Update

Ok so I guess this is not an update... more like summary. My gosh golly wow!!!! I have so many things to tell you about. I have no excuse for not writing except that I am overly --- BUSY? Nope. Anyway... since this is an online blogging thing for my family, I have to chronicle our day to day life. What day to day life? i can't even write every week and i say day to day? I try, at least. Anyway, these are the things I wanted to blog about but got buried deep and you know what they say, the more stuff piled up, the lazier you are to start. Who said that?

I promise to write each summarized event in detail next time but for now, I do not like  the summer to end without laying all these happenings cause then, they will all be forgotten. BTW, they may not be in order, I will just rumble whatever is in my brain. BRAIN? I do have a brain? Wowzee!

1. Spring vacation was awesome. We started off to Mystic Museum in CT and visited the seaside campus of Celtic's Ray Allen. Stayed overnight and headed   off to Philadelphia the next day. I love Philly--and the cheesesteak is the bomb! We went to a couple of "recommended" and voted best Philly cheesesteak. I can tell you, nothing beats oldtime style--mom and pop stores are the best. We visited the usual historic sites we love like the Liberty Bell and some other stuff. But, BUT for me, I love the Old Wanamaker Building, now occupied by a Macy's at Market St. Don't miss the Wanamaker Organ and the Grand Court. I love it and
the best thing? It is FREE! Ring a bell, FREE! Well, mostly all the historic sites in Philly are free like washington DC. NOw, that's America. If only Disneyworld is free. I'd live there. Well, hello Mr. Disney, can I work for lifetime free tickets?

We did not plan any of this " Spring break" vacation. In fact, I had to go to Macy's to shop for 1 day outfits for all of us because we.do.not.have.anything. Yup, that's how we roll!

2. Easter was great!

3. Father's Day. I treated Mr. Hubbs to a nice lunch at Kingfish Hall in Quincy Market. Of course the whole family and the geng was there, including Ben and Caitlin with Tia Bibing. More on  these friends soon. After lunch, we walked to the North End and headed to Mike's Pastry. Oooooh, the cannolis are the best. Then, some of us took a short cruise to the other end of Boston and back. It was a nice  time with family and friends. Before we ended the day, my family went to visit  Mr. Hubbs Tatay ( father) at the cemetery. Then we went to Wolllaston Beach and just people watched. Yes, I love watching people. the weather is great and perfect for just lying on the sand.

3. The Boston Bruins is the Stanley Cup champs!!! Yes! Let me tell you, we went to the parade! It was crazy, crazy crazy! I willl have to show you pics soon to show the craziness. Suffice to say, we were crazy just for going---the trains were PACKED! Promis to tell you more soon.

4. Oh, Summer is here. First wave of summer we headed to New Hampshire---Gunstock Mountain for our Fourth of July celebration.  We rented a chalet with my "geng". Geng= Sol, Grace, Venice and Fridah and the boys. Yup V and G, you need to take home those boys soon. LOL. I had so much fun at the Gunstock Mountain Resort because there was an arts and crafts fair on the grounds. Me on vacation plus arts and crafts= awesomeness. But the kids loved the scenic lift rides and the paddle boats, kayaks and canoes by the pond. Ok, ok, I'll admit it---I had so much fun kayaking too. When I see the whole family giggling and just having fun, i want to freeze the moment. yup, praying all these happy memories will be treasured and that the Three Monkeys would have warm thoughts reminiscing. We had fun swimming by the lake which is a mere 5 minute drive from our rented chalet. Of course, we visited Weirs Beach, the home of the Annual Motorcycle Rally. I was not impressed with the tiny beach and the supposed beautiful view of Lake Winnipeesaukee Lake. Maybe, because I have seen it from Meredith NH and had a tour starting from Meredith. I just love the town of Meredith.
We bought a little stash of fireworks and lighted up the night. It was fun.... great people, great time.

