Rachels day got just a bit to long and she didn't last until bed

Playing nicely together

Loving the play center

At the park

Do you think she likes swinging... ??


I can't believe that it's been almost a month since I posted last - so much has happened and changed in that time! Rachel is on solids now and nothing seems to be holding her back... She's putting her two teeth to good use and likes nothing better than a bit of toast or mellon to knaw on. She's also crawling backwards now (officially as of this morning) properly on her hands and knees and since she was only six months on Tuesday I think that's good going... Among the big decisions we decided that we aren't moving in the end anyway... It all got a bit to much for us and when I realised that it was going to take me a good four hours commuting everyday to work I got cold feet and bob and I decided to call it off. I must be honest the on again/off again process has left me a bit flat.... But I know that this is the best decision for us... The other aspect that was weighing on my mind with the move was that the boys would be out of the school catchment area for the school we've chosen for them (although we only find out in December as to whether or not we've gotten in to the school or not!)... The upside is that I don't have to pack boxes, but the idea of the move has inspired a "Clean House" clean out and I am working towards a car boot sale to clear out our clutter...

A Challenge from Jo

I have received a challenge from Jo

1 Open the 4th file where you store your photos

2 Pick out the 4th photo and publish it to your blog

3 Explain a bit about it

4 Pass this challenge to 4 other blogs

And this is it:


I loved this photo and there is such a nice story to it - we were coming back from visiting friends in the UK and it was close to Paddy's Day. We were walking through the airport and saw the leprechaun hat, stuck it on Daniel and took the photo. This turned out to be one of the best photo's of Daniel... Loved the challenge!

a note to say...

Thank You Jo-Anne! My new header was created by Jo an old school friend of mine and I love it.

We're Moving

Rachel hit another milestone today look. Both boys used the car, and now it's Rachie's turn...




Rachel in the Car

Daniel in the car

Ben in the car

From the two pics above you can see Rachel and Daniel are from the same factory as Robin would say...

So, it's official (I think)... We are moving at the end of September into a beautiful house in the Dublin Hills. It has the space we've been looking for, it's on a farm so there is the rural aspect and it's still only twentyish minutes from work for Robin. Friends of ours built it, they are going back to SA and that's how we got the opportunity. And being South African they built it with the South African asthetic in mind. It is a gem of a house and I'm really excited. Also has the most beautiful views of the whole of Dublin. The other thing is that it is semi furnished which means we will be finally getting our own furniture again! (and this means shopping and deciding on design again - can't wait )

This is it

Sorry for the loss of background - if you caught it... The photobucket account needed to be renewed... We're back in business now... So, I would love a little bit of feed back. I think this is the skin I'm sticking with for a while - have been trying loads over the last week - what do you think? Let me know :)

Hitting the Milestones

When we had Ben the thought of weaning onto solids seemed like such a huge thing... When to start, what to feed, would he take it or not... And here we are with Rachel, just so ready, we had pork with applesauce last night. I made the applesauce, she was sitting on my lap, one thing led to another and I am happy to report that she took to it like a duck to water. It was just a taste, but something tells me weaning is not going to be a problem for her.

































We were at the zoo last week and the boys loved it - so we bought the family year pass and now will probably go to the zoo everyweekend. Look forward to lots of photo's of animals. Here are a few now:

New Looks

I am trying very hard to improve my skills when it comes to the design of my blog - and so my might notice changes soon. the most obvious is the background, but there are other things that I'm trying to do... Have patience, we'll get there. I have spent ages trying to get the changes sorted and so I'm just going to post the photo's for now... will write an update soon....

Beach on a Cloud

Smiling Tiger

Finding the crabs

Delight! is biggest game was pretending to be scared of the crabs

Lessons on the beach with dad



The title is strange I know, but today we went to the beach - it was warm, the wind wasn't blowing, it was a lovely day - except for the fact that it was completely foggy and your could hardly see 100 meters ahead of you at any given time. It was so atmospheric. The boys had a fantastic time - they discovered crabs and spent all their time building them a house and a river and then a huge big hole for the crabs to swim in... it was a great day...

Yay - A Beach Day!

So this is summer, this is it! We ditched everything today and went to the beach - and what a beautiful day. Daniel fell asleep in the car and so when he woke up the beach wasn't his favourite place... He didn't like the sand, he didn't like the water and he DIDN'T like the little boy who kept nicking his hat (and he doesn't even like his hat!)... It was very funny - and we got some good shots, so here they are...


Sorry, the first one is of Rachel, fully sucking her thumb...






How cute is this....

Daniel's Birthday

Well, Daniels party is over for another year, but in four months we have Bens and five months after that Rachels first - we have managed to spread our childrens birthdays rather evenly over the year... It was a lovely day thank goodness, a little bit of wind and a bit cloudy but importantly, no rain. Also, the kids loved the space, and it gave the mom's and dad's some space to :). Unfortunately, we haven't had very well children since then though... Ben has a really high temperature that responds to medication but not for very long and yesterday it was up to 97.7 - the highest he's ever had. Strangely though, he has no other symptoms and so we really don't know what's wrong with him. Daniel doesn't have a temperature, but if very sleepy, tired and cranky which is great fun. Rachel is teething definately, but is her usual happy self.

Other than the party we had friends stay with us on Saturday night and it was so great to catch up with them as we haven't seen them in about two years and yesterday Father's Day! I got a lie in!!! then when we managed to get the kids to all sleep together (yes!!!) we watched Mama Mia (I knew there was a reason that we didn't make an effort to go see it in the cinema - at least it didn't take itself to seriously). When the kids woke up we attempted to go into town and see the Street Performers World Championchips. And that is were things went pear shaped - three small children, one big double stroller, two grumpy tired parents and about 19 thousand other people all milling about straining to see a small man juggling a cabbage on his head or bouncing on a violin did not work well. The first show we managed to get good seats for was unfortunately a puppet show, so Ben started freaking out (he is not a puppet lover!!) so things went from bad to worse!... Finally after about an hour we admitted defeat, packed the kids back into the car and headed for the safty of home... Anyway - here are a few snapshots...



Party in the Park

Cute shot of Rachel


To much Party

Looking sweet









Our Spot









The Cake












The Big Digger - A bit of hit

All About Rachel

I can't help it, but I just love playing with her - we're having such fun with Rachel. We were at a birthday party over the weekend and she was the life and soul of the party - primarily because she laughs and smiles for everyone so easily....

Well, Daniel is two on Thursday and so a lot of planning is going into his party. We are going to have it in the park (hopefully optimistic of me) as I think it'll be more fun having him tear around outside (and also a picnic party will be a little less work for me). I'm hoping to make a fish-shaped cake for him, and lets pray it turns out okay... Will let you all know.

So here are the latest pictures of the little lady :)...

I'm getting cuter and cuter

Today is a momentus day - Daniel is potty training himself, and as much as I'm not ready for it he is... He went to the toilet and did all the business! Rachel is just so amazing, we got a new bumbo for her (supporting south african products :) )... and she loves it. I had to include the pics of daniel jumping off the couch - his newest pastime! Even that has become boring now, and so he's devised a new game, stand on the windowsill, bolamakissi over the couch and roll onto the floor. It's heart stopping... I think I should get a standing order prescription of valium because he is going to be our extreme sports guy and I think we might have one or two trips to A&E in our future (in fact I'd put money on it)...