Áine at Ballet

We got to go and see Áine doing her ballet class for the end of the year

Caly's Birthday

We do it for everyone else in the house so we had to do it for Caly's birthday too.
We decided that the 1st of Dec is Caly's birthday and Michelle even baked a cake and all (any excuse). Well without further ado here is the standard Happy Birthday video. He seemed to like his cake too.

Ciara is Doing Ballet

Ciara has been doing the Baby Ballet and absolutely loves it. We got to go for the last class of the year to see what she does here is a quick clip.

Visit Santa in Rathwood

For the second year running we went to visit Santa in Rathwood. We arrived and ate our dinner, the usual Carvery fair. Then we first had to visit Mrs Claus. She told us a story about how the reindeers learned to fly. Then we all got a go at making magic reindeer food (it's magic dust in the food you see).
We then boarded the Santa express train to visit Santa's house in the woods. We were met by an elf who brought us to santa's house. The visit went well and we all got great presents. A train journey back a bit of shopping then home to watch the Late Late Toy show.

Áine getting her first badge in Ladybirds

Áine got her first badge in Ladybirds in a little ceremony. We all went down to see and took a short video for posterity.

Lorcan's Birthday

Lorcan had a party in the house and we got a couple of teachers from the Blackbird Gallery in town where Lorcan and Aine go to art class to come and do art with them. It was brilliant and everyone loved it. You'd hardly know there was 20+ kids in the house.
The video below is from the birthday on the day not the party because Lorcan didn't do the traditional Happy Birthday thing on the big day.

Halloween

We went out trick or treating as usual. Did the whole estate on a very cold night. Came back to the house and did all the traditional halloween games. Here is a quick video of some of the games.

Áine's 6th Birtday

That time of year again and Áine had her 6th birthday. We had a clown in the house and the kids all really seemed to enjoy him. He gave good value for money he was there 3 hours. A little unorthadox but a success. Have a look at the traditional Birthday video.

Now Ciara's growing up and leaving the nest too!

Ciara has started in playschool. She was so proud with her bratz school bag and everything. She had a great time the first day and the playschool looks great. She'll really enjoy it here I'd say, everyone is really nice and it looks like a place that is run not just for cash but to give the kids a good start.

Math Homework Help with SecondTeacher

Sorry I've been so lax in putting stuff in this blog over the summer it's just triying to get Second Teacher out has been time-consuming (lame excuse I know)
Anyway I promise I'll have a few new posts up by weekend
Bye
Rob

Back to School

Well it's that time of year again and the lads are back in school. Áine is going into high infants and Lorcan into 2nd class can't believe it.

Center Park Again because we Love it!

Well it's becoming a family tradition Center Parc for a week in the holidays.
We were absolutely blessed with the weather every day it was near 30 Degrees.
The lads spent most of the time either on the beach, in the pool or in the playgrounds.
Ciara went into 2 kids clubs this year and love them and Lorcan did a tree treking task where he climbed up trees and poles in the forest.
Center Parc was just perfect we should have stayed 2 weeks. But we went to London for a week. The hotel was a bit cramped and Lorcan and Ciara both got sick. But we struggled on and went to Lego land which the kids loved even if it absolutley lashed one day we were there. We also went to do the London Eye which was good and the London Aquarium which we all liked especially Ciara and the Jelly Fish. We had great plans of Madame Tussads etc but it was just going to take too long and we were knackered.
So went to Lecister Square had a bite to eat and then a stroll to Covent Garden and watched the street perfromers.
Overall a real enjoyable holiday (except Slough but that's another story) but not sure if we'll go back to London with the kids, Center Parc is just too easy.

Michelle Graduates!

We all went to Dublin on Sunday to see Michelle Graduate after 4 hard years of study. Well she's now a qualified homeopath and we're all very proud.
We stayed over in the Mespil auntie Regina minded them for the night and the kids love a hotel breakfast buffet, they get what can only be called value for money.
We first wnet to meet Michelle in the College in Dundrum the Ceremony was brilliant very touching. A party there after with loads of sweet stuff for kids and adults.
Then into Rathmines for a family meal with Regina and the Kids. Regina brought them back to the hotel and we headed out for a few drinks.
All very cool.
The following day we went to Dundrum and Imaginosity the kids had a ball. All in all a great weekend.

Sneaky Day on the Beach

We played a nice trick on the lads today. We woke up the kids as usual for school but told them it was a special no uniform day and dressed them for the "beach" (amazing how trusting kids are). Then packed them in the car and drove to "school". Well we drove straight past the school and suddenly it was a magical mystery tour. We had secertly packed the car for the beach beacause we knew the day was destined to be a scorcher.
We had an absolute ball on the beach and waited there all day.
A treat day off school to go to the beach what could be better. The weather was brilliant and we had a big meal in Circle of Friends on the way home.

Bank Holiday Enterprise

The weather this bank holiday has been glorious we went to Maidhc's birthday on Saturday, The Inistioge summer festival Sunday and just lazed around the house today. Lorcan is taking the opportunity to try to make a few quid. He tell’s me I’m not getting a cut and I even made the Lemonade!

High School Musical

We had a family day out in Dublin yesterday. We had to leave Cali behind but I'm sure she was alright.
The lads had Mrs Doubtfire on the way, after a little mishap missing the turn off for the Luas at the red cow we ended up parking in Heuston which actually worked out great. Then the Luas into town, which in Ciara immortal words 'I Love it!' was her favourite bit.
The weather wasn't great a bit drizzily but sure it's Ireland isn't it.
We walked to Grafton St and met Mary for lunch in Bewley's which was actually great.
A bit of shopping for junk to eat then into the Gaiety for the High School Musical Show. When I first saw the seats, the back row I thought 'this is crap' but they were the best seats in the house, because there was no one behind us, the lads were up dancing all the way through and standing on the seats and on us!. The show was great the lads loved it. Out back to Grafton street brought a few books 1 each. And then in Captain America's for dinner. Back on the Luas and a quick scoot home while watching The Bee Movie. It was a great day and everyone had a ball.
Cali went mad went we made it home but sure it's only every once in awhile.

A new member of the family!

We still are in decision mode over the name and the favourite seems to be Caly at the moment. That is C for Ciara, A for Áine and L for Lorcan and the y because it's a girl.

They're all a little wary of her at the moment especially Ciara but that is mainly because she's a little hyper, she'll calm done a bit and we'll be grand.



It's hard to get a sense of a dog from a picture a video makes it much easier....

Áine's Feis

On Paddy's day Áine has a feis (Irish dancing for all non-Irish) after mass where she had a set dance to do. We all went down to cheer her on and as you can see she did great..

Beaver of the Month!

Lorcan won beaver of the month and was busting with pride. He's meant to get a medal too and has been nagging them about it for a month but he got the trophy for a month and loves showing it to everyone who comes into the house.
Oh Lorcan's glass are a bit wonky he keeps sitting on them, dropping them, sleeping with them these are only a week old!

Summer has come Early!

Well the girls seem to think so. After a really cold winter and lashing rain for a month. We had a brilliant day today and the girls wanted to sun bathe....

Áine's first tooth

Áine lost her first tooth and we shot a little video to keep to show how excited Áine was. She was brilliant no tears or anything with the tooth coming out.

The Faries

Áine and Ciara love watching a program called the faries and try to mimic all the dances here have a look

Snow in Kilkenny

We had snow this week, well not too much but enough for the lads to make a couple of snowmen. Lorcan made a small one to put in the frezzer too so he can have one in the summer.