This morning, Jordan came running into our bedroom saying, "mommy, wake up... wake up, mommy. Daddy, wake up... wake up. You guys have to get up because it is time to go to the Philippines!" He sure was super excited this morning urging us to get ready to go to the Philippines. We told him, it will be a few weeks yet before we go to the Philippines.

So, anyway Jeb and I came up with an idea -- we'd make a "Feast calendar" for him, paper chains. So Jordan and I spent an hour of our morning making a paper chain. Our countdown to our Philippines trip -- 36 days before D-Day. :) Jordan helped me tape the links together and he even made designs by stamping smiley faces on each paper. It was a fun little craft for him. Every day, when he gets up he gets to pull out one link from the chain until all the links are gone. He'll be able to see the chain get shorter and shorter... meaning us leaving gets closer and closer.

I think I may have found the kind of stroller that I want to get. I will see first though if I can find something like the one I found that is used. Otherwise, I'll just get it new at Amazon.com. I find it the cheapest at that online store and with free shipping! Yes, I spent most of my morning, reviewing and searching the net for strollers... reading reviews and finding the best kind of double stroller for my needs. I am looking into the kind of a stand-on tandem stroller.  I think this kind of stroller would work best for me since Jordan is almost 3 and doesn't necessarily want to sit in the stroller -- he'd rather walk.  So, when he gets tired of walking, he can stand or sit in the stoller, while I have Aubrey in the front.  Also, this kind is a little more compact and lighter than a regular two-seat stroller or the side by side ones -- especially when we travel to the Philippines, we'd like something compact that won't be too cumbersome for us or the flight attendants who have to stow the stroller away.

I did have a pretty slow and unproductive day today. Usually, this is the day that I get a lot of my house work done. However, I felt pretty miserable today. I have a runny nose and was sneezing all day. It must be a start of a cold. I must have got it from Aubrey. She was having a runny nose for a few days. I did take multivitamins to help with my body's immune system. Today didn't help either that it was slightly cooler outside. I felt chilly all day! I did however manage to do some "productive" things like make breakfast, fold a batch of laundry, help Jebby install our storm screen door in our back door and make dinner. Oh, and I "help" Jordan straighten up their bedroom. He and Aubrey left me a mess of toys. That's what normally happens when I just let them two play in their bedroom (while I was in the bedroom resting =P)

I just realized that I only have 39 days left before we have to leave for the Philippines for 3 weeks (to attend my brother Richard's wedding and the annual Feast of Tabernacles). I still haven't lost weight :( so I could at least look decent in my bridesmaid gown. I just keep gaining more. Oh wells... *sighs* I know it won't help either when I get there because I know I would be pigging out on Filipino food and food that I have been craving and can't get here in the US. Scary. I hope the heat and humidity (plus activities) will help keep my weight down or better yet lose some. :) I won't keep my hopes up, but I will be at least hopeful.

Anyway, I still have a few things that I need to do prior to the trip. Besides some gift shopping, I am looking into getting a double stroller for the trip. I will need to hit some stores to hunt for a good deal on a decent double-seat stroller in the next 4 weekends (those are the only times I can have the truck). I am not sure yet as to the kind I want. There are so many different kinds of styles. But hopefully I can find one that is decent enough without having to be too expensive. Also, I need find a luggage set for the trip. That won't be too hard to find as there are always deals on luggages, especially since the Summer season is almost over.

You might have read in some earlier posts that I wrote about Jordan going in for pictorials for Jeb's company. Well, I didn't have the chance to update about that or post a pic of it. So, here it is. This poster is for one of Jeb's company's big trade shows. In this picture, Jordan is modeling an IPOD earbud. Just click the picture to view full poster image (my 'pop-up' lightbox still isn't working).