Our Tree & magical moments...

Since I've linked up with Kelly and The Nesting Place  I'd like to welcome any of you who have come from there... Welcome to my Christmas decorations post!

We travelled home through the snow on Sunday, while listening to Christmas FM! It was lovely and festive in the car. Then we got home and went to Dylan's Christmas fair. We went to one on Saturday too in my parent's church, where Dylan and Lauren visited Santa! although Lauren was absolutely petrified. She was hysterical! Dylan was a bit sceptical until Mrs. Claus told him to give Santa's beard a tug. Which he did and the Santa at the church actually has a white beard! and Dylan nearly fell off his lap! He couldn't believe it, Suddenly his whole demeanor changed, he believed it was the 'real santa' and told him everything! it was adorable!

We put up our tree after Dylan's Christmas fair. So here are our photos from Sunday evening during our drive up, the snow was beautiful. There was a lovely haze on the road. It was quite safe, as lots of the snow was melting. So we were able to enjoy the drive home. 

I added some of our tree and the drive up and some of our favourite decorations. We have some lovely family ones with our names on them. I also added some of their stockings.. I just really really love this time of year. I'm all organised now so all there is to do is enjoy the next two weeks...

Our snowman family

Our Santa snow globe, which I love

Dylan and Lauren's decorations

Finished room

Some more of my favourite decorations

 Some of our door hangings

Our window display

Dylan and Lauren decorating the tree

I do miss being in our own house back home for Christmas, when you are renting you can't really do as much as you like! Luckily we'll be back in our own house again next year! I'm looking forward to decorating my old house again! Here are some photos from our house back home last Christmas...

So that's it, all set for the big day! I really can't wait. This is such a magical time. We are so lucky to all be together and be happy and healthy....

Thanks to everyone for stopping by...

Merry Christmas...

Weekend fun

We travelled down to my parent's to celebrate Dylan's birthday with my parent's, as they couldn't make it up to his party because of the snow. They had a chocolate caterpillar cake and more presents for him to open! He was delighted!

There was cake and presents

Of course, there was beautiful knitwear from my mum...

Snuggles

And some of my favourite of my mum's decorations...

And visits to Santa

We had a brilliant weekend enjoying Dylan's third party of the week!

Dylan's birthday party pictures

We had an amazing time at Dylan's birthday party on Saturday. He really enjoyed his day. As you may have noticed Dylan is obsessed  with Toy Story. He was wearing buzz lightyear all the way down to his socks! Hehad on his shirt we had printed, and we got him a Toy Story cake too, with a big buzz lightyear on it!

Dylan had ten friends to play in the soft play party venue, and he had the best time. He laughed and he smiled, and we celebrated the start of our precious son's 6th year...

He's a very lucky boy, he got some really lovely presents, and he was surrounded by love and celebration on his special day.

Happy Birthday Dylan ... we love you ... always ...

Fly away home

Well, the Irish government has just delivered the budget for 2010. Let's just say we are all worse off because of it. All things considered, it looks like our little family is on the move again, back down to our home town. The past year in Dublin has truly been a learning experience. What was supposed to have been a step up on the ladder, really ended up being a step down. So right now in our life, cutting out the big rent payment every month seems like the most sensible thing to do.

I can't say that I am upset to be returning home. I have missed my family and friends desperately and other than the fact that we have to move Dylan's school, I am happy to go back home. We have our own home there which we pay a mortgage on, and it is ours, and I'd rather be there than renting here.

We will probably have a lot to do to it after having it rented for the year. There is a very nice couple renting it, who are actually moving out at the same time as our lease ends here. I know they have taken great care of our property. Although I still know that when it's not your own, the little things don't get done. Plus I want to put my own mark back on it. I am actually looking forward to painting the rooms again and settling back in.

The major drawback though is moving Dylan. The school he was in before we moved here is now at capacity, so we are looking at another school. It's actually where my brothers and my dad went! It's a great school, we didn't consider it when Dylan was starting school, as it wasn't as close as the other school. But, hopefully we can get a place here, as it is the only other public school I'll consider.

The other positive thing about moving back home, is eliminating the huge childcare costs. My mum says when I go back to work she would be delighted to help mind the kids. This is such a huge help and I am so thankful to my mum for that. I would also be so much happier to have my kids safe with their grandparents who love them. I just think that this is the best decision all round. Although it is one that we have spent weeks agonising over. Right now, financially we don't really have much of a choice. Derek will have to commute, but it could be a lot worse. I am thankful that he has a good job. There are so many people out there with two parents out of work. So to have a job is something we need to be so grateful for.

So home we go, but once I know Dylan is sorted out, I'll be so much happier...

I am sorry to leave the new friends I've made, but that's the good thing about making new friends. They will always be with you! I just pray that this is the right step to take.

So, more decisions to come.....

Storage problems

We had Dylan's birthday party today. He had a great time. He was dressed in Buzz Lightyear from his head to his toes, and his birthday cake was Buzz too! We all had a fantastic time celebrating our son's 6th birthday!

I can't add any photos yet, because I have to purchase more storage from google, and I have to wait 24 hours for that to be added to my account! and I always thought blogger was free! So anyway, I'll add some photos and details of the big day when I get that sorted out!

so photos and birthday story to come!

But happy birthday to Dylan from your Mommy, Daddy and baby sister Lauren ...

The week in pictures

Tomorrow is Dylan's birthday party. I got his balloon for the party, and I collected his T-shirt that we had printed. I added a picture of the party bags I made for the kids! As I said in an earlier post. The balloons and party bags at the party venue aren't great! so we organised our own. Dylan is so excited about his party tomorrow! and we can't wait to celebrate his 6th year!

So, in other news, this is what we've been up to for the past week!

Lauren did something so cute. I was brushing my teeth and she got really quiet,so I went to check what she was doing, and this is what I found!

She had gone into Dylan's room and taken out the paper and crayons, and had started to draw pictures! It was the most adorable thing! I still can't believe how big she's getting. I had to run and get the camera, I really wanted to remember her doing this for the first time! (the door was in my way, so it came out like a white flash, cutting off the picture! I took the photo in a hurry, so I wouldn't lose the opportunity)

The snow is beginning to melt a little, so Dylan and I went out in the snow today... He looked so cute too! He was all bundled up, and I took this little photo on my phone. It's really blurry, but he looks so cute I had to add it!

We also had an arts and crafts afternoon, Dylan made little paper decorations for Christmas, and Lauren was delighted to help...



Lauren eating her lunch... Just because she looked really cute!

We also got them matching sleep suits! so after their bath tonight, they got all dressed, and we wrote our letter to Santa! Then we put it down by the fireplace so Santa will take it!

they will hate me for these matching sleep suits when they're older, but I just couldn't resist. Look at the cuteness of them! wow, it still takes my breath away how much I love these little people!

So although we didn't leave the house much this week, we managed to stay busy. Definitely not an easy task with too small kids under your feet! I did my best to keep them entertained. Although they watched far too much TV, and ate too much junk, and there was a period of two days there when they stayed in their pj's all day! but we had fun! I really enjoyed the special family time we spent together.

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!