I Wish You Had 11 Kids...

I Wish You Had 11 Kids...

DD2 came to me the other day and said, "I wish you had 11 kids like the Kramers." I laughed out loud as soon as I heard it.
"Why would you want that?" I asked.
"So we can have lots of playmates and it's fun!"
"If you become a mommy, would you want to have 11 kids?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it's hard," she answered with a shy grin.

I think that in a way she has touched on the reality of our lives. Having a bigger family is a lot of fun and a lot of hard work. I'd like to think that the work it takes to raise a bigger family is not necessarily "bad" hard work. It is a challenge but it brings joy to our lives. It is difficult but is filled with grace from our heavenly Father.

It can get overwhelming at times when I think of the practical issues.
How are we ever going to put all the kids through college?
We will need a bigger house soon as the kids are growing up quickly.
Will I be able to home school all of them?
Can I last through all their grade school years at least?
Should we be buying term life insurance beyond the 20 years that we are currently insured?
Can you imagine our car insurance premiums once they hit the driving age?

So many things can clutter my mind if I let it. It can get overwhelming. Then the Lord reminds me that these are His children. He loves them more than I can ever love them. He has a plan for each one. I will need to trust that He will provide for us just as He has provided for me and my family when I was growing up.

twelve months = twelve pictures

twelve months = twelve pictures

I was inspired by Tara Whitney's six people twelve times project last year. I wanted to do something similar for my family.

My goal is simple: have a family photo every month for 2011. I'm almost always behind the camera, snapping away shots of our lives so I am hardly in any of the hundreds of pictures we have. I was browsing through our Project Life album for 2010 and there was hardly any picture of me there. It was almost like I wasn't part of the family's life, except that I was there of course. I was the hand taking all the photos.
Remembering to take at least a family photo a month will help me be part of the pictures. So that's my goal. And so far, so good.

Here we are in January... DD3's 4th birthday. It's funny to me to see that many of our family pictures are taken at this exact spot - dining table with the kitchen in the background. I'll have to be more creative than that!

February. I'm kicking myself for not having our family picture taken during my baby shower. I guess the contractions were distracting me. But I suppose this pic tells a more accurate story of how our life was in February. I was confined to bed rest after having preterm labor at the end of January. This bed was where I was spending most of my time. And our room became hub central of the family. In this picture, we were watching the NBA All-Star game. Yes, I interrupted DH's watching of the game to take a pic. He wasn't too  happy, was he? LOL!

March came and so did our baby! Welcome to the family Baby Girl. She was 2 days old in this picture, the day we got home from the hospital. Oh how the older kids were excited to see her. They even made up a song especially for her. It's heartwarming to see how much love there is for this little one.

April was Easter month. Here we are all dressed up in our Easter outfits. The older girls wore the gowns they wore for SIL's wedding. I bought Baby a similar pink dress but you cannot really see it here. DH lamented that we have an ugly background. That fence needs to be refinished or replaced completely. I told him that it's the best we could do. I was not going to take another pic in our "favorite" spot - the dining table with the kitchen as a background. Sound familiar?

So that was our family for the first trimester of 2011.

Homemade Photo Shoot

Homemade Photo Shoot

Two weeks ago, I took advantage of the overcast skies and produced my own homemade newborn photo shoot. I had been reading on some tips on using natural light for portraits. From these readings, I found out that overcast skies produce diffused light which make for very flattering images. I would soon find out if it were true.

I set up my "home studio" in our room where there was enough available light and space by the bedroom window. I laid a white blanket on the floor and draped it against the wall cabinets. I used the boppy to prop baby and covered it with another blanket.

I undressed baby and put on her crocheted headband. Let me tell you, it was so tempting to buy all these cute and adorable knitted/crocheted hats on etsy! I almost wanted to go to Michael's and buy some yarn so I could knit some caps as props. If only I knew how to knit! LOL! I knew it is a passing fancy though, much like the time I so wanted to buy all these jewelry making supplies so I could make my own beaded jewelry. That phase pretty much passed too.

Back to our shoot, I was a one-woman team. And it was difficult! Now I know why newborn photographers want their newborn sessions done within the first 2 weeks of life. Babies pretty much just sleep during that time. They can sleep through anything and any position. As for baby, I needed to have my hand on her for most of the time and remove my hand just prior to taking the shot because her hands would flail and she would wake up.

Despite the challenge of doing this myself, I got some pretty cute shots. One of my top fave is this one which was totally spontaneous. She was actually about to cry then when I snapped this photo. Ahh... what a difference a second makes. LOL!

I hope to be able to do some more photo shoots at home with baby as she grows.

Dropped Camera!!!

Dropped Camera!!!

