Broken Ice Sheets

This is by far the coldest winter I have experienced of my over seven years here in Texas. Amazingly thick sheets of ice last for a week now and there is no sign of them thawing. Yeah, they may have thawed a little bit but they keep refreezing at night and into early dawn.

I have seen amazing videos of fallen ice from the buildings' roof and yesterday, my husband witnessed the event in his very own back porch. Photo above I just took minutes ago, proof that global warming isn't true. If it is, why all these ice around us?

We Had A White Christmas

Texas doesn't always get snow and when we do, we sure appreciate it! North Texas was blessed with a snow as we celebrated the birth of Jesus yesterday. The excitement didn't just end after opening all the presents that Santa gave to my kids but in the afternoon, snowflakes started falling and accumulated fast enough that enabled me and my girls to enjoy the snow before dark.

I love having two girls because I now have partners to be out in the snow and not afraid somebody might see me being weird playing with snow. My Jadyn spent more time than I did outside and played alone. The first time she went to the backyard and got herself busy by creating a big snowball. I watched her by the bedroom window and just amazed how this little kid could contain herself out there, alone. Reminds me of myself during my first time to experience the snow...

Photos below.

Kids Are Enjoying The Summer

While a lot of people especially those who work outdoor already feeling the blazing heat of Summer, these two kids pictured below seem to enjoy the heat of the sun. Kids are kids and even there are just the two of them they feel like they own the whole world. I love watching them outside to be honest. I am somewhat glad my four-year old child has found a friend next door because they can just play anytime they want either in our house or at Isabella's grandma's house next door. Temperature outside while they enjoyed so much of the water was 104 degrees F. Water splashes and watermelons are definitely two ways to beat the heat.

Dressing Comfortably In Summer

So this is it! It is now officially summer. You could feel the searing heat in the afternoon than the past days. Even early in the morning, you could feel the difference from Spring morning temperatures than of Summer's. I was out there  this morning spent an hour watering my flower beds and I tell you what, it was 84 degrees F at 8 in the morning. Yes, that's how hot it is here now.

However, there are small ways to beat the uncomfortable Summer heat. If you don't have a ground pool outside, buy an inflatable one at the store or stay indoor if you don't have business to do outside. Secondly, is dress comfortably and lightly. Being comfortable doesn't have to comprise your style. You can still be stylish and still comfortable by choosing the appropriate clothes. Bright colored sundresses, tank tops, short shorts, flowy skirts and flip flops, sandals/ wedges are commonly worn in Summer. Personally, layering is a no no for me, that can wait a little later when the temperatures cool down or in early Fall.

Be cool guys and drink plenty of water!!

........ photos by yours truly looking good... feeling good with my suppah comfy simple Summer outfit....

Enjoying The Outdoor

67 degrees Fahrenheit is the current temperature right here and I am outside tapping on my computer at the same time babysitting. So perfect to spend sometime out here in the backyard listening to the sound of airplane in the sky, chirping birds, dogs barking and watching my girls playing. The big girl is pushing her little sister back and forth using the stroller, perfect!

While writing this entry, I am also on Facebook exchanging comments with three friends talking about starting our garden early since the weather is just pretty good. I cannot wait for March to come, I can start planting the seeds anytime but I have to make sure it's not gonna get cold anymore so I will just wait for March. My garden is a mess right now. The husband took out all the soil in the barrels so if he's not gonna fix my garden, I will have to plant directly on the ground.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!

WISHING EVERYONE A VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS!

The Beauty Of Fall

This is what I love most around this time of the year because this is when our surroundings turn very colorful and lovely. There is no need to go someplace just to see beautiful scenery. In this neighborhood alone, you can take pretty good photos of the colorful leaves of trees by the pond. It is just so close to our home that I find it easy to get there with my kids on foot.

It is just a small pond with in this village yet there plenty of things to look at, colorful trees, lots of floating ducks on the water and some big birds on the tree. We can also feed the ducks and turtles if we want to, we only need to bring some dry dog food or bird seeds and voila! My kids will have their happy times at the pond. Photos were taken by me personally on December 9,2011.

....... first photo is the road going to the pond. Actually the pond is right behind that orange tree where my girls are standing under it.

..... the entrance to the pond, looks like a mini park here but it is actually a backyard of our neighbor...

