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Summer 2013 Fun

September 21st, 2013 1 comment

Summer has come and gone and we filled it full of fun!  We spent most of the summer in Manila with friends taking drama/soccer classes, bowling, ice skating, going to movies, museums and being together as a family.  We did have a couple of getaways during the summer.  A few days in Singapore and then a long weekend at Canyon Cove Resort in the Philippines.  Summer time here means that it is the rainy season, but that didn’t stop up from staying busy and making memories!

Kalani participated in a drama class for a month where she made some wonderful friends.  At the end they performed an original play.

Kalani participated in a drama class for a month where she made some wonderful friends. At the end they performed an original play.

Mason played soccer twice a week for about a month.  He really liked being the goalie.

Mason played soccer twice a week for about a month. He really liked being the goalie.

We went to Manila Ocean Park where they had a "North Pole" with snow...it was really cold!

We went to Manila Ocean Park where they had a “North Pole” with snow…it was really cold!

We had a day of bowling with friends.

We had a day of bowling with friends.

A day at the Mind Museum with friends.

A day at the Mind Museum with friends.

Dancing/playing at a friend's house

Dancing/playing at a friend’s house

Mason's tooth got infected and had to be pulled

Mason’s tooth got infected and had to be pulled

Kalani learned how to make her chin turn into a face

Kalani learned how to make her chin turn into a face

We had a "Friends Party" just because

We had a “Friends Party” just because

Our extended family came over

Our extended family came over

We met more family members in person and got more family history information

We met more family members in person

We enjoyed watching the Philippine National Basketball games

We enjoyed watching the FIBA Asia games

Now Mason does "preschool" with me at home

Now Mason does “preschool” with me at home

Kalani is now in grade 4 and has 2 of her good friends in her class this year

Kalani is now in grade 4 and has 2 of her good friends in her class this year

Categories: Family, Philippines Tags: , , , ,

Canyon Cove

September 21st, 2013 No comments

Some friends of ours invited us to spend a weekend with them for the birthday celebration of their daughter who is Kalani’s friend.  It happened to be over a 3 day weekend so we took advantage of that and had a wonderful time being with friends and enjoying the beach and resort.  We drove about 2 hours to get to Canyon Cove Resort.  With it being a holiday weekend, we didn’t get any promotion deals, so we felt like we paid too much for the rooms and food.  The buffet breakfast was okay if you wanted to eat the local Filipino type breakfast, but after 2 days of it we were done.  We arrived on Thursday evening and left Saturday afternoon…you know that the food wasn’t great when “Jolliebee” is a better option.  Still, we had a good time hanging out with friends and being on the beach and Kalani and Matt got to ride a jet ski!

The resort had a nice pool, access to the beach, play ground, fish spa and volleyball court.

The resort had a nice pool, access to the beach, play ground, fish spa and volleyball court.

Mason loved having his "Big Boy Friends" around, and I think they also liked having him around as well.

Mason loved having his “Big Boy Friends” around, and I think they also liked having him around as well.

Kalani loved having friends around to swim with.

Kalani loved having friends around to swim with.

We had some fun playing sand volleyball.

We had some fun playing sand volleyball.

When it wasn't overcast too much, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

When it wasn’t overcast too much, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

 

Singapore Vacation

July 10th, 2013 No comments

As soon as we came home from Perth, Australia we found out that Matt had a business trip to Singapore.  So of course we booked tickets and off to Singapore as a family we went.  I really like these business trips where Matt’s company pays for his plane ticket and hotel room, so we just have to pay for our plane tickets!  Matt flew out on Monday and had business meetings Tuesday-Thursday.  The kids and I flew to Singapore on Wednesday and did our own thing on Thursday and stayed together as a family for Friday-Sunday.

