How to Make a Crepe Paper Lei

United Nations Day at OB Montessori Center, Fairview was celebrated last October 12, 2012. Claire was assigned to wear a Hawaiian Costume representing the continent of North America. She wore a grassskirt, bought from Quiapo for P120- I have her Ninang Precious to thank for this. :) It came with a lei for the head, arms and legs but I still opted to make lei for her.

 

Grass skirt and lei

 

Here's how I did it:

 

1. Cut crepe paper into 1 1/2 inches.

 

 

 



 

 

2. Make a running stitch in the middle of the crepe paper.

 

 

3. Scrunch up the crepe paper -like a paper fan



4. Continue doing the running stitch until desired length is achieved. Tie the two ends together and arrange the crepe paper.

 

 

 




Claire's Costume





Claire (middle) flaunting her Hawaiian Costume.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travelling with the Kids: Hong Kong and Macau Dream Tour

My whole family, for the first time ever has travelled out of the country. We were so excited! But I was a bit apprehensive at first because we will be travelling with 3 kids (my 18 month old infant, a two year old toddler-my niece and my 5 year old preschooler). But then again, we travelled in a group of seven adults and 3 kids: My family, my sis-in-law's family, my parents-in-law plus an aunt. We were able to handle the kids well but we had to say goodbye to a relaxing kind of getaway. Ours was the crazy, chaotic, fun kind of a getaway. It was tiring yes(because of running after the kids!) but we had a great bonding time with the family and it was all worth it.

Here's a rundown of our travel experience: expenses, itinerary, what we packed, and comments on the  tour and hotel we stayed in. Read on!

Destination:

Hong Kong and Macau Tour for 4Days and 3Nights

Airfare Per Person:
1. Roundtrip Airfare (Adults and Kids 2 yrs. old and up) - P 9,708.63
2. Infant - less than 2 yrs. old) - P1,125.20
(Airfare may vary depending on the available flight, inclusions and promos.)

Travel Tax and Terminal Fee (Philippine Airport)
1. Adults- P1,620 (Travel Tax); 550 (Terminal Fee)
2. Kids- Children below 11 years of age may apply for a reduced travel taxt certificate. It will cost you P200 plus the reduced travel tax rate of P810 = P 1,010 per child. This can be applied at the DFA booth at the airport.
3. For Infants (2 years old and below)- you can apply for travel tax exemption directly at the DFA booth at the airport.
(Requirements for the reduced rate and travel tax exemption certificates are: Certified True Copy of Birth Certificate and Photocopy of Passport)

Pocket Money: HKD5,000 per family

Hotel Accomodation at Shamrock Hotel Plus Tour and breakfast:
1. Adult - USD 359
2. Kid (4 y/o) - USD 240
3. Infant- 2 y/o) - USD 75
(Our family availed of the tour package offered by Mosconi Travel and Tours near SM Fairview Supermarket)

 

We enjoyed our stay at the Shamrock Hotel. The staff are friendly and courteous. We were given a room that is quite small for my family. We requested to be transferred to a room with the same rate but big enough to accomodate us. They obliged and we were happy with our new room. The rooms are clean and the beds are comfy. I am particular with bathrooms, and theirs are nice and clean. It has a bathtub and hot and cold shower.  

 

We had our breakfast at the hotel. Since ours was a tour package, our breakfast was set up each morning. We were not a part of the buffet breakfast at the hotel. The food was tasty and filling. But it lacked variety. We were served hotdog, fried rice, scrambled eggs and coffee. The next day was the same but instead of rice we were served bread. I was hoping we would get fruits. My 5 year old was served the same meal. My 18 month old was not included in the breakfast, so I brought cerelac and cereals for him. The staff are nice enough to give him yogurts and eggs for free!:)

 

On our last day, we checked out early because we wanted to do more sightseeing since our flight was not until 7:30PM. The hotel kept our luggage in their lobby for safekeeping, until it was time for us to leave.

