I'll Sing My Heart Out -- Soon... (Hahaha)

My, oh, my, I completely forgot that we do have Magic Sing here at home! I think it's been 2 years since the last time I used it.  We're about to move and still haven't pulled it out of the closet since that day I put it away.  I have been wanting to sing my heart out during my free time (though, my kids don't really like me singing, but right now, they have no choice..Hehehe), but I always put it off.  By the time I remember about my plan, either it's already late at night, or I've got something more important to do that I'd have no other choice but to set it aside again.

I want to sing at daytime because I'm afraid I might end up disturbing peace, if I do it at night.  And trust me, our surround sound can get pretty loud.  It excites me, but at the same time, I have to think about my neighbors.  I don't want them to get mad at me for being inconsiderate of them.  Which made me think, how much more if we have the pa systems at home that I can use to crank up the music?  I'm sure one my neighbors will end up calling the cops on me. (Hahaha).  I would never want that to happen.  Not for a very petty reason like that.

I think I'll finally do it this week - take the Magic Sing out of the closet and actually use it.  I won't let this week pass without me making some noise, hopefully, make my neighbors remember me for the rest of their lives. Hahaha.  I'm kidding.  I just want to have fun.  I love to sing, and I know it'll get me relaxed.

Now, I just have to remember how to hook it into the TV system.  The last time I used it, we still had the old TV.  This new one, I have no idea where to hook which wire without having to pull out ones that aren't suppose to be pulled out.  I'd probably ask hubby for some help later so I can do it myself when he's at work.  I know it's not that complicated of a thing to figure out.  But still, I just want to make sure.  There's no harm in asking anyway, is there? ;)

A New Dishwasher Would Definitely Help

Although we're close to moving out of this house, I still wish the old dishwasher works.  I really don't use it that much, but sometimes I am too tired to wash dishes and I couldn't even rely on it anymore because it doesn't drain water out like it's suppose to.  Another thing is, water keeps backing up inside, so I have to run it on 'rinse only' cycle just to get rid of the water before it starts creating foul odor.

I really prefer hand-washing our dirty dishes.  I like it better that way because I can thoroughly clean them without having to use a lot of water.  Besides, I'm used to washing dishes that way.  We don't have dishwasher at home in the Philippines, so I really don't care if we have one here or not.

We've heard that the owners of this house are planning on doing a renovation once we've moved out.  I think it'll be a good idea and will help them rent their house out faster.  If the information we heard was right, they said they're going to renovate the entire kitchen and chance its layout as well.  I bet they'll change their old appliances, too and buy stainless steel ones.  I mean, they need to if they want renters to like the place and want to live here.  I think they should get a kuds30fxss dishwasher this time, or whatever suits their budget.  One of the first things people look for in a house before they even commit on buying or renting it is, dishwasher.  I don't know what's with having one in the house, but it seems like some cannot live without it.  Don't get me wrong.  I love having dishwasher, too, and I've learned to kind of "want" to have one in our home someday, but not to the point where I would trade in a nice place for something else just because it lacks a dishwasher.  You know what I mean?  I have seen people like that on TV, and I just can't believe how they would react to that.

Dishwasher does help save time.  That, I'm not going to lie.  That is why I really wish the one we have here still works so I won't have to always worry about getting the dishes done when I am already too tired to do it myself.  But I really don't see myself making such a big fuss about not having one in case we really don't get it in our new place.  Like what I said, I grew up not even knowing what a dishwasher is, or that something like that actually even exists, so I know I will be fine.

Done with procrastinating...

Our move out date is getting closer.  We've only got a few more weeks left before they come and pack all of our stuff up.  Though I have started sorting things down in our basement, there are still so much I need to go through.  I am not sure if I have all the time I need, but I must say, I am done with procrastinating now.  I must start getting back into cleaning and putting away things we won't be needing till our move.  My schedule just got so hectic a few weeks back that's why I barely got things done around the house.  Time to get back on track again!

One thing that I am thinking of not letting them pack is, my guitar.  I'm planning on just taking it with us so I still have something to do on my free time.  But looking at how bulky it can be with its stand included, I don't think my husband would allow me to have it left behind.  If only the guitar stand is as small as that affordable clarinet stand I saw online, I probably won't have any problem at all.

