Gardening

I have wanted to have a real garden since we moved in to our house on Grant Street.  But work, kids, more kids, laziness and a general lack of knowledge about anything to do with gardening.  I've become really obsessed with buying organic produce though and the cost if pretty crazy, so I probably should grow at least a bit of our own.  Besides how hard can it be?  All you need is dirt and water and sun right?  Well here goes nothing.  We got a pretty good assortment of veggies and herbs to try our hand at growing our own food.  We took advantage of the one sunny day  and got planting.  Taryn and I really wanted to kids to get involved and we managed to hold their attention for a few moments before they wandered off.  I really hope some of what we plant takes and that I don't have a total brown thumb after all.

Syx getting a workout.

Seedlings planted.  Now we wait.

Our garden to be.

Arlo and Daddy on Gabriola

Trip to Gabriola to visit our good friends.  

Koa and Daddy counting out his piggybank.  The kid is rich!

Snug as a bug...

Why why why is sleep such an issue for parents of babies and young kids?  Koa rarely sleeps through the night even though he is 3 and was always so hard to get to nap, that we pretty much gave up naps by the time he has two and a half.  Arlo is much easier to put to sleep at night and to put down for naps, but he still wakes up every couple hours at night.  This has resulted in the ultimate game of musical beds.  Arlo and Koa would both start the night in their own bed/crib, then Arlo would wake up and I would let him come into our bed...then Koa would wake up and squish in with us.  Now with both kids getting bigger by the day, a queen size bed just doesn't cut it.  So we moved Arlo's crib out of our room and into Koa's room.  This is pretty recent and they either stare at each other until they peacefully fall asleep at night or they take turns sobbing (I'd say about 50/50).  We really wanted to night wean Arlo.  The first couple of nights were pretty sleepless for Luke who was sleeping in Koa's bed with Arlo while Koa would come sleep in my bed with me.  But then Arlo seemed to be catching on, and after a big of whining would snuggle up to dad and go back to sleep.  Of course this only lasted about a week and then he started teething again and got pretty hysterical which left Luke exhausted, me stressed (I can't handle his crying at night) and didn't really solve the issue of musical beds because Arlo was waking Koa up as well.  So...is the solution a giant king size bed? Me going away for a few days?  Baby tranquilizers?  Weaning all together? I kind of think the only way it will work is to wean him and I am not ready yet.

In other news the family is embarking on a month of healthy eating and elimination.  Koa was sick with the flu at Christmas, then ended up really sick with a virus of some kind which landed us in the emergency room for an afternoon.  Since then he has had this crazy rash, which is clearing up but still lingering after nearly 3 weeks.  So we figured something must be up with his little immune system and took him to see a naturopath who told us that he should be avoiding dairy/sugar/peanuts/gluten/wheat/red meat/soy and citrus...so basically starving the poor kid!  Plus we paid a small fortune in natural immune boosters and supplements which for the life of me I can't seem to figure out how to get him to take.  I've tried bribing, trickery, threats, pinning him down.  The kids is darn stubborn...hmmm...suspiciously like I think I was at his age.  In fact I have a sneaking suspicious that Koa is like me in a lot of ways.  This should be an interesting ride!  Oh and as if I don't start enough projects that I don't have time to finish/work out I have started ANOTHER blog with Jody to document our "healthy" eating month.  Now I can be one of those annoying people who write non stop about their offspring and also describe in detail and  take pictures of everything they eat.  I'm so un-original!

Play date downstairs

Double decker friends

And so here we are....

Maybe it was the warm spring like weather in January day, maybe it was the fact that I feel extra in love with my sweet little rascals, maybe it was the fact that all my other busy mama friends still find time to squeeze in updates on their blogs....whatever the reason I have OFFICIALLY resolved to write at least a few updates here and there.
A few weeks ago I found an old moleskin day planner from year Koa turned one.  In between appointments, play dates and work reminders I had hastily scribbled a few notes here and there about what Koa was learning and doing at the time.  I didn't write  much, but it was so great to read back over those little moments.  And I think that one day both boys will want to hear about the things they did when they were little.  I don't want to regret not keeping better track of the time as it flies by.  They really are growing up fast.  Arlo is almost ten months.  He isn't just a chubby little blob anymore.  He is a full fledged squirmy squiglly busy little boy.  He has become so chatty in the last couple of weeks too.  He says ya ya yaya and  mommommommom (though I don't think he is really saying my name yet).    I look forward to watching him develop into a unique little human like his brother, but I feel like I am in less of a rush than a was with Koa because I know he is my last little baby.  And besides I know living with three boys is going to keep me on my toes in the years to come.  My home is already a mine field of small sharp toy car and lego pieces, wrestling toddlers and fart jokes at the dinner table.  It is definately exhausting, but I am trying to embrace the chaos and to take care of myself too.  The other night I tiptoed in to the house after a rare evening out with friends and watched Luke, Koa and Arlo sleeping soundly in Koa's bed...Luke was sprawled in the middle with Koa tucked in tight bum in the air in childs pose and Arlo snoring peacefully with his little chin tilted back and a sweet baby dreamy smile....ahhhhh these are the moments I want to remember!

