Fun at the beach

Last weekend we had the most beautiful weather, it was so warm and bright. We decided to take the children to the beach to make the most of the warm weather. Lauren is finally old enough to enjoy the beach, she loved playing in the sand and paddling in the water. Dylan is like me he likes the beach, but he doesn't love it! He does love to paddle and play in the water though, so he spent a while playing in the water with Daddy, we went to Killiney beach which is close to wear we live. It has the most beautiful views, but it's a little stoney which Lauren wasn't too keen on!

My cuties...

Lauren unimoressed with the stones... she needed Daddy to lift her over the stones! Such a diva!

The kiddies enjoyed the day, and slept like logs! I'm looking forward to this weekend, we are taking the whole family off for the weekend. We are going to a really lovely hotel and I'm going to go to the spa! I'm really looking forward to us all getting away from it all, we are going to have such a lovely time. So fun pictures from our weekend away coming soon!

Life is good....

Afternoons with Mommy

We have been having a lot of fun around here recently! with my new hours I am able to things with the kids two afternoons per week! it's great. I pick Lauren up at 2pm and then I collect Dylan from school and the rest of the afternoon is ours. We can go shopping, or go to the doctor or more importantly, fun things like this!..

Packing a picnic and going to the park to enjoy the beautiful weather we've been having!

Or playing barefoot by our house

I am grateful to have these afternoons to spend with the two most important people in my world...

Write a book project & more

Dylan loves to do his homework with his Daddy, and Derek is so attentive and patient with him. A few weeks ago Derek sat down with Dylan to help him get his piece ready for the 'Write a Book Project' which was run in his school. While I put Lauren to bed they created a masterpiece! In our eyes anyway! Today Dylan arrived home with his certificate for his project and we are so so proud of him! He's delighted with his certificate!

I had to add a picture of this cutie from Sunday, you have to just LOVE her little outfit! She is just so adorable! She's such a cute little thing! I'm so enjoying watching her grow into a wonderful little girl!

Today we also has Dylan's follow up review from his surgery! They took off the paper stitches, trimmed his dissolvable suture, and checked the wound and changed the dressing. He still isn't allowed to play sports for three months until the bone is healed better. The doctor didn't want to expose him to any more X-rays, so I decided to agree with him, and we are going to wait. The doctor said there wouldn't he much change from his last x-ray anyway, so we will go back in three months for our final review.

I'm do glad we can finally this behind us! I hope Dylan can stay upright from now on! Little boys are very hard work... but definitely worth it!

Trip to Blessington, Wicklow

Today we took a trip down to Blessington in Co. Wicklow, the weather started out lovely and sunny, but got a bit cloudy in the afternoon. It was lovely and warm though which is such a nice change. We stopped to look around an amazing camping superstore there, and we picked out which tent we are hoping to get in the summer! Then we stopped and had some cakes in a gorgeous little local bakery and coffee shop.... I just love days like this...

I was walking behind and my favourite photo op presented itself. I just love watching Derek and Lauren walking hand in hand, it is so adorable....

Love it even better when all three walk together.... makes my heart smile....

Then we went on a drive down to the Lakes in Blessington. We drove through the mountains and stopped to look at the sheep and lambs, Dylan and Lauren were delighted looking out at the animals. I took some photos on my phone of  The Wicklow Gap  which is a pass through the mountains, and has some of the most spectacular views in Europe. What is amazing is the gap has remained virtually the same throughout the last century. You can almost imagine our ancestors travelling across in their horse drawn carts. You can see the old brick houses, from a different age, long gone. It was amazing to be able to show our children this heritage, yet it is only a short drive away. This is why I love Ireland, town turns to country in a few short minutes.

Here is the cloudy view looking back over The Wicklow Gap, with the Blessington lakes in the background... Breathtaking...

Some little photos taken through the car window on our drive.

I thought it might be nice to add some professional photos from Google Images to show how truly beautiful it is...

Now I'm looking forward to a lovely relaxing evening, and a lovely weekend visiting with family and enjoying our time together....

New Beginnings...

I don't really discuss work much on my blog and I try to keep things I post positive. But this is describing my current employment situation....