I love to play my guitar, and I at least use it once every day.  It's been part of my daily routine - I play gospel songs and I sing along with it.  It's one of my favorite pastime.  But now, I can already tell that I'll just have to deal with not having my guitar with me until we get to our new place, which I don't know how long.  As far as I know, it takes more than a month for your household goods to get shipped to your location.  I do hope it will take no longer than a month.

Anyway, I will still ask if I can keep the guitar.  Its got a case anyway, so I don't think I really need the stand.  But I have to figure out first what stuff do we need to take with us so I can make room for it in the car.  My husband doesn't want us to pack a lot, so I'll have to work with him on this one.  If he says no because we've got no extra room for it, I know he'll mean well.  For now, I'll just have to focus on cleaning.  The rest can follow later.

Thinking of Having a Picnic at The Park

- image not mine -

I have been back on my running routine, and I usually run 2.5 miles every other day, from our house to the park near the lake.  I love going there because the place definitely relaxes me and I get to sit for awhile and spend time alone listening music.  The park has a lot of picnic benches and it has a playground, too - perfect for the kids as well.

My Mama, the kids and I went out for a walk last week, and I took them there.  The weather was up in the 80s, so we took advantage of it.  My mother liked the place, so we came up with a plan on going back there once the temperature gets warmer again, and have a little picnic.  The place is so calm and just perfect for some quality time with the family.

On Tuesday, when I went out for a run, I noticed that they changed the benches' color.  It used to be something brown, and now, it's green - my favorite!  I wonder if anyone could tell me where I could get aluminum bleachers for sale to use on some of our stuff that got destroyed by the flood in our basement a few weeks ago.  I just thought about that when I was there taking a break after my run.  We have a toddler's bed that the paint got ruined, and I think we could use it on that one.

Anyway, I hope we all could do the picnic this week before my mother leaves for California next weekend.  I saw on the weather forecast that we'll be getting nice weather this week, so let's hope for that.  And besides, I hate running when the weather is so cold because it's hard for me to breath!

Hello Again!! And, oh, I dream of a nice vacation!!

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I cannot believe I've been away for over a month now!  There were a lot of stuff that needed to be taken care of, and I couldn't squeeze in time to update this blog.  I feel bad because I never had the intention of being away for this long.  But because our move date is getting closer, more and more things keep popping up.  No kidding, we all could need a nice vacation right now!

And speaking of vacation, I cannot wait for us to move and get the chance to go on a long break with just us.  I know it won't be that easy finding  cheap vacation deals for the 5 of us, but I know, somehow, we'll make it happen.  We all need to get away from the cold, miserable winter, and just being cooped up in the house for months, barely able to do things outside due to the cold weather.  And our next destination is just perfect for us to be able to do lots of outdoor activities.  Not to mention, I'll be a lot closer to home!

I plan on finally taking my family to one of the famous beaches back home.  So, whenever we get settled in, I'll start planning on our dream vacation.  I think we all deserve one.  We haven't been on a vacation before as a family, and what else could be more fun than doing it in my very own country?!

Oh, I absolutely can't wait to go to the beach, enjoy the sun, the delicious food that I haven't eaten in such a long time, and just have fun with my loves!  I definitely am looking forward to a fun-filled summer this year.  It's about time we all enjoy the outdoors more now that the kids have gotten bigger.

What about you?  What do you plan on doing this summer with your family?

We Need More Batteries! (and I mean, LOTS of 'em!)

No joke, we go through batteries a lot like they don't cost a single penny!  It's all because of our boys' battery-operated toys that they play with nonstop.  From their toy trains, cars, to their helicopters, almost every single toy they have now in their room is battery-operated.  The only problem is, they know now when to ask for batteries the moment they noticed their toys slowly running out of it.  And they will not stop asking till you put new ones in and they see them working again.  I think the batteries in their toys, especially the helicopters, get replaced every 2 weeks.  No matter how much we stock up on batteries, we still seem to always run out of them all the time.

- image not mine -

I think it's about time we get them the maha powerex 2700 mah rechargeable batteries so we don't have to always buy them every time we run out.  Since we always use batteries at home anyway, might as well get something that would last us longer.  Rechargeable batteries always come in handy.  I think it's better we start using them so we also avoid piling up used batteries and throw them away since I think they're neither really recyclable or regular trash.  We actually feel guilty that we have so many old ones but we don't exactly know what to do with them.  At least with rechargeable batteries, we will be using the same ones and we don't have to worry about throwing them away every time they'd run out of power.  It will also definitely help save us money.  Buying batteries isn't that cheap at all, just saying.

