On the Succulent Bandwagon

I didn't think succulents can do well in this climate, but I have been proven wrong.

There is a garden store around here that specialize in succulents, and boy do they know what they are doing. The plants they have are just spectacular.

We had no idea this place was even any worth going to. Every time we drive by it on the main road, we think, oh that's the tiny hole-in-the-wall looking garden centre, I wonder if they have anything in there that's worth our time? And how do you even get to it? There's no drive way!

I'm glad we put aside our judgemental garden centre snob attitudes and found our way in, because what's inside was just beyond words. 

Succulents of all shapes, sizes, and texture, some were simply gigantic, and most we've never seen before.

One of the gardeners spoke poetically about how to care for the precious succulent babies, don't water them too much, they will get lanky and "reach for the sun", and you don't want that, most people want short, stubby, and plump looking succulents.

Yes, we want short stubby and plump, please.

We may only need to water ours once a month.

We are so excited about this new addition to our balcony.

If this pot does well, we might become succulent hoarders in the future.

It's a zoo

It's been one of those weeks, where you can't seem to get ahead. Actually, it feels like it's been one of those months.

 Sometimes I really don't know how I get through the day.

 This is completely normal, I keep telling myself.

 It feels like a zoo.

 Kinda like this one. A bit run down, some things are missing, and some things don't work.

 But we have fun anyway.

I fooled my family with this photo above. We didn't tell them we went to the zoo, I posted the photo to our family photo album and everyone thought we had caught a close sight of this beauty in the wild. It's not unheard of in this part of the world, we do see bald eagles flying around, in trees and on lamp posts, but not likely this close, on the ground. The eagles at the zoo have all been rescued, they can't fly and would have been euthanized had the zoo not take them in. They are beautiful and gigantic up close.

My Favourite Child

I'm not sure if this is such a good topic to bring up, but I'm going to do it anyway. I have a favourite child. (Gasp! I've said it.) I don't feel bad for admitting this, because I have my reasoning.

Growing up as an only child, my childhood was very lonely. I have, to this day, wished that I had a sister, or sisters. If my Mom was to bear / adopt a child right now, I would jump up and down for joy. When I was ready to have children of my own, I knew it had to be more than one, not wanting my child to go through what I did, playing board games by myself. So not fun. Since I didn't grow up with siblings, I have no idea what it's like to vie for my parent's attention, to feel being favoured, or less of a favourite. Hence my insensitivity for brining this up! But I've always wondered, the parents who say, "I don't have a favourite child," are they being completely honest?

Why I have a favourite child is because they are different people, they are at different stages in their development, and their needs are different, which leads me to having favourites, at different times. When Atlas was a newborn, Castle was my favourite, because Atlas was very difficult with feeding. We had a rocky relationship those couple of months. Try being projectile vomited on a few times and day, not my favourite. Yet, when Castle started testing the boundaries of authority, especially when he says everything in his whiny voice, Atlas quickly became my favourite. I don't think I will ever love one child more than the other. But I'm not sure how I can love on them equally every moment of the day, because there's only one of me and two of them. This Mommy thing only gets more and more dynamic and interesting. When they get older I'm sure things will be different, especially when their little personalities really come out.

Latest LEGO Things: Gift Box Version 2

Last year on Mother's day, I received my present in a LEGO gift box.

This year, I was expecting the same, because I loved that box so much.

A LEGO gift box received, I did. Along with yellow roses, breakfast in bed, and my big boy rushing in to say happy mommies day.

Unfortunately, this year, my LEGO loving husband didn't hide his creation well enough away from me before the big reveal. There aren't that many places to hide things around here, and I got a glimpse of it a few days before.

In all honesty all I saw were yellow LEGO bricks in a box. He could have casually told me to put it somewhere else.

But no, when I found it in my craft cupboard I asked, "What's this doing here?" He quickly leaped off the couch to take it off my hands. Oh no, that didn't give it away AT ALL.

Inside the box with the really cool hinge was a gift card to my fuel my weakness for Camper. 

And a few words that I never get tired of hearing.

I wonder what next year's will look like. I'm looking forward to it already! (No pressure, boys.)

TV Bench to Vertical Planter

Our Ikea Liden TV bench... I first bought it when I moved to Vancouver, it was the cheapest thing in the TV bench section, it was functional, and it was temporary. I can't believe we've had it for so long, here it is as our TV bench:

 And then as our coffee table:

And now, as or vertical planter on our balcony!

Because with two kids in 800 sq. ft., who has room for a coffee table?

We took the base off and used some extra lumber to build out the planter boxes. Since we can't drill into the side of the building, the planter is pressure clamped on the sides of the column.

Drilled some holes for drainage. 

Lined the boxes with plastic, planted some ornamental grasses, and there it is, our first Ikea Hack!

Potty Training Diaries: Wee bit of Success

Success, a wee bit. Pun intended.

 The big boy has been diaper-less during awake times for a week now.

He takes to Smarties rewards. I was reading somewhere that you shouldn't use treats to potty train. 

I say to that someone somewhere, whatever! In the nicest way possible, of course.

He doesn't care for stickers, or a jumping up and down hooray party. He loves chocolate. LOVES. He responded to, "chocolate treat?" faster than anything else we've tried. 

Candy it is. He gets one Smartie every time he goes.

He gets two Smarties if he tells us he needs to go. You should see his eyes light up when we say TWO Smarties!

Photos are from our morning at Science World, playing at the density sculpture.

Our Weekend

It was sunny, exceptionally warm, and Grandma and Grandpa came to visit for the day.

 The 2 year old goofball spent the day running around until his legs fell off.

 The mini goofball slept the morning away in the stroller, only to wake up after we've all had lunch. Such good timing, baby.

 On this day, Daddy and the boys were not united as to which team they were rooting for.

No one dared to make fun of my little Leaf fans here in the West, how can you? They are too wee and too cute.

If anything, we got more support, people shouted "Go Leafs Go!" as we walked past. We love Vancouver on a sunny day.