wet days are park days too

Yes, wet days aren't just ordinary days in the park... they're special because you see things you don't get to see on the sunny, dry days that most people prefer.

Like the waterfall rushing faster and more fully with all that extra rainwater in the river.



Like a whole playground full of swings and things just for us! (OK, we don't particularly like to sit in puddles... but since we always have a cloth handy to wipe down the swings... we're laughing!).

Look up guys...!

We like to follow the wildlife trail... and this particular time, we were well rewarded:

What? Can't you see the little guy? OK... here's a close-up:

Yes, it's a squirrel :)

The little guy can't believe his eyes!

OK... enough calm nature observing... playtime!!

This guy likes the wet days in the park too. Hmmmmm WORMS!!

Ewwww.... WORMS??!!!

january moments

One afternoon while I was working on my translations up in the attic, Jaime and the boys created this! Every time I look at it, I see something new. Isn't it cool?

Yes, "Twister" is still out there folks! Our friend Anna got it from Santa this Christmas and she brought it over to our house one afternoon to play.

Liam was really quite good at it :)

Malachy, on the other hand, sort of gave up half way through. Not to worry, those little arms and legs won't be long about growing that extra little bit!

* * * *

Step-by-step encounter between Saoirse and Lorcan:

Step one: the face-off.

Step two: contact
Step three: going for gold!

* * * *

I spy with my little eye.... a beautiful little face amongst these flowers!!

I wonder does he know that this "butter wouldn't melt in his mouth" expression is a dead giveaway?

In Blackrock one afternoon...

... having this much fun.Down by the bridge over the railway tracks

Fooling around...

And exploring...

Bye!

wonderland

A very merry unbirthday to me

To who?

To me

Oh you!

A very merry unbirthday to you

Who me?

Yes, you!

Oh, me!

Let's all congratulate us with another cup of tea

A very merry unbirthday to you!

Now, statistics prove, prove that you've one birthday

Imagine, just one birthday every year

Ah, but there are three hundred and sixty four unbirthdays!

Precisely why we're gathered here to cheer

A very merry unbirthday to you, to you

To me?

To you!

A very merry unbirthday

For me?

For you!

Now blow the candle out my dear

And make your wish come true

A merry merry unbirthday to you!

Yes... we went to see Alice in Wonderland at the Helix last January!

And it was perfectly wonderful!

"que vienen los Reyes!"

It was Little Christmas morning... the Christmas excitement was being experienced all over again in our house!

Oh yeah!

Grin!

Since Santa had brought all manner of toys and goodies in his sack, we managed to convince Liam, Malachy and Lorcan that the "Reyes Magos" (the three wise kings) only bring books in the sacks they carry on the camels back all the way from the Far East to Dublin ;)

And there the books lay under the Christmas tree that morning...

And here they are discovering their cool new treasures!

They look happy to me!

****

time for tapas...

January 5th, the Eve of "Little Christmas"... (better known to us as "Reyes") was Tapas Party Day at our house this year. Jaime and me made tons of lovely hot and cold tapas and invited a gang of friends around. Old and young, we all had fun!

At this stage, things were just starting to warm up ;)

Here come some of the Goodes...


Rachel and Robert came armed with a whole "jamón"!!

Meeting people...

Lorcan took advantage of the diversion... to the full ;)

I think this is a tradition we need to keep up.