........ here's the bridge that connects the small piece of land close to the pond and the main land...soooooo pretty are the fallen leaves and the surrounding trees. love love love it!

..... more photos of the pond...

Mid Summer Temps

One whole week we are gonna be having a mid-summer temperature here. I am talking above 90's temperature here. Our A/C is constantly on. You see my little girl is already using her pool in the backyard that only proves it's really getting hot where we are.

This is what I dislike about Texas, we get too hot too soon. I haven't enjoyed the Spring temperature yet here we are now... Imagine how hot it could get when it's really summertime??

Sudden Change Of Temperature

For the past several weeks we have had warm temperatures in low 70's and high 90's. There were times when I really thought that we are getting into summer too soon because of the heat we had. There were days when I wanted to walk around the block and I couldn't because the heat was almost unbearable and I was kind of sad because I know what it means when temps in the 90's.

But then, look at us now. It got real cold since yesterday. In fact, we are back to wearing our jackets and jammies right now...and the temperature??? Oh you don't wanna know... it's freaking 45 degrees, plus it's raining, gloomy and just awfully cold! Truly, Texas weather is unpredictable and fickle... as fickle as a woman's mind. Thus, I wouldn't want to move to other states where cold winter days are longer. Here in our place, we have long beautiful weather than cold temps yet I still complain.

Pretty Bad Hail

Siren blaring all over town...as soon as that sound went off, bad golf ball size hail started falling! We had that yesterday afternoon that surely made some damage to our already damaged roof and cars parked in our backyard with no cover/shed. It was so bad that it changes my husband's mood. He was worried of the damage it would cause to his sports cars. When hail finally stopped, he told me he saw a dent on the Porsche. I don't know how many dents he can see today when he comes home to inspect the cars! Poor husband. If only there is something we can do to keep his cars protected...argssssssss! It's Spring and it's the season for hail, thunderstorms and tornadoes. Bad, bad, bad!

.... first photo are small pieces of shattered hail on the rug at the back door...

......... second photo are hails that are smaller in sizes that fell and hit the concrete...

.........the ones on the grass are bigger...they could've been bigger if I took picture of them right away...they are kind of melted in this picture...still they are big...

Cooler Week For Us

What a sudden change of temperature we are experiencing here in Texas right now. It's been two days since we have temperature below 50's. For weeks, we have had 84 degrees F and it was awesome. We were able to wear flip flops, sleeveless shirts and shorts outside but then this week is so different. From 84 down to 48-50 degrees. What a crazy and fickle weather Texas has. But, I am not complaining though. I like it this way, for a change...if we always have sunny sun shine, it would be a bit boring..we thought we could hide our jackets away but no no, not just yet! It will be cooler for the whole week for us here! I just hope my plants that are now starting to grow don't wilt or die...

...... this picture here was taken last Friday when the sun was up high and temperature was up to 80's. Today we cannot even stay outside for five minutes without jackets on or we'll that deep chill the temperature has brought us... and take note, it's gloomy and some drizzles too!

In The 70's

Just last week we had a freezing temperature and look at us now, we have a temperature in the 70's at least it is going to stay like this for the whole week. How awesome! We don't even have our heater running. I turned it off yesterday morning and opened the door and windows instead letting the fresh air in. At night in the bed, we didn't turn on our electric blanket, just the thin sheet and the quilt. Texas weather is truly unpredictable. 70's in Winter? Where else can you get that temperature other than here?? February is suppose to be the coldest month of the year but hey, mind you we are enjoying our sun this week yah know? Aren't you jealous people in cold states???? SIGH. Gotta do something fun outside and take advantage of the sunny day we are experiencing.

Snow Accumulation

We got 4 inches of snow accumulated yesterday starting midnight of 4th until early morning. It was an inch more than what they predicted, enough snow to make a snowman but nobody even dare to make one. The temperature was freezing so we only played a bit outside just right after grocery shopping and stayed the rest of the day inside the house. Today the sun is up hoping that it will melt the remaining snow on the ground before another 30% falls this coming Wednesday. Snow is fun and pretty, alright! But the coldness it brings is no fun.

..... 4 inches thick of snow that was on our patio table...looks pretty natural as if it was made perfectly for a purpose...

