Happy Anniversary to Wifely Steps

As a way of celebrating Wifely Steps' 5th year anniversary on the blogosphere, here's my entry to Toni's contest:

My Favorite Wifely Steps' entry is On Not Having Children...yet!

I chanced upon Wifely Steps after I got married in January 2007---what good timing right? Since then, I've been inspired with Toni's positive and informative stories via her blog.

One of my favorite entries was about Toni's feelings on not having children yet. I can so relate with that entry because since I got married, I have been hounded by questions like "so when is the baby coming?" and of course with questions like those, I felt a certain kind of pressure to conform with what's expected of us. However, when I read Toni's entry, I somehow felt a certain kind of peace that I'm not alone and that not conforming with society's expectations is a not bad thing. Thru the On Not Having Children...yet! entry, I confirmed that having children is indeed a choice.

Now let me also take this opportunity to greet Toni:

Toni, congratulations!!! Wifely Steps is such a blessing to us all. More power to you! I really hope to meet you soon. Mwah! - ibyang :)

Happy-Exhausted

I know, I know. It's not good to start the week being exhausted but what can i do? At least I'm happy .

Husband and I had a very busy, hectic but productive weekend as we were able to do a little exploring, hang out with relatives and friends, help in the birthday party of my cuzin Patrick, do household chores, update my website AND (the biggest and of all) cover two events. Multi-tasking to the max at strike anywhere ang drama namin *whew!

Yes!!! We are now covering events :) Oh well, it's not really a big deal (not yet anyway) but at least we are going somewhere with regards to our passion for photography. (Our first event was the christening of my godson Caleb last month, then this month, the birthday parties of Patrick.)

Patrick had two birthday parties and we both covered them: Saturday night and Sunday afternoon (which was yesterday).

Saturday was party at home for families and friends so it was kinda easy.

Sunday was challenging as it was a bowling party for kids.

Photographing kids is one thing. Photographing kids in a bowling alley is another. Imagine, these kids are kids: small and tiny and we expect them to bowl? Ayayay! My arms hurt not because of clicking and holding the camera but because I had to help the kids carry the bowling ball so they can at least roll them over to the alley. At ang hirap kuhanan ng mga bata kasi since bowling ito, nakatalikod sila pag tumira. Chris and I had to go to the middle of the bowling alley (which was off limits to us really) in order to have some frontal shots of the kids while playing.

After they played one game, we had to go to the dining area so the kids can eat their snacks and where Patrick will blow candles on his cake. These kids are about 6-7 years of age and are very active. Ang gugulo at ang iingay. We had to shout a bit to get their attention for the group photos or for them to at least smile at the camera.

I swear, when Chris and I lied down to our bed last night, we were dead tired and we were like "Ang sakit ng katawan ko lalo na ang arms ko, ang hirap pala mag-cover ng bowling party."

But here's the thing, we were both smiling and really really happy how the parties for Patrick turned out and how fulfilling it was that we were the ones who captured a very important part of his life.

And I love being able to photograph kids :) I love seeing them smile on my viewfinder. I love it when they smile because they realize I'm taking a photo of them. I love seeing their unpretentious expressions especially their laughter. Being with kids is such a natural high.

I'm happy-exhausted today but I'm in a really good mood. It's a Monday and yet I have a smile in my heart :) all because i was blessed by little angels yesterday.

Laughter in the Morning

My husband and I were laughing like crazy while still in bed this morning.

Both awake and talking but not getting up, we suddenly thought to pretend that we are literally joined at the hip (you know, like Siamese twins) and the challenge was to get up from bed. And boy, it was crazy. We kept on falling back to bed and mainly because we were laughing at our being silly. :)

The first step was to be able to sit up straight.
The next was to get out of the bed and be able to stand up.

Can you imagine how silly we were????

Try it and it's fun, I tell you. It will really wake the nerves out of you and you'll start the day laughing.

La Perouse and Brighton Beach

We had a very enjoyable day with Hilda and her niece and nephew Andrea and Toti at La Perouse and Brighton Beach today.

It was a great day to hang out at the beach eventhough it was a bit wintry cold. The sun shined brightly the whole day which made us capture great photos, have a small picnic, enjoy the view while having lunch and walk along the shores while sipping our hot chocolate.

Toti and Andrea visiting from Manila

at Botany Bay National Park (La Perouse)

i never saw blue like that

i love the rock formation at La Perouse

photographers at work

picnic time

at the other side of La Perouse

Lunch at Boat Shed

Our view at Boat Shed while having lunch (it was sooo relaxing)

sipping hot chocolate at Brighton Beach

still at Brighton Beach

My FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE DAY:

A. OUR JUMP SHOTS - we had the funnest times doing our jump shots :)

Toti and Andrea

Streetfighter Jumpshot with Hilda (sobrang aliw ako dito sa shot na ito!)

Andrea, Toti, Hilda and Ivy

grand finale jumpshot

B. SEASCAPE/LANDSCAPE SHOTS

La Perouse

La Perouse

Brighton Beach

C. BIRD PHOTO

Black Bird at La Perouse

I fell inlove with La Perouse today---it was just sooo beautiful there. I really really love it. It has now become one of my favorite places in Australia. :)