It rained a lot in Texas and caused a lot of flooding. Luckily we stayed safe.

We attended Houston Exotic Reptile and Pet Show as a family one Saturday.

At the reptile show there was a big dog that Blake liked from a distance. But when we put him down next to the dog, he quickly retreated back to his mom’s arms.

One of my good friends that I have known since the 1st grade has been in Texas for work. We were able to meet up and spend an afternoon together catching up!

Mason loves to bake in the kitchen. One day we made cinnamon rolls together and then delivered them to his church teacher and neighbors.

We made the 2.5 hour drive to Waco to visit Magnolia Market. We are all fans of the HGTV show “Fixer Upper” and had a wonderful time in Waco. With rented Redbox movies for the kids to watch in the car, the drive wasn’t that bad.

After eating lunch at In-N-Out Burger, we stopped at the Dr. Pepper Museum. I have never drank Dr. Pepper, but it was fun and educational to show the kids how things use to be.

Before heading home we stopped at Harp Design Co. where we were fortunate enough to see Clint Harp outside when we arrived.

The rain let up and we had beautiful weather for family swim day.

My sister arranged to have us eat dinner at her home and then drive to her friend’s home and ride their horses. After all of the kids had a chance to ride the horses, the mommas also got a turn.

Kalani was the first one on a horse and she got the tallest horse.

Mason rode a couple of different horses and loved having Casey lead him around.

Blake was pretty happy with himself for riding a horse. He rode a second time while I was riding a horse as well.

Blake also had his 2nd birthday in the month of June.

We made it to USC campus

Sisters all together again

Blake would take handful of his cousins snacks and then feed her some one by one

Farley family with the graduate

Everyone who made it to USC gradutation

After graduation we all hung out together having a swim party, BBQ and game night.

We had a birthday cake for one of my brothers. Since the sun went down it was getting cold and Matt was trying to warm up by candle light.

Blake found his cousin’s stuffed animals and was content to play with them for a while.

This is the biggest group photo that we were able to capture. One family was still at the hotel and Kalani was off with her uncle and grandma already.

Matt proposed to me in front of the castle… Apparently he’s had some practice 🙂

We got to meet Kylo Ren.

One crazy group at the jungle safari.

Mason is so good with his baby cousins.

During lunch my sister’s tongue started to swell after eating something. The restaurant took that very seriously and got a nurse to come check her out (we all ate for free!).

This was the only photo that we have of Kalani at Disneyland. We didn’t see her again until after the night parade.

Mason was able to participate in the Jedi Training.

He got to fight Darth Vader!

We had a great time going on rides and making crazy faces.

We watched a few parades since babies were sleeping and/or we wanted to sit down.

We got to walk around the Newport Beach temple grounds.

We made a stop at the Reptile Zoo. A show that we watch is filmed here often.

Blake HAD to hold the ball python.

My sisters and our family boarded a plane and headed back home after a fun weekend.

We made hygiene kits at church and then Matt and Robbie delivered them to the city jail with other members from our church.

We went to the province to celebrate our cousin’s 1st birthday party and all of these guys wanted a photo with Matt and Robbie before we left.

Mason with the 1 year old birthday girl.

Annual Light Show at Ayala Triangle

Life-size gingerbread house at the Peninsula Hotel

Manila Airport was a mess on Christmas Eve. Luckily we found a place to wait to board the plane on the floor in front of a TV

We were able to ride on the Coco Princess from Dumeguete to Siquijor. It is Coco Grove’s private boat that goes straight to the resort.

We enjoyed our time at Salagdoong with cousins

Mason got dropped off the platform at Salagdoong. Later he ran and jumped off on his own while other adults were too nervous to do the same.

Because it rained the day before, Cambugahay Falls wasn’t as clear as it normally is. But still beautiful and we enjoyed our time there.

We explored more of Siquijor and found another waterfall after walking through the “jungle”

While hanging out with family, the kids played in this “tree house” that was built for our 5 year old cousin.

