Kissing the Stone

Ben FINALLY got to kiss the Blarney Stone, something I had been promising him since June... And he was so brave, and I was so proud!

Longing for Country Living

It's official, I should be living on a farm - we were so lucky last week to be invited to mind a friends farm while they were away on holiday... we got to look after the chickens, the elusive tortoise (who we only found on the last day), Cindy the pony, Tess the sheepdog, Tammy and Rev the 9 week old springer puppy... It was glorious. The farm is in West Cork which must be one of the more scenic and beautiful parts of Ireland (although I'm biased because I think every part if this country has something to offer)... The children had a ball and relished the freedom... words fail me and so I will just have to show you how fabulous it was...


Out with my friend at the Pirate and Princess party, I'm here, but I won't enjoy myself... !

Walking the dogs, or walking the children??

The wonderful House

Daniel riding Cindy

Our family after a long day out

A Big News Day

At the circus on Friday - with a python!

Loving life - as usual

Our very successful camping trip - the kids loved itDaniels 4th Birthday Cake..

Again - it's been an age.... but it's just been so busy to! Today is a big day for me.. FINALLY, got the letter saying that my citizenship has come through - now I need to give them money and they'll invite me to a swearing in ceremony (it's a lot of money!)... So hopefully this is the end of the road for me. It's been a bumpy one to say the least and I'll look forward to being able to travel without having to get visa's every time....

Ben got his school report today - and I'm not just being a proud mom, but it was really excellent. A good way to start his schooling and I hope that the rest will be as glowing. We are going to make sure that he understands how pleased we are with him :)...

Have more photo's but they are not loading up, so will have to try again another time..

Hello out there... Okay, you could be forgiven for thinking that I have dropped off the planet, and in some ways I have felt like I've been off the grid. But I feel like I'm back again... so if anyone is still looking in - sorry for the long break. And if no one is out there (which at this stage I could understand) then I'll just ramble along to myself quietly ...

I'm not going to give a run down of the last four months - it would be tedious, but needless to say detox went okay, almost lasted the 28 days... We survived Rachel's 2nd Birthday (my baby is two!!!!!) and we managed to fit in a 10 day break to Maui (heaven) and now it's roll on Easter Break and my MIL's impending visit... In between that it's been the routine of school and weekend home decoration (which is impossible with three sets of little hands trying to help with paint and drills and everything else DIY related).

And here is what you really visit for - the kids :) :


Rachels Cakes
Ben on the Beach (yes I know, hat and gloves, but it IS Ireland!!)


The Aunty and Uncle!

Resolutions and New Starts

At the Zoo on Monday, funny watching birds land on ice

January always brings new beginnings... and this year is no different. A photo was taken of me over christmas that horrified me. First I thought, bad angle bad pose, but really I had to face facts - I need to lose weight. So here I find myself, with the millions of other people who make the same resolution each year. But something feels different this year. Maybe the fact that I haven't been on a diet in almost, dare I say 6 years (since before I was pregnant with Ben) and in fairness I have been pregnant two more times since... Or that it just feels right this time... But I am happy to say that things are progressing well so far (I'm sure you're all delighted to hear!)... I am hoping to post a picture in the not to distant future on my blog... One that I can be proud of, but in the meantime here are the pic's of people I am really proud of!!!!....

just a ps... new blog design pending - I loved my old one but I'm getting restless and need something new. secretly hoping for photoshop for my birthday...

Ben and Dan playin in the ZOO

Eskimo girl Stomping it out

Beautiful

People I love the most!

This... and it's only 3rd December!

Outside our house last night... Finally got the light right!!
Off on a snow adventure...
This was just to cute not to include
My absolute favourite photo this month... and this was taken before most of the snow fell!!

Well, it's all about snow... I have never seen as much snow in Ireland in all our 10 years here combined! We're having a blast, but only really since Robin got back from Sweden with proper gloves!...

