My first real Christmas tree

Scott and I went to pick and buy my first real Christmas tree today. It was cool on how they sell live Christmas trees here in the US. We are going to grow it and hopefully we can still use it in the coming years. 😊

Happy birthday to me!

Scott has planned a surprise party for me. It was a surprise because he only told me that his Dad can't come to the party that her mom and sisters are planning for me so he wants to celebrate it earlier.
We had a lunch at his Dad's house with Gina, then there was a cake-cutting. After that, Dad and Gina gave me my gifts - coffee and toilettries.
Then his Dad said we are going to set-up the Christmas tree so Scott and I went to the other room to collect the Christmas decorations. When I reached the room, I saw the surprise gift from Scott and it is a mountain bike. He told me he wants to go with me biking that is why he bought me that plus we need to lose weight. I have never had my own bike in my whole life that is why I feel so blessed and humbled by this surprise gift from the Lord.
Of course, I rode in it right away. :)

Recent picture

To my family and friends, here is the recent pic we have. Yes, we are gaining weight but we are actually doing something to be better and lose it so we can be healthy.

It would just be a tough call since Thanksgiving is on the way this coming week plus Christmas and New Year are coming soon too.

This photo was just taken today, November 18, 2012 and this room is my room (according to Mom) as all my books and stuffs are stored in here. :) But this room used to be Scott's sister's room who has her own house and family now.

Gabriel's 1st birthday party

Today has been a long day as we started our Saturday morning preparing to attend Gabriel Acosta's 1st birthday party. Gabriel is Scott's nephew from his stepbrother Omar who is the same age as Scott. We have to leave the house around 11:30 am and drive all the way to Omar and Nichole (Omar's girlfriend)'s house, which is in another city near Temecula.

Unlike in the Philippines, the express way/freeway view is full of hills. I grew up in the Philippines staring at rice fields, flat lands along the freeway. While in Singapore, the freeway view there is mostly high rise apartments and condominiums. Here in the US, it's just wilderness mixed with residential houses and some business establishments.

After almost 2 hours of driving there, we finally arrive in the house and here is Gabriel, the birthday boy.

And these are his cupcakes and his birthday cake. I have learned here that 1 year old kid have their own little cake that they can eat on their own once the candles has been blown. The 1 year old celebrant is allowed to eat it with his/her bare hands and make a mess out of it.

The party had a taquero who is a taco guy who prepares tacos and quesadillas to the visitors. This taco guy has his own stall that you rent so he can prepare the food for you fresh and hot.

All in all, the party was great. I have met my stepdad's side of the family. They are all nice and what is funny is, my stepdad's mom looks like my Father's mom. I suddenly miss my family in the Philippines, all of them, the kids and the oldies. 

New blog! :)

I have just started this blog to update my family and friends in the Philippines, Singapore and USA. I have had 2 previous blogs before that I have deleted as most of it were just emotional e-diary that I have been updating depending on my mood.
I have decided to do this as I feel I owe to my immediate family in the Philippines to know how and what I am doing here in the US. I have been away from them for almost 5 years when I moved to Singapore to work and I have been farther away now that I am living the married life in the US.
I would be updating this blog on my whereabouts, my current activities, my latest reads, and my recent musings. I would try to post also some of my old entries from my blogs before. I am really excited for this blog as I want my kids also to see how their parents met and how I ended up living here in San Diego from the small town of Malvar, Batangas in the Philippines.
So to all of my loved ones, stay tune! :)