 

Trip Intinerary:
Day 1 9:55am arrival then transfer to Shamrock hotel -Free Time
Day 2 Whole Day Disneyland Tour
Day 3 Macau Tour with Lunch
Day 4 Free Time until 4PM transfer to Hong Kong Airport
(Day 2,3,4 inclusive of breakfast)

What I Packed- Essentials for the Kids:
1. Change of Clothes and Undies: 3 sets of clothes per day (1 Pyjamas, 2 Day Clothes). 
2. Diaper (4 diapers per day) for my 18 month old
3. Milk bottles for my 18 month old
4. Milk Powder
5. Small basin for washing the bottles
6. Bottle brush and bottle cleaner (no need to sterilize)
7. Snacks: cereal packs, biscuits, cerelac
8. Drinking water
9. Vitamins, Anti-allergy Med and Paracetamol for Fever
10. Baby Soap and Shampoo
11. Towel for the Kids
12. Baby Wipes and Drapolene (anti diaper rash cream)
13. Hair Clips and Hair Tie for my little girl
14. Cloth Diaper/Bib for wiping- comfort thingy of my 18 month baby. :)
15. Toy/ ipad to keep boredom at bay
16. Harness (Safety First) for my 18 month old boy- a big lifesaver. Especially because he tends to walk around pretty much everywhere.

 

I brought with me a back pack big enough to fit in my kids' essentials for the day: change of clothes, drinking water, 3 milk bottles, wipes and drapolene, small soap, snacks, my camera, wallet and travelling documents. I just replenish the supplies before we go in our next adventure. It really helps to be organized, so you can enjoy and have fun with the kids.

DAY1

We arrived at the airport at 9:55 am. There, we met with Anita, our tour guide from Holidays World Tours and she explained to us the itinerary of the whole trip.  She offered to give us a tour of the Victoria's Peak for HKD 280 per adult. Since this was our first day and it was our free day as well, we decided to avail of the tour. We were all tired from the lack of sleep and travel that we just went along with what she offered. It was a good enough deal because we did not go through the hassle of queueing for the tram ride up to the peak and the view was really nice. We even availed of having our picture taken at the highest point of Victoria's Peak. But take note: There's an entrance fee and you have to pay, if you want your picture to be taken and printed on the spot.

After that, we went to Mongkok Night Market. It was similar to divisoria in Manila but I noticed it was cleaner and there were even shops that carry different branded goods. We were all tired and hungry, so we were not able to do much shopping. We chose to eat at McDonalds. The selection of food is limited to burgers, fries, chicken and chicken nuggets. In the end we all settled for a Big Mac Meal. There was no rice and no spaghetti for the kids. For Claire, I ordered Happy Meal of chicken nuggets in sweet and sour sauce and steamed corn kernels. I ordered Fried Chicken for Ivan. He was so hungry and wanted to eat it all up right away. But I was surprised to find him crying after the first bite. I gave him one more bite and he screamed in pain. When I tasted the chicken, it was really spicy! Poor Ivan. Lesson learned for Mommy, taste the food first before feeding it to your child. :( I gave him milk instead.
 

DAY 2

Our second day was supposed to be a whole day Disneyland Tour. But when we arrived at the airport, Anita our guide was explaining that the itinerary for this day will be a half day city tour with a Disneyland Tour afterwards. We asked if it's ok to forgo the City Tour and just go directly to Disney. But it was a compulsory tour. We decided to go along with it-as if we had a choice-thinking that at least we would be able to see as much of Kowloon as we can.

 

KOWLOON CITY TOUR: We went to the Avenue of the Stars by the Bay Area. They brought a photographer with them and he took pictures of all of us. Later on the pictures were printed in Hong Kong Souvenir plates, which were sold to us at a special price. 

 

Next stop is TSL Workshop, a jewelry shop or factory. Here, we got to see up close, how they make their jewelries. Afterwards, we were directed to the shop where you get to purchase your own necklace if you want to. They have free refreshments on the side.  

 

The Souvenir Outlet is the last stop of the city tour. This shop does not look like an outlet, it looks more like a warehouse where you get to buy clothes, bags, cookies, teas and other items for pasalubong. The shirts here are of better quality than those shirts sold at the night market. But it was more expensive.