"Stoopin"  Stoop party in the sun on January 31 2012....so warm we didn't even needs coats.

Arlo is a ladies man!

Mayne Island

Just got back from a lovely week on Mayne, staying at my parents cottage.  I only planned to go for a couple of days, but the service was so good I stayed for a week!  It was really nice to get out of the city and my folks really did take such good care of us.  Koa explored a number of different beaches....threw rocks, hunted for crabs, saw otters swimming and generally had a ball.  We feasted like kings and generally lazed around.  All in all the perfect vacation.  

One thing that really annoys me is people who insist on taking a million photos of their kids, pets and food...oh wait I am one of those annoying people. 

Arlo and his Zaida having a snooze in the sun.

Koa age 2.  Garrity age 15.

Looking pensive

Dimi, Mommy and Koa enjoying the riveting tale of Fox in Socks.  I  wish this was my bed by the way.  So comfy even though we tracked sand into it and even though I had to share it with two kids and  a fluffy cat. 

Fresh salad from the garden...Koa helped pick the veggies.

Yummy pasta dinner for Koa...on Grandma's good china.

Koa and Grandma baking cookies.

The snacks grandma makes are way better than the ones I make.  Fresh whip cream and berries...now Koa will never eat the slop I feed him.

Tea time with Grandma

Getting cozy with Cheddar.

Sandy bum

Little Helper

Now whenever I take photos, Koa flashed a big grin and says "cheese"

Dimi...such a handsome cat.

A lovely evening at the beach

Now just picture Arlo with a mustache.

Fresh from the garden.

I had to fight Koa to get a few of these berries.

Ummm....ok?

Nudie cuddles after the bath.

Morning cuddles with Grandma and Zaida.

He really is getting to be quite good in the kitchen.

Latte - "aka chard smoothie" and Ice-cream "aka bran banana muffin"

These were amazing!  Muffins in ice cream cones...what will they think of next?!

Just a sneak peak at summer so far...

Wow!  Over a month has passed since my last post.  Arlo is snoring in his bouncy chair and I just tucked an overtired no-nap Koa into bed, so I'm going to attempt to bring our summer up to date.

Yummy fresh from the farm organic produce every week.  A smorgasbord of delicious !  Now to find a way to get Koa to eat it.  So far hiding it in smoothies has worked best.

The kids dining at their own mini picnic table and J & H's amazing  property outside Squamish.  

I had to post this...Jeff and Max...too cute.  Huddling together to avoid being eaten alive by ravenous mosquito's.   

At first glance this appears to be a pile of stuff on a chair...Oh wait its Arlo!

He can nap anywhere...seriously anywhere.  Boy am I proud of this kid.  And only he cold make strips, polka-dots and faux fur look good together.

No camping trip is complete without an electric bubble machine.  Nothing quite like roughing it in the bush!  Kids + bubbles=pure bliss.

The adorable Miss B...Koa has a little crush on her I think.

Showing off in the dirt pit.  They loved the bubbles, but I'm pretty sure the dirt pile put them over the moon.

Rugged like his dad.  I'm still finding sand!  Oh and then he got overly excited and licked the dirt!

A little more subdued after a rainy night of partying in the forest.   

The aftermath of camping and life with two kids and two sets of cloth diapers and a construction working boyfriend.  Still working on potty training Koa which hopefully will cut down on at least some of the diapers....we are so so close.

Luke has a bad ass truck...I have a bad ass stroller which I cram more stuff in plus two kids (Arlo is hiding in the lower bunk).  Actually this day I would say I only brought a moderate amount of stuff.  

This is how you kick a ball Koa.   

Epic thumb war between Yonas and Koa

Sylvie meeting Arlo for the first time.  I think he is really enjoying his cuddle.  

Them cheeks were made for kissing!  He looks like a little Hoo.

Family portrait.  Yep thats right...boobs out all over town.

Awww love.

Chilling in Stanley Park for some free music and good times with friends.

Hanna and Koa...not too sure about the dough.

They got pretty into the project after all.

Thanks for the private art session Taryn.