My Man's Day

Happy Birthday, Honey!  Mwuah!!!

 

Ditto from our kiddos. :)

Uncle Joey Our Hero!

(Wikipedia)

This afternoon my kiddos and I went to my sister's to celebrate my nephew's 17th birthday.  Swimming in the pool was part of the festivities.  So when it was time for that part, I sprayed sunblock on all the little munchkins (cousins) and off they go to the pool.  I specifically told Sophia to stay in the shallow jacuzzi section of the pool with her cousin Kaelyn.  She said okay; my brother was the adult watching them; and Leno and a couple of his friends were good swimmers so good, I go inside the house.  Later I go to the sliding door and see Sophia on the deep end of the pool, arms holding on to the edge, head seemingly on the way down with her body ...she wasn't actively drowning but she was in the deep end and you can guess the terror that overcame me.  I screeeamed her name over and over again and before I knew it, my brother jumped into the pool and I'm out in the scene just as quickly.  I see my brother flailing (he really doesn't know how to swim ..maybe manage a dog paddle) but my eyes were concentrated on Sophia who at that point got out and headed back into the jacuzzi section ... and my brother managed to fight his way off the pool safely.

I hadn't realize that there was pool steps/seats and Sophia was standing on it!  So she was actually not sinking but I happened to catch her at the moment when she concluded climbing over the jacuzzi/deep end divider and on her way to stand on the steps.  At the time my brother's eyes were on his phone but as soon as he heard my panic yells, he looked up and from his point of view, he thought Sophia was drowning and instinctively jumped into the pool after her forgetting he couldn't swim! 

Boy, that will be forever be a memorable moment!  Our family excitement of the decade!  I gave everyone present there a big scare with my desperate screams.  It all happened so quickly and reactions were overall shock.  Those in the pool and in the house were stunned and BOOM! it was over.

We (my parents, sister, brother and I) had a good laugh afterwards because the "lifeguard" who ended up jumping in the pool couldn't swim and could have drowned!  Of course, it was only funny because everyone was all right and we were having post tension perspective. 

Through it all, I looked at my brother with love, gratitude, and admiration because he dove to rescue his niece, my daughter!  What a loving and brave uncle!  Thank you my little brother, our hero!!

(Here's a last year pic of my brother that I have on hand ..with his daughter Kaelyn and nephew Calvin)

**This one time the kids did not have their life vests because they out grew them.  Not happening again!  Next time they will have some sort of floatation device and that pool will be covered with all types of floatables!! ..and maybe a certified lifeguard! LOL.

ANYWAY,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE LIN!  WHAT AN EXCITING DAY!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

We need to get out more!

Steven is turning 3 years old in a couple of days.  I asked him this morning where he would like to go on his birthday and his reply was ... yep, you guessed it!  Target!  Perhaps Disneyland last year wasn't fun enough!!  He cracks me up!!!  :)

Meet my great-niece

... little miss Madeleine Grace.  Born Mother's Day eve.  Weighing in at 5.6 lbs and 17.75 inches long.  A spittin' image of her older brother Anthony.  Coincidentally they both had the same birth weight. 

Congratulations Anthony and Jessica!!

(and Lizzy, lil Anthony, and Aiden)

I got to visit Madeleine today and I've got the baby fever now!  She's such a cutie pie!!  I love her.  :)

Jess and I seem to have a pattern of baby making.  I had David, year later she had Lizzy, then she had lil Anthony, and I followed a year later with Sophia, then I had Steven, and she followed 3 months later with Aiden, and now she had Madeleine, ... so I'm suppose to have another girl too!  Bummed that it's not gonna happen.  However, my body thinks I'm pregnant.  I've got the appetite of a pregnant woman and a basketball belly of one!  Oh well.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADELEINE!!