My camera fell the other night. It's usually inside my padded camera bag which cushions the fall. This time, however, it fell right out of the bag. Sigh. Thank goodness, it's still working but I noticed that the auto focus takes longer. And I think that the light sensor might have been affected too. Sigh. I really do not have the budget to get it checked out and repaired right now so I'll have to make do. Does anyone know if it gets worse if I don't get it checked out right away?

Project 365 Hiccup

Project 365 Hiccup

I've been remiss in posting my project 365. I will be honest and say that I've missed a lot of days. I'm still continuing on with my Project Life though. What I'm doing is not necessarily doing a picture a day but more like at least 7 pictures a week.

There are days when 1 photo a day is not enough. And there are days when there just isn't any story to tell that day. My DSLR is also a huge thing to lug around our everyday activities so I've asked DH if he could buy me a point and shoot. I asked him earlier this year and never really got an answer. Well, guess what he got me for my birthday? Yup! I'm thrilled not so much because I got a new camera but because he listened and remembered. It feels good to know that he pays attention even when sometimes I feel like he does not.

So, anyway, with my new handy camera, I hope that my Project 365 slideshow on my sidebar will have all-new photos soon. Be on the lookout for it. :)

LP: Dalawa (Two)

LP: Dalawa (Two)

{Sobrang tagal na buhat nang makalahok ako sa LP. Maraming mga pagbabago na nangyari sa aking buhay at napasantabi na muna ang blogging. Hindi pa tapos ang ma pagbabago sa buhay ko pero medyo mas "under control" na kaya't nakakapag-blog na ulit nang paunti-unti.
Huli na ang lahok kong ito para sa linggong kasalakuyan pero nais ko pa ring i-post. Sayang eh. Hindi ba't mas masaya ang buhay kapag dalawa kayong magkasangga sa pagharap sa lahat ng ibabato sa inyo ng tadhana. Basta ang alam ko ay mas matatag ako at mas kampante sapagkat alam kong nasa tabi ko si mister.}
This is a late entry for this week's LP but I still wanted to post this. I adore this pic of me and DH. Isn't life much more enjoyable when there are two of you to face whatever life throws at you? Of this I am sure, I am stronger and more confident to take on anything and everything that comes my way because DH is by my side

LP: Pag-Asa (Hope)

LP: Pag-Asa (Hope)

Huli man daw at naihahabol din. Parang dumaan ang araw na ito na di ko man lang namalayan. Gabi na pala't hindi ko pa naipo-post and lahok ko.

Ito ang larawan ko para sa tema ngayong linggo. Pansin nyo ba ang bahaghari? Hindi ba't kakaiba? Madalas ang bahagharing makikita sa langit at mula taas at pababa. Sa pagkakataong ito, diretso ito, across the sky.

Ang bahaghari raw ay simbolo ng pag-asa. Ito raw ay bingay ng Diyo kay Noah bilang pangako na hindi na ulit Nito gagawin ang ginawang pagbaha noong panahon ni Noah.

I apologize for such a late post. Felt like the day flew by and before I knew it, it was night time and I had not posted my picture yet.

This is my entry for this week. Do you notice the rainbow and how it cuts across the sky. Usually, rainbows start from the top to bottom. Not this particular one. Interesting, huh?

They saw that the rainbow was a gift from God to Noah as a promise to never again wipe out the world with a flood.

LP: Bilang (Numbers)

LP: Bilang (Numbers)

"Ilang taon ka na?"
"I'm three!" ang kaagad nyang sagot sabay taas ng tatlong daliri.

"How old are you?"
"I'm three!" she exclaims as she lifts 3 cute little fingers.

LP: Pamilya (Family)

LP: Pamilya (Family)

{Masaya ang unang kalahati ng taon ko kasi nagkarun kami ng ilang pagkakataon na makasama ang ilan sa aming mga ka-pamilya. Nung Enero, bagaman kalungkutan ang rason ng pagkikita-kita ng magpi-pinsan, si mister at ang kanyang mga pinsan ay nagkasama-sama sa unang pagkakataon pagkatapos ng mahigit 20 na taon! Imagine that! Meron galing Guam at Miami. Nung Abril naman, nakabisita dito ang pinsan ko at kanyang pamilya mula New Jersey tapos nung sumunod na linggo, ang tyahin ko at asawa nya ang dumating mula Milwaukee. Nitong nakaraang 2 linggo naman ay nandito ang kapatid ko mula Maynila. Ang saya-saya di ba?}
The first half of the year has indeed been a blessed one for me. There were a number of occasions to meet up with family. In January, DH and his cousins had a big gathering for the first time in almost 20 years, I believe. The reason was a death in the family, a real heartbreaker but it brought the family together. Something good came out of the sad event.
In April, my cousin and his family from New Jerseywere out here for a visit. Shortly after, my aunt and her husband from came to visit from Milwaukee. Just 2 weeks ago, my brother came from Manila to visit us too. Such happy times indeed.
Aren't I lucky to have been able to spend time with family even when we are miles awayf rom each other?

LP: Bulaklak

LP: Bulaklak

{ Natutuwa ako at nakasali ako(sa wakas) ngayong linggo. Matagal-tagal din akong nawala. Ang dami lang talagang gawain. Nung makita ko ang tema para sa linggong ito, alam ko na agad kung anong litrato ang ilalahok ko. Di ko na nga maalala kung nailahok ko na ito dati. Alam kong nai-post ko na itong kuha ko dito sa blog pero paborito kong kuha ito ngayon kaya paumanhin nalang sa mga nakakita na ng litratong ito. Tulips ang paborito kong bulaklak at ito ang iniregalo sa akin ni mister nung nakaraan araw ng mga puso. aylabit!}

I'm glad that I am able to finally join this week's LP. I've been away for a while. Life just got too busy!
When I saw this week's theme, I knew immediately the picture I wanted to use. Pls. excuse if you've seen this shot before. I know I definitely posted it here on my blog already although I don't think I've entered it into any of our LP weekly challenges.
Tulips are my favorite flowers. And this is my current favorite shot from all my tulip shots. DH game me this bouquet last Valentine's Day. I love it!

Project 365: January & February

Project 365: January & February

The project is still going strong! There have been days when I almost failed to take a pic but somehow I managed to eke out a photo. I've been slacking in the scrapping department big time so the plan to do weekly reviews have been thrown out the window. I've made this mosaic instead using the mosaic maker at bighugelabs.com from my flickr photos. It's really more to share here on the blog. I don't think its resolution is good enough for printing. I'm doing something else with the pictures I'm taking each day but I'll blog about it another time when I've got pictures to accompany the post. If you've been following my Project 365 blog or Flickr photostream, you'll most probably know what I've been doing with the pictures.

Anyway, just wanted to show you my January 2010 in pictures:And here is my February 2010 life in pictures:
I just think it is so visually appealing to see my pictures side by side this way. I feel that these are visual representations of my life for the first 2 months of the year.

There were days in February that I was not feeling as inspired as I was in January. I felt like I was running out of ideas and things/people to photograph. I'm afraid that this could start to drag and feel like a chore but I'll keep plugging along. The "aha" moments and feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction after seeing an idea come to life in a picture more than makes up for those times of creative dearth.

LP: Husay (Skill)

LP: Husay (Skill)

{Alam nyo ba ang larong ito - battleship? Nilalaro ni mister ito nung kabataan nya at ngayon ay nilalaro nilang mag-ama. Nakakatuwang pagmasdan ang mag-ama habang sila'y nagtatagisan ng husay sa paghahanap ng mga barko ng kalaban.}

Do you remember this game - battleship? DH used to play it in his youth and now he is able to enjoy it with his son. It is a delight to watch the two pit their skills against each other in finding those battleships.

LP Iyo (Yours)

LP Iyo (Yours)

{Ako ay iyo buong buhay habang buhay.} I am yours, my whole life all my life.

LP: Manipis (thin)

LP: Manipis (thin)

{Napakanipis nitong mga pakpak ng paruparo. Isang proyekto ito ng mga bata. Ibinigay sa kanila ang mga ito habang higad pa lamang. Binantayan nila at makatapos ang ilang araw, nakita naming nakabaligtad na sa takip ng kinalalagyang cup at chrysalis na ito. Matapos pa ang ilang araw ay lumabas na sya - isang magandang paruparo. Halos kalalabas palang nya nito. Pinagkabilin-bilinan sa amin sa wag hawakan ang mga ito dahil baka masira pa namin ang kanilang mga pakpak. Nakikita nyo ba ang mga mala-pulang drops sa litrato? Hindi dugo yan kundi ay yung sobrang pigment sa kanilang mga pakpak. Mga ilang oras din bago tuluyang natuyo ang kanyang mga pakpak at nakilipad ang aming munting paruparo.}

This butterfly has very thin wings. We got this as a caterpillar during one of the kids' activities sponsored by the city. This butterfly is newly-hatched from its chrysalis. We were carefully reminded not to touch the butterfly wings especially at this time because they are really thin and delicate. Do you see the red drops? They are not drops of blood but extra pigment from the butterfly's wings. It took another couple of hours before its wings were fully dry and it was able to fly away.

LP: Makapal (Thick)

LP: Makapal (Thick)

Makakapal man ang mga nobelang ito ay mabilis kong natapos basahin. Madali lang kasing basahin. Engaging naman kahit papano ang istorya. Sinabi ko nung una na hindi ko babasahin ang mga ito. Pero kinain ko rin ang mga salita ko. Pinahiram sa akin ng kaibigan ko ang buong set (kulang ang una sa litratong ito kasi naibalik ko na) kaya ayun, natapos ko rin ang serye.
Hindi ako nasabik tulad ng karamihan. Ok lang. Hindi sya "must-read" sa aking opinyon.
Sa mga nakabasa ng serye, Team Edward o Team Jacob?

These books may be thick but I breezed through them. It was very light reading. The story was engaging enough for me.
At first, I swore I was not going to give in to the Twilight mania. I, obviously ate my words. A friend of mine lent me her set (the first one is missing from this pic as I had already returned it by the time I took the photo).
I did not go ga-ga over the series like others have. It's ok. Not a "must-read" in my opinion.
To those who are fans of the series, Team Edward or Team Jacob?

LP: Masinop (Neat)

LP: Masinop (Neat)

Ganito ba kayo kumain ng M & M's? Nakahilera ang mga tsokolate ayon sa kulay? Ganyan kumain ng M & M's si DS. Hanggang ngayon, ganyan pa rin. O, hindi ba't masinop yan?

Do you eat your M & M's this way? With each color grouped accordingly? That's how DS eats his M & M's up till this very day. Wouldn't you say that's neat?

Sorta Published

Sorta Published

I sorta got published. Someone from Schmap.com had contacted me re: this picture which was on Flickr for possible inclusion on the Schmap Los Angeles Edition. I was already thrilled to have been noticed but 2 weeks ago, I received the message that my picture was included. Woohoo! I did not get any compensation or anything but my picture was given proper credit to me. I got my byline! LOL! I think the thrill of this took away at least a year's worth of stress off my face - better than any wrinkle cream could! LOL!

Schmap.com is an interactive online map where you can search for business establishments, dining, shopping, etc. My picture appears under Los Angeles> Restaurants> Chinese> Yang Chow. :)

Doing my happy dance now.

LP:Tamad (Lazy)

LP:Tamad (Lazy)

Nahirapan akong humanap ng litrato para sa linggong ito. Mga ka-pamilya ko lang naman kasi ang madalas kong kunan. At sa tingin ko, wala naman sa amin ang lahi ng tamad. Hehehe.

Pero naalala kong itong kuha kong ito kay DD2 noon 2007 pa. Tulog sya nito. Sa lahat ng mga anak ko, si DD2 ang madalas mahuli kong kung saan-saan nakakatulog. May kuha akong tulog sa hagdan, sa ilalim ng upuan, sa ilalim ng kama, sa bouncer ng sanggol nyang kapatid at kung saan-saan pa. Di ba sabi nila, ang mga mahilig matulog, mga tamad? Pero hindi naman siguro totoo yun... sana.

I had a hard time looking for a picture for this week's theme. I take mostly pics of family members and I hardly consider anyone of them as lazy.

But I remembered this pic of DD2 way back in 2007. Yes, she is sleeping in this shot. I've caught her sleeping in the oddest of places and positions. I've shot her asleep on the stairs, under the ottoman, under the bed, on her baby sister's bouncer etc. They say that the lazy ones love to sleep. I hope this isn't the case with her. ;)

LP: Linis

LP: Linis

Huling-huli na itong lahok ko pero nawalan kasi kami ng internet dito sa bahay nang mahigit sa isang linggo kaya ngayon ko lang ito naipost.

Ito ang 3 kong anak na babae, tinutulangan akong maglinis. Walang pilitan yan ha. Gusto nila talagang tumulong. Ganun naman ata talaga ang mga bata. Gustong-gusto nilang gayahin ang kanilang mga magulang. At dahil sa nakikita nila akong naglilinis, akala ata nila masayang gawain ito. Kung sabagay, nagiging masaya na rin naman kapag tulong-tulong di ba?

My entry is very late because we lost our internet connection here at home for over a week.

These are my 3 girls helping me with some household chores. I did not force them to help me, ok? They volunteered to help. Really! I think that's how most kids are. They enjoy imitating their parents. Since my girls see me clean, they think it's a fun activity. Well, housework does become a bit more fun when working together, doesn'it it?

LP: Palengke (Market)

LP: Palengke (Market)

{Ito na ang matatawag kong palengke dito sa amin. Gusto kong namimili dito kasi mas kumpleto ang mga gulay at prutas dito kesa sa normal na grocery store. Madalas ay mas mura din ang mga bilihin dito. Nung minsan, nag-sale sila ng saging - 10 lbs for $1. O, hindi ka ba naman ma-eengganyong mamili kapag ganyan kababa ang mga presyo. Talagang pwede malayo ang mararating ng pera mo dito.}

This is what I would call the marketplace in our area. I like shopping here because they have a wider selection of fruits, veggies and meats than our regular grocery store. Plus, the prices cannot be beat. One time they had bananas on sale, 10 lbs for $1. If that does not impress, I do not know what will. One can really stretch one's money here.