 

DISNEYLAND TOUR: We arrived at Disneyland at around 1:30 PM so the first thing we did (after taking pictures at the entrance) was to go look for some place to eat. We found a Chinese restaurant, and tried their lunch set menu. It was a good meal and we were fully satisfied. Energized, we then went out to explore. We had so much fun and I felt like a kid again. Disneyland closes at 8 PM- also the time wherein they showcase an elaborate fireworks display. The Disney tour was awesome. But we were not able to try out all the rides and visit all the areas. Half day at Disneyland is not enough. You should spend at least 1 whole day to be able to see all the attractions and line up for the rides. One more tip, go to Disneyland on a weekday. So you can avoid the crowd of locals and tourists who visit the park on weekends.

 

 

DAY 3

 

MACAU TOUR: We practically just went along with the flow. We rode the free transfer bus going to the Ferry Terminal. We bought our tickets. Then we lined up for the immigration check before boarding our Ferry going to Macau. Don't forget to bring your passports/travel documents with you.

At Macau, we went to the usual sights and had our pictures taken- Ruins of St. Paul, The Old City Wall, NaCha Temple, Fisherman's Wharf and A-ma Temple and Casino. The last stop is at the Venetian Hotel.

The view at night is beautiful, especially when the lights in the hotel/casinos are all lit up. I felt like I was in Vegas. Even the inside of The Venetian Hotel is the same as the one in Las Vegas. We took lots of pictures. We wanted to check out the casino, but sadly, kids are not allowed.

 

DAY 4

We checked out early from the hotel, because we still haven't had the chance to do some real shopping! We went to Mongkok (Night Market), where prices are not too steep. We rode the MTR going there. It was challenging because we are not familiar with the places. But we had a map and it was manageable. The MTR and the whole transport system in Hong Kong is so efficient. The fare is not expensive and you can pretty much go where ever you want using public transport. We rarely encountered heavy traffic in the streets.

We walked around Mongkok and whenever we see somebody, who looks "Pinoy" we call on them and ask for tips on where best to shop. They became our personal guide. I also learned a new shopping trick: Chinese merchants often drop their prices for the first customer who checks out their goods. The reason? They believe that if the first customer of the day did not purchase anything from their shop- the whole day will be unlucky- in terms of sales. I experienced this first hand. I asked a stall for the price of their bags, the merchant said HKD150. I decided to leave to look for something cheaper. To my surprise, she seemed frantic and dropped the price to HKD50! So, I bought 2 bags from her.

From Mongkok, we rode a taxi going back to our hotel and had a quick lunch. We were then picked up by the free transfer going back to the Airport for our flight back home.

***

Travelling abroad on a guided tour has its advantages: First, you don't need to worry about the different sights to visit because they have it all mapped out for you.  Second, there is a tour guide explaining the history and culture of the places you're visiting. They even suggest of the best places to dine and shop. Lastly, it is convenient especially if you have kids towed along. No time is wasted on navigating unfamiliar streets on your own.

Disadvantage: Everything is structured. You have to be on a certain place at a certain time. Sometimes, we wanted to stay longer but we are only allowed to explore for 30 mins.-1 hour. Although we had the choice to stay longer, transportation will be up to us. And it will be difficult to commute with sleepy, tired and cranky kids.


 

Claire's Dream Come True #1: A Big Black Car

Everytime we go to Sunday Mass at the Ascension of Our Lord Parish Church in Lagro, Claire without fail, would light up 5 colored candles (she always chooses the colors pink, purple, blue, green and red). As I was helping her to light up her candles, I told her that she should have a prayer for each of her candles. I lighted the pink candle up and asked her what it is for. She said it’s for a Big House. The purple candle is for a Big Car. The blue candle is for a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland. The Red candle is for going back to the Beach-Boracay. And the green candle is for her to fly like Izzie from Jake And The Neverland Pirates. During mass, she also kneels down to pray for her wishes. Good girl Claire.