This Is What I Came Home To

I wasn't prepared to come home in a cold weather. I really thought I could just handle the winter weather in Texas. You see, I just came home from my vacation in hot and humid Philippines and snowy/icy weather condition here is something I wasn't expecting. Snow here usually melts in one day but it's the second or third day it's still in the ground with its freezing temperature, the snow turned into ice that makes it dangerous for motorists to drive. Schools and churches are closed, many motorists are stranded and worse many got into accidents.

When we were driving home from the airport yesterday, I witnessed the pickup truck just spinning so fast , the driver couldn't control his truck anymore that he just let it spin and spin until it finally stopped that he ended up facing at the wrong side of the road. That was scary shall I say. For proof of the bad weather, here are some snaps that my husband took after the slow and dangerous drive yesterday.

7 Tornadoes

Thanks to the fast pace technology America has for it makes everything easy and possible. Detecting a tornado alone, I am amazed at how they inform the community if there is a tornado or a hurricane coming. Through them we were able to see 7 tornadoes touched down near downtown Dallas yesterday. We saw how the thick clouds formed into a twister, get intensified and break down again and move on to another place.

I was able to compare how behind my own country is than America. If it was in the Philippines, we would have not known or seen those twisters captured in camera live on tv. Ah, aren't I lucky to be in America? I have all the privileges a person wants in his or her life.

It's A Beautiful Day

I just went outside and guess what? I am loving the temperature so much. Not a single cloud in the sky, it's windy that brought us a much cooler air compared from the previous weeks, everything looks green for it rained 3 days ago, birds chirping and most of all airplanes passing by above us. It should be enough reasons for me to be thankful to the Lord above for all these things beautiful. I am glad I was able to go outside and felt that not so hot sun rays on my skin. Oh how fortunate and thankful I am to be alive. Hopefully the temperature continues to cool down so we will be able to walk around the neighborhood, I am pretty certain my baby and our dog missed doing that.

Home In Texas

You know when you are home in Texas when you feel that hot and muggy temperature when you step out of the airport. We arrived in DFW Airport at 11:20 last night. Even though it was almost midnight, the temperature was at it's peak of 91 degrees. I asked my husband why did we leave California? Too bad though our home isn't there. Texas is where we belong. It's not that I don't like Texas but I can't help but admire California weather.

I find it odd for people in Oakland to be wearing jackets in mid summer. Hello, July is supposed to be very hot but as I said, you won't believe how cool it is over there unless you see the place yourself.

Feels Like Fall

I hate the idea of us leaving California today. It's just that I fell inlove with the place and the weather the moment I stepped out the airport the other day. We did quite a strolling around downtown Benicia and oh gush, it's so awesome out here! I can talk about how nice the weather is endlessly! It is only fair during the day which is like Fall in Texas and after sundown, it's a little bit chilly and cool that requires you to wear a thin jacket.

I told my husband that I want to live out here forever or if not, I want a place that gives me some snow during winter so I can do sports in the snow and allows me to wear Spyder jackets and experience wearing those thermo suits. And in Spring and Summer, I want it to be just so good in the skin.

I hate Texas Summer to be honest but what can I do? We live there, it's our home and must accept that there are also other things I should be thankful in Texas.

A Day At The Pool With Irish

Irish is Annie's sister if you don't know it. She came all the way from Pennsylvania to visit her sister in Texas and to meet some Annie's friends as well that includes ME. I was able to meet her three times during her whole stay here in the state for a month. I was glad we were able to bond a lot before she could go home. I treasure the moment I had with her for we don't know as of yet when she is going to be able to see us here again.

Last Saturday we went to the nearest water park and brought the little ones, Baden and Bigail to the pool so they can have a splash. Not only the little ones did enjoy the water but the adults as well. It was so fun that all of us were talking and laughing the whole time we were there.

Dark And Wet

Today was one of those days I really loved. When I woke up this morning it was all sunny sun shine and everything was bright. Then all of the sudden the dark thick clouds covering Mr. Sun that turned our afternoon like night time, I can compare it to 9 o'clock hour here in Texas, so dark that we had to turn on our lights to see the doors of the house.

Staggering rain poured in accompanied by gusty wind. I thought we were gonna have a tornado haha. I wasn't scared though, despite of the raging wind outside, I was at ease for I have my husband with us plus it was a change of weather here. Lately, it has been so hot and always sunny. So for me it was good.