From The Golosinos to You!

Definitely a Treat

Mia has never gone trick or treating. But on Saturday, I made sure she'll have a nice treat (this also serves as a pre-birthday gift for her.) I've booked tickets as early as February?! Then we'll go to Denden's after the show just to say boo! It would be her 30th birthday tomorrow, also the 30th of this month! How cool! So I'd like to greet her a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY in advance. Hug you soon dear. :)

I have been waaay occupied (by Farmville and Pet Society) and for some reasons (Farmville and Pet Society), I can't blog. I know a lot of you (especially my Mama together with Ate Twinkle, Angeli, my cousins...) misses my stories so I guess here's a start.

Jose and I have been blessed with friends who are members of Couples For Christ. And for the past couple of months, our nine weekends were booked as we attended the CFC's Christian Life Program. Then, as cliché as it may sound, our lives have never been the same again. Oh yes! :D This new lifestyle that we have was embraced more when we accepted our household heads/very good friends' offer to be the Youth For Christ couple coordinator for Milton Keynes. I would just probably do entries about this journey on my other blog.

By the way, our CFC experience, was backed with another blessing as we joined a Filipino community called MK Pinoy. Just imagine how our weekends changed from three Golosinos to groups of Filipinos! God is so g-e-n-e-r-o-u-s.

Basically, that's really it for me. (Farmville and Pet Society). :D

I've been itching to join memes specifically Mommy Moments, to do some catch-ups but that would be very ambitious, I guess. This would be like how it was during my first blogging months, nangangapa at naghahabol.

Now here's to hoping to be back for good and to blog hop asap.

May you all have a safe Halloween and All Saints Day. Peace!

Our 5th Anniversary

How do you celebrate your 5th wedding anniversary when most of your countrymen are mourning? How can you think straight when you’ve heard and read about families devastated? And how can you say life must go on to a Filipino who just lost one?

I fall to my knees and look up – to praise and honor, ask for forgiveness, give thanks that our families in Malabon were spared and beg for mercy with a whole nation. Then I need to stand again and do something... As Father Joe of Our Lady of Lourdes in Coffee Hall said in his homily two weeks ago, "When someone is sick, praying is really important but doing something to ‘actually help’ is another." I am humbled by all the Facebook messages coming even if they literally made me sick because of weariness. I still continued reading all Ondoy related shout outs and videos then found myself staring nowhere. Because I’ve got but a few in my Paypal… And when I hit the Red Cross online donation link, the transaction would not go through. I tried four times and choked laughing that maybe the amount I entered was too small. Or maybe I was just plain ignorant. Ha! Talk about feeling helpless. (I'm just relieved I have a husband who's in IT)!

I tried very hard to look on the brighter side.

It is also very hard to say something without being judged, talk about something that’s not your expertise, express empathy over something you have not experienced but I can’t shut it you know.

The brighter side I reckon is the Filipinos’ unyielding faith in God. I was proven yet again that He is all we shall ever need. I share to you, Psalm 23:4 as it was written - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me...

I may not have experienced waiting to be rescued on the roof of my house, losing my family over drowning or getting mud off our ceiling and more but I would also always know and depend on God. Our little family has gone through many trials and obstacles for five years now, I wish not to compare the gravity of what we had and as a matter of fact, still having but clinging on my faith is fairly logical but losing it almost would be the scariest of all. Now, with a country who never forgot to say, “Patawarin niyo po kami Panginoon, Salamat po Panginoon, Tulungan ninyo po kami Panginoon”, I will always be reassured that indeed no matter what, everything is going to be okay.

So how shall I express gratuity of five years of being married to the man I always have dreamed about without being thick?

I quote, our first and dearest friends in Milton Keynes, the Escaños, particularly Ate Cech as she texted very early this morning: "Happy Anniversary Twinkie and Jose! May this day remind you the gift of lifetime partnership that our Great God blessed you with. May you continue to see your purpose as a couple and as a family.” Oh! I could have never said it better. Thank you very much. I have never been in so much peace my dear friends. As a couple, we may have had our share of love quarrels as bad as a typhoon but it is only these days that we truly included God in the middle of it all (shame but true) and what calm He really brings.

