St. Joseph School Volleyball Team: Picture Day

Volleyball season has come to an end.  They had their last game last week against the rival school.  They won  but it was a very close game, the other team were very good as well.  These photos were taken during their picture day for both of the volleyball teams at St. Joe's.  

Daughter was wearing a green shorts, when we  came to the gym, most of her teammates wearing black so she had to go back home and changed although she didn't have to but she felt out of place.

I'm glad she changed because the legging  looks better than the shorts anyway.  When she came out of her room wearing the shorts, I asked her if she really wants to wear a shorts and she  told me yes but when we arrived in the gym, she felt the need to change lol.

While waiting for the other's to finish, I took the chance to take pictures of them.

Here's with coach Mike and Mrs. Velegol.

Somehow, all of them except my daughter,moved when I took the shot so only my daughter had a clear face and  all of them have a hazy ones.  It looks pretty neat how it turned out though.

I always bring my camera  during picture  day even though there is a professional photographer there because I love capturing extras  that I can save in my own folder.

This season seems so short.  They only had few  weeks and it was all over.

Not sure why  they feel the need to dub but I guess it's a new thing for these  young minds.

The close friends  posed for fun.

It's nice when you see your children gets along very well with other kids.

I had to capture a shot of my son and his friends.  They will be  playing volleyball too  next year.  Hopefully, our son would join the basket ball again since we have  a basketball hoop now in our backyard.  He felt intimidated by the other players when he tried out so he did not  go back to practice. 

Sports is a really good thing for children.  It keeps them on their  tiptoe shape and it gets them moving.  My son is looking forward to starting the football season again this year.  

3 Must-Visit Historical Tourist Spots in Canberra

Australia has been consistent in being one of the top travel destinations in the world. It offers plenty of activities to do and sights to see for all visitors from all over the world. Spending your vacation with your family and friends here is worth it as you explore this stunning country.

 

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Canberra, the beautiful capital city of Australia, is home to heavenly tourist spots, breathtaking view, exciting outdoor activities, and diverse culture. Most people think that the capital of Australia is Sydney, but it's not. Sydney is simply more popular than Canberra, nevertheless, the latter is a striking city. In addition, it is surrounded by a great number of farmland, nature reserves, and forest, gaining its Bush Capital nickname.

Apparently, visitors can also choose DriveNow car hire in Canberra to explore the entire city with full comfort. Nothing beats discovering a new place for the first time conveniently and stress-free. Thus, renting a vehicle will help you save more time and money. Book one ahead of time and enjoy every minute you are in this city.

Listed below are some of the amazing destinations you have to visit when in Canberra:

National Gallery of Australia

Known as the national art museum of Australia, National Gallery of Australia is one of the largest art museums in the country. It houses more than 166,000 marvelous art pieces, which every visitor will appreciate. Absolutely, all art lovers will have a great time visiting this gallery because it displays remarkable works of art as well as holds exhibits that everyone will have something to gain from.

Australian War Memorial

Grab the chance to check out the Australian War Memorial once you are in Canberra. It is Australia's national memorial to every individual from its military who have died and participated in wars. You will see an awe-inspiring museum as you enter. The primary purpose of this memorial is to remember the Australian experience of war and its effect on the whole society. It is something you should not miss, for you will learn more about the country's history.

National Arboretum Canberra

One of the popular historical destinations in Canberra is the National Arboretum Canberra. It is a 250-hectare botanical garden that houses 104 forests of rare, endangered, and significant trees from Australia as well as the different parts of the world. This is mainly the reason why it is regarded as one of the world's largest living collections of uncommon and symbolic trees.

This gorgeous capital city of Australia is truly a must-visit. Choosing Canberra as your travel destination for your most awaited holiday getaway will be worth your time, money, and effort. There are tons of things you can do and see while here, so you better make the most out of your vacation.

You can add these historical spots mentioned above on your itinerary once you have decided to spend your time off in this engaging city. Hence, plan your trip properly and create good memories with your loved ones that you will treasure a lifetime.

Things to Explore on Your Next Visit to Rome

A paradise for people who are in love with history, art and architecture, Rome will never disappoint you whenever you visit this one of the most beautiful places on earth. The old architectures are something to admire and there are thousands of sites to explore. Additionally, there are several other interesting and exciting things to do too when you are in Rome. Want to know what are the most exciting things to explore during your Rome vacation? Let’s take a look into some of the most interesting things that you can explore here.

Stay tuned!

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Visit the Colosseum

This is like a must to do kind of thing when you visit Rome taking benefit of SaveMyPocket as it is one of the grandest architectures on the planet.

The things to explore:

The Colossus amphitheatre built during the Roman Empire could hold more than 50,000 people at one time. Although, there are ruins left now, but even with the broken architecture, the stadium looks really impressive.

Take a tour both inside and outside the Colosseum and do not forget to book your tickets beforehand. There are hundreds of tourists who visit this piece of history daily.

Gaze into the sky inside the Pantheon

Pantheon is another iconic building in Rome and the architectural beauty will leave you spellbound.

The things to explore:

In fact, it is the largest concrete dome that has ever been built and it is massive. Visit the Pantheon and gaze heavenwards. The feeling is definitely heavenly.

Check out the statues and other stone carved items that are inside and have a surreal time here.

Trevi Fountain

A trip to Rome would go incomplete if you do not visit the Trevi Fountain.

The things to explore:

It is one of the most visited tourist spots and you will get to know so much more about the mythological characters of Rome. Best thing to do would be to take a tour around and do not forget to take a guide along.

Also, throw coins in the fountain. Who knows, you can get your wish fulfilled.

Explore the Vatican

Explore the entire Vatican City can take quite some time. Keep a separate day to visit this place.

The things to explore:

 You will get to see the works of Michelangelo and other artists here. Start your day by visiting the Piazza di San Pietro and then move on to the many museums that Vatican has. The antique sculptures, old master paintings and Raphael Rooms will take you back in time.

If you want to get some solace, then pay a visit to Castel Sant’Angelo. You will never get bored by the beauty that surrounds Vatican.

St.Peter’s Basilica

This is like the epicenter of Rome and another must visit place that you simply cannot afford to miss.

The things to explore:

 If you love light treks, then try reaching the top of the dome. You will find many fellow tourists enjoying this trek. Climb all the 323 steps and when you are on top, you will get a panoramic view of Rome’s beautiful landscape.

Do not forget to take your camera along because you will not want to miss the view for one second.

Many may say that Rome is for historians and budding architects, but as a general tourist, you are bound to fall in love with this place. So, plan your Rome vacation right today using Expedia.com and get ready to explore the bunch of exciting things that it has for you in it store. After all, the history and beauty that Rome has is incomparable to any other city.

Mass with the Bishop

Hubby and I were talking about his Dad last night.  It has been a month since his Dad  passed and we thought  of him and all  the kindness and wisdom he taught us.  Coming here in the US wasn't very easy for me especially when I first got here because my husband was still in the service and my FIL made me feel at home and I will be forever grateful for that.  The photos below was taken in March 10, the day my husband came home from work to say his final goodbye to  Dad.

I was attending a school mass   on that day because my children wanted me there.   They sang in the choir and  EJ  read as well.  It was a special mass since the Bishop  came and deliver the homily.

In his homily, he reiterated the importance of smiling.  He said that when you smile, the world smile back at you, which is true.

I am glad that we were able to send our children to  a catholic school.  Faith is a big part of our family and we want our kids to  incorporate that in their  daily lives.

Here are the videos of the songs the SJS choir sung during the mass

How to Teach Your Kids to Stay Safe While Riding Their Bikes Out in Summer

Riding a bike is, for many kids, one of the first real tastes of independence they get. Cycling allows them to have more control over when and how they travel to visit friends, meet up at places that interest them, or go and do their favorite activities, rather than having to rely on getting a ride from parents or using public transport. It is also a fun activity in itself that lets them enjoy the good weather, get some exercise, and have fun riding around with their friends. There are other benefits to letting your childexplore or travel to places they go to regularly on a bike – it can help them learn more about the roads, which will help when they come to learn to drive, and if they learn to love cycling, they may choose it more in later life as an environmentally friendly way to get around.

Many of us have some great memories of riding bikes in the summer months in our own childhoods, but of course, a lot of things have changed and there is a general perception that things aren't as safe as they used to be. This doesn't mean your kids shouldn't get to enjoy cycling, but it is important to talk to them about how to stay safe when they do.

Teach Them to Plan Safe Routes

In general, it is best to teach kids to stick to routes they know and where there are good provisions for cyclists. Older kids with more experience getting around on bikes could be shown how to find good cycling routes to places they have not ridden to before using tools like Google Maps. Show them how to use the GPS on their cell phone and the Google Maps app if they don't already know, as this will help them avoid getting lost.

Gear

Your child should always wear a cycling helmet and ensure their cell phone is fully charged before they go out for a ride, in case they need to call you if they get into trouble or use the internet to help them if they are lost. As well as this, some other gear may be important to help them stay safe. A light on their bicycle and reflective clothing are important if your child is old enough to ride after dark, but can be good to have anyway in case of emergencies. It can also get very hot cycling in summer, so make sure you get them the best stainless steel water bottle, which can clip onto their bike, and remind them to fill it before they go out.

Safety in Numbers

While not always possible, remind your child that it is always safer to cycle with other people and that they should never go off anywhere on their own without telling someone where they are going and making sure they have a way to contact you if they need to.

These things, in addition to standard road safety and rules about staying safe when out and about in general (such as not talking to strangers), can help your child to enjoy their freedom on their bike this summer while staying safe.