Everyone is the age of their heart.

Happy birthday to my wonderful mother! 

When I was a kid, I asked her why she has to work. I want her to be home all the time and take care of me. She replied that work is important and that I have to understand.. It was mother's day when I asked and I just had to let that out because all of my other friends always have their moms with them during important school events and my mom was always late and I'd end up crying after. She'd comfort me with her words then food. She's a working mother and I respect her for that.

I've learned to teach myself what I need to know in school my own way because I don't always have her around tutoring me with my lessons. In the most unusual way, I am academically capable because all these time she had taught to me be independent. I'm slowly transitioning from school to real life now and I'm glad she's still by me whenever I need her. She is my rock.

getting his birthday on!

Happy birthday to my big little brother. 

I love it when home cooking and fast food comes together. I got dibs on the gravy. Nomnomnom.

As our tummies were full, our jokes got funnier. The funny bone trigger was on sky high and our laughing voice box were on full blast. 

That's my family and I in our home-buddy look, I usually wear huge tshirts when I'm just at home. It's comfy that way. :)

Oh round table, you have been sturdy for every dinner, birthday or fiesta that has beheld upon you. What magical wood, thou has been carved upon. Stay strong. 

My thoughts are scattered right now. Forgive me.

Ps. To all Philippine residents, please check out Ms. Kookie's 1st give away HERE

happy birthday to moi!

September 21- I am ecstatic to be 21. I am feeling the love and the blessings. Friends and family made me the lucky ducky that I am.

This is my birthday in pictures. Before my day ended, I've always wanted to do some achievable things I've never tried before.

4D roller coaster ride

before: getting ready for that Max Rider 4D roller coaster ride inside with our snazzy shades

after: my arms hurt and my headpiece is all looped on my neck from all the action. i couldn't stop laughing.

eat sushi 

i ate the one with a crab meat topping. tasty!

imitate The Beatles'  Abbey Road

a happy birthday tweet from a fave musican :) 

surprises. 
my list ends here. the rest of the day we just LOL-ed it and kept our tummies full.

happy birthday cupcake. green leaf not included.

with the friends (some couldn't make it, but i understand)

with the family <3

my birthday dress :)

the feel of a studio

my big brother getting busy at the studio with his band, Who's Next.

PASSED + UN-PASSED

I cannot seem to contain my happiness that I passed the all important July 2010 Board Exams.
I cannot seem to contain my sadness that my sister did not pass it.
I keep thinking that probably today was a dream. *pinch pinch*
After 2 months of waiting for it, it's finally here.

I was at a restaurant eating lunch with Jacky when I kept noticing that my phone is full of messages telling me the results were out. I was going ecstatic when I read that I passed. I'm so happy for me and my friends. I sent a text to my sister saying that we love her no matter what happens. By the time I got home, there was this ache and happiness I have inside. Everyone was really cool about our situations. Ice cream kept us all in the joyful mood.

I love you too ma.

We lit candles for the Lord. All glory goes to Him.

i'd rather pick flowers, instead of fights

Kids do the darn-est things. My 9 year old niece took these shots when I told her to go outside and play around the garden because she spends way too much time on her computer. When she got back, she showed me some impressive shots.

I taught her about taking macro shots long ago. I had no idea she had fun with it.

She took some pictures of my dad's chickens right after and chased them around. 

Kids. :D

escaped and broke away

August 12-13 -- Bohol trip with my mom.

I needed this. I was too stuck on the same place feeling static. I wanted to get out and my prayers were answered. When my mom told me she needed someone to go with her, a smile lit up. I had 3 hours to prepare when all I actually brought was my camera, clothes, toothbrush and shades.

The Star Crafts boat. We got there about 45min. Weird how the name of the boat is similar to a computer game. haha

the little red jeep ride that greeted us 'beep beep' when we got to Bohol and went 'vroooom'

go mr. driver man, take us to anywhere.