Third week of August, my hubby and I dropped by SM Fairview for some errands. Marvin needed a ladder so he went to Ace Hardware to look for one. I was paying the bills at the Payment Center. He gave me a call and told me to go to Ford SM Fairview, which is right beside Ace Hardware. I met him there and he showed me that the downpayment for the Ford Everest was on a special promotional rate. Instead of the usual downpayment of P300k+ it was down to P88,000 plus insurance. It was a price that our family might be able to afford. We asked the sales consultant- Joan to give us a quotation and a brochure, which we brought home. Excitement was brimming, but I tried to suppress it, because I didn’t want to be disappointed.

Ad poster of Ford Everest

 We thought long and hard about it. We only have up to the end of August to decide. We consulted Marvin’s parents, my eldest brother Kuya Ge and my dad. They all said that we should go for it. If everything goes by smoothly, it simply means it was meant to be for us. This will be our first time to apply for a car loan and we are a bit apprehensive. What if we are not able to pay for the monthly amortization? But we have faith- lots of it.

We went to Ford Commonwealth for a test drive of the Ford Everest. We are satisfied with the ride, so we decided to plunge in a pay the reservation fee of P10,000.00. We filled up applications for car loans and waited for approval. We thought that if we get approved, then we will get it. If not, then it is not for us.

Test-Drive with my Mom-in-law and Claire

We patiently waited for the result of our loan application. On the second day, we got a text message from PS Bank and East West Bank informing us of our loan approval. It was a happy day. The next day, a Friday, we went to Ford Commonwealth to get our very own Black Ford Everest SUV. Just like that. We went home with our very own big car. It almost felt like we were in a dream.

 

Our very own Big Black Car

Inside the Big Black Car

 

Everything happened so fast. We did not plan for it. But I guess, that is how God works. He loves His children and He loves surprising us. Marvin really wanted a Toyota Fortuner. But God gave us a Ford Everest. I told Marvin that God doesn’t always give him what he wants, he jokingly said, maybe that is why He gave you to me. Then I told him, it’s because He only gives you the very best.

 

We had our new big black car, blessed that Sunday. Then on September 9, 2012- Our 6^th Wedding Anniversary, we went to Our Lady of Manaoag, to thank our Mother for her blessings. It turned out that on our last trip there (April 2012), Marvin asked Mother Mary for a big black car. Who would have thought that only after 4 months, it will be given to us. Thank you Mother Mary for your blessings! Thank you for the Anniversary gift. Happy Birthday to you. (September 8 is the Birthday of Mother Mary.)

 

Car Blessing

Prayer is really very powerful. Especially if offered by someone with a pure heart- such as that of a little child’s. We noticed that Claire’s prayers somehow comes true, however impossible we may think it is. So I won’t be surprise if I ever see her flying around the house. And just for the kick of it, I might as well ask her to pray for a winning lotto ticket. J

6th Wedding Anniversary: Trip to Manaoag

Greenie The Turtle

Claire has been bugging me for the longest time to get her a pet. She wants a pet puppy, but I told her, we can't have a puppy because we have a baby in the house. I won't be able to take care of a new puppy because my hands are full taking care of her and of Ivan, my youngest.

 

Last Christmas she got a pet goldfish in a fish bowl. But due to lack of oxygen, her pet died the next day. Then she watched "Wonder Pets" at Nick Jr. and she saw Tuck the pet turtle. So she requested for a pet Turtle. Weeks passed and Claire just stopped asking me for a pet.

There was a three day sale at SM Fairview and as we were "window shopping" we came upon a pet store named, "Furry Tails." We asked them if they have turtles and they said yes! So we followed the salesperson inside the store and she directed us to an aquarium filled with small green turtles. What a perfect surprise for our good girl, Claire. And the turtles and the turtle food are on sale too! We got the turtle for P315.78 and the Turtle Food Pellets for P89.00.

 

Now, how do you choose your turtle pet from a tank full of turtles? What I did was, I picked up one turtle and drop him in the deep part of the tank. That turtle sank and hid inside its shell. Then I chose another one and did the same thing. Instead of hiding, this little turtle, swam up. I chose this active little guy and it turned out to be a male turtle. We asked them how we would know if its a female or a male. The salesperson said that it depends on the markings under the body of the turtle. I also made sure that the shell of our turtle looks healthy. The shell looks clean and strong and it doesn't have molds or any blemishes.

