Christmas Tree 2010

We put up our christmas tree last night. We didn't exactly go for the Brown Thomas designer minimalist look, more like an it's the knockout how many multi-coloured decorations can we fit on.
Well it's traditional isn't it?

Áine in a cast again!

Well Áine managed to break 2 metatarsals in her foot in the playground at school. She trip going back to her line. And with the pain threshold she has the teachers diodn't seem to know (or care) and we only found out when she came hopping out to us at 3pm.
Michelle brought her to casulty and 6 hours later we were looking at Áine's cast and eating Rocco's chips.

Lorcan's Birthday - He's 9

We had a "treehouse" party with about 20 kids in the house. Luckily it was a nice day but when it comes to third class lads it was a little wild. They had to in effect be locked out as they were lashin off each other.
Lorcan had a good day but wasn't in a "photogenic" mood so no photos I'm afraid.

Disney World

After Michelle's marathon we needed a holiday and what better place to rest then Orlando and Disney World for 2 weeks (sarcasm)
It was a bit mad 13 days and 11 Theme park days.
The lads had a ball and really loved meeting the charachers and getting autographs. They all came back with full autograph books (except Daisy duck kept missing her).
We went on nearly everything from Tower of Terror to Jaws to Everest Expedition to Harry Potter. Ciara loved Cat in the Hat, One Fish Red Fish, Small world, Caroseuls, Animal Safari. Lorcan loved Big Thunder, Autographs, Popeye, Safari and Splash Mountain, Áine loved Tower of Terror, Harry Potter, Everest and The Big one in Blizzard Beach. Me and Michelle loved their reactions to it all.
The house was great (thanks Kev for the recommendation) Flights easy as they are all a bit older, The car was great (shaky start but got there) the weather was great except 1 cold drizzily day. Shopping was good but not sure it'd be worth the trip.
Also went to the Orlando Science Centre which the lads loved. Once in a lifetime trip.

Us and Homer in Universal (homer is the big yellow one in the middle)


Lads in a Rickshaw in Animal Kingdom


Messin in Cat in the Hat shop.


Met Mickey Lorcan was super excited and a bit nervous.


Mulan in Epcot

Michelle Runs the Marathon!

Michelle always said she would do a marathon before she's 40 and has really committed to it this year. Well it all paid off and she ran the marathon on Monday in 4:23:24.
It was a lovely day for it not too warm no real wind and dry. Myself and Michelle went up on Sunday to the Bewleys in Ballsbridge and went to the RDS to get the number and then just lie back rested and ate pasta.
We got up early had a breakfast at about 7am with about 50 other runners and made our way to the start. Michelle was getting a little nervous but once her running buddies from the Fit for Life turned up I wished her luck and left her to it. I waited on O'Connell street to see her but missed her with the crowds of runners.
I saw her at 19 mils and she was right on target and looking very strong. I'd say when we seen her at the last corner she was running evn stronger. Ciss, Mick, Regina and Brendan and Lorcan Áine and Ciara all came up to cheer her on.
She is very proud of herself but not as proud as we are of her.

Before


After

Áine is 7 !

We had a roller skating birthday in Kiddies Kingdom. Áine had a ball and loads of presents it seemed like she just got tons this year.

Cats March on

GeoTagged, [N52.62046, E7.20860]

Lorcan's first outing to Croke Park to watch Kilkenny crush Cork. He said afterwards he'd never heard the 'f' word so much in his life. I think the tension and atmosphere shocked him a bit but with a win like that it was always going to be a good day.

Kilkenny Arts

We went down to watch the street circus in town today and were very impressed. The kids got a great kick put of it and wanted a photo after. Funnily his name is Ken Fall an apt name for an acrobat!

Ciara is 4!

Well Ciara is 4!.
We went to Kiddies Kingdom and then back to Leighlin Bridge for some food.
Ciara's friend Sineád, from school came and Leila, Padraic, Fionn, Oran, Maidhc, Darragh, Cormac and of course Lorcan and Áine. Granny came down from Navan too.

Can't believe she's four already.

Center Parc Again.

We went to Center Parc again this year and we were blessed with the weather again. Pat, Elaine and the kids came too for the first week and we then stayed on for 5 days extra. In all the time we were there we didn't have a drop of rain and the lads loved it as usual.
Here are a few photos they are actually in reverse order..

The last picture on the way home


Ciara Dancing on the beach


That little dot you see clinging on is Áine


Just before the treetop assault course


In the playground


Lorcan ahem...having fun!


More Posing


Ciara after the Pirates and Princesses Party


Lorcan's masterpeice


Áine's Princess Castle


Girls prowling the beach


Sitting Pretty



The traditional at the door shot.


Happy times, bet we'll be back next year.

Áine Breaks her Arm!

If it was going to be anyone in the family it was always going to be Áine.
We were at Maidhc's birthday party and there was a bouncy castle. The lads kept getting up on the roof and I'd say we asked, told, threatened them 100 times to get off the roof someone will break their feckin necks.
Well we were nearly right, Áine fell on her arm and broke her wrist. It wasn't a bad break we found out after 7 hours in casulty and she only had a cast for under 3 weeks, a special kind of new fancy one we could peel off ourselves. They only had Red, White or Blue though!

Lorcan's Communion

Well he's done it, chewed the host of our lord.
Lorcan had his first holy communion and wasn't too impressed with the taste.
The ceremony went really well and Lorcan is delighted because the practicing can stop, they practiced everything even the handshake.
Well as the photos show he looked really good and looked so grown up in his suit.
We went to the Rivercourt for food and it was a lovely day so then onto the Castle park.
Lorcan wanted Pizza from dominos for tea and it was his day so....

Ballet Night

The ballet came around again and this time Áine and Ciara were both in it.
Ciara was a diamond and Áine was a fairy. We had a few nerves but both really were very proud of themselves and enjoyed it and I hope you do too.

Natural; Born Killers !

We are able to sleep safe in our beds now, all manner of villains and baddies that lurk in the night will give us a wide berth with 2 natural born killers sleeping under our roof.
Lorcan and Áine both started doing karate and got the first two yellow tips on their white belts (see the yellow strips on their belts). As you can see Lorcan is a serious no nonsense killer where as Áine more of a killer with a smile, wouldn't want to meet either of these in a dark alley way....

Womaniser!

No not me, I'm talking about the kids.
We got a WII game called Just Dance at christmas and the girls love it.
You kind of try to mimic a person on screen dancing while holding the control.
This is the girls doing the start of a song called Womaniser...