Music Audition

Our daughter have participated to the  Young Musician's audition  in West Liberty University.  This  was her second year of participating.  She was very nervous but I knew that she would do very well, and she did.  She received a Superior  rating.  I think most  musicians played piano, I am not sure if there are participants who sing or play other instruments because I only saw a piano, I didn't see  Guitar Center, evans drum heads or any other instruments.  Our daughter was the very last participant, it was night time when we arrived there.  This audition gives young musicians  the chance to showcase their skills and it is also a  great avenue to test their ability to perform in front of a judge.

Play Date at a Bowling Alley

I am not sure if we will be having another bowling night next month but my children are praying for it.  They loved the first time that  we went because  their friends  were there and they had so much fun!  I think that bowling with friends once in a while is a very good breather for  the kids.  It's a very good avenue for us, parents, to catch up with one another.  

My son and his  friends.

My daughter and her friends.

We used to have a get together before every  school year starts and at the end of it too but too much have changed lately that we were all  very occupied and couldn't keep up with the tradition we started.  I hope that we can get together again  often.  

Girl Empowerment: "Because I can"

 Lime Apple will be launching  a new initiative dubbed as "Because I Can" starting March 1st.      They are doing this  initiative for  a great cause.  They will be donating 10% of  their online bubble hoodie sales to  three causes; Educating Girls, Childhood Cancers and Girl Empowerment.  They sent me one of their Bubble Hoodies for my daughter to which she is very excited to use. 

The Bubble Tops are  available in different  beautiful colors that   many girls  would absolutely love.    I chose this  rainbow  tie dye  color because I thought it would go great together with the volleyball that we just bought for her.  She plan on using this hoodie  when the  weather gets a little warmer in going to her practices.  The volleyball season just started and she is thrilled about that.

This Cuddle Bubble Hoodie is definitely one of  LimeApple's fun  creations.   My daughter love the way the  material feels against her skin.  It is  made with the finest quality and it’s built for durability and extra warmth.   I am sure that every girl would want one of this in their wardrobe  because it is comfy and cozy.   The textured bubble pattern makes these hoodies stand out even more. 

Last week, our weather was beautiful.  She wore this  on  their first volleyball practice but I forgot to bring my camera so I wasn't able to  take  a picture of her wearing this at the gym.  

So if you are looking for a perfect   hoodie for your  little girl   for Spring, I highly recommend this  bubble hoodie.  Not only it is  fashionable for your daughter but you will also help the cause  that LimeApple is supporting.  I think the Girl Empowerment is the perfect charity for this one.  Check it out and be a part of their cause by visiting their website.  The initiative won't start  until March 1st but if you can please share   this through social media for  further awareness, that would be so much appreciated.  Thanks a lot!

Sporting this bubble hoodie that my Mom got me from @limeappleapparel . They are launching a new initiative on March 1st for a cause. They will donate 10% of their bubble hoodie sale to Girl Empowerment  and two other charities. This hoodie is so soft and comfy and it's available in different fun colors. Check it out at my blog www.kids-E-connection.com

A post shared by Rylie 👾 (@ryestein_) on Feb 27, 2017 at 6:20pm PST

Cascading Ruffle Dress and Swimsuit

Swimming is something that both of my children love to do  especially during summer time.  They also love it that the  community center's pool is   open during winter so once in a while we go there and they swim.  We didn't have the chance to go last month but we planned to take them sometime this month.  

My daughter is very excited to go swimming  again so she can use her new  set of swimsuit that Limeapple sent us to review.  She love the design of this rays striped cropped tankini, it has brilliant shade of orange,  fuchsia and lime and striking black bottoms.  

 She also love the  center front zip up detail/zipper guard, which is quite unique.  Limeapple has so many cute designs for  girls swimwear.  I love that  the material is high quality and that they are  made well.

 I also got her this cascading ruffle dress in blue which I was  pleasantly surprised that she liked because she doesn't like dresses with   ruffles for some reason but  I am glad she like this one.  In act she  wore it to church last Sunday and it looked good on her and it fit so well on her tiny body.  

 I love the quality of this dress, the  lining is soft and  thicker than I epxected but it makes for a great  dress to wear to go to church.  Blue is her favorite color so I guess the color  of the dress  bypassed  her dislike for ruffles.  

Whoever  Limeapple's designer is really knows how to design for girl's dresses.  There is a lot of beautiful selection and not only  that they carry swimwear but they also  have a wide  selection of  dance wear,  dresses,    fitness clothing or active wear, and a lot more.  Limeapple really is  a lifestyle  girls clothing company so if you have daughters and you are looking for some stylish  clothing for them, I  encourage you to  give them a try.  They have plenty of selection.  Oh they also offer free shipping for orders $50 and above.

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the product/s mentioned  to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

Preparing for that First Dance

Shadow Shots

It is a rite of passage.  All young men go through it.  He may be the most talented athlete on the team or the smartest lad in the class.  He can be as thin as a toothpick or so fluid you must look twice to be certain his isn’t linked with the ball.  Regardless, when the time comes for him to get all dressed up for the dance that celebrates graduation from primary school, most youngsters suddenly become all thumbs.  Fortunately, you bought him a snazzy suit from Hudson’s Bay; the one he’d worn so proudly when he performed at the county talent show just last month. 

