Weekend...

We are having a fairly lazy weekend.

Staying indoors mostly, getting things ready for going back to school and having a de-cluttering session throughout our home.

It always feels good to get little jobs done that I've simply put off because we've been trying to make the most of our summer holidays with the children.

Autumn is now upon us, the transition from warm to cold weather although here in Ireland it's often hard to tell what season we are in most of the time. Today I've noticed a chill in the air and I'm sitting here writing this post with a heavy woollen cardigan. 

I do love this time of year.

This week has been lovely, we've been making the most out of the last few days of the summer holidays. Our Teen is back at school since Wednesdays and settled in already. I love the way that she takes everything in her stride.

We had a lovely evening together Thursday night just us girls and a cinema date - something we must do more often.

Our Inbetweener starts back on Monday and we have labelled all his books, bag is packed and ready to go. He is so eager to get back that his uniform is sitting out ready to put on.

Our Little Fella is just so much fun and hard work all at the same time. We've had lots of giggles this week and he is trying really hard to stand up - he's just so eager to walk - all in good time.

Tonight we are having Chinese takeaway and a bottle of wine.

Hoping your weekend is great xxx

Weekend...

It's Friday and I'm looking forward to the weekend.

Weekend is one of my new regular posts here on the blog. 

A summary of what's been happening in our lives throughout the week- the good, the bad and the ugly.

It's been a busy and expensive week getting the last bits and pieces ready before the older two go back to school. I'm glad that everything is ready because there's nothing worse than having this hang over your head.

Our Teen starts back into her fourth year at secondary school next week and the week after our Inbetweener goes into third class.

It was very exciting here last night when our Little Fella stood up on his own, for about ten seconds then fell back down again. He is itching to walk and I'm sure it won't be long.

Our Little Fella has not been sleeping well this week which in turn means sleep deprivation for me and Mr P - lots of it. I think he is teething. Thankfully things have settled a bit as the week has gone on but I'm fairly sure I could pack the contents of our house into the bags that are under my eyes.

We have a busy weekend planned with a birthday party this weekend for Mr P's mum, a teenage disco and a spot of shopping before the schools re-open.

Somewhere in the middle of all this I plan to grab some time to relax and open a bottle of wine.

Last weekend we went to the Giant's Causeway and this photo is of all of us but as you can see it's virtually impossible to get everybody looking at the right time.

We took about eight shots here and none of us are looking at the camera at the same time, maybe though these make for the best photos.

I hope you have had a great week and enjoy your weekend whatever your plans xxx

Our Weekend...

This weekend we had our monthly day trip (I'm putting the post together for this today so many photos to choose) and then yesterday was mainly about celebrating Father's Day. 

Breakfast in bed, followed by a lie in, lazing about and then dinner at our local chinese restaurant, The Oriental. 

The food and service is always brilliant and there was no end of prawn crackers for our Little Fella who has found a new favourite food.

A really lovely finish to the weekend.

These pictures were taken at my parents house before dinner....

Photo of the Week

I can't believe it's Friday again. 

These weeks are going way too fast and the days seem to roll into one.

The school year is drawing to a close and our Teen is almost finished her exams. 

All have gone well for her so far and she will be finished up on Tuesday with Spanish.

This weekend we'll be celebrating Fathers Day and spoiling Mr P because dads deserve some pampering as well.

My photo of the week was taken two weeks ago but I've kept it for this week.
This is my father with our Teen and Little Fella. 

It was taken at our Inbetweeners First Holy Communion ( you can see more about that here ).
They didn't know it was being taken which makes it even better.

He simply adores our three children and spoils them rotten. I suppose that's what Grandad's are for and they in turn are every bit as mad about him.

I hope you all have a great weekend and Happy Father's Day to all the Dads and Grandad's out there.

I am joining up with Team Lloyds photo of the week. 

Please check out their blog here and have a look at all the other fabulous photos of the week.

Silent Sunday

A Day to Remember

On Sunday our Inbetweener made his First Holy Communion. 

We were flat out all of last week getting things ready which is why things have been quiet on my blog.

Here are my three Lovlies all dressed up.....

There was no distractions by way of phones or laptops or social media over the weekend which was spent with family and friends and lots of cameras.

It was so great for my grandparents to be able to make it especially as my Granny only got out of hospital on Thursday evening after she had been ill. 

Our Inbetweener's Godparents were there to share his big day with him and it meant so much that they had taken the time to be there.

There was lots of preparation by the school teachers and at home this last few weeks. I'm glad to say it all went well without any hitches and it is a credit to all the teachers and helpers involved in getting everything organised.

All the children were beautifully dressed in their finery and so well behaved.

Our Inbetweener was picked to do a reading at the Mass. He was delighted and of course me and his Dad were as proud of punch of him. 