We headed to some furniture shops where they made quality furnitures from variety of woods. We only saw a few coz the showcase room was closed. We proceeded to Garden Cafe where they make the meanest halo-halo, instead.

hello Mr. Philippine flag! Stand tall, stand proud!

mom and i. She has her glasses, I have my RayBans. *wink

halo halo from Bohol, baby! I told you they were mean. Rawwwrrr.

mama had to buy a Cowboy Hat. howdy howdy howdy!

sight seeing.. :))

went to Mdm. Herry's 73rd birthday party at her Marebes Beach Resort where we slept overnite. It was the hawaiian party of the year! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Our breakfast was pretty interesting. We were joined with Bohol's richest people. I don't know why I was even there but I enjoyed listening to the politics, show business, charity works and inside jokes. When I'm their  age, I'll achieve a lot too. I know I will.

After that we went site seeing a little more at Tubigon, Bohol. Stopped over at a cemetery place and at the Mayor's Office. Then we had lunch at a snazzy fine dining place before we went back to our boat.

my window seat as we were heading back home to Cebu. It's the march of the clouds! Don't mind the dirty windows.

I needed to be in tune with myself, spend time with my mom and I had that.
I'm feeling good right now. :)

Escape and live!

my life is lonely

"My life is lonely" About 26 weeks ago.

That's what she wrote on the status of her yahoo!mail. I was opening her account because I wanted to check a previous mail that I encountered (I know it's wrong, but she's used to me opening it) but when I saw that status in her account I was crushed.

A lot of questions popped out. What happened 26 weeks ago? Did I do something wrong? Is she unhappy? Are we growing far apart? Does she still feel the same way?...Why?

Technically, 26 weeks ago meant it was around the last week of January. I wonder what happened. I keep slapping my head to recall anything important or unimportant that might have triggered such emotions. I feel so bad coz I know I could have done something to have not let it happened.

This is why I am doing everything in my power to be with her, talk to her, open up to her more. Simply giving my time for her.

(a scene from the movie, Where The Wild Things Are, a very touching film.)

-weheartit.com

how the beginning of my 2010 went

Fantastic!

We took our annual family picture with a color theme in mind-this time, it's green. The whole process took about an hour to do because we had to argue as to who gets to sit beside where. It was so funny to watch that it almost looked like that beginning clip from Keeping Up With The Kardashians. We were such a ruckuss and the "photographer" didn't help either.

And instead of opening our gifts on Christmas Day, we did it on New Year's  Day. Our camera didn't have enough space to record the whole thing but I could describe it as a mini tornado with all those wrappers whirling from every direction. No papercut recorded. That's a relief. The gifts we all got had a little kick of humor in it while someone got an Apple iPod shuffle 3rd generation, Patrick Star, a cooling fan, a shovel and a watch that almost didn't work. LOLz

Before

After

Let's rewind the part about the Apple iPod shuffle. That morning mama woke me up to tell me she wants to buy me an External hard drive and an ipod for my lil bro. I was so happy that I sprung up immediately while my bro was too sleepy to even hear her.

Fast forward: I didn't get what I wanted but my lil bro did get his. He was smiling from ear to ear when he got this. I was happy that he was happy coz I know I'm gonna get a chance to borrow that from him one day. *evil snicker*

Let me go all techie on you for a second: This Apple iPod Shuffle 3rd Generation is the smallest mp3 player you can buy. It's as light as a feather and as small as a paper clip. You get to control the volume and music on the headphone area. Phew.

But all the material things don't matter, it's the love that comes with it. Period.
How was your New Year?

merry christmas.

merry christmas.
happy holidays.
feliz navidad.
happy hanukkah.
Весела Коледа
メリークリスマス
즐거운 성탄절 되세요
frohe Weihnachten.

^thanks to Tweetdeck for the translation.
much love from our family to yours and yes, it was a challenge just to draw that heart. phew.

xoxo
c.