Our photo wall

I LOVE photographs, I have a lot of framed photos throughout the house. I suppose my favourite ones are in the playroom where I have my photo wall. It's probably basic enough and not too fancy, but I love it because it has all of my favourite people there, we have our children and our friends and family. It makes me happy to pop in there and see my family on the wall!!

I think photos are some of the nicest accessories you can have in your home. We are going to be moving house soon and I hope to recreate this wall somewhere else there! I'm so grateful that I have such pretty little people to put in frames.

I'm looking forward to seeing all the lovely photo displays over at kellys korner

Our sixth wedding anniversay

Today Derek and I are married six years. It only feels like  yesterday that we walked down the aisle together. The years have flown by, I love my husband as much today as the day we were married. We have two beautiful children and a really nice life. I mean sure everything isn't always sunshine and roses, but like everything that is worthwhile you have to work at it. I really believe that if you work hard at your marriage then that is the ticket to being happy. I hope we will always be this happy!

This is us on our anniversary, snapped by my lovely sister in law....

On our anniversary night, we were curled up with our two lovely children watching a movie and having a lovely take away meal. I said to Derek, if we are still doing this on our anniversary in twenty years then I will be just as happy. If our children still want to snuggle up with us and enjoy a movie and take away, then we have raised some lovely kids who love to spend time with their parents! We don't need anything fancy! I couldn't ask for more than I have.

Our wedding song was 'amazed' by Lonestar, I wanted to remember the lyrics as we celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary...

 Amazed

Every time our eyes meet
This feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take
Baby when you touch me
I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away
I've never been this close to anyone or anything
I can hear your thoughts
I can see your dreams

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you

The smell of your skin
The taste of your kiss
The way you whisper in the dark
Your hair all around me
Baby you surround me
You touch every place in my heart
Oh it feels like the first time every time
I wanna spend the whole night in your eyes

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you
Every little thing that you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Oh, every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you

Happy Anniversary my darling husband

I love you

Family Holiday 2012- Part 3

On the last day of our holidays, we went to walk around Westport. We went to the pier to watch the boats and to enjoy the amazing views of Crogh Patrick. I always say it but it's true! we have such beautiful scenery, I guess it's all the rain. The day was a bit dull, but it doesn't take away from how pretty everything looked, and the colours of everything...

I love this photo that Dylan took of his mammy and Daddy, even if we look a bit strange in it!

The views of Crogh Patrick

 

So the day after our holidays we headed to visit the grandparents, We saw Derek's parents for the afternoon as they live in Dublin... We went to the Dun Laoghaire for Ice cream and the weather was beautiful.

Then we headed down to Waterford to visit my parents, where we stayed for a few days to catch up. We had a really lovely few days relaxing with family. Lauren was particularly happy to see her Grandad Terence... 

It was really lovely to take a few days out and enjoy the time with the kids and have some quality time as a family. The time went by too fast... I'm already looking forward to our next holidays!

Family holiday 2012 - Part 2

On our second day we were up bright and early to visit Westport house and gardens and pirate adventure land.  This is the setting for some of the most beautiful and vast gardens. The kids loved running around and going on all the rides

There was something for everyone, there was the beautiful stately house and gardens for the adults, and the pirate adventure land for the children. We took the little railway train around the grounds. Lauren was delighted to go on the little train, she was so excited. Dylan loved the train too but he's been on the little trains before, this was the first time Lauren was really old enough to enjoy them.Then we went on the pedalos before we went for some lunch in the little cafe on the grounds.

The weather started off hazy with rain showers and then cleared up really nicely. They went on all the rides in the pirate village twice! we spent about an hour and a half in there, Mum and Dad had some fun on the rides too! Poor Derek went on the water ride and literally got soaked!

We took the children to the bouncy soft play area, then spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the house and grounds.

And of course we had to get some nice family pictures too.... in relays...

I think the whole family enjoyed the day and especially enjoyed bring together. We had our dinner at the hotel again on the third night, which was definitely the best meal we had there, it was delicious! Then Derek took Dylan to the Games room while I settled Lauren. It was a perfect family day out and everyone had a great day! I would highly recommend taking the kids to Westport house, it is a really great day out....

Family holiday 2012 - Part 1

This year we decided to stay in Ireland to enjoy our summer break. We headed to Sligo for a few days and then down to my parents for a long weekend, we had a really wonderful time away together.  Sadly the weather wasn't great it was quite chilly and raining, but we didn't let that spoil our holidays! We checked into our hotel, we stayed at The Breaffy House Hotel in Sligo, it was a little after 11 am and got settled in. The hotel was really nice and was really set up for families. I mean kids clubs, kid splash time, kids meal times... the lot! They had a kiddie disco and cinema time! It was great to be able to relax knowing that everyone there had children and you didn't have to worry if yours talked loudly or ran around, as everyone else's were exactly the same! After we were settled in we took the kids for a swim which they thoroughly enjoyed! We spent so long swimming that it was dinner time by the time we were finished! Daddy and Mummy even got to spend some time in the thermal suite! We took turns watching the kids in the kiddie pool!

