why?

why is it that we still do the things of this world even though we know it displeases God?

start the year right and do what God wants us to do. OBEY.

kidnapped!

every now and then, when a certain classmate of hers is mentioned, michelle says, 'mommy, you know my friend gra#$%, she was kidnapped when she was a baby and ms. #$^&& is not her real mommy.'

to be honest, when i first heard this, i was a little perplexed. what discussion was going on at school where a child's kidnapping would be brought up?  i didn't bother asking michelle's teacher about this because i thought, kidnapping is a pretty sensitive topic to bring up.  

yesterday, on our way to my aunt's house for our family get-together, michelle brings it up again.  'mommy, gra#$% was kidnapped when she was a baby and ms #$^&& is not her real mommy.' tired of hearing the same disturbing story, i replied to her, 'michelle, where did you hear this story?  are you sure she was kidnapped? that's not a very good story to be telling people, baby.'  she insists, 'no mommy, she really was kidnapped!  that's what she told me.'

and then it dawned on me.  the little girl wasn't kidnapped!

i was crackin' up after i realized what michelle was trying to say....

trying to put a straight face, i said, 'michelle, do you mean your friend was adopted?'

'YES, MOMMY!  that's the right word!!!!!' michelle screamed.

and that is our michelle-ism on christmas day.  

ALL!

i read today in Romans 10:12b-13, "the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

it's for everyone.  FOR ALL!!!  and all we ever need to do is ask!

PERU!

our Operation Christmas Child Shoe box went to Peru!

what kids want for christmas

i read this article on msnbc about moms spending an average of $271 on presents for each child this christmas.


michelle has asked for all sorts of things for christmas, combined, i think the gifts would be under $100 IF we get all of them for her.  which we wont.  you know what she keeps telling us she wants?


this:

she kept seeing the ads for a chia pet and she kept asking for them.  we'll get her 2 chia pets!  


we really don't have a gift for her yet.  i haven't even bought the chia pet.  kids nowadays get so many gifts for christmas so we don't want to spend too much on our gift for her.  have you got any ideas?


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after posting this blog, i went on amazon.com and looked for chia pets.  aba!?  mahal din pala sya?!  well, michelle's only getting 1.  kala ko tig fafive dollars lang ito. hehehe.

sleep problems

my husband and i have not been sleeping well the last several weeks.

since we got back from vacation, michelle has been WAKING UP EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, MULTIPLE TIMES, and coming to our room, asking if she could sleep in our bed.  9 times out of 10, we tell her no.  there are nights when she would wake up 5 times which usually ends with a very, very, very angry me and a terrified daughter.  i become a monster when i am woken up, yes, i'm bad and i'm not proud of it. 

we don't know what to do anymore.  paul is the good cop, i'm always the bad cop.  neither of us can sleep when she's in bed with us.  one of us would move to michelle's bed when this happens, or sleep in the living room, or not go to sleep the rest of the night.  it's hard on all of us.  we don't know what to do.  we try to establish a routine with her, but that did not last long.  what are we supposed to do?  i refuse to have her sleep with us every night.  that's just not going to happen. 

i'm sleepy =(

christmas party menu

we will be hosting our annual barkada christmas party here at home.  it's potluck. but being host, and a domestic diva wanna-be, i want to make a bulk of the dishes.  here is what i have planned:

Carmelized Onion and Gruyere Tarts

Linguini with Clam Sauce

Zucchini and Yellow Squash Gratin

Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding

i'll modify the recipes a little bit so they can be a little bit more festive and colorful.

I'll also make some festive cocktails, maybe something with pomegranate, like this:

have i told you how much i love christmas?  =D

pasko na! (well, almost)

the christmas decor is up, my shopping list is about 80% done (and within budget!)....


but i haven't lost the weight.  (booo!!!!) i guess paul really has won this bet.  i told him to go ahead and buy what he wants with the $$$$ he won and he did not waste time and bought himself one of his dream guitars:

Fender American Standard Stratocaster

it's the same guitar that john mayer and eric clapton uses.  i have to admit, it does sound very good.  he bought a new tube amp, too.  he is very happy and plays his guitar every. single. day.  well, my not losing weight has made my husband's musical side very happy.  


that doesn't mean i've given up on my desire to lose weight.  i am still watching what i eat and exercising...but i no longer have a deadline.  the cruise didn't really derail me.  i've been off track for so long that nothing can derail me!  ha!


anyway, it's sunday so off to church we go!!!!