Well, Hello, March!

What's up, folks?!  It's March already!  I cannot believe how time flies so quickly!  I am also looking forward to this month because my Mama and my sister's kids are coming here to the US for a vacation.  I wish my mother could come and spend time with us again just like when she was here in 2011.  I really would love for her to stay with us even just for a month.

Anyway, speaking of my Mama, I remember her telling me about a few days ago, that the keyboard our church has been using every Sunday, got broken.  I think it was one of the best casio digital piano there is, because my Uncle bought that and donated it to the church 3 years ago.  We don't exactly know what happened, but I just got told that it's not working anymore.  I hope it can still be fixed so that they still have a keyboard they can use during Sunday service.  They church needs it. 

Well, I guess that's all for now.  Just wanted to stop by here.  My kids and I are still sick, so I am trying to get as much rest as I can.  Hope you all stay safe!  Have a great weekend! God bless!

Race for the Cure

Last year, I thought about joining a 5K Race for the Cure just within our area.  It's an annual fundraising event to help every woman with her struggle with breast cancer until they find a cure.  It also helps promotes breast cancer awareness.  All of the money raised will be donated to organizations that provide assistance for breast cancer patients with low-income.  The money will help them with medical assistance such as screening, diagnostic breast health services, and access to treatment.  My mother underwent breast surgery a long time ago, and that's one of the reasons I wanted to join the race.  Thanks be to God, it wasn't malignant, and the surgery cured it!  But, it could have led into something serious, if it wasn't taken care of like it was supposed to.

I still feel sad that I didn't get to join the race.  It was too late when I found out about it.  The registration was over when I went on their website.  I was so looking forward to it, that it broke my heart when I found out there was no way I could join anymore.  My husband told me to look for other race events.  I did, but none like the Race for the Cure.

I wanted to be a part of something small, yet could make a big difference in someone else's life.  I also wanted to earn a shirt, or, if they even have anything like promotional frisbees they give you at the end of the race that had the pink ribbon printed on it with the logo that said, "Race for the Cure.  You know, just something to hold on to and remind me of something most people won't even dare to think about doing for others.  That I can at least tell myself later on in life, I helped made a difference.  I would have loved to wear that shirt around, not to show off, but to let others know I also support the fight against breast cancer.  I think, every woman should.  It is something we must be aware of.  Cancer is no joke!  That's why I have high respect for those who are in constant battle with the disease, and are still staying strong in spite of all the pain they have to endure.

May God bless them!

I know it's not too late for me to feel sad about not being able to make it last year.  I still have plenty of time to do it.  And that's one promise I intend to keep when we come back from my husband's sea duty.  I just don't know if there's anything like this in that place.  If there is, I will look it up and see if I'd be able to join.

I told my husband that if I'll ever join marathon events, I will start from something like the Race for the Cure.  Not only is it better for a beginner like me, I also will get the chance to be a part of an event that is meant to save other people's lives.  To me, that's even better than winning a medal in the end.  To see a smile on the face of even at least one of the breast cancer patients would be more than enough for me, as a prize.

For Souvenir Purposes Only

I already started sorting out things in the basement that we'll probably get rid off.  Until now, I still cannot believe how much stuff my husband owns.  It's like, every time I go downstairs, I always find something new. And we've been here for almost 3 years now!

A few days ago, I was going through his stuff that were in the plastic drawer downstairs, when I found two xikar lighters that were buried underneath a pile of photos and things he bought while he was on deployment.  Well, those were new to me.  I haven't seen them before, and neither do I have any clue why my husband would have something like that.  I looked at the lighters carefully, and noticed that they each has been engraved differently with something that, I believe, has to do with the place where he might have gotten them from.  Regardless, I took both of them and showed him when he got home.  I asked him why he has cigar lighters when he doesn't even smoke.

His initial reaction puzzled me.  The look in his eyes was more of "What's that?", and "Where did you find those?"  I knew it.  He forgot about them, like his other things that he had no idea he had with him all along.  I handed him the items and he told me he got those from a country as souvenir items.  He said, he hasn't seen anything like them before, that's why he bought them.  But, because he went straight to the Philippines to visit me right after that deployment, he had to ship his other stuff back to the States, and he never really went through any them again.  That's why he hardly remembers everything he actually bought.

