The Story Of My Life!

Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-10T16:18:00.000-08:00

It's the 3rd week of January and my new year is already on the roll. First, my husband came home before Christmas and he got a chance to go with us to San Diego. Second, I started my new year with cute projects. Third, school starts early this year.
Here are some pictures to brighten your new year. Hopefully, this year is better than last year although things are a little bit rough right now.

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3 of my favorite pictures that we took in San Diego.

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These are my new projects for the New Year: baby shoes, diaper case and wipes.

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Our first family picture for the New Year together with Uncle Frank and Aunt Ellen and her kids and grankids, Grandad & Margueritte, plus Brett (Susie's boyfriend).

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This semester, Spring 2010, I'm taking Biology, Math (another Math because the Non-Science Major Math that I took before is not good enough), 3D Design (Sculpting - the last pre-req class, then I can start Computer Graphics I next semester), and I'm taking my last college English class. Pretty much my 3D Design and the Biology are the ones that I'm looking forward this semester. Art and Science are amazing. I like Algebra but not all the Math classes. Ekkk! And, English - no way Jose!

Anyway, husband is pretty much done with his deployment. Before he came home, he went to the doctor and they said (or he said) he has PTSD. Yep, officially, my husband is crazy. But, they're paying his craziness. Isn't that crazy? Ha! Ha! My mom said we are so meant to be because I'm crazy too.

While JK - he's having a hard time learning Spanish. I just got his reports and his teacher is complaining that my son is not improving much since the last assesment. It doesn't bother me though because he is only in Kindergarten. All that matter to me is he is having fun with school which amazingly, he loves school. He loves Nature, Science and Art.

And Naybi, she is so terrible 2 but I have to love her. She's having a hard time eating her meals (but not junk foods). For months, while Joey was gone, she didn't want to attend her Nursery class. She finally attended when Joey got home. She's trying my patience and sometimes I lose it. It's a learning process like other things that I have in life.

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I'm looking forward for this New Year especially this summer. I don't have any plans this summer but its my first summer without school involved unless if I'm going to Italy (it's a school thing for art majors). I want to bring JK and Naybi to Florida for the JFK NASA Space Shuttle Launching. Importantly, I want to win the competition that I set up with Joey. Whoever loses the most fat before the end of summer gets to decide on a trip anywhere. I want to go to New York (SHHHH!!! It's a secret). He's not supposed to know where I want to go.

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So, yeah, this is it. Happy New Year and enjoy.

Happy Fall!!!

2009-11-11T16:52:00.001-08:00

I'm going to start with our trip to Stone Mountain Park last Saturday, November 14th. My father-in-law's siblings and mom came to visit from Las Vegas. Apparently, the Snow Fall at Stone Mountain started last Saturday. I was excited because I've never been to this special event at Stone Mountain.

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We went to Stone Mountain in the afternoon. I guess it's better to go in the afternoon because most of the activities are at night. Like the Snow Fall parade with the Snow Angel and Santa, musical shows, 4D movie and/or the Snow Fall Fireworks.
Since we got there early, we went to climb the granite mountain, we visited the plantation, and ate dinner.

These pictures were taken on top of the mountain. Particularly the following 2 pictures, my daughter was modeling and my son pretended that he was a lizard.

The weather was beautiful. It was a little bit chilly on top of the mountain. However, it didn't bother my kids at all. They were having so much fun.

After we climbed the mountain, we went to visit the plantation not that far from the main park. To my surprise, they have a petting zoo at the park. Anyway, JK had fun terrorizing the sheeps and the goats. The same thing with Naybi.

It was almost dark so we decided to leave the animals and went to eat dinner.

The main event was the Snow Fall Parade with Santa and Snow Angel. The kids had fun even though they were freezing.

So, if you are from Georgia, you better come and see this place. It's not big as Disneyworld but it's worth the price. Good food, good place, good price.

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This is what Georgia looks like in Fall Season. Amazingly gorgeous.

These pictures are from our backyard. I don't have time to go to the mountains to take picture of the trees. My husband usually brings me to the mountains during Fall season but he's not home. However, my in-law's backyard are pretty enough to take pictures of Fall.

