34th

Hubby and Xioms, with their birthday headbands on, woke me up today singing a happy birthday song. So, as much as I want to sleep more (preggy issues you know), I forced myself to get up. Well, it's already time to get up anyway. Kiddo handed me over a cute birthday card with a drawn cupcake dancing in the tune of some sort of a country music. It was so hilarious!

When I got out of the bedroom, a huge balloon, yellow rose plant, a cake with the number 34 candles lit on, and big breakfast plates await all of us. I guess hubby had been very busy preparing and cooking very early in the morning. Hmmm... so sweet! Not to mention that this home-made sausage and egg mcmuffin smells soooo good!

So after a few pictures here and there, we started to feast!

Little things like this makes a huge difference, and that is definitely the most important! I really can't express how happy and lucky I am having my family. They are my most prized possession! So, I have to say it again, BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! Haha.

Happy 34th to me. Cheers!

x

Best Birthday (so far)

I'm the luckiest homo sapien in the world! Today isn't only about celebrating the day of my existence but also rejoicing being with such an amazing, loving family.

My husband planned on a week-long mid-west road trip birthday celebration for me. Our planned route would be Kentucky-Illinois-Missouri-Nebraska-Iowa-South Dakota-Wyoming-Colorado-Kansas-Kentucky. I know it's gonna be tiring and insane but I'm telling you, it's full of exploration and excitement! We're currently on a stop here at Wyoming and off in the next few hours to Colorado. Man, driving in Wyoming is a shocker (in a very good way)! I promise to blog all about the places we passed and stopped by in full detail but for now, I better get my butt ready for the wilderness ahead of me.

This year is just extra special. I get to age another year physically with my husband and my daughter. Cheers for a happy life, and oh, happy 33rd birthday to me. Ta-ta!

x

32nd

Geez, I'm 32. Honestly, I start to feel that birthdays are nothing special. I guess it's becoming more and more ordinary when we age, eh? Oh well.

The past year has been good to me and my family. My mom and kiddo finally got to visit me here in sandpit. I've been meaning to do this for quite some time. I wanted my family to know how life is treating me here at Abu Dhabi. It's also a plus that my niece came along with them to look for job opportunities here. I believe it's now time for her to live on her own and be independent.

I also got to visit Oman with Vlad. Oh boy, I never realized how beautiful Oman is. It should definitely be one of the places to be listed in your bucket list and be ticked! I promise to post a blog about our trip to Oman soon.

Anyhoo, back to today's news. It's my birthday. What should I be thankful for? Well, for everything! The air that I breathe, the emotions that I feel, the events that I get to experience, and finally, the realization that I am still well and alive and that I am not alone in this nasty world.

Okay, I'm off for a dinner date. Cheers!

x

Now, I'm 31!

I woke up, grinning to myself because today's my birthday. Now, I'm 31! I think I'm aging gracefully.
Saw beautiful raindrops on my window from this fancy hotel.
Grabbed my phone and read sweet greets and warm wishes from beau.
Changed clothes, put on a jacket, and went for a nice walk. It's still drizzling and I love it. Every year, I guess wherever I am, I will be showered with happiness and blessings.
Feet dragged me here at Starbucks and started typing this blog :).

Today's my last day here in Chicago. I'm fulfilled, and it's my day. So before I spend the rest of my birthday either at the airport or above the clouds, I want to thank everyone I love and I loathe - they all keep me sane, remind me how lucky I am, and that life is truly bizarre yet magical.

Salute!

Munchkin's 3rd

July 9, 2007 is the best date ever of my entire life. Twas when I gave birth to Xioms - my most precious possession.

making a wish

Lord knows how absolutely grateful I am standing right beside my daughter on her special day. Time really flies sooo fast! My munchkin is now 3. If I can only wish that she'll be 3 years old forever. Hayyy..

Happy happy birthday kiddo! Always remember that Mama loves you to bits.

PS Thanks Ninang Keti for the yummy Icing's cake!

Kerengkeng Day

T'was Louie's birthday! Our most kerengkeng friend ever!

The celebration is at her place and we sure had a blast! We were a bit sad though because it was Chie's last two days' stay here in Manila. But of course we never showed that to her. We want her to remember all happy things happened during her stay. Memories are treasured forever, remember?

Five aka Kerengkeng

So where was I? Oh about the birthday. So, we feast on yummy foodies (esp Karla who's really crying for more Bopis) and we drained ourselves with alcohol. I admit, I'm a bit tipsy eh but I'm not drunk! I've never ever tried being drunk when I'm out of my own place -- I better kill myself than doing that.

Here are some crazy pics during the party...

Badings, almost complete

Badings minus 2

With Pipi and Bingi

I got home past 5 in the morning. Gah! Being with the lovely Viatores and through-thick-and-thin Badings in a night -- really worth it! I love you guys. And oh, Xioms was still sound asleep when I arrived. Lucky me!

PS Happy Birthday again Louie, Rose, Rosa, Cinco, Five, Madam Rosa, Alligator, Kerengkeng! I'm pretty sure you had a great time more than I do. Lablab *__*

x

Mom's Sweet 60

Mom recently turned 60. It's been our plan to celebrate it fabulously so we stayed at Holiday Inn like tourists for 4 days and 3 nights. T'was a bit pricey but that was nothing compared to the extreme happiness being with your loved ones.

Make a wish Ma!

My mom has always been there for me and my sisters that's why she deserves to be the "queen" on this very special day of hers. Oh okay, not only today but everyday! Anyway, we had a blast and we look forward for her 61st! I wish her to blow more candles and slice lots of cakes in the future. Happy birthday Mom and we love you with all our hearts.

