My Sweet Christmas Treat

I was browsing through some old photos and here's what I found. My son as a candy cane. He was "C - is for the candy cane" in his class Christmas presentation year 2004.

Hay! The silly things we make our kids do.

Thanks Carlos for patiently wearing that silly styro candy cane, mom made.

THAT'S WHY I LOVE YOU... my sweet Christmas treat!!!

That's Why I Love you: Luneta mMix Up

We (me, husband, and 2 kids), were on our way to Manila Doctors' Hospital UN Manila, to bring Carlos (our youngest kid) for a check up.

Carlos: Mom where is Manila Doctors'? Is it far?

Mom: (thinking of a familiar landmark) Yup, it's near Luneta.

Sean (elder son): Luneta? Luneta Coliseum?

"That's why I love You Sean!"

Mula NOON… hanggang NGAYON… basta UBO, BISOLVON!

When someone in the family suffers a terrible cough worsened by phlegm, you want to ease the problem with nothing less than the soothing love of the family; and an effective and trusted cough medicine – Bisolvon.

Over the years, Bisolvon kept every Filipino family secured from the threats of cough. It has stood by us for more than four (4) decades and continues to stand by us in the battle against cough. As the leading family coughs medicine, Bisolvon aims to serve us and be part of each and every family for more years to come.

July 3 to 5, 2009 at SM Mall of Asia, Bisolvon hosted a 3-day Family Day entitled “Bisolvon Bilis – Alis Ubo ng Pamilya”.

This event did not just strengthen and reestablish Bisolvon’s name in every Filipino household but instead made each Filipino family revive family bond through various activities.

As Bisolvon positions itself as a member of our family, it also wants to be a part of an authentic Filipino family – loving, happy, and healthy.

THAT'S WHY I LOVE YOU: Bedtime Story

It was a long night and I hadn’t taken any sleep. It was around 8am. Just in time for my kids to wake up. So before I went to sleep, I asked them to read me a bedtime story (an effort to make my kids read). My 2 sons were fighting over who would tell the story. My 2nd son was first to grab a book. “Tell Me where” – a junior encyclopedia type book. He said it would be perfect so I’d learn while sleeping. And then my 1st son was rushing and said “Mom let me, let me… I’ll tell you a story. The story of LITTLE RED ROBINHOOD”.

Hahaha!
That's why I Love you!

CRAYOLA Overload

When it was time to buy school supplies for SY 2009-10, the kids and I were all excited.

We visited National Bookstore for the kids' supplies. What we enjoyed the most was the crayon-buying part. Of course, it had to be CRAYOLA

We ended up buying four (4) different Crayola boxes.

For my eldest, he only needed 8pc crayons. He bought an Erasable Crayola (Nice pick).

My younger boy needed a 24pc crayon. He bought the ordinary 24pc Crayola (he had no other choice.

For me, I bought an 8pc Fabric Crayola (Love it). And for family consumption, we had a unanimous decision of getting the Twistable Crayola.

The three of us were excited to show dad what we bought. And when he saw al 4 of them, he loved each and every box.

NEW TO ME: Just Learned to Convert "docx file to doc"

First time I encountered a "docx" file extension was when a supplier emailed me. I thought it was just a mistake, an “x” added to a doc file.

I’m using Windows XP and my computer just couldn’t open this “docx” file. So what was my solution? I asked my supplier to resend the document using “doc” extension, the “correct” extension, and so I thought.

But it wasn’t actually a mistake. It’s a default file extension for Windows 2007. Something my computer doesn’t have.

Then I realized I can’t always ask my suppliers and clients to resend every time I receive a docx file, right?

So I tried to find a way to convert these docx files to doc… without downloading any software.

I just learned this a couple of minutes ago. I’m sure I’m not alone in this… or I hope I’m not.

Here’s my super easy way to convert a docx file to doc.

Step 1: go to www.zamzar.com
Step 2: click the “convert” tab. Then a 4-step instruction will appear.
Step 3: Fill in the blanks (file to be converted, file extension to be converted to (in my case ‘doc’), your email address, and press convert)
Step 4: Wait and check your email for the link to the converted version of your docx file.

Hurray!

Docx, no longer a threat!

