Score!

Yeah, yeah. I know.  I just wrote about my New Year's Resolutions.  BUT.  This one was 85% off.  Are you kidding me????  From PhP8850 to 1650.  Seriously.

2011 Revisited

Photos!  Just some highlights from the past year. 

2011 Family Photo shoot

 

Wacky shot!

Everyone's playing nice

Faith celebrated her 7th birthday

Another birthday shot with her cake

Last year's attempt at Home Organization culminated in the cleaning up of the second floor toy area.  It took four full days (long weekend in August) and another extra weekend where I did nothing but sort and clean up.  

Before

After

I also turned the big 4-0 last year.  No big celebration (yet! ha ha!), just a simple dinner with the people I love.

Posterity shot for my 40th birthday dinner

The hubby and I managed to travel together for a quick vacation with two of my friends.  Turned out to be quite memorable since he got the flu and stayed pretty much in the hotel for the duration of our stay.  So here's a shot of myself in Macau, sans hubby.

Note to Self: Bright red bags work really well in pictures!

Faith participated in a ballet recital of the Sound of Music late in December. I just love this stolen shot of her.

Stolen shot of Faith during their recital photo shoot

I also saw Wicked in Singapore! Love!

Just a random New Year's Eve picture I thought I'd throw in.  Lucia was crying, as I remember and didn't want to go with anyone else. 

I had a really nice holiday season and I'm obviously still in withdrawal.  Lots to look forward to this year.  We'll be visiting Hong Kong again but this time with the kids.  Lucia will be starting pre-school in June.  Another year of milestones to look forward to.

On technology and the Tooth Fairy

My kids wholeheartedly believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.  I actually go to great lengths to perpetuate this belief because I think this is one of the most enjoyable things about being a child.  Last year, they got a personal video message from Santa.  There were also email exchanges and handwritten notes from the Tooth Fairy.

Sadly, the advent of technology also translates into more smartass sophisticated kids who question everything.  Case in point, Joshua had a friend over for a play date a couple of days before Christmas.  He very excitedly asked me to show the video from Santa to his friend and so I did.  Imagine my dismay when while the video was showing, said friend told my son in a deadpan voice -- "you do realize that people make this up, don't you?".

To his credit, Joshua stood up to his friend and said no, it's real.  Gulp.  To end the magic for Joshua would mean ending it for Faith and little Lucia too!

So my son is a little bit naive for a 9 year old.  He doesn't get to surf the net (only for homework and he is supervised).  He plays computer games but with limits on time and what kind to play.  He doesn't have a PSP or a WII or whatever techy gadget kids are into these days.  Most of the grown ups in the family own an iPhone and/or iPad which the kids can borrow for limited periods.  But that's it.  I suppose, compared to his friends in school, Joshua is still a little bit sheltered.  And I like it that way.

I don't know how long I can keep this up but I'm hoping for a few more years.  I've already told Joshua that I think Santa stops giving presents to kids when they reach the age of 13.  I still don't know how I'm gonna go about it but there's still time.  Meanwhile, I'm already bracing myself for a slew of visits from the Tooth Fairy this year.  

Pretty Baby

With Daddy at the company outing

In one of her Halloween costumes last year

My pretty baby at her cousin Sophia's birthday party

Playing with her zhu zhu pet from Tita Lara

I've written a couple of times on this blog about my two older kids but not much about my third.  Poor Lucia! Apart from the birth post, I don't think I've written much about this little girl of mine.

She's growing up to be quite a character, this one.  The naughtiest and funniest of my brood.  She makes me laugh without even trying and is a joy to watch.  When you find yourself bored, just quietly watch her play and be entertained for a good long while. 

A very good eater (16+ kilos and counting!), she eats by herself and chooses her own clothes (most of the time).  Loves wearing pretty dresses like her older sister and likes sharing Mommy's lip balm.  She's stubborn and very articulate and can understand Tagalog very well.  Loves babies and kittens and Goodnight Moon.  A chocolate monster after mommy's own heart. 

Has all the members of my family wrapped around her little finger, especially her kuya Joshua.  She's also half toilet trained by now, which, according to my mom, happened when I was away on business travel. So, fine, maybe another ten days in Singapore and she'll be fully toilet trained mommy?

