Marcus turns 10! What?

Okay so I spent the afternoon doing this post and then went to cook dinner. Somehow the whole thing didn't save! So annoying.



Back to the post. I have to start out by saying it isn't fair that my son turned ten because I can't exactly lie about my age and pretend I am still in my twenties. Me sobbing that I actually entered the big 3-0 this year. I don't mind the aging part really I just want to stay in my twenties because they were really fun. I am hoping thirties turns out even better. Wishful thinking?



The kiddos cooperated with the group shots.

For Marcus' actual birthday he wanted Popeye's, which disgusts me that every year he wants fried chicken probably because we never really eat it on a regular basis, so we stuffed our faces with greasy fried goodness. Then he wanted cherry cheesecake for dessert. I had to make him one and one for the rest of us.





Ignore my awful singing!!!


For his party he wanted a sleepover with his closest friends.



What was on the agenda? Gaming of course!



His buds were not camera shy and really enjoyed playing games. So much I don't think they went to bed until almost 1 o'clock. I thought putting on a movie would settle them down, but I guess X men origins: Wolverine is probably not the wind down movie they needed. They talked through the whole thing about all the different cooll things all the Xmen can do. I was kind of funny, but I am sure kind of annoying for those kids who hadn't seen it yet.



This time I made ice cream cake. I should have made it in a springform pan because it would have been so much easier to cut, but oh well next time. Marcus was terrified of the sparklers. I guess growing up in the city and not getting to set of fireworks every year he has no clue what he is missing.



One of these things is not like the other...oh and they couldn't stop to come back for a retake. Too much happening I guess.

All in all it was a good night. Worth the fact that they were up before 7 playing capture the flag. Yeah...

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Family

Okay so in Singapore our number one reason for going is family. I would just like to say that since I no longer have grandmas living I love getting to see my grandma-in-law. Letting my children get to see their great-grandma ain't so bad either. I know I said ain't. It's gotta be that part of me that wants to go home this year.



This is her favorite pastime and she only really gets to play when we come into town. So it is always fun to watch.



This is a terrible photo by me I didn't even pay attention to the fact that I only focused on McKayla. Oh well. I think I was in just trying to quickly get the shot so I didn't bother her too much. She was probably thinking, "Hasn't she taken enough photos already?"



I actually really love this photo because it brings me right back to that night when everyone was so captivated by monkey's humorous displays. I couldn't get a straight photo after that. He was definitely aiming to entertain. Especially with the bucket of organic lollipops his GuGu purchased for him.



With Ah Ma. Hubby's mum.



with Ah ma's sister. Auntie Amy. It was actually taken at her birthday dinner.



Uncle Ah Chew was the most eager to get into the photos with the kids. I think my kids were too. Even Marcus smiled!



This isn't that same night, but it is of family and one of the kids favorite people. Hubby's sis. She took us all to the zoo which I am still pondering whether to blog about or not. Here we are at her favorite exhibit. The giraffes.

One thing I know for sure is that families are the most important thing in the world. So no matter how far away you live from each other somehow you have to stay connected.

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Ghim Moh

Alright I have been home from vacation a long time and I guess it is ridiculous for me to still not have posted anything since being home. So here is my first. Don't be mad at me for neglecting my blog. Even my hubby asked me last night, "How come no updates?". Alright, I guess I will kick myself in the butt. I am now uploading almost 700 photos onto the computer. I know that's a lot. I hadn't even uploaded them yet.


Here you can see some of the stalls in the background.

So What is Ghim Moh? Well let's just say it is a regular stop on our Singapore visits. In fact, my hubby probably goes there everyday. Why? Food. Singapore is know for their outdoor markets with hawker stalls selling different local foods. Anyone can find something right up their alley. Even what the refer to as western food. Variety is key as we are there a lot! It is in my in-laws neighborhood. Literally walking distance, so it is very easy to access. Our first dish we order is Mee Pok, but I think we probably have it every other day in many different ways.



