Our First-Grader (a retro post)

The daughter went to two different schools for her Nursery and Kinder education. When  she decided to go to PAREF for grade school, I was both happy and anxious --- happy because I wouldn't have to drive her and her brother to and from school separately (the coed PAREF pre-school and the all-girls school shared one school gate). I was, however, worried that she might have a hard time adjusting to another new school because she's shy! 

When we took the admission test in March 2012, I wasn't really confident because back at her previous school, I found that there wasn't much emphasis on Reading. After the test, I was told that she passed all subjects but she lacked fluency in reading. It really didn't come as a big surprise! The assistant director for academic affairs advised me to just let the daughter practice reading everyday from that day 'til classes start in June. I actually got a similar advice from one of my friends (who always gives the best "words of wisdom") --- to spend at least 20 minutes everyday on reading.

Being the worrywart mom that I am, I religiously spent time letting her read and as soon as we got some of her text books in May, I let her read some chapters to somehow make her familiar with what their lessons would be.

first day at her new school

I was so happy when, on their first quarter exams, she got a high score in Reading and happier when she got a 100 grade in Reading in one of the grading periods! Sometime in March (this year), I got an SMS from the daughter's class adviser to let her and us (parents) attend the recognition day because she's one of the awardees! There was no mention on what award she would get. 

Fast forward to THE day. It was our very first time to attend a recognition program (as parents). In her previous school, no awards were given and in her brother's pre-school, the awards were non-academic. After the community singing of the national anthem, the emcee announced that subject awards would be given to students who got the highest grade (from the first to the fourth quarter) in their respective levels. I almost shouted and burst into tears when the emcee said, "for Grade 1, Reading: MARTINA SOFIA HERRERA VILLARUEL." I had to secretly shed tears of joy (before going up the stage) because being the shy girl that she is, she would really be embarrassed! (: what can I say?! our hard work paid off! 

look how shy she is! posing for the school's official photographer

After all the subject awardees from Grade 1 to 5 were called, another set of awards was given. Our first grader got a GOLD award, no less! The gold award is given to students with grades not lower than 95 in all subjects and a grade of O (outstanding) in Personal Development (behavior). That day's got to be one of my happiest! I said many, many prayers of thanksgiving for the daughter's amazing first year in her new school! By God's grace, she did really well despite being shy and having a "challenged" vision.

I'm one proud mom!

Mother's Day's Thoughts

It's true what they say that "motherhood is a choice we moms make everyday to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own."

Although yesterday was supposedly my and Mama's special day, it was the kids who chose where to dine and what to do after dining. We didn't mind because their happiness comes first. :)

They didn't want anything fancy. After we heard Sunday mass, we went to one of their favorite local fastfood chains, the Orange Brutus. They love their sizzling burger steak, fried chicken, and hotdog-on-a-stick. 

me and my most precious treasures

"Motherhood is a choice we make everyday to do the right thing, even when you're not sure what the right thing is and to forgive yourself over and over again for doing everything wrong." Since the day I became a mother, I have been faced with this challenge for how does one really know what is right in parenting. Many times I wished motherhood came with a step-by-step manual and I wish, too, that it is that easy to forgive one's self when she has done the "wrong" thing. 

Mothergoose and me on mother's day

One of my all-time favorite quotes on motherhood goes "a mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take." I am very blessed to have a mother like our Mama. She loves me and is very patient with me even at my worst! I could not really imagine how I would be without someone like her. 

06.29.2011

yesterday was the 45th birthday of my Canada-based sister, Chu and the 15th birthday of her youngest child, Vince. we celebrated by hearing mass at Redemptorist church and having the kids' favorite(st) Pizza Hut stuffed crust Hawaiian pizza with extra ham. 

praying that the Lord will continue to bless them with good health and that He will always provide for all their needs.

 yesterday, too, was the first day i drove both M and Z to school. it is quite a challenge driving two kids whose schools are on opposite ends and with only a 30-minute interval in their class schedule. i was very happy and thankful that they woke up and got themselves ready early enough for us to be able to leave home at exactly 7:00 A.M. we made it to M's school at 7:20 and to Z's at 7:39. i was too happy about it, i gave each of them a prize.

they're currently crazy over anything Handy Manny-ish :)

happy 9th, Bea!

wow! has it been 9 months?! 

Beakins, you're getting more adorable each day!

