Flyfish Summer Outing 2015

17 - 19 April 2015

I'm so glad we're able to do another summer outing this year with our Flyfish Gang. Last year we all went to Tali. This year, Janice was the once who booked the house also in Nasugbu, Batangas. We stayed at a rental house in Maya-Maya Subdivision and booked via airbnb. Although Janice mentioned that the house has its own website so you better google it as Airbnb charges a booking fee. Anyhoo, this year we booked 2 nights to stay at our rental which I think was a good idea. Since we rarely see each other, it was a very good time for our kids to hang out and bond with each other. And that's exactly what they did over the weekend.

We arrived with Janice and Penny's families as we convoyed via Cavitex. That's a very fast route compared to Tagaytay. We met up at Macapagal Blvd at 10:30am and arrived at the house by 1:30pm. We stopped over Cavite to have lunch at a McDonalds for about an hour.

While the big kids are playing, my little Javi is making pa-cute. 

By the way, this was our first out-of-town trip as a family of four without any help (grandparents or otherwise). And it was a success! Mainly because, Miya really played with the other kids and we didn't have to make her bantay and well, Javi was left at his rocker and the other yayas adored him. They will talk to him and keep him entertained while Mommy and Daddy had other things to do like eat hehe.

After settling down, the kids went ahead and swam at the swimming pool inside the property.

I actually changed Miya into her bathing suit thinking that we'll be going to the beach soon. But while waiting for Weng's family to dress up, I could already hear the screams of my little girl from outside. Ayun nasa pool na pala. Thank you, Ninang Penny for looking after her.

Then it was beach time!

The care taker of the house brought us to a private beach where we only paid for the parking of our vehicles (P50 per car unlimited time). Although the beach sand was not white, it was very fine. Not at all ouchy to kids' feet.

While Ate Miya was swimming, Javi was sleeping hahaha! He fell asleep on the car ride from the house to the beach. To think, the ride was only around 5 minutes. He was so sleepy hahaha. Oh babies!

Since it was already late in the afternoon, we didn't let him dip in the ocean when he finally woke up. Picture picture na lang hehe.

Almost successful group shot

Bye bye beach!

After dinner and putting the kids to sleep, the adults stayed up until midnight to make chika. It's been a long time since we last did that. I surely miss spending time with this bunch.

More pics of our second day after the jump....

Puerto Galera 2014

9 - 11 May 2014

This was a long awaited vacation for us as we planned this a few months ago. Epoy was coming home for his holidays and we wanted to go on vacation with him. We initally planned to go to Davao but since we're all in a tight budget, Epoy offered going to his hometown in Puerto Galera instead. 

We left for Puerto Galera the day after Joema’s birthday. He paid for the place we stayed in and we split all other expenses. It was a long day of travelling for us. We first went to pick up Epoy from his condo in MOA and then went to Paranaque to Joy and Mek’s house. We agreed to take just one vehicle going to Batangas Pier. But before going to the pier we went to Mek’s parent’s house in Lipa first to drop off their puppy. And then from the pier we rode a ferry going to Puerto Galera. We didn’t stay at the white beach instead we stayed at a nearby small hotel just beside Epoy’s grandma’s place. All our food were taken cared of Epoy courtesy of his mom’s cooking. We arrived in Puerto Galera just in time for lunch.

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After eating, our first agenda for the day was mud karts. But a little side story here as this was where my first hormonal breakdown happened hahaha. So we freshened up after eating. We all took a bath, by we all of us in our family – Miya, then yaya, hubby and me. Miya because she hasn’t taken a bath for the day as we left home very early and she was still sleeping when we carried her to her car. Then yaya decided she wants to take a bath too. And since we’re all sharing one bathroom I let her go first after Miya. So I had to wait for my turn. When it was my turn to take a bath, I was feeling so tired and hot and sticky already. Epoy was already hurrying us up so we can still go to the beach. Joema and I decided to take a bath together so it will be faster. When we got to the bathroom, the heater was automatically turned on and the water was so hot. I really want to take a bath already but Joema was so masungit with me and telling me to wait for the water. Hay naku I broke down in the bathroom because I was really hot and I wanted to take a bath na hahaha! As in parang pelikula, I was crying while taking a bath. Anyway, Joema said sorry afterwards. But I really felt kawawa at that moment – pregnancy hormones I tell you hahaha! 

Refreshed and ready to explore!

When we got to the karting place I knew I can’t do anything with them but watch (I was 17 weeks pregnant at that time).

So I took photos of them instead.

Still clean...

They really enjoyed mud karting!

All mudded up! 

In fairness, they said they felt their skin felt much smoother after they washed off the mud hehe.

After mudkarts we went to white beach to swim for a bit (only the kids) and we also hired a boat for our island hopping the next day. We also had our hair braided at the beach. 

I wanted a silhouette photo of my bump - at 17 weeks and 4 days

The next day, we went island hopping! Yes, all of us even Miya and our yaya. We negotiated with the boatmen to let Miya and our yaya ride free for the island hopping since they won’t be able to go snorkeling anyway. Our hired boat took us around Mindoro’s island first and then went back for our snorkeling adventure. From the big boat, we rode small boats to go to each of the attraction. I was so scared because the boat can only fit 3 adults. Miya was with us and she had to stand in between Joema and me. I was scraed but I can’t show it to Miiya because she might get scared too. So instead we pretended that it was all okay hahaha kunyari we’re all playing and we’re saying “Weee” while the boat was crashing into the waves. Our first stop was the underwater cave. If you’ve been to Crystal Cove in Boracay, this is similar to that but much smaller. When we took Miya underneath I told her that she’s like Ariel, the Little Mermaid, because it was pretty dark inside. I don’t want her to be afraid. Good thing, it was only for the first few minutes we were inside that she was afraid. By the time we left the cave she wasn’t scared anymore. She was saying that she was like Little Mermaid. If you’re going here, better wear a rubber sandals with straps or aqua shoes. I was wearing ordinary slippers when we went there and my slippers kept on floating hahaha. I don’t have photos of us inside the cave because it was in Ky’s underwater camera but I will definitely update this post once I get those photos. After that we went snorkeling to see the big clams and the beautiful corals in Puerto Galera.

Here's a photo of Mya and yaya while the rest of us went snorkeling

We ate lunch at our boat and then we went to an island were we just whiled away our time.

When we got back to the main island, we went to Tamaraw Falls.

Miya was knocked out by this time

There was a pool that catches the water from the falls where you can also swim. Only Mek and Miguel were brave enough and had enough energy to still swim.

We were all so tired here. From the bottom of the falls where the pool was, we had to go up a few flight of stairs to come up again to the main road where this was taken. 

That night we went to a bar and they had some drinks while watching Epoy’s cousins band perform. But I don't seem to find any photos of us there hehe. 

On our last day, we just chilled at the resort. Miya was the only one (with yaya) who swam at the beach in front of the hotel hahaha! You can’t really take out my baby from the water. She loves the water! Well, actually the boys did some exploring.

Kala mo mga haciendero!

They even borrowed a boat from the local kids, which they sank!

Then it was time to eat our last meal in Puerto Galera...

Then it was time to say goodbye and thank you to our hosts.

Tagaytay in December

1-2 December 2012

I think last year has been the most number of times that we’ve been to Tagaytay. We went there for Joema’s birthday and went back again for a summer outing with old friends at Canyon Woods. We also passed by Tagaytay when we went to Punta Fuego for our office summer outing. On the first weekend of December, we went back there again and stayed at Hotel Kimberly. Grabbed a voucher from DealGrocer for this one.

I love taking photos of Miya’s outfits nowadays. I’m inspired by Mommy Fleur’s blog to do OOTD photos of Miya. Her daughter is a true blue fashionista.

First we passed by Amoroma for lunch. When I read about this resto from Anna’s blog, I knew we had to try it the next time we go to Tagaytay.

Our pizza monster:

Our room at Hotel Kimberly is pretty basic (will make a separate post for my “Where to Stay” corner). What we loved is the small animal farm and the big slide outside the hotel. We didn’t even swam on their pool because the wind was already chilly. After checking in, we went back outside to see the animals and play at the big slide.

I know I’ve mentioned it again and again in this blog but I’m really loving the times Miya gets to run around outdoors and enjoy nature.

We went back inside so that Miya can take a nap. She only napped for a short time and was a little energizer bunny again afterwards.

Playing with her dad

So we went out again to visit the rabbits.

The voucher I got included a four course dinner. We had it served in our room which was actually a good thing because by the time I washed up Miya, she fell asleep.  I thought she will still wakeup for dinner because she was asleep around 6:30pm. But she didn’t wake up anymore. She only stirred for her occasional night feeding and she woke up the next day haha. Poor baby was so exhausted with all the playing she did.

The next morning, well you guessed it we went back to see the animals and play at the big slide hehe.

We went home relaxed and energize. I love vacations like this!