A Day at La Virginia

This is a late post of our Pre-V Day bonding :)

I was supposed to blog this few days after our family bonding but since I have a lot of things to do (and pics to upload!) from our recent getaway, I wasn't able to blog this on time.

Anyhoo, we celebrated Valentine's Day a day ahead as a family day. For the past week I've been thinking where's the best place to go within Batangas area. First on my list is Valentino Resort and Spa somewhere in San Jose, but few days before weekend I changed my mind although when I check their website it's really a nice and cozy place for those who want to have a serene getaway but having a toddler in tow,Xian might not totally enjoy it,you see I still have to think  of my child's happiness as top priority. That's why I changed plan.

The next option is La Virginia Hotel and Resort. I already knew that it's a nice place based on pics by some of my friends who's already been there. So one Sunday morning we headed to Mataas na Kahoy about 45 minutes-1 hour drive from our place. We just had a quick stop over to Lipa City to buy some additional snacks that we forgot to buy on our grocery list last night. We already bring our food because knowing the price of the resort's food,it will be twice than the original price.

My little Xian is so excited on our way pointing trees and animals and just about anything that caught his fancy.Then after a few minutes from the town of Mataas na Kahoy,we finally saw the resort's welcome arch sign:

 the guard will ask you first if you have a reservation or walk-in :)

We arrived at the resort around 10AM,Immediately after the gate open I was in awe,the place is really beautiful than what I expected! While hubby and I are busy settling our payments at the resort's business office, Inay, Tita Ninang Sol and Tita Ninang Twinkle with our little Xian were  also busy taking snapshots,my little man is so amazed with the "animals" he even have a closer look with some of them naming them one by one :)

Xian obviously enjoy his alligator ride  

while our little Xian is trying to fit himself to the busted toy car

 one quick family picture with the famous giraffe at the background 

We then headed to the mushroom picnic hut which can accommodate 4-6 people. While we're still at the resort's office,hubby initially wanted the gazebo due to the persistent resort attendant.I just tell him that all we need is somewhere to put our belongings and food.And because it's not yet the peak season, we  had the chance to choose what picnic hut we like.After a quick merienda and snapshots plus changing into our swimwear, we then headed to the Frog Kiddie Pool. they offer the best views of Taal Lake. My little Xian obviously love the water, as soon as we arrive at the pool he immediately said "daddy,simming (swimming)!" 

 Xian's first attempt,brrr quite cold pa.. 

family snapshots @ the Frog Kiddie Pool

a very nice view of Taal Lake and the whole place

wonderful father and son shot

now,mommy and baby moment with our newfound friends giraffe.lol

at the #8 hut, 8 is a memorable date to us - we got married september 8 , 2008! :)

The C's official summer photo 2011 - oo meganun! :)

a quick family shot on our way to Ifugao House 

 @ The Buddha View-Deck

before we have our lunch,walang katapusang pichuran! :D

time out,Xian needs to recharge! 

after a bottle of milk,he's so back to hyper mode, dancing and jumping and asking us to for another "simming" (swimming!) which made me think,pinaglihi ko ba sa isda 'tong anak ko?

Afternoon swimming @ the Dolphin Kiddie Pool. 

enjoying the water with daddy.oh my! anak look at your skintone!

We capped off the day with a few snapshots at some of La Virginia's famous attractions.

according to my little smart boy,this is a "zeeb-wah"  :)

Xian doesn't want to have a photo op with the orangutan.look at his reaction! haha.

@ the unique Fruity apple cottage

with the famous Buddha @ the background

@ the Ifugao Village.i so love the background!

camera trick c/o our photographer for the day - my sister Sol

my photo op with the so serious B :)

wacky shot of Xian and his tita ninangs

final shot :)

It was indeed a perfect family day slash pre-valentine's day bonding.it was a fun filled day of family togetherness.Cliche as it may seem but everyday is Valentine's Day if you get to spend it with the people you love  :)

If Only Life Comes With Slow Mo' Button

I remember months ago when Xian is just a tiny little bub and all he knew back then is to coo,babble,giggle and squeal at me. As I hold him in my arms, I always hope back then that he'll grow up soon. I always look forward to every milestone,the first time he utter his first word, the first time he roll over, the first time he was able to sit on his own,crawl, stand then eventually take his first few steps. As I watch him walk, toppled then eventually manage to stand up again on his own,that moment I knew that it is also the start of his journey to independence. 

