On A Mission...

Isabella will soon be doing a project on a California Mission of her choice. So we thought it's a great idea to go on a mission to visit a couple of the California Missions during spring break.

On our drive back to Pismo last Thursday, April 16th, we stopped at Mission San Juan Bautista

Then on Friday, April 17th, we headed to Solvang and visited Mission Santa Ines



And it was on to Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa after Cal Poly's open house last Saturday. Isabella went skateboarding through the sidewalks of downtown SLO, from the parking structure to the mission. Then we visited the Historical Museum next door to the mission.


and on Sunday, the 19th, we visited the Mission in Santa Barbara



by the time we got to the mission, after the zoo and our shopping escapade on State St., the weather had cooled down and no one was there. So it was perfect skateboarding time for Isabella.

Solvang

Blissful Skateboarding

This is the highlight of our short visit to Union city during spring break. One of my heavenly moments as a mom...watching my kids having fun with each other and witnessing the love that abound. Isabella and Ian were tickled when Immanuel took them to the park to teach them skateboarding.

First Immanuel gave them a demonstration

Then it was time for one-on-one instruction...skateboarding 101 beginning with Ian

Then Isabella's turn

In a short while Ian was trying tricks

and then it was Isabella's time to go solo


then they both show Immanuel what they learned

Even our dogs, Indy and Pirate had a fun time

We ended the day with a family dinner at Seafood Buffet in Fremont...blissful indeed!

Spring Break '09

We did not have any plans for spring break. In fact I was dreading it. I thought I will spend most of the beautiful spring break cleaning our Union City home. As it turns out, we had a fun and relaxing spring break.

When we arrived in Union City, I couldn't bring myself to "cleaning mode". Most of you who really know me, know that I have borderline OCD when it comes to cleaning/organizing. From the looks of our Union City home in my OCD standards, a week's worth of cleaning isn't gonna cut it...I need an entire month or even a year! for all the projects I have in mind...now do you think I have borderline OCD? my kids say it's full blown OCD. Anyway, like I said, I couldn't get myself to clean...I was so overwhelmed, I froze! So what does one do when the going gets tough? the tough goes shopping!:) kidding aside, you do know when the going gets tough, the tough turns to the bible right? So, I did go shopping but not before meditating and reflecting.

Here are the highlights and summary of our blissful spring break.

4/11 - Saturday

• Easter Egg Hunt at Dinosaur Caves Park
  

4/12 - Sunday

• heavenly easter service with the whole family and our own backyard egg hunt

4/13 - Monday

• drive to Union City

4/14 - Tuesday

• shopping with my mom and dad Dennis at the Great Mall

4/15 - Wednesday

• bonding time with the kids as they skateboard at Hall Ranch Park followed by a family dinner at Seafood Buffet in Fremont

4/16 - Thursday

• time with Immanuel at the car repair shop handling the insurance claim for his Subaru STI
• visited Mission San Juan Bautista on the drive back to Pismo

4/17 - Friday

• day trip to Solvang

4/18 - Saturday

• bonding time with Phil during Cal Poly's open house
• visited SLO Mission and Morro Bay

4/19 - Sunday

• day trip to Santa Barbara after church (Santa Barbara zoo, shopping and the Mission)

Details and photos to follow

1984 HS yearbook photo

I can't believe someone uploaded the yearbook photos from my high school, St. Mary's College, Quezon City, batch 1984. I never got a chance to get a copy of my yearbook. I already paid for it back then but it wasn't ready at the time I left for the U.S. I have to thank whoever took the time to do this. I am so grateful.

Happy Easter!!!

I had a blissful Easter morning...great church service in the company of my wonderful family...heavenly!

Then we went grocery shopping as a family right after church. Isabella rented a "princess" movie that we watched after lunch.

Later in the afternoon, Isabella and Phil went to the park. While they were away, daddy and Ian hid easter eggs in the backyard (even our dog Indy joined in).

And it was backyard easter egg hunting as soon as they got back from the park.

Hmmm...where might those eggs be? And why is Phil wearing his basket on his head?

Now it seems to me that Kuya (big brother) Phil is the one having the most fun

Here comes dad joining in the fun

It has been a fun day indeed. I want to leave you with one of my fave bible verses from John 10:10b Jesus Himself said: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Hope you all had a great Easter.

Easter Egg Hunt 09

It was a great day for an Easter Egg Hunt at the Dinosaur Caves Park.

We picked up Isabella's friend, Adrian, who lives a couple of blocks from our house.

they had a fun time blowing bubbles and "hoola-hooping" before the egg hunt




then the mad hunt begins


and a nice light lunch right after

then on to the jolly jumpers just before heading home.

The fun continues at home as Isabella and Adrian create "movies" to their hearts' delight. Isabella is into "directing" these days...as in "Lights, Camera, Action!!!"

We dropped off Adrian at around 3pm. The fun still continues as Phil and Belle head to the park around 5pm. I picked them up an hour later and we headed to the beach.

Isabella: "Can we go to the candy store by the beach?"

Phil: "We can't, it burned down" (well, not exactly, but last time Phil and I went shopping just before his trip to Malta a couple of weeks ago, there was a sign posted at the candy shop saying: "closed due to fire")

Isabella was convinced we were kidding.

Phil went boogie boarding while I took Belle to the closed candy shop to prove we were "sort of not kidding":)...no worries, it's scheduled to reopen soon and we had a great, fun day.

Happy Easter everyone!!!