Seb's Birthday in Photos

There was a full set of circumstances which meant that on Seb's 5th birthday we weren't going to be able to do a special tea for him. I was disappointed about that and had suggested that we do something special the day before, which was a Sunday. Seb chose to go to the Transport Museum rather than have a party, to be perfectly honest I much preferred that than having to organise food and entertain everyone.



We had a great afternoon, the children just enjoyed themselves jumping on and off the trains. I am not sure which bit they liked best but they all came home tired and happy.



I find it hard to believe that Seb is 5 years old now. It does not seem like 5 minutes since he was born. Seb has been through a lot of illness, especially in his first year of life - it makes my heart swell now to see him so well. We have come a long way - when he was born I found it hard to get close to him because he was so sick, it took me a long time to develop that special bond that we have now. Six months ago he was in the throws of what felt like delayed terrible twos, now Seb has developed into a lovely boy.

Toni's 6th BIrthday

I am catching up - been so far behind in posting my photos and updates ..been a busy time for us.

These photos are from the 22nd of September 08, I know it was a few Weeks ago but I just had to share. Toni's 6th Birthday was a bitter sweet day for us all because on her 5th birthday my mother, Toni's grandmother passed away. Toni's 5th birthday was spoiled, and now we have to live with that date being not only a special day but a painful reminder of me losing my mother at the young age of 56.

It was a nice day weather ways, which made a chance seeing as it had been raining for the past 3 months. We had quite a few friends to help mark the day, plenty of food and TWO birthday cakes!



first thing on the actual day opening her gifts.



Seb joining in the fun!



Sol too.


Toni got a vet kit.

Funny photos

These are the last I am going to post from my holiday photos for the time being ...

I just thought they were too funny to leave hidden.

Seb was so tired he fell asleep standing up!

Our balcony was heaped up with inflatables ... it was really funny as each family left to go home they gave our children their pool toys - before we knew it we had quite a collection!

Popcorn hats - the childreb raided the popcorn machine!

Making A Splash

One of the most enjoyable things for a child on holiday is splashing in the pool. Add to that the glorious weather every day and it makes for a brilliant time.





There isn't much to this blog post - just a few splashes.

We are back!

Its been an age - posting photos here, chatting to my friends, catching up ...well they say "better late than never".



Its only taken me two weeks to trawl through the 600 or so photos we have taken between us. Its hard choosing which to print, you cant print them all - nor do you want to.



For those who have been asking where the photos of the blue sky and my where my white bits are ... you have to wait. First thing first!


My Grandmother has knocked on deaths door and so far has been refused entry this week. The poor lady is clinging on to life just now, after being given the news earlier this week she wouldn't make it ... she is still here. The doctors are saying "pray"!


Sol went to see the neurosurgeon also, I think I will cover that in another post.



The cat has been to the vet (rolling eyes) AGAIN!! Well good news this time, good news for her, she is now allowed out of that tiny cage she has been in for two months. Her healing has gone way beyond what anyone expected, even though her leg is still dragging she definitely has some muscles in it now.



Sol has started playgroup, again, so to speak. Sol went to playgroup for three days before our holiday, she wasn't toilet trained so it wasn't really official if you know what I mean. WELL - our girl has done us proud and is making real efforts to keep dry now.



Before I get onto the sunny photos, and believe me there are loads I have to share this first.

It was our eldest boy, Mag's, Birthday on the 6th while we were gone. We arranged a cake for him and the girls who ran the kidzworld cooked up a surprise.



This is Mag showing off one of his cards ...



By the way, he is mad on cars.






He was unaware that we had ordered a cake and we just spent the day doing normal things you do on a birthday, swimming in the pool, relaxing ... just like we do back hone (not).

We had planned on going to a cabaret show that night, it turned out to be a really good show with some quality acts. Anyways we got there to find a table decorated for Mag just to put him in the party mood. We were served chicken in a basket with fries.



This is what Seb thought of it all, well actually it was just a long day for all. Seb fell asleep during the show and missed the whole birthday surprise for Mag.



Half way through the cabaret it was announced that there was a change to the program. The compare asked if there were any 'special people' in the audience - and got Mag up on stage.



After wards they gave Mag a cocktail called Harry Potter which was right up his street. (Mum and dad had a few cocktails too)

Empty Fridge Syndrome

We have no perishable food in the house, none! Yesterday we were fed up with having nothing nice the children decided to 'bake'.



They made TOPHATS, which to the person who doesn't know how to make them simply melted chocolate poured into the base of a paper bun case, a marshmallow added and a little smartie or jelly tot stuck on the top with a little more melted choclate.



This is Hollie and Ellis showing off their buns!






On to the topic of why we have no food .... I haven't bought any!



We are going on holiday tomorrow, and I must say out of all the holidays we have ever been on this is the one I am most looking forward to. Like you couldn't tell we were looking forward to it, we have bored everyone with our talk of escaping.



Before I start I shall express my sympathies to anyone suffering severe weather like Hurricane Gustav, or any other extreme weather.



The weather here in Northern Ireland has been down right depressing. I am not talking about miserable, I am talking months and months of heavy rain. The dry days this summer can be counted on one hand, even during those dry days it did rain at some point. I myself suffer in the cold weather, I have health problems which make my joints sore and that alone is making me down. I am not one to complain, but I tend to hibernate in the winter but this year it feels as though I have been hibernating all year.

Just now I look out of my dining room window and the sky is grey, the grass is green through all the rain, and the driveway is pretty much one giant puddle. The children are fed up as they cannot go out side and play on their lovely new garden toys that they got this year.

The only saving grace for us is that we are leaving it all behind for a couple of weeks - and for that reason we are all entirely ecstatic.

We had made many plans to go out an about this summer; meet friends, do the garden, paint the house, go cycling ... well as you can imagine they all went out of the window because of the weather (or is that a lame excuse?). I feel guilty I hadn't made more of an effort but my other half assures me that no body minded too much and it seems that no body in the house is going to hold it against me. Just as well I reckon.









Funny quotes this week



The children were talking about dieing.

Seb says "I wont die as I dont go into the kitchen"

Toni replied "Awe Seb, everyone dies once in a while".