Maybe it's the birth scare, the thought that we almost lost this little one, that makes me want to hug her all the time.  I cannot imagine our lives without her.  Out little family has grown thanks to her and it's not always easy to manage three kids and a full time job but so totally worth it.

Post Christmas

Pardon the bedraggled look in this photo.  This was taken after a swimming session at a get together with friends.  This was one of my favorite days in December -- it was the day after the last day of work for the year and was mostly concentrated on spending it with the kids.  So apart from catching up with good friends while they were swimming and enjoying their presents from their titas and Tito Maroy, it was a completely gremlin inspired day.  We had ice cream before I let them play some video games.  Then Lucia happily hopped into the carousel.  We ended the day with the light show at Ayala Triangle.

It was still a busy holiday season though, with all the get togethers and ballet recital for Faith.  Thankfully, none of the kids were sick this year except for a little sniffle or two.  New Year's Eve was a fun filled videoke night. 

I didn't get to reach my reading goal of 150 books for 2011 but I came pretty close at 130 books.  I don't think I will do this again this year -- I much prefer not having any pressure to finish a book.  Plus one of my 2012 goals is to take up something creative like knitting or crochet.  Other goals --  think of a possible business venture.  Get more healthy. Spend less. More quality time with the gremlins.  Play outdoors. 

Seems like I'm being tested on my the strength of my New Year's resolutions as we speak.  I just got a confirmation from a friend that the Zara sale is starting tomorrow.  Aaaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!  Hyperventilate.  Deeeeeeeeeeep breath. 

I can do this.  (I think).  Help me God!

So just learned that you can no longer import your blog posts in Facebook.  What a relief! I went into FB today to figure out how to stop that from happening.  I can't remember the number of times I've thought about posting only to stop when I realized it would go into Facebook.  And yes, I turned on that feature months ago but the thought of bombarding everybody with my musings put the kibosh on possible blog posts for a while.

Now I realized it's been months since my last post.  Think that's the longest I've ever gone without writing anything. It's almost Christmas and I am currently working from home.  In a few minutes, I will be cooking tuna pasta for the kids to eat at snack time.  Lucia is about to wake up from her nap, Faith just got in from her ballet rehearsal and Joshua has a playdate with his best friend.

Work isn't as crazy anymore as more and more people are going on leave.  I just have a couple more things to take care of and then it's freedom! At least for a couple of days.  Christmas presents are more or less completed, get together schedules straightened out, ballet rehearsal skeds marked and I am officially ready for the holidays!

Am I old or am i old??

Age is just a number, right? That's the fashionable adage that women in their late thirties or entering into their forties like to say.  You don't hear young people say that. Well, unless you're a 16 year old begging your mom for a tattoo.  So yes, it is a number.  But nothing that should stop you from having fun, living life to the fullest or from being fabulous.  I wouldn't trade myself now for my 23 year old self.  Except for the waistline.  Sigh.

Why the thoughts about aging you say?  I've been through a couple of grade school and high school reunions in the last couple of weeks.  Our 30th homecoming for our high school batch is coming up in 2013 so there's been a spate of planning and meetings for that event.  Yeah, 30 years.  Kind of freaks me out a bit.  A lot of my colleagues at work were toddlers while I was in high school.  I am still in touch with a lot of my high school friends so the shock value of seeing most of them again wasn't that big.  But grade school??  That's another story.  The two get togethers so far have been so much fun.  I'd forgotten how nice it is to be surrounded by people who have known you since kindergarden.  It gave me so much insight of how much we have grown since we last played patintero in the school basketball court. And yet it was comforting to see the little bits and pieces of the kids we once were and to realize that hey, I know you. You're not a stranger.

Date a girl who reads

A friend of mine sent me this link today and I was so glad I read it.  Something I wish I had written because it felt like the writer was referring to me.  Uhm, except for the closet full of books (mine has clothes....aaaand more clothes...and shoes).  But still, my books are scattered all over the house instead, and the car.  Anyway.  Click on the link and read.  NOW!  I'll wait..

http://themonicabird.com/post/3273155431/date-a-girl-who-reads-date-a-girl-who-spends-her

All done???  Now then, wasn't that nice? 