For breakfast the kids love, love, love Indian Prata. Only Marcus dares to actually eat it with the curry. McKayla and Maddox love it with sugar. Like crispy pancakes they are really delicious.





I am a huge fan of carrot cake. In fact, my hubby brought me back a gigantic piece from Montreal on the weekend and I indulged and practically ate the whole thing myself. You can find carrot cake in Singapore, but not at the Hawker Centers. In fact, you will be completely surprised if you order carrot cake and see what they give you. It looks nothing like carrot cake. Some locals of the older generation who have never had "western carrot cake" actually find our version weird. Funny.


Here it is half eaten because it is just that good. I forgot to take a pic. You can have it two ways with black sauce or not and with chili or not. Me? black with chili, please!


Here is the famous stall which sells the "carrot cake". Definitely need locals to be able to tell what is good and what isn't because I think there are three stalls that sells it at Ghim Moh and this one is the best.

You can also find a market at Ghim Moh selling fresh fruits. Mainly tropical which is probably one of the perks of being in Singapore fresh mango, pineapple, persimmon, pomello, rambutan, lychee, dragonfruit, guava, papaya, and you know that stinky one I talked about before durian.







When I first opened the camera the humidity in Singapore showed it's face and fogged up my camera. Luckily I had it packed well and the inside mechanisms didn't get any condensation on them. This is the Saturday market that would come to Ghim Moh selling all kinds of things from books to clothes to household items. See the crowd? And this is a small Hawker center in a neighborhood. Not even a downtown center. Suggestion don't go on the weekends or on Mondays when a lot of stalls close.




The whole reason for Singapore trips. Family. Grandparents definitely enjoy getting the time with the kids.

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What's on Charity's Phone?

You have to visit Jessica here to get more info and join me.





So I have been a slacker and haven't posted in a while. I have had back problems for three weeks and no I still have yet to seek a professional on the matter. Let's just say sitting at the computer and uploading pics was not on my priority list. So in the course of that time I did manage to take photos. So I have a lot to share with you. This first one was from walking the kids home from school. Actually I had to carry my little monkey to school and he walked himself home. Did not help the back situation at all. But it was a great photo moment turning into our street. Although I think I was just elated that we were almost home so I could lay down!



We even had a snow day which was fabulous. We don't get them that often and in all honesty it was actually a beautiful day. Just light snow the whole day. We struggled to build anything with the dry snow, but did manage to put together this guy.



After a week of not going to the grocery store because I just couldn't do it we finally bought more bananas. Monkey was happy.



Crummy weather for weeks and then we got beautiful clear blue skies. I love days like this with snow on the ground!



What's that? Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Very yummy and very evil. I don't ever want to know how bad it is for me because that would just ruin it for me. I know it is bad just don't need to know how bad! I got mine with jalapenos yum!




Last night my hubby shared his Chocolate covered strawberry with me. It almost broke my heart when my monkey wanted to share!



My Red Velvet cake from my Valentine dinner which hubby had to sit through. It was a fixed menu which is not his style, plus the options weren't exactly his style either. I enjoyed it thoroughly. We were the only family at dinner which felt kinda weird, but we enjoyed having our Love day with the whole family. Everyone cleaned their plates!





After our romantic Valentine dinner with all three kids daddy decided to break out his shark game and he kids swarmed. They love to gather around that phone. Obsession much?




My boys are pretty darn good looking. It's okay I don't need anyone to tell me.




After church Marcus took a snap of my in my Shabby Apple dress. Yes! I love it and yes! I got tons of compliments on it. Someone even asked me if I made it. Although I am not sure if that meant it looked homemade or if they think that I could be that awesome as to make something like that all by myself.



Another monkey picture for fun. he is a little cross-eyed in this one.



My self portrait. These are actually really hard with my camera phone! Definitely not skilled in that department.



