A Pool and Patio Someday

Since I was recently on the topic of our dream home, and since we all fell into daydreaming if we ever won the lotto, allow me the silly delight of expounding on the dream.

Maybe because summer is sort of here already, and Yakee does love the water so I couldn't help but daydream about patio furniture and an Olympic-sized pool in our backyard.

Scouring the net, I saw Todays Swim and Patio offering patio umbrellas and wicker furniture in all shapes and sizes, as well as all design possibilities. I did not even know that umbrellas come in different finishes.

The site also offers outdoor heating options, lighting and automatic pool cleaners. That would surely get us maximizing the use of a pool without worrying about the hassle of cleaning it, or getting someone to clean it for us.

And wouldn't it be great indeed to be able to harness our tropical clime and have a sort of courtyard going on by the pool with the help of luxurious patio furniture? That way, the area can also be used to entertain guests or for some romantic dining experience right at your own home. And I guess the site offering a lot of deep seating options an only mean one thing: deep seating makes you more relaxed and comfy.

Well, there will be other lotto big pots I can bet on. Or maybe, we'd strike gold another way and get to see our kids having playdates in a pool, while us Moms enjoy baked goodies and canapes in sunken seats. Now at least I know where to look and order from. Hehe.

Loving each Other In Yakee's Presence

I have to admit, that while hubs is toiling his hours away to bring home the bacon, I caught up with my gossip.

Love you Pappie.

Anyway, I liked what Julia Roberts said in one of her recent interviews. “The coolest thing you can do for your children is to love each other in their presence,” she said. She further elaborated that when her kids are being sweet towards her, it's all her husband being emulated by her kids.

I know for a fact that hubs can be the showiest of showy people. And I am generally known to be just as physically amorous. And hubs is always generous with his compliments, even when I don't deserve them.

So hopefully, aside from being sweet naturally, part of why Yakee likes to hug people and smile is because he sees his parents doing it to each other. So yeah, this poses a challenge to us to be kinder and sweeter to each other so that our child will know that being such IS good, and by being one, he'd recreate a version of home wherever he may be.

The Exhausting, Stressful Week That Was

It ended that there'd be three deaths in hubs' family all in all, eventhough the last one is over a cousin-in-law's dad (thank you Mahal, for correcting me and reading our blog, hehe). But it was really enough to leave everyone just stressed and reeling from the impact of all those losses.

Hubs' health gave in around Thursday and he succumbed to flu days after I and Yakee did.

Yakee's only recovering his appetite too. Good thing the hilot did wonders for both of us. And yes, my spa theater experience was also really divine.

Last Saturday, hubs' maternal side gathered again for Nanay's 9 Days where a beautiful eulogy was read, e-mailed by his cousin who's based in Cayman and couldn't be there.

Hopefully, that's the last of sadness for a while.

*~*

This pic was taken on Friday the 13th, when I had to rush home because Yakee was vomiting and feverish. Hubs came home with this bouquet which was a wonderful surprise in the midst of all the sad news. Plus, I really didn't expect he'd have the time and energy to surprise me with anything, given that he's also stressed at work.

I love the guy. I really, really do. And a testament to my love for him is the fact that i've suddenly ended up cooking TWICE a week now for him (we only agreed on ONCE!).


I have yet to eat any though, because my throat
is still sucky

*~*

Anyway, for sure, we'd be in Marinduque for Holy Week. But would we also find ourselves in Donsol?

We'll see.

Bye Nanay

Am kinda sad that Yakee and I didn't get to come with hubs to bury Nanay. I'm also feeling guilty, thinking maybe we should have skipped yesterday so that we didn't get tired to come today.

But Yakee ran a fever early this morning and I have colds and coughs bad. And it could be from exhaustion from last night (Yakee made people laugh by dancing in front of the coffin... a lot!) or the fact that the virus that got us in its grip has grown strong and evil in our bodies.

