LA Trip - Day 2

Day 2 - LAS VEGAS

We left Keswick at 9am. We had lunch at In-n-Out Burger (Basrtow branch). Totoo ang chismis, masarap ang burger nila :)

There was an outlet along the way, but we didn't have time to stop and shop.

Outlet stores

Mostly desert views along the way

We arrived around 2pm. There were a lot of people at the lobby, luckily, my relatives are VIP members and we went to the VIP lounge. There's coffee, soda, fruits, cookies and chocolates. No complains here :)

MGM Grand VIP Lounge

We can see Hooters and the airport from our room.

LA trip 2018

It's our family's first trip to the US (all of us together).

We arrived at the airport around 2pm at the Terminal 3. Cathay Pacific was overbooked so they offered us a deal to ride PAL instead. It will be a direct flight (no more HK stop over which was supposed to be 4 hours) and we will be compensated. It was a really good deal for us. The only drawback was we had to wait for a long time at Terminal 2. There's not a lot of good food choices there.

We left 9pm (Manila time) and arrived in LA at 820pm (LA Time). Flight was more than 14 hours. The kids did good. They enjoyed the ride. They would watch a movie and sometimes sleep. The food was okay and the staff were friendly. The only issue I had was that the monitor panel on my seat was not working. Over all, it was a good flight for us.

The IOs were kinda scary. Maybe because we're with kids, there were not a lot of questions asked. I was holding my breath the entire time he was asking questions. After the IO gave us our passports, that's the only time I was able to breathe properly.

The moment we exited, Tito Nong and Tita Alice were there to greet us. It was probably around 10pm when we arrived at their house. Their house is huge! Few moments after, Tito Cel and Tita Alice as well as Richard arrived to greet us.

We couldn't sleep and Alec asked to go to the kitchen around 2am.

It's 2019

Hello world. It's been ages since I last posted. I won't be able to write all about what I've been doing since then, but maybe some highlights.

Last month (July) is our favourite month and we've had 2 staycations.

It was our first time at Seda Nuvali and the kids loved their stay there. A must of course is a bath tub :) The best part which is a first for them was the game room. It's the first hotel we've stayed wherein there's a game room. Guess where we stayed most of the time?

The staff were all friendly. They even went to our room and surprised Alec with a cake and a birthday song which I really appreciated because I saw how happy Alec was.

The game room

Bath tub

birthday girl

Alec's 8th Birthday

For Alec's 8th birthday, we stayed at Shangri-la EDSA. I asked around and it turned out that EDSA Shang has one of the best kiddie pool in the Metro. It was a good choice, the kids (and adults), enjoyed the swimming pool and aqua activity area.

HK Trip, Day 1

May 5, 2015 (Tuesday)

FROM /TO        FLIGHT  CL DATE   DEP      FARE BASIS    NVB   NVA   BAG  ST

 MANILA NINOY    CX 904  O  05MAY  0520     O7DIB         05MAY 05MAY 20K  OK
 AQUINO INTL
 TERMINAL:3
 HONG KONG                        ARRIVAL TIME: 0720   ARRIVAL DATE: 05MAY
 INTERNATIONAL
 TERMINAL:1

 Our flight was really early. We had to be at the airport before 4am. I did not get to sleep at all before the flight. I might have doze off for few minutes during the flight. 

We arrived at the airport before 4am. There was a long line. We only waited for few minutes before we heard the boarding announcement. We were among the first to board because we are travelling with kids. Eric was carrying Ehra who was sound asleep.

Planning the trip

As early as December 2014, I have been thinking on how to celebrate Alec's 7th birthday which is on July 2015. So I asked her if she wants to have a big party or travel outside the country. She picked the latter (with the guidance of mommy of course),

Come February, there was the "BDO Travel Sale" @ SM Aura. I know there will be a huge crowd, but I went anyway. Luckily, a nawie hubby helped me book Cathay tickets to HK for May.

Alec's 6th birthday

July 1, 2014

For my little girl's 6th birthday, I took her out and we bonded over pedi.

Caden's Birthday 2014

Caden's 7th birthday, they had super fun. The girls enjoyed the mani area as well as the hair styling section. They also liked their costumes.

Macy's birthday

The kids had a blast. Basty was even brave enough to volunteer as the magician's assistant. They went back and forth outside for the games.

2014

Not a single post last year (2014) :(

What do I remember:

January
As usual, celebrated New Year in Pampanga.
Post Christmas dinner with friends. Our friend Zarah from Australia came to visit.
Celebrated mama's birthday


February
It was probably an uneventful month.

March
Lolo's 90th birthday. Relatives from US came and it was a big event. Eric was in the US, he missed the party. It was my first long drive.

April
Went to Bataan. Love the Capones Island beach.
The Olpindos came to visit

May
Events on Eric's side.
His cousin's 18th birthday
Family Reunion

June
Back to school for the kids

July
Celebrated my birthday in Pampanga together with other July celebrants from my side of the family. I was also given a surprise party by friends.
Dinner with college batchmates
Lunch with my former office mates. It was the last day of my ex-boss. She transferred to another company.