Jun will so be able to relate to this.  He married one, after all.  I can't remember all the times he has caught me crying over something in a book I was reading.  And he never once laughed at me or called it silly or stupid.  But he does give me funny looks when I suddenly laugh out loud while reading.  He's also used to being ignored over long periods of time when I am engrossed in something.  Like the Stieg Larsson trilogy or when Mockingjay came out.   Now the kids are zoning out on me and I completely deserve it.  I think I also read while breastfeeding.  ha ha ha!

Last night was game night -- Josh and Faith have been bugging us to play Monopoly Deal since Tuesday.  We each had our game face on as we played on the floor of our bedroom while Lucia flitted around, alternately hugging me and Jun and trying to swipe the cards we put on the floor.  We only had time for two games though as we started at 9pm.  First round was mine while Jun took game two with a deal breaker card that stole MY set, the rat!  (Thanks Irish for the xmas gift! We are really enjoying it!)  We all love that freaking card game.  Josh is now asking, so when can you teach me to play poker mommy??  Ha!  Then I remember that mommy taught us to play pekwa when we were little kids.  And Blackjack (no money involved though, just bragging rights).  I have very fond memories of those fun times.  Maybe next summer then.  Note to self: teach Jun how to play Pekwa.

On summer reading updates, Joshua is on his 15th book.  Faith is on her 6th which is ok since she's only 7.  I promised them some Timezone time if they read at least 10 books this summer.  Television's not too much of a priority nowadays in the household.  The kids actually BEG me to get a bit more reading done before bedtime.  Can you imagine??!! 

For the rest of the summer, we've still got Faith's birthday party and Joshua's birthday to celebrate.  May is a huge birthday month with all the gremlins' birthdays.  Lucia looooves birthdays.  She made us sing three times just so she can keep blowing her candle.  There are also four huge water guns with our names on them that we ABSOLUTELY have to try before the summer ends. 

Random Things

Yesterday I wandered into my favorite store and realized that there was nothing I was even remotely interested in buying.  Either I've gotten the stuff that I really want or am just bored.  Maybe both.

I've been meaning to get Faith a "hip" outfit for her Club Princess bday party next month (she's turning 7!) when I walked into Gap and saw this gorgeous confection of a dress.  It's peach, it's floaty, and oh so soft! Goodbye hip, helloooo princess!

Do you ever feel relieved to be alone with your hubby and get a short break from the noise and the fighting only to miss your gremlins so much it aches???  You don't??!!!  Me too!!!  ha ha!  Joke!!!

I am at a stage in my life where I literally could not ask for more.  Except for carbs. I waaaaaannnt rice dammit!!!

The lack of sugar is making me CRANKY!

I've read a total of 40 books so far this year.  Was doing 12-13 books a month in Jan-Feb but slowed down a bit since March.  So I am eating my words.  I love ebooks na! 

Getting a free lunch is always nice.  But a surprise free lunch is even better!

What if I stop buying clothes until I lose 20 pounds??  Who wants to bet I can do this???

Gremlins, come home na!!!  Promise I won't sing the Big Bad Wolf song!  Cross my heart!

Am in the mood to play a trick on someone but the hubby isn't home.  Rats!

Been busy with...

Home Organization.  My small home office is done and I am loving working from home around twice a week.  The inner OC in me is filled with glee. Am loving the fact that there is a place for everything -- school supplies, important documents and files as well as pictures, board games and yes, even scratch paper!  You know how when you have kids and you find crayons everywhere BUT the box? Well now I've collected all the loose crayons, put them all in a big box and whip it out whenever Lucia feels like drawing.  I am finally getting the most out of the iHome that the hubby so thoughtfully got for me.  I figured out that I can link it to my iPhone via bluetooth and voila! Instant speaker phone!  I can take my phone meetings at home in a very quiet place.   

The other half of the room (it's a really small room) has a place for the printer.  I have one big window which provides a lot of natural light in the daytime.  And because the room's small, just one stand fan makes it comfortable enough to work in.  The window seat doubles up as a place to put files in -- I saw this in a magazine and decided I didn't need to buy a mobile drawer which looks too "industrial".  This has a LOT of space inside where I put half used school notebooks for scratch paper and other school supplies like folders/brown envelopes/etc.  And, oh yeah, that window seat is also good for naps!  Ha ha ha! 