Happy 8th!

today, my youngest sister, S' baby Sofia Beatriz turns 8 months old. although some people comment that she's 'tiny' for her age, i don't see any problem because she is (by God's grace) a healthy, beautiful girl.

happy 8th, Beakins! hope you will celebrate your first birthday in Cebu. :)

Bea with her fab Tita Ninang. LOL.

mother's day 2011

i am blessed! i am blessed with thoughtful and generous siblings. my youngest sister, S and her hubby, treated us to an overnight stay at Crimson resort on mother's day weekend. sharing some photos of that special day:

Mama. she is a woman of great strength and she loves me. selflessly and unconditionally.

panindotay ug shades =)

mother's day breakfast at Saffron Cafe

with my 'miracle' daughter, Martina Sofia

intelligent moms :)

S and her baby, Sofia Beatriz

 

best friends

Mama means the whole world to me and my family!

thank you, M for choosing me to be the mother of your children :)

they complete me

thank you, Lord for the gift of motherhood and family!

keep it up, li'l boy!

our almost-four-year-old boy, Zach, finished Pre-Nursery at PAREF Southdale school on March 22nd. his school only gives non-academic awards at this level and academic ones from nursery to high school unlike his sister's who only gives awards when you're already in your 4th year in high school.

he got the 'Diligent' award. the teacher wrote "Izach is always careful and persevering in carrying out a task; he listens to every detail in the lesson or the story being told. And when asked about it, surely he can give you a confident answer. Keep it up, Izach! "

 


i hope our son will be as articulate and as witty in the coming years as he is now. this may sound odd or funny or too ambitious but i really want to go up the stage for his awards. :) ohh, i also hope he will not just be smart but well-mannered as well.


some photos we took during their culminating program:

 

 

...peace, prosperity, and love for all mankind...

with his first ever teacher, Teacher Carmie

with his loving fans =)

the CFO =)

selfless like the late Lolo. tutor. alternate CFO =)

Ms. Joan, his classroom 'ate'

with Shariz, his home 'ate'

 

his CFO =)

Congratulations, Dearest One!

our eldest child, Martina, finished Kindergarten 1 at Sacred Heart School-Hijas de Jesus on March 11, 2011. i was the happiest and most grateful in our family!

if you know what she has we have been through when she went to this big school, you would understand how very happy and emotional and grateful i was (and still am)! 

to begin with, i will never ever get over the fact that she hardly survived. she was only 32 weeks when i gave birth to her (way too early due to pre-eclampsia) and weighed only 2 lbs and 4 oz! she stayed at the NICU for 6 weeks, underwent a 45-minute surgery for both eyes (she had stage 4 Retinopathy of Prematurity which would make her blind if not operated on early), has no peripheral vision due to the surgery. in December 2009, she was found to have lazy eye and had to start wearing thick eyeglasses. i could go on and on but it will just tear my heart apart. the bottomline is, our 5-year old daughter is a MIRACLE! and every little thing that she is able to do is something we celebrate! she may have been through a lot but she's aso abundantly blessed! although she was born a preemie, she has caught up, by God's amazing grace!

our daughter is super duper extremely shy. so, when she was 3 years old, i enrolled her in playgroup at a small school hoping to have her social skills developed. she stayed there until nursery then we decided to move her to a bigger one for a "balanced" school life. it was a BIG daily challenge sending her to her class. she was only able to adjust (meaning going to the classroom alone without cyring) late part of February. no one (not even us nor her teacher) really knew or understood why she cried everyday from the gate to the classroom. i am just glad she survuved her first year in the big school!

their 'Sister Act' presentation during their culminating program

..I will follow Him, follow Him wherever He may go...

isn't it great that she's 'performing'? :)

she's the only one in class who wears eyeglasses

to Stella and Nap

Happy, happy 2nd Wedding Anniversary! May the Lord continue to bless you abundantly. Kisses.

Nap and Stella with their Sofia Beatriz (January 2, 2011)

Remembering Daddy

today would have been Daddy's 71st birthday. 

we still miss him so much. and we continue to pray for his eternal rest. we celebrated his special day quietly but fondly and lovingly. we, Mama and the Cruzes had lunch at Roma Mia and coffee at Seattle's Best. when we got home after the 6:00 PM mass, Marti suggested that we light some sparklers and we did! we pointed them to the sky and shouted Happy Birthday, Lo! We love you.

Daddy was a very doting, super Lolo

 

First Family Photos for 2011

January 2, 2011

the gift of sharing

our only brother gives to charity every year and when he does, he always doesn't want his name published. this year, we decided to choose the Kythe foundation which takes care of kids with cancer and they're raising funds through the Christmas village/train of hope set up at Marco Polo's lobby.