Lessons Learned from Great America's Winterfest 2019

My son and I have started a tradition in December. We started going to Great America's Winterfest December in 2017.

We stayed at the nearby Hilton because it starts at 5 pm and closes at 10 pm. The first time we went, it wasn't that crowded at all. Although there were a lot of people in such a tiny space (we only stayed at Planet Snoopy) since he is too young for the bigger rides, we were able to enjoy the rides that he wanted. What I didn't like though was that it felt like parents were cutting into the line. I know, not a good example. We were able to take pictures and we went back the next day for the same fun experience.

December 2018 was also a great experience for us. As usual, we stayed at the Hilton. We were planning to do the ice skating but it was closed due to some issue. It wasn't horribly crowded too.

Fast forward to December 2019! Oh, wow. First there were crowds everywhere! He was able to do a few rides before it got really crowded! Like extremely crowded. We always went Friday and Saturday and maybe next year, we won't go during those days. We paid for the cookie decorating activity. I bought the tickets online ahead of time and just printed them out. Lesson learned from that, do it last because you will be holding a big box with 4 cookies. I did like it. The cookies were pretty big and we didn't feel like we were being pressured to finish things right away. We just took our time. I think we were there for more than 30 minutes. Mrs. Claus was there and sang a song with my son. That was sweet. After dinner, we tried going into the rides again but the lines were just soooo long. So we headed back to our hotel and put our feet up.

Saturday night was worse. We did ice skating first because I wanted to make sure that if it was going to be cancelled later on, at least we had the opportunity to try it. As usual, I bought tickets ahead of time and printed them out. You do need to sign a waiver for everyone and we got our skates. Make sure to wear socks! Then we went to the skating rink. It was full of people but we were able to get in. At some point, they didn't allow some people to go in because probably the capacity was reached which was good. I have to say that I am no good at skating but since my son is little, I had to be on the ice. I was busy hanging the sidelines. The people watching the entrance and exit were very helpful to make sure that I don't embarrass myself. My son on the other hand was happy to go on his own. He fell a couple of times but he enjoyed it. I think we were there for about an hour and a half until they had to close the rink. I think they needed to do something with the ice so it's great to skate again. But my son and I were done for the day. He had a blister but he was happy. My feet were just tired.

We tried going in the rides but again, it was crowded. I think we just ate dinner and walked around. Took some pictures and then went home.

These are the lessons I learned:
1. Go on a weekday.

2. Buy tickets ahead of time. 

3. Do the cookie decoration activity last so you won't have to lug around a big box of cookies around the park.

4. Do the ice skating activity first.

Now that I have written this here, I can look back at it when we go in 2020. This is one tradition that we enjoy doing.

I miss blogging!

Provinces and regions of the Philippines (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the things that I don't seem to have a lot of nowadays is time...Time to watch the news in the Philippines, time to blog, time to....etc. etc. etc. But I do love being a mom to my very active soon-to-be 22 month old little boy.

So, I thought, since I have time (for now, since it is summer break), then I can go back to blogging a little.

I would say a lot has happened since my last post. I don't even remember much about what I wrote in that. Only that I haven't blogged in a bazillion years, but what's new eh?

This summer, I have grand plans of restarting my special ed blog (like this isn't more than enough) and then writing something more personal in that blog as well. And then posting something in my TpT store (not that its going to earn me big bucks like the other teachers who really invest their time to make nice worksheets which I really appreciate since I buy their stuff), but its a start.

Maybe I should start with making a list of things to do this summer, hopefully, before summer ends. That will make it easier for me on what I want to really spend my summer doing, other than taking Jacob to Gymboree and Toddler class of course.

Now, on to Cake Mania for a while and then to making that almighty list!

Here's to a busy summer blogging! Yeah!

Where did 2012 go?

Image via CrunchBase

I was watching Damages on Netflix when I accidentally pressed on my bookmarks and I saw my blog which I haven't written at all in like ages. The last entry that I had was back in 2011. Wow, and 2012 is almost over.

