Happy Holidays

It's impossible not to get in the Christmas Spirit when you have a three year old. We left out milk and cookies for Santa, we left out carrots and apples for the reindeer, we hung our stockings with care...and Hudson (for once in his life) willingly went to bed quickly with the hopes that Santa would visit.

He did, of course.


First thing in the morning...seeing that Santa came!

Opening presents, with his ever helpful puppy companion


Bosco made it on Santa's "Nice" list


Opening presents with Romy

Victor and Edouard ripping open their gifts

Holiday hugs

Mama and her boys

(Photo courtesy of Hudson...not bad eh?)

Posing by the tree

Rosy snow kissed cheeks (after "helping" his dad shovel)

Merry Christmas everyone...hope you spent the day with people you love, like we did.

It's not really Christmas in Montreal...

Until you go visit the window display at Oglivy's downtown.


It hasn't changed since I was a kid. It was so special showing Hudson the exact same display that I used to love when I was little.

It's not all Bah Humbug around here ;)

The only time you'll see Rob dance...

Wanna see what the kids (Romy, Victor, and Edouard) were up to yesterday, while they were babysitting Hudson and Bosco all day?!?

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/5xGxSqs4VdLoDElukTRZ

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/fEkrdsHVVf5blgyf

It's freaking hilarious.

Couldn't resist...

Posting this picture.



Hudson got to sample a Starbucks Creme Brulee Latte (oh common...before you all freak out...it was teeny tiny).



He loved it.



He is his parent's son, afterall.

Dirty laundry

I read a lot of blogs. Some of the ones I like best are the ones that are brutally honest about their lives. The crappy moments aren't sugar-coated. They're unapologetically exposed for the world to read. These bloggers write as a form of therapy, a way to release the negativity they feel. I've debated for two months now, on whether or not I would share on this blog how shitty I've been feeling, and the reason behind it. It's scary for me to see myself changing from someone who used to laugh at everything to someone who is always on the verge of crying. I don't like the new me. I don't want to be the sad/mad/bitter person I see myself becoming. It scares me. It makes me worry that Hudson feels it. It makes me worry that the baby inside me feels it. It's scary being 7 months pregnant and not knowing if, and when, and where I'll be settled in the next two months. I am tired of feeling like life is always a "struggle" for me and my family. When is it my turn to "coast" through life instead of struggling? I feel robbed of a good future, and instead given a bleak one. Without going into detail, we are not moving to BC like I've written about in the past, because that career has ended before it even began. I don't want to sound cryptic, but it's not really my story to tell.

Do I need a kick in the pants???

I know I should be setting my priorities straight. I have a beautiful, healthy child. I have another one on the way. I have a husband who loves me. I have a family who would do anything for me. I have friends who let me cry/vent to them as often as necessary.

So why can't I let this go?

Happy Birthday Hudson!

Hudson turned three! And so it's only right that he got 3 birthday cakes in one week, right?!?

A cake with his cousins (homemade and decorated with love by his Auntie Sue-Poo and Romy)

A cake with his Nanny and Bobby (two little green froggies)


A chocolate cake with his Halmonie and Hadabogi

On a chocolate cake sugar high!

Cake(s), presents, and balloons...he really couldn't have asked for anything more.

The best things in life are free

Life has been challenging lately. And by challenging...I mean an awful, depressing, ugly roller-coaster of a ride (that's a whole other post in itself, and one that I'm not ready to write yet).

And then I got a birthday present that made me realize how lucky I am.

Hudson and I were playing at the park together on my Birthday. Hudson was digging in the sand. He pulled out a rock, stared at it, dusted it off, and then handed it to me. He told me he was giving it to me because it looked like a heart. Awwwwwww...a cold stone heart melted my broken one. It is without a doubt the best birthday present I have ever gotten. I told him I loved it, and would keep it forever. I totally mean it. (Except I've only had it less than a week, and already almost lost it...Rob found it...it must have fallen out of my jacket pocket).

The Three Little Pigs

One of his latest favorite games...

is to reenact the story of the Three Little Pigs. We take turns being the big bad wolf.

"Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in"

"Not by the hair on our chinny chin chin"

"Then I'll huff and I'll puff (although Hudson always says "huff" again) and I'll blow your house in"

Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet...