5. Pherry's bday. We celebrated Pherry's bday in Montreal with his cousin Joei. Joie's bday is the 18th and she turned 11, while Pherry is 13 on the the 19th. It was the first meeting of my kids and 2 other cousins--- AJ and Andrei, beautiful kids of my youngest sister Bernanette. I was very very happy for my kids to finally have cousins their age---I know that feeling. So, it was so much fun watching them and seeing how they bonded so quick. Now, we have another set of 3  Ambiongs--- AJ, Joie and KC, just like me and my 2 sisters--Bernadette, Bernabeth and Bernanette. And oh, that darn Andrei is so kyoot!!! He is still learning to speak English and I love it. He kinda just jive in and roll it out with Josh and Precious. Of course, I had so much time with my 3 sisters too. Yup, you guessed it--- we ate, and ate--and ate! My sister Janette is the best! She cooks way too much food---and I say 'ok let's eat! LOL. During this trip, my brother-in-law Atoy bought his fancy schmancy white Lexus. Top that! He deserves it---my sister and him are hard workers and they are good people. They need to reward themselves more.... and me too. They need to reward me by letting me have that fancy Lek-soos in my hands baby.... I t is always sad to say goodbye. I saw it in KC's eyes, she was sad. SHe finally has cousins who she can bond and have the same interests and she knows they love her. I saw Josh wanting to cry-- and Pherry-- ahhhhh.

6. My sister-in-law died of breast cancer last week of July.

7. Boston day trip--- we finally did the Codzilla and it was so much fun. Although a bit pricey, I still like it. The Three Monkeys enjoyed it too. We took the T to Boston and enjoyed every bit of it---except the soaking rain. We dined at Bertucci's by the Faneuil Hall in Quincy Market and had fried dough. Cheers to fried dough! Who doesn't love fried dough?

8. Another Montreal trip! This time it is a week long vacation and we did so much more. Since we did the Old Montreal visit and biking last time, this time we visited Mont Tremblant. This is the second timwe we visit this place. I think this place is overpriced for the attraction it offers---but I love the Euro feel of the entire resort. We all trooped to see Montgolfieres' International Balloon Festival. Now, this is worth it. I think we paid about $65.00 foir a family of five---the grounds is loaded with all baloon ganes you can think of, is so organized and huge AND we got to see Kesha and LMFAO at night! I know, we should not be bringing the kids to see Kesha, right? Waaahahhhaha. We all loved it. Unfortunately the hot air balloon show was scrapped because of bad weather. but it was still fun. My sister janette was funny---she kept asking why Kesah sings this--and that---profanity laced songs, you know and kept noticing how she is not skinny as the other girls on TV.... om my sister, geez!

Aside from all these, we had a blast just hanging out at my sister's house in Lachine Quebec--- a 15 minute drive to Montreal. Across from her house is LaSalle Parc ( click on this link to see how much fun my sister's place is.) http://www.flickr.com//photos/39462882@N07/sets/72157624757102276/show/. Everyday we go swimming, biking or just playing basketball. Oh, oh, by the way, we extended our stay there because Mr. Hubbs and my 2 brothers-in-law wanted to join the basketball league at Snowdon Church. Oh, if I can only tell you the truth----but I am a good wife, so I will tell you that they did well.... LOL.

We were invited to  a few dinners by our cousins and good friends. My cousin Bing is fabulous---she serves the best food. What's better than good food and good family around? Nothing!  We had such fun time just teasing each other and reminiscing stories from back home. So, if you know me ( I laugh LOUD---as in LOUD), amplify that by the number of cousins and nieces and nephews and boy, you get a riot equal to that RIOT in Vancouver when the Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins---- hahahhahha, got to rub that in, eh?

Before we left, we celebrated AJ's bday! My beautiful niece is now a teenager, how bittersweet. It means the original  Ambiong beauties are old! Hahaahhaha. Anyway, I did not spend a lot of time with her because we moved to the US by then so it was really a nice bonding with her this time . She is so sweet and such a responsible big sister to Andrei. I love you AJ!

9. We are on the finishing touches of the patio we built. Yup, we built it ourselves! I will post pics soon.

Hopefully that covers it for now. Labor Day here in the US and the kids and I went school supply shopping. Wheeew, I need more money! But at least, because we shopped this late, theere was no craziness and much of the stuff is on clearance sale already, so all is good. I need to tell you again that Target is the best place to shop for clearance.

Ooooohh... September! I went to a couple of shops and they have Halloween decors already on sale=-==if you were in the Philippines, you'd hear Christmas music and Christmas trees are up!
September is also my only Princess' birthday month! I love you September, you bring beauty to this world!