I looked at my old entries and it brought back good memories of the past. For example, the first time that I drove without a GPS. My poor Yaris lasted only six months but it was a great car which took care of me. Oh well. I still use a GPS though or my phone to get to my destination. Remembering street names was never one of my strong suits.

So, here I am, with 2013 fast approaching. There are many things that are different now and in a good way. First, I finally completed my Level II credential. Second, I have a new baby boy, Jacob, my pride and joy. And third, what's the third? Well, moving back to San Jose. Funny is, I never wrote about moving away, I did for about two years in Pleasant Hill but I still worked in San Jose. I guess in a way, San Jose / Cupertino area is my home since this is where I first lived.

And now, back to watching my show....til next time.

Funny!

Top 10 Reasons Why There Couldn’t Be a Filipino-American US President

By David Letterman

10. The White House is not big enough for in-laws and extended relatives.

9. There are not enough parking spaces at the White House for 2 Honda Civics,
2 Toyota Land Cruisers, 3 Toyota Corollas, a Mercedes Benz, a BMW , and
an MPV (My Pinoy Van).

8. Dignitaries generally are intimidated by eating with their fingers at State dinners.

7. There are too many dining rooms in the White House – where will they put
the picture of the Last Supper?

6. The White House walls are not big enough to hold a pair of giant wooden
spoon and fork.

5. Secret Service staff won’t respond to “psst… psst” or “hoy hoy hoy!”

4. Secret Service staff will not be comfortable driving the presidential car with a Holy Rosary hanging on the rear view mirror, or the statue of the Santo Nino on the dashboard.

3. No budget allocation to purchase a Karaoke music-machine for every room in the White House.

2. State dinners do not allow “Take Home”.
AND THE NUMBER I REASON WHY THERE COULDN’T BE A FILIPINO-AMERICAN U.S. PRESIDENT IS…

1. Air Force One does not allow overweight Balikbayan boxes!

Cupertino Library membership

Image via WikipediaMy summer vacation is almost ending. I have to say that I'm mostly disappointed with it. The two great things that came out of it was my sister visiting and the wedding. But other than that, I have found myself bored and actually wanting to go back to work. I will be getting my wish soon as I have a few weeks left and then its back to the long back and forth between SJ and PH. I can already feel myself feeling tired and stressed from the long commute but its better than being at home. I don't mind being at home. It's the person who's at home that I mind being with that's the problem! Enough said.

This is an ok city to live in but I think I have been spoiled with Cupertino with their nice, spacious and modern library. The library in the city where I live is tiny....that's about how I would describe it. I went there once and I was sadly disappointed. I did sign up for a library card since my library card privileges have been revoked due to the bad economy. Yes! Cupertino wants library card members to prove that they live in that city before they will give you a library card. If you would still want to have a library card there, you need to pay $80 dollars a year. The bad economy, that's what! I work for the school district in that city but I can't even get a library card there! I borrow books from that library to use in my class and now, I can't! Unless I shell out the $80 dollars. What I also like is being able to access for free bookflix and tumblebooks. The kids like reading stories online from scholastic books because I used to have a library card there. My husband said I should write to the city or the library and ask them if its possible to get a free membership. He said I have nothing to lose. I might, or I might not. Maybe I should write to one of those council members to visit the school periodically. One of the reasons that I hesitate is that a few years back, one of the CLIP kinder class was considering a trip to the Cupertino Library since the Calabazas Library which is part of the San Jose Library system has been closed for the last 2 years. What did the Cupertino Library say? Nope! Since the school was in San Jose, it should visit a San Jose Library. Hmm...that's sad.

I like the Cupertino Library, but in this case, I think there's no point in writing. But just in case you know anyone in the Cupertino council, maybe you can ask them why employees who work in the district and who will be using those resources to students who are in the district, can't be given a free membership.