WS #7: Giddyap

We had a very late lunch yesterday, say 3pm? :D We found ourselves at Gattiland again (the second time in a period of one month!) in the hope that by doing so, Abby won't want to go to Sea World anymore later today, Sunday. Well, what were we thinking?! Of course she'd still want to go to Sea World, specially since she knows that Dora and Boots will be there (I'll post pics in next week's WS).

After stuffing ourselves silly with pasta, pizza and salad, we were off to the arcade section of Gattiland where Abby...well, all of us!...had loads of fun. My favorite shots were of Abby on a horse in a mini carousel. Even before she turned a year old, she has always loved riding carousels. And she still does to this time!



A smile like this just melts my heart. :)


"Bleh" - Abby can be a total goofball. Her Dad was making faces at her to make her smile. Well, this is what hubby got out of Abby.



Now we're talking! Abby thought her Dad was going to tickle her. :)



*sigh* How my daughter has grown! It used to be that Hubby or I would stand next no her next to her on carousel rides.


The ride is over. This was actually her second already. Hee hee.

I still find it difficult to take pics in poorly lit surroundings. Sorry for the less than good quality of pics. :D I hope to get better over time. But for now, please bear with me. Hee hee! :D You have to admit though, that I got quality smiles! :P Hahaha!

Have a great week, everyone! :) Please do check out my other entry. More of Weekend Snapshot here.

WS #6: Remember Me?

"Remember Me" is my first encounter with Sophie Kinsella, famed author of the Shopaholic series. I didn't have second thoughts about buying this because I knew for a fact that the Shopaholic books are certified bestsellers. This book kept me company on the very late nights of (Good) Friday and (Black)Saturday before Easter. I did finish the book in two nights, not counting the few minutes I was able to steal while inside a moving car.

Unfortunately, the book didn't quite excite me as I hoped and thought it would. I could hardly be considered a book critic because my reading repertoire during my younger years were limited to romance novels...and of late, children's book, cookbooks and a few metaphysical ones. Hee hee! But I do think I know my way around romances. I specially like them to give me tickles, goosebumps, butterflies in my stomach and everything else associated with sappy love stories. Hee hee!

While I did manage to finish the book in two sittings, it was out of an urgent need to get it over and done with and to get myself out of my misery as quickly as possible. Next time, I'll probably just stick to the best sellers...at least, where Sophie is concerned.

Have a great week, everyone! Oh yeah, I have another WS entry here. :)

WS #5: Easter

Happy Easter!!! And have I got a lot of photos for this week's Weekend Snapshot/s! :D

Saturday, 08 March 2008

We were at the mall by 9am on 08 March, Saturday, so my daughter, Abby, can participate in the Easter activities organized by the mall's Kidgits Club. Compared to the last holiday-themed activity at the mall, which was Christmas, there were fewer kids that particular Saturday morning. I guess the lure of Santa is far stronger than that of the Easter Bunny. ;) But the organizers did make sure that the morning's activities were well worth getting up early for.



This is a hanging ornament that Abby made that Saturday. I love the mosaic-ish effect of this handmade craft. :D It's a small plastic plate onto which Abby glued pieces of colored paper. And just in case you were wondering, we didn't have anything to do with the egg drawings on the plate, which were cute anyway. :)



Abby is very serious with her art activites, as you can very well see.




And here she is, proud of her finished work. I had to remind her so many times that she has to wait for the glue to dry.



As expected, the Easter Bunny was present and gave every child an opportunity to have a photo taken with him. I'm so glad Abby has overcome her fear of mascots. ;)

Like in December, the kids were treated to a light breakfast by Chick-fil-A. :) Goody bags were also handed out to the kids and the moms. Not bad, ei?


Saturday, 15 March 08

The very next Saturday at 11am, we were yet in another Easter activity...bigger and a lot more fun. Our subdivision's social community organized an Easter Egg Hunt at the main park. There were giant inflatables, which a lot of the kids enjoyed to the max, and free Culver's Ice Cream for everyone!

Colorful eggs sprouted everywhere...all of which had a treat or special prize inside.

I spotted an egg-bearing tree. Hee hee!

