On this day- Dylan's sixth birthday

On this day six years ago, after a long and difficult labour, my beautiful son was born. It was 5:00 pm and he weighed 8lbs 2oz. His Daddy cried when he was born, and so did I. I remember the moment they placed him in my arms, and I remember looking into his crystal blue eyes. I remember his smell and the absolute joy I felt. This was my son, I was meeting him for the first time. When he turned his face towards me, I knew him. It was as though he had always been with me. I was in love and I still am 6 years later.....

He has grown into the most beautiful little boy, he is unique and we love him and he is treasured....

He picked out his gifts that he wanted a while back and Derek went out late last night - in the ice and snow! and this is what he got...

When he got up this morning he was delighted with his presents! Lauren presented him with his lego and she was delighted to help! and he was so excited when he realised that we had gotten him his 'rescue pets train and play puppy'  Here's some photos of him opening his presents!

He was excited to put his badge on and go in to school, so everyone would know it was his birthday!

When he got home from school he had an extra few badges...

Then after dinner, I got a big block of ice-cream and covered it in chocolate sauce, and chocolates, and candles and he was delighted because ice-cream is his favourite dessert!

So he had a great family birthday today. We're looking forward to his birthday party on Saturday.

Happy birthday our darling Dylan....

Let it snow

We have only started to get snow in Ireland on a yearly basis, before this we could go years between snow storms, so when we get it we still get all excited! Everyone goes out and builds snowmen, and there's almost a festive feel to it!!

On Friday it was icy cold, and when we woke on Saturday to an ice storm! it was freezing! Then on Sunday there was a light fluffy blanket of snow. Dylan had  so much fun, he said he loved the snowballs, but not the cold ones! Lauren on the other hand was petrified! When we asked her did she want to go out in the snow, she flat out refused and nearly cried at the thought! But she had loads of fun standing at the window watching Dylan and Daddy playing outside. I eventually asked her again if she'd go out and she said 'o ok,' so out we went. She wouldn't stand down on the ground, and she was clinging to me, so I brought her back in again. She lasted about 10 minutes! Dylan and Daddy made a tiny snowman in the garden! Dylan was delighted with it, the snow was just too powdery to make a big one! Much to Derek's dismay!

On the Saturday night we sat up and watched the snow. The sky had a yellow glow, and the snow was falling fast, and the road was thick with snow. It was so beautiful! I wanted to share some nice photos of our lovely snow days! (I took these through the window, so they aren't as clear as I'd like) It is to get colder during the week. So I may have more snowy photos to follow.

We've never had snow this early in the year. It was strange to see the leaves still falling from autumn laying on top of the snow! We definitely had some fun in the snow!

We didn't do much more over the weekend! we visited Derek's sister on Saturday, and Dylan had a friend to sleep over. They had lots of goodies and watched some films. He had a great time. That's it really, we just took it easy! gotta love days like this...

Christmas cheer and little people living here

It's getting colder here everyday, the leaves are gone and an icy wind has replaced the crisp chill! I'm looking forward now to all that this season brings. I love the slow trickle of changing window displays and Christmas music sneaking in, and people preparing, and then before you know it.. bang.. Christmas is here! I can't wait to put on some Christmas music and put our tree up! We usually do it once we have Dylan's birthday over! I like him to have a dedicated amount of time for his birthday, before Christmas starts.

Lauren is also changing fast! She'll be 21 months old this month. I can see that she is a toddler now, not a baby anymore (although she'll always be my baby!)  It only seems like yesterday I was writing that she had started to say a few clear words. Now she is stringing three words together and is getting her point across quite clearly. She is definite on what she does and doesn't like. Especially when it comes to her favourite shows on TV. Luckily they both like Peppa Pig, so they'll compromise on that. Although when TV time is over, all I hear for about half an hour is ' petta gone, pettta gooone,' 

She has become obsessed with Santa since she discovered who he is. She insists on watching that film 'Elf'' all the time. She'll walk around with the box asking for it! it's quite funny! On Monday while I was getting her ready I was singing 'Santa baby' you know that old song! and she loved it. Then when we were in the car on our way to get Dylan, all I hear from the back seat is... 'santa baby, la la la, Santa baby laaaaa,' and she kept singing that bit all the time! It is the cutest thing to listen to.. It really makes me smile.

