the only one who raised her hand.  In front of the whole class, her teacher said that she was a good example and a responsible student.  I can see from her eyes that what she experienced in class today and what she heard from her teacher inspired her even more to do better in school and to always be on top.

I'm proud of you, Gwen! Mommy loves you :)