Every night we practised to make sure he was confident of all the words, some of which were hard to pronounce for an eight year old but it was no bother to him.

He really is such a great little man and it made me so happy and proud on the day when people commented on what a lovely person he is. 

I know lots of people make a huge fuss over these things and spend crazy amounts of money but our Inbetweener was just happy to go with the flow. 

He picked his own suit, shirt, tie and shoes. There was no arguments in trying to get him dressed up, he didn't make demands on wanting a party. 

We had a beautiful meal at the hotel where our wedding reception was held and then at home our Inbetweener had a bouncy castle for the weekend. 

We were supposed to have it for Saturday evening until Sunday night but they didn't collect it until this morning. We all had a turn bouncing around and I have to say it was money well spent.

Before he went to bed he thanked me and his Dad for making his day so enjoyable. 

It made my heart melt to hear him say this because I know lots of children wouldn't think to say it.

So after months of talking about it, organising and planning things the weekend came and went in a flash.

We all had a great time catching up with family and friends that we haven't seen or just haven't made the time to see. 

As yesterday was a Bank Holiday here it was the first one in a long time that we didn't leave the house. We had a lazy day doing not very much.

Sunday really was a day to remember, one that for many years to come we will look back on with great memories.

The Garden Show

This past weekend was so busy in our house it went past in a blur.

Our Teen headed off on Saturday morning to a youth festival in Co Longford which was great 'craic' altogether. I'm still catching up on all the gossip from that.

Our Inbetweener was busy playing gaelic and hurling on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and I was helping out at the Relay for Life event on Saturday and Sunday.

We did manage to squeeze in some time together on Saturday morning minus our Teen when we went to the Northwest Garden Show which is held in Castlefinn not far from where we live.

It was a lovely morning spent wandering around the show gardens, farmers market, exhibitors stalls and craft stalls.

It's encouraging to see a local event like this being so well supported by the local community and it's great to find exhibitors of lovely crafts and food producers that you wouldn't otherwise have known about.

There was so much to take in but here are some of my favourite photos, especially the one of our Inbetweener who has a Golden Eagle planted on head.

It was amazing to get up close and personal with such a beautiful creature.

These are some photos of The White House Garden which was created by a number of Irish Gardeners including Diarmuid Gavin.

Even though the garden is not fully completed you can see that it will be stunning and great asset to have here in Donegal once it's fully completed.

The traditional stone walled garden is a symbol of our heritage and the close links held with America down through the years.

All in all we had a busy but great weekend.

Hope yours was just as good xx

  

Relay for Life

The Relay for Life started in America in the 1980's and last year Donegal held it's first one. The events which are now global involve a 24 hour walking relay for which people raise funds in support of the fight against cancer.

This is a great way to celebrate the lives of those who have battled against cancer, remember those who have lost their fight against cancer and those who are fighting cancer.

Last year I was asked by a work colleague to help out at this event and I didn't hesitate to say yes because we all know someone who has been affected in some way by this illness and it's good to give something back no matter how small.

You can check out the website here and there is some video footage from last years hugely successful event.

In 2008 my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I will never forget that day when my father phoned me to tell me the news. I felt like someone had ripped my heart out of my chest and if he had told me she had died I couldn't have felt grief like it, it sounds silly now that I'm writing it but I can't think of any other way to explain it.

It makes you see life from a whole different perspective and appreciate what you have so much more.

Thankfully my mother survived and is doing well.

This year again I will be dedicating some time over Saturday and Sunday to help out at this inspiring event.

One thing that sticks out in my mind from last year was the overwhelming support and the amount of people who were wearing purple t-shirts were all survivors of cancer, it was staggering, all ages from children right up to elderly.

One of the highlights of the Relay for Life event is the Candle of Hope ceremony which will take place on Saturday night.

This is where people who have been affected by cancer and those who have lost their battle with cancer are honoured. The candles are lit and each one bears the name of a person touched by cancer and a lap of silence is completed to remember and take time to reflect.

You can see last years ceremony here and I think you will agree that it is deeply moving.

So yesterday I received an email notification that Suzanne from 3 Children and It is hosting a blog hop in support of Emma from Crazy with Twins who is in hospital and undergoing cancer treatment.

The timing of this post is appropriate because I was putting it on my blog today. Whilst I don't know Emma but I read her blog I have bought a candle especially for her and it will be lit in her honour tomorrow night and the Candle of Hope ceremony. 

Each candle is numbered and this one below has Emma's name on it.

I will be keeping her in my thoughts and wishing her a speedy recovery back to her family.

She is an inspiration to all of us.

- See more at: http://www.3childrenandit.com/2013/05/for-emma-s2s2d.html#sthash.6ESyZSoh.dpuf