Chinese New Year January 26

The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. This powerful sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. As one might guess, such people are dependable, calm, and modest. Like their animal namesake, the Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.



Expect a year of more harmony and peace in inter-national relationships and a year for healing and cure and relaxation from the turbulent time the world has experienced since 2001. It is a time for rebuilding and reconstructions from the damage brought by war and natural disasters, and the financial tsunami of 2008, and also a time to seek peace settlement and to narrow the differences between different culture, religious believes and begin to care for one another, and make some achievement in solving the global warming issue. It is a year of pure earth element and the theme for this year should be caring for our planet earth.


Need some celebration ideas?

1. Clean house! It is important to "sweep away" your bad luck before the new year. But don't clean in the first few days or you will be sweeping away your good luck!

2. Decorate with the lucky color red. Hanging ox papercuts on your door is a popular way.

3. Serve festive foods. An easy one would be oranges to signify wealth and prosperity. Chinese dumplings is another good idea.

We were walking the other day when we saw this cute scene.
The little girl was talking to her friend on the other side of the window.
Just love her outfit, but she must have been cold!








Cool building design














Our crazy fridge. Can you spot something you've given us on there??








Wait a minute! That's not how I put you to sleep? What happened??

There are so many "firsts" to document!
The first time Ella eats carrots. Doesn't look as though she likes them :)


(I hear carrots stain, hence the naked baby)







The first time Ella sits in a shopping cart








The first time Ella sees a flamingo






















The first time being carried behind Daddy.

Here is Ella's first taste of rice cereal.


After realizing how messy it was going to be, we tried again with a bib on her :)



She doesn't eat much yet but every day we practice.

ella rolls over!

Ella rolled over today!


She did it early this morning while Suds was still sleeping. Then later on she did it a bunch more times. I kept thinking each time would be the last, but it wasn't. Finally after she did it about 10 times I got out the camera. Of course by this point she was grumpy and had worked up an appetite. Poor thing, I was withholding food until I got her roll on film. She was well rewarded for her efforts, don't worry!



In other, slightly less exciting news, we also quickly captured this photo before she fell.








And she really likes sitting up and looking over the couch.

New Year's 2009

New Year's fireworks Hong Kong style





We had a great view and didn't have to deal with the crowds













When the first fireworks exploded we could hear the crowds of people downtown cheering from 20 floors up!







The finale










Our hosts for the night, Jeremy and Fran. They have a fantastic view of the city from their apartment.






New Year's day was sunny and clear. We headed out to the park








It was so bright, Ella needed to borrow Daddy's hat!


































From who did Ella inherit the desire to stick out her tongue in photo's??









That's a better one!

Christmas in Brooklyn, New York

Ella and I had a Carrie Bradshaw moment and hired a private car to take us Brooklyn. Believe it or not, their quote was cheaper than a taxi!

Our hotel room was fantastic!





Such a cosy bed with all those pilllows!






I had the day before Suds arrived so Ella and I strolled around the near by residential neighbourhood.

We would love to live here!





Xmas morning and time for gifts! I was so excited, I forgot to take a picture of the tree! I bought a little tree for our room and there were lots of gifts underneath.



After gifts it was time to tour Suds around to see the cool homes.

Of course there were lots of photo ops!






We loved how they decorated their homes for Xmas. These tree boughs had little birds!








It was a clear and bright morning.
This is the view looking towards downtown.

We think Hong Kong's skyline kicks New York's butt!




As close as I got to the statue







For lunch we had Thai food with the flight crew. There wasn't much open to choose from. It was either Thai or Dunkin Donuts:)





Ella was a big hit and got passed from flight attendant to flight attendant down the row. I am sure her pictures are all over facebook! It was like a photoshoot!




There's our little tree!






On Xmas morning Ella sucked her toes all by herself!








Very early on Boxing Day we headed back to Hong Kong. (thanks Whit) The flight was 16 hours! But we made it eventually. Once we landed we were faced with a baggage handlers trike and had t o leave the airport without of luggage or stroller. Thank god everything was delivered safley the next day. The last piece arived at 1am!

More New York

Ella and I got up early one morning and headed to the Today show. It was bitter cold so we didn't last long before heading back to the hotel.





Too bad Meredith and Al were on holidays

Ann Curry and Matt Lauer














I had a nice tall man take some photos for me above all the heads. I was too short!







After a warm up and breakkie Ella and I jumped on the hop on/off bus for a tour of the city.

This is the Hearst building, a mix of old and new.







Ella wasn't a fan of sitting in the Ergo carrier and it wasn't long before her fussing encouraged me to get off. Here we are taking a break in a Starbucks. New York is the only place we've been with more Starbucks than Vancouver. New York is super saturated with the coffee chain. There are literally at least one in every block, in every direction everywhere you go in the city. I've never seen anything like it!

We got off at the Empire States building. We didn't think it was too great. We liked the Chrysler building much better (but didn't get a picture of it)

This was one of the last pictures I took on the tour. Poor Ella was overtired and I couldn''t get her to sleep on the bus with everything going on. She cried and cried and against the protestations of the other passengers, I felt I had no choice but to get off bus. Eventually we finished the tour but I wasn't able to get off and explore. With Ella finally asleep I just waned the day over and get back to the hotel ASAP. Next time I'll have to explore SOHO and the Village. They looked really cool as we dove thru them.

Here is Ella chilling on Marilyn Monroe's famous subway grate.