MONKEY BUSINESS MEANS BUSINESS

Taken @ the Hilton Head Marina

Benedict's first rehearsal went well. Although he might just be a bit overwhelmed with all the  reminders, instructions and what not that they all have to remember. Everyone involved in this "Monkey Business" musical, from the script writer, to the choreographer, director, musical and stage directors and to the volunteers, they all mean business! Yes, they make it fun but definitely no monkeying around allowed. I hope B can keep up. I was so glad DGlenn was there to drive us. I had to work and the rehearsal time is actually my bed time. But since this was their very first, we both just had to be there for moral support...half way through, I went to the car and sleep!!! More days like this, napping in the car are coming up but I can't complain. My baby is going to be in a musical and we are very proud of him!

21 DAYS TO MAKE A HABIT

It takes 21 days to break or make a habit! Here we go...a challenge to myself to make this blog updated. I am going to post one each day for the next 21 days. Are you with me? (hey there, beloved 1-2 reader/s). Where to start shouldn't be that hard when you haven't written for a year, right? There should be a million things to write about...yup, that is if you are born a writer which clearly, Im not. But lets just say that Im going to try, ok?

Let me start with my favorite subject...my son! And no, there's no favoritism in the family, he is our only child, :) I am just so excited for him. He is about to do something he never thought of doing before...he will be in a musical play. Now if it were up to him, he'd probably spend his nights watching Disney movies on Netflix or play with his transformer and beyblades. But it so happen that he has me for a mom who push encouraged him to do other creative things. To make it short, he auditioned and got invited to be in the chorus of this newly written play "Monkey Business" which will be staged in December. First practice will be tonight. How I convinced him to do it? Well, we don't do bribes in this family, we make "deals" :)) I know he will enjoy it, meeting new friends will be a bonus aside from the fact that he will be in the company of talented artists his age and older. Whether this is going to be his first of many or first and last, at least he gave it a try. I have seen him act in our tiny living room. This boy can make me and his dad laugh. He can be in different characters you tell him to be without laughing. Mind you, there is nothing genetic in this at all! Being in front of other people might be a different story for him. We will soon find out. The most important thing I hope for him is to learn and enjoy from this whole new experience. Whatever happens, we will be there in every step of the way. So wish us luck!

Finding My Way Back...

For the nth time I’m going to give blogging (reading & writing) another try. First, I stopped reading blogs at home not because I don’t enjoy it anymore; on the contrary, I enjoy it a lot…too much that I could just sit in front of my computer for hours. It was a good habit that I tried to control before it goes bad. Why, because it started to keep me from doing my chores! You know, the ever heroic cleaning of the house, cooking, laundry and homeschool. The latter was the main reason I have to limit my me-and-my-computer time.  At first I did it as part of the things I had to give up for lent. After 40 days,  I went back to reading my favorite blogs during my spare time at work but most of them have been blocked. I do miss reading some of my favorites. I haven’t been to most these sites for ages now. Its like losing touch with friends. Mind you, I have secretly called them friends. These are extraordinary ladies I’ve come to admire from afar.  They keep me entertained, informed, inspired and they bring me closer to “home”.  I just need to go back to my good old habit, schedule it if I have to but definitely, I gotta do what I enjoy doing. Life’s too short; let’s enjoy it, in a clean, healthy and fun way of course.

So lets see…what have I been up to? Like I have been missed, hah! Since it’s been a good 10 months since I last posted something here, I can’t really go that far back or you’d be bored to death. Ergo, the succeeding posts are just tidbits of the more memorable and significant events in our lives. And since I have recovered, thankfully, most of my pictures, I am going to posts some photos, too. That is if I can relearn how to post them in a faster and more efficient way. Calling out to the experts in posting photos, please help! :D 

Family time at Orlando

We spent four glorious days in Orlando, FL. Oh it was so much fun, albeit short. The temperature was in the oppressive mid 90’s! It was very hot but we didn't let it spoil our vacation. We were supposed to go there with our very good friends, the K’s from Maryland. Unfortunately, they cancel the last minute due to work. Actually, they were the only reason why we planned this vacation. Past experience made us dread going to theme parks during hot summer time. The “ber” months would have been the ideal time to go when its much cooler. But since we already made arrangements with a resort and since we have used this vacation a million times as a way to get things done with Benedict  (not bribery but more like a reward system, thank you very much) :D we had to keep our part of the deal. So off we go even if I was a bit under the weather.  We spent a day each at the Universal Studios and at the Islands of Adventure, just the three of us in what turned out to be a hot, sweaty, tiring yet most awesome, fun and memorable summer ever.  

First stop, Universal Studios!

A die-hard Harry Potter fan :D

I must admit, B, did a good job in taking this picture.

yeah!!!

Some kind tourist offered to take our photo...glad we had our hair done that day! :D

Shrek and Fiona's adopted son :D

Very funny, Shrek!

Ah, Dippin Dots ice cream...taste like heaven on this hot summer day!

Street dancing

Philippines, my native land, oh how I miss you! 

So happy to see my country's flag in Universal Studious

Day 2 @ Islands of Adventure

Lurking behind those trees is a....

T-Rex!  RUN!

The highlight for this vacation... THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER!

Hogwarts

Hedwig, Harry's owl :D

A trip to Hogsmead

Remembrall and Firebolt

Can't wait to go visit this place again!

Till we Meet Again...

One of the things I’m so thankful to God for in this life are real good friends. I don’t really plan on being friends with anybody. I believe they just happen.  In the different stages of our lives, we always have somebody who is there for us for one reason or another. These friends are there to support and to inspire us to become a better person, mother, spouse, or friend. They touch our lives in so many ways they don’t even know. Just like this lovely family whom we have come to know and love. Teri & John are one of the most beautiful couples I know. They’ve raised four very smart, talented and very well mannered kids.  The youngest of the brood, J, is Benedict’s best friend.  B cried buckets when he learned they were moving. I pray they would remain friends and hope that someday we will all meet again. I am grateful for the way they love B.  Unfortunately for us, just as we become closer as friends, their family had to relocate. Sigh!  My good friend Teri and I had a good cry over it. We promised to keep in touch and keep our friendship in spite the distance. Before they left, I had the priviledge of doing their family portrait. I didn’t have to do much, they were so easy to photograph. The black and white portrait turned out good, not because I did it but because they were just naturally amazing. The love and bond they have as a family came out so beautifully in the photos. I only had to click the button.

Spanish moss as background

Lovely family...all so photogenic

Miss this bunch a lot

Best friends forever

They look so different yet so alike in a lot of ways :D