Jose and I have been thinking where, what, when and how are we to spend our 5th and if I was the same as I was four years ago, I could have died of tantrums. But no. I am just so grateful that I started the day hugging my one true love reminded that with him, we are very blessed in so many ways that I could not really ask for anything more.

Now to put a soft note on this anniversary entry, I would like to share a very heartwarming but cute exchange of what nots with Mia when I was saving some high school and college pictures that I’ve seen through Facebook and some other sites...

Me: Mia, let’s play a game! Can you find Mommy in the pictures that I’ll show?

Mia: Oh yes! Yes! Yes!

Me: The first one is this.

Mia: You’re uhm… the one in stripey yellow! So many of your friends like stripes too. Hihi!

Me: Haha! I know! We like stripes. Haha! What about this.

Mia: Mom! You’re the one in red and this is Ninang Twinkle! Why is her hair very short?

Me: So our friends will not get confused. :D And she really looks beautiful in short hair isn't it?Wow! You’re good in this! What about here.

Mia: You are the tallest girl! Mom, you have make up?

Me: Haha! Yes. Your Aunt Zara did it. Mommy does not know how to put on make up.

Mia: Where is Aunt Zara? Can she put make up on me too?

Me: I’ll show you later anak. Yes, maybe we can ask her on December? :D Now in this last photo, where am I?

Mia: You’re in grey!!! You are very pretty Mom.

Me: Really? What about her? (Pointing at Regine Velasquez).

Mia: She's pretty too but you are prettier!

Me: Haha! Love you anak! :D

Mia: I love you too Mom.

Me: Very good Mia. I’m really happy that you got it all right. Oh! Those were the days when Mom was still young and I was really slim isn’t it? Now… Mommy is...

Mia: Now, you are... my Dad’s wife! And we are a very happy family because we are all best friends! Yey!!!

And wouldn't I always want to be her Dad’s wife ei?

Hun, happy anniversary. Let's have the "chill" we always talk about later. Here’s to many many more to come!

Peace and God bless us all.

There She Goes # 17

Treasured Photos

I am not sure if it's just me but choosing photos for this week's theme is quite hard!!! I have so many favorites or treasured photos of Mia and if you've been reading my blog for quite some time now, you'd probably notice that I seldom repeat posting posted photos. And so these ones I've chosen are the most recent and of course all are very much treasured. Why? Let me tell you in details...

The first set is a proof of Mia's bravery when it comes to injections. Since her first booster shot, she never really cried. She shows pain, yes. But for her, it literally is just an ant's bite.

As soon as we entered the clinic this is how the experience went:

Nurse 1: Hello Mrs. Golosino, hello Mia! Mommy, (whispering now) does she know she's having shots today?

Me: No. (Bad Mom I know).

Nurse 2: She'll be having (whispering again) two shots today MMR II and the Dip...Polio...Whooping cough booster. If you could please put her on your lap putting her free arm under your arm...

Mia: Mom, are they putting eye drops?

Me: No, they are going to give you two booster shots one in each arm.

Nurse 1 and 2 got quite shocked with Mommy's frankness. I asked the nurse where their stickers are to help distract Mia while they were on it. First shot...

Mia: Oh! That tickles Mom!

Me: Yeah! That's my girl. Good job sweetie!

Mia: Mom, promise me there'll be no eye drops please?

Me: (Anak, seryoso ka ba?) No Mia just one more shot.

Next shot...

Mia: Oooh! That was just like an ant's bite Mom!

Me: Yes, now choose a sticker...

And as Mia made her choice...

Mia: Nurses, I know I am brave but two shots for a day is really quite enough. Good bye and thank you.

Nurse 1 and 2: Good bye brave little girl, you've been brilliant! See you when you're 14!

That was about lunch time and even if I don't give her sweets before meals, I shoved the whole bag of Buttons to her on our way home. I was just too proud!!! So proud, that I have to take "shots" too. :D

Right and Left! :)

Indeed!!!

Now the next set is what has been eating me nowadays... Mia's preschool days start at 9:15 - 11:45. I had to wake up as early as 6:15 am to prepare for Jose's breakfast. Without a nap in between and as soon as Jose leaves for work, Mia and I would have to eat breakfast then we have to take our showers too. Mia has been an angel when it comes to waking up and I owe part of it to Heart; Mia's virtual pet in Pet Society, one of Facebook's many fun apps. So...where was I? Yes, these are some of her photos during her first week in preschool. Of course, it's a moment not to be missed, thus will always be treasured.