On the right, I had a narrow shelf made to put other heavy business books (Jun has lots!) interspersed with decorative boxes which holds loose photographs which I have yet to put in albums and other important keepsakes (Joshua's first communion kit, etc).  And, of course, the board games I am currently collecting.  They used to be everywhere and we could never find one when we wanted to play.  It figures I have two Taboo! games -- I bought a new one in desperation for an out of town trip because I couldn't find the previous one I got.  I just got Jenga today to replace the one the kids messed up when they were little.  I know I have Word Factory somewhere but I haven't seen it lately.  I'd like to add a really nice Backgammon game to the collection soon. 

It took me and the hubby two weekends to get this small room in shape when the carpenter and painter were done but it was worth it!  The whole first floor of the house is fixed.  Used up four XXL trash bags for all the useless stuff. 

 Lastly, this is my new shoe and bag closet.  Not quite Carrie Bradshaw standards but I love it just the same.  My bathroom's all organized after about two trips to Muji.  Now it takes about one third the time to get the bathroom all cleaned up.  This exercise also forced me to edit a lot of things.  Am thinking of holding a garage sale or something.  But only after I've tackled the nightmare of the kids' toys which are all in the second floor of the house. 

After all this activity, I got sick for a couple of days.  Still don't know when I can get to doing the second floor and the bedroom but maybe next weekend since the kids are on summer vacation and there's no need for homework supervision next weekend! 

Faith moment

Joshua was at a classmate's birthday party and I was preparing to go to the concert when Faith decides she has had enough of being by herself.

I was in the bathroom putting on makeup when she starts making kulit -- endless questions about what time I was gonna be home (she's worse than my mom!), who I was going to be with, what's the concert about, who is Janet Jackson.  Then she asks if it was the same music like the concert in church (Bukas Palad) and I said no and did she want to listen to the music I was going to listen to at the concert? Yes daw. 

I made her listen to parts of Together Again and she goes, "I want to come with you Mommy!"....uh oh.

So I said, you know what? Come over here and play with mommy's make up.  That kept her quiet for a while. 

Then the tears started when I was about to leave.  She calls me twice on my cell phone while I was on the way to the concert just to tell me she wanted to be with me.  This despite being with her the whole day today. 

Then I thought, I am going to remember this moment when she's sixteen and I'm the one begging her to  spend time with me. 

It figures...

I spoke too soon.  Lucia is sick too.  She was the one who started it all when she got sick on New Year's Day.  It's gone full circle.  Back to her.  I love my pediatrician but last night I told him I hoped I never see him again for the next six months.  Then I remembered the kids have their flu shots scheduled this February.  Faith has been dreading it.  And I also have to bring Lucia back Saturday morning if she still has fever.  Last night the doctor couldn't find a focus for the fever so he couldn't prescribe any antibiotics.  He'll have to check her again on Sat and if still no focus, then we'll do a blood test.  Suki kami for the month of January.  Even his assistant commented, "wow, na kumpleto sila a."

Meanwhile, the little gremlin has had her fever off and on.  She's so active when the fever's down that I'm not TOO worried.  YET.  We'll see. I really hate it when the kids are sick.  I woke up at 5am to take her temperature and gave her Calpol.  Then I couldn't go back to sleep till about 6am. 

The hubby was in Ilocos for a short trip last night.  I missed him.  Especially when Lucia threw up all over the blankets at around 11pm.  Wished you were there Jun.  You missed cleanup.  Which I am sure you will be happy about.  Since she threw up all over the blankets, Rose and I just wrapped her in it and brought her to the bathroom.  No cleanup necessary except for changing Lucia.  Di bale, next time ulit.  he he.  Her hair smelled like vomit -- she had her head under my nose the whole time she was sleeping. 

Listening to Janet Jackson while working today.  Preparing for her concert tonight.  :D

2011 Updates

It's a disgrace, I know.  What's the point of starting a blog when you don't even write?  So what's my excuse?  Um, let's see.....I've been traveling for work, Lucia is such a handful, kids have been sick on and off, Christmas was crazy, I got conjunctivitis, resigned from my job, got a new job, and I've been reading a lot.  Oh, and it's also Facebook's fault.  It's much, much more convenient to post a quick status update here and there on facebook.  The hubby and I were discussing how revenues for the telecom companies went down as a result of facebook updates rather than the usual practice of text to all Christmas and New Year's messages.  That's technology for you. 