 

 

 

We brought this turtle home and placed him in the empty fish bowl that Claire got for Christmas. We found some stones, and carefully placed it inside the bowl. We filled it up with water-just up to the stones so the turtle can crawl up and lounge around. Then we presented it to Claire.

 

Our Pet Turtle- Greenie

Claire was giddy with excitement! At last she has her very own pet. I told her that it's her responsibility to feed her twice a day. She said yes mommy, I will. I asked her what name will she give her pet. She said, "Greenie, cause it's green." So Greenie it is. We let the turtle crawl on the floor and boy, was he fast. He almost got away from us. I thought turtles are supposed to be slowpokes..but ours was a speedy gonzales.

 

Greenie the turtle is just the perfect pet for our family. He is low maintenance, You just have to clean him and the fish bowl every morning and feed him, twice a day. That's pretty much it. Maybe when the kids are a little bigger we can get a puppy.

 

Greenie smiles for the camera.:)

 

Tooth Fairy

One day, I noticed that the lower teeth of my daughter, seems to have a slight gap. I shrugged my shoulders and thought to myself that it's okay because it's just her milk teeth. But a few days passed and the gap seems to be growing bigger and bigger. Until I finally saw what's causing the movement. Behind her pearly whites, a new tooth is emerging! This tooth seems to be pushing her milk teeth, making the gap bigger and bigger.

I was excited. For the first time, my daughter, only 5 years old is going to lose a tooth. It was nice seeing her very first permanent tooth emerging. Claire was also happy and excited as well. On her part, she wants to experience the magic of the Tooth Fairy. Then, her lower front tooth starts to wiggle. I told her that instead of waiting for her wiggly tooth to fall out on its own, we can do something to pull it out right away. I suggested to tie a string around the tooth, then tie the other end in a door knob. Then we can shut the door close. In that way, the string can pull her tooth out instantly. She looked horrified at first, but surprisingly, she agreed! By the way, that's an old school method of extracting a loose tooth when I was little. But in my daughter's case, of course I was just kidding! Don't try that at home.

One week passed and everyday, Claire kept on playing with her loose tooth. She absentmindedly pushes it with her tongue, with her finger and with her food. Until finally, it happened. She ran to me screaming, "Mommy, Mommy! I pulled out my tooth!" And there it is, holding it with her little fingers, her tiny milk tooth, with blood and all. Her T-shirt has smears of blood. I bet it also hurt a little. But she wasn't bothered by it at all! I wasn't bothered too. We were both so excited by what happened. I hugged her and congratulated her. I kissed her and said I was proud of her. She's such a big girl already. She said, "It's so tiny! We have to clean it and place it under my pillow so the tooth fairy can leave a coin for my coin collection." So I cleaned her tooth for her and kept it for safekeeping, promising to place it under her pillow as she sleeps that night.

My baby girl, is growing  up so fast. She's a big girl now, insisting not to call her baby anymore. She is kinda like the new tooth pushing away her baby self, here comes the new Claire, growing and learning and maturing as time passes by. And I am excited to see the new her, take care of the new her. As she grows, her needs also change. She becomes more strong and independent. I am excited and I am looking forward to the beautiful person she will eventually become.

She slept soundly that night. I did not bother placing her old tooth under the pillow. But I did remember placing a P5 coin under her pillow. Early in the morning, still half asleep. She placed her hands, under her pillow and felt something hard, round and cold. A coin! The Tooth Fairy left it for her! She was elated! Thank you Tooth Fairy, for making me and my daughter so happy.

My Baby Dolls

"Claire playing with her dolls"

Little girls absolutely love dolls. I often watch my daughter, Claire as she becomes lost in her own world playing with her dolls. She has conversations with them while pretending to have a tea party. She strokes her doll’s hair lovingly and changes her into cute little outfits. She takes good care of them- she feeds them and gives them a bath. She makes their bed and sings them a lullaby.

"Go to sleep dollies."

At such a young age, I marvel at how this 4 year old girl can be capable of giving so much TLC to her dolls and to her younger brother. She just adores and loves her little brother and treats him as well as she treats her dolls.