 

 I am leaving my current job for a variety of private reasons, but some of these reasons came to light after writing this post  When reading back over it I felt upset, while I still feel the same about working, I do enjoy getting out and having some adult conversation, and I do still think that it is a good example to set for our children. I discovered some feelings that I felt needed to be addressed. The not feeling like a 'real Mom' because I was working such long hours. So I decided that I needed to change things a bit. Of course this isn't a decision I came to over the course of a week or a month, these things had been playing on my mind, and of course as I said above some of the reasons that I decided to leave my current job are private, and I won't go into them here.

 BUT... I've secured a new job with a better set of hours, no more working till 10pm, not getting home until 10:30pm. In my new job I will be off with the children two afternoons during the week, and they'll be with their daddy on Saturday mornings, it will be great for the kids. It also means that two days a week I can do the school pick up! This means so much to me, and I am just so happy. I'm very excited and nervous to start my new position. I hope it is everything I hope it will be. I am also looking forward to being finished at a better time!

So onwards and upwards for me! I will be working in a private clinic and hopefully it will be my exciting new start! Sometimes you have to think what is right for you and your family, I am looking forward to a new start, and I'm planing to give it my all!

 

I think this little caption says it all.... My new beginning and my chance for growth. I am excited and grateful for this new opportunity....

Surgery update

I wrote this post of my phone on Tuesday the 8/5/12 when Dylan had his surgery, only getting to post now....

Today marks the end of a long journery, to catch up on Dylan's long journey with his arm click here  

Hopefully the last time my lil guy spends in hospital. When he had his surgery the last time they inserted a tens nail, and today he had surgery to have it removed. He did amazingly well, today we checked in and we were admitted, and on our way to surgery by lunch time. This time he was only in surgery for 40 minutes!

I waited right outside in the theatre waiting area, and I was by his side within minutes of him waking. He was a bit grumpy and emotional when he woke up, but he was so brave. He came around so fast, and he was eating and drinking within 20 minutes!

This time I asked the anaesthesiologist to give him plenty of pain relief, and something to help him with nausea when he woke up. I also asked the surgeon to tidy up the scar that was made the last time! I don't think he was too impressed with that! He bounced back so quickly after the surgery and we were discharged by four pm! So it went really well. I am so happy that we are finished with this, and I really hope that he manages to stay on his feet, and not break the same arm again! I just couldn't imagine having to see him go through this again!

Last night when he was going to bed he said 'I love you Mom, you're the best mommy in the world. Not because you are getting me a present, but because you stayed with me, and took care of me in the hospital, thanks Mom' so adorable be still my heart! What an absolute cutie...

I am so very proud of my brave boy! We love you Dylan!

Before surgery

In recovery

 

Feeling better having an ice cream

 

Today we took him to The toy shop where he chose the Thor hammer and helmet.... Lauren played dress up too.... Adorable!

On Monday I took Dylan and his pal to see the Avengers movie. I wanted to take his mind off the surgery, they absolutely loved it! It was brilliant! Iwas so glad he has a nice time!

So I do hope this is the last time we visit the inside of a hospital room.

Love these kiddies....

Some Me Time....

I've been a lucky Mommy over the past few weeks. I got to go to a friend's wedding all on my own! and stay overnight and have a lovely break! My dear friend Sian and I went together and we had a great time!

We have a tradition of making strange faces in our do it yourself photos!

The Beautiful table

The Very Happy Couple

It was a really beautiful wedding. I sang at the church and I was very happy with how it turned out.

This weekend, Sian and I went to the most beautiful spa. We had mud treatments and enjoyed the thermal suite. Everything was so opulent, there were heated waterbeds in a private room, tea and coffee and fruit.  Underfloor heating, It was the most relaxing morning.

Look a the beautiful entrance to the hotel, it was amazing...

The entrance to the spa was stunning

Goofy do it yourself pictures of ourselves again!

Some photos from the website....

Of course the above wouldn't have been possible without a wonderful husband at home watching the kids, so I could have some alone time... and might I say a really relaxing time! The spa was absolutely amazing and so was the wedding..... Thanks Derek....