Hopefully I can catch up on my blogging soo---if you follow me on Facebook, you would know my PC  is broken--shocks!

Hurricane Irene

You can't make us stay indoors! You can't make us gloomy. So what to do, what to do?

Why, eat out of course!

Blog highlight--- Tina

I have been dying trying  to find out the new blog of one of my fave bloggers---she stopped blogging for awhile and I have been desperately wishing she would come back and that I even asked Chuvaness. Out of respect, I still do not know if she wants people to know--- (her old blog is in private/invite only setting), so i will not post her blog here---but I will have to post this, only because I find it so funny and that my kids actually do this to me---no, no, no--- not the part where I go to "expensive International School meetings", nor the part where she is so magandang maganda ( I wish) but the part where they use "big " words and how they laugh at me. I tell, you, this is totally a scene in my house except that we are not "mayaman." I love Tina though, she is pretty, rich and so down to earth--- and very kalog! If I was rich and magandang maganda-- I could totally be her, jologs and fun to be with. I remember her blogging about being noisy when one of her kids participated in school---can you say that would be me? Screaming my lungs out. Considering International pa ang mga anak niya=--- Oh, I super love her.

This is one of her blogposts:


I had an early evening meeting in Vito's school last night. He told me we will leave the house at 6:30pm.
While I was changing he went inside my dressing room area and this was the scene.

Vito: Mom, don't be ostentatious.

me: what's ostentatious?

Vito: don't be pompous.

me: what's pompous?

Vito: uhmmm... don't be flamboyant.

me: sandali nga Vito, magka liwanagan nga tayo. Ma uubos na ang buong dictionary sayo. Ano ba talaga ang gusto mo? derechuhin mo na kasi ako.

Vito: don't dress up like you're making pa sikat.

me: I don't need to do that. Matagal na akong sikat.

Vito: okay, okay, just dress proper. I don't want people to judge you.

me: you know what Vito, let me tell you a short story. I am so freaking tired already of people judging me that at this point, I really don't give a shit what they think of me. Basta ang alam ko magandang maganda ako!

me: so, chill dude. You have the most beautiful mother on earth. okay? and don't use big words on me. Cos I don't have time to google.

I miss - summer 2011 edition

1. Karyuka- tinudok in Ilokano
2. sago gulaman
3. Ocean breeze and tangled hair
4. Gakka
5. Santol and mangga slurped with sukang Iloko
6. Mansanitas sa Pael Compound
7. Walking to and from church then heading off to Macatiag's for the best miki ever. I miss you Jehan.
8. Fresh squid- so fresh you can appreciate their defense mechanism- changing colors!
9. I miss my sisters and brothers!
10. I miss being poor in Punta knowing we have it good because our parents are good people.

In no particular order but I must say, missing my sisters is the worst feeling. I miss my brother Bernie so much!!!!

Hope

Hope is eternal
Hope is within
Hope is now
Hope is near
Hope is clear

Note to Karmina: Do not get yourself a mom-in-lawzilla!

Coz I will kill her for sure-lla!

from: Carolyn Bourne


to: heidi withers

subject: your lack of manners



Here are a few examples of your lack of manners:

When you are a guest in another's house, you do not declare what you will and will not eat - unless you are positively allergic to something.


You do not remark that you do not have enough food.

You do not start before everyone else.

You do not take additional helpings without being invited to by your host.

When a guest in another's house, you do not lie in bed until late morning in households that rise early - you fall in line with house norms.


You should never ever insult the family you are about to join at any time and most definitely not in public. I gather you passed this off as a joke but the reaction in the pub was one of shock, not laughter.

You regularly draw attention to yourself. Perhaps you should ask yourself why. No one gets married in a castle unless they own it. It is brash, celebrity style behaviour.

I understand your parents are unable to contribute very much towards the cost of your wedding. (There is nothing wrong with that except that convention is such that one might presume they would have saved over the years for their daughters' marriages.)


If this is the case, it would be most ladylike and gracious to lower your sights and have a modest wedding as befits both your incomes.

One could be accused of thinking that Heidi Withers must be patting herself on the back for having caught a most eligible young man. I pity Freddie.