Spring Break Kickoff

David's first week of spring break (almost 2 wks ago) started off by celebrating his best friend's (Marc) birthday at Jump Zone!  Sophia and Steven lucked out and got invited as well.  Needless to say the kiddos had an awesome time!  All the jumping and fun made for an early bedtime that night!  ~Thanks Katia!

Small world ... Marc's uncle happens to be my OB doctor and he and his family was at the party.  I got to show off Steven to him ... baby he delivered!  Cool.  

**I was chatting with the parents (and attempted to read) while the kiddos where on the jumping session so I didn't get any pictures there.

                 Pizza ...yumm!!

                    

The cool boys!

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY MARC!!

March birthdays x 4

Yeap, we celebrated 4 birthdays earlier this month ... my mom, Ms. Evelyn (Lino's mom), Ryan, and Blake.  The initial plan was to celebrate at the beach but it didn't play out due to weather and other circumstances ...maybe next year!  Anyway, we had a pleasant family get-together.  The usual social fun ... food, laughs, pinata, cake, and presents.  ~My brother Neil and his family are coming from the Philippines towards the end of the month, so we'll probably celebrate again!  :)

Time's flying ...Ryan turned 12 and Blake turned 9!

Birthday catch-up

I'm going to back track a bit to David's birthday ... new years eve.  That day the fam went to Sea World (Lego Land will have to wait another day).  We got to see a little more this time around but my camera was acting up so I didn't get much pictures.  Suffice it to say the kids had a great time and as always family time is priceless.  Then when we got home that night, he blew his birthday candles.  This year Mama didn't read the cake mix box and ended up baking a brownie cake ... no wonder the batter seemed funny!  It ended up to be a nice mistake because it was delicious!!

We held off David's family birthday party until the 8th of this month; the same day as his baptism.  I figured 2 big parties in 1 day equals 1 less hassle and clean up!! ~Everyone had fun getting together and celebrating.  I made it easy on myself and had Mr. Yu cater both events (but did prepare Mexican food just in case ...and I did end up setting some of that).  ~Thank you family for celebrating little David's It Great to be 8 day.  Fun times!!

Someone's middle name is spelled s-p-o-i-l-e-d because he still has another birthday party coming.  With the holidays and these two events I had forgotten to plan for one at his school with his classmates so that'll be coming soon.  I've yet to talk with his teacher to set a date.  *sigh* (tired sigh, not an upset sigh)

D big 8!

Yeap, David is 8 years old today!! 

Looks like someone is going to Lego Land.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON!!

WE LOVE YOU,

DADDY, MAMA, SOPH, & LIL BROTHER

21 Again!

Little David thinks his dad is 24yo today.  That works 'cause that would mean that I'm 21yo!!  Sounds great to me!!!  ..hehehe...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE!

MAHAL NA MAHAL KITA!!!

Bummer... we were suppose to go to Sea World today but it is still raining cats and dogs!

Plan B ... just don't know what that is at the moment.  :)

Birthday party at the park

This past Saturday we had Sophia's birthday party at our local park.  It turned out to be a beautiful sunny-windy day.  An especially wonderful setting for the kids.  They had fun playing in the playground (not pictured) and at the wide open field.  We had the usual festivities ... grub, talking and laughing, games, pinata, birthday cake, and presents (opened at home).  Overall, a wonderful family fun afternoon.  ~Unable to make the party but sent their love and regrets were:  my dad, my sister, my brothers and their kids, and Auntie Tish.

Thank you family for celebrating Sophia's birthday with us.  We had a terrific time.  You are awesome!!

Couldn't find my still camera so these pictures were taken from my cell phone camera.

P.S.  Our prayers are with you Aunt Debbie!

Sophia is 4

Hip hip hooray, today is Sophia's special day!!  She is 4 years old.  Happy birthday Princess!!

Here's a glimpse of her day.

 She was happy to wake up to birthday balloons

I won nail polish & signed bookmarkers, so Sophia and I had fun painting our nails blue!

