Live, Love and Enjoy...Life!

vacation days

2007-05-21T22:45:00.000-07:00

every year i usually take this week off and we head somewhere for our anniversary. every other year it's maui but this year we didn't really get a chance to plan anything because we weren't sure when our new house would be ready. go figure we find out that it's now pushed back to august 1st...ugh!

my new job is a calendar year company which, for those in finance, know that it's virtually impossible to take a day off the first 3 months of the year! i was finally able to take my first days off in 2007...friday, 5/18 and monday, 5/21...they turned out to be comp days (i have an awesome boss) and though my out of office email said i would not be accessing voicemail or email, i couldn't help myself and ended up checking anyway...hahaha...yeah, i know i'm weak!

this time off has been great! hubby took the day off on friday also so that we could take our son to see his current fave...Thomas the Tank Engine! talk about a kid in a candy store...even the shuttle bus ride was fun for him! his first purchase was a thomas cap and thomas sunglasses...too cute! he loved the 25 minute train ride, taking pics and even the blue sno-cone the three of us shared! but in typical kid time, about 30 minutes before we left, he threw a fit about everything from the wind blowing the wrong way to his glasses sitting on his nose in an awkward way...translation...it was nap time! it took all but 2 seconds for tj (and his dad) to fall asleep in the car on the way home! no fair, mommy needed to rest too! we met edison, jenn and joshie for lunch then proceeded home. the minute i hit the couch i was out...hahaha! our eating schedule was so off that day i think we ended up having dinner at 10pm or something!

the next day, 5/19, was our anniversary! 6 years...woohoo! nice, quiet day?...NOT...hahaha! we attended a 1st birthday party for our good friends, mark and jennine's son, aiden...SO CUTE! jennine did a cute monkey theme complete with his very own cake to mess with...it was really too cute! shortly after we headed over to another birthday party...this time for an 18 yr old. we hadn't seen justine in so long..i wanna say about 10 years! mel and i had spent the whole week reminiscing about the last time we saw her! we weren't sure she would recognize us (cuz you know...there's "more to love" of me from the last time we saw her...hahaha) as soon as we saw her, i couldn't help but cry when i hugged her! there was this beatiful, young lady standing in front of me having an adult conversation! we were only able to stay for a little while and then we headed out for our anniversary dinner! this was definitely a fun filled anniversary even though we weren't in maui...=)

sunday was now here and though it's usually a day of rest...again...uh...NOT! today was PP day with my PP girls...rona, regina and anna! we all met up at my house (everyone was late) and headed out to olive garden to celebrate miss rona's belated birthday! after a ton of giggles and actually not being kicked out of the restaurant, we all took home our leftovers, rona was hecka red from her tiramisu drink (there was some liquer in there) and headed out to look at model homes! that was pretty fun but tiring cuz we were hella full! we ended up crashing back at my place just scrapping, grubbin on brownies and talking s--- like we normally do...HAHAHA!

that brings us to monday...what a way to end my vaca! i spent the day with my awesome sister in law, jenn...shopping for my belated mother's day and anniversary gift from hubby and tj. talk about a kid in a candy store! =D let's just say my ears are very content...hehehe! and no shopping day would be complete without a visit to a spa! we didn't even realize until we were on our way home that we'd been gone a full 8 hours!

these vaca days were DEFINITELY worth the wait...=)

happy belated new year!

2007-02-05T16:14:00.000-08:00

ok..2006 definitely ended with a bang and 2007 started with a bang. my intent when i started this blog was that i would at post at least once very 1-2 weeks. well that just goes to show you how crazy my december and january was! since my head literally feels like it's about to explode, i'll just post some highlights:

* december
---> i hit some major holiday discounts on my shopping spree this year. i use to buy clothes for the kids but they are all at a point where they want stuff to play with...so for the last couple of years it has been a toyfest shopping spree. last year i filled the suv so much i had to go home, unload the stash and go back for second round. my head wasn't on straight in december this year so the suv wasn't as full and i ended up making multiple trips to the store throughout the month.

---> 2006 marked the first christmas celebrated in the U.S. by my aunts and uncles on my dad's side. weekly dinners are usually funny with all of us trying to eat family dinner at the same time. did i mention that there is about 21 of us attempting to sit all together...hahaha! annual christmas party at my parents was fun! lots of great company and lots of funny memories. tobey got pretty much everything he wanted thanks to his uncles, aunts and grandparents. he got this pretty cool drum set from jenn and edison and by the end of that week he had formed a band which would later perform at the family reunion and new year's eve..=) check it out!

---> did i mention that we spent the last week of 2006 packing and moving? yes, we moved! that will be another posting but for now all that needs to be said is that man, that was a tiring week!

* january
---> we spent new year's eve in san jose...our last new year's eve in the city i've lived in most of my life. well, i guess i really shouldn't say "last" because it's not like we won't be back. the party was at my parents house - a house full of old flips drunk on san miguel and just enjoying the company of family..hahahaha. i met my cousin who i've never talked to before so that was pretty cool. it was definitely an unforgettable new year's eve celebration! what a great way to ring in 2007!

---> 1/1/07 - first night we spent at our rental in mountain house. that's where we'll be until our house is ready. the whole month of january was pretty much a blur as we are selectively unpacking, getting use to the commute and adjusting to a city quite different from the one we just left. we still get to see our family and friends - it's been great having them be 1 hour or less away. mel's adjusting faster than i am but i know in time i'll get there too...=)

Rap Melody by Aries Spears

2006-11-30T20:59:00.000-08:00

DANG!!!!!!!! You go Aries Spears! This video was forwarded to me by a friend who ironically enough isn't even into this kind of music...hahaha! Thanks Tisha!

