Day 156: Summer Ender

The week-long DVBS finished with a grand culminating activity featuring the different children's groups performing songs and reciting bible verses. With this final summer school activity in wraps, the kids only have one more week of summer vacation before starting off a new school year on June 15. 

These videos show my firstborn Jarred performing with his Primary class and my darling daughter Cailie's very first onstage performance together with her Preschool class:

Day 151: DVBS 2010

Every year, towards the end of summer and just before the start of the school year, my son's school hosts DVBS - Daily Vacation Bible School. For 5 straight days, they attend bible studies that are creatively-themed and filled with fun activities, songs and dances.  Fresh from her summer lesson stint, I let little Cailie join her Kuya Jarred for this event. From the minute she was handed her theme shirt, I knew it was a good decision to let her join. Even though there were a lot of preschool kids in her group, Cailie didn't go through the usual "separation anxiety" mode when I had to leave her during the first day. She just went about her activities and joined her class. Oh boy, my baby is indeed growing up!

Day 139: Sun-kissed

I'm a beach babe but I hate staying out in the sun too long so I've never really had a proper tan for several years now.

I didn't realize I spent quite a longer period under the sun during our brief summer sojourn in Padre Burgos. As a result, I came home with quite a sun-kissed look.

I was really planning to feature my new hairstyle in this entry but when the photos revealed my summer complexion I just couldn't resist blogging (and bragging) about it. I love my color and I love my hair! What do you think?

Day 136: Nuts over Coconuts

One of the best things I enjoyed during our short vacation in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte is having my fill of fresh young coconut juice and its flesh every single day. Picked and cracked open right at my side, it was a refreshing way to cool off under the scorching heat of the sun. 

Day 135: Familia Roden's Summer 2010

With a little over a month before a new school year begins, my family and I managed to sneak in a final beach frolic to cap the summer of 2010. Set in the rustic shoreline of Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, the kids had their fill of sun, sea and stones (there wasn't much sand in the area). It also gave us the opportunity to reconnect with relatives from hubby's paternal side. My children never ran out of playmates as cousins and neighborhood kids always flocked them wherever they went. Refreshing summer breeze, crystal-clear sea water and the company of family and friends, summer in Eastern Visayas proved to be a wonderfully memorable one.

Day 127: Perfect!!!

The end of summer classes for Cailie won't be until May 13 but since we'll be going out of town by tomorrow so I can vote on Monday, her teacher allowed her to have double sessions this week. For today, she had her very first taste of an examination - both in Reading and in Math. I'm proud to say she aced both!!!

It was a good decision to let her test the waters this summer to know her interest and level of learning. She is obviously advanced compared to her Kuya at the same age. Cailie exhibits good motor control skills when given writing tasks and her attention span is quite lengthy.

I'm sure she will miss Teacher Lolibeth but I know Cailie will cherish wonderful memories of a productive summer experience with her.

Day 117: Sticky

Every day since Cailie started with summer school, she brings home a new skill, a new learning.  Today, apart from their usual drills with phonics and writing, they had a "cut and paste" activity. I could see the wonder in her eyes as she was guided by the teacher to cut out pictures and glue them onto her activity paper. 

With unsure but steady hands, she squirted the glue on the pieces of paper by herself and stuck them on her work. It was a wonderful feeling to see these little victories of my princess.

Day 104: Steady Hand

This is Cailie's 2nd day of summer school.  In today's activities, she exhibited amazing control of her motor skills while coloring the outline of her own hand.  Observing her, I thought that she is quite advanced compared to her Kuya when he was her age.  I also noticed remarkable difference in their attention span and organizational skills.  Cailie would painstakingly put back all her school materials in her bag as soon as she was done with them without the teacher instructing her to do so.  Is it because she's a girl?  Is this a gender trait of some sort?  Well, it was something new for me and indeed something amazing to watch.

Day 103: Cailie in Summer School

Today marked the first day of summer school for Caitlin Alyssa at her Kuya Jarred's school.  She woke up early to take a bath and have breakfast.  It was quite obvious how excited she was as she herself prepared her small bag with a pencil case, notebook and some snacks. For a first timer, she did very well with her first lesson on sounds and coloring a picture.  We were all with her today to cheer her on.

Day 89: Summer Look

The scorching summer heat has prompted hubby and me to have our son's hair shaved down.  This was his usual hairstyle since he was a year old up to the time he started school.  He sort of asked not to have it done this way then because he felt his classmates might tease him or find it funny looking.

Well, it's summertime and a lot of young boys would probably have their hair done this way.  Shaved or not, he's still one great looker, don't you think?

Day 85: Laag-laag

Since it was brownout again, we decided to go out and joy ride around the city.  I had some stuff to buy anyway so off we went.  Lunch was at Rose's Bakeshop/Cafe and it was there that we discovered a new find - Guava Juice in doy pack! It was good considering it was being marketed to compete with the big boys like Zest-O and Sunkist.  

While the boys were having their haircut, us girls were left waiting in the resto and made us of the time posing for the camera.

To relieve us of the summer heat, Cailie, CeeJae and I enjoyed Selecta Ice Cream Sticks in Quezo Real and Cookies n Cream flavors.  Here's Cailie, gamely showing off her love for ice cream.

Day 69: Scorchin' Hot

According to the weather news early this week, summer has just begun.  Wow! It's been like the middle of summer already for about a month or so now and that isn't summer yet?  I can't imagine what the middle of summer would be like for all of us then.

The regular power interruptions are adding on to the heat and discomfort at home.  Even my tiny garden is feeling the effects of extreme heat nowadays.

I hope the rains come in sooner so that the power crisis can be curbed and that the agriculture sector wouldn't incur so much loss in crops.