Happy Halloween

We had a wonderful Halloween this year - felt like it was lasting memories for the kids. The houses on our street went to town! And Ben had the best last two days of school before midterm break (his first school holiday)... The whole school went in fancy dress on the Thursday - was lovely, an autumn day with crisp sunshine and beautiful colors and all these kids dressed up and then Friday saw them going to a show - The Hungry Catepillar.

Robin and I didn't dress up this year, but I think we are definately going to make an effort next year:) Ben is already planning is outfit, so it's safe to say that he enjoys it too!

Here's the pics:






We had a wonderful Halloween this year - felt like it was lasting memories for the kids. The houses on our street went to town! And Ben had the best last two days of school before midterm break (his first school holiday)... The whole school went in fancy dress on the Thursday - was lovely, an autumn day with crisp sunshine and beautiful colors and all these kids dressed up and then Friday saw them going to a show - The Hungry Catepillar.

Robin and I didn't dress up this year, but I think we are definately going to make an effort next year:) Ben is already planning is outfit, so it's safe to say that he enjoys it too!

Here's the pics:

Really - Two Months since my last post!??!

Where has the time gone??... It's incredible. The last two months have just flown by... Here's what's been happening:

Parents came to visit
Our Childminder decided to study again
Result is that I resigned and am now a SAHM
We bought a house (the paper work was insane) and moved
Ben Started School (as you know)

Looking at it now it doesn't sound like much, but boy it's been time consuming!!!

And now for the pictures...








Got to photoshop out the runny noses!!

Ben Starts School

Isn't it amazing how fast five years can go! Yesterday Ben started school and it was as amazing to see my son proudly sitting in his class surrounded by the people who are going to shape his life for the next eight years as it was to hold him for the first time. It was a poignant and touching moment...



And I couldn't not add this in - how cute is our little christmas elf?... Early admittedly, but I'm really excited for Halloween now... Check out Woody and Buzz in the background there...

The Day Ben Learnt to Ride

I have been pushing for a while to have the stabilizers taken off Ben's bike. He's five in October and I thought it was time, Robin didn't. I have to report that HE WAS FANTASTIC!! He took to it within about five minutes. I was jumping around like he broke a record or something. It was amazing - the rest of the day I felt this glow of admiration and pride... Just look...





Of course, Dan then had to try to - and he was good as well, but I think he needs a little more practice...

Laughed til I Cried

This has been one funny weekend... I just have to share.

Robin and I are trying to teach the boys Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika - and since we left SA in and about the time the 11 official languages became official, and considering that we're only fluent in two we don't know all the words. So - Robin often sings (and I mean no disrespect at all with this) "Manu Padayachi is an MNET presenter" instead of "Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo". On Saturday we decided to download the lyrics and teach them the words. Ben listens intently, asks to hear it again and then says "Daddy, why are the singing the wrong words? they're not singing Manu Padayachi!?"

And then there was this... Pictures and a thousand words and all that...

Party Pictures

I am increasingly frustrated as I can't seem to work out how properly to set the shutter speed on my camera - so most of the photo's I took of the kids at a birthday party are disappointing... but I did get one or two that I could post... We're well into party season here now. Had one yesterday, two today and another in a weeks time. The kids are having a blast...

It is what it is...

I've had to realise and accept something today - as much as I wish I was, I'm not a prefectionist. I'm a just-make-doist. There are not enough hours to get everything the way I want it - Daniels cake didn't turn out the way I want. In fact I only had time to do one side - so at least the profile looked finished. i just COULDN@T finish it with the kids crawling all over me, and having to finish the food for the party and tidying up after them even though we had prepared the day before, the boys decided to pull all their toys out about an hour before we were due to go. Robin also had to fly to Sweden for business today and so while he was around this morning he wasn't with us for the party or the clean up...

All in all, the day went really well. Daniel LOVED the bowling, and the weather was fantastic and I got to catch up with people I care about...

Here's the Day


It was so hot, the kids had their party under the trampoline

The boys bowling

Connor and Daniel

My Best Effort - but it's not going to win any awards... ;)