Brother Sister Model-Wannabees

I enjoy taking pictures of myself and my brother together. Somehow, our pictures are always on the wacky and funny side. My brother Philip seems to have the knack for finding a good angle for pictures, and my being a frustrated-print-ad model (teee heee!!!) always complements my brother's posing talent.In the picture used for this layout (taken from last year's our Labor Day trip to Tagaytay), my brother and I were feeling like models so we readily posed like one even if there are a lot of people in the area (hahahaha!). For all we care. What is important is that we're having a fun and enjoyable time, and the fun we're having can be seen in our pictures. :-)

Journalling: Laughs shared by Sisters and Brothers are the best kind.

Credits for this layout: Bright Springtime Kit by Alba Eire Creations available at KreativeKreationsKorner; Siblings WordArt from Linda Reichardt available at Random Thoughts by Linda.

One Lucky Baby

When Zion was around 1 year old, he has this naughty habit of biting/eating small foods from someone else's hands. I'm not sure if he does it on purpose, or he simply can't reach the table and he can't talk straight yet during that time, making communication with us grown-ups quite difficult for him.Zion's usual victim had been my Dad (his grandpa) who is usually caught off guard because he is watching tv or reading the newspaper while eating. The pictures I used in this layout were taken while Zion attempts (and successfully) grabs a piece of bread from my Dad's hand. Notice how he first eyes his "prey", afterwhich, he opens his mouth wide enough (as he attempts to scare his potential victim), and finally goes for the kill. He has done this "stint" several times, and I can say that he has always been lucky to bite off the food from my Dad's hand. :-)

Credits for this layout: Bright Springtime Kit by Alba Eire Creations available at KreativeKreationsKorner; Luck WordArt by Dora's Lemonlove Creations available at Scrapstreet.com.

Thank You For Having You

My apologies for not being able to post some layouts last week. Aside from being busy with my regular job, I was busy with my son Zion's 4th birthday party celebration. Well.. the party is still a month from now, but knowing how venue reservations are here in Manila, I had to scout for the possible venues for his 4th birthday party. I tried to beg off from having his birthday party, but my little man's pleas were too much for me to take, so poor me had to give in to another birthday party this year. Aside from Zion's pleadings, my mom and dad were giving me their usual "pangungunsensya" (guilt sermons), telling me that when I was a kid, I always had a birthday party each year, until I reached the age of seven (7). So it was a 3-against-1 thing, and I lost. :-)

Come to think of it, I am happy that Zion came into my life. I admit that our condition is not that easy. Raising a child is not an easy task, but being both a mother and a father makes the task more difficult and complicated. There are those moments wherein I seriously think how will I be able to make ends meet if my parents are no longer around. There are those moments wherein I'm soooo pissed with my work that I just want to walk out of the office, but then I think about how will I send my son to school, and I just endure everything at work. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, after a tiring (and sometimes frustrating) day at work, I go home to Zion's laughter and hugs. His laughter and giggles is like a breath of fresh air after a suffocating day at work. His hugs and kisses are like doses of power vitamins after a draining day.

Journalling: Thank you for being in my life.

Credits for this layout: Love Cutie Tagger Size Kit by Wicked Princess available at KreativeKreationsKorner; Love WordArt by Thaty Borges Designs;

Prom King & Queen

Last week, my brother had their Graduation Ball / Senior's Ball, as part of the activities of the 4th year High School students. Of course, his date was his girlfriend, Nella. Both of them are graduating from High School this March. My brother was very excited for this graduation ball. He was preparing for this as early as February. Next school year, he will be starting a new chapter in his life, as he enters college. Second to the his actual graduation, I guess his Graduation Ball is one of the most memorable events in his high school life.

Credits for this layout: Love Cutie Tagger Size Kit by Wicked Princess available at KreativeKreationsKorner;

Mama and Me

I don't always have a 100% perfect and smooth-sailing relationship with my Mother. In fact, when I was younger, we've had our share of arguments and fights. I was the silent rebellious type of daughter while my Mom was the perfectionist type who always wanted things to be on schedule and in order. But as I was growing up, and when I eventually became a mother myself, it was then that I understood my Mom. It was then that I realized that Mama was not an enemy, but instead, she was an ally whose heart was always with her children, despite our being little monsters and silent rebels. She had that soft spot within her, that wasn't present in my disciplinarian Dad. And for this, I am slowly looking at my Mom in a different way. I am happy that it didn't took me years to see these things. Iam thankful to God for giving me Mama. She may not be the perfect Mother, but the heck, I am not a perfect daughter, and nobody's perfect in the first place. Despite of her imperfections, I am still thankful for her for trying her best to raise me in an upright manner, and for never giving up on me, despite my imperfections.

Credits for this layout: My Mother Tagger Size Kit by Tootsie's Creationz available at Kreative Kreations Korner.

What Is A Mother?

I was watching my parents earlier as we were strolling in the mall. Today, they are celebrating their 33rd wedding anniversary. Supposed to be, only the two of them (my mom and dad) has room reservations in a posh hotel here in Manila. But with the recent earthquake attacks in various parts of the world, my Mom urged (and even nagged) my Dad to book another room so that the entire family (i.e. my brother, moi, Zion, my cousin, and even Zion's nanny) can be with them in case an earthquake occurs this weekend. *God forbid!* My brother and I were initially laughing because of my Mom's paranoia, and my Dad was quite irked because he was paying the additional room. But now that I am creating this blog entry and relaxing here in our hotel room, I am thankful to my Mom for bringing us here. Well.. not really because of any earthquake.. but just for the simple thought that she always remember us, her children (and her grandchild Zion as well). My brother and I are all grown-up now, but somehow, my Mom's love and concern doesn't fade as we age. We are still her children, deserving of her love and concern, regardless of what age we're in. And for this, I want to thank Mama, not only for letting us enjoy these simple luxuries, but for the genuine concern and affection she shows us.

Journalling: A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

Credits for this layout: My Mother Tagger Size Kit by Tootsie's Creationz available at Kreative Kreations Korner.

March 2K10 Calendar Layout

For my March 2K10 calendar layout, I am featuring my Dad. He'll be celebrating his 59th birthday on Tuesday (March 9). When I was growing up, I used to be a Daddy's girl. Whenever my Mom and I are having fights, my Dad would oftentimes intervene, to my delight and to my Mom's fury. Yet despite my being a Daddy's girl, I have a great respect (and fear) of my Dad because he is also a disciplinarian. He uses sort of a "carrot-and-stick" approach when I was growing up. He knows when to "spoil me" but he doesn't hesitate to spank me with his dreaded leather "sinturon" (i.e. belt) whenever I misbehave. He has set the bar when it comes to my grades in school by providing incentives (such as 100 pesos for every 87 and above grade on my report card) for me study harder. And now that I am a grown-up, I am thankful to my Dad for instilling that discipline in me. I may have failed in some aspects in my life but I guess because of the discipline and determination that my father has inculcated in me, I am still able to face and overcome most of the challenges life throws upon me. And for this reason, I am thankful to my Dad. Advance Happy Birthday Daddy! May God continue to bless you with long life, good health, and happiness always. I love you!

Journalling: A father is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way.

Credits for this layout: Choco Comfort Collab Kit available at Aprilisa Designs. WordArt by Tina Chambers available at Digital Scrapbook Place