Euskadi in December

We flew off to Euskadi for the Spanish bank holiday week at the beginning of December. We flew to Biarritz for the first time on Ryanair's new route. Biarritz (France) is less than an hour from Luis and Saioa's house in Usurbil. The trip over went smooth as silk (which is more than I can say for the return journey -but that's another story!). Here's Liam playing with a little friend he met aboard our plane while Malachy and Lorcan snooze their way across the skies!

When we arrived at Luis and Saoia's, the boys were tired and hungry. So they snuggled up on the couch and watched a quick cartoon before dinner!

The best girl in Euskadi: Nora!!!

Kids having fun in Usurbil and Donosti!

Peter and Anna

When it was time to pick up Liam from school, Peter, Anna, Malachy, Michelle and I walked over to meet him.

Then we had a lovely pasta lunch and the kids played with ALL their toys!

Peter got the camera and did this funny sequence of Malachy & Pooh shots here...!

Michelle and co.

The lovely Michelle came over from Rome with Peter and Anna for a quick visit at the beginning of December. Luckily, we just about managed to overlap here in Dublin before we headed off to Euskadi the next day to spend the week of the Puente de la Constitución with family and friends in Donosti and Bilbao. We had a really nice day with Michelle and the kids. Peter and Anna are great kids and, despite the age gap, they played happily with our little boys!

Peter

Anna

Meeting baby Lorcan

playing...

swinging...












rocking...













digging...










dropping...

strolling

Sometimes when we go to the park...

The buggy is the cosiest place to be :)

We stroll on up to the playground...

Right past this winter tree

recovery

As you can see in this pic taken at the end of November, Lorcan's lip stitches gradually fell out and his scar began to heal...

As always, he stayed right in the middle of the action...

With our silly faces to entertain him, he never gets bored...

And if he does, he makes his own entertainment...!

playdate clowns

Liam's playdate buddies Ciarán, Ryan and Tadhg on one of their play afternoons back in November 06

Munching some snacks, hiding under the bed (from what? the tickle monster, probably!), partying on top of the bed and doing some artwork in an attempt to mellow down towards the end of the evening...!

Malachy adores Liam's playdates too!

And, well, we all tend to clown around together!!

home sweet home

So, a fortnight after his operation, Lorcan had a check-up with his surgeon and got the all clear to go home! Still another fortnight to go with his arm restraints on though.

Being the parents of 3 boys, Jaime and me found it soooo easy to and relaxing to hang out with just ONE for a whole fortnight! It was like getting a little taste of what life was like back when we just had Liam -except without all the nerves of being first-timers!

So that was it! Lorcan's operation was finally over, his recovery was well underway and we were ready to go home. Home sweet home.

We may have enjoyed being alone with Lorcan but we MISSED Liam and Malachy so much too!

Granny and Granddad tell us they were on the absolutely best behaviour while we were away. It was great to get home and be one big family again!

We got the guys some pressies: a spy set and puppets!
Pinnochio and this cute pirate (who comes with his own parrot finger puppet :)

bye bye bcn

Of course, I couldn't let our last week go without arranging a ladies' night at our place! As always, plenty of yummy food and red wine and laughs.

There was Laia, Circe, Assumpta...

Ariandna, Silvia, me and a special (male!) guest... Jaime!

That same evening Unai arrived from Bilbao to spend our last weekend in Barcelona with us...

...and his lovely girlfriend, Iria, flew in from Galicia to join us.

Poblet, etc...

We took the guided tour around the Santa María de Poblet monastery. It was really peaceful and nice.

... as were the cloisters.

The next day was Monday and we met up with Pedrito for lunch in the Plaça Sant Agustí Vell.

Carmen is a retired paediatrician, so it was really reassuring to have her around after Lorcan's operation.

His stitches were covered in a protective glue, which was a little unsightly but essential to keep his scar safe. He was in really good spirits and got used to the weaning much faster than any of us had expected.

Tarragona with Carmen & Daudet

So with Carmen visiting, we had the perfect excuse for a few nice quiet evenings at home with some "picoteo" and nice wine... mmm

Carmencita y Daudet

It's amazing how much attention a tiny poodle puppy can draw! Walking down the street, people would stop us and oooooh and aaaah all over the poor pup... and completely ignore the human baby altogether ;)

We met a couple who had been up in the hills picking "bolets" -wild mushrooms. These are delicious grilled with garlic!

Carmen took us to visit this monastery in the Conca de Barberà district of Tarragona. It was Lorcan's first post-op outing and he did great.