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These pictures was taken at Lake Lanier, 12 minutes away from home. I went with my in-laws and my son JK to watch the sunset 1 Friday afternoon.

Collected Videos

2009-10-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

END OF THE SUMMER GETAWAY

2009-08-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

Finally, I got a chance to enjoy my summer vacation with my husband and kids. I had 2 weeks break from school and work, and my husband had a 1 week off from work as well (yay!). I wasn't planning to go anywhere but he surprised me. He flew me to North Carolina and met him in Wilmington where the closest airport to the base . We stayed at Wilmington for 2 days.

Wilmington is full of rivers and it is near the beach. This place is perfect for honeymooners. Since Joey and I didn't had an official "honeymoon", we get a chance to have it this time.

I really like this place and hopefully, I will go back there again someday.

USS NORTH CAROLINA BATTLESHIP,
Wilmington, NC
USS North Carolina was a battleship of the United States Navy, the lead ship of the two-ship North Carolina class, and was the first new-construction battleship to enter service during World War II.

Topsail Beach, NC
Wilmington is pretty but we needed to go back to Camp Lejeune because Joey was going to work the next day, but before that we stopped over at Topsail Beach on our way. The place is not as beautiful as Wilmington. However, we got a chance to play with the water and enjoyed our time just the two of us.

August 3, Monday night, we drove all night back to Georgia because I missed my kids (I couldn't sleep). I know, I can't live without them. My husband wasn't mad but he just gave me a
not-so-good-look.

Anyway, we went to Six Flags the next day.
We went to Six Flags. JK had fun and so thus Naybi. I didn't get a chance to ride on the big rides but I was happy to see my kids enjoying their day.

And then, Friday, August 7, we went to Fernbank Museum in Atlanta.

After the museum, we went to eat dinner at our favorite restaurant, SHOGUN, a japanese habachi restaurant.

Yummy!!!!

Last, we went to Lake Lanier Water Park. Saturday was our free day. Joey's family wanted to do something before he left to go to Iraq. So, we decided to go and have fun under the sun. Lake Lanier Water Park is not that far from our house and they have tons of water activities. I didn't take much pictures because I kept on forgetting it.

There you go guys, these are the things that I did for my summer getaway. I enjoyed it and hoping (and wishing) to have another summer getaway next year. I'm actually and definitely saving my summer when Joey comes back in May.
As for now, I have 9 more months to kill :(

My Adversary

2009-06-22T16:50:00.001-07:00

Two months ago, Saturday morning, I found myself in bed feeling drowsy and lazy. I thought I was just sleepy but it was almost 9 in the morning. I needed to get up because my kids were already up and they wanted breakfast. Two more weeks, my husband was leaving for deployment and I already settled up my goals for the time he's gone. My plans were going to school full time, staying with my part time job and will have lots of fun with my 2 kids. Suddenly that day, he was teasing me about having a baby while he's gone. I thought to myself, not a bad idea at all, but wait, I can't have another child until I'm done with school. I told him million times that I will finish school first before another baby.
However, my feelings that day didn't change. In fact, it got worst. I was hungry, I mean not just hungry but I was starving to death. I already ate all the left overs in the fridge. So, I stopped and said to myself that maybe I am pregnant. I went to the store and grabbed the cheapest pregnancy test that they have in that store. I went home and ta-dah------ the test was positive. I was about to faint. I really didn't know if I was going to laugh or cry. Sadly to say, I was scared instead of excited. To tell you the truth, I wasn't prepared for another baby because one, my husband was leaving me in about 2 weeks for a year and having 2 children without him already scares me and financially, we don't have a budget for another baby. Also, I am in the middle of my schooling and I didn't want to ruin my plans. Besides I am having fun with my studies.

So, that was two months ago, that was me, a selfish, self-centered human being. Because of what I did, I lost my baby that until now, I just can't forgive myself on loosing my little angel. People said there is a purpose on why this thing happened and yes, they are right. I need an adversary to put my feet back on the ground.

This was Max. I lost him June 16, 2009. I was low on progesterone level that was why I lost him.

This is me now, lonely as I ever could be. I am hoping to recover soon because the world is waiting on me. There are many things on my list that I need to finish.