Romy the Vampire, Hudson the Spider, Jacky as Minnie Mouse, Edouard the Mime, and Victor the Gangsta

The gang with Sylvie and Ethan

His shirt says "I love my Mummy", corney but cute.

My googly-eyed Spider

Happy Halloween!

I cut off the beginning...he's singing "Trick or treat, smell my feet, gimme something good to eat...not too big, not too small...just the size of Montreal. If you don't...I don't care...I'll pull down your underwear! (Lyrics courtesy of Romy)

We got back from trick-or-treating and Hudson dumped his candy out on the floor, stared at all his loot, and said "THIS IS WONDERFUL!". He sounded so sincere.

Sunday Afternoon

A beautiful, sunny, crisp, Autumn afternoon.

A stroll in the park.

J & G - He finally fits into the Zara jacket you guys sent.

Hungry ducky

Me @ 22 weeks

Stinker smile

Cool dude.

I love this season. Especially in Montreal.

My Silver Linings...

Every cloud has a silver lining. Lately my life has been full of "clouds"...but then I look at my son(s!) and I remember that I am truely blessed.


They make me smile. They make me laugh out loud. They are my silver linings.

Face painting gone wild

Is it a surprise why he thinks Romy is so cool?

**And yes I said "sons". Baby Khang Khang is definitely a little BOY!!!**

Sister's Fart Pie

Hudson's first time apple picking!!! It was the perfect, crisp Fall day...warm in the sun and cool in the shade. Hudson had been worried when I first mentioned that we were going to go apple picking "I can't reach up the trees!" he exclaimed. But he did!!!

** And "Sister's Fart Pie" is the english translation for the "Tarte aux Pets de Soeurs" that we bought at the orchard. Not surprisingly, it was the butt of many of Victor and Edouard's jokes on the drive back home. Susan corrected us by saying that the more accurate translation is "Nun's Fart Pie". Either way, it made us laugh. And in case anyone was wondering...it is grotesquely yummy...exactly like eating a brick of maple syrup.

*** Hudson rode a real pony for 1.5 seconds. He got on, decided that it was not a good idea, and couldn't get off fast enough. The pony guy had to give me back my money.

**** Sue-Poo actually waited in line for an HOUR to buy us "apple donuts". An hour. I'm not exaggerating. They were heavenly.

Pillow Talk

I kissed Hudson goodnight and told him I loved him. He told me he loved me too. I asked him "why?"...only because he asks me "why?" for EVERYTHING these days. He thought about it for a second, then answered: "Because you play with me, you read me books, you go poo-poo with me" (clarification: I patiently stay with him for what seems like hours while he sits on the potty - and so far we haven't had any luck with anything coming out).

It was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.

Abra Cadabra!

Pretty tricky, eh?

Some of our oldest family friends came for a visit yesterday. We all got a chance to snuggle baby Ethan (10 months). He particularly loved my dad...kept smiling and laughing whenever he looked in his direction. It was such a nice afternoon.

Me looking like a tub-o-lard.

Mrs. Kim and her pride and joy.

Ethan and Hadaboji (I can't believe how much Ethan looks like his mama)

My mom and her surrogate daughters.

And for Rob who has been waiting for an update on his son:

It really was an Iced Tea. And I know it's not the healthiest lunch, but it was all Baby Khang Khang's idea. Note: "Baby Khang Khang" is the name Hudson has given the baby. I keep telling Hudson I don't like the name, but he INSISTS that is the baby's name. And he also insists that the baby is a BOY. We'll see...

Introducing Pretend Bosco

Making Hudson's new "Build-a-Bear" stuffed animal's passport.

He named his new puppy "Bosco". Original, eh?

Taking ownership very seriously.

Pleding to always love and care for his new tou-tou.

He took these vows very seriously. For real.

The gang with all their Build-A-Bear dolls.

Hudson was allowed to choose his own doll, and for weeks he kept saying he wanted to get the Cow. But once we were in the store again, he browsed through all the animals and changed his mind and chose the Black Lab. He then named him "Bosco", despite all of us trying to persuade him to choose a different name. So now, we have two black lab puppies in our family, both Bosco's...and to prevent confusion...Hudson has added the adjectives "Real" Bosco and "Pretend" Bosco when he talks about them.