And why shouldn’t he suddenly become so discombobulated?  For the first time in his young life he is judged by criteria over which he has little or no control.  After all, he comes into this new stage of his life just as he also first enters that phase of puberty when his body grows rapidly but at uncoordinated rates and spurts.  One day he finds he doesn’t fit into his favorite pair of pants; the next he feels his neck is so long he looks like a baby giraffe.  Worst of all, he feels that every change in his physique is painfully noticeable to those around him.  That’s why using money saving Groupons to buy clothes for his ever-changing body makes such good sense.  (Especially when they offer up to 65% off boys apparel and free shipping.)

In his mind the person most likely to take note of all these changes is the very one he is expected to escort to their first dance.  For some strange reason, the girls are suddenly taller, more graceful and poised.  They are as attractive, intelligent, and aware as he is disjointed, awkward and uncomfortable.  For the first time in his young life he feels a sense of his own seeming inadequacy at the very time he is expected to be paired up with those whom he has secretly admired from afar.  Wouldn’t anybody feel uneasy when thrust into such circumstances? 

And yet, while it may seem forever to him, this is only a brief – though painful – passing phase.  Yes, he may need to return to Hudson’s Bay for a more stylish and better fitting suit.  And he also must learn the more intricate social details needed in this expanded world.  But the shaky steps taken at his first dance serve as the foundation upon which he can build the confidence that enables him to take on the challenges that lie ahead. 

Dearest Son: Happy 10th Birthday!

It seems like it's just yesterday when I gave birth to my  second child.  I can still remember  the pain, the excitement, and the worries that I have inside me having to  take care of  two  children.  I wished then that my family was around so they could help me.    My  daughter was just  18 months   when my son was born.  It felt like I  have a twin!  It's amazing how  we, as parents, survive things that we thought we could never do but for the love of our children, we try our best to do whatever we can to help, protect and raised our kids the way we know is best for them.  I can't believe it's been almost ten years.  Our son is turning  double digits this Sunday.

According to an article I read, ten year old is an age of contradictions.  Some may tell their parents not to hug them in  public but requests snuggles at home.  I am glad that my son  doesn't  do that.  He  love  hugs and kisses, he is not embarrassed to be hugged in public.   He is the most loving guy I know and very sensitive too.  We have to watch what we say as he gets hurt by words so easily.

I noticed  that he is very vocal about his friends.  He tells me all about them and what they do in school.  I am glad about that because I want to know  everything that is  going on school  when I am not around them.  

 When it comes to  grades in school, he is more laxed than his sister.  He is a straight A student but he is okay if they are not all 100s.  I used to be strict at him about this but I realized that it was  a wrong approach so I let him learn the way that he wants effective as  long as it doesn't affect  his grades.  I know that he is as smart as his sister  is, he just don't have that patience to sit and  study  everything.

 Both of my children have their own electronics but during  school days,  they  don't use them.  They  surrender them to us, they only get it  during weekend.  I know that we have to give our children  some independence but at the same time, they still need our guidance as they are still kids.

Below is a short letter I wrote for my son.  

Dearest EJ,

As you celebrate your 10th birthday, Mom and Dad and Ate wishes you  the best of everything.  May God   grant your wishes  and that may He always bless you with  good health.  I can't believe it has been ten years since I gave birth to you.  I can't even imagine carrying an 8 pound baby inside me but  you are a great blessing to our family!   Life won't be the same without you.  I am very grateful that God took care of you, despite the  doctor's worries about your  health when you were inside me, you were born  perfectly healthy.  

As you  start spreading your wings, always remember that we love you very much!   We   will always be here for you no matter what the circumstance is.  Stay sweet and loving.  Happy birthday Sweetheart!

Love,

Mom

Christmas Eve 2016

Our first Christmas at  the new home was  so much fun.  We definitely had  a great family time together as my husband  took a couple of days off from work so that we could spend  some quality time  for each other.  The kids baked  some chocolate crinkles, the only cookies we baked for the Christmas season.  We don't really bake a lot of cookies because I hate throwing out stale cookies.  We only bake what we can eat.  

These two always find something to do, it's either  working together   or annoying each other lol.  I am glad that they are growing out of  picking on each other with every little thing.  I hope that  from this time on, they would  support each other all the time.  

 It's been a while since I used our video camcorder so I recorded them when they were making the chocolate crinkles and of course when they were eating it.  I haven't uploaded the videos but glad I did.  Over the  course of  their holiday break from school, we spent a lot of time watching the videos  that my husband and I  recorded when they were babies.  I don't know why we stopped doing it  after we came back from overseas but I am glad we started again.  It's fun to watch them.

 We attended  the 5 o'clock mass on Christmas eve because both of the kids  joined  other  children from St. Joseph's choir to sing at the  said mass. 

 We got  ready super early so we had time to take some family photos.

 The little man did not want to wear his  tux but  went casual on his outfit.

 We went to church  at four, we were the first one to arrive so we got to choose the front seat, yes!

There's Fr. Dennis and  the music director, Ms. Bernardi.

 It was so much fun  watching our  kiddos  mingle with  other kids while waiting for the mass to start.  They also had time to practice all of their songs.

 Rylie was part of the Bell choir as well.  They played  certain songs  with bells.

 This year's mass was different because we didn't do the  Christmas pageant so the mass was short.

 My daughter is so small compared to her friends.  Here she is with one of her best friends.

 My little lady with Hannah and Juliana.

 I was lucky to get some photos after the mass.  Everybody crowd  in front of the altar after the mass.  Here they are with the Brady kids, Sophie and Nathan.  These four are  Fil-Ams.

Time flies, I can't believe my  daughter will be driving in  4 more years.  That would be exciting and a nervous stage for me lol.  We had a great  first Christmas at our new  home, to God be the glory.  May we all have a  peaceful and prosperous new year!