And these 2 kids are my biggest helpers. They make my day better while their daddy is away from us. They make me see the hands of God through their eyes and their smiles.

I am grateful that families can be together forever that someday I will get chance to see my unborn child (named Max) and to be with him forever, and I am grateful for my adversaries.
Good bye, Max.

My Creation Version 1 (CAKES)

2009-06-14T16:33:00.000-07:00

I love cake and one of my favorite things to do is to bake a cake. I love cake because of its taste (yummy!!!) and its design. Here are some pictures that I made for the past 1 year and a half.

But before anything else, here are some pictures of my cakes and cup cakes that are not to be eaten. It looks good in the outside but not in the inside and it doesn't taste good (Yuck!!!). Anyway, I love to decorate and two of my favorites are sewing and making diaper cakes for baby showers. I think diaper cakes are cool and special. Yeah....

1. I made this for my daughter's friend, Erin. She loves to play pretend and one of them is cooking. I gave these 2 pieces of art on her birthday together with an apron that I also made.

2. This iss my daughter's. I used it as a center piece on her 2nd birthday.

3. This is a diaper cake for my friend Emily. She had a girl named Alice.

4. Gail's baby shower. She had a twin boy.

5. To my boss, Laura who also had a boy.

6. Finally, this diaper cake was for Katie (my husband's friend). I think wrapping the diapers with tissue papers are way better than my other diaper cakes.

These are my real cup cakes and cakes:
1. My favorite color is blue and this cup cake is one of my favorite.

2. My mother-in-law was attending a wedding reception and she needed to bring brownies. Instead of just regular brownies, I made it into cup cakes and decorated the top within an hour. I didn't know how I did it but I was amazed. She thought it would be funny to have brownies turned into cup cakes but the wedding couple loved my cup cakes esp the bride. She said that the bride had frozen 3 of the cup cakes and eat it them on their 1st anniversary.

3. I wanted to have an awesome halloween last year and since the kids love marshmallows, I turned the marshmallows into ghost.

4. My mother-in-law was turning 55 last year. My husband and I sponsored her birthday party and we came up with a Luau Theme. Through my husband's help, we made these cool cup cakes for her. I baked the cakes and my husband decorated it. Instead of me doing it, I let him decorated the cup cakes or else the party would not be as fun as we had planned.

5. This is my very 1st cake. It looks funny. It was a rush when I made this and I wasn't prepared.

6. A friend of the family made a Mexican meal for my husband and I really appreciated what she did. She didn't want me to pay her so I made this cake for her daughter who was having a birthday.

7. Aunt Marguerite had her birthday and they asked me to make her a cake.

8. My in-laws had an Easter dinner with grand dad and my mother-in-law asked me to bake a cake. I saw this decoration at marthastewart.com, and oh yeah, it came out also as a birthday cake for my mother-in-law's brother.

9. My best -est fan in the universe is my family. They make me happy and they are my great inspiration. So, this cake is for them.

10. I was curious about ganache.

11. This is JK's 4th birthday cake. I usually buy cakes for birthdays but then I got tired of buying cakes because of too much icing and they're very very sweet. To me, home-made cakes are the best!

12. This is Naybi's 1st birthday cake and is covered with fondant. Fondant is fun to play (like clay) and to use as a decoration but the taste, hhhmmm....

Hope you'll enjoy my lovely cakes!!!!!

Next, version 2:
The very mysterious creation of sewing machine and hand sewing.

2009-05-10T19:42:00.000-07:00

NAYBI'S 2nd Birthday Party!

My New Favorite!

