“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” – Albert Camus
Favorite season is back! Who doesn’t want autumn??? Pumpkin spice. Pumpkins! Cool weather. And Adrian’s birthday! Throwback photo was taken at Layton Park on our first autumn experience. 2008.
Dora Crazy. Yes. There was a point in our family life when Dora was a necessity. Dora was part of the day. Dora here, Dora there, Dora everywhere. Here’s the proof! More photos to come!
I didn’t expect that Mich would take on the challenge of painting a big wall. Our family went to At The Movies Build event at our local church two weeks ago. She was given two wood panels to draw and paint Lightning McQueen and Natalie Certain of Cars 3. Good job Mich on your first mural painting! Though I helped you in some ways, you were so determined to finish it til the end. Working from 1:30-9:30 PM with just few minutes break for dinner and snacks was something that I commend you for! I am blessed to see you use your talent and gifts for God’s glory even when you’re tired. Next year, let’s paint a bigger one. 
But let’s devote more time, okay? Say 5 hours each day for 1 week.
Here’s the beginning stage of how it’s done. We put painter’s tape to areas we want to protect. But later on, we managed to do even without the tape.
We’re like playing actually. There’s a lot of people (thank you!!) who wants to help, but we don’t know what we’re doing at times. The most difficult was doing the top details coz it’s high and strains the neck and arms.
You did really well Mich! 👏🏼👏🏼 And because of that, you deserve a little throwback photos below. 👇
Photos were taken when Mich was 3 1/2 years old. We picked up Ad from his school at The Fort and spent time playing at Market Market playground and inside the mall. This was Cars (1st) The Movie shown in Manila in 2006.
⚽2018 World Cup⚽ is so much unpredictable and full of surprises. It’s more exciting than the last ones I’ve watched but sadly my favorite player from Uruguay, Diego Forlán is not playing anymore 😞. But I got to see him as one of the panels commenting in one of the earlier games 😊. It’s a sad day for me today as my team, Brazil, was defeated by Belgium. See you in 4 years Neymar! Anyway, before Forlán & Neymar, here is my all-time favorite soccer player in the world wearing #7, not Ronaldo but Champorado!
My soccer fanaticism started when Adrian joined a soccer team thru homeschool program way back in the Philippines. Since it’s World Cup season, I’d like to reminisce Ad’s soccer days. My goal then was for Ad to develop physical strength and stamina as he was easy to catch a cold or get sick. True enough when he got exposed outdoor and gained strength by being active in harsh weather condition, he got better physically. Sadly, after one year of playing, we had to move to the US.
At first I let him try soccer to know if he will like it. He joined a group of homeschool kids and Philippine Army kids. He didn’t even have proper soccer player attire that time. He had fun though as you can see from his face.
The next game, he had proper shoes and a big baby powder. 😆 Yeah, he consumes a big amount of baby powder when his back becomes itchy and before sleeping he would ask us to scratch his back. Later on, Michelle inherited that duty. 
Before he had a team and uniform, they were exposed to an actual competition. Funny how they played without knowing the proper ball inbound😊. After that they had proper training and better game results. Ad became a goalie 🥅 maybe because he is tall for his age and had big hands. But the thing is, whenever the ball is not on his side, he gets bored and pulls the grass. 🤣
Before his number 7, he was 72.
Here is his consistent supporter, cheerer, and eater of snacks, Michelle. She keeps calling Adrian, our Champ, Champorado, thus earning his nickname. 
This was the last photo he had before flying to the US. I felt a little emo because soccer had just started to open its doors to the young kids in the Philippines. Some of Ad’s batchmates there played for the national teams in different categories. I wish that someday, Philippines could be in the World Cup too like South Korea and Japan.
Sorbetes. While the three of us take delight with Filipino fave flavors such us ube, keso, mango, halo halo, macapuno, my coconut nut (brown on the outside, white on the inside) daughter, enjoys vanilla ice cream. I never thought that she likes ice cream that much until I found several photos of her eating ice cream. As a matter of fact, during dinner time, she’s hoping we have some ice cream in the freezer. Most of the time she would ask us to buy her ice cream when we go out of town. It must be a tradition of some sort that I didn’t notice til today.
How can I describe this photo below? A silent way of saying don’t take a photo of me? Or meditating on how yummy it was.
We went out to pasyal Poochie but she was the one who got the treat.
It was winter and snowy in Colorado that time but she still got her ice cream. 
Well, I found an evidence. Below is her early art work. 🍦She didn’t forget the cherry.
Kitchen is the busiest part of our house. Ever wonder how sometimes our kitchen would be a source of laughter? Ask Michelle to cook and the rest will be hilarious. But sometimes, she’s so serious, like a boss. One time, I promised her to cook Filipino style spaghetti for a friend and I was so late going back home from a trip to a nursery in Fallbrook. She prepared the ingredients and half of instructions were given via phone. Multi tasking at its best! That’s the serious Michelle.
Now, on the not so serious side side. There was this time when she was craving for Korean Jajjangmeun or Korean black bean sauce noodles. She’s always looking forward to go to Zion market after her violin rehearsal every Saturday. But it was winter break, so no trip down south. And it was time to head up north to bring her Auntie Lola to LAX so we dropped by a Korean market in LA and bought some ingredients. And here she was, playing with cooking. A friend told me that the black sauce looks like a fudge. 😋
When she was younger, she dreams of becoming a chef someday. How I wish! 😉
For years, Mich attended our apartment’s monthly cooking lessons. Most of the time, she was the only kid in the cooking class. Here she learned from Chef Josh how to make raviolis.
