Last days of summer 2013

We have really enjoyed the summer, the last weekend of summer we went for a walk in the woods just a short drive from our house. It's a beautiful place to take photos.... we had a lovely walk, and on Sunday Dylan had his first day back at Rugby for the season.
 

 

 Lauren and mommy decided to snuggle up in the big bed and watch the Smurfs movie.... it was lovely and cosy!
 

 

 We just relaxed for last few days of the summer holidays.  The kids had a great summer and we are thankful for the wonderful weather we were lucky to have. Here are some photos from the beautiful forest...
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodbye summer 2013!

 

  

 

Here's to the start of the school year ahead!

Summer fun 2013

We had a busy summer here... on Monday I took the kids to get there new uniforms, I nearly didn't hold back the tears looking at Lauren in her track suit for the first time.  This feels like it has happened so quickly, her first day of school is two weeks away it's such a big milestone

 

Look at the cuteness!

 

 

The week before I took her to get her first pair of school shoes......

 

 

Dylan lost one tooth

 

 

but had to have three removed under general anaesthetic. The first dentist we saw said they had gone bad but we went for a second opinion, this dentist did some X rays and determined that they were damaged during his birth, there was no enamel on one and the nerve was exposed.  She said that teeth he's had in his mouth for 4 years are perfect but these teeth that were there a year had this much decay, she said that would suggest to her that the teeth came in bad.  So she suggested we remove the teeth, they also removed another loose one for safety during surgery. So it was all a bit traumatic! He even had a welt on his lip, my small baby boy :( but he did great!

 

It is bottom and top left molar

 

 

The kids have been having fun with their au pair Victoria, it has been great having a bit of help around here over the summer

 

 

We even had a water balloon fight or two!

 

 

 

 

I went to some great conferences, the highlight was meeting Dr Obagi!!!

 

 

I even caught up with friends since we had a baby sitter

                                                                              

 

 

We have had lots of fun, but there is still two more weeks left of the summer holidays... we will have to live it up!

Family picnic 2013

The day after we returned from our holidays we had a family reunion to celebrate Derek's brother and sister in law coming home for a visit from New York, we headed back out to Powerscourt Gardens to have a picnic. It was a great spot and the kids had a great time having their picnic, swimming in the lake and enjoying the company. I had a great time catching up with family, it was a lovely day...

 

Here is the lovely little group of cousins...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love these little people

 

 

Family Holiday 2013 Day 4

When we woke up on our fourth day everyone had been sick during the night, Derek and I decided to get the kids out of the house so everyone could rest in peace, we also didn't want to risk Dylan getting sick. So we decided to hire bikes and do the electric bike trail around the village and cycle into Drumshanbo which is a nearby village. We got Lauren a little bicycle carriage and Dylan had his own bike and he did so well cycling the whole way! It was so much fun and we had the best time, we had a few rain showers during the morning, but it was fine! 

 

Lauren in her little carriage!

 

 

 

Our big boy

 

 

 

In front of the river Shannon

 

 

A family 'selfie'

 

 

 

This is the route we took in red, and surprisingly Dylan managed the whole way and kept up, he was brilliant! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely views of the Shannon from the bridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We decided to head home as I was starting to feel unwell and we didn't want to risk waiting a day in case Derek got sick too. I lost about 24 hours of my life! but thankfully we are all feeling a lot better now! In spite of everyone being sick we still enjoyed the time together and at least we all got to do things together! I was thankful to spend a lovely week off with my lovely family...

 

Family Holiday 2013 Day 3

 Day three of our holidays everyone was feeling a bit better, we decided to take the kids on a cruise up the Shannon, I have to say it was gorgeous we really enjoyed it and Lauren absolutely LOVED the boat just like Dylan. The weather was lovely and we took our time going down the river until we got to Carrick-On-Shannon, where we stopped and had a lovely lunch out at a great pub called 'The Oarsman' it was delicious. Then we had a look around the village and enjoyed the sights, the kids got some nice books. Then we took our time cruising back down to the house again, it took about two hours there and back on the boat and the views were amazing.

 

Look at this little face with the big happy smile!

 

 

My sailors

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Of course Dylan found a tree!

 

 

 

 

The beautiful outdoor market

 

  

 

This was a great day, I have to say I loved being out on the boat. That evening we relaxed again and had fish and chips from the chip shop! it was one of my favourite days! 

Family Holiday 2013 Day 2

The second day of our holiday was definitely more eventful to say the least! we woke at 5 am to Lauren who was so sick, at this stage we though Lauren was the only one who would be sick. I was absolutely terrified that she would end up in hospital again like the last time she was ill, so I was religiously giving her fluids and doing everything I could to keep her hydrated. At about 10 am I realised she wasn't keeping a thing down so we decided to take her to see the emergency doctor to get a letter in case she had to admitted again for fluids, we also wanted to rule out anything more serious. The doctor said it was a 24 hour virus and gave us some medicine to stop her being sick, so back home we went where I kept a bedside vigil getting her to take sips of re hydration sachets to keep her strength up. My mum was such an amazing help at this stage. I decided that the others should take Dylan out on the boat for a cruise as I didn't want everyone stuck in the house all day, so they cruised up the Shannon and I kept Lauren company while she rested.

 

Dylan had the best time and he absolutely loved the boat. Derek kept me up to speed with everything by these lovely iPhone photos...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dylan and Grandad the experienced sailors!

 

 

 

Look at my little sailor!

 

 

 

Dylan and his Nanna, they loved having quality time together!

 

 

 

And my view, my poor sick little princess.... she was such a trooper though, she rested and drank her fluids and got so many cuddles from her mommy (look at those little eyes) my heart was broken for her!

 

 

 

The others had a lovely tea in a beautiful café and they came home and made me a gorgeous dinner and we all relaxed some more, I caught up on some great reading... Lauren was feeling much better and was up and running around again, we were all so relieved.....   Then my poor mum, day and Victoria all came down with the virus during the night. I felt so bad for everyone!