And Abby happily picked that blue egg from the tree. ;)

Here she is with her loots. The egg hunt started at 11:30am and was over in less than two minutes, believe it or not! :D

Abby posses with the Easter Bunny, yet again. :D

From Thursday last week until the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening, we were able to focus on the more meaningful aspect of Easter, which I shared here.

My other entry's up, too! You'll find it here. I'm excited to see what the other participants posted this week. So come and join me as I hop on here for more of Weekend Snapshot. Have a great week, everyone! :D

WS #4: Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

Last Saturday, 15 March 2008, we spent the afternoon at the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, supposed to be the most visited safari park in Texas. This trip to San Antonio gave my family a wonderful chance to see so many beautiful animals at very close range, and from the comforts of our car at that. Opportunities to take photos seemed to present themselves one after another. It was hard not to stop every minute to take a picture of every goat, every dear...every single one of them! :)

I love the color of this group. They reminded me so much of, er, tiramisu. :)

Some of the animals went about their business in groups. While some, preferred to be left by their lonesome.

Others preferred to eat the grass instead of the feeds that visitors so excitedly offer them.

A few of them seem so used to being the center of attention.

And some were just too willing to have their close-up taken. :)

This giraffe definitely knows how to work the camera. She looks a little flirty here if you ask me. ;)

This safari trip was a first for us and Abby is obviously very thrilled. :)

Click here for more of Weekend Snapshot/s.

Have a great week, everyone!

WS #3: Gearing Up for the World Cup

I love the fact that we live just a very short drive away from a really nice park. On the last Saturday of February, we took advantage of a fine sunny afternoon and spent a few hours in the park. The wind was a bit chilly but something we welcomed just the same. :D

Abby has the most fun on days such as this. She gets to run, play, run, play...and run and play some more. :)


We didn't forget to bring one of Abby's favorite balls. This was a gift to her by our half-Filipina, half-German friend Ninna, when we went to Germany in February 2006. It's a replica of the official 2006 World Cup ball.


Hubby and I wish for Abby to love sports. And I do have reason to believe that unlike me, she will grow up to be athletic.

Like every kid her age, Abby is a ball of energy. As much as possible, we provide her with

opportunities to release some of it. Hahaha! :D Going to the park is best because one, we can all benefit from the fresh air and two, it's F-R-E-E. ;)

In exchange for a smile like this, we won't mind bringing Abby to the park every chance we get. That's a fair deal, don't you think?

oOo

I have another WS entry at Cafe Munchkin. Do visit other Weekend Snapshot participants here. Better yet, why not join in the fun?! :)

Have a great week, y'all!

WS #2 - R & R at Brushy Creek Lake Park

Two weeks ago, we spent the afternoon at Brushy Creek Lake Park.

We brought our trusty mats, toys for Abby, books and magazines that were left unread, and of course, food!

Abby and I kicked off our shoes. She, to play on the sand...

...and I, to lay down under the shade of a tree.

At first, I had my legs crossed at the ankles...

...but out of habit, I couldn't resist crossing them at the knees like so. :D

Ahhhh, this is the life...and so thought my left foot. :D

And to prove that we brought food, I posted another WS entry here. :)

Have a great and richly blessed new week, y'all! :D

ps: Check out the pics from other WS participants here.

WS#1: Madonna and Grandchild

The very first weekend after my Mom arrived in Austin for a vacation with us, we drove off to Dallas for some R & R. On 29 December, Saturday, we spent a few hours at the Dallas Arboretum. There's no better way to relax than to be one with nature. Plus, I kinda had a hidden agenda...I wanted to play with my new toy, and take pictures of flowers. Hee hee!

As luck would have it, there weren't too many flowers to take pictures of because it's, er, winter. My bad. You can't really blame me for not knowing these things because I was born and raised in the Philippines, a tropical country (Excuses, excuses!). All was not last though. In the absence of more gorgeous flora, I was able to focus more on my loved ones and some of my favorite pics, were those I took of my Mom and Abby. :D So, without further I ado, I present to you a series of photos of the two women in my life having a conversation in the park and which I am aptly calling: Madonna and Granchild. ;)















I have many more photos of Abby and her Mimi, which will surely find their way to this site soon.


Note: This is my first entry to Weekend Snapshot. You can check-out other entries here.