Sunday, December 31, 2006
Our 2006
| It's the last day of the year and I still haven't posted our 2006 newsletter. So many things happened, and like last year, and we'd like cap the year by saying our thanks and recount our blessings. :) The latter part of 2005 gave us something new to look forward to in 2006, it's during the last months that we've been offered and accepted to be relocated in the northern hemisphere for DH's work. January - We welcomed the 2006 year at our friend Mel's place from NYE. The same person who made our 3rd wedding anniversary celebration in 360 Restaurant at the Centrepoint Tower possible, since she volunteered to watched over FL for our date night. We came back to pick up the sleeping little boy at around 11pm. Nice way to cap our stay in Australia (for the mean time), as we ready ourselves to venture in the Swiss Alps. We took the opportunity of the move to buy a new dining set, one we were a bit panicky about since we leave the first week of February and they couldn't promise an exact date for the delivery, but in the end, we got it on time. This was also the month I finally sat down and started my first scrapbook layout, it's very simple but I am still happy about it since I took so long to get one finished - i was inspired by the despedida gift given to us by our nawoz friends, hosted by my dear kumare L&M. We also had a despedida from DH's office, a Sydney harbour lunch cruise with his team and their family, a very nice one, indeed! :) February - We had a last despedida and DH's birthday celebration at dear friend's and neighbor Mel's, that was three days before we left Australia and two days before our things are packed and shipped. We were sent off by our nawoz friends at the airport, a very touching site, for us. We scheduled a two-week sidetrip to Manila before we headed for the Alps, and spent time with family and friends and bought some of my pinoy supplies :). This month on Valentine's day, marked a beginning of a new friendship for us. In the plane, on our way to Switzerland, we met the Arago's. They were also to start their Swiss journey and it was really a blessing that we met on the plane. It was meant to be, us meeting, the Amsterdam-Geneva leg of their flight was delayed for a day so they had to take the same flight we had, we were the last to board the plane and we sat behind their seats and we were the only pinoy families there, so it was but naturally pinoy to approach each other :). And I must say, from then on, we almost always spend weekends together and go on trips together. March - This month was a busy month for us, as we tried to settle down and arrange many things in our new adoptive country. We looked for an apartment, a gynecologist and a car. Had my first OB visit on my 26th week, and was very happy about my doctor. We braved the relatively lower alps of Les Paccots during this month, the kids had mixed emotions about the snow, FL was very excited about it while some of his friends were a bit scared, but in the end everybody knew they will definitely come back for more! :) April - This year is a milestone birthday for me, we had a simple celebration at home since doctor advised that I take it easy, so the my childhood dream of going to Disneyland will again be postponed. But the month has been exciting, too, since we already secured our new apartment, we got the car we bought and our shipment has finally arrived, lots of unpacking and rearranging to do! May - It's a very busy month, since we officially move to our permanent apartment, we needed to arrange our furnitures and prepare for the arrival of our second bundle of joy. So, it's a bit stressful this month, but things need to be done. June - And the wait is finally over. Our dear SA arrived right on schedule, on his due date! I still owe you guys the birthing story. Welcome to a new Saga of sleepless nights and breastfeeding. :) July - Another stressful month, since I've been home alone, sleep deprived and very exhausted with a newborn and an active 2 year old. DH was able to take a few weeks off last month. We have applied for my mom's & sis' tourist visa for them to help me out here, but apparently, they do not grant 6-months ones. So they altogether denied the application. Good thing, though, is that mom is a holder of a US green card, and GC holders are not required visas for stays not more than 3 months. So after so many flight reschedulings, she will be coming over next month. This month, after almost a year of trying, finally marked kuya FL's full toilet training. We also managed to apply for SA's passport. August - A couple of days after my dad's 1st year death anniversary, my mom came over to help me out. It was great relief to have someone help you around the house, she stayed with us for almost two months before she heads for the US. We also had SA baptized this month. September - It's kuya FL's 3rd birthday, we just had a special lunch at home with our close friends here. And finally, we've sold our CRV in Australia after so many months, it's a bit sad since bidding farewell to a very reliable family "member". October - It's back to reality for us, as went off to head for the US with my sister. She needed to go there before November and I am just happy she was able to join us here for a few weeks, it was great having an extra hand to help me out. I also started my French language lessons this month. November - It's a special month for us, because this month we joined the Christian Living Program of CFC-Geneva Chapter. It's a very nice experience for us. We were to be part of the Lausanne Chapter, where we will basically be part of it's pioneers there since we are one of the 3 couples to start the group. It was nice meeting more pinoys in the community. We also managed to book our flight for our February holiday next year, for BIL's wedding - we will have a Bohol holiday during the 3 weeks vacation! :) December - We enrolled Kuya FL in a Garderie in the commune, he goes there 2x a week (Monday & Thursday afternoons) and boy does he love it! While baby SA started solids this month. Had parties here and there! It is truly a happy month! We celebrated the Christmas 2006 (Dec. 24-26) by going up the alps. Later tonight, New Year's Eve, we will be watching the fireworks in the town centre near the lake. I will be cooking some (hopefully) yummy dishes for the Media Noche. Wishing everyone a peaceful, prosperous, glorious and bountiful New Year! May all our prayers be answered and all our wishes come true! All the best for 2007! Love, the (Swiss) family Buenaventura Francis, April, Franco & Simon Labels: family, year-ender |