She's really getting into her books now too. She'll sit down and look at the pictures and talk about them. My mum got her a Peppa book and she loves it. I thought she was asleep at nap time last week, but when I went up to check on her, there she was with her Peppa book in her lap 'reading' away! She'd managed to get it from her shelf! I am loving this phase of her development. She's becoming more caring and loving. She'll reach over and hug you or kiss you spontaneously now. She is also becoming a Daddy's girl, she says 'Daddy's gone work.. very busy,' and when she hears him come in she jumps down and runs through the house shouting 'Daddy, Daddy, Daddy home,'

Her eating is getting a bit better, still not great but better. I'm giving her more at breakfast, and I've started giving her supper. So I know once she gets those two good meals, I'm happy for her to graze during the day. That way if she only picks at her lunch, I don't worry too much. She has been eating her lunch for the past two days though, so yaay!

We're really looking forward to her second Christmas this year. I just love having a daughter and I am thoroughly enjoying each new day with her!

Here's a few pictures of her from last weekend... looking all adorable!

I am finding it hard to believe that my first born, my baby boy will be six in a matter of days! He is getting bigger, and he's becoming so kind to those around him. We are still having some behavioural issues, but we've started a new star chart and that seems to be doing the trick so far. I'm so proud of the wonderful person he's becoming, he's so loving with his sister... they are so cute together, Dylan opens out his arms to her and she runs to him laughing, she adores him!

He had his parent-teacher meeting yesterday, and it went really well. His teacher seems to be really fond of him, judging by how she talks about him. She says he is doing really well with his sounds, letters, numbers, reading and blending. She says he is very popular with his peers, and he behaves well. She is very happy with him and has no concerns. I was so happy to hear this, because I've been having some attention problems with him recently, and I was getting really concerned. I find it hard to get him focused on his homework, and I was worried he was acting that way in school too! but thankfully he is doing great. His teacher says he is progressing well. Which is a huge weight off my mind, I've had to work on the letters and sounds in the past with him, and it's definitely paid off... yaay! She's given me some extra things to work on over the term.

We got his Proof for his T-shirt design, and I'm really happy with it. I'm just going to change the 'aged 6' bit to just '6' by request of the birthday boy! He's also got his beloved Buzz Lightyear all over it! so he's one happy boy. I'm going to go ahead and get it printed up. He'll be adorable in it at his party!!

I got a picture of him before he went to to school this morning, because he was looking so cute all bundled up in his winter clothes. But I see the 'serial killer gaze' has become a fixture recently in his photos! he always looks slightly sinister in photos these days!!! I hope it won't last too long, because I love his cheesy camera smile!

Here's a copy of the proof for his T-shirt design... it's too cute!!

So enjoy the changing of the season..... We've definitely felt the change in the season around here, both in the weather and the Christmas cheer... and in the little people living around here!

Ornament Swap 2010

I've signed up for the 'ornament swap 2010' over on Laura's blog She has signed us all up and the matches are made and my partner this year is... Jayme ... I can't wait to find the perfect Christmas ornament for her! I want to get something lovely and special that will make Jayme smile...

I just love Christmas decorations, I have some really special and sentimental ones. It made me think of my tree.. We have the most beautiful fibre optic tree which shimmers! I love it and the ornaments always look stunning against the branches! I can't wait to put it up again this year.

I also have a beautiful mantle swag that has fibre optic lights too, I put ornaments in amongst its branches too.I also love their socks, I have them made for them last year to celebrate Lauren's first Christmas.

These photos are a little blurry as they are from my old camera phone! It wasn't very clear. I'll take some new photos this year and then you can see them more clearly. It's just to give you an idea of how they look.

Christmas is getting closer... Merry Christmas Jayme.... and Merry Christmas everyone!!! I can't wait to put up our tree now!

Decisions, decisions...

We've got to be the most indecisive family EVER!!! How many times have we changed the theme of Dylan's party, the location, the date, the guest list... the lot!!! well we've finally made a decision, after weighing up all the pros and cons, we've decided to have it in the party zone in the soft adventure place nearby and it's official, because we paid a deposit today!!  We just couldn't deal with the thought of having the party here, and decorating the room, and entertaining 10 kids in the house most likely in the rain! and so we just went ahead and booked it. I can't wait, it's going to be great, he'll have a ball! I got his plain t-shirt today, I want to get it done with his name and age on it.  I need to go to the print shop and pick out a design for it this week! and I also wasn't happy with the party bags the party place handed out, so I'll probably make up my own for that! but that's it... I promise! oh and well I didn't like the balloons they had either, so maybe I'll just get a few balloons too! really that's it!! He's my baby, gotta spoil him.

