My mom is not the easiest person to get a gift for. Since she’s brought up two boys and didn’t have a girl to pamper with, I rarely got to see her soft and picky side. I’m not sure if she even liked flowers at all (like other girls) or she just simply lost interest in them as a result of being in a more male-dominated family all her life.

That fact that getting flowers for her online is not as easy as getting Mother’s Day Flowers in Louisville also doesn’t help. Plus, my dad doesn’t really offer much help either. He’s content with treating mom to a dinner outside.

Guess I better go ask andrea for help then.

Finding a gift for dad has always been a daunting task for me. I know my dad and I know he’ll gladly accept anything that I give him but of course I want to get him something that he will not just accept, but love as well.

This year, I’ve already started considering my options by looking at the Backpacker Magazine Gear Guide 2011 picks. So far, I’ve got a few choices already. However, I’ve not seen anything that completely wows me. Anyway, at least I’ve got a bit of a head start so I have a few more weeks to keep on looking. Hopefully, something pops up soon! hehehe!

Since we’ve basically decided on homeschooling mateo till next year, andrea and I have agreed to enroll him in as many activities as we can – swimming, sports, team games, and even arts and crafts.

I know it will probably be expensive since outfits and other materials cost a lot – from softball socks to gloves and mittens to coloring pens – but it’s the best way to compensate for the social interaction that he’ll be missing out.

Never mind for now. Kuya is at a very crucial learning age so we have to do everything we can to help him out.

When mateo was about a year old, we brought him to a studio for the cutest pictorial session ever at pic-a-boo. This time, we’re thinking of letting anika have her turn too when we get home by December. Since the studio has slowly been acquiring more and more baby outfits, I can’t help but think of how cute our little chubs is going to look like in several of them already – in equestrian boots, in a stewardess uniform, in a bee costume, or even in a baby basket. I’m sure she’ll be stunningly beautiful and just downright adorable.

Hehehe! Can’t even stop giggling just thinking about it! It’s a date this December chubs!

Without the help of a maid or anyone else in the house, andrea has been singlehandedly taking care of the kids as well as the house chores effectively for the last few weeks. With me gone from 630 in the morning till around 4 in the afternoon, she’s successfully managed anika and mateo while still finding enough strength and time to write for online gigs.

I’ve been teasing her lately about buying some french maid outfits just to complete the whole deal, but she just quickly shrugs off the idea and retaliates with a dagger look and a silly grin. hehehe!

What can I say! Andrea is nothing short of a superwoman. She’s my beloved wife and the best mom for my kids! LOVE YOU ny!

Happy Mother’s Day in advance!

For the past few days, it has really been a struggle. Anika’s sleep schedule is making a mess out of everyone else’s. You see, she’s been sleeping soundly in the morning and sometimes, all the way to the afternoon.

At night, she wakes up at around 11PM and stays awake until 4 or even 5 in the morning. Andrea and I are alternating turns taking care of her during these unholy hours.

It’s only during the weekends that we get to do other house chores like cleaning the bathroom sinks, laundry, and other general cleaning activities.

Oh, I sure hope anika’s sleep time changes again soon. Otherwise, I would be forced to find help. huhuhu!

With mateo and anika, we already have a complete set – a son and a daughter. This is the reason why we’ve originally planned on stopping at two. However, now that anika is already nearing the toddler stage, we’ve started considering the possibility of a third, and maybe even a forth.

No, this is not an announcement of an impending third. I have no intentions of passing out macanudo cigars anytime soon. In fact, andrea and I have agreed to wait for another year or so to check if conditions (financially, physically, and emotionally) are still favorable before deliberately trying. Both our kids have been a blessing to us and we’re not closing our doors on receiving more.

So, we’ll see. Next next year, maybe?!

Opportunities entail sacrifices – sacrifices that are sometimes big enough to shake the very reason for even considering the opportunity in the first place.

You see, when I chose to leave the country, the first and foremost reason I have is to financially save enough for my family – not for fancy cars, a luxuries house, or even a desire for a more comfortable job. It is for my family. Yet, now that the decision entails immersing mateo in a foreign culture and risking him picking up not-so-nice behaviors from his would-be classmates, my original reason of family seems a bit questionable.

Are we really willing to let mateo learn a few negative traits from others for the sake of providing him a more comfortable life? If saving up for family entails putting your family at risk, would you do it? That’s basically how I feel right now. I’ve seen several unfavorable behaviors of students in school and I’m afraid of our son getting influenced by them. I mean, it’s not like mateo can already enroll in some  bsn online courses and learn the basics without attending formal school. He’s supposed to be in Kindergarten, one of the most impressionable levels of school.

This is what’s been bothering me and andrea for quite some time now. I just hope some enlightenment comes before it’s too late.

Aside from the fact that I would miss them terribly, the other important reason that I have for telling andrea to hurry to Brunei is the fact that I don’t want my kids to grow up forgetting me. This is especially true for my little girl. Since Anika was only 4 months old when I left, it would be relatively easy for her to get used to not having me around. I don’t want that.

So just three months later, they’re all here with me now and we’ve successfully established our home here in Brunei. (Well, not completely established, I guess, since we’re still missing quite a lot of things that we used to have back in the Philippines. But I don’t really mind.)

The important thing is that we’ve reestablished our routines and are trying to tailor-fit them to our somewhat full schedule. Anika would go to me whenever she wants to be carried and lulled to sleep but she goes to andrea when she wants milk. My sore muscles are a testament to that. (Actually, I’m considering looking for the best creatine supplements to relieve fatigue in my arms and increase muscle energy).

Mateo, on the other hand, would still ask me for a massage before going to sleep. It’s an effective way to relax him and put him to sleep.  These are things that they specifically go to me for. No this is not gloating, but at least I’m sure my kids would never forget me. Our days of being apart are almost forgotten and I’m looking forward to an even more regularized but comfortable stay with them in Brunei.

Let’s face it. The fastest way to a kid’s heart is to give him or her a toy. This holds true especially for my son. In fact, no matter what mood he is in, or if he even knows you or not, if you give him a toy, you’ll almost instantly win him over.

This is the reason why I was on the lookout for kids gift ideas under $20. I want to give him a present when he comes here. But since I don’t exactly have a lot of money, I’m afraid I can’t give him anything more than $20. In fact, I’m not even sure I can buy him anything above $10.

Hehehe! If only kisses would suffice for four-year-olds. Tsk! tsk! tsk!