For his every developmental milestones from then 'til now, my heart swells with pride. I'm really one proud mom in all aspect. But now, time flies so fast that I sometimes wish there's a slow mo' button to savor every moment with him.One year to go and we'll have a preschooler,yay! In our fast-paced world,kids nowadays are different that we parents need extra effort to cope up. Xian learns new antics everyday, discover new words, grammar and expressions easily. He can now describe more what he wants. I enjoy talking and conversing with him far from the usual yes and no answers - only shows that he understands what I'm saying as well.He already has a clothing preference, he follows simple instruction, he is generous in showing affection to us. One thing I learned, never underestimate the knowledge of a toddler, it's more than what we think. Hubby and me's frequent musing nowadays, "Anlaki na ni Xian ano?" I cannot turn back time, but surely we can always look back with fondness memories of him growing up.

If only life comes with a remote control with slow mo’ and  pause buttons and if only my little one could remain little and adorable forever! :)

We love you so much anak!

 

Xian's A-B-C :)

Last night in our room, before I put him to bed:

Me: Xian, mommy will see nga kung alam mo pa ang alphabet. Ok let's start ha.

Me: A is for...

Xian: apple!

Me: Very Good!

Me: B is for...

Xian: ball!

Me: okay,very good ulit!

Me: C is for...

Xian: kick!

Me: anak, K yun! nasa C pa lang tayo.again, C is for...

Xian: mommy,kick.. then he showed me the picture similar to this. 

he's referring to cake pala! KICK.CAKE.KICK.CAKE.kaloka! :D

anak,C is for cat na lang ulit! 

Mommy's Sulit Buy for the Week

Off to buy some of Xian's toiletries few days ago when I saw this,Johnson's Baby Milk Bath with Free Puff for Mommy Me and Washcloth for Baby Xian.Definitely a Sulit buy for savvy chic me! :)

My Nurture Network Kit

Few days ago,our lobby guard gave this to me as soon as I enter the school premises,a big envelope from Nurture Network.

Nurture Network is a support site for parents who want nothing but the best for their families. Each section covers relevant aspects like health, womanhood and domesticity. Resident Experts also render advice and provide resources on a range of topics which is administered by the Wyeth Group (source)

when I opened it, here's the content:

 newsletter and kit for mommy me! :)

..and a Nurture Network Card!

COOL! this card entitled the member a lot of freebies,discounts and privileges from their partners.Too bad most of their partners are Manila-based stores.haha! Anyhoo, probably I can still use them in the future di ba?

Thank you so much Nurture Network! :)

Sweet Treats on V-Day

Since V-Day fall on a Monday, I really wasn't expecting anything from hubby (char!) since we already celebrated it as a family day last Sunday.In advance,we also gave each other a simple gift last week.We both headed to work on V-day.He decided to be in their Batangas City office na lang on that day instead of going to Manila, me naman different direction bound to Lipa City.Then when I got home past 6 pm he was already there waiting for me (he didn't fetched me from work because we're totally from different direction and it's really a huge hassle for him to go to Lipa just to fetched me where traffic will be total hell that's why I didn't ask him in the first place.)

When I got home,my mag-ama greeted me in their playful and quirky way. Then my little Xian gave this to me, chocolatey goodies which of course came from hubby.Seems like we're still from our courtship stage,ganitong combi din yung palagi nya binibigay (cake+chocolate) wayback in our bf-gf days:

Chocolate cake and a big bar of Chocolate Mousse - my ultimate fave! :)

 

ssshhhh,our little man is busy..

Hubby is apologetic since yun na lang daw naabutan nya chocolate cake sa bakeshop that time.Anyway,Thank you hubby for the surprise chocolatey goodies! Plus a very sweet card  that comes with it (I'll separately blog it soon). You see,In this fast-paced world of technology, we still go for our own vintage style of writing our thoughts through greeting cards because that is where it all began :)

It was just a simple V-Day for us but what mattered is that we get to celebrate it as a family. Anyway, its V-Day everyday if you get to spend it with the people you love.
 

Thank you for remembering hubby. it's still nice to know that marriage didn't change you.you're still the same sweet person I knew from the start. You never fail to make me happy in your simple ways.I love you so much deh! ♥

Sapphire Mommy's Bacon and Egg Sandwich

 Dahil nagfi-feeling food blogger ako ngayon,here's an easy tummy filler with a 2-3 minutes prep time especially made by me for my two boys one lazy weekend morning: