It's winter time once again and it reminds me of my first winter here in the US last 2003. It was December while we were in California and even though the weather was cold, it didn't stop us to go gallivanting around. Our friends Lina and Manuel took us to Lake Tahoe, about 3 hours drive from Stockton. It was cloudy and showering when we left Stockton but there was no snow. When we approached Lake Tahoe, I was so amazed when I saw the beautiful view of the place. Snow was all around the ground and the trees were white with snow. I can't help myself but exclaimed and said out loud that "I just used to see the snow in the movies and in the Christmas cards but now I see it for real." My friends and my hubby just laughed. Lina and her hubby were used to seeing snow because they resided in Canada before they moved to California. But I was just so excited to see snow for the first time in my life.

We went first to see the cable cars which they called Gondola In The Sky. It was freezing cold and it's good I wore layers of clothes. We wanted to ride the cable car but they were not opened that time because of the cold weather. We just took photos there. Then we headed to the lake. I tell you, the view there is spectacular. We got off the car and took some photos. My hubby and I were like kids that we were throwing snow to each other. We really had fun in the snow. Then we drove to North Lake Tahoe, crossing into Nevada. Our friends took us to Caesar's Palace. That was my first time to go to a casino and we just stayed there for a little while and played in the slot machine. I'm not a gambler so I really didn't enjoy playing. After that we went out and drove back to Stockton. It was a memorable day for me.

taken in Lake Tahoe

with my hubby and at our back is the lake
at the back are the mountains covered with snow, nice view indeed...
the Gondola In The Sky

in front of the Caesar's Palace, North Lake Tahoe, Nevada

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We did a lot of sight-seeing and traveling while we were in California. After our Universal Studios tour, we headed to visit our friend Cesar and his family in Chula Vista. It was a three hour drive from Hollywood so it was already almost midnight when we arrived there. We were so tired gallivanting around so I slept soundly that night. The next day, Cesar took us to Sea World in San Diego. He paid the entrance fee for all of us, me, my hubby, Lina, Manuel and their son. So he paid for 6 people including himself and he must have spent a lot for the entrance fee. It's good he got a discount because he's in the navy.

Sea World is a nice place to go if you are fond of those sea creatures. I enjoyed watching the dolphins' show, sea lion's show, pets' rule and of course who can forget Shamu, the famous whale. I took some photos and also recorded some of the shows in video. We went around seaworld and we've seen lots and lots of different species of fish, also penguins, etc.

During lunch time, we ate there and the foods there were so pricey. My hubby treated everybody for lunch. It's our little way of paying back our friends' hospitality and generosity. We were like having a picnic in one of the public tables in Sea World.
We were in Sea World until evening but still we were not able to watch all the shows. One day is not enough to roam around the place just like Universal Studios. But anyways, we had fun seeing the shows and I was really entertained. My eyes had a feast seeing all those sea creatures. It's an adventure that will always stay fresh in my mind.

at the entrance of Seaworld with my hubby
inside Sea World
with our friends, thank you very much for taking us to Sea World

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It's exactly 5 years this month since my hubby and I went to Universal Studios in Hollywood. My friend Lina and her hubby took us there and they paid the entrance fee for us. They got the celebrity pass which was good for 1 year. If only we live near that place, we could have went back there and we won't pay anything. One day was not enough to see all the shows in that place.

We had a studio tour. We rode the bus and it took us around Hollywood. We had a great time seeing the places where the movie stars shoot their movies. We've seen how they create flood in just one click. They're very good in fooling people with the effect of the camera. They showed us how they make the plane and the bus shake when they're filming. I was fascinated of course. I've also seen KingKong there. He was still alive and kicking.

We went to watch live the movies Water World, Backfire, Spiderman, and a lot more which I can't remember. We watch in 3D the movies Shrek and Terminator. That was my first time to watch 3D movies and it was awesome! The most unforgettable experience we had was the Back To The Future ride. Oh boy, that was a great ride! It was like we were on the outer space. My hubby and I had so much fun and we enjoyed it very much. We stayed there until past 7:00 PM.

How I wish I can go back there again. It was really a great and unforgettable experience.

the red carpet entrance
at the Jurassic Park


inside Hollywood


with the famous Shrek
in front of the big concrete Christmas tree
we ate at Red Ribbon Bakeshop in Panorama City after touring Universal Studios

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Below is a photo of my hubby and I taken at Luneta Park the first time he went there in the Philippines.


Can you remember the day you first met your hubby?
Yes. How can I forget a very memorable moment in my life?

When was that? (doesn’t have to be specific)
August 25, 2002 when he went to the Philippines and met me in person.

First impression.
Sweet and good-looking.

Were you attracted to him?
Definitely.

Were you friends before he became your bf?
We were corresponding in the internet and we became friends before he proposed to me.

What was the sweetest thing he did for you?
He traveled all the way across the globe to meet me. He quit his job to be with me while waiting for my visa to be processed. He said he miss me so much that he can't stand being away from me after we got married.

What are the things about him that you are thankful for?
He loves me unconditionally.
He is a Christian and He loves the Lord
He is faithful.
He is a responsible person and a good provider.
He understands me.
He loves my family like his own.
He's not picky with foods and he loves to eat Filipino foods.

