Man.
The summer has totally flown by.
I swear it was just yesterday when we were doing the happy dance because all the final exams were completed.
The kids did awesome last year with school and their activities.
Funny thing is, this was a momentous year for our family for so many different reasons. We have made some incredible changes in our lives and we have all grown tremendously.
Each. And. Every. Single. One. Of. US.
We are so thankful for the year that was, with The Little Apprentice.
Gelli has moved on from her years at The Little Apprentice.
She has become more verbal.
She has definitely learned to express herself in more ways than one.
Even though the behavioral challenges that we have come across in the past few months of keeping our hands to ourselves have given us a run for our money, we are still excited for the coming year and the changes that it will bring.
I just know Gelli will continue to surprise us all.
Diego graduated 6th grade! Oh my! My boy is in junior high school now!
Diego graduated grade school.
He has left elementary school behind and moved onto Junior High.
He has hit some other milestones in his life, that I’m sure he would not want me to share so willingly. BUT, I will tell you this though…my little boy is growing up too fast for my liking.
And here, I was hoping he would stay a boy just a little while longer…
Hopefully, he will always remember that his momma loved him first 😉 hehehehehe…
Milestones like these are best celebrated with family. I’m so lucky that my parents enjoy spending time with my kids.
Diego also found a new sport. He has fallen in love with basketball. Believe it or not, basketball is one of the most popular sports here in the Philippines despite the physical challenges of not being one of the taller races of people. We Pinoys, LOVE our basketball.
And believe you me, Diego is my Pinoy Boy through and through…
Miguel hit some milestones of his own this year. Before the school year was even over, he celebrated his 15th birthday. He grew almost a whole head this year, and his shoe size went up 3 whole sizes. He can’t even wear Nino’s shoes anymore because he has surpassed Nino’s size. He’s taller than both of us, and has definitely hit his growth spurt.
Aside from truly being my BIG boy now, he has come into his own by traveling for the very first time by himself this year. Last year around this time, my sister Nicole had come for a two week visit. It was during that trip that the three of us hatched a plan that would have Miguel spend Spring Break with Nicole and her family in Los Angeles in April 2017.
Miguel and his Boo. This kid reminds me so much of my sister. In so many ways. I’m so glad that he got to spend time with her this summer.
So it was with this trip, that Miguel got to fly by himself, budget his own pocket money, and realize what it means to be a pleasant house guest without being under the watchful eyes of his mom or his dad.
Have you seen this new feature of Facebook Messenger? You can video chat with four people one screen!
That little trip away was actually an exercise in appreciation for all of the kids.
They realized what it was like to have one sibling far away and not readily accessible.
This also meant that things were just a little bit sweeter when Kuya actually came home to everyone. (at least for a little while.)
Here in the Philippines, after the K-12 Reform, Senior High School is now Grades 11 & 12. Onward and Upward my boy!
Because of the K-12 implementation, the way upper grade school is divided has changed. This means that Miguel graduated Junior High School and Moved Up to Senior High School.
Senior High School is Grades 11 & 12 and after that, he of course will go onto college.
My oh my. This is the wake up call as a parent. I mean I may have cried when I sent Gia off to preschool and she didn’t look back because she was completely independent, self assured, and well adjusted…but this?
THIS?
This is Prom.
This is Graduation Ball.
And THIS?
This is what it looks like to have a daughter graduate high school. Oh my. Tears.
I feel like this might need a whole other post at some later date, but for now I will tell you that I BLINKED.
I blinked and have a young lady who is ready to go off to college.
I blinked and have a young lady who has a boyfriend who loves her.
I blinked and have a young lady who could go out & live on her own if she wanted to do that.
Yes. It was that fast.
I BLINKED.
And now I have this daughter who cuts her hair and donates it to Kythe Foundation.
Hashtag BLESSED.
Because I knew we would have a really busy summer, I didn’t enroll the kids in any activities this year. Instead, I told myself that we would take a few road trips (that unfortunately, did not happen) and that we would spend time together cleaning up the house, decluttering, fixing things, and getting ready for the next school year. (not much of that happened either)
BUT I had an amazing opportunity this April.
My friend Rhodora Palomar Fresnedi, the Executive Director for Unilab Foundation, invited me to go on an amazing Leadership Journey.
Touchdown Siargao!
I was able to take an entire week off to go immerse myself in nature, renew my sense of purpose, and find even more meaning in the work that I do.
I was able to quiet my mind.
Try new things…
And make new friends.
I learned more about the people of the Philippines and what it’s like to live in the province where there are so many challenges.
Getting to know my host family in Barangay Caub, Siargao, is most definitely the highlight of my entire week away from my own family.
With all of these developments that took place this summer, I was also able to find time to rekindle the relationship that means the most to me in the whole world.
Together, Nino and I may not have done anything earth shattering or mind blowing in terms of experiences or traveling or even revelation…
Nino and I enjoy evenings out every now and then to enrich our relationship. DATE NIGHTS are so important! Photo Credit: Prive Luxury Club
Instead, we did lots of little things to nurture our relationship and find one another again…
All in the name of GROWING, LEARNING, AND LOVING…
How’s that for a summer full of milestones?
Wonderful writing and experiences Michelle! May God Bless Michelle Ressa Aventajado and Hubby Nino and all our grandchildren!