We never get tired of going to HK Disneyland solely for Sophia and now for both - Sophia and Mateo. All the more reason to go back each time. Its very convenient as its just an hour and a half plane ride and the kids have the time of their life enjoying the park while I get to do the one thing that most girls love doing too - shopping! Jon on the other hand is content on pigging out and a little shopping on the side. This time we were checking out clarks shoes but they weren’t his type.

On to the park photos.

Here’s the usual, at the park entrance. Our 5th time! Willl post our yearly pics side by side soon.

With my whole family this time.

Random photos inside the park.

And then back at our hotel - Disney Hollywood Hotel.

Day 3 was Disneyland Day. We checked in at Disney Hollywood Hotel this time. And as always, Sophia was ecstatic as soon as we got inside the hotel. Everything was very “Mickey”.

She loved the Mickey figure that she kept posing and posing.

And then we joined. Mateo kept giggling just looking at the Mickey Mouse figure.

They just can’t get enough!

Park Pics to follow. In the meantime, I need to look for available IT Jobs first for my cousin dear who just resigned from her job. Any leads? Let me know.

As soon as we got to our hotel, Marco Polo Gateway, we left our luggage first and had lunch at Harbour City. Right after, when our rooms were ready, we checked in and took a rest - naps for the kids. And then we were ready to roll.

It was cold they say? My kids came prepared. In boots!

Every travel, a stroller is our must bring, all the time. Or else the husband will grow muscle unknowingly and unintentionally carrying the kids alternately.

Yes, they had got to have their photo taken first before crossing the street from out hotel, hehe.

Here’s the little boy getting walking 101 lessons from the dad and achie.

Off to the mall shopping. The day wasn’t enough I’m telling you. Everything was on sale!

I badly need online backup for my pictures. As friends have told me over and over again, to date, I still haven’t gotten one. What else is new? I am Miss Procrastinator for nothing you know.

Anyway, let me share with you first part of our HK Trip pics. We started the year traveling, could it mean we’ll be traveling whole year round?

Our PAL flight last January 1 was at 8am so we were at the airport an hour and a half before that time. It was so hard to wake up as we stayed late for our fireworks.  We managed to not be late though or else the husband will throw a fit, hehe. Jon has this thing for being on time - ALWAYS.

At the boarding gate with my mom.

My chica four year old

Flight went smooth and we were in HK in no time.

How to travel with two kids in tow. (at HK airport)

My charge and his charge. Kanya kanya kami, haha!

Off we went to Marco Polo Gateway Hotel after…

If there is ever a place we love visiting over and over again, I’d have to say its Hong Kong. Why? Well, aside from being a shopping haven, its also very convenient to go to because it only takes about an hour and a half or so via plane to reach. So we love going there all the time! I also love love the busy streets while my kids (well, my eldest actually) adore Disneyland, what else. So for the nth time for me and Jon, 5th time for Sophia and 1st time for Mateo, we trooped to the cosmopolitan centre where the East meets the West last August 28.

While it was freaking hot as its summer there, we still had a blast. My eldest won’t stop talking about her last Disneyland Adventure while my boy, at nine months, of course, doesn’t have a single clue where he was and what he was up to. I’m sure though that the mere fact he was with daddy, mommy and achie, it was more than enough for him to be happy.

Honestly, I was hesitant to go on with the trip as it’ll be my first time to travel with two kids if ever. I was thinking of postponing it until Mateo is atleast one. But we went ahead since my in laws were HK bound too. We boarded on different flights though. So what can I say about the trip? It wasn’t as hard as i thought! Not at all. In short, sisiw. My eldest is turning out to be a very good traveler at 4 yo while my little boy was such an angel. Now we are all geared up for a long haul flight!

I’ve posted all the pics at my flickr account while selected shots are also at facebook. All in all, the trip was stress free (to my surprise) and it was truly a great bonding experience again for our little family as with every trip we took over the last four years. Here are some of the photos but before that let me share how we evolved through the years with our every visit to Disneyland.

Past photos …

Our latest photos at the very same spots …

***I was just pregnant with Mateo in the 2008 picture and look how big a boy he is now with the latest photo. Ang bilis talaga ng panahon!!!

Anyway, on to more photos …

Breakfast with the Disney Characters

Sophia with her faves …

The kids at the hotel lobby …

It was indeed a happy trip. Never mind that Mateo’s two bottom teeth chose to come out while we were there so he didn’t like drinking milk (but would eat a lot of solids thank gawd), Sophia came home darker than ever because of too much time under the sun and we didn’t get to shop much (but we did check out some bluray laptops), it was still worth it.

I realized just now that I haven’t blogged about our last HK trip yet. Oh bother. This is what happens when you’ve got too many stuff going on while your to do list is piling and you actually don’t know how and where to begin. I’m hoping I can find the time to document our latest adventure soon - Mateo’s first out of the country travel and Sophia’s 4th visit to Disneyland.

In the meantime, let me just share, the husband left for Barcelona today. We took him to the airport this morning and he won’t be back until next week. This will be the first time we’ll be separated for more than three days. Sad.

I’m sure the kids will miss him and so will he. As for me, I plan to keep myself busy just so days will pass without me noticing. Retail therapy to the rescue! Well, seriously though, I need to hit the mall for plasma mounts.

Right now, I’m waiting for my sister to arrive. She’ll keep me company while the hubby is away.

To date, no specific plans still. Boo.

Seriously, after much thought and being the scaredy cat that I am, I am putting off travel plans for now. Jon is leaving with his dad though for HK next month to attend to some bank stuff. We’ll be left behind as per my decision. My mother in law agreed with me though and said “better be safe than sorry.” Nasa huli nga naman ang pagsisisi diba? There would always be next time.

We do have other definite plans though like HK for December and US trip come March. I just hope the virus clears up by that time! December trip will be with my family and it’ll be our first time to be in HK Christmas time. I am so excited! I would love the cold weather for sure and my kids will love Disneyland in Christmas time too I bet. Oh, I can’t wait.

I am extremely excited about our US trip too, of course! The husband already confirmed that we are finally going to US by the time Sophia’s school is over so I am one happy gal. Two weeks is all the husband can spare away from work though but I am not complaining. That is more than enough for me. We plan to just meet my sister in law in LA anyway and not go all the way to her flat in Virginia to save time. After all, the places we want to go to are all in LA. My father in law suggested that we make the most out of the trip though and go around west coast. We’ll see about that.

With the husband’s confirmation of the US trip, as early as now, I am already looking for hotels or vacation houses where we can stay at when we go to LA. Knowing my husband, he won’t settle for anything less than three stars or should i say four? Nothing like those of Outer Banks rentals I saw online but hopefully close enough. He’s very picky when it comes to places to stay at you see so I need to do my share of research. I have to find a place that meets his standards which also won’t break his pocket or else no shopping moohlah for me and the kids! LOL. We’ll be staying in a hotel for the whole two weeks we’ll be there kasi so I need to look for something affordable. Any suggestions?

So far, these two travel confirmations from the husband are more than enough for me to be excited about right now.  After all, I’m also excited and will be pretty occupied with the preparation for Mateo’s 1st birthday party this November too.

See, I’ve got a lot on my plate now. Puro gastos, haha!!!