Christmas panto 2015

Today we went to see 'Snow White' the panto! It was fantastic and the kids thoroughly enjoyed it..... As did I! We went to an earlier show this year, as it was the only one available! I have to say, the pantomime at the Gaeity is much superior to the one we saw at the Olympia last year, and we will definitely be going again next year!

 

 

 

Afterwards we took the kids out for dinner, and of course we followed this with ice-cream!

I absolutely love our familyChristmas traditions! Christmas 2015 is in full swing! 

 

Our Christmas Tree 2015

Today we officially kick off Christmas 2015! We put up our tree, and the kids did all the decorating themselves! I only put the ribbon on! And Derek and I put our baby Hope's Christmas decoration on our tree together that evening, we spared a moment to think how this would have been Hope's first Christmas.

 

The kids were delighted with how the free came out! And we never thought to take a family photo in front of the free!

Merry Christmsd 2015!

 

shopping and visiting santa

Today Dylan wanted to go to Dundrum shopping centre after school, to spend his birthday vouchers! We also picked up our very own Irish version of 'The Elf on the Shelf' and as I like to support Irish business, we went with this one! And Lauren is getting very excited to see all the funny and naughty things he gets up to..... His name is 'Ben Elf'

Lauren& Dylan with Ben!

Of course we needed a milkshake stop on the way!

Then we went for some dinner..... With Ben of course!

Later that evening we went to visit Santa, the business park Derek works in organised a Sabta visit for all the kids! They loved it! Sorry about the bad lighting!

My two previous kiddies with Santa 

 

Dylans 11th birthday

Today was Dylan's 11th birthday! I can hardly believe that I am typing this, the last year has brought him into a pre teen rather than a little boy. He no longer believes in Santa, and he is so much more grown up, but in other ways he is still so much my little boy. I just can't believe how fast these years have gone by. I need to treasure each snuggle I get, because they will become less frequent as the years go on. I also try and appreciate each photo he lets me snap- as it's proving more and more difficult to get him to take a picture!

On Sunday we took Dylan out with this good friends to see a movie and have some dinner out! They had a brilliant time , I love to see him so happy with al his friends!

For his birthday this year he was very clear that he didn't want any balloons or banners or presents, instead of 'wasting' the money, we could give it to him for his birthday so he could get his own present! So cash is what he got, and he was so lucky to get so many great vouchers from our friends and family! He was utterly spoiled!

But one thing I wasn't letting him away with was birthday cake! He got two cakes! One from Sonjia and the boys! 

And a smarties ice-cream cake that I made!

The birthday boy

More than anything I wish I could slow down the years from passing, I still remember th first moment I laid eyes on him, all 8lvs 2oz of him, I waited so long for him to come, well it felt like forever. He was a treasure to all of us.

Genus growing into.a fine young man, he is living, kind and gentle and he would lay down his life for his sister. We are so incredibly proud of our wonderful son.

Happy birthday to the best son a mother could ever wish for, I know I'm  biased, but I don't care! He is THE BEST. We love you so much Dylan 

Our trip to Tipperary

Last weekend, Derek and I went for a weekend away! we visited Nenagh in Co. Tipperary. We went for two nights and dinner out and had a lovely break! it was heaven! We went sight seeing and shopping and generally did nothing for two days!

 

Outside the castle in Nenagh

 

 

Lovely room!

 

Getting glammed up for my night out!

 

 

 

 

Sian took the kids for the weekend and they had a great time! She tool them to Dublinia Viking Museum, here they are trying on their Viking costumes!

 

They had a great weekend, as did we! 

 

 

 

Halloween 2015

Halloween 2015 was a great success! Lauren was the corpse bride, and Dylan was a bear hunter. They had a brilliant time trick-or-treating. The weather was really mild, so they could go around the houses for longer this year which they really loved.

 

The scary Zombies...

 

 

The bear hunter got mauled by a giant bear!

 

 

 

Lauren and Dylan all ready to go trick-or-treating!

 

The first house!

 

Afterwards we went to a party at my friend's house, it was a brilliant night. The kids played bobbing for apples, well and Derek too! 

 

 

 

Then they had to see who could keep the sour popping candy on their tongues the longest!

 

 

We then had a competition to see who could make the mummy fastest! Which I won!!

 

 

Then they had to dig through the whipped cream to catch the 'worms' Dylan won this one, Go Dylan!!

 

 

It was a fantastic Halloween spent with friends, I love to watch my kiddies smiling and having fun!

 

Of course I had to add our Halloween décor from this year!

 

~ Happy Halloween ~