Exhaustion = Happiness!

Late Thursday and Friday morning. I am widely awake 30 hours or so before my birthday. It's Friday when I had a nice dinner at Old Spaghetti House with Sissy and Partner. Yep, t'was a pre-celebration. It's been discussed and approved long time ago that we should at least meet, chat and dine during our birthdays, so yeah why not? I brought Xioms with me and fortunately, Kets brought Lana. After munching, we went to Timezone for the kids to enjoy. Restaurants are pretty boring for them. We then went home by 10pm.

With Donna and Kets

Thumbs up with Munchkin

Friday night. 11pm and still I'm walking around at home like a zombie picking up Xioms' stuff and cleaning. I know I haven't been sleeping or at least resting since I went home Friday morning from work last Thursday evening. I just feel I needed to clear things up very badly before I go to bed. I even managed to change my stat at Facebook before actually dozing! Hah!

Next morning, Saturday. Xioms woke me up and I was clearly familiar that it is my 26th year of existence. I just can't believe I made it that far, so thank you Father. Anyway, I don't have any huge plan for that special day. I just want to celebrate it with my munchkin, family and some trusted friends. Xioms was singing a happy birthday song and thought it was her birthday... again! We went downstairs to fill up our empty stomach. Mom and Achi was there and they both greeted me. Achi handed me a gift for my hairspa treatment. Yay! I was like wow, my day is getting better and better! By lunch time, my family and I feast on Mom's famous fried chix and my fusilli specialty.

Late afternoon, Saturday. Do you know that that day was a very tiring one? Anyhow, my droogs planned a birthday party for me. I decided to do it in Polu Kai for them to experience some good affordable cocktails. I was quite excited because this will be the time that we'll all meet again. It's been like 5 or 6 months since we last met.

Karla made this artistic invitation

Blowing of candle with my mini P cake by Martha's

Sunday morning. We had a blast and fortunately, the party didn't end there. We went to WG Diner in Makati Avenue for the extended celebration! We were caught by the rain but we can't resist the amber fluid that we're seeing on our table so we stayed, drink, chat, laugh, drink, eat, drink, laugh, drink again and again and again. We went home past 3 in the next morning, happy and fulfilled!

Today. I am glad I have shared and enjoyed this important day with my loved ones despite my decreasing strength, energy and stamina and and and... Hehe. Looking forward to another year of happiness, completeness and prettiness of course! Ta-ta!

x

PS thanks guys for your fabulous gifts! I lov'em all!

26th

I wasn't surprised waking up one day finding myself at this age. All the adventures that I've been through... nah! I'm always in a state of awareness that I will grow up and get old gracefully. I hope! I remember a quote that I read somewhere: Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. True, in the sense that not all of us grow up even if we are the the oldest living person in the world. I, myself don't know if I'm a grown up person. I sometimes find myself confused of things but accept them as it was and never regret anything. I do believe that I will not be the person I am now if I never came across all the things that you can imagine a person can stumble upon in life.

If I only have a list, it will be a long one since there's a lot of people I wanted to thank my life for. I won't elaborate them here but am sure they know who they are. I am very lucky having Xioms in my life -- she's the best gift ever! Everyday is turning out great with her beside me. I am learning things, things you'll never thought of learning. Patience (for example), one of the attitudes that I lack is quite improving. She's the one who thought me to fight not just because you have an enemy but because you believe there's something or someone worth fighting for. She thought me to love unconditionally, regardless of tears and sorrow, things like that.

I'm not hoping for a car or a house on this special day of mine though if it's all been given, why not??? But rather, I am hoping for more happiness and long life for me to witness my kiddo growing up. I would be a hypocrite if I say that my life's perfect. Nothing's perfect you silly! But I truly am blessed having an understanding and supportive family, true and trusted friends and best of all an angel who gives a reason for my daily survival. I love you all and happy birthday to me self. Cheers!

x

Munchkin's 2nd

July 9, 2007 when I gave birth to an angel who changed my life completely. I keep on telling myself that I wasn't ready that time but surprisingly, I was. It feels like it was just yesterday. It's strange how time flies soooo fast. My munchkin is now 2 years old -- "the terrible two" as what they always say.

Anyway, I have planned for a lunch or dinner out with my family on her special day but you know, not all of our schedules are matching so I decided to do it on the 11th. It wasn't that grand -- come on, I'm not into that! As long as am with my family and some good friends (with good food of course), that would be totally fine.

Grandma won't let Xioms' REAL birthday pass without anything of course. So she bought a Barney (Xiomai's love of her life) cake and cooked pansit puti and some fried chix to feast for our lunch last July 9.

Munchkin wasn't really feeling well that day, she had measles.

But of course she felt good when she saw Barney!

June 11th. We had our lunch at Polu Kai, an American/Hawaian Restaurant in Serendra. The food was good and the service was even better! We enjoyed dining there, not to mention their 50% off cocktails. I got tipsy because I tried all of their cocktails but STILL, frozen margarita was my fav! Luckily, mom didn't bother bringing Xioms home. Thank you mom and I love you!

My happy family and friends

The blowing AGAIN of candles. Yep, Xioms was quite afraid of fire.

And was never afraid of sweets! Yummy cupcakes are from Martha's.

So there. Even though Munchkin doesn't really understand things like this now, I am positive that she will in the coming years. Happy 2nd Birthday my angel. Mama LOVES you so forever!

x