We stayed at the Fullerton Hotel and because of some connections we got a free upgrade.  We had a beautiful view from our window and the staff were all very friendly and helpful.  Singapore is truly a melting pot and it was difficult to figure out if people were Singaporean, Malaysian, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, etc.  And it is also true that Singapore is expensive.  We probably spent a small fortune during our time there, but we made some wonderful memories!

Fullerton Hotel is were we stayed.  It has an interesting past and has been around since 1928.

Fullerton Hotel is were we stayed. It has an interesting past and has been around since 1928.

Day 1: Crossed the boarder into Malaysia to go to LegoLand

Day 1: Crossed the boarder into Malaysia to go to LegoLand

Day 2: S.E.A. Aquarium in Sentosa

Day 2: S.E.A. Aquarium in Sentosa

Day 2: Universal Studios which was near the aquarium on Sentosa Island.  This was the first time that Matt has been with us at an amusement park!

Day 2: Universal Studios which was near the aquarium on Sentosa Island. This was the first time that Matt has been with us at an amusement park!

When we finally left Sentosa Island we took these cable cars to get back to the mainland

Day 2: When we finally left Sentosa Island we took these cable cars to get back to the mainland.

View of Sentosa Island at night as seen from our cable car.

Day 2: View of Sentosa Island at night as seen from our cable car.

Mason enjoying the science center.

Day 3: Mason enjoying the science center.

Walking around Arab Street

Day 3: Walking around Arab Street

At Little India doing some shopping!

Day 3: At Little India doing some shopping!

We went up to Marina Bay Sands Hotel to check out their infinity pool.

Day 3: We went up to Marina Bay Sands Hotel to check out their infinity pool.

The shops at Marina Bay Sands...very high end stores.

Day 3: The shoppes at Marina Bay Sands…very high end stores.

And this is Marina Bay Sands Hotel with the shoppes in front of it.

And this is Marina Bay Sands Hotel with the shops in front of it.

Day 3:  Dinner at some hawker stands.

Day 3: Dinner at some hawker stalls.

Day 3:  The kids ended the day by swimming in the pool.

Day 3: The kids ended the day by swimming in the pool.

Day 4:  Met up with cousins that are living in Singapore and spent the day at the zoo.

Day 4: Met up with cousins that are living in Singapore and spent the day at the zoo.

Day 4: Singapore zoo has a fun water park where the kids spent over an hour.

Day 4: Singapore zoo has a fun water park where the kids spent over an hour.

Day 4:  We walked over to the Night Safari after the zoo and spent the evening with the animals.

Day 4: We walked over to the Night Safari after the zoo and spent the evening with the animals.

More photos of our Singapore vacation here.

Perth, Australia Vacation

July 9th, 2013 No comments

The end of May Matt had a business trip to Perth, Australia.  So, we pulled Kalani out of school for a week and explored Western Australia.  A very generous co-worker that we actually met while our two families lived in Aberdeen, Scotland invited us to stay at his home during our week and they served as our chauffeur and tour guides.  They have a daughter Kalani’s age and a son a couple of years older than Mason.  The kids all got along well so that was nice for everyone!

It was getting to be winter time in Australia so I looked forward to wearing jeans, long sleeve shirts and not sweating.  I checked the forecast for the week and we would be leaving Manila where it was around 98’F to Perth where it was suppose to be 70’F.  However for about 24-36 hours the weather dropped from the normal 70′ F to 55′ F, but still we went out and enjoyed Australia!

Our first outing in Perth was to Burswood Park to meet up with Filipino co-workers for a BBQ.

Our first outing in Perth was to Burswood Park to meet up with Filipino co-workers for a BBQ.

We toured around a small section of Kings Park on this beautiful day.

We toured around a small section of Kings Park on this beautiful day.

Ended our first day in Perth by visiting City Beach.  The kids didn't need their swimming suits to enjoy the water!

Ended our first day in Perth by visiting City Beach. The kids didn’t need their swimming suits to enjoy the water!

Day 2 was spent at SciTech.