The lighters were still in their original box when I found them, and they haven't been used.  I asked him what he wanted me to do with them, and he told me it was all up to me.  But, because I know he bought them as souvenir, I decided to put them back where I got them from.  I don't know if he'll be able to find the same ones again, so better yet, hold on to them for now.  I'll let him decide on what to do with them.  After all, those are his stuff.

Just to clarify something, my husband doesn't smoke at all.  Like me, he's also allergic to cigarette smoke.  And honestly, the lighter, especially the gray one, has a really neat design, that's why he bought them.  I think even people who don't smoke would probably get it, like what my husband did - as a souvenir.  I might have done the same thing, too.  I even have bought some things before that I didn't use, haven't used, and will never use.  I did it anyway because I liked the design and their uniqueness.

You wouldn't believe what other things my husband got!  He even bought a bamboo thing that's used to clean your ear, from Japan.  It's still in its packaging, and I doubt he'll even want to do anything with it.  Like the other stuff he bought, he just got it for souvenir purposes only.

The Best Solution I Can Think Of

The big window in our living room either has a crack, or an opening on its side, because it feels like it's leaking air.  We've noticed it during the first winter since we moved in.  No matter how high we turned the heater, the living room stayed cool.  It barely got warm.  My husband was the one who actually suspected that there might be something wrong with either the door or windows, so he checked all of them.  That's when he felt cold air coming in from a small crack on the lower right side of the window.  It's actually the seal that's supposed to trap in cold or hot air inside the house, that cracked open.  I believe he informed the owner of the house, but I don't know if he heard anything back from them.  As a remedy, my husband bought a silicone window caulk, and he sealed the area where he felt the air coming in.  It worked, all right. But, it didn't last that long, so he had to re-apply the caulk every couple of weeks.  No wonder why our electricity bill was high.  We were basically heating the entire block without us knowing it!

I think the best solution would be a complete window replacement.  If we only live within Virginia Beach area, replacement windows virginia beach would be perfect to call for help.  That big glass looks old anyway.  Or, to save the owner some money, he can salvage the glass and just fix the siding to stop air inside the house from going out, and the air outside from coming in.  In that way, it'll save us money as well because we won't have to run the AC all day during summertime, and the heater during winter.

Our lease is already almost over, and we're close to moving out, too.  But that window was never taken care of.  We heard last year that the owners of the house actually plan on doing some renovations, and I think they're just waiting for us to leave before they start the construction.  And we understand why they wanted to wait.  I think they just didn't want us to deal with all the noise and clutter, once they start working on the house.  They also know that we have 3 small kids, so I think, they took that into consideration as well.  So, regardless of them not fixing the window, we're still grateful to them for being such nice landlords.  Oh, did I mention that the owner of this house is my husband's friend?  Yes, they're buddies, and the owner is in the Navy, too.  That's how they met.

We kind of hope we'd be able to at least see how the house would look like after it gets renovated.  But unfortunately, that won't be happening anymore.  And with that being said, I actually have fallen in love with this little house.  It may be is an older house, its got lots of work that needs to be done to it, but all in all, I like living here.  I just like the feel of the entire house - it feels so homey.  And I will definitely miss being here once we move.

The Firefighter Boots

Kade, our second child, can be so funny sometimes.  He's only 2, and he's really talking a lot now.  You'd be amazed on how good he's at when it comes to identifying objects.  The only thing funny about him is, naming footwear.  Whatever he learned from watching their kiddie shows, he associates them pretty much with everything that looks similar to what he has seen.

Take for instance, his Papa's JOE ROCKET BOOTS, he calls them "Firefighter boots".

One afternoon, when my husband got home from doing errands and was taking off his boots (the kids and I were at the table having snack), Kade saw him and said, "Look, those are Papa's Firefighter boots!"  We didn't get what he was talking about, till he said it again, this time, pointing at his father's pair of boots.  The way he said it actually made us laugh.  Not in a making-fun-of-him way, but because it sounded so innocent and cute.  Sometimes, he'd even call his Papa, a Firefighter, just because of those boots.  Anything that looks like boots, to him, they are the same. 

They have watched this episode on Barney, where they took the kids to a fire station to meet Firefighters and learn about their job, and I'm guessing, that's where he got it from.  No matter how many times we sit there and correct him, he'd insist that they are what he calls the Firefighter boots.  We gave up!  (Hehehe)  For now, we'll let him be.  Anyway, he's not saying it wrong.  We know that he'll learn eventually.