If I Had My Life to Live Over - by Erma Bombeck

2006-11-27T09:40:00.000-08:00

(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's" More "I'm sorry's."

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it .. . live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what. Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with , and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you have a blessed day.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2006-11-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

"We all have so many things to be thankful for! Hoping we can all see them shine through any difficult times we may be having and know that God has a greater plan for each and every one of us!:)"

this was a quote from an email a friend sent me....definitely needed to hear this this week...thanks amanda!

thankful

2006-11-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

i think it's pretty cool that there is 1 day every year devoted to the people and things in life that we should be thankful for. you would think that because it is every year that we would be thankful for the same things over and over again...but that's not entirely true. i believe that although there are a few things that remain constant throughout each year, there are different reasons that come up for why we are thankful for either that person or thing.

i'm thankful....

....for the man who has been my hubby for the last 5.5+ yrs, mybest friend for the last 17+ yrs and my soulmate for the last 24+ yrs. (all the same man, mind you!) i have truly tested his patience in 2006 and look...he's still around! hahaha

...for my good little boy whose smile brightens up every morning and makes me proud to be a mommy. he has grown into this little man in a short period of time!

...for my parents (whose anniversary is today) and siblings that have been and continue to be soooooooooooooooooooooo supportive in everything we have done, especially this year!

...for our friends, near and far, who keep us laughing, who we have learned everything from "9 and 1" to the do's and dont's of parenting, the same friends that keep us busy on weekends and that give us reason to drive all over northern california...=)

...for my PP girls, who keep me young and on my toes

...for the new friends that i've made in the recent years that actually seem like we've known each other forever

...for the roof we have over our heads, the food present at our table, the cars so that we have a means to get around and the jobs that we have so that we can have the roof, food and cars =)

....and most importantly...we are thankful for having God in our life and in our hearts.

everyday contains a blessing and is a blessing...be thankful.

naive about the people in this world

2006-11-21T14:16:00.000-08:00

i've been told many times that you should trust no one but yourself. i chose to look the other way and gave people the benefit of the doubt, whether it be friends or strangers. in most cases, it is a positive thing but on occasion you run across a situation where it's not. some people may think i grew up sheltered and unaware of my surroundings...naive in the notion that somewhere, somehow you will get burned by someone. i learned that lesson recently and am not really sure how to handle it or how to feel. i can take blame in the portion that was my fault but why do people do the things they do?

my mom, a very sensitive and very wise woman tells me that no matter what to always look for the good in people. if they choose to go the wrong route and hurt you in some way, that they get what they deserve later. her words to me this morning...."whatever they have taken from you, you will get back one day" i translate it even further to mean...."not necessarily in the form that it was taken but justice for the principle that was violated..." ....i believe her....

it's friday!

2006-11-17T13:23:00.000-08:00

yippee! omg, it feels like it's been the weirdest week! hubby's back from business, just picked him up from the airport and man, where is he now? golfing with his buddies! does that sound right? it's ok, no hard feelings..we were suppose to hang out for the rest of the day but then i had to go back to work to finish some stuff up.

i've accomplished quite a bit this week especially with ramel being away. my good friend, wena reminded me that the days do go by fast because you get so much done while your spouse is away...things seem to take less time to complete! she was right! you prioritize better i guess because it's just you dealing with the work, the house, the kid(s). the cutest thing had to be tj repeatedly asking me "daddy on errplane, mommy?" and that i shouldn't be scared because he's there to protect me...awww, i mean seriously right? =)

so i'm taking a quick break from work right now. we had a huge turkey feast brought in and i'm seriously ready for a nap! most of my coworkers are vegetarian so it's been interesting to see alternatives to the traditional thanksgiving feast. either way you go, the grub was yum!

instant messaging

2006-11-16T16:32:00.000-08:00

don't cha just love IM? some don't, some do...i totally DO! it's the fastest way to get a hold of anyone just to share a quick update, a funny joke or just to bug the s--- out of them cuz you're hella bored! thank goodness my work doesn't block it, otherwise...aack!

i do have a few friends that have found a way around it though by using something called MEEBO (www.meebo.com) i think they said that it's kind of similar to trillian. having IM has been great, i know to some it's distracting but if you know how to hide your windows it actually isn't. maybe it's more of a preference, do you really want to be that accessible or would you rather lay low and get back to people when you're ready? i guess in that case i can see the point.

for the most part, i enjoy using it...my IM buddies keep me entertained on a daily basis!

hmmm...

2006-11-16T10:35:00.000-08:00

...ok so now what? hahaha!

when i was younger i kept a diary. i was religious in writing in it but hated my handwriting the whole time! i eventually stopped for that reason. yeah, lame i know! at last though, a solution...blogs!

i know i'm like way behind in starting one of these but this is a little different right? with a diary you can write and hide it away somewhere secret and no one would know unless they were helping you clean your room or something. with a blog, it's sooooo public and the thought about people reading about what's going on in my life seemed a little scary at first. but then i realized that aside from being a great outlet for what seems to be tons of random thoughts going through my head these past few months, it is also a great tool for friends and family to keep them posted on what's going on in elle's world. =)

i get to share my thoughts with whoever is interested in reading about them and even those who say they're not interested but really are! (yeah, you know who you are - if you don't, i'm sure it will eventually spill into a future post...hahaha) who knows, you may occasionally see updates about our online business, Precious Paperie too!

so here it is, my first blog entry..it was painless :)...and at least i don't have to worry about my handwriting anymore!