My Red Velvet cake from my valentine dinner. Really yummy. I had to stuff my face because I couldn't leave it uneaten, but I was so full.



A finishing shot of my princess. She loves dressing up and going to fancy dinners just as much as I do.

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Flashback Friday

I have tortured myself over trying to figure out something new and interesting to post about for Flashback Friday, but honestly I am having to throw this post together while cooking for guests tonight and somehow watch my children. The things we mothers do. So as I was searching through my photos I decided to pick a few and explain them.

It is funny because this made me think of my sis who always would have me tell her the story I was supposed to be telling in a photo. Most of the time it was really generic, but sometimes shoots pop up that are really out there.

This wasn't really me acting out a story, but I can tell you this I was actually 4 or 5 months pregnant in this show. Believe it or not I made the newspaper during fashion week. It was a David Dixon show and I was so nervous that any day I would be showing and not fit in the clothes. Luckily that didn't happen. I have done maybe 30 fashion shows my entire career. Which spans 16 years. So as you can see I really wasn't a fashion show girl. Don't get me wrong I love doing them. It is really an adrenaline rush. You do so much preparation for only like 20 minutes of the actual show. Why didn't I do more, you ask? Well at 5'8" I really didn't have the height. Plus, I have never been rail thin like most runway girls. Crazy to think about that in real life I am underweight.

I am still a sucker for fashion shows though I love watching them and being in them. It's like shopping without having to walk all over a mall to find something you like.

This one was done as a contest for designers at the Bell Celebrity Gala in 2007. I can't really remember what they won, but I think it was prize money. The theme was Wizard of Oz. Yes, my costume rocked!! I wish I could have taken it home with me! It was the winning costume which was very cool.

This is me with the designer Jessie Matsen

Here are some of the other costumes...

This is me with Danielle Knudson She is super sweet and super beautiful. Plus she looks super cute as the Tin Man. Hopefully she doesn't mind me posting this.

I know this one is funny. I actually was trying to portray the emotion that the book was setting forth. I have done 4 book covers in all, but only managed to get a hold of 2. The first one I did was when I was pregnant with my first baby. I had to portray a bride of an Arabian Prince. We shot it in the conservatory of Casa Loma. That was a lot of fun. I was a spy in another one. Which I remember them saying I looked like Jennifer Garner which I really don't think I do at all, but my sister says the same thing.

This one was funny because the people behind me were supposed to be looking at me with jealousy and longing to be just like me. I know hilarious. The girl looks like she is giving me the stink eye. Honestly I don't even think I look that great in this photo. Definitely not one of my better days.

Hope you enjoyed this flashback as much as I did. It is fun to look back at memories and see how my life has changed and how I have changed. Life experiences make you who you are and these adventures I got to go on have definitely shaped me in a very positive way.

I want to go on more adventures!

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What's on Charity's phone?

So I am in the process of getting a new phone! yes. out of ghetto world I will creep and into the easy life. So hopefully my pics will be awesome because I will love using my camera so much I just have to take pics. I am actually eyeing a really awesome video app that I might just have to purchase! Anyway as far as pics this week not a lot. Between jet lag, snow, -18C, and vomit I wasn't in the mood for many outside adventures.



I know he is goofy, but his shhhh is almost evil.



Walking in the snow. He says that the "no" is fun!



Understated cheese.



This was supposed to be his "I'm mad!" face, but I don't think I caught the essence of it. He came downstairs the other day dragging his blanket behind him declaring that he was mad. It was quite hilarious especially because of his angry face that looked so forced and cute. Apparently he was left upstairs alone by his siblings and that made him mad. Here he finished all of his juice and was mad there was no more.



In the car waiting for daddy to pic up his new chip for his iphone4. Rockin' the new shoes that are slightly still too big for him, but I can't resist putting them on him.

That's it this week, but next week promises to have more goodies. Go link up with Jessica so I can see what is on your phone!

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