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!!

Saturday trip & Other News

On Sunday we took Lauren and Dylan to the National Aquatic Centre in Blandchardstown. There are amazing slides, surf areas, and there's a giant pirate ship there for the kids to play on. The kids had a really great time, they thoroughly enjoyed it! Escpecially Dylan who is now big enought to go down all the slides by himself! He made the most of it and went down all of them! Lauren was a little bit more cautious, but eventually got into it! She really liked the lazy river, and they both loved the pirate ship... had to add this photo from google images, it's the coolest ship with hidden tunnels, slides and cannons, I'd have loved this when I was a kid!

Afterwards we took them to Captain America's in Blanchardstown. It is so child friendly, the music is loud so you can eat in peace without the other people listening to your kids sqaubbling, which happpens from time to time! They even have a clown that goes around to the tables to make balloon animals. A parent couldn't ask for more! They really  LOVED their chocolate sundaes after their dinner! It was a really lovely day.

A few weeks ago Ireland had their first football match in the European Championships. It was kind of a big deal here, ie every child had an Ireland shirt/jersey/kit on! and all the houses were decked out with bunting! We didn't win any of our matches, but our Irish fans were admired the world over for the support we gave to our team in good times and in bad!

Dylan and Lauren were all dressed up and ready for the match! This was also the first time they met their new baby cousin David. He is only adorable and they looked so cute together all in their Ireland shirts!

Absoultely adorable..... that's all the news for  now, just busy busy getting ready for our week away and enjoying the good weather!

Father's day at the zoo

Last weekend we celebrated Father's day in style! We took the kids to the zoo. The last time we were at the zoo Lauren was only 19 months old, and only a little person! They really enjoyed the day, we spent the entire day there and had lunch there too. Lauren and Dylan were delighted to see every single animal! I love to see the zoo through the eyes of a child, they are only learning about animals and to see them in real life! Dylan is fascinated with wolves at the moment and he was absolutely amazed to see a real life wolf in the zoo! He loved it. Lauren wouldn't have remembered being here before, so it was as though it was her first time seeing everything, she was squealing with excitement seeing all the animals, it was really lovely to see them having so much fun!

 Look at these happy little faces enjoying their day out!

We were in time for the feeding time for the seals, and the little guys put on a show showing off and running into their houses and slamming the doors behind them, they were my favourite!

We really loved watching all the animals!

And Being silly....

Daddy was so busy taking pictures that we realised we never got a Father's Day photo of the kids with him! But... here he is with our two beautiful babies, he loves his two children so much more than words can say, and I love him even more because of it....I hope he enjoyed his father's day, we all love him so much!

 They say ' Marry a man you would love your son to grow up to be like, and a man that you would like your daughter to grow up to marry,'

I think I've got both covered there..... He is an amazing husband and father...


And Happy Father's day to my own amazing father, I love you with all of my heart... I am lucky to have such a great dad..... and of course he's a pretty amazing Grandad too...

 

Happy Father's Day

Family weekend in Westmeath

We had a really amazing weekend away last weekend. We took the kids to a hotel in Westmeath which is about an hours drive from here. The weather wasn't great on the first day but the second day was beautiful, the kids really enjoyed themselves. We took them out to dinner and we took then swimming! They were so good when we were having our meals at the hotel, they looked like angels! Ha! I was so thankful that they behaved so well.

We tried to get some family pictures before dinner, but I forgot the camera so we had to use my phone, so we posed in relays!

I got some cute ones of the little people swimming!

They had so much for children to do in the hotel, we went for a walk down to to the banks of Lough Ennell the first night, It was so cold we had to come straight back up! Luckily the next day when we got up there was some nice sunshine, it's a very different landscape when the sun shines!

Lough Ennell is very beautiful, and if you are a fan of Jonathan Swift's Lilliput this is the lake he was boating on when he got the inspiration for the book. The hotel we were stayimg on was right on the banks of the Lough, It was so lovely to look out the window and see the beautiful view...

(pictures courtesy of Google images)

They had a jungle bounce there and the kids played there for a while

Then Derek took them swimming again while I had a lovely pedicure in the spa! Thanks Derek, one whole hour of bliss!!

Then we packed up and headed to the village to have some lunch. We stopped at a beautiful Italian restaurant and had gorgeous pasta and pizza there. Lauren wasn't so angelic there! Mainly because she hadn't slept well the night before, and hadn't napped yet! So as soon as we hit the road the kids and Mom were fast asleep!!

We got home in the afternoon and still had time to clean the house and get everything organised, and had the kids in bed early! It was a really lovely weekend that we all really needed. I'm so glad we were able to do this, I look forward to more wonderful family weekends away together!

We made some happy family memories this weekend!