LIVE FREE, live independently

A group of persons with disability (PWD), Life Haven Inc, has dedicated its life in giving PWDs a chance in life - a chance to live independently.

This does not mean PWDs don’t need help. Of course everybody does, abled or disabled. But the main concern is to give PWDs an opportunity to be part of this crazy world.

A simple intension of bringing PWDs to the society - where PWDs can socialize, get educated/employed, and live life - or as one member would say “to rock and roll”, is what Life Haven Inc. is pushing for.

Of course, in every effort to do so, funding is key. This is why Life Haven Inc. is putting up a fundraising concert entitled “LIVE FREE”, for the sole purpose of bringing in new hope to the disabled sector and bringing the ‘abled sector’ to get involved.

On May 30, 2009, 8pm, at Crossroad 77 Mother Ignacia St, Quezon City, see PWD performers and non-PWD artists take the same stage in showing off their talents in music and performing arts.

Beautiful Gate Performing Arts (PWD Malaysian performers; Rondall on Wheels from Bahay Mapagmahal; wheelchair-bound ballroom dancers from Tahanang Walang Hagdanan; Sparkle Band – a group of autistic musicians; will perform hand in hand with mainstream bands such as Juan Pablo Dream; Blue Jean Junkies; and Good Morning High Five.

By this simple gesture of seeing abled and disabled groups working together to entertain us in this concert, Life Haven Inc. is starting a movement and a lifestyle – that indeed this crazy world can be a happier place when everybody – abled and disabled – is playing on the same team.

Go Karting for My Son’s 9th Birthday

My eldest son, Sean, always wanted to be a race car driver. Since driving a real car is not yet an option, he found a way to start his driving career. For his 9th birthday, Sean only had 1 request. No need for a party, no need to eat out, no need for gigts. All he wanted was to drive a go kart – the closest to a real race car. He even knew which karting track to go to, The City Kart at Sucat.

And so we went.

Requirements:
Rubber shoes
Height of at least 4 feet
Php 600 race fee

Everything else City Kart provided:
Go Karts - in regular and kiddie sizes


Race Car Gears – mask, helmet, jumpsuit, and the works


Pre-race briefing – all racers are familiarized with the kart, track, rules and regulations


With everything set, Sean, together with his brother Carlos and cousin Anshel were all set to race.


Sean’s smile was permanently fixed on his face as he sat in his kart. As the checkered flag waved, Sean went off to his car racing dream.


After 10 minutes of swerves, and continuous acceleration, Sean and his competitors (Carlos and Anshel) finished the race.

Since City Kart has an efficient computerized timing system, we immediately knew who got the best time in a lap.

Guess who got the best time?

Yup, it’s Sean!


For 10 minutes and Php 600, Sean lived his dream.

Thanks City Kart.


Hours of operations

Monday to Friday: 3pm to 10pm
Saturday:10am to 12pm
Sunday and holidays:10am to 10pm
For information, reservations or corporate inquiries please call (02) 821-7087.

Address: KM 18 West Service Road, Sucat Paranaque

THAT'S WHY I LOVE YOU: On My Birthday

I recently celebrated my birthday. Since it was a busy day, I just brought my family to Dairy Queen (DQ), SM Anex, for ice cream. My husband and my kids are easy to please. A little, or a lot of chocolate, makes their day.

We ordered
Dad: Oreo Brownie Blizzard
Mom: Strawberry Banana Blizzard
Sean: M&M Blizzard
Carlos: Triple Chocolate Ice Cream

We all had a great time but this made my day…

Carlos took his first spoon of his Triple Chocolate Ice Cream and had to voice out his exploding emotion of happiness. And so he told me…

“Mom super thanks for the super yummy ice cream. I love you mom. HAPY MOTHER’S DAY!”

I didn’t know what to say. I thought it was my birthday.
That’s why I love you… Carlos!

Discipline Your Child in 3-2-1

I always try new things to discipline my kids. One that we parents usually do is give our kids ultimatum.

