Meet Chuchay

It's almost the end of 2008 and I must say that 2008 has been a good year for me in terms of digiscrapping. In fact my "dream" to digiscrap have materialized this 2008. I have created layouts for family and friends, and I have told a thing or two about each of the layouts I've created. As a yearender layout (this MIGHT be my last layout FOR THIS YEAR knowing how busy my family will be in the upcoming days), I have created a "different" layout - different in the sense that it doesn't feature a person or a human for that matter. It features my officemate/friend Glenda's beloved cat - Chuchay.

Chuchay is actually a male cat (blame my friend Glenda for naming him with a girl's name). If I got the details correctly, he's a Siamese cat, who's very, very, very domesticated. He knows how to pee and poop in the right places, knows how to ask for food, and knows how to battle it out with his veterinarian and even his master, my friend Glenda. He's basically Garfield personified (minus the talking and minus the love for lasagna).

Credits for this layout: Pet Collection and Tropically Hot Collection from scrapbookflair.com.

Pare Ko

Next to my Dad, Zion has another buddy here at home - my brother Philip. Philip is one of Zion's godfathers during the latter's baptism. And since most of us are already adults here at home, the closest "kid" or "playmate" Zion has here at home is my brother (who's only 16 years). Somehow, despite the age difference, both enjoy similar things - eating sweets, watching Disney channel (and even Nick Jr) together, and lastly, pulling off tricks and jokes to everyone here at home. I must also admit that if there's one person whom Zion is really afraid of, it will be Philip. It's not that my brother hits or spanks Zion. In fact, I can barely remember the last time Philip had reprimanded my son. Zion has that certain respect (and fear?) for Philip that even the simplest "sutsot" from my brother would send Zion running. But after the "sutsot" and "Zion behave!" command from my brother, it's back to playtime for both of them, as if nothing happened. =)

The 3 pictures were taken at different times. The 1st picture and 3rd pictures were taken during a trip to Baguio last 2007. The 3rd picture was taken in front of a military tank in Philippine Military Academy (PMA). The 2nd picture was taken before Zion was one year old.

Credits for this layout: Monkey Business Kit from raspberryroaddesigns.net.

You're All I Want for Christmas

How fast time flies. It was only a few months ago when I started digiscrapping with the help and encouragement of some online friends from Girltalk. Now, it's already December, which means it's been 6 months since I started digiscrapping. Wow! And what's another reason why December is an important month? Of course it's Christmas! My family and I (including Zion) has almost completed our Christmas shopping (I hope!!). Unfortunately, due to our hectic shopping schedule plus the long tiring lines at the malls, I still haven't had the chance to take Zion's pic this holiday season. Oh well... I just have to contend myself using two of Zion's older pics for this layout - at least the pictures have the Christmas spirit in them. =D

Pictures were taken when Zion was about 6 months old. It was taken during our stay in Legenda Hotel in Subic. It was our first time to spend Christmas outside our home, so everyone was excited including Zion and I. There was a BBBBBIIIGGGG Christmas tree in the hotel lobby, that both Zion and I was amazed because of the sight of the big tree. Santa Claus was also making his Christmas hotel visitation that time, which allowed us to have a group picture with him. =)

Credits for this layout: Winter Spell Kit from scrapmalin.com.

Sleeping Child

If one asks me to define or describe peace and serenity, the best way I could describe it is to ask that person to look at a sleeping child or baby. I don't know why, but there seems to be something peaceful and calming everytime I look at a sleeping baby (like Zion's picture above). Looking at my son sleeping helps me ease out whatever troubles or worries I have at work or in my personal life. It sort of silences the inner noise in me. Somehow, it takes me back to time when my own mother (and grandmother) tried to calm me by assuring me that they are always there by my side and everything will be alright. So the next time you feel that the world around you is in chaos, try to look at a sleeping child. Just like me, you may find peace and comfort in them.

Picture used in this layout was taken when Zion was about 5 or 6 months old. I was actually experimenting with the color features of my new digital camera that time. Though the entire layout was created using Photoshop, the sepia color in the picture was done via the color feature of my digicam. I'm still figuring out how to do it (i.e. change the picture's color to sepia) using Photoshop (CS3). Any suggestions will be appreciated. =)

Journalling:

"... Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing

Ang bantay ko'y tala, ang tanod ko'y bituin

Sa piling ni Nanay, langit ang buhay

Puso kong may dusa, sabik sa ugoy ng duyan..."

- Filipino Song - Sa Ugoy ng Duyan

Credits for this layout: Java Joe Kit and Endless Ephemera Collection 1 and 2 from raspberryroaddesigns.net.