While Lil David was in school, the rest of the fam went to IHOP for breakfast.

She's sporting an Auntie Monica smile here.

 Then her daddy had to go to work so off the two lil ones & I to Toys R Us for shopping.

Ahh, Auntie Tish influence going on here.

 She ended up picking a jewelry making set ...Lola influence?

Whew, that was tiring!

Sleepy look like Grandma Bertha or Aunt Sheila.

 After picking up her Kuya from school, off to Chick-fil-A for lunch and play

(Not pictured): Then lil David wanted to go to the dollar store to get presents for his sister.

Sophia chose a Dora hairbrush & a piggy puppet.

 Birthday cake time!

A simple family celebration.  Then coming Saturday, a birthday party in her honor will take place at our local park and another trip to Sea World by the end of the year.

WE LOVE YOU DEARLY SOPHIA!

Aidan is 2

The kids and I attended Aidan's birthday party early last month.  We had a great time.  The clown was a big hit and overall when 'cousins' get together then surely lots of fun is to be had. 

Look how darling he is!  ~Have an awesome birthday year Aidan.  We love you!!

Birthdays and waterful fun summer!!

I know it's been a long time since I've updated. So it's collage time again!

Birtday fun: my mother-in-law and my Aunt Delma

Waterful fun: poolside with cousins; David's swimming class; front yard sprinkler play --notice that Steven's at the sideline--he doesn't seem to like getting wet


More waterful fun: feet dipping at a stream near Forest Falls (S&S asleep in the car, me reading, so it was D&D time); backyard sprinkler fun

Birthday party at JumpZone: David's friend Jenna turned 7yo


Birthday at Chuck-E-Cheese: my beautiful niece Kaelyn turned 6yo


Sophia got invited to a Pinkalicious birthday party for three 3year olds!! Sooo cute!!!

Birthday catch up

Steven's birthday celebration lasted about a week and a half! Been quite busy with that and other things so I haven't been able to make time to blog as they came. So here's my attempt to update his birthday adventures. Making collages seems to be the simplest way to showcase several pictures at once.

This was on his actual birthday. Little David had school so he wasn't in the blowing of the cake pictures. After David's school the kids and I went to Chick-fil-A for lunch and play (Daddy went to work). Later that evening we went to David's swim class.

This was a combination birthday celebration for Leno (my nephew, 15yo) and Steven at my home. We did the usual: food, socializing, pinata, cake and ice cream, and opening of presents. I dropped the ball and seriously forgot games and party favors!! ... I don't know where my head went! But we had fun nonetheless.

One day I had a girl's day out with my friend Jackie (dropped the kids off to my sister's) and she sent me back with a gift for Steven. He loved his Leap Frog fridge phonics and especially his card ... can you tell by the tight hugs? Thanks Auntie Jackie and Uncle John! --Then on another day, my youngest brother and his kids came over since they weren't able to make it at Leno/Steven's birthday party. Always a treat to see them!! Thanks Uncle Joey and cousins ... don't know yet what to do with the boatload of money!! :)

Extra, extra, read all about it!

27 lbs, 33.5in tall

Our little guy made the local newspaper today (Daddy's traditional gift to his family)! Wow, he's two already? What a cutie pie! Well, he's quite the talker now. My back of the burner fear has been relieved. I came across his baby blessing a couple of months ago and found particular comfort in the verse, "We bless you with a physical body that will develop without imperfection." I can't believe I missed that the first time .... as some of you may recall, in utero he was suspected to be a Down's syndrome baby. Anyway, he's one happy kid! He loves to mimic his brother and sister. He adores his daddy but still appearing to be a mama's boy (yeay!). He loves being outdoor and has the cutest bright eye, one dimpled cheek, big smile that will melt your heart! His every moment is a treasure to us!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVEN!

We love you,

Daddy, Mama, Kuya, and Ate

**btw: the gentleman that gave Steven his baby blessing was not aware of his in utero condition.