It’s nice having a blog coz I get to look back in the year that was, and review our life. In pictures pa! 🙂 In a span of 365 days, so many things have happened in our lives, mostly positive & wonderful I’m happy to report. And I pray that it will continue to be so this 2017. <3

Last 2016..

Renovations. I had hoped at the start of the year that our renovations would have been completed by March, but Kap is really so mabusisi. Hindi pwede sa kanya ang “good” lang. It has to be better, or best. Superlative. But I’m so grateful. His hard work has really paid off & we have such beautiful homes because of him.

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Our old home just finished its renovations last November, giving us so little time to advertise for long-term tenants huhu. Kap is so mabusisi, he took out ALL the live grass & replaced them with a synthetic kind. Less wear & tear daw, more economical in the long run.

The same goes for our new home. The imported synthetic grass took a long time coming. 😐 It was December by the time we could declare our new home sweet home finally “complete”. And there’s the resident bum.. sunning herself, lol. Enjoying the fruits of her dad’s labor. 😉

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Moving. I planned on moving to our new home sweet home by my birthday last Feb. Hay naku, no can do. Yung sabi ni Kap na “tipid-tipid”, naging major full production ang renovation sa lilipatan from top to bottom. Pintura galore inside & out. Pukpok doon, pukpok dito. We went waaaaay over our self-imposed budget, but the joy of coming home each day to our new abode that Kap has marked his stamp on is priceless. Btw, July na kami nakalipat, hay! Extended, lol.

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Kami ang sofa na may bahay, not the other way around, lol. 😛 Our home is not something from “House Beautiful” magazine where every throw pillow is in place & the furnitures are new & shiny -everything spic ‘ n span. Instead, our home is filled with old & uber loved furniture pieces, chipped & torn even, that tells tales as old as time. And where friends can sit, relax, and not worry about spilling something on the carpet. 🙂 It truly is a home sweet home.. with plenty of seating areas inside & out. Halatang mga tamad kaming tao.. ayaw magsipag-tayo HAHAHAHAHA! ;P

Kap: Sweetheart, halatang hindi ka minimalist ano? Wala na akong malakaran eh. Baka gusto mong magbawas ng gamit kahit konti?

Me: Honey, don’t me. Kung mapilit ka talaga -sige, yung reindeer ilabas mo.

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Retirement. I’m free as a bird!! Again, hehe. <3 Sure, there were glitches along the way. Daming kasong hinaharap, but in God’s time, all things will fall into place. Pasasaan ba’t matatapos at maaayos din lahat yan. I can’t have a rainbow without a little rain, right? 😉 *feeling positive*

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When you wake up in the morning, just think of what a precious gift it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love and be surrounded by loved ones. Everything else will seem trivial, I promise. No matter how big the problem may seem. <3

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Rentals. Yan ang malaking “haaaaay”. My biggest frustration. Yung March sana, naging October na. Tapos Kap just finished renovating our old home last November. Kaya kahit anong hiling ko kay God na bigyan na kami ng tenant asap, wa effect. Wait daw. Huwag ko Sya madaliin, hehe. So now, we wait for God’s best knowing full well in our hearts that He will always take care of all our needs. Hindi pa Sya pumapaltos. #Ibelieve

Kids & School.

• Ate has successfully immersed herself in grad school & found so many new friends. She is thriving & blooming, which is more than I have ever hoped for, praise Jesus. <3 Yes, early mornings & late nights studying, but I’m confident that mani lang sa kanya ito. I also thought she won’t be able to come home daily, but save for the 2 weeks where she wanted to “play independent” & stayed over at her pad, thank God that she comes home to momma every day. And that traffic, although bad, is not keeping her on the roads more than necessary.

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From the “bitchezz” back in old uste, she is now with a group called “the asmp-hoes”. OMG! Anong klaseng mga pangalan yan anak??? @_@

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• Babyson is on his 2nd year & has high grades – .01 short of being a dean’s lister which actually made him soooo frustrated. I feel for him, but I also said na kapag hindi ukol, hindi bubukol. They put so much stress & pressure on themselves. Like Ate, he’s been so studying hard late into the night then having to wake up so early & drive himself to school each day. I appreciate that. But I keep telling my kids that a grade doesn’t define their character. Papel lang yan, what’s important is knowledge. To me they will always be champions. <3

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Meanwhile, my Babyson who is more adaptable, has many many friends & revolves around the different circles from time to time. Pwedeng mag-mayor si Mr. Personality, lol!

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• My Babylove got accepted into Taft. Not her first choice, but at least she has a college now to call her own. We’ll see what God has planned for her in the coming months. Malayo-layo pa naman ang August. Prayer is such a very powerful tool & intercession. God will lead her to the path & career He wants her to take. I believe that so much. <3 I am so blessed to have three beautiful, industrious, intelligent, talented, kind-hearted children. Wala na akong mahihiling pa.

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Her tight little clique all got accepted into Taft. But they are still hoping to get into their first choice. #BlueEagles

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Trip. Oh my gosh. That was ONE TRIP TO REMEMBER!! And I thought sobra na kaming bonded, but our month-long trip made us even closer. Sure, Ate had to come home earlier than expected because of school & we shed many, MANY tears between us. But I choose to see the good rather than the bad. She grew up the 2 weeks that we were apart & had to fend for herself, coming home to an empty, new house. Besides, there will be more opportunities for her to see what she missed, madami pang pagkakataon para makabawi sya. 🙂 #onedaysomeday #pagdatingngpanahon ;)) On a side note, Kap said no more trips after this big one coz it’s really financially draining & we have to save up & recover. But the kids gifted us with a short Taiwan trip before the year ended. What a pleasant holiday surprise. <3

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Mudras. Mom is finally living with me & gets to enjoy all the perks of family life. I hated that she had to live by herself for so many years. It took a stroke for her to realize that she is at the age where she needs help & assistance. Now, she has so many people for company, she wakes up in a beautiful, gated, safe community & breathes in fresh southern air. She is more relaxed & less busy (it drives her crazy though). Everything I had hope for her and more. Yes, having 2 mothers in the house is SO stressful & they often get on my nerves, but it’s a high price I’m willing to pay. Tambakan nyo lang ako ng Xanax, I’ll be okay. ;))

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These widows are now besties for life & even twinning. 😉

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Another round of happy birthdays. Goodbye to 21+18+16, such magical numbers for me. These are the ages of the kids when great things happened in our lives and Kap & I were able to somewhat secure their future . As they turned 22+19+17, I pray not for material things anymore, but the best & pinkest of heart for each member of my family. As you grow older, you realize that health is truly wealth.

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May our home be blessed with the laughter of our children, warmth of a close family, hope for the future, and fond memories of the past. <3

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Thank you 2016. You have been an AMAZING year & kept us happy & busy. Now that we’ve more or less settled in, we look forward to a quieter, more relaxed & peaceful 2017.

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Hey, 2017 is MY year! It’s Year of the ROOSTER woohoo!! CLICK HERE to find out the chinese reading for us sexy, feisty chicks! 😉 Roosters are always active, amusing and popular among the crowd. Roosters are said to be talkative, outspoken, frank, open, honest, and loyal individuals. They like to be the center of attention and always appear attractive and beautiful. Roosters are happiest when they are surrounded by others, whether at a party or just a social gathering. They enjoy the spotlight and will exhibit their charm at any occasion. Roosters expect others to listen to them while they speak, and can become agitated if others don’t. Vain and boastful, Roosters like to brag about themselves and their accomplishments. Their continually seeking the unwavering attention of others annoys people around them at times. Good Health for “Roosters” People born in a year of the Rooster are typically healthy people. They are active and enjoy sports such as hiking and swimming. Roosters don’t get sick very often because they tend to fight illness well. Even when they do become ill, they feel better quickly. Roosters are a little sensitive, and they feel stressed and moody at times. On the dot ah.. spot on! 😉

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2017 is my Bae’s year. She will turn 18, and start College. Apart from those 2 highlights, I really hope & pray that this year will be slow-paced for the GOppets. 2016 just swept by in a blink of an eye, sana mas mahaba-haba naman itong 2017 para sa amin para manamnam ko naman ng husto ang bawat sandali. 🙂

Happy New Year everyone! I hope we will all still be together for another 365 days, sa hirap man o ginhawa. :-* May God’s blessing be with us all & stay with us the whole year through.