Braided breadstick
This was the first cake Mich ever baked. It’s for her Kuya’s 15th birthday. Kitchen was so messy after but learning is more important.
No more tears. She cried during the process. 
Fruit salad…yummy, yummy. All time favorite.
What can I say? Unleash your culinary skills someday. Cook delicious food! Mat itda 있다! Cook Filipino food like Kare Kare or just make hotdog waffles Pinoy style.
When a facebook memory shows up and you want to remember the good old days when Dora was a must, pink was the only color that matters, and umbrella was life for Asians who just moved to America. During this time, we were just new to our apartment in Layton, Utah and exploring the nearby Woodward Park. We would spend about 2-3 hours in the park. I go for a walk or jog while Ad rides his bike and Mich plays in the playground. This was about 10 years ago. I love that facebook has this memories that pop from time to time. Because of that I can’t shut down my fb for good. How about resurrect this hairstyle this summer, Mich?
by Michelle (entry was done years ago but posted just today)
Ever since I was seven years old, I was obsessed with playing the violin, ever since I found out how interesting my friend said it was.
I begged my parents to buy me a violin, and they did. That was a very good decision.
When I look back at myself, I can tell that my violin skills have improved so much.
I really want to go to a music university, because I love playing the violin so much! If my friend never brought her violin to a Thanksgiving party, I wouldn’t have ever gone this far.
I love string instruments (Violin, viola, cello, bass, etc.) so much. I might even consider to start the cello.
Piggyback rides = back scratch. Barter trade! Or sometimes $1 per ride? I don’t know what the deal is, but I wish you two will stay close even when you grow old and have your own family. That you will look after one another even when we’re miles away or when we’re gone. Love, encourage and strengthen each other. Rejoice with each other when it’s time to rejoice.
Times like these (shown photos) are worth remembering. Here, Mich was holding a Jicama. I would probably cook lumpia that day. Lumpia is the only Filipino food that Mich would eat at that age. Utah.
Michelle and Ad at the Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁
Michelle just woke up, cranky and doesn’t want to walk. I wonder if I had another son, would he want to get a piggy back from Kuya?
Vegas with their grandma. Mich convinced her Kuya to carry her. An obligatory piggyback that Ad could not refuse. That’s the power of being a bunso. Thank you, Ad for putting up with your sister’s whims. 
Christmas at The Promenade, Mission Valley. Laugh a lot, fight later. 😂
Borrego Springs, CA.
“To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other’s hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time.” ― Clara Luz Zuniga Ortega
Huh? Has it been 20 years?
Twenty years have gone by without us noticing because we’re just enjoying the ride. Sure there were ups and downs along the way, but that’s part of the journey. I am thankful to God for giving me a man who would love me unconditionally. Forever grateful to you for always caring for me and the kids and protecting us from any form of harm. To reminisce our time together, I’ve chosen some of my favorite photos. The first one was during our first couples retreat in Montemar. I was few months pregnant that time. 
Thank you for bringing me to places I’ve never been to. There were places that give me chills and apprehension but so far nothing bad happened during our stay in a specific place. I remember this feeling of uneasiness in Pearl Farm during our 7th anniversary trip but after praying, everything went well. Few months after, this exact place was attacked by terrorists and kidnapped some tourists.
Thailand holds a special place in my heart coz it was the first out of the country trip for us as a couple. We went there many times but this was the most relaxing one. We went to buffets, street food trips, Thai massage, and shopping without thinking of schedules and all.
Our first fall season in Utah. We were so thin then. Lol. Life was so simple. We make our own pizza and go to Mcdonald’s most Sundays. We don’t have a car but we managed to walk the kids to school and drop by Target to get some groceries. Life was simple but beautiful.
Seoul is good for the soul. I love it there. If there’s another country I would love to explore and live for two years, that would be South Korea. Definitely, you’ll know who GD and BB because we’ll surely watch their concerts.
We spent one new year’s day in Laguna Niguel. That was just so relaxing. Walking by the beach to see the sunset. Stroll along the streets to find some unique things from the store. That’s my kind of lazy day.
During our early hiking life, we’d love going to Stonewall peak coz of it’s 360 view and it’s easy to go up.
The smile was caused by hurried selfie using stick. You seldom wear cap because it will destroy the look of your hair but hey, you look cool here. Lower antelope is so pretty. It’s like we’re inside a big pottery. lol.
Lake Powell is one of my most favorite campground. It’s where I first experienced seeing shooting stars at night.
I don’t know if you appreciate art as much as I do, but thank you for bringing me to some of the best modern art museums.
Maroon bells is so mesmerizing. Though we didn’t get to see the reflection of the mountains because the rain was heavy that time, it was so worth it to go there. I’ve never experienced seeing palette of live greens. It was so amazing.
As far as I remember, it took us 50 hours driving to see a lot of things including Mt. Rushmore. It was fun and so memorable.
Funny how we would drive 6 hours just to sleep and take photos then drive another 6 hours to go home. Sometimes I would think we’re just so crazy. But that’s what I like about being with you, I’ve learned to see things in adventurous way.
Our first Perseid meteor watching experience in Mt. Laguna was a blast. We had portable camping stove and supplies thus, we got hot choco and cup noodles while watching. Too bad, I forgot to bring popcorn. Then the next morning, we started adding some miles to our Pacific Crest Trail hiking log.
Honestly, this post is rushed and incomplete and no editing will be done because I want to post it today. I hope you appreciate it. It’s so cheesy to say here that I’d rather tell you personally, I love you (whisper). Happy 20th wedding anniversary. Hope to hike Machu Picchu with you on our 25th.
