It was May last year when we last visited the Manila Ocean Park. Yesterday, we visited the place again and nothing much has changed. Well, Mikee hasn’t changed as she was still afraid of big fishes there. She was ok with any fish that’s smaller than her hand like the ones in the dark room. She panicked when she saw something that was bigger than her arm.

The only time Mikee wasn’t cranky was when she was playing and when she was eating ice cream.

Oh, yes, let me correct myself, there were some changes as there are now open food chains around. And that the only way to exit was to enter the souvenir shop. Tricky huh? Well, you won’t find anything fancy like Victorinox Swiss Army watches, just the usual stuff. Nothing that I haven’t seen from our last visit.

Nevertheless, we enjoyed spending time together.

First off, I’m so thankful that the three elves are back here. Good way to start the year, right?

Second, hubby started picking up Candice once in a while. In fact, I like most of his shots better than mine.

Third, if you believe in that “whatever you do on the first day of the year, you will be doing the entire year” saying, well, I guess we did great! We spent time with family and friends yesterday.

Geez, I have so much entry on my journal about the activities done yesterday but only 3 things I can write online. [wink][wink]

2009 is another great year, huh?

So where are the scrap pages? I know!!!

My planned paparazzi role went well yesterday. I was able to take pictures of relatives who attended the get-together. Well, there were some who were not willing to have their pictures taken and I respected their wish.

There was one shot though that I missed taking. It’s the hit-the-pot game. I was positioned at the right place, few feet away in front of the pot. But I was too afraid that bits and pieces would hit Mikee. So I stopped shooting. And there I saw the perfect shot. Good thing though that I didn’t shoot because a piece went hurling towards the spot where I was supposed to shoot, which would have hit the camera. Whew!

Anyway, I better get going and review some of these car insurance quotes that hubby gave me. Oh btw, yes, the mamarazzi in me took tons and tons of pictures of the little girl. What else is new?

Hubby realized that we weren’t able to have a family picture taken during my sister’s wedding. So he was cooperative enough for this one.

Btw, tomorrow is another get-together party. I’ve downloaded / backed up all pictures from the micro sd card to make room for loads of photos tomorrow. I’m planning to take pictures of the whole of hubby’s clan. I pray hard that I’d be able to capture candid shots of family fun. Wish me luck!

I have not made any layout yet even if it has been a week I’ve taken time off work. I have dozens of nice photos though. But yes, it takes a lot of effort to resize them, much more to create even a simple layout.

I am still contemplating whether to get a Pro account over at Flickr which would have been so easy. I’ll just have to upload without resizing and I can post the resized version (for sharing) on my blogs.

It’s only four days before the New Year sets in. I know I need to do more contemplating than just over a Flickr account, like getting a mortgage protection insurance perhaps. Let’s see.

Hubby and I both agree that this year is the most “Christmassy” year ever in our married life. We can’t pinpoint exactly why. Maybe because this year, we were so blessed, that we were able to share our blessings to others too. Or it could be that we have gained so much new friends this year.

Even at home, the ambience is very good. I could feel it at the moment I wake up. It could be the cool breeze. Or the new church finally built just few steps from our house where we attend the dawn masses. Hmm, I just feel everyone’s happy this year. No hang-ups, no jealousy, no regrets. It seems that this Christmas gives everyone a feeling of blessedness. Everything’s so light and happy.

I hope it continues to be…. for the next years to come, like forever, perhaps?

SPACIOUS, well-kept and very efficient staff.

The kitchen and dining area are at the lowest floor, with a maids’ quarter (and a big dirty kitchen).

The second level has 3 rooms, while the third level has two big rooms. Both levels look the same except for that one room at the second level.

And of course, a great view of the Taal Lake.

Perfect!

Just one more working day to go and I’ll be on vacation! Not that the family is going away. It’s just that hubby and I are not yet finished with our gift buying spree. Get-togethers are aplenty. I’m pretty sure our new Canon camera will be working overtime the next 2 months.

I’m not sure but I think with a little more prodding, hubby will agree on installing PS on his laptop. Either that or he can help me fix the jammed CD drive of the desktop. Jammed but not busted. So I could install PS from the CD. Wow, there’s hope.