I knew it--- A mother's poem

I saw this poem on oakridgerevival blog and I love it. It validates what I have been saying all along...

1. TIME with your kids is more essential than ironed clothes and sparkling dishes
2. Reading books with them is more important than spotless kitchen countertop
3. Sprayhose showers are the best on summer time, better than well sculptured lawn
4. laying on the beach stargazing is a best seller to the kids than dustless coffee table
5. singing out loud out of tune mommy  is better than stone faced mommies ( yippee)
6. braiding your daughter's hair is waaaay sweet than sweet iced tea in an expensive hotel
7. baking stonehard cookies is better than fancy schmancy dinner in a cruise ship ( although that would be great)
8. opposite day pretend play is more awesome than perfect dress/no wrinkle days
9. freestyle praying with the lights off is better than all dressed up Sundays ( although we still go to church every Sunday)
10. eating on paper plates is more fun and easier so the movie watching can start sooner is a thumbs up than a scheduled appointment to go eat in town.

The Mother's Dilemma

What will they say when I've passed away?

That, "she kept a clean house, but where's she today?"

What gems will I leave for my children I've born?

A clean toilet bowl and a rag mop that's worn?

My windows are shined and my floor's nice and clean.

My laundry's all done. I should feel like a queen.

I should be so happy with my house looking dazzled,

But my mind's in a tizzy and my nerves are all frazzled.

My kids are so gripey, their needs put aside,

But there are dishes to wash and clothes to be dried.

But a dirty dish doesn't look at sad

As a lonely child who's hurt and mad.

And a sparkling dish won't shine as bright

As the face of a man who's been treated right.

Could I have been wrong? Could joy be somewhere

Besides in a toilet bowl that shines with a glare?

Have I been misled by commercials and such

That picture a home that is clean and without fuss?

When my time rolls around, let me take note

To slow down and live, or I might miss the boat.

Lora Lee Duncan

August, 1978

How about you? Share your "better" moments to me.

Dance Recitals 2011 Part 1 -- the rehearsal

It is that time of the year again when everyone is so busy with family events---graduations, weddings, cook outs... and yeah, dance recitals. At Gold's Dance School where my kids go, they hold the annual dance recitals every Memorial Day weekend. So yeah, that means we are not available for ANY event during this long weekend. But I love it. I love shows where my kids showcase their talent and hardwork. We live about 25-30 minutes away from the school and they go twice a week. KC stays for more than 2 hrs for the classics--- ballet, tap and jazz and then goes for an hour for hip-hop. Let me tell you though, I never heard them complain. Next year she said, she might not do hiphop anymore because she plans to the more intensive program. We'll see.


Anyway, Saturday was the dress rehearsal and it is only that time where you are allowed to take videos and pictures--which is good and bad. Bad because I want to take lotsa pictures... LOTSA pictures. LOL. Good because I do not want to be distracted by someone taking pictures during the show. I wrote about this here. I might have to order the DVD this year which is a whopping $32.00 per show! My kids performed on both--- are you @%%? I will be ordering only the second show though. Back to what I was saying ( I easily get distracted)-- Saturday was rehearsal and we needed to be there by 1PM. No big deal-o, right? NOT. I worked 16hrs the night before and I have to get up by 1030am to prepare them. I put KC's make-up, fixed her hair and prepared all her costumes. Why can't it be easy like the boys? Like it will happen, no? After grabbing bobby pins, scrunchy-s, hairbun maker, make-up bag, costumes, shoes --- I can go on--- we all go to the venue. I love all the costumes and every kid is indeed a star.

Can they be any cuter?

I love the fact thay the performances are really great. It is more than a recital, it's a dance concert. It is well organized and the show flows smoothly. The audience got a treat because America's Teen Male Dancer of the Year performed a solo dance number.