This photo is our most recent photo together taken the other day.


*Now the rules are simple.
1. Foremost, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Pick your sweetest picture when you were still friends and post it on top of the questions and answers.
3. Another pic now that you are together post it after the questions.
4. Share to how many friends you like. Be sure to link them and send them a comment about the tag.
5. Enjoy doing it.
6. Let your hubby read it too.

I got this tag from Beth. Thanks for this! I enjoyed doing it. It reminds me of the past when I first met my hubby.

Now I'm tagging Dhemz, Grace, Selina, Toni, Lily and Richelle

Enjoy this tag 'cause I did! Do let me know after you're done doing it so I can read it in your blog.

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Time flies so fast. It's been 5 years since my hubby and I went to California to visit Lina, my best friend in college. When she learned that I was already here in the US, she kept calling me and asked me to go and visit her and her family in Stockton. So my hubby and I flew there and stayed there for 3 weeks. I was happy to see her because it's been a while since we saw each other. She and her husband had been very hospitable to us for the whole time we were there. One of our college friends, Cesar and his wife and youngest daughter were also there visiting. So it's like we had a reunion. My friends took us to different tourist attractions in California. First, they took us to Golden Gate in San Francisco which is just more than an hour drive from Stockton. I was so delighted to see the Golden Gate and we took some photos there. Imagine, I only used to watch this place in the movies then I got to see it that day. Then we drove across the Golden Gate bridge and went to the other side. There were many tourists there and we took some photos again.

Then we drove to Lombar Street, this is what they call the long and winding road. The view was spectacular and we stopped by and took some photos in that street. After that, we went to find the house of one of our college classmates there and we got lost on the way. We managed to find the address after a few turns and it was the birthday of the daughter of our classmate so we had free foods. After eating and chatting, we drove back to my friends' home. We had a good time that day.

Here are some souvenir photos taken in San Francisco 5 years ago. I didn't have a digital camera yet that time so I just scanned these photos. My apologies if they are not that clear.

on the other side of the Golden Gate
with my hubby and friends
at Lombar street, the long and winding road in San Francisco. We had to stop the traffic just to take photos, he-he!!! As you can see the road is only one way...

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As I've mentioned in my previous post, my hubby loved to stay in Baguio City while he was in the Philippines. I took 3 weeks vacation leave from my job that time and we went to Baguio and stayed there. We went to visit Mines View Park, Botanical Garden, The Mansion House, PMA, Camp John Hay, Bell Church, Sunshine Park, Wright Park and of course Burnham Park. My hubby was so impresed with the beauty of the parks there in Baguio City. He told me that it put most of the parks here in the US to shame.

We stayed at my brother-in-law's house in Camp Allen and it was just a walking distance to the public market and Burnham Park. We often go to the market and bought some fresh fruits, vegetables and fish. My hubby loved the pandesal there and we were a regular customer at a bakery in Kayang St. During afternoons, we walked to Burnham Park and we played badminton there. Sometimes we just sat at Malcom Square and just watched people passing by. My hubby felt so relaxed there, no pressure in his job, just eat, sleep, walk and relax. Those were the days, the good old days...

My hubby has been wanting to watch the Panagbenga or Flower Festival in Baguio. God's willing he will be able to watch it next year. I used to watch it yearly when I was still there. It is really a big event in the City Of Pines every year during the month of February.

Here are more scanned photos taken in Baguio when we were there many years ago.

at Camp John Hay

at the Botanical Garden
we had to pay these Igorotas (natives in Baguio) P10 each just to pose with us...


at Burnham Park
at Bell Church

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Time flies so fast. Christmas is just around the corner once again. We can feel it in the air. It’s chilly. This time last year, we already put up our Christmas tree but now, we will not have our Christmas tree since we are about to move out of this house. We will be leaving for the Philippines soon so there's no reason to decorate. We will vacate our house next week. I miss decorating my Christmas tree though. I will just decorate it next year when we will be in the Philippines. I just want to post here the photo of our Christmas tree that we decorated 2 years ago and it's the same Christmas tree that we used also last year.

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It's been more than 5 years since we were in the Philippines. When I was still there, I often go to Baguio City with my siblings. My brother-in-law has a house there and that's where we stay. I've been to all the tourist spots in Baguio. I also studied in Saint Louis University, one of the famous universities in the city.

Baguio is a city in the mountains and it has lots of pine trees. The climate is the main attraction of Baguio because it's the summer capital of the Philippines. It's nice and cool. When I got married to my American husband, I took him to Baguio and he really like the place. In fact he wanted to buy a house there at that time but I told him it's not yet the right time because we will be leaving for the US. I took my hubby to all the tourist spots in Baguio while he was there. He spent almost 7 months in the Philippines the 3rd time he went there. Most of the time, we went to Baguio and stay there. Hubby really enjoyed his stay in the Philippines. We're so excited to go back there soon.

Below are the photos that I scanned which were taken in Baguio City more than 5 years ago. I miss those days. Philippines see you soon...

at Sunshine Park with my hubby

at Burnham Park
at Bell Church

hubby and I at Burnham Park
at Bell Church again
at PMA

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