Blizzard 2018

So we've been stuck inside going on 3 days now! The country has shut down under a few feet of snow! This wouldn't be loads of snow in other places, but Ireland just isn't accustomed to it, or set up to deal with it.

Sophie and the kids have been living it outdoor, but myself and the cats have been hibernating inside!

It's really quite beautiful,  and we are enjoying an excuse to do nothing!

Weekend news

It has been cold and snowy around here over the last week! Derek took Dylan up to play on the mountains in the snow. I kept Lauren home with me since she hasn't fully recovered from her stay in hospital and unfortunately she's caught the sniffles this week... poor pet isn't having a great January!

 

Here are the beautiful views on the mountain that we live beside. And some pics of Dylan all bundled up enjoying the snow.

 

 

 

 This weekend we took the kids to see parental guidance, they really enjoyed it and it's great that we can all go to see a movie together again. They are at a really great age. I loved the movie too!

 

Afterwards we went into the shopping centre where there was a little train going around the winter village, which the kids had a turn on.

 

Today we had Dylan's school mass, and Dylan was chosen to take part in the offertory procession, we brought up the gifts of bread and wine. He did a really great job, we were so proud of him! He also knew all of the prayers he's been learning off by heart, he was great!

 

So we are now all snuggled up about to have dinner. It's so cold outside that there is nowhere I'd rather be than snuggled up beside our cosy fire. Dylan is watching a movie, and Lauren is playing with some apps I downloaded to help her learn her letters and numbers, she LOVES them. They are also great because they are teaching her to pinch and grasp on the screen to manipulate sizes. So I love that she is playing but also learning! It's been a really relaxing weekend! I'm off to watch a movie with my little boy!

The big chill

We woke this morning to so much snow! It's constantly falling and it's so thick on the ground. It is to freeze again and more snow will fall on top of that. It is absolutely treacherous. The children both have heavy colds and they aren't feeling the best, so I am terrified to set foot outside the door in case they get sicker.

Dylan is off school today, I couldn't take the risk of sending him in, and not being able to get back down to collect him. Also since he has a cold I'm keeping him in the warmth of the house. This is very odd for Ireland, we are used to mild weather and wet weather. It gets cold, but never more than a bit of frost, we started to get snow last year and this year it's here again. It's usually well after Christmas though, I'm getting nervous that nobody will be able to make it to Dylan's birthday party! I hope it clears up a bit. My parents definitely won't be able to travel up from the south though. It's just way to dangerous.

Derek had to abandon his car last night, the weather was so bad that the traffic was actually stopped. So he pulled in and parked the car, he went back down later on in the night and  picked it up.

It's starting to fall thick and fast again out there now. Here's some pictures to see how the snow has progressed these past few days...

Saturday

 Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

I really hope it starts to ease by the end of the week. The snow is so deep, that the footpath and the road are now level, which is pretty deep! I don't know how people live in cold and snowy countries, it must be so difficult to get things done. Although they are probably used to it. It takes so long to bundle everyone up, and then you go outside for a few minutes and you're soaked through, and then you have to come in and dry everything! The kids are delighted to have the days off though! I suppose it will give me time to get my Christmas cards written and ready. Although I've given up trying to keep the house neat! What's the point with the kids playing, might as well let them relax!

We'll enjoy the cosy, snowy time while we have it!

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...