2009-02-22T13:19:00.000-08:00

I am taking Color Theory this semester, and basically, this class is all about colors. To learn about colors, we are using acrylic paint in the class right now. In the past, painting was my least favorite hobby but then, I am considering it as one of my most favorite things to do. Here's a sample of my painting:

Christmas 2008

2008-12-28T09:04:00.001-08:00

The Dye Family - Christmas 2008

I am so glad that Christmas is over. I got my wish and I am so happy to receive it. It was my temple recommend!! I've been wanting it for a while. I felt sad because it took me a while to get it, but before I went to meet my bishop, first, I made something special. I did the "12 days of Christmas" thing. I made some stuff to other people like:
- I gave away mini cakes and paper ornaments that I made
- I became a Secret Santa to my mother in law
- I went to visit my friend Emily and thought her some stuff that I know
- I read the story of Christmas to my kids (Luke 2)
- I talked to a sick person at church
- instead of receiving gifts for myself, I gave gifts away even to the people that I do not know
- I thanked my husband, and made him feel special
- I went caroling with my kids.
- and many more.
This Christmas was the most meaningful Christmas that I ever have. I made extraordinary things that I never did before. I did this to give thanks to my wonderful Savior.

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(12/23/08)
Practicing for our caroling

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(12/21/08)
Ornaments that I made

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(12/23/08)
Cookie Time!!!

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(12/23/08)
Our ginger bread

Naybi lost her patience while waiting on the ginger bread.

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(12/23/08)
She was decorating the cookie that she was eating

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(12/25/08)
Christmas day with Aunt Suzie

JK's Christmas presents!!!

It's Christmas!!!

2008-12-07T06:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas Pictures

(work in progress)

1) This picture was taken in front of Walmart. It was a free picture sponsored by Coca-cola and a
local radio station. Thanks you so much.

2) This picture was inside the church building. It was in the main lobby were they had big pictures showing the coming of Christ. We just had a Christmas Community Service this week, and it was showed for 3 days. The activities included: live Nativity, musical performances from members and non-members and nativity showing (Nativity sets from all over the world.) I think this was the coolest activity that they ever had because it reflected the real meaning of Christmas and it also helped the community to understand what we believe in. And they had free food.
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Naybi and JK were just about to finished their snacks while waiting for everybody to get inside the building.

This Rubber Ducky Nativity Set was JK's favorite because he thought it was funny to have these ducks on the show. (Do you think it's funny?)(I think so...)

more pictures to come...please stand by!!!

2008-12-02T10:17:00.001-08:00

Before anything else, here are some pictures that we got from Halloween this year.

JK was supposed to be a Bumble Bee from the movie Transformer, but then he changed his mind right before the big day, So he was a race car driver instead. I made him a car made up of a diaper box and decorated it so that it would looked like a race car.
While Naybi, she was Tinker Bell. Joey was made fun of her because he taught she was the biggest Tinker Bell of all. As we know my daughter is chubby and her costume (almost) did not fit on her, but she was beautiful.
We went to the mall before Halloween and we collected lots of candies, and people loved JK's costume. On Day of the Halloween, we went to our neighbors to collect some more candies. It was very very cold, but the kids did not mind on how cold it was.
And then, we had a Hoe Down Party a week after Halloween. It was a combined activity from the other ward. We had a pie and salsa contest. JK and Naybi was in a custome as a cowboy and cowgirl. As for me, I got a chanced to dance with my husband and it's been a while since we had our last dance ( and I think it was in the kitchen, goofing around.)

Brain-damaged Family:
(Joey, JK & Naybi)

Ghost Cupcake!
(marshmallow)

JK's cute pose, while Naybi was finishing her banana!

Another costume...

Mr. Speed Racer

Tinker Bell

I fixed her costume so that it would looked more different and gorgeous.

Hoe Down Party
(Me, Joey, JK, Naybi and horsey + scare crow)

Summer 2008

2008-10-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

We had a great summer this year. We went to Disney world last June for 5 days. We went to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Disney. It was so fun. We had some family gathering and activities at home. We had the Pender's family reunion. I am happy to meet Katie & Jason, and their kids. Also, the rest of the Pender clan. We went to Stone Mountain at Labor Day to watch the Laser Show. Hoping that we will have a good summer again next year and I cannot wait!

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Labor Day!!!!

Stone Mountain!

Water mill

This is JK going up the mountain.

On top of the mountain. The place is beautiful.

Going down the mountain; waiting for grandma...

I hate guns...

This is Naybi, trying to figure how the toy gun works.

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In the middle of summer!

Mulch time! Every summer, Dad brings mulch for all the plants around the house.

JK is showing the tomato to Naybi.

These are the Pender's grandkids.

I love this picture. Both of them are having a moment.