In other news, I had my interview with the recruitment consultant, and I'm past phase one now!!! and if the job is still available she said she would be more than happy to recommend me for the position, and hopefully I'll get an interview! I'm delighted with that now! I also went to visit another childcare place. They take Lauren's age and they collect older kids from school and watch them. When we did up the cost we realised that it isn't actually that much more expensive to put them both in there. We won't need to them go and find separate childcare for Dylan. We'll also have only one pick up, and I'll have the peace of mind to know that he is with an established childminder. Lauren's baby room was amazing. They give them a hot meal and all their snacks and put them down for their naps! I was a bit more impressed with it than the other place. The groups are still very small and for slightly more, I know that she is getting a balanced meal and snacks. I also like the drop off and pick up times better! so I really hope that I can get places there fore them. I'll have to wait and see if I get a good paying job now. I probably won't  get an interview until the new year, but at least I've made some enquiries!

We've been having a lovely weekend here. Dylan was at a birthday party and he had a great time. We've just been relaxing, doing a bit of shopping, and spending some quality time together... starting to get my presents together now for Christmas, it takes so long to get organised! But at least I achieved a lot this weekend!

but that's all for now...

 

Remembering our wedding

We got married in 2006. Unfortunately, at the time, our photographer didn't put the wedding photos on a disc for you. Which is a pity. We had an amazing photogrpaher! She did a fantastic job. Luckily my Uncle followed her and took some photos that she was taking. He made them into a film for me. I came across the DVD in my cabinet the other day and had to have a look! I can't believe how teary I got looking at them. Seeing my wonderful hubby smiling at me on our wedding day made me so emotional. There was so many of them, but I decided to share some. They are all of my family, because when my uncle got to the grounds where we had our photos done, Derek's family was finished their photos! and I can't add any of the official photos, since I have no disc! These are still from the DVD so they are a little grainy as they aren't photo prints. Which also explains the black border! I also can't make them any bigger or they become fuzzy. But they make me smile

I loved my bouquet, so I had to add a picture of it! I had pink roses and they had a little diamond in the centre of each rose. Also notice my little darling Dylan, he's so tiny, and his page boy suit is an exact replica of his Daddys! He was only 20 months old Oh the cuteness!

I ordered my dress from a boutique in our town, and it was handmade in Paris. It took 6 months to be ready! The bodice and skirt had pink Swarovski crystals in the shape of tiny flowers scattered on it. My tiara matched the crystals! And my shoes had Swarovski crystals too! I decided to wear my hair up with my veil, which also had the crystal flowers hand embroidered on it. I also had a commissioned neck piece to match my dress!

My Dad was so happy that day, it's only when I look back that I realise my Dad was holding my hand in every photo, he even had my hand clasped as he walked me down the aisle to my beaming hubby. My mother was so beautiful in her outfit. She looked too young to be the Mother of the Bride! She made the day extra special, when I came out of the bathroom on the morning of the wedding, she had laid pink petals from the bathroom all the way to my bedroom and into my room and she had Champagne waiting for my bridesmaids and I, and a diamond ring sitting beside it from my parents! It was nearly too much!

My beloved Grandmother was there, how I miss her! She looked so happy. I was the first of her Grandchildren to get married. She had a great day.

Looking at the stills inspired me to add some other photos that my Mother's friend took. They are from our bridal suite, and some from our home on the morning of the wedding. There are some of our cake and our wedding car. Our cake was done to match my flowers and our theme was pink roses. Our car was beautiful! I felt very special in it! Notice there are none of my mum, who was constantly on call to our guests. There is also one of us during our ceremony that I love!

I remember how beautiful my bridesmaids Honor and Jaclyn were. I love the photo of them chatting! Their dresses matched the diamonds in my dress! They both looked stunning. We decided to do their hair differently, and it looked perfect!

My baby brothers are there too... looking all proud and handsome!

So without further ado, Our wedding......

Louise & Derek... July 2006

This day, along with the birth's of my children, was one of the happiest days of my life. It was perfect. We were so blessed. I still can't believe how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family, and be married to my wonderful husband ...

Derek... I love you...