Fourteen Years

This date is no longer relevant to my husband. But I still want to reminisce the day when we officially became "we/us."

Fourteen years have passed. I've been with him for 38% of my life. A lot have changed (primary na ang weight haha) but I am blessed we're still together. Napagtiyagaan at napagtiisan talaga niya ako.

Fourteen years and we now have an uber cute son who makes us happy everyday. And on times that we don't feel like loving each other (we're humans too!), this boy reminds us that we are to be together no matter what.

I love you, Dear. I always will. Cheers to fourteen years and counting!

Amazing five years!

Whew, I honestly can't still believe it! Five years ago na nga ba talaga nang mag-"I do" kami sa simbahan?!? Parang kelan lang talaga.

This is actually the first anniversary that we are not together physically. It's a bit sad, considering na milestone year ang five. But at least we were together just 9 days prior to our special day so keri na rin.

As what I have posted on Instagram: "Our marriage isn't perfect, but we are truly happy and blessed." Marami kaming ups and downs na naranasan in the last five years. Maraming happy moments, marami ring challenges. Masaya lang kasi eto, ganun pa rin kami. Same old Ford and Ces. Nadagdagan lang ng Nathan hehe.

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To my husband of five years (and counting), thank you for everything. Salamat lalo sa pagtitiyaga sa mga shortcomings ko. Ang layo ko sa pagiging perfect wife but you constantly assure me na never tayong magdi-divorce (haha!) kaya suwerte talaga ako. Basta, salamat sa lahat.

At mahal na mahal kita. Walang nabago. Walang magbabago.

Happy fifth wedding anniversary satin! =)

Celebrating the fourth

We can't do anything special for our fourth anniversary because it fell on a Tuesday. Plus what else can a poor couple do with a toddler in tow? Not that we're complaining lol.

So I just requested a simple dinner at Tony Roma's. The last time we ate there was May 2014 pa kaya namimiss ko na rin.  I chose the WEM location because we had to buy some things pa in the mall.

Since last year, dalawa na ang poging ka-date ko.

We'll always be grateful for this little boy. Mas meaningful na ang wedding anniversary because of him.

Mrs. Blanco for four years.

I ordered calamari for appetizer. Craving satisfied!

Our dinner.

Nathan was already happy with his gold fish and water-na-inistraw. He hasn't been eating solids lately. =(

Because we were too shy to ask our server to take our picture. Parang hindi kasi talaga uso rito ang pagpapakuha ng pictures. Ayan, groufie groufie na lang.

Tumatanda na talaga kami. Almost 9 years of  being bf-gf + 4 years being married. Magkasama pa rin kami. We are living a simple yet happy life. Salamat Po.

Ford and I are not into desserts so we just had a venti mocha frappucino for sharing. Lagi kaming share sa frappucino naman. Unang frapp ko pala ito simula ng bumalik kami last November.

Happy fourth year wedding anniversary to us!

4th Wedding Anniversary

Today we celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary.

January 12, 2012 -- Nuestra Senora de Gracia Parish Church (Makati City)

Almost nine years of being bf-gf and 4 years of being married to each other, oh I could say that we really have gone far.

My husband is a very kind and patient man so I give him all the credit. He's my pillar of strength and I owe everything to him. I couldn't imagine being with someone else.

I love you, Dear Husband. This feeling gets stronger everyday.

A simple 3rd anniversary celebration

I love it that we got married on the first month of the year. The coming of January signifies the end of holidays so at least there's another occasion that we'll look forward to.

Our anniversary this year -- January 12 -- fell on a Monday so we only had dinner time to celebrate. At first we thought of just celebrating on the 13th para sabay na sa monthly 'birthday' ni Nathan but I realized that we ought to have two different celebrations for two different occasions.

We didn't really plan anything grand but it was indeed the most special of all our anniversaries in the past (2 wedding and 11 bf-gf anniversaries) because we now have Nathan James Levin as the fruit of our union.

Here's my chubby cheeks who is daddy's mini-me!

When you have a baby with you, a fine dining restaurant is not an option. Hence I just asked Pod for a simple buffet meal at Buffet Royale Carvery. Nathan was just two months then so I was worried na baka umiyak siya nang umiyak kapag matagal na naka-steady sa car seat / basket niya. Kapag buffet, kakain na agad. No need to wait. And also, I was still pregnant the last time we ate there so my food intake was so restrained. Gusto ko namang subukang kumain doon nang walang worry about gestational diabetes haha!

And because it was a Monday, halos solo namin ang area. Walang masyadong tao.

Here's some of my plates haha!

We looked so haggard haha! Obviously the result of sleepless nights for the past two months. But then again, that was the happiest two months of our life!

Thankfully, our baby was so cooperative that night. Mom and Dad were able to eat a lot. He looked bored though haha!

Anak, you are God's perfect gift to us! We love you and we will take good care of you forever. We'll make sure that you will grow up with loving parents.