August
Ehra's nutrition day presentation at school. Her costume was a squash.
Basty's simple birthday dinner at home.

September

October
Ehra's 4th birthday. We did not have a party, but we bought cake and had a simple dinner celebration.

November
Celebrated Eric's birthday - just the two of us.
Attended some events.

December
Attended high school reunion together with Eric since we were class mates in HS.
Celebrated Christmas in Tarlac. As usual, attended the family reunion from Eric's mother side. Also attended the first reunion from his father side.

2015

For 2015, instead of a new year's resolution, I would like to think of a theme that would push me forward this year and to somehow make things better. This year I would like to think of the phrase "Just do it". I would think of this whenever i want or need to accomplish things.

Some of the things I want to do this year:
1. Travel. HK or Malaysia.
2. Complete the 52 week challenge to save money for travel fund
3. Save more
4. Pay out home loan (at leasty 6 months)
5. Summer outing with the kids

Ehra's 4th Birthday

Ehra's birthday was celebrated 3 times (Capas, Pampanga and Royal Palm).

My baby girl is growing up fast. She's no longer bulol.

I love her to bits.

2008 Goals

I was trying to organize my files and I saw this. It's such a surprise to see this. I am happy that I have accomplished/acquired all the material things I wanted.

Now, it's time to set 2014 goals. I have to think about this first and will try to post by January. I also need to examine my 2013 goals and see what I have achieved.

In case I don't get the chance to write again before the year ends, here's a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year greetings for all of you. Cheers!!

Scary Alec

Alec as a scary vampire. Thanks to ate Nhelan for the make up.

My magician

I know I haven't updated the blog for the longest time!

We had a trip to Tagaytay last weekend...let me post this cute picture of Ehra doing a magic trick :)
 

We went to SM Aura last Saturday. We waited this long so that they hype had died down already. It was good I guess cause there were not so many people around. There's an area at the Sky Park that's not accessible. Ehra had fun tugging on the rope.

There are a lot of stalls that are still closed. Basty and Alec took a peek. When we had dinner at Jollibee, we were pleasantly surprised with the appearance of Jollibee. We did not waste the opportunity to have a picture with the jolly mascot.

It was a lovely weekend made special because we all missed Eric who was away for a week. We were glad to spend quality time with each other. I love spending weekends like that.

Minions craze

We watched Despicable Me 2 last Sunday. We were supposed to watch at Aura but when I was checking the schedules I found out that there are activities at Glorietta/Greenbelt center so we went there instead.

The kids had fun painting and taking pictures.

April

Wow, time flies fast talaga. I was surprised to see that my last post was January.

Here's hoping to update it, kahit papaano...i have so much stories to share like the moving up of both Basty and Alec.....me, moving to another company.

Anyways, It's been 5 days since we left Basty in Pampanga for his summer break. I miss my baby. He has no 2 front teeth now. Hopefully, the permanent teeth will appear before the start of class this June.

Short term goal

For 2013, I have one main goal, and that is to have investments. It can be Mutual Funds, UITF or any other form of investment. I'd like to set up a retirement fund and educational fund for the kids.

I am not achieving to buy any high ticket items for this year.

Cheers to a frugal mode 2013 and a brighter future :)

From 2012 to 2013

So much things I wanted to blog last year..hopefully I can blog more this year.

I have so much to be thankful for the year that was 2012.

I'll post here my answer to some questions posted in a yahoogroup where I am a member of.

In the past year (2012)....

1. What was the best thing that happened to you?
Sa wakas, nakabili kami ng brand new car..dati kasi laging second hand.

Another best thing was our Bohol vacation kasi first time yun na buong family namin. First airplane ride for the kids.

 

2. What was the worst thing that happened to you?

Yung mga hospital episodes pag may sakit ang mga kids.
Another pala is yung eye condition ni Ehra. Nag cro-cross yung eyes nya and when we had her checked up, 400 ang grado ng eyes nya :(

 

3. What was the most emotionally-stimulating (either in a positive or
negative way) event?
Getting the car was actually stressful because we rushed it before the Christmas break, but seeing the happiness of my hubby was priceless.

Another is waiting for a good time to tell my boss that I am resigning (which i did today).

 

4. Who is the best friend that you met/made?
I feel like best friends ko ang mga nawies because i can bring up any subject here (sharing stories lang or rant/vent) and i get a lot of help pag may mga questions. Pero bestest (gusto lang gamitin ang word) would be Sieggy and Claud.

Hoping to meet more nawies and create friendship. 

 

5.  What was the best movie you watched?

Avengers

6. What was the best book you read?

Aside from 50 Shades, i also like Hunger Games

 

7. What was your biggest life change, or biggest life-changing decision?
To leave my current company...mag na nine years na ako dito so it's really hard. 

 

8. What favorite restaurant did you find?
Johnny Chow at Resorts World

 

9. What favorite new hobby did you take up?
None...I need to do something new this year.

 

and here's a totally useless question:
10. At last count, how many pairs of black shoes do you own? :)
I think I have 7 pairs...di ako masyadong pashonista so mostly black lang mga shoes ko and some brown/gold.