Big Boy

It's nice to watch how kids grow - from the time they were helpless infants needing an adult's help for almost anything to little toddlers who are very curious about their surroundings and anything that tickles their fancy. Zion is not different. I remember seeing him for the first time in the hospital's nursery room. I still remember the feeling when I first cradled him in my arms. I was even afraid of carrying him for fear that my clumsiness and my being feeble that time (note: I underwent forced labor for almost 2 days before my OB finally decided to have me deliver Zion via C-section) might take the better of me. After almost a year and a half in these pictures, Zion is now bouncing little toddler, very eager to conquer anything that ignites his curiosity. Time flies. And sometimes I hate how it flies so fast. =(

These pictures were taken at Camp John Hay in Baguio City during our family's trip there last September 2007. Inside the said place, they have an "activity center" (just can't remember the name of the place) where the kids can take on different rides (like the ones Zion was riding). There are also bump cars and bicycles for "bigger" kids. =)

Credits for this layout: Big Boy Kit from raspberryroaddesigns.net

Trees

Since I was kid, there is no subject that I enjoy most back in high school and elementary other than Literature and Creative Writing. Though I must admit, I'm not really that gifted in the art compared to my writer friends. Nonetheless, writing has helped me express myself and say those things that I can't say in verbally. It has become my outlet to voice out what I truly feel. People who know me well know that I can write my best compositions during those moments when I am very happy or very sad. And one of the pieces of literature that "inspired" me to hone this love for writing is Joyce Kilmer's poem, Trees. I remember learning this poem back in elementary (I just can't remember which grade level). The poem was simple enough to be understood and memorized by a grade school kid like me, but it's meaning is something even adults should learn and internalize - "Poems are made by fools like me.. but only God can make a tree" - Man can create the most fluent verses and the most advanced machines, but only one God has the power to create and give the greates miracle of all - Life.

For this layout, I chose some of the pictures we took while driving along the man-made Mahogany forest in Bohol. The Mahogany trees are so tall and planted so near each other that the higher branches reach out to each other, forming a canopy which provides a shade against the scorching sun to those travelling on the road. According to our tour guide, Ms. Flor, the Mahogany trees here were planted to prevent the floods from reaching the lower areas. Thus, these trees are very much protected and taken care of. How I wish all trees in Philippines are treated this way. =D

Journalling:

Trees

by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts its leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives in rain;

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Credits for this layout: Harvest Spice Kit at shabbyprincess.com; Teen Collection and Family History Collection at scrapbookflair.com; Endless Ephemera Collection at raspberryroaddesigns.blogspot.com; Autumn Gold Kit at bohemianart.blogspot.com; Frisson Kit at petitmoineaux.blogspot.com; Cherry Mokka Kit at digiscrapbooking.ch.

Best Buddies

There's one pair of sparring partners here at home that we consider "untouchable" - my Dad and Zion. When Zion is alone he is definitely very vulnerable to my and my brother's "bullying". Bullying here is not to be taken on a bad note. Zion can just easily be made to cry and easily give up the control of sofa and most importantly, the television. During these "bullying" moments, Zion has one savior to look up to - my Dad. I cannot blame my Dad. Zion can be considered my Dad's xerox copy. We often joked that if my Dad was Dr. Evil (from the movie Austin Powers), Zion would definitely be his Mini-Me. Zion's complete name which comprises 3 separate names (it's quite long so I won't mention it anymore!) includes my Dad's real name (this was a very serious request from my Dad, that we almost argued about it when I was filling-up Zion's birth certificate). Zion's tantrums and mood swings are like my Dad's (this is confirmed by my very own Mother... hehehe..). And during family outings, Zion would definitely look for my Dad. On his part, my Dad has one BIG picture frame in his office that is ALMOST SOLELY devoted to Zion's pics. The family picture where he (my Dad), Mama, my brother, and I are together occupies a typical 3 x 5 frame, but for Zion, a book-style (i.e. 2 frames joined at the middle) 6 x 10 (i.e. 10 inches per "page") frame houses 4 3R pictures of Zion. Talk about a Grandfather's love for his beloved apo.

For this layout, I chose pictures of my Dad and Zion together. The first one was taken in front of one the big aquariums at the Manila Ocean Park. It appears that my Dad is showing Zion how fishes and underwater life looks like. The second picture was taken in one of those bonding moments between the "mag-lolo" here at home.

Credits for this layout : Grandparents' Day Collection kit from scrapbookflair.com.