For Coin Collectors

My husband is a big coin collector.  But, he collects military coins, especially the ones for the Navy.  He's got a lot that he already needs to get another coin holder to accommodate everything he owns.  Whenever he finds something new, he buys it.  It doesn't matter if he has to put a bid on it and wait till the very last minute to make sure he'll get it, he will sit there and do it.

I wish I could have taken a photo of his coin collection.  Too bad, he already brought them to work a couple of months ago.  He said, he wanted to finally place them where they should have been a long time ago - in his office.  He told me that he isn't the only one collecting military coins at his workplace.  Even his Master Chief does.  And another reason he took them to work was, he wanted to show them to his workmates, so they, too can have an idea on what coins they still don't have, so they can get them.  In return, they also would tell him if they found something new, or they showed him their coins, and if there were any that my husband still doesn't have, they told him where they got theirs from.  Nice way of sharing, eh?

Anyway, when I saw this gold coin, I showed it to him and asked him if it's something he'd be interested in.  He said, the coin looks cool, but it's something that he won't collect himself, unless we have the money for it.  I agree with him.  People who can afford, collect stuff like this.  And, if you happen to know someone who loves collecting coins, they may be able to buy this american eagle gold coin here.  I'm sure, this will be a great addition to their collection.

Because It's Almost Valentine's Day

Have you already thought of what you're getting for your special one on this coming Valentine's Day?  I'm sure you've probably came up with a lot of ideas, but have you decided on what you'll give them? 

This Valentine's Day, I'm not going to lie, finding a perfect gift for my husband has never been this easy!  The minute I thought about getting him something as a present since I never got to give him anything on Christmas, I knew what I will get him.  And, what better way to shop without him ever knowing about it?  Online.  That's why I'm so thankful I came across madisonavemall.com and found this really cute leather passport holder and travel organizer at a price I can afford!

When I saw this organizer, I knew it would be the perfect for him.  My husband will be deployed when we move to his new duty station, and something like this would definitely come in handy for him.  He can also store important cards in it, or even photos of the family, and anything he wants to use it for.  The size is perfect as well.  Not too big, not too small.  Just right for him because I know he cannot take a lot of stuff with him except for the ones he absolutely needs.

I'm pretty sure he has other organizers he's had before, but I haven't seen them and the ones he's using now are way too big.  They're more of a file holder.  I'm sure he will love this!

My initial plan was to actually get him a new wallet.  The walled he has now looks like it badly needs a replacement.  But when I saw this, I changed my mind.  This one is better.  He can actually make use of this more than a wallet.  I'll just have to start saving money again to get him a new wallet.  That's what I'll do then.  Save more so I can buy him another gift, this time, for his birthday.

Kia's Amazing Talent

My cousin, Kia (daughter of my Mama's younger brother), plays electric guitar really good.  I honestly admire her skill when it comes to that.  You see, I play guitar, too, but not as good as she is when it comes to playing rock or alternative music.  She's just so good at it without her even trying.  Anyway, you can see for yourself.  That's why I decided to just post a video of her playing her electric guitar.

 

You've watched the video already?  What can you say?  She's good, isn't she?

Listening to the sound quality of her music, I'm sure she did buy pro tools only that she used along with her guitar.  I mean, those aren't the really cheap musical tools you can find, but are worth your money as far as quality and durability are concerned.  I have watched her other videos, but so far, this one is my favorite.

Kia has a lot of amazing talents, and she's smart, too.  Not to mention how pretty she is as well.  She even did modeling when she was a kid.  I think she only stopped when her family moved to Dubai, where they stayed and studied till she graduated from high school.  Now, she's back in the Philippines and she's attending De La Salle University.  I just don't know what course she's taking up.  I'm pretty sure she told me before, I just forgot.  I will have to ask her again about that. (Hehehe)

Another Marathon Event in June

My husband loves running a lot! Actually, he had joined so many marathon events in the past 8 years, I think. Since I got here in 2009, he already participated in 7 marathon races, 3 of which were almost 200 miles in distance.  The last long-distance race he joined last year along with eleven other Chiefs in the Navy was, a 200-mile relay.  It was a 2-day event that started from one state to another.

