There was an ad for a camping workshop for kids at a camping site a few places from our house and it had an option for parents to stay in, but a different location from where the kids will go camping. The eureka tents were going to be provided for by the authorities, we were only encouraged to bring pillows and blankets if we have preferences on the number of pillows we usually sleep with and if it gets too cold for the kids at night.

When I broached the idea to the kids, they were at first excited but then got scared. They are going to be camping out in open ground and my kids are deathly afraid of bugs!

We are now free these days so they are going to start their swimming lessons tomorrow. My eldest really wants to learn to play the guitar so bad that we are really looking for a music center to enroll him in. My daughter, on the other hand, often sings karaoke with a telefunken mic that I am thinking if voice lessons is in order for her!

We also need to buy flashlights as we sometimes go home late at night when we go to my parents’ place. Since the husband is in the city for work, we just walk home. A big flashlight should be enough for us but the little girl would insist she have one as well.

Home meaning OUR own house – and not the place where we have stayed (and are staying) for close to a month already.

Ive been pampered and spoiled and helped a TON but now Im striving for my old schedule, my own pace, my own space, and well, my kids are getting spoiled rotten and I need to do an intervention soon.

So Im going to slowly pack all our knick knacks today.
And hope the kids wont throw a fit when they learn we are going back to Dagatan.

No more nicey grandparents to spoil them rotten, eh?

We were out in the patio waiting for the Big Brother to come home from his art lesson in school. I was taking pictures of the different flowers in our garden when Martha went inside the house. Minutes later, she was calling my name and all I was doing was say, “Yes Bei?” over and over (was trying to get some bokeh on my flower shots).

Bam.
She cried.

And when I checked, our screen door was locked. So I tried to remain calm and instructed her to open the screen door. She reacted by telling me “Mommy other one lang, li lang ha?” (meaning the back door to the dirty kitchen). I always keep it locked din.

So she cried for 30 minutes. I was about to really tear a hole in the screen when the Big Brother came up with a BRILLIANT idea.

Paunahan sila magbukas ng pinto. Mabilis pa sa alas-kwatro bukas na ang pinto. Haaaaay.

Martha has this habit of closing doors and locking them. If she sees a door that is open, she makes sure to close them. And so she did today. Ill make sure to have the lock get raised up a bit so she wouldnt be able to play with it anymore.

Kataranta. This is going to make my skin have a breakout due to stress Id need acne products already!!!

So what is the plan? We want four or five. But the Baby Number Three will appear when Martha is four or five and then Baby Four and Five just a year after (But who am I to make plans. I just hope I wont get preggo anytime within the next TWO years hahaha!)

They havent been able to go swimming ever since summer started because we were so busy with the house move and stuff. Tomorrow, we will be taking them for a swim at their cousins’ place and I really hope they have fun. I still need to buy the Matthew a pair of boardshorts and Martha her new swimsuit. I hope I can take some nice pictures to scrap about afterwards. The husband is going to use the SLR for a week so no picture taking for me. Boo.

Safe house.
Clean house.

What next?

Today, we went to three prospective schools for my eldest. One school really stood out to me. The building, church, gymnasium, classrooms and bathrooms were mighty impressive. The one thing that drew me back was the summer program all new students need to go through next month. My son hasnt even enjoyed his summer vacation yet! The other school is not so impressive but the boy wanted it. The last one was OK – given that I wanted there first. I still need to consult with the husband how we go with that stage of the house move.

The ABCs of Toilet Training:
A. Assess your child’s readiness — and your own
B. Buy the right equipment
C. Create a routine
D. Demonstrate for your child
E. Explain the process
F. Foster the habit
G. Grab some training pants
H. Handle setbacks gracefully
I. Introduce night training
J. Jump for joy — you’re done!

Right now, I think she is ready for it. She tells me when she pees and when she wants to do the number two, she now sits. Well, anywhere – but she is sitting. She even tells me to change her diaper after she is done peeing because she cant stand it. Same after she does the poo. She is also curious of what I do in the bathroom too. She says, “WiWi” when she sees me sitting on the toilet. I need to get a potty training set soon. The list has been endless with a toddler. Her knowledge has been tripling and it has been both hard and fun to try to catch up.