Anyway, I am sitting here in my unpainted but newly renovated home "office" and thought, I have a blog!  So I am giving in to the urge to write.  Not that I expect a lot of people to read all my bs.  I suppose a couple of my friends still do but well, never mind.  I just need the practice of putting thoughts to paper while I wait for my internet connection to kick in once more.

So, yeah, am having some minor renovation work done at the house.  I'm having a small room fixed to be a home office as I my new job is flexible enough to allow me to work from home occasionally.  Rather than my usual practice of using my bed for a desk (hurts my back), I'm going to have my very own office! (yippeee!) It's all done now, just needs painting so it will probably be done by next week.  It'll also give the kids a place to do their homework and reduce the school clutter in the dining room which was where they usually do their homework.

I'm also taking the opportunity have my own shoe cabinet and I am soooo excited to have it finished.  Apart from that, we're gettting some much needed bookshelves.  I'm in organizing mode folks!  I can't wait till everything's finished.  Then it's a matter of putting up our sleeves and being tough on all the junk and clutter at the house. 

On other fronts, kids are sick again.  Will be bringing Faith to the pediatrician at lunchtime today.  Joshua just went back to school today after being out for a week.  I am crossing my fingers and praying hard that Lucia gets spared this round. 

I've just finished 13 books for January.  Using the Kindle for Iphone application makes a huge dent on my reading list as I can read literally anywhere.  I think it's loads better than a kindle cause the phone has backlight that allows me to read in the car or in the shuttle going home. 

Ok, I gotta go send some emails then am off to the pediatrician at lunchtime.  Janet Jackson concert this Friday!!!  Can't wait! :D

On Angry Birds and other things

I just spent the better part of last night playing Angry Birds on my phone.  Till two in the morning.  Couldn't let go until I got past 6-12, which I had been on for the past week.  When the hubby told me he had gotten past me and was already on 7, I couldn't stand it.  I finally got past the darn level at around midnight....and kept on playing.  I've had three cups of coffee already since this morning, so you can guess at my current state of mind.


Now...Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games).  Finished the book the same day I got it.  Of course, the minute I got my hands on it, I peeked at the ending.  Disgusting habit, I know.  But I couldn't wait to find out who Katniss ended up with.  I can't write it down because the hubby is currently listening to the audio book and he will kill me if he accidentally reads it on my blog.  So, because I would like to continue to be in his good graces, I will remain silent on that account.  Needless to say, I loved the book.  It wasn't what I (and probably the rest of the fans) was expecting.  It wasn't romantic and no, it didn't totally focus on the love triangle.  I'm happy to say that it didn't go the breaking dawn road, which I hated.  It was real, and gritty, and ugly, and will totally capture your attention until the last page.  I also thought the epilogue was done quite well.  I was reading the reviews at Amazon and was surprised at some of the comments expressing disappointment over the way the book turned out.  I guess some were expecting a more "Twilight" approach where everything turned out perfectly and the pages were filled with drool worthy moments between Edward and Bella.  Oh well.   Am still trying to find people to convert to being Suzanne Collins fans.  My mom is now one of them.


I have a copy of Emma Donaghue's book titled Room: A Novel burning a hole on my desk.  The reviews are excellent and it's a finalist for the Man Booker Prize.  It's told from the point of view of a five year old little boy whose whole world is the room where he and his mother stay.  Check out the description in Amazon and you'll want to read the book yourself.


Recent books I just finished reading:


Tim Gunn's Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work is a great light read (finished it in one day) full of Tim's little witticisms as well as juicy tidbits about the fashion world. Believe me, he doesn't pull his punches when it come to identifying which fashion personas are divas.  Super fun read!


Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern is an even quicker read (like in an hour) but worth it. I found myself chuckling aloud while reading the book.  


Am also re-reading Erich Segal's Doctors which is one of my all time favorite books.  I had to buy a new copy as my old one was so dog eared from being passed around to friends.  


I've got tons of videos of Lucia and the other kids which I have not had time to upload to Facebook -- am blaming it all on Angry Birds.  If I'm not playing it, then either the hubby is or one of the kids.  Jun still holds the record for longest time spent playing Angry Birds in one sitting.  He once stayed up till two thirty in the morning just playing the darn game.  So I'm not the only crazy one.  