We went down to the restaurant and had a light dinner and danced at the disco, and Dylan had his face painted. Lauren was getting tired so we headed to bed. Dylan and dad went for a game of football while I got Lauren settled... He loved that there was a sports arena there for him to explore and enjoy. A little boys dream really, it was great for him to spend some quality time with his Dad on their own, they would play football or go to the games room for a long time. Dylan even made some friends to play with! While Lauren and I read stories and sung songs before she fell asleep... It was really nice...

Here's a snapshot of our first evening...

The hotel was really beautiful and the gardens were amazing, I had to add some photos from the website, you can see why it's so popular for weddings!

As soon as I saw the gardens I really wanted to get some pictures of the kids there, as usual we had to take the pictures in relays! And it was then that we realised that we forgot the camera! So we had to make do with our phones. They actually turned out ok.We took these on our second night before our family dinner in the hotel.

I can't quite believe how big they've gotten, it's only when I look at them in these photos! I was really happy to get a few nice pics!

Still to come Westport house and views of Crogh Patrick!

Dylan's eye exam 2012

Dylan had his eye exam today, this time he did really great with the dilating eye drops. He was a little tearful at first and then he realised it wasn't so bad and he was fine. He was really good for the ophthalmologist too she said his answers are really reliable now that he's older. Sadly his prescription has gotten stronger, he is now more long sighted. The ophthalmologist said this isn't uncommon in young children. The good news is his astigmatism has remained the same with his glasses, so at least that is something. It isn't a nice feeling to watch your child struggle to read the letters without his glasses. I really wish I could wave a wand and give him perfect sight! But with his glasses he has 20/20 vision. I am grateful though that he hasn't got something much more challenging to deal with, we are lucky that this is all that we have been dealt. There are families out there dealing with much more difficult challenges.

Dylan then went to pick out his new frames. We decided to let him get some 'big boy' frames. He was beginning to feel that the round ones were babyish, and we decided to let him as the frames were on sale with the lenses included for a great price. It's also important that he is happy with his glasses and feels comfortable in them, since he has to wear them all the time they need to fit his personality. The technician helped him pick a really nice pair and he's very happy with them!

Here he is during his exam, I took the photo to show him his 'cool' glasses for the exam!

When we got home Lauren did some painting while Dylan played with his friends and I got some more packing done..... not the best idea! it isn't very easy to supervise painting while trying to pack! She loved it and she had a lovely time entire hand I mean 'finger painting'

So we are off on our holidays in the morning and I can't wait to spend some quality time with everyone.......

Life lately

I've been so busy this week, I worked 44 hours! Boy am I exhausted, as a result I didn't get much time to blog. I have to add some mobile phone photos that have built up on my phone!

So here goes, here is our life lately according to my iphone...

At the end of last month we went to Dylan's end of year school play! They had to dress up 80's rocker style, and they performed a kiddie version of 'Moves like Jagger' by Maroon 5. It was hilarious! They were really good, and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Now they are finished first class, time flies.... I'm so proud of my little performer, who as usual stole the show! There'll be no living with him!!

Last weekend Derek took Dylan to a match in Croke park to see Dublin play. While the boys went there, I took Lauren for a mommy daughter shopping trip.... and she got her first pair of Lellie Kellie's- the most adorable sparkly pair of tiny little girl shoes! The most adorable pair I've ever seen, she was delighted with them and kept walking round looking at them and pointing her toes.....

Here are the 'official' shots that Derek sent me from the stands, Dylan had an amazing time, he really enjoyed himself and the quality time with his Dad. I love that Derek takes him out for Boy treats while I take Lauren for girl treats!

Today we are lazy, Derek is gone to another match today with his brother, so Dylan, Lauren and I got a movie and snuggled up on the couch with our blankets and goodies and enjoyed some quality Mummy time! We had a really lovely lazy afternoon...

I love days like this, I love to spend time with my kiddies. I also love that today is the first day of my week off from work. We are going away on our holidays to the West of Ireland this week. This morning I got Dylan and Lauren all packed... so we are well on our way to being organised. I have my nail appointment booked for tomorrow night so I won't have time to pack then, and we have Dylan's eye consult appointment in the morning. So I really needed to get the bulk of the packing done today. I absolutely cannot wait to spend some quality time with my family, and enjoy every minute of our break away......

I love Summer holidays!

Holiday pics to come!!