Because I know that we'll have a photo session that day, I reserved 15 precious mintues just for this:

Our lovely preschooler. :)

Preppy look! :)

2nd day and looking fab! :D

Her third day was fun, fun, fun until she fell on her knees on our way home...

I only took this photo to show Jose how nakakaawa Mia was... But I thought I'd still post it and would still consider this a treasured photo because it's one proof that I was needed. Sniff... sniff...

I would have taken photos of her on her fourth and final day of the first preschool week but she would not cooperate anymore because she could not smile with three booboos daw. Haha!

Anyway, the last set would be about our study time. After dinner, for a minimum of one hour, Mia has to "study." I just can't believe that on our first night, she did really really well. Zoom in to know what I mean.

Smart Girl!

Well that's it for me. I am sure that you too have loads to share. Go and put your entry here. Good day everyone! God bless!

~o~

Now special thanks to our sponsors... Lola Weng and Ninong Biboy, thank you very much for all these beautiful tights and maxi dresses. Mia would now have enough to wear until next year! :D

"Lola Weng, really knows what I want and need Mom!" What treasures! :D

High Time...

...to apologize to co-bloggers for not being able to post awards and tags given/assigned to me and to say thank you so much for remembering and still keeping in touch...

Here are some of my additional blogging blessings (arranged alphabetically just like our Farmville trees):

given by Chris

Rules:1. Include the award logo in your blog or post.2. Nominate as many blogs which you like.3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

given by Cee

Rules: 1. Post Award on your Blog together with the name and the URL of the person who granted it.2. Pass the Award to 15 other Blogs that you have just discovered as great ones.3. Contact the Bloggers to let them know that they have been chosen to receive the Award.

given by Seiko

given by Cee and Seiko

given by Kero

given by Chris

All these awards, I would like to share with Ate Pinky, Denden, and Cheche.

~0~

The Other Half

tagged by: Enchie, Seiko and Yaying (Thank you very much! I enjoyed doing this).

1. He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? BBC or CNN
2. You're out to eat, what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? He does not eat salad.
3. What's one food he doesn’t like? Lettuce

4. You go out to eat and have a drink, what does he order? Drink alcoholic - San Miguel or Stella Artois, Non-alcoholic - Coke
5. What shirt size does he have? Medium or Large, depends on the brand
6. What shoe size does he have? UK 7.5
7. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Mcdo’s Double Cheeseburger and Subway’s Meatballs Marinara with Double Cheese
8. What would he eat everyday if he could? Sinigang
9. What is his favorite cereal? Coco Pops’ Mega Munchers

10. What would he never wear? Any jewelry besides his watch
11. What is his favorite sports team? Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
12. Who did he vote for? If he could (because he’s of minor age then), he would go for Miriam Santiago. If he could (because he’s a Filipino Citizen), he’s a big Hillary Clinton follower. I am not sure who he voted for during the last presidential election in the Philippines though...

13. Who is his best friend? Twinkie
14. What is something he does, but you wish he wouldn't do? Burp so loudly and eat enthusiastically I’m so scared the Corelle will break! Imagine?
15. What is his heritage? Filipino
16. You bake him a cake, what kind of cake? Banana but he had enough for now
17. Did he play sports in high school? Volleyball
18. What could he spend hours doing? Walking in parks with me and Mia

19. What is the unique talent that he has? He sings very well.

20. What's his type of coffee? My coffee

I pass this tag to all wives in my blogrolls. Go Grab! :)

Dress Up!

Dress Up Day

Pretend play is best done with dressing up and Mia's got a good share of both.

Let's start with her favorite...

Ladybird when she was two, three, and then turning four years old soon...

Then her 2nd best...

A Ballerina whenever, wherever!

Being a ballerina is more fun when with friends!

Now who said she can't make her "own" costume? :D

The Superherogirl with her MLPs

And this is my favorite... simply dressing her up. In here we are checking if all her new preschool clothes fits perfectly.

I think she's all set!

Do you want to share your child's dress up day? Link it to Mommy Moments! Enjoy!