Ahh, three years na kami! I want to thank my husband for bearing with me. I am not a perfect wife. In fact, sobrang layo ko sa pagiging ideal wife. But I love Ford and Nathan more than myself. 

Thank you for everything, Dear! Cheers to our three years! =)

Happy three years!

Ford and I will forever be grateful for the gift of love, marriage, and family.

Happy 3rd wedding anniversary to us! =)

Our Thanksgiving Day 2014

Hurray for the long weekend! At last, I was able to spend the past three days with my husband.

Thanksgiving Day in Canada is officially on the second Monday of October (so this year it fell on October 12) but Canadians can celebrate it in any day of the long weekend. I've noticed (in my Facebook contacts haha!) that just like us, many preferred to do the special dinner thing on Sunday para walang pasok kinabukasan. Makes sense, right?

Anyway,  before I proceed, let me post this Thanksgiving "wefie" of me and Baby Chicklet . He's 35 weeks and 3 days as of yesterday (October 12).

I was actually too lazy to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner but I realized that we have to at least do something special this weekend to commemorate a special holiday. It's my first experience of Canadian Thanksgiving, after all. Also, we have so many things to be grateful for this year. Aside from finally having our own house, we are about to meet our Little Chicklet soon! Now isn't that life's greatest blessing?

I couldn't cook anymore (not that I really cook lol!) so I asked Pod if we could have some steak na lang. Celebrations mean steak for me eh hehe. Then I also instructed him to buy some vegetables and another dish at T&T para may pandagdag.

I was surprised when he came home with this turkey breast. Haha, oo nga naman. Dapat may turkey kasi Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Day has to be celebrated with family so we invited Ate June (our only family here) a few days ago to join us. Too bad she has work yesterday.

And so it was just the two of us who feasted on this humble dinner. I regret not being able to buy autumn flowers, candles, placemats, napkins, etc. Wala tuloy kadecor-decor. Di bale, next year talaga babawi ako. I want all occasions to be special eh.

Turkey Breast, Tofu, Mixed Vegetables, Campbell Noodle Soup, Brown Rice, and Steak

Please don't look for any dessert as I am not allowed to eat sweets. Damn you, Gestational Diabetes!

It was the first time we celebrated Thanksgiving together. At extra na si Chicklet! Ang saya!

I am so thankful to this man. He may look like a hoodlum because of his long hair and beard (grrr!) but believe me, he's the kindest, gentlest husband in the world.

I am indeed a lucky wifey!

Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!

Birthday Dinner @ The Kitchen - River Cree Resort and Casino

I've had a very modest 35th birthday celebration. After lunch, I asked my husband to drop me at West Edmonton Mall because I didn't want to spend the whole afternoon at home. After his work, he picked me up and we headed to River Cree Resort and Casino to eat. River Cree is approximately just 5 minutes away from our house.

I have an appointment with my diabetes doctor the following day so I wasn't really in the mood to eat. But I could not refuse a steak buffet haha! I originally wanted to eat pasta but that's high in carbs so never mind.

If I remember it correctly, this was only the third time that I celebrated my natal day with Ford (first was in 2009). We've been in a long distance relationship for almost 9 years before we got married in 2012.

Just the two of us.

My Ford loves crepes!

I ought to have a cake, right? I only ate 1/4 of it because my blood sugar might shoot up again.

So here I am at 35 - happy, blessed, and grateful.

I wish to thank my better half for giving me a good life here in Canada. I couldn't ask for more. Ooops, except that I give birth to a healthy baby Chicklet!

Happy birthday to me! :)

ForCes' Workshop

Haha, this best describes us!

Picture taken from the net (credits to the owner)

I've only experienced working here in Edmonton for six weeks (February 1 to March 17) and had to quit immediately because of my pregnancy. I was in severe pain that time (I had UTI pa pala) and I was scared of losing the baby. I am not exactly young and who knows, this could be my last shot in having a baby.

I am thankful that I have a husband who is a  very good provider. Not everyone can afford a 'lifestyle' that we have here, given that we are a one-income household.

And true to my nature, all I am doing the past months is shop while the husband works haha! I am a self-confessed shopaholic. My husband, on the other hand, is an industrious Ilocano who works a lot but shops nothing! I wish Baby Chicklet inherits his dad's traits (not mine) or else dadagdag pa siya sa kalbaryo ni Pod hahaha!

Valentine 2014: A one-hour date at Denny's

February 14, 2014 (Friday). I was originally very excited for Valentine's Day. Why, it was the first time that the Husband and I will celebrate that love day being physically together. But things don't always happen as we plan it, right? Ford's mom and dad vacationed here from January 30 to February 20 and his sister even followed - arriving on Valentine Day itself. But it was fine, I said to myself. We can celebrate hearts day any time naman.

When Ford picked me up from work at past 10pm, I really thought he'd bring his sister Cecille with him. Akala ko pa naman gigimik kami sa White Ave. But apparently, Cecille was very tired and sleepy na pala.