I have a bad sore throat too... and am just hoping Yakee doesn't have the same because it really sucks to swallow. I may need antibiotics... haay.

But Nanay... I will really miss you. And I hope you know that Jojo will always have fond memories of you to share with us.

Happy Valentines Day

Hubs came home last night with a bouquet of Ferrero Rocher chocolates :)

He woke up today to Acqua di Gio perfume.

But all the landian will have to wait because tomorrow, my hubby will bury his beloved grandma.

It's sad really, to lose a loved one, but then again, love continues to fluorish in those left behind. And so, we can still greet everyone a Happy valentines.

Dreaming of our Own Home

Hubs and I were sort of rattled when we found out that his brother is already in the process of investing on a lot to build their dream home on. They were married just last december while we were married three Decembers ago.

So maybe that would be our 'date' thing this March, after auditing ourselves to see where we can cut back some more (ehem, food binges?). We can scout for areas and properties and really research our options.

Anyway, to relax ourselves somewhat from our exhausting road trip to/from Nueva Vizcaya, we talked about our dream home. Mainly, hubs asked me what I want/see in that home, a visioning process. He walked me into it, asked what things can be found where, etc.

I really want a yard. That's been a dream forevermore, even if it's not a big one and even if I don't think i'd ever like to garden. He wants a garage with a faucet, so he and Yakee can bond over washing our car. And I want an oven for the kitchen, preferably with marble countertops instead of steel. And I want every room to be a different color. And I want our place to be sparsely furnished, the only trimmings would be picture frames. And maybe multi-functional tables/chairs.

There has to be a kiddie room that will both be play area and learning center. And someday, a boys room and a girls room. No, I don't believe in a room each for a child. I want them to have their share of fights on who will put the lights out.

I know we can someday build such a home, we just have to forego some creature comforts and make it a priority. Besides, it really feels like am not going to be preggy with Baby Nunber Two anytime soon. The blessing and curse of PCOS and breastfeeding combined :)

*~*

Mahal... but you do know home is where you are, right? Love you.

Family Deaths and Morbid Conversations

Please say a prayer for the ones left behind by a certain Mr. Jesus Arevalo, more popularly known sa Dyutay. He is the eldest of all FIL's siblings and was interred yesterday at Nueva Vizcaya. He died at the age of 71, leaving many kids and grandkids, and a wife who will miss him much.



Personally, I really hate having to update the "Not So Happy Gatherings" gallery of our smugmug account.

And something has to be said about the multitude of people who attended the internment, and who lined up to offer flowers to the coffin, and shake the hands or hug the grieving family. A lot of them were even crying. So imagine being an outsider of sorts, rubbing the backs of crying in-laws, while also shaking hands or offering tissue to crying teenagers.

Makes you wonder how your own interment will go... how many lives you'll be able to touch... how many will come to comfort the family you leave behind... how many will seek consolation from your family, simply because you at least were related to that someone who impacted their lives so much.

Talk about humbling.

I couldn't help but shed tears of my own when I saw the grandchildren huddled together, all sobbing, their parents unable to come to them because they were saying their goodbyes. What a privilege to be so loved in life that you are mourned in death.

*~*

Us being Pinoys though, we couldn't help but joke around and have all these morbid conversations. I reminded my husband again that I wanted to be cremated. He reminded me again that he wants a musiko to play a certain fast song and that I had to dance during the procession.

Hubs also kidded his siblings... that his brother was crying because he knew he'd be asked to say the eulogy when it's time for their father to go... and that he (hubs) was crying because he knew he'd really be the one to end up saying the eulogy because people wouldn't be able to understand his brother talk.

And much to my dismay, my son couldn't help but turn the organ off during the wake while the musicians that came with the funeral services were playing music. And he couldn't stop dancing to the funeral music. Sigh.

*~*

And as in all deaths, there is always a celebration of life. Cousins bonded and reminisced. And took pictures.