You won't believe, but when our youngest was born back in 2011, he was actually doing one of the relays at the time.  Our neighbor, Connie, was the one who drove me to the hospital when my water broke at 5:30 in the morning.  Good thing was, when I called my husband to let him know that I was about to go to the hospital, his team was already within the area, about 20 minutes away, so he was able to make it.  I was taken to the hospital without him, and by the time he got there, I was already in labor.  He was dead tired, but he still made it.  I'd say, he got there just a little past 7 in the morning, and our baby Princess was born two and a half hours later.  That's why, when the race was done and they got one extra medal that was supposed to be for the other runner that didn't finish the whole race, they gave it to our little girl.  Sometimes, we even call her, "The Marathon Baby".  Thanks to the other guy who took over my husband's last leg because he never went back to finish the race with the other guys.  But, he still got his medal because they knew he never meant to not finish it on purpose.  He even jokes around about making his little girl "pay" later on in life, for not letting him finish the entire race.  (Hehehe)

This coming June, my husband will run the same relay again - for the last time while we're here in this state.  As you all know, we're close to PCSing, and he won't be able to do this for the next 3 years.  This relay is actually a popular one and its got a lot of great sponsors, which made me wonder if whether triangle direct also supports events like this.

My husband and his other team members (they made him their team leader) received these really cool medals, and they're like a set you only get to complete if you finished the entire race.  I mean, you won't get the other medals, unless you join the next relay.  I really don't know a lot on how it works.  But, as far as I know, my husband joined two different races to get the medal he's been wanting.

I wish we all could go this time.  He told me how beautiful the view was, and how much he wished we could've been there during those other times he ran the race.  I really want to go and be there at the finish line to show him support, and of course, to cheer him on even at the last few meters.  And, I also want to experience and see for myself how it really goes.  I am thinking of joining marathon events when we come back here.  If only the kids were a little bigger, I would have joined one already.

Oh, well, there's always a perfect timing for everything, right?  I just have to wait.

Got Sidetracked... (for the love of guitar)

Guess what I just found online while I was supposed to "look for stuff for the kids"?!  I know, I know, I did get sidetracked and I admit it.  Hey, can you really blame me?  Guitars are so drawn to me, and every time I see something nice, especially a piece I haven't seen before, my eyes drool. (Hehehe)

Anyway, I'm talking about this exciting fernandes nomad electric guitar that I came across earlier today while looking for some stuff for the kids.  My husband asked me if I can look for a magnetic dry erase board for them because the boys often fight over the only one we have right now.  I did look for it, all right.  But when I heard our little girl playing with their toy drum in their bedroom, my attention got diverted to musical instruments.  But of course, as expected, I went and searched something for me first.  You know, just to kind of "look around" to see if there's something new.

When I saw this guitar, I was kind of like, "What?!  This is new".  And the name pretty much says a lot about it.  Indeed, such an exciting and really cool guitar to own.  If only I can afford one right now, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.  I can imagine myself playing with it and just having a blast!  I bet, a guitar like that can make such a beautiful sound.  But, looking at it, I might just keep it as a collection.  Well, I can play with it once in a while, if I own one.  But, I think I won't be using it as much, so to always keep in good condition.

When I start having my own income, I plan on setting aside a certain amount of money to buy musical instruments, every paycheck.  It's been my dream to introduce music to our kids and actually see them play instruments of their choice.  They can choose.  I won't sit there and force them to learn how to play something that they're not interested in at all.  It will only be a waste of their time.  But I will make sure, these kids will love music.

I know I got sidetracked and totally forgot what I've been asked to do.  I will definitely do it before I go to sleep.  I don't want my butt handed to me, if he found out I didn't do what he asked me to.  (Hehehe)  I will just use the app on my iPad so I can be in bed at the same time while searching for that dry erase board.  Oh, before I forget, I also need to look for toddler briefs (underwear).  I have been putting it off, and it's time to purchase them for our big guy (our oldest, Kai).  I hope I can find a good deal on what I'm looking for.  I don't want to get ripped off this time!

What to Bring...and What "Not" to Bring...

Since the day my husband confirmed that we actually are PCSing (Permanent Change of Station) overseas, there's never been a day that went by where I haven't sat, looked around our house, and thought to myself "What are the things that we can take with us, and what can we leave behind?"

