Embracing Everyday

This is the first time that we celebrated Christmas eve together. Last year, D was out on a flight on Christmas eve and we only spent Christmas day together – then he had to work for the rest of December, while Sky and I spent a week in China with my parents…

Getting on that flight bound for Cebu on the 22nd was an extremely good decision for ALL of US.

Our Christmas celebration started as soon as we got off the plane. I had on a messenger bag around me, I was carrying Sky with my right arm and pulling our luggage with my left hand. Sky didn’t sleep for the whole trip – as he was excited as I am to see his Dad.

When we got to the room, we were welcomed by an endearing letter, a “Lion King” flotation device and colorful pouch with little trinkets inside. The letter was extremely SWEET.

The following day was Christmas Eve, we spent the day at the new Ayala Center Cebu and swam in the hotel pool. We tried to get Sky to take a nap for the long evening ahead – but it didn’t happen! Oh well.

We were able to bond together so well for Christmas. We had Noche Buena while running around after Sky. And it didn’t seem to matter when D’s arm went numb from carrying Sky the whole time we heard Christmas eve mass. All that mattered was we were together.

It was also the first time D brought us to TOPS in Cebu. Going there was a 20-minute uphill taxi ride from Marco Polo. The view up there was breathtaking. It reminded me of Baguio – where I spent most of my childhood Christmases. The hotels by the beach were fully booked for the holidays, so we just stayed in the hotel in the afternoon – and PLAYED some more. I didn’t want to go to the beach without a decent room, specially with a toddler in tow.

We arrived back to Manila on the 27th, but we are still celebrating Christmas up until now. We heard mass last Sunday to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. Coincidentally, our FIRST FAMILY CHRISTMAS together. This week is not just a week of gift-giving, dinners or parties – but a week of GRATITUDE for all the blessings that we were given and the blessings that will still be bestowed in the coming years.

We are still in the octave of Christmas. So it’s still perfectly fine to greet your friends, family and loved one’s, “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

Enjoy and EMBRACE the week of FAMILY and LOVE! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

Sky and I flew in to Cebu in the morning of December 23rd. D was out on a flight, and we pretty much wandered around Marco Polo and Ayala Center Cebu the whole day.

D came knocking on the door at 8pm. We just ordered in – and Sky slept surprisingly early – which gave D and I a chance to “catch up” and “make up”.

No photos for now since I forgot to bring my USB connector!

Have a Blessed Christmas to all… AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN WISHING US WELL

We will always remember you in our prayers

It started on a Tuesday… Sky and I had to get on the 7:30AM flight to Cebu without D.

D’s flight was scheduled at 9:00AM on the same day though, so we decided to rendezvous at the lobby of Marco Polo Plaza Cebu instead. No sweat for me since Cebu is just an hour’s flight and the hotel was just a 30-minute drive from the Mactan airport.

Since we need to kill an hour. We didn’t hurry too much taking a cab to the hotel. We lingered a bit and let Sky enjoy the coming and going planes.

It was 11:30AM when the 3 of us got in our room. D was at the hotel by 11:00AM. We ordered room service before heading out. I was just so hungry at that time, but normally I don’t like hotel food. But nonetheless the 3 of us wolfed down a pizza, pumpkin soup and a heart serving of spaghetti with meatballs.

We just went around Cebu Ayala Center that afternoon and bought 3 days supply of Sky’s Fresh milk, yoghurt drink and some cookies. Had a late dinner and went straight back to the room.

Going to the beach was out of the question for the week, since it rains really hard in the afternoon. So for our entire stay in Cebu, we just went to the malls and spent lounging by the poolside and discovering the hotel gardens.

I didn’t mind. The three of us were just brimming with happiness, being able to play and spend time, family time together. D and I gave our 100% attention to Sky and another 100% to each other. It was wonderful

D and I just came back from our Marriage Encounter weekend. And we are both exhausted, but elated with the experience. That one is another post though. I’ll post more photos the next time!