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Children's Museum - Atlanta

This year, we also got a chance to visit Downton Atlanta. We took the Marta (train) and JK had a blast while Joey was freaking out. He does not like to ride on public transportation. It was Naybi's first train ride. We went to see the Nickelodeon's Slimmy Party at Centennial Park, and we went to see the Children's Museum. Next year, we are going to visit the Coca-Cola Factory.

Me and Naybi. We are having a hard time taking pictures together because she did not want to be left out on what was going on around us.

Yeee -haa! She was tired.

trying to be crafty...

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These are the pictures from Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, and Disney Hollywood

Disney Pictures!

Sorry guys, I love HSM!!

Tiger!

Arrrr!!!

Ahhhh!!! Dont eat us!!!

Animated Characters Parade!

Blue Ranger!!!

Awww! I love this show. I want to see it again.

Bam! Bam! Boom! Boom!

tree of life - animal kingdom

This tree is wonderful. Its not real but it is wonderful. I love arts and this is the most amazing art work that I have ever seen. I just cant believe how they patiently made it. WOW!

I almost cried when I saw it because I see hardships, and great hands in every creature that they have at that tree. I am very patient in my art works that sometimes it takes me a week to finish but this one, it is WOW!

it is soo hootttt....

Goofy!

Bat!

Jack Sparrow? No, its just my husband!

Well, its time to go.

Okay, I think this is it. I will try to take pictures for the Fall. I am looking forward for our Family Hiking this October. I love Fall. Fall is beautiful.

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The next in line

2008-09-10T07:51:00.000-07:00

This is Naybi. My 1-year-old daughter and was born on May 8, 2006. She looks like his daddy and as cute as JK. Some of her attitude and cuteness remind us of Kaylin; a little girl that used to live in San Diego. She loves flowers, books, cellphones, car alarms, and keyboards. She loves to sing and dance, and she loves to eat grapes. Her first word is DADA but she prefers MOMI.... She loves her brother.... she learned the sound of a jet plane, car, train from JK. She bullies her brother sometimes because she thought she can get what she wants and guess what? It works. Every single day is a new day to her and her brother; a full of adventure and excitement.... She is one of the greatest gift in my life.

Meet my first born

2008-09-09T20:43:00.000-07:00

His name is Jehoiakim (JK for short). He came to my life when I was down, so down. I am grateful that he came and save me from misery. He brings the good things in me and how to be strong and how to move on with life. I love him and I am thankful to be his mom.....

He was born on the 16th of January 2004, 12:30 in the afternoon. He was a yellow baby. When he was 2-weeks old, he was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus. RSV is a highly contagious virus which is quite prevalent during the winter months. It is transmitted primarily by hand-to-nose, hand-to-mouth, and hand-to-eye contact. He stayed at the Children's Hospital for 5 days. I thought I am going to loose him. I was so scared....

He grew up without a father, and he was raised by my parents and me. He looked up at my brother as his father not just an uncle. He loves JK so much....

When Joey came to our life, it was not easy. It took him a while to figure out how to like a man that I like, and how to love him. But, he is happy to call Joey "daddy" and I am happy to see them together laughing, giggling, teasing.....

He is now 4, and he is in Pre-K. He loves to go to school because of his friends, and the things that he learns every single day (except taking a nap). He is a good helper and a nice kuya to his sister Naybi.

How I met my husband?

2008-09-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

I met my husband through the Internet. A website called LDS Planet 2 years ago. I was not really looking for someone to marry but for some reason I made a profile for myself. I was a single mom for a while and I am not really planning to meet other people. Then one day, I received a message from a guy named Joseph and asking me if we could be friends. He said he liked me, and my profile. He left his phone number for me to contact him. I was not really sure about it since he did not had a picture for me to look at and to see if he is pogi or not. So, I ignored his message. For five times, he kept on sending the same message and pleading to call him. However, I finally gave up; I took a deep breath and dialed the phone. His phone was ringing (Ring!Ring! Ring!), and on the other hand, I was shaking (Yikes!). He answered, and I said HI! Just a simple hello and boom everything turned red, blue, and green, maybe pink, and yellow; all the colors of the rainbow.