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
christmas in the alps
| we spent christmas in the alps, specifically in the vaudoise alps - les diablerets, which is 1200-1300 meters above sea level, we were tempted to go up the glacier 3000, but eventually decided against it since we were to ride with everyone in full ski gear and we couldn't stand being the only ones in unusual attire :p we had a blast!!! we tried bob sledding - toppled a couple of times. mind you, it is scary as the sled can go really really fast! we also went up to isenau and les mazots - popular ski spots. we just enjoyed the cable ride and the breath-taking views above. this holiday really made us decide to take-up skiing, hopefully before the season ends we will do informal lessons with some friends here :) the weather was perfect for us, no snow storms, not windy and everything was covered with snow. here are some pics, i must admit we thought our shots didn't do much justice to the actual sights, but you get the picture. :) by the way, temperature goes up to -7 degrees celsius when we start the day at around 10am. yes, you read it right, that's UP... at night the temperature goes down to -16 degrees celsius, according to the hotel's owner, but we didn't dare test if his numbers were accurate. during the day it is mostly just beautiful 0 to 2 degrees. brrr!!!! =) enjoy the photos!  by frapri6 Labels: holidays, swiss life |
Monday, December 25, 2006
season's greetings!
* Labels: holidays, scrapping, swiss life |
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
booked and ready
Philippines and our dear ones... we're on our way !!! :)  we've finally finalized our bookings for our family holiday in our lupang hinirang. we've paid for in full our airline tickets from here to manila a couple of months back. it's going to be a big family holiday (on my side) since we also booked to go on a week's holiday in bohol! we're so excited. i've managed to convince my bro in japan to join us in coming home, and he happily obliged. air tickets and accomdations have also been booked for the bohol trip. i had to do the booking from here since my sisters couldn't finalize, so now they have no choice! :p too bad my sis & mom in the US won't be able to join us. but that's understandable and sis will be coming here for their family vacation in april for 2 weeks. so, my brood in manila will be joining us, plus the pamangkins. really exciting! but the main reason for our trip is that DH & kuya FL will be part of my BIL's wedding entourage. DH is best man while kuya FL will be the ring bearer. we actually managed to convince BIL to move their church wedding in february since DH wasn't allowed to take a holiday during the holiday season - just great, isn't it?! so, we're counting down the days, and that's 46 days before our take-off. we leave first week of feb and then a week after, we head for bohol! ah, i miss the beach!!! :) can't wait for february! |
Friday, December 15, 2006
week we're sick, sick
| it's not officially winter yet but my little boys have already felt the toll of the season. they both had fever, coughs and colds this week. it started with little SA around wednesday last week, he kept clearing his throat (or at least that's what i though he was trying to do). we didn't get to hear last friday's mass because it was raining too, we didn't want to risk getting them wet. saturday came and we went shopping. while we were in the shop looking at plasmas, deep fyers, xbox games, cabinets and whatever else we felt like looking at, it was weird that SA was very peacefully sleeping in his stroller, so we felt his temperature and we realized he was unusually warm, looks like he he's got a fever now. so, off we went to pay for our purchases and went straight home (by the way, we didn't buy the plasma! :p). at home, we just gave him paracetamol to cool him down, but he was coughing bad and his nose was clogged so he didn't get a good night's sleep (and of course, it goes without saying that everyone else had the same experience that night - and the succeeding nights, as well!), but we had to wait until monday to get an appointment with their doctor. anyways, not long after - that saturday night, actually. big bro FL got hit with the virus, as well. he had fever at night and had coughs and colds too. then came sunday... too bad, the weather was very nice, the sun was out and the sky was clear. it would have been nice to just go out and stay in the park and look at the lake. so, since it was sunday, we had to hear mass. we had no choice but to go solo on this - that is, DH and i will have to take turns. so, today, friday, little SA seems to be over it already, but big bro still gets high fever at night - and at night only! hopefully he doesn't get any tonight so we can attend our christmas parties this weekend. and hopefully, we'll get enough sleep, too! p.s. winter officially starts on december 21st but we're getting temperature as low as zero at dawn, and they say it's the warmest winter in 500 years! geesh! Labels: swiss life, the boys |
Friday, December 8, 2006
04.12.2006
| my boys had their share of firsts last dec. 4th... little SA had his first taste of solid food. here's how he reacted.... big bro FL took part of his little bro's first taste, too. they halved the cereal mixture coz he thought it smelled yummy. he finished it very quickly! :)  so, after the morning's meal, big bro attended his first day in garderie. i had to do a bit of convincing first before i could leave the premises. but the teacher how he was, said he was "tres, tres bien!". so when he got home, he said he enjoyed it, and was playing with little bro after..   Labels: the boys |