And so nakahabol pa kami ng date!

I was starving and since ayaw namin makipagsiksikan sa ibang restaurants, we ended up at Denny's. Haha, comfort place na talaga namin yun.

My Valentine since March 2003

Since it was a 'special' day, we deviated from ordering our usual lumberjack slam. Parang di naman bagay sa occasion ang pancake, di ba?

Kaya ito na lang...

I was tired from a long day's (err, night's) work but I was really glad na nasolo ko ang asawa ko kahit isang oras lang hehe.

It was a simple yet fulfilling celebration. We were grateful for the food and for the love and company we've been giving to each other since 2003. Love indeed conquers all.

Happy Valentine's Day! -- Ford & Ces

Valentine 2014: Bourgeoisie Husband, Proletariat Wife

On the night of February 13, upon coming home from work, I found this white gold necklace with heart pendant waiting for me in our bathroom lavatory. Really, I was so surprised! We saw this necklace in a store a few weeks ago and I told him I like it. But I honestly have already forgotten about it.

Thank you, Dear!

But wait! I also had a surprise din naman for him on February 14. I left this inside his car.

Bought at my beloved dollar store lol!

Haha, cheapskate I know! But what can I do, I am the proletariat in this relationship and Pod is the Bourgeoisie! But it's the thought that counts naman, right?

I bought a HUGE card because it was the first time in our 11-year relationship that we were not under postal size restrictions! I added a Hershey's milk chocolate because he likes it.

But seriously, I wanted to give the husband a better gift but since I only started to work less than two weeks before VDay, I had no budget. Ayaw ko namang i-swipe sa credit card niya ang ipangreregalo ko sa kanya haha!

Also, now I know that I will have a hard time surprising him in the future because we only have one joint bank account. How can I buy something for him using our credit or debit card without him knowing about it? Unlike me, Pod keeps track of our card transactions every night (at least). He has a phone application for it ha.

Oh well, it's his fault. He only wants to have our respective salaries deposited into our shared account so he must suffer the consequences lol!

Mr. & Mrs. Blanco, Year 2

Our second year wedding anniversary celebration was quite modest as compared to last year (we went to Taiwan for 4 days) but it's nevertheless as memorable. We are now together here in Edmonton and we are grateful.

Inasmuch as we want to travel, we are preparing for something big in less than two weeks so we opted to save our energy and resources for that.

Our anniversary this 2014 fell on a weekend and we were glad that we had lots of time to spend together (sabagay, palagi naman!). To be honest, I was quite unsure on what date to celebrate our anniversary with. The Philippines is 15 hours ahead than Edmonton and we got married there, hence my inclination to celebrate on Philippine time. But of course, we now live in Edmonton so we have to also 'respect' the date and time here. Oh well, sige na nga... isang mahabang selebrasyon na lang!

We spent the Saturday eating out, malling, meeting up with a friend, and video chatting with our BFF Raxie. It was a fun day.

And on Sunday, kaming dalawang lang. We woke up late and we were starving so we went to Pinoy Grill for a cheap Filipino lunch buffet. We went home after visiting a furniture shop and slept again.

In the evening, we headed South for our anniversary dinner.

Ford has always been curious about State & Main (located in Southgate Mall) so we wanted to give it a try. He's read so many good reviews daw. Also, we are steak lovers so all important occasions in our lives must be graced by presence of some steak lol!

We always choose different entrees and we share.

The Empire State

Kansas City Back Ribs

We are happy that the food and service were good. We liked the atmosphere too. Thankfully I had the guts to ask our server to transfer us to another table. We were originally seated in a not-so-nice area of the restaurant and I wasn't comfortable. It felt like we were isolated. When you dine in a restaurant, you also pay for the ambiance so you better assert your rights.

One of the things I've noticed here in Edmonton is that very few people are taking pictures. When I asked a server to take our picture, he was a bit surprised. In the Philippines, all waiters and waitresses are used to requests of diners to take their pictures.

This was our one and only decent picture of the night. State & Main is a bar so medyo madilim.

I asked Ford to pose for me outside. Kaloka, parang walang katao-tao noh? And it was only 8pm!

After dinner, where else would we go but Starbucks?

I promised myself that we will have a yearly cake to commemorate our anniversary but I wasn't able to plan it well this year. Lipat-bahay mode na kasi ako kaya nakalimutan ko talaga. Si Ford pa ang nag-remind sa akin.

We dropped by Saved-on-Foods to buy a small cake but we ended up buying chocolate cupcakes na lang. Sayang kasi ang cake, walang kakain. Ford and I are not into those types of sweets eh. Ironic, I know. I love looking at cakes but I don't like eating them.

And so just like that, January 12 is now officially over. Ahh, I still couldn't believe it na nakadalawang-taon na kami!

I am blessed to have a very good, responsible, and gentle husband. I couldn't ask for more.

Cheers to our two years!