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)...

Funny Face...

I can't help it - Rachel is getting just to lovely... She found dinner time hilarious for some reason tonight... Laughing and giggling - and the boys are starting to compete in trying to make her laugh. Ben has taken to making up songs for her "You are my baby Rachel, and I love you in this house" seems to be his favourite lyric. I know that this is a short post, but just for you to enjoy the photo's...

Something tells me, I'm in for Something Good

Our first summer day - real summer day, shorts and t-shirt and no shoes summer day!!!.... Long may it last. The boys had a ball outside, Rachel even managed to be outside with no jersey and no socks! This is big folks, you who live outside of Ireland just don't understand - and here are the pics to prove it :)
















Had to include this one - this is her laughing

Busy Busy Busy...

I don't know if I'm coming or going at this stage - Finding the time to blog has proven impossible at the moment. As it is I have 15 mins before I have to pick the boys up from school... so this is going to be a little rushed. Sorry :) The breakdown of what has been going on is basically bob travelling to all the corners of the earth this month. Last week he was in San Francisco, next week he's off to the middle east for almost two weeks and then he's barely back before he heads off to Sweden! I'm starting to plan Daniels second birthday party! Which seems crazy to me, honestly - he cant be two already. The house in Lusk as kept me busy as the tennants moved out and we had to get new people in. I feel like if all else fails I'd be qualified to rent out houses... I've been doing a lot of it lately.... And here's the most important bit the pics... Oh by the way - got a new camera and I'm loving it!! :) Rachel is as good as gold, so nothing has changed there. She really is just a happy little thing and we are all loving her to pieces...

Our Weekend

I love the park
I'm going to kick it!
Rachel as little roo
Daniel in the plane at the park

We are all doing really well at the moment - I think we've really settled down now into being a family of five. Rachel was eight weeks yesterday! I don't know where the time has gone to be honest. She is doing so well - sleeping eight hour stretches at night and after a quick feed, back for another four. I really couldn't ask for better. I have found that the change from two to three has been a lot easier than the adjustment and change from one to two. Daniel is in creche now two days a week, and he's doing okay, but not settling to well at the moment. He is obsessed with planes and all he wants to do is go to the airport to see planes. His exact words "Daddy back see airport planes high sky"... (I always tell him that we can only see planes on the weekend when daddy's home)... Apart from anything else - don't you think that's fantastic speech for a little boy who is not yet two!!

A Sad, but Sunny Weekend

Yes, that is blue sky over Dublin, and yes - we got to braai!
We could even sit outside and enjoy the sunshine
Yes, ben is in the jacuzzi! in the sun!!
Our happy Rachel - there's a smile for you grandpa
Look at my big muscles!

Well, we had to say goodbye to mom and dad on Friday as they flew back to Doha - and we were all very sad to see them go. The kids have been asking all weekend for them, with Ben particularly sad that nanny went home. But, this is ironic, we had terrible weather the last few days they were here - lots of light and persistant rain. Lo and behold though, this weekend has been fantastic. We have had to really gorgeous days that even allowed us to have a braai today in sunshine! I actually felt warmth from the sun and it was good!

As for the family - Rachel is just getting bigger and bigger (6.1kgs at her doc's appointment on Friday). But with bigger comes sleep I have found - she is doing really well - going for about seven eight hours at a stretch at night - who could ask for more at seven weeks! :) The whole family even got a lie in this morning with Daniel only waking at 7:17!!! And for those in the know - know THAT never happens! :) This means that all is good with the Fishers... Will post again soon