Happy New Year!

I'm BAAAAACK! Just in time to bid 2018 goodbye! After me and hubby got back from our vacation last November, I was so busy with the kids and prepping for Christmas that I just had to take a break from blogging. But I promise to be back soon to tell you all about London and Scotland! :)

Anyway, here are some of the things I've been busy with the past few weeks.

Cheers to 2016

Wishing you all a happy new year and the best in 2016!

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2015 already! So much blessings to be thankful for in 2014 and looking forward to more this year. Like in a week, my baby Skyler is turning 1. Can't wait for his party! Til then, cheers to the new year!!! :)

Highlights of my 2013

Today is the last day of 2013 and I just want to look back at 13 of my best memories and moments from this year before we bid it goodbye...

My kids' birthdays
I'm sure you all know that planning my kids' parties is something I look forward to every year. From picking the theme to making all the DIY decorations. I'm so happy of how Miley's Hello Kitty party and Sabe's Monster Bash turned out. Can't wait for their birthdays in 2014!

DIY projects
I haven't been able to make as much DIY projects around the house as I wanted to this year. Probably because I got pregnant and spent most of the time just lying in bed sleeping all day hehe. But I'm so proud of myself for tackling the ones I did - especially painting the room and the striped ceiling of my daughter's bedroom! I also love how our updated garden set and wooden sunburst mirror turned out.

Bangkok trip
I'm so thankful that hubby and I were able to spend some quality time in Bangkok. And of course, the shopping wasn't too bad either. ;p

Learning to drive
Probably my greatest achievement this year was FINALLY learning how to drive! I mostly just drive Miley to and from school, or go to the grocery near our place. I'm still scared to venture out on my own in places I'm not familiar with, but it's still an accomplishment for me to finally have this piece of independence.

Fixing the guest room
After 10 years, I was finally able to furnish and decorate this room! But with baby #3 on the way, we're planning to turn this into a nursery.

Features
Thank you so much for all the features and sponsored posts my blog has gotten this year! As well as the Smart Parenting article on Miley's Hello Kitty party and Miley appearing on Disney's Princess magazine. Hope for more of these in 2014! :)

Out of Town trips
I'm so thankful we were able to spend time with the family and bring the kids to such beautiful places around the country like Batangas, Baguio, and Cebu. Goal for next year are trips to Boracay and Palawan (hopefully!).

Real Living makeover
It was so unreal when my mom's house was chosen for Real Living magazine's monthly makeover! The end result was so beautiful, we still can't believe how lucky we got. Thank you Real Living for this gift!

Halloween
I totally loved our family costume and can't wait for next year! Any suggestions? ;p

Weddings galore
I'm so happy for all our loved ones who got married this year, especially for making us a part of their special day by including us in the entourage.

First out of the country trip with the kids
This was another first for us - bringing the kids to Singapore and onboard an Asian Cruise (with stops in Thailand and Malaysia which I still have to blog about!). Although it was definitely challenging, the memories are really something we would treasure forever.

Miley starting school
A huge milestone for us this year was Miley starting preschool. From having trial classes, going to summer school, and finally experiencing sending her off to her first day... Each activity was so exciting for us, like attending the parent-teacher conferences, family day, getting her report card, etc. There were some tough times at first but she's grown so much since school started. Can you believe she was even chosen to lead the opening prayer at their Christmas program? I've never felt so nervous and proud in my life after she said all her lines like a pro in front of the entire audience! And she danced so well too in their class performance.
Next year, it will be Sabe's turn to start school and I honestly can't wait to see how he'll do. :)

Baby #3!
Of course, the biggest highlight of this year was me getting pregnant! We're so excited for this new addition to our family and can't wait to meet the little one already...

2013 has been so good to us, I'm hoping 2014 will be even better. With me and hubby celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary and with a new baby on the way, I think the new year is definitely looking good... :)

Welcoming 2013

Like I mentioned in my previous post, I was really feeling under the weather these past few days. All I wanted to do was rest and sleep, so it was really a struggle staying up and waiting for midnight on New Year's Eve. But hey, I don't wanna welcome 2013 in bed so I mustered up all my remaining energy for the last day of the year. Besides, I still want to look nice in pictures diba? ;p

Miley was so excited with all the fireworks, she kept shouting "WOW!" and "THAT'S AMAZING!" She wasn't scared with the loud sounds anymore, not like last year. Sabe, on the other hand, fell asleep before midnight so he was in a bad mood when he woke up. He didn't even want to go outside the room because of the fireworks, so he just played on the Ipad for a bit (see how sleepy he was, I even captured him in mid yawn!).

But after the fireworks had died down, everybody started dancing and what else, eating again! Here's Sabe having his midnight snack hehe!

So despite welcoming 2013 being sick and all, I hope this year will bring more blessings, happiness, and health to our family and yours.

New Year's Eve Lunch

Happy New Year everyone! I wish I could be more happy but in reality, me and the kids have been battling runny noses, sore throats and coughs these past few days (thankfully no fever). It wasn't helped by the fact that we've been up late every single day since Christmas Eve with different family gatherings, reunions, and get-togethers with friends. So in a nutshell... I am just wiped out!

But of course, that's no reason to be a party pooper. So for New Year's Eve, hubby and I gamely contributed to the family lunch by cooking steak and risotto. So in addition to being sick, I'm also fat with all the non-stop eating too! ;p

My specialty, bacon and mushroom risotto (click here for recipe and how I did it). During my first attempt a few months ago, the risotto ended up a little bit dry. But now, it was just perfect! The texture was creamy and it was so flavorful! Everyone enjoyed it, especially me. =)

Ok, all this posting about food is making me hungry! Sira talaga ang diet during the holidays! Now after I get well, time to get back in shape again! ;p

Photo of the Day: Cheers!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! (don't worry, it's just water ;p)

Welcoming 2012

Here's a photodiary of how we spent New Year's Eve. Had lots of food and fun with the family. =)

super yummy pumpkin soup made by my mother-in-law

Miley's outfit - it's a tradition to wear polkadots! =)

Sabe's outfit. He was supposed to wear a polo, but he kept tugging at the collar and crying. So, as usual, he looks so casual compared to Miley. ;p

Yaya took a day off so we had our hands full with the kids

starting them young

Happy New Year! Sabe stayed awake long enough to see the fireworks (and didn't get scared at all!)...

... and he fell asleep exactly 5 minutes after midnight! (check out my outfit - polkadots kung polkadots din haha!)

Knocked out Miley! She fell asleep 15 minutes before midnight just like last year (but that's ok since she's scared of the fireworks). Her change outfit - of course may polkadots!

oh, you can't see it but Sabe's top had little polkadots too in the white parts of the shirt hihi=)

ZZZZZZZZZ...

When I was still single, I'd spend New Year's partying, drinking, and going home when the sun would come up. But I've been pregnant the past 2 New Years and had to skip on the celebrations. I said that this year I'd be back with a vengeance, but I found myself wanting to just stay with the kids and sleep (I'm really getting old haha!). Really, nothing beats welcoming 2012 with my two little munchkins (plus Vins haha).

Here I was last year welcoming 2011 with sleeping Miley (in polkadots no less!) and Sabe still in my tummy

Now, exactly a year later, here I am welcoming 2012 with the 2 sleeping kiddos. Truly a very happy New Year!