Schools and all...

This couple of weeks have been preoccupied with everything that has to do with school. I can't believe how much time I have spent on worrying about "Kindergarten" this week. I know I shouldn't be but then at the same time I can't help it. I am just not too familiar with so many things here specially when it comes to school and stuff related to it but then I feel like I should at least do my best to find a good school for Joshua.

We have already decided long time ago that we will send him to a Catholic school however our problem is getting him into one. Although we are registered with the parish we are barely making it to their cutoff which is at least 5 years of membership but still even if we did, we are still third in the priority list. To make matters worse, there are already 21 occupied seats out of the 30 spots and so there are only 9 spots available for all of us hopefuls. We have another option but then still we are looking at the same issues and so at this point, I am just really being hopeful. The public school is another option but really I want to send him to a Catholic school for mainly faith reasons.

Already now, I am faced with his everyday philosophical questions and can barely answer those. Like, the other day he said... Mama, God made us all and He made us all beautiful, then he followed it up with, Mama, who made God? Who is his mom and dad? Where does he live? and all of those happy stuff... and so again here I am not knowing how to approach his questions and how to answer them. It bothers me and it makes me sad that all of these times I thought I had a pretty good handle of my understanding of my religion but when it comes to a four year old, I am dumfounded!

Five years and counting!

Well, how about that - we've passed the five year milestone and it feels great to be at this point. Nothing makes me happier than to be with my family and everyday I Thank God for blessing me with such a wonderful one...

and to my dear Pat, Thank you for taking this journey with me... but wait we're not yet done for there's more to come ... Mahal Kita!

Aw!

My kickboxing buddy, as you can see he also punches like a girl... :)

Thanks!

To our wonderful friends and families...

http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/tQ9EB8hy

One step closer...

I am proud to say I am just one step closer to becoming an American citizen. I passed my interview today and answered all civics test correctly - yipee! I still couldn't fully celebrate though since although I am done with all the interviews, I still am not a citizen since I haven't taken the oath yet. They could schedule me in the next 3 weeks or so, however, since I am leaving in March, the officer was kind enough and scheduled me until after I come back instead. That is because once I get the citizenship, I will have to give up my Philippine passport then apply for the US passport which could take another 3 weeks thus making it impossible for me to travel by the first week of March for my sisters wedding.

Anyway, with all that said and done - I am still rejoicing and proud to say that I am just one step closer to becoming an American citizen!

I don't normally post my picture - but hey I am really happy so why not!

...the celebratory picture - just to annoy Pat!

The making...

of our first ever snowman!

now, that's a better one compared to the one I made earlier...

Finally, I have a picturesque view of our house with a winter setting...

Joshua and his reindeers...

For Aunt Janet

Oh how we wish you were here! We had about two inches of snow today and it is still packing. Joshua had tons of fun playing outside and would really love it if we had company. Pat is at work and so it's just him and me. The neighbors joined us for a while but they all went back in their house and got cozy. Joshua and I played out for much longer until he got really cold...

feeling the chill by now...

at our backyard, we can't wait for Pat to get home so we can play some more back there...

Joshua and the neighbors playing at the cul de sac

the tiny snowman we made, the snow is not packing too well either that or I just don't have the know-how on making a snowman...

Budding Artist

After weeks of no interest in drawing, Joshua today revamp his fondness of drawing - and this is what he came up with...

Noah!


Truck on a screeching halt, thus the ERP!

Weather Pandemonium

Nah, our weather here is not really that extreme just thought I'd call it that way since that is what most people are describing it here...he he he.

Here's Joshua enjoying a little bit of the snow flurries yesterday.


Although yes, It has been pretty cold here in Oregon the last days. This morning we are at 23F but we're suppose to warm up to 37F over the weekend. So, we have been maximizing the use of our fireplace and mind you I do start the fire on my own now too. The first time I did it, I forgot to open the flue and so our house was pretty smoky for a while. I am better everytime, just need to take it easy on the use of newspaper to start the fire. Pat calls my fire, newspaper burning fireplace and not wood - he he he.



Joshua taking a little nap by the fireplace! Ah cozy!

Civics anyone?

Well as most of you know, I have been preparing for my upcoming citizenship interview. The interview would be mostly a civics test both written and oral. So, for those who might be interested on what type of questions they ask...here's a sample!

http://www.factmonster.com/quizzes/citizenship1/1.html

I'm hoping I do pass and become an American citizen finally!

Holy New Comet Batman!

Strange things are afoot at the Circle K

Ahhh... The Best Empty Net Goal EVER!

Snatched from the jaws of victory!

The Name

...courtesy of Mom.

"During Jesus' time, Jewish people had only a first name, not a last name. A person would be distinguished from others with the same name by identifying the town they lived in. So, Jesus became "Jesus of Nazareth."

If several men in Nazareth were named Jesus, they were further distinguished by identifying their father. Thus, Jesus would be called, "Jesus, son of Joseph".

The word "christ" is not part of Jesus' name.

"Anointed" was a title used for a person specially chosen and blessed by God. The aramaic word for "anointed" is messiah. The Greek word is christos.

Since the gospels were written in Greek, it is the Greek form that has come down to us" Jesus Christ ("Jesus the Anointed One")."

~Thanks for the insight Mom!

Worst... ice cream... ever.

You know you have a problem when a 4 year-old says "Dad, when I'm done with my ice cream, can I have a 'Go-Gurt'"? Me - "Uh, OK, let me know when you're done". The boy - "I'm done". He ate exactly one spoonful. The worst part about it that the ice cream ruined a few spoonfuls of our precious, hard to come by, supply of Sanders Hot Fudge. You could just hear the fudge complaining about the insult upon which it was perched atop.

You can bet the food ol' boys at "Breyer's Ice Cream" are going to get a letter from me on this one. Yoplait: 1 Unilever: 0! My sincere apoloies to the good people at Sanders for my wasting ~4 tbls of their delicious goo.

-P

Fjuckby it!

This is an Interesting Predicatment!
Thank goodness it's Banned!
Nuthin' like toilet humor For Mom...

Another for Mom. The "Meest" is right up your alley :)