USUAL STYLE
Mom: Come on Sean, and Carlos time to eat.
Sean: (playing) Yes mom. I’ll be there in a while.
Carlos: (watching TV) Wait mom, just finishing the show.
AFTER 10 MINUTES (Mom is still alone in the dining table)
Mom: Come on guys!
Sean/Carlos: Coming!
AFTER 10 MORE MINUTES (Mom is still waiting... impatiently.)
Mom: Guys it’s time to eat. (counting off) One… Two…
Sean: (still relaxed) Wait lang mom.
Carlos: Mom you’re counting up to 3? 5? Or hanggang 10?
(If mom was initially thinking of counting only to 3, and no one reacts, she adjusts it to 5, and if there’s still no reaction, move to 10. Until the threat of counting loses its value.)

MY STYLE.
Mom: Come on Sean, and Carlos time to eat.
Sean: (playing) Yes mom. I’ll be there in a while.
Carlos: (watching TV) Wait mom, just finishing the show.
Mom: Okay, I’M COUNTING DOWN. In five… four… three…
(Sean and Carlos rushing to the dining room)

This way the kids know that it will end at 1. No matter where I start, whether I do 10 to 1, 5 to 1, or 3 to 1. It will always end at 1.

It works! I tried it with my kids, nephew, and niece. COUNTING DOWN always makes kids follow.

My Son is Scared to be a Good Boy

While bathing my 7-year old son Carlos, he asked me a boggling question. “Mom, will the same thing happen to me as what happened to Amiel?” (Amiel is the grade 4 Ateneo student who was crushed by a van in the Ateneo Grade School pick-up and drop-off area. Amiel died.)

I paused for a while and answered “NO!” I continued soaping Carlos and he reiterated, “I mean Mom, when I become a good boy ba will I die?” This time it was a longer pause I took, I couldn’t understand where he was going, but I answered “Of course not”.

While rinsing him off, Carlos explained further, “kasi Mom sabi nila, Amiel died kasi he was a good boy. God wanted to be with Amiel na, kaya He got Amiel”. And so Carlos repeated “So Mom pag naging good na ba ko, will God get me?”

I continued rinsing him, giving myself time to make a reasonable answer.

I saw a scared boy in Carlos. Confused on whether to be good or not. It was like a choice of keeping his life or facing death. I felt bad.

While wrapping him with towel, I asked first, “Why do you ask that anak?”

Carlos, being in the same school as Amiel, is surrounded by countless stories about the unfortunate death of Amiel. Carlos said that the yayas and drivers talk about the accident all the time. Carlos said, “Mom kasi sabi nila pag good ka daw kinukuha ka ni God” - (A usual note we, adults, make when somebody young dies ‘mabait na bata kasi kaya kinuha ng Diyos’). These discussions Carlos overheard gave him a scary idea. He felt that being good meant death, and a gruesome death if I may add.

No matter how I protect my kids from wrong info, wrong info still comes.

When Carlos was all dried up I explained, “No anak, that’s not true. Amiel died because God has plans for him. He didn’t die because he was a good boy, it’s just that God needed Amiel na. Sayang lang, because Amiel is a good boy, but that’s not the reason why he died.”

Our conversation and bath time ended there. It seemed like he was thinking it through. Perhaps trying to make sense of what I said and what he heard over and over in school. I just pray that he trusts my words over what others said. I just wish that he’s no longer scared of being a good boy.

Fun and Inexpensive Weekend

I have2 very active boys. Every weekend my husband and I try to find activities for them (to keep them away from the computer, psp, and TV). Our favorite spot, The University of the Philippines (UP) campus at Diliman Quezon City.

Every Sunday, the main roads within the campus are closed down. Kids and adults take advantage of the massive space to jog, ride the bike, skate, have a picnic, or do whatever.

Big trees surround the campus making it comfortable even on high noon.

You can bring your pets (just the small ones). Big dogs are kind of off-limits in some areas.

Don’t worry about food:

- taho, mamang sorbetero, sari-sari stores are all over

- food chains are nearby (Philcoa – McDo, Jollibee, Greenwhich, Chowking, Magoo’s etc; Katipunan – McDo, Jollibee, Shakey’s, Starbucks, Kenny Roger’s, Pizza Hut, etc)

- or if you’re really lazy, you can have food delivered (like what we always do). Just identify the street and the nearest building from your spot and the delivery guy will find you.

UP campus is a great place for the family to spend the day. It’s not packed, and it’s FREE.