So, anyway, we all troop to the rehearsal and here is where you will know my family--we all go and carry half our house--except that i am the only one carrying everything and I am supposed to know where everything is---all at the same time." Oh--- where is my water bottle Mom, how about my bun, are you going to do it now, mom, mom---my sneakers is tight, i need a new one--- we are supposed to wear red white and blue mom...red lipstick only mom, i don't want to wear shorts, we need to be there 1 hour ahead of time mommy, where was my bottled water mom--I asked first AND my bodysuit is missing." Lemme tell you this, don't they realize they have a dad too? LOL.  Of course my response to all these brilliant querries is a loving (NOT) "ok, ok hold on-- here, is your bottled water and your red lipstick is still ok and we did your bun already and Josh,  we go buy shoes after the practice, i know you need to wear red white and blue but you need not wear all 3 at the same time Christopher and yes we are heading right there now, so we are early and sweetie, KC,  your bodysuit is not missing- you don't have any --yet." Smooth mommy, ha? Very smooth. NOT! I kid you not, my body just seems to automaticaly function like I am suppose to know the whole world. Every.little.thing. in.this. big. big. world!  In fact KC's classmates said that I am the coolest mommy in the world because I have the biggest make-up haul. Yes, I am the coolest mommy in the world because I do not sleep---I am cold, not cool. The worst part I tell you is that when we get there, they seem to not need me. Like all is cool. You know-- they stay away, far far away from me as possible. I remind them to go change now because you are next, blah blah and they just slide it through. Uhmmm, you make me look like I am the panicky one but awhile ago, you can't seem to function kids? Oh, brother!!!!

Here are the rehearsal pictures. Oh, let me not even discuss the pictures I wanted to take. If you have been reading this blog, you know my.kids.hate.me. Yup, they hate me because I take lotsa lotsa pictures baby. But I "threaten"  them that I will blog their pics and they'd look ugly and that it will on the internet forever-- and they all smile.

Did you say supermodel? She is my star, my own supermodel and superstar. The thing with KC is, she is not  too self conscious. I see lots of kids her age who are too fashion conscious or acting grown up already. You let her dress up with anything and she's game. Wal-Mart, Abercrombie or MArc Jacobs--- to her everything is ok, just don't let her wear those dresses with itchy underlay.

Tap dance costume

 I love seeing she is having fun. I hate it when kids are just forced to do things and you can actually see they are unhappy about it. KC may not be the greatest dancer---heck, I can't dance myself---but I always believe that for as long as you have passion about anything in this world, you'll have FUN and that's all that matters.

My ballerina. Someday, she will not be my baby anymore but I will always treasure the days where she depended on me so much. Oftentimes, we focus so much on the big picture we are forgetting the little details. I don't really care if we don't look the greatest when we go out, for as long as we ultimately have fond memories. What's the point of having grand vacations when half of it is spent worrying if you look great or spending too much time planning. Let me tell you something, I believe that the kids will remember the moments spent with you and all those times you focused on them--- they won't as much remember half of any sparkling floors  you have, nor will they know you make the most delicious spaghetti in the whole town. 

Ballet dance costume

 Here she is embarrassed when her Dad called her out. Apparently, "I love you KC" scream in the presence of everyone is not cool. Yeah, Dad, that is just not cool.

Jazz costume

 

Here are the hip hop dance pictures. Joshua was unbelievably great. He improved a lot, and boy, did my baby have stage presence. He owned the stage. I had to ask him many times if he wanted to dance and repeatedly he said no but after finding out he will be alone on days the other two are dancing, he reluctantly said yes--- and he is so ggod now, after only a year. Pherry is a natural dancer--he got that from his Aunties on the Llaga side.

AND did I say we were with the Llagas of PE? Of course we were siily boos. Let me tell you this... Icee is so good and such a ballerina. Although she is the smallest, she seems to be the leader of the group. 

We spent the whole day for this rehearsal while everyone is having family barbecue because Memorial weekend is the unofficial start of summer. But it is all worth it. Take a looksie....

and to melt your heart with a cutesy boy--- of course Joey Gem Gem...

He sure knows where the beautiful girls are...

After all the craziness, the day was over and I asked if I can take pictures now that the day is over....they said no but who's the mommy here?

My favorite people in the whole wide world!!!!!

 Afterwards, I treated them to McDonald's---because I am a bad mama. McDonald's it is.

 How about you? Do you have activities for your kids? Do you force it into them believing you know best? Do you hyperventilate like me when the bill comes? Do you bring your kids to McDo? Are you worn down after all these activities? Do you focus more on sports or academic stuff? Please tell me... while waiting for your response, let me drag myself and get me some ice cold soda. Just writing about this stuff tires me so much.

Good night peeps. Be bold, be beautiful.