The children who live near our cousins welcome our children to play with them whenever we arrive.

The boys always seem to go to a cock-fight in Siquijor

We got to listen to Island Melody Band on Christmas Eve. Due to the rain they had to move the show indoors.

We arranged to have our family come to Coco Grove to have dinner with us. This is the first group of people to arrive to the resort.

We tried to see how many cousins could fit on the circular bed at the Penthouse.

All of our cousins and 2 sister missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who came over to have a catered dinner with us at Coco Grove.

We were able to attend church in Siquijor with our friends from Manila.

Finally on December 30th, we were able to return home and the kids could open their Christmas presents.

Matt and Robbie went out dancing with some of our Filipino friends

2014 was a wonderful year for us and we are looking forward to 2015 and all the adventures it holds for us.

They arrived early Sunday morning and were jet-lagged the whole week they were with us. But, luckily they can sleep anywhere, like at the movie theater, restaurant & lounge

A morning of shopping at Greenhills where we bought knock-off purses and other souvenirs. And of course they got to see “lady-boys”

We had a nice dinner at The Peninsula and then went to the lounge to watch/listen to a live band

These guys flew to Dumaguete from Manila, and then took the hour long ferry boat to get to Siquijor

Getting ready to take our cousin’s boat to Salagdoong Beach (on the way they snorkeled from the bamboo arms)

3-man jump from the platform at Salagdoong

My 17 year old brother about to jump off the platform in the tree at Cambugahay Falls

They enjoyed their time at Cambugahay Falls and made friends with the locals that were also spending the day there

They played some basketball with cousins

They enjoyed the decorations for the “Coconut festival”

And they danced the night away with cousins and new friends at the village disco

Photo of cousins at the disco

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is now on the island of Siquijor and they were able to attend worship service and classes before heading on the ferry and plane back to Manila

Our siblings enjoyed the pool and gym at our condo

After the boys left, my sister-in-law and I did some girl things…like attending a baby shower that the ladies from church threw for me

And I threw a “Pamper Me” Party at our condo and had some friends over and each person had their own massage therapist for an hour

My brother Robbie was also here, but had to stay in Manila with me since his online Master’s Program started that week. But the kids were happy to spend more time with him.

We love spoiling our family when they come to visit us. And they took full advantage to meet our extended relatives and see life in a 3rd world country

My 17 year old brother wrote this on a photo he took to let us know that he had a good time… now he just needs to learn how to spell Philippines, or at least use spell-check!

My schedule for California. Shopping was very important since I needed to stock up on items not found in the Philippines to last me for the next 1-2 years.

The home I grew up in is surrounded by 3 rice fields and a canal in the back. My dad, uncles and grandpa built our home about 28 years ago. Now my brother and dad are building an “Ag Building” that will be converted into an apartment.

The joys of living out in the country. Exploring for critters with your uncle.

Cousins having fun on the trampoline ages 9, 5, 5, 4, 1

Mason LOVED playing with all of the toys at grandma’s house.

We had a bonfire at my parent’s house a couple of times and even roasted some marshmallows and made s’mores.

I had lunch with my grandma.

Dinner with my friends who I have known for over 25 years…I brought them a “bra organizer” from the Philippines.

Afternoon at a pumpkin patch to choose pumpkins to decorate.

Dinner with ALL of my siblings and their spouse who were in California for the week.

My brothers…just missing Seth who is the youngest.

My sisters…just missing Lei who is number 4 sister.

Ninjas are invading the house. Both kids wanted to have the same ninja costume this year.

Ready to go Trick-or-Treating with cousins. We only lasted about an hour or so, but everyone was happy with their loot.

The family who watched Jeffrey’s football game. He scored 4 touchdowns that night!

The kids thought looking at the stars and running around with other kids was more fun than sitting in the bleachers and watching the football game.

Before we left my sister took photos of the kids per my dad’s request. Here is our Hawaiian princess.

Our Big Kahuna!