Taking care of my babies brings me back in time. I am transported to when I was a little girl playing lovingly with my own dolls. And then it dawned to me that maybe this was God’s way of preparing little girls for the greatest role they will ever take in as an adult- being a mother.

"My real-life dolls: Claire and Ivan"

Being a caring, loving and responsible individual is innate in all of us. It just takes a helpless but cute and adorable creature to bring out the best “mommy” in us.

On Becoming a Stay-At-Home Mom

Never have I thought that I would become a stay-at-home mom. In college, I dreamt of having a flourishing career. I see myself moving up the ranks and reaping the fruits of my labor. I graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts then began my career in Advertising, which lasted for 3 years.

I had a chance to travel to the US together with my younger sister and my younger brother. My short stint in the US was a turning point in my life. Actually, all three of us were in a crossroad. We had a choice of either staying in America for good or coming home to the Philippines. My sister and I both applied for working visas, and it took months before the results were released. We were running out of time and we needed to fly back to Manila or else our US B1/B2 Visa will be cancelled. We both decided to pack our bags and fly home. But, as fate would have it, the results of our Working Visa Application came out on the day of our departure. She got approved. I got denied. She and my brother stayed in America. I went back home to the Philippines, alone, both happy and sad at the same time.

Home sweet home but I was in Limbo. I didn’t know what to do. I still had the dream of making it to the Corporate World. But I also want to come back to the US and find a decent job that pays well. In the end, with the support of my parents, I decided to go back to school and earn a degree in Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I was young, single and I had nothing to lose. So I threw caution to the wind and faced Nursing School head-on. It was also at that time when I got engaged.

It was in my 2^nd year of Nursing School, when I found out that I was pregnant. My fiance and I immediately decided to get married, much to the surprise of both of our parents, since I haven’t finished my Nursing Degree yet. When we told them I was pregnant, they understandingly and happily supported us all the way. We got married. I took a leave from school, to give birth, making me officially a Mommy. I went on to finish my Nursing Degree. I graduated and passed the board exam. I reviewed for the State of Minnesota Nursing Licensure Exam and I also passed. I am a Registered Nurse, both here in the Philippines and in the US. Everything was ready. I can now leave the country.

But can I just leave my family behind to pursue my dreams of working abroad and earn a living? It was a tough decision. In the end I decided to stay. My US Visa was about to expire at that time and I can’t risk being trapped in the US without my family. In the meantime, my husband and a partner has since started their own Construction Company and through prayers, they are doing quite well. I tried applying for nursing jobs here, but the only jobs available are for volunteer work- which enatils you to work without pay. It seems like it wasn’t worth it all. Besides, another baby came along and if I go to work no one will take care of him. My husband and I talked it over and we made a decision that I am to become a stay-at-home mom.

I had mixed emotions of being a stay-at-home. There were good days and there were bad. Sometimes I get really sad because I am not able to practice my profession and I don’t have a career. But what is the importance of a career? Ultimately, having a good career will benefit yourself, your kids and your family. Your career is for them. But sacrifices have to be made in terms of being a hands-on mother.

As a stay-at-home mom, I get to wear numerous hats.

I am a manager. I manage our household. I make sure that everything in the house is running smoothly, from cleaning, cooking to taking care of the kids.

I am a chef. I love to cook. I go to the market, I plan and prepare meals for my family. I make snacks for my children, at home and at school.

I am a teacher. I teach them the alphabet, numbers, shapes and colors. I teach them about God and how to pray. I teach them about life.

I am a nurse. I manage the health of my family. When they get sick I am with them round the clock, giving them medicines and lots of love.

I am a wife. I am a playmate. I am a dancer. I am a singer. I am a strory-teller. I am a stylist. I am a counselor. The list goes on.

Your priorities change when you become a mother. The day I decided to change careers, I was still single and I can leave the country to start a new life, anytime. But being a mom means thinking way beyond yourself.  You think about your children, your family and what is good for them.

I may not have a “career” and I may not have all the money in the world. But I am a mother. To the eyes of my children, I am someone important. I can still make a difference in this world by moulding the minds of my children to be good and responsible individuals, which in turn will make this crazy world of ours, a better place to live in.