Our trip to Imaginosity

This Sunday we took the Kid's to the Dublin Children's Museum- Imaginosity. This is the third time we've taken them here, but this is the first time Lauren went as a 'big' girl, and she enjoyed every minute of it. It was amazing to see her reaction to everything this time around. Dylan had a great time too, he really loves all of the older kids exhibits. They played and they took part in the art class, where they made leprechaun men spoons! They really enjoyed that bit too! Finally they played on the stage and put on a puppet show. I snapped away on my camera as usual, I love to remember every minute of the things they do...
 

Here's my guys enjoying the museum.....
 

 

 

 

It was a good day.... I love these two little people!

St. Patrick's Day 2013

This year for St. Patrick's weekend the children went to the 'St. Patrick's Big Day Out Festival' and they had such a great time. They also went to the Museum of Natural history, which is the only one of the three national museums of Ireland that we hadn't taken them to.

But of course beforehand there's always time for the carousel!

 

Love these faces...
 

 

 

Dylan got to hold a snake in the museum, and there was a tarantula there too, he was so excited to hold him!
 

 

They saw snakes and stilts and everything in between and they had a really great time!  Look at these two little people having fun!
 

 

~ Happy St. Patrick's Day ~

Mother's Day 2013

Mother's day this year was really so special, with both of my little people old enough to give me hugs and kisses!
 

This morning they brought me breakfast in bed... all by themselves... it was a lovely bowl of crunchy nut cornflakes! Then Daddy brought me a delicious coffee, and I had a little lie in.  They also got me a beautiful bouquet of flowers! Just when I thought I couldn't be more spoiled...... they take me out to a beautiful restaurant for dinner, it was really good food, and Dylan and Lauren behaved so well, I was so so proud of them. They made me so happy......
 

So these two here, holding the cards and flowers they made me, these guys.... They are my reason -the reason I work  hard, the reason I get up every day, the reason I love beyond anything I ever thought possible. They are my whole world... I don't just love them, I live them. They made me the Mommy I am, and I am proud to be their Mom.... They are special kids!
 

 

 

 

My beautiful flowers...
 

 

To my own dear mother, I couldn't be with her today. I sent her some beautiful flowers so she knew I was thinking of her. I hope that I can be a mother half as amazing and loving and generous as mine. I love you Mom...

 

Three generations of the girls in our family, two Mommies and maybe a future Mommy...

 

 

Today was a really special day, today we made memories.....

 

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommies out there!

 

Dinner dates and play dates

On Saturday we took the kids out to dinner at TGI Friday's, we had a family dinner date! which they loved! It was quite pricey for four- but we enjoyed the night with them. It's so much easier to take them to places now that they are older, you can actually enjoy a meal again. I never thought that day would come again! but they are both definitely at a good age now! I really appreciate being at this stage with the kids.
 

Here are my two favourite boys...

 

 

And my favourite girl with some kisses for Mommy...
 

 

 

And another of my favourites! Now I did share this, but it was still dangerously high in calories... but worth every bite!
 

 

On Sunday Lauren, Dylan and I met a friend and her two boys to have a little play to celebrate Lauren's birthday!  We took them to the soft play centre. The boys ran away so quickly I couldn't even make them out! Lauren was the only one who stuck around to give her poor Mommy some cheese!

 

 

It was a lovely weekend, made even more special because both the kids said really sweet things to me. When Dylan came home from school today he said to me, " I was thinking about how I couldn't wait to see my Mom today after school," The way he said it was so sweet I nearly started crying in the school carpark! Then at bedtime tonight Lauren said to me " Mommy I love you more than ice-cream, and stars, and chocolate buttons," and that made my heart melt all over again. I just adore my two precious kiddies...

 

Here's to another hectic week!

Lauren's Birthday tea party

Today we had Lauren's birthday tea party, and she was showered with gifts, but most importantly love from family and friends! She was so lucky, she received so many wonderful gifts! So many people love her! We decided to do a small tea part this year and save the big party for next year when she goes to school, and she was delighted with her little party...
 

Here's her pictures...
 

 

With her Tinkerbell cake

 

 

 

Opening her presents

 

 

 

 

 

with Uncle Gary

 

 

Our little family

 

 

Blowing out Candles with Grandma Rose, with a little help from big brother

 

 

Being silly with Nanna

 

 

Cuddles with Grandad

 

 

Little princess with Mommy and Daddy

 

 

We had a lovely lunch and she finished up the day with a bike ride! Before falling asleep as soon as her little head hit the pillow! It's tough being four!
 

We love you Lauren...

 

 

So another year has passed and we look forward to watching her grow during her fourth year and enjoying each special moment with our little princess!

Happy fourth birthday Lauren

Trip to sea life centre

Last weekend Derek and I took the kids to the sea life centre in Bray to see the fish. They really enjoyed the tour. They saw lots of cool fish and got to touch a starfish! Lauren was fascinated with the sting rays which she kept calling "pancake fish" and Dylan loved the starfish! They were so good!

 

Afterwards we got them some souvenirs, and we went for a walk on the prom and the kids ran on the beach. We finished up with dinner in our favourite restaurant, the kids had a really lovely day! They were delighted to be home with Daddy again after our trip to Waterford, they missed him very much..... He missed them too! He was delighted bringing them around the sea life centre! It's good to all be under the same roof again after our trip!

 

Some of our favourtie parts of the trip...
 

 

 

Lauren's favourite bit, watching " The pancake fish"

 

 

 

Dylan's favourtie bit... touching the starfish...
 

 

 

I'm so glad they had a nice day! Love seeing their smiling faces having fun...

Radom ramblings

So my post is a random photo drop today! Life has been so so busy around here I can hardly get a second to catch my breath! So life lately......

 

We got new storage for what will be the 'children's room' when we move Lauren and Dylan into the same room when we get our au pair in the summer. Derek and I have been organising things around here to set up for her.
 

So we had a little trip to IKEA for these storage units... Love them!
 

 

Lauren's toys are in the right storage unit and Dylan's are on the left. It is such a great idea and we have so much more space in the room, our next purchase for the room will be bunk beds.

 

 

Derek got tickets to the opening game of the Gaelic football season, and he and Dylan had a boys night together at the match. Looking at this face, I think it's clear they had a good time! They had excellent seats!
 

 

On girls night looked kind of like this.... When you are almost four it's tough to stay awake past 8:30pm, and sometimes this happens...
 

 

Here she is before she crashed!
 

 

The kids had their mid-term from school this week, so I took them on the train down to Waterford to visit my parents for a few days. They were so good on the train, and they really enjoyed their mini holiday! Aren't they so cute? They did miss Daddy though.

 

Lauren is obsessed with taking her photos with me, she climbs up and says 'Daddy take a picture,' so cute, I hope she will always be this compliant. Dylan used to love photos, now he runs a mile when he sees the camera, or takes the pictures whilst sulking!

Here's Lauren's latest addition to her Mommy and Me photo collection...
 

 

so much going on around here, but it's been a fun time...