I remember asking my husband this question, and he told me that there might be a limit to what we can take with us.  I think he mentioned about weight.  He said that there's a certain weight allowed for household goods, so we really need to figure out the most important ones to take with us.  With that being said, I honestly am torn in between taking stuff we would love to have with us, and those we absolutely need.  As far as house decor, I really am not worried about them.  I think it's even better if we don't take any of it because, for sure, we'll end up buying stuff when we get there.  I actually want us to start with barely having things in the house, so when it's time for us to come back, we'd only pack the ones we bought while we were there, and we don't have to worry about shipping so many things back home.  I can already see the many good stuff we can buy from there.  But of course, there are certain things that I still would like to take with us, only if we can.

Hubby already said we will take our electronics.  As far as how many of the electronics we have that he plans on taking with us, that, I don't know.  But, I think our TVs are going.  We have 3 televisions at home; one in the living room, one in our bedroom, and the last one, in our boys' room.  If we end up taking all 3, then, we might need a third TV stand.  We only have two right now, that's why I'm hoping we could find flat panel tv stands for sale that are affordable, before we need to pack.  I like the stand, shown in the photo above, for the boys' room.  I like it because we can mount it to the wall, thus, allowing more space for other things that need to go in their room as well.  We have wall mount for their TV, so we can still use that and have it actually rest on something sturdy at the same time.  It will add more support to it.  I still love the idea of having the TV mounted to the wall because it won't be easy for them to pull it down, just in case.  You know how kids can be.  And, prevention is still better than cure.

We really still haven't sat down and talked about this whole "household goods" matter, so I still don't have a lot of ideas as far as what we're taking and what we think we can put in storage for the whole time we're away.  But, here soon, I know we're going to talk about it.  I think he just hasn't brought it up yet because he still got a lot of other more important things to take care of right now.  I guess what I can do is, make my own list of things that we might take and show it to him.  He can just cross out the ones he thinks won't be necessary, and add the ones that are important.  It won't be much, but that will help him somehow.  I hope!

Audio Books: A Better Alternative for Me

For those who have eye problem like me but enjoy reading a lot, there are times when we wish we didn't have to read using our eyes, especially when we're already tired and just want to close our eyes and take a break.  The thing that's stopping us is, we find it hard to put the book down at all.

I love to read, but because of my eye problem, I have hard time reading without feeling dizzy and nauseous after awhile.  I cannot last long like I used to.  It saddens me, of course, but I just have to deal with it now.

I know I can never give up reading, that's for sure!  No matter what, I'll find ways for me to still be able to enjoy good books/novels.  That's why I'm so glad to have found this  free audio books online download.  Indeed, this is a better alternative for those who love to read, but have eyesight problems like I do.  I have a Kindle, but I hardly use it because it hurts my eyes from reading for too long.  At least, with this audio book, I can just download it and listen while it's being read to me.

I'm also glad to know that I can play this with any MP3 player!  But, I'm not sure if I can download it to an iPod.  I still have to try it out.  If it works, I would love to get this Living With Honor book as my first ever audio book.  Being married to an active duty service member, this will help me understand more what it's like being in the  military, from their side of the story.  I'm sure this will open my eyes to a lot of things about the real life of soldiers who already had put their lives on the line, and survived it.

Another reason that I want to read this book is, I just don't want to be called a "Military Wife" only because I am married to a service member.  I want to be that Military Wife that I know my husband can be proud of at the same time.  I want to learn things as well, understand the military better, and know the necessary things I need to do without being told most of the time.  I need to, especially that on his next duty station, he'll be gone most of the time due to deployment.  If I don't know what really is going on, then, how am I suppose to understand him?  How am I suppose to stay strong for the family?  I will have nobody but myself to really rely on while he's away.  That's why I'm into educating myself more and more about the life that we have being a military family, because I know that this definitely will help me in the long run.

What about you?  Would you even consider reading a book like this even if you're not a member of a military family?

Backyard Playset That's Perfect for the Kids

Yesterday, while we were having breakfast, I asked my husband if there is a naval base in Richmond, Virginia. He said yes, and that there are other military bases in some places there, too.  Then, he asked me why.

I told him that I was wondering if there was any possibility he could have been assigned there.  He answered yes, but he told me it's the very last place he would want to be assigned in for 3 years.  And he asked me why I was asking such questions.  I told him that I was just curious, which was true.  But also, I was wondering at the same time, if we actually were to get stationed in Virgina, would there be any way we could have placed a playset for the kids in the backyard?  I found these really cool playsets richmond va, and I couldn't stop wishing we could get one for the kids.

