Our night without JoAnn

On Thursday Daniel and I left JoAnn with a neighbor and had a night out. His buddy, Kirk, gave him two tickets to game 2 of the UAAP finals. Sounds interesting right...well, Ateneo was playing De La Salle, their rivals and the finals are the best two out of three. Ateneo won the first game, meaning if they won the second game they won it all. So it was a big game for them and Daniel was so excited that Kirk had the chance to be a part of it. Right before we left, I got a lecture from Daniel about how I needed to wear something that showed I was chearing for Ateneo. I told him I was sure it really wasn't that big of a deal, but would wear it if it made him feel better. By the time we got to our seats, I was so glad Daniel had me change. It turns out that Kirk's parents had him offer his two really good tickets meant for them to someone else and he gave those to Daniel. We were literally first row right behind the Ateneo bench.
The view from our seats....
The game was a pretty intense game and Ateneo ended up winning. We had a lot of fun. I tried to get a video of the end on my camera, so I could show people what it sounds like to be at the game, but the sound quality on my camera isn't the greatest and it just sounds like static. These games are so loud its crazy.

After the game we went for our Taco Bell dinner and headed home. This arena is a pretty good distance from where we live, so in order to get there we always take the train and on the way back we realized that the walk from the train station to our car was going to be interesting. I guess we haven't gotten used to the rain here yet. Sometime during the game the typhoon that was in the area brought a lot of rain and it was pouring by the time we got back. Of course neither of us brought an umbrella since it was sunny and clear when we left. Usually I wouldn't even think twice, but there is no parking at the train station, so we had to park probably 1/2 mile away. We got soaked by the time we got to our car. Then to make it worse, our car's windshield wippers don't work and the roads were really flooded. It was quite an interesting trip home, but we had a great time going out by ourselves.

Maraming Pictures

That's Tagalog for many pictures and that is exactly what this post is full of. Daniel's parents just left last night to go back home after spending 10 days here with us. It was so much fun and so many things happened, I don't even know where to start and I am sure I am going to leave many stories out. They arrived early Wednesday morning and we spent Wednesday through Sunday catching up, playing with JoAnn, checking out the Arthur Center, visiting Tanza (one of the other places where the food from the shipment is being used) and Daniel and his dad were also able to check out the golf course across the street from where we live.

This was from when we went to Tanza. We had to cross a stream/mini river in order to get to where the church is located. Here is how it went for Dad...
Getting started...

Halfway there....

Wait, I'm missing something...

Fortunately, we had an extra pair of sandals in the car since Daniel had his sandals completely fall apart the last time he was there and we were going to return the pair he borrowed. It seems like Tanza is just not a good place for sandals.

Sunday after church, we showed Daniel's parents one of our favorite places in the Philippines...Boracay. It is a beautiful little island in central Philippines with the prettiest white sand beaches. We had a great time soaking in the sun, eating all we could eat at the breakfast and dinner buffets, golfing (well not JoAnn and I), playing in the sand/ocean and hanging out at the pool. JoAnn absolutely LOVED the ocean and the pool. Starting from the airport waiting to leave here are a few pictures of our time there.

She absolutely hated wearing the hat.
And I think she thought the sand tasted good.

Checking out the waves with Daniel.


JoAnn figured out how to use a straw for the first time while we were there. It really made life much easier not having to bring a sippy cup everytime we went somewhere.
When the guys weren't off playing golf one morning, Mom and I managed to sneek away and get our nails done. The pedicure wasn't really the brightest idea though since as soon as you step out of the shop you are walking on sand, but it was still fun.
Notice I am standing one step below Mom and I am still the same height. : )

Here are a few more random pictures.


As always it was a great time that went by way too fast. We loved having them here and JoAnn loved having some more time to spend with Grandma and Grandpa.

Random tidbits for the week

So, I really meant to be better about putting stories and pictures up than I am right now. The only reason I say that is because I already forget some of the stories behind these pictures, but I will do my best to accurately tell them.

Our neighbors right now are remodeling their place and let's just say they are not making friends very well with the parents of small children that live near them. They just finished week 3 of ripping out old tile and/or cement and the noise is so loud. I have to admit that sometime last week I was totally convicted of my attitude towards them. I kept getting so frustrated that JoAnn can't sleep with all the noise that I forgot I should be thankful that we have such a nice place. In all seriousness running water, electricity and a ceiling that doesn't leak is considered luxury for many people in the world and I shouldn't take it for granted. Back to the story, since JoAnn can't really sleep with all the noise, every time we go somewhere during nap time she comes with us and sleeps in the car and/or stroller. I forget which day it was but Daniel and I went somewhere during JoAnn's afternoon nap and she feel asleep in the car. So when we got back I asked Daniel to just lay her in her crib and see if she could sleep a little longer. When I went to go get her up later I noticed Daniel had forgotten to take her shoes off. I think I thought it was even more funny that it happened to be her favorite pair, the Crocs.


One of the many nice side effects of a sleep deprived one year old is that they just don't eat well. So, instead of fighting with her to get her to eat, I have been letting her drink her bottle while she plays. Again, I don't remember which night it was, but instead of playing JoAnn decided it would be fun to sit underneath the table in a place where we couldn't get to her without moving the table or the highchair and drink her bottle. Weird, I know.

Last strange picture...
She woke up really early the other morning and wouldn't go back to sleep unless she laid on the couch with Daniel. I guess she was really tired because he got up without her noticing and somehow she ended up sleeping like this. I would think that would hurt your back.