What's in my bag

There's noting unusual or extraordinary inside my bag.  I'm just joining the BC Blogger's Meme for this week.  This time we are given a chance to peek what's inside everyone's bag.  Join the fun and share the stuffs inside your bag - don't forget to take pictures.  Link your post to Cat's blog who is hosting our Meme topic for this week.

This is my big bag.  I got this bag when a friend of mine decided to have a garage sale of some of her stuffs to raise funds.  I love to use this going out with my children because I can put more things inside it. Normally, this bag will contain diapers, wet tissues and clothes for our 6month old son.  My other children would to bring their own bag so their clothes and toys will be on their bag.  I also bring my shawl.  I received this shawl last Christmas from a Filipino-Chinese friend.  This shawl was very useful (haven't thought it would be) to discretely breastfeed when we go out.

Homeschooling: First Week

We officially started our first day of homeschooling last Monday, August 13, 2012. We were able to get through for the whole week.  Cheers!  I am so excited to share this news.  My fears and doubts are starting to disappear.

Here are some of the doubts that I was able to answer as we take our homeschooling journey.

A day worth remembering

Today is worth remembering because the 15th day of August officially marks the end of the World War 2 in 1945.  You might be wondering, why in the world would I care to now this part of the history?  I would mark this date because it’s my birth date. Here are some of the famous personalities born on August 15, Napoleon Bonaparte is a great French leader (1769-1821).  Today is the 100th birthday of Julia Child if she is still living.  She was known as the famous TV chef and author of cook books.  Today is also Ben Affleck's birthday!

Countries that I wish to visit

Even though we experienced heavy rains this past few days, I am glad that we do not experience flood and comfortably safe in our home.  My prayers are for those who have been seriously affected that they can cope up with the situation.  

Travelling is really one of my interests.  I know it is hard to go out when it is rainy and most of all couldn't really go out with a storm signal.  As I was saying earlier, I am still comfortable here at the house having not much to do the reason why I am joining the BC Bloggers Meme.  This week's topic is "5 countries you want to visit before you retire".  It's about my wishlist of places to travel so I will not miss this post!

Setting up a school at home

We learned about homeschooling last 2008, and JC was only 5months that time.  It really caught our attention and we said to ourselves we are going to homeschool our children.  One of our main reason is we want to be the main influence in their lives.

JC is now four years old and he needs a proper education.  We've thought ten times if we are going to homeschool or not.  Then we've come up to a decision and pursue homeshooling.

Here's how we started:

First, we have to find a curriculum.  We choose to get the curriculum at Living Heritage Academy under the Philippine Christian School of Tomorrow also known as SOT.   We searched the info on the website and communicated with them.  We learned that he needs to have a diagnostic exam.  This exam will determine if a child is ready to take the program and to assess also of what level a student will take based on the result.

JC's diagnostic exam

A day in my not so boring life

This post is in participation with BC Bloggers Meme.  Yuuki is hosting it this time.  Go and visit her post and link up.

I think most people would say I have a not so enjoyable life because I am a stay at home mom.  Anyways, I would like to share what I typically do every day.

Most of the time, I wake up late in the morning.  I regularly start my day at 8am at times I extend my sleep till 9am because I'm breastfeeding our baby boy causing me fall asleep again.  I would whisper a prayer entrusting the Lord for the whole day ahead.  When it's my laundry day, I try to get up at 7am so all the children are still sleeping and I can finish the laundry before lunch.

My husband and I would usually eat pandesal with Kopiko Brown a perfect match for breakfast while the children will have their milk and cereals.  I will start cleaning up some mess in the house.  I'm glad that my Partner would help me with the household chores and taking care of the children.  Then it will be baby's bath time afterwards JC and Eu-La.  It takes time to keep on encouraging them to go to the bathroom for their daily hygiene.  Most of the time we wrestle!

Gifts and Giveaways with a Personal Touch

I choose to make personalized items as giveaways and gifts to people dear in my heart.  It is my way of expressing how I appreciate them.  Every craft I make is a labor of love and hoping that they too will feel the emotion as they receive it.

In all occasions, I take time of personally making the giveaways.  During our wedding, our giveaways were bottles with cork cover, I decorated it with rainbow curled ribbons and white flowers, I also put our photo which was printed in a sticker paper and then filled the bottle jars with cookies.