Day 2 was spent at SciTech.

Day 3 we went to the zoo.  The kangaroos roam freely in the Australian section.

Day 3 we went to the zoo. The kangaroos roam freely in the Australian section.

Day 4 we visited the museum.  This dinosaur was making some loud noises.

Day 4 we visited the museum. This dinosaur was making some loud noises.

Day 4 was also spent walking around city center and taking the free hop on hop off buses.

Day 4 was also spent walking around city center and taking the free hop on hop off buses.

Day 5 was spent at the aquarium.  Mason really liked the touch pool.

Day 5 was spent at the aquarium. Mason really liked the touch pool.

Day 5 was also the coldest day we were there so we had some fabulous hot chocolate at the nearby shops in Hillary.

Day 5 was also the coldest day we were there so we had some fabulous hot chocolate at the nearby shops in Hillary.

Day 6 we went to Caversham Wildlife Park where dreams came true of touching kangaroos and koalas.

Day 6 we went to Caversham Wildlife Park where dreams came true of touching kangaroos and koalas.

Day 7 we toured the Fremantle Prison that was in operation until 1991.

Day 7 we toured the Fremantle Prison that was in operation until 1991.

Farley family had a wonderful week in Perth, Australia!

Farley family had a wonderful week in Perth, Australia!

I took the kids out from about 10am-2pm.  Our host family’s children were in school while we were there, and their school didn’t start until about 9am.  We would come home from our day out and the kids would return from school around 3pm.  Then we spent the evening home enjoying a home cooked meal and watching movies or playing games.  The adults did go out one evening to see Perth at night while the 4 kids were being watched by a friend.  There really isn’t a whole lot more of Perth to see or do that we didn’t accomplish in the week we were there.

More photos of our Perth vacation here.

Categories: Family, Travel Tags: , , , , ,

1st Year Birthday Party Filipino Style

June 14th, 2013 No comments

The Filipinos know how to throw a party!  I am assuming that the 1st year birthday is a big deal in the Philippines like it is in Hawaii because of tradition.  Years ago children did not live to see their first birthday, so this is a major milestone.  We were invited by a couple that both husband and wife are co-workers of Matt to attend their son’s first birthday.  Of course we went to see how the Filipinos throw a party…and we weren’t disappointed!

Welcome to the birthday party!

Welcome to the birthday party!  All of the boys got an eye patch, bandanna, sword & spying scope.

The set-up was amazing and you still can't see everything that they had in this photo.  We were told that this was an "average" party for a 1 year old!

The set-up was amazing and you still can’t see everything that they had in this photo. We were told that this was an “average” party for a 1 year old!

Party Favors for each child who attended

Party Favors for each child who attended

There were various games that they kids played and after each game they got a prize...this is the prize table

Prize Table – There were various games that the kids played and after each game they got a prize

Each child got a cupcake that was individually decorated.  And this is the  super cool cake

Cake Table – Each child got a cupcake that was individually decorated

At the end of the party program there was a pinata...it is suppose to be for the kids, but there are a bunch of adults there to make sure their child gets a prize

At the end of the party program there was a pinata

There was a hair stylist available who put fun colors in your hair

There was a hair stylist available who put fun colors in your hair

Super cool face painting was available for anyone

Super cool face painting was available for anyone

Photo booth and props were available for all.

Photo booth and props were available for all.

And some additional fun things that I didn’t get a photo of that were present at the party were:  MC guy who put on a party program for the kids, random photographers who took pictures of the guests and then you could buy each photo for about $1, a small play ground in the corner to use, a sticker booth where you could get your name placed on a Disney character sticker, a candy bar, an adult buffet, a kids buffet, hot dogs, popcorn and popsicles.

It was a really fun party.  I am glad that our kids got to experience it since I don’t ever plan to throw a party for them like this!  It is true what they say, “It’s More Fun In The Philippines!”

Categories: Family Tags: , , , , ,