I love Noy

Everytime I hear couples going separate ways, I have mixed emotions. I feel bad especially for those couples that I have looked up to for years believing that their marriage formula was perfect but I guess nothing in this world is perfect... I feel sad for the children that have to cope up with having two separate homes, two separate parents and lots of whys left unanswered... I fear for my own marriage, knowing that neither Noy nor I am perfect and that we do have a lot of differences being two individuals...

Most of the time, I force myself to feel relieved knowing that everytime I go home I have Noy to go to... I feel challenged to live life one day at a time, understand my husband more and just be there for him through richer or poorer...

I love you Noy...

God is good, He gave me Noy and Elle....

Happy Birthday Ed!

Today is my big boss, Ed Sutherland's birthday! He has a special place in my heart and I will forever cherish all the learnings he has passed on to me (consciously and unconsciously)! This year, we gave him a scrapbook containing all the memorable experiences we had with him... this was our (Elle and I) contribution!

Happy birthday Ed!!!!

Most memorable moment with Papa Ed – by Elle Marie Oplas

Papa Ed will forever remain in my heart because he was the one who comforted my Mom during one of the shocking mornings in her life - the morning I entered her life.

My mom was in mixed emotions that morning of February 2006 at Waterfront Hotel, Cebu. She was very ecstatic to know that she’s pregnant but at the same time she fears that she might not be prepared to be my mama. She is also afraid that work might affect her pregnancy and create negative impact on me. She doesn’t know what to do, she wants to cry, jump with joy, call everybody, sleep whole day so that I remain safe in her tummy but she can’t do those things because she has to assist Papa Ed in a PEARL2 event with Ambassador Sutherland.

Upon seeing Papa Ed go out of the elevator mama was tightlipped, she was torn between telling Papa Ed about me or not. Fear crowded mama’s thoughts but good thing, Papa Ed knows her so well to ask whether something is bothering her. That was the time that Mama decided to share it with Papa Ed. Papa Ed was confused as why mama had mixed emotions because for him, such good news calls for a celebration! His mere smile comforted Mama and drove away all her fears.

Papa was not there to comfort mama that morning but Papa Ed was. He may not know how much he touched our lives that morning but he and Ingrid will forever remain in our hearts for all the encouragements they’ve given our family. I love you Papa Ed!

The Hot Air Balloon that went Puuuffffffttttttt

The idea of doing a clark- subic out of Town trip originated from irene's desire to bring sean to the annual hot air balloon show in Clark. Sean really love hot air balloons...

We were supposed to stay at fontana which I think is perfect for elle since one of her favorite dvd was taken there. I want her to be able to enjoy the stay and recall it everytime we play that dvd. Unfortunately, all of the nice places to stay in clark were already taken and we couldn't find a place to stay. Then came the idea of going to subic right after the show.

We stayed in roxas for the night, woke up as early as 2:30; went to sm north, our meeting place at exactly 3;30. And from there convoy to Clark. Elle slept during the whole one and a half hour trip.

It was still dark and cold when we arrived in Clark. The weather was a great contrast to the weather when first went to see the Hot Air Balloon in 2006-where it was really hot! Good thing we brought Elle's bath robe or else she'll be frozen by the time the sun appears.

5:30 came... that's the scheduled flight of the hot air balloons but failed because the wind was too strong... 6:30... 7:30 and finally 8:30 they announced that they will not be flying the hot air balloon because it would be too dangerous not only for the pilot but for the crowd as well...

Good thing Irene bought elle and sean stuffed hot air balloons:-) at least they can play with it in exchange to seeing a real hot air balloon fly...

thanks Irene! Elle's balloon even matched her outfit hehehe

Elle and Sean up close and personal with the animals of ZOOBIC

I always look forward to weekends... It is the time that I relax and just bond with Elle! Last weekend was different because aside from doing our usual out of town trips, we went out of town with Irene, Stan and Sean!

Irene has been my bestfriend since college. Actually, there were three of us... Irene, Tinie and I! Our professor would tease us that there should be 6 of us... But now, officially there is eight of us: Irene, Stan and Sean; Tinie and her BF; and of course, Me, Noy and Elle... I wonder when we will become 9?

Elle likes Sean. I guess maybe because she can feel the special bond I have with Sean, his mom and dad. (I read that babies have this special skill of identifying people who are close to their mom's heart) It is also possible that Elle mistakes Sean to being the chinese looking boy who dances in her favorite DVD. But, I guess I should not question this because just like her Mom, Elle knows real beauty (handsomeness internally and externally). Hehe

Elle especially enjoyed the weekend because she had Sean to play with.

When we went to Zoobic, Elle was afraid of the animals but she managed to survive the tour because she saw Sean's courage hehe... I did not imagine that both babies will be able to survive the "close encounter with the tigers" of Zoobic but they did! and I am proud of them...