Well, I was told that even if we can afford, there's no way we could fit something that big in the backyard, that is, if we chose to live in Navy housing.  And living off base would even be impossible because we're not going to buy a house.  We'd still be renting.  And I agree, it won't be a wise idea to have something like that installed and removed after 3 years.  Another one of those sad reality we need to deal with while we're still moving from one place to another after every end of his duty station.

Anyway, I still am not losing hope that one day, we'd be able to get one for the kids.  My husband told me that after his overseas duty station, he can choose where he can go next.  That it will be up to him where he'd want to be stationed at.  I hope by then, we already have decided on whether to buy a house, or still rent.  If we end up buying a house, then, we can go from there.

I saved two of the playset photos which I liked the most.  And, here they are:

This one's cute because it has swing for the little ones as well

I like this one because it's perfect for older kids

I am sure the kids would love a playset like this in the backyard.  We won't have to take them to the park all the time if they want to play outside because the playset pretty much has everything.  They might not even want to go anywhere else, if they got one of this.  

Well, I'm sure it's pricey.  But if we can afford later on, why not get it for the kids, right?  I'm sure they're worth it.  But like what I said, it's not going to happen till we get a house first.  I cannot imagine having to move out and we've got a huge playset we need to worry about as well.  This type of thing is only good for those who already have a place of their own.  And, will be, too, for us - here soon.

One Thing that Keeps Them Busy

Our boys' room has its own TV mounted on the wall.  It's a gift that their Papa bought for them last year.  Our kids love to watch kiddie shows, but we do make sure they only watch the educational ones.  When I have stuff to do around the house, this keeps them busy in their room.  Then, I let them play in the living room once I am done with my chores.

I love the idea of mounting the TV on the wall because it keeps it out of their reach, especially the little girl.  She's into pushing buttons now, and I'm sure she'd definitely enjoy messing with the TV every time she'd get her little fingers on it.  And it gives them  more space in their room to play around since we didn't need to put a TV stand for it anymore.  Thanks for inventing TV mount!

Well, we thought at first we weren't going to be able to mount the TV on to the wall because he thought we lost some screws and  gripper from when we moved.  He said, there was no way he was going to use other screws that weren't supposed to be used for the mount because it wouldn't be safe for the kids.  And I agreed.  Thank heavens, we found the right ones just when we were about to lose hope.  I helped him mount the TV, and I put the shelf for the kids' DVDs and the player.

Now, the kids love being able to watch TV and play in their room at the same time.  We also got them the Roku, where they can watch kiddie shows on Netflix.  They can watch from Barney to Thomas and Friends, and more.  But don't worry, we don't let them watch all the time, just for your information.

And we cannot be more thankful for this!  From watching kiddie shows, our kids learned their ABC, how to count, identify colors, shapes, animals, objects, vehicles, and a lot more.  And believe it or not, our oldest learned how to say words in Spanish!  He mastered ABC even before he turned 2.  Now, at 3 years old, you'd be surprised at how much this little dude already knows.  And of course, the two little ones are doing good as well.  Our 2-year-old son can recite ABC very well, count, identify colors, shapes, and a lot more things.  The little Princess can even say words now, count from 1-3, then, 5-10.  Yes, she skips 4, but she'll say it if you tell her to.  It's so cute!  All 3 little monsters even learned more words from the shows they watch.  We talk to them as well, and the shows are just another big help.  They always surprise us with little things almost every day.

To those who say, don't let your kids watch too much TV in a day, I don't think you're wrong, but at the same time, I cannot agree on it a 100%.  I think it all depends on what type of shows you let them watch, and how well you supervise your kids.  We must admit, that nowadays, there are new stuff that we don't know yet, and TV (kiddie shows) can help.  As long as they're meant for their age and that they're educational, I don't think they'll harm your kids.  Like what I said, as long as you monitor what they watch and for how long, I think they'll be all right.  I'd rather have my kids watch shows like Barney, Dora, Thomas and Friends, than introduce them to video games and stuff just to get them occupied.

And just for another FYI, we give time for our kids.  I think being a parent isn't something you need to do "by the book".  Kids are different.  And with that being said, they have different needs and ways of learning things.  As long as we keep on showing them the right things to do and guiding them, then, nobody can tel you your parenting isn't right.  After all, when kids are still small, all they really need is to know they're loved, taken care of, appreciated, and accepted.