Panic time!

I've got so many things on my mind at the moment, it's a wonder I haven't gone off the bend yet.  I wish time would go by more slowly, just so I could fit in what I need to do.

Lucia still has a cold and cough so we're managing that and praying it doesn't spread to the other two kids.  It's exam week plus we have a parent-teachers conference scheduled tomorrow.  I have to pack for 5 people for an upcoming family trip, do the groceries, fix the closets and make sure all the documentary requirements are in order for the trip.  And I've got an appointment on Sunday for a check up.

I've managed to squeeze in a mani-pedi while waiting for the hubby to finish work yesterday. Yay, me! LOL!  So I just look at my pretty red painted toes whenever I get stressed.

I've finished reading Justin Cronin's The Passage and I'm desperately wishing the hubby would go on and finish the audio version ASAP!  I'm dying to discuss the book with somebody!  Lots of loose ends when I finished it but I found out it's a trilogy so of course there will be cliffhangers.  It was an engrossing read, especially the first third of the book.  Very interesting premise though -- what if, in mankind's search for the ultimate biological weapon, he triggers the end of the world as we know it, instead?  Said weapon comes in the form of a virus which stimulates a certain gland in humans that trigger increased human strength and invincibility to diseases, etc.  Unfortunately, it also turns said human guinea pigs into vampire like creatures that can influence the minds of other humans.  When these specimens escape from the US facility where they were being kept, everything goes to hell.   I was only partially listening to the audio book while the hubby was listening to it in the car and decided, what the heck, I'll read it.  I have ADD when it comes to audio books so I had to get the heavy, doorstop version of the book.

Right now, I'm halfway done with The Red Pyramid, book one of the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan.  He's the author of the extremely successful Percy Jackson series.  The book has many parallels with the Nicholas Flamel series (which I love, love, love!) which is not to say it's not an enjoyable book.  While Percy Jackson is about Greek mythology, in this new series, Riordan focuses on Egyptian mythology.  It's not a popular as the Greek or Roman mythology but it's fascinating just the same.  Am enjoying reading it and am sure many fans of Percy will love it too.  Joshua cannot wait to read it but I'm making him finish the Percy Jackson series first before he starts in on Red Pyramid.  He also wants to start the Nicholas Flamel series -- what an impatient boy!  But am glad he likes to read and is excited as I am about books.  I'm also starting to get him interested in Children's reference books, which I also enjoy reading.  At the Powerbooks sale, I was able to get  a books about the recovery of the remains of the woolly mammoth, which I have wanted to watch in National Geographic, but missed out on.  There's also one about the ruins in ancient Peru and the recovery of an ancient Greek shipwreck.

And since I'm preparing for a family trip, I decided to get activity books for the older kids to keep them occupied on the plane.  I got Faith the Everything Kids Princess activity book and Joshua the Everything Kid's Mazes book.  Oh, and the Time for Kids Almanac 2011.  Now if I could only decide what book to bring for the trip......

Back in school

It's been a very busy two months.  We celebrated 3 birthdays in May and got through preparations for school opening.  The two older kiddies are in school for most of the day which my mom is very thankful for. LOL!  More quiet time for her and the baby.  Lucia's been so naughty --- all part of being a toddler, I guess.  It's rather fun, actually.  She makes us laugh and she knows it, the little ham!

I love the way she tries to join in on her siblings.  When the two kids are in bed, she immediately gets down from my lap and toddles over to the bed to cuddle with her sibs.  And generally mess up their bedclothes.  And play peek-a-boo and can't-catch-me with me and the hubby when we try to pick her up from the beds.  It's tiring especially on weekdays when all I want to do is lie down with a book after work, but totally worth it when she squeals with laughter.

As usual, I'm swamped with books!  You're looking at a very happy camper here.  I'm currently reading Justin Cronin's  The Passage which the hubby has been listening to on audio.  It's weird when he's the one asking which part I'm already in since that's my usual line.  It's rare for the two of us to actually be "reading" the same book at the same time.  If you're into sci-fic/horror, then this is the book for you.  The author tells a compelling story and gets the reader absorbed from the first chapter.  It's got vampires, but not your usual run of the mill Twilight hot vampires.  

Other books I got recently were Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles) -- another series from the author of the very successful Percy Jackson series.  I just got Joshua the Diary of a Wimpy kid series and Tales from the Odyssey by Mary Pope Osbourne, author of The Magic Tree House series.  I read the two books of Tales from the Odyssey and finished it in an hour.  It's a great introduction for kids to the classic The Odyssey and covers the most important parts of the tale.  It's perfect for kids aged 7 - 10 years.  

Some other titles I finished recently:

The Ark by Boyd Morrison -- fantastic action packed book with a very cool hero.  If you miss Indiana Jones, then try this one.  It's about the search for Noah's Ark set in an age where technology and engineering will make you fascinated with tidbits about the legend of Noah's Ark.  The author provides engineering insight to the construction of the ark and the context of the biblical flood.

Blood Oath  by Christopher Farnsworth -- Vampires again but no romance this time.  The lead character is a vampire tasked to protect the President of the United States from all forms of threat.  He's been protecting US presidents since Andrew Jackson.  Lots of action and links to paranormal activities/research done during World War 2.  I couldn't put this book down.

So run, don't walk, to the bookstore now!

 One time I asked the hubby to get a book for me from our room.  "Which tower?", he asks, and I giggled.  Because in our room, there are four piles of books which we have since christened Jenga Tower 1 to 4.  I need to seriously organize my books.  I've got piles everywhere. Most have been read (and reread) and, well, there's a lot on my to be read list.  I'm a fast reader though, so I constantly get new books.  So my books are literally everywhere -- on the sofa in the upstairs living room, in the car, in shopping bags on the bedroom floor.  


There are a couple of titles I've read recently that I really, really loved.  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is one of them.  I've read it twice already as well as it's sequel Catching Fire.  It's a fantastic three part series set in the future.  The writing, character development is excellent. The story is simply riveting.  I don't normally have the attention needed to listen to audio books but I've been paying attention every time the hubby listens.  Yes, I have finally gotten him to "read" fiction books -- through audio books.  He's loving it so far.  Too bad I've just lent my copies to my niece.  The audio book is too slow paced to me and I wanted to reread the ending.  Needless to say, I am already antsy to read Book 3 Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games) coming this August.  So, run, don't walk, and get to reading books 1 and 2.  You won't regret it.

The heat this summer is unbearable! I just bought an inflatable pool for the kids to play in. I did think of next month's water bill but justified the purchase with the thought that the water could be reused to water the plants, wash the cars, etc. Plus, it's a couple of hours without the air conditioner or tv on so I also save on electricity. And my baby Lucia is turning out to be such a water baby. She loooooves being in the water. In fact, just getting her to leave the sink when she's done washing up for bed will trigger a mini tantrum. The pool was also on sale so I suppose it's totally worth it.

Speaking of worth it, I just got the package I was expecting thru Johnny Air. I've been eyeing some dresses for the girls at Gap but couldn't bear the exorbitant prices. So I ordered the stuff on sale at gap.com and had it shipped via Johnny Air. I ordered it on April 12, the New York office received it on the 16th and I was able to pick it up today. Pretty fast huh? Their service is terrific and very customer friendly. No need to wait ages for packages from the US to arrive. And no need to deal with lines and custom officials at the post office.

Am loving the dresses I picked for the girls. Can't wait to see them try it on. Have a nice weekend!

Flu Season

It's that time of the year again. It just sucks big time when your kids are sick. Triple sucks in my case because all three of them were sick last week. Lucia still is, actually. I had to take off early from work last Thursday to bring all of them to the pediatrician. Cough and colds are the culprit. And because the two eldest are stubborn little gremlins and could not bring themselves to stay away from their baby sister, well, now Lucia's miserably sick too.

And there's nothing worse than a sick baby. At least older kids can tell you what's painful, etc. I always feel helpless whenever my babies are sick. I spent the past weekend with Lucia plastered to my body. I could only put here down for bathroom breaks and mealtime. Otherwise, she refuses to settle down unless I carry her. Consequently, I've mostly been covered with snot and vomit, sometimes at the same time.

It's been a true test of my immune system -- I very very rarely contract illness from the kids. The hubby is frequently amazed that as soon as the kids are done then all who came in contact with them get sick. 'Cept me.

Is it a mommy thing or is it just me?