When we lived in Dublin ( many moons ago ) I used to hate Halloween - I had a new baby that hated the interruptions and the little brats that lived near us thought nothing of putting fireworks through the letter box if they didn't get goodies they were after. But now we have family traditions built up I have warmed to it . Rachel had a Halloween party at playschool on Friday so I took the chance to take a couple of snaps before we headed down .

I am having a hard time getting her to look at the camera these days but she is the cutest pumpkin :)


The girls decided to carve their own pumpkins this year - Becca's is called Gloomy bear.



Caitlin went for the more traditional Jack O' Lantern


They looked so cool that Cj decided he wanted to have a go and in the end I made one too.


On Friday the decoration of the house started in earnest this was the front door sign and the spider chandelier and the witches hat I wore to scare the little kids on the night.


This was the scene beside the door with all the pumpkins lit and everything outside - I am not into gruesome to be honest so I go for more homemade stuff.


I particularly like the mummy jars - or the mummy and daddy jars as Rachel calls them :)



This was my pumpkin - I went for difficult as usual and just about pulled it off :)


All the goodies were packed into the bags we stamped last week and placed into the biggest bowl we have - this year I did loads as I have had the nightmare of running out and I didn't want it to happen again. I also dress up in witchy attire to give out the sweets, and we had spooky blue lights in the hall to finish the effect.


Caitlin went to a Halloween party at one of the neighbours house and went trick and treating with her friends so I had to grab a picture on the way around. We had buckets of kids call to the door and about 6 ish Jennie and I took the wee one around.


Now we only call to houses that have decorated as we know they are taking part - I am not overly keen on knocking on people's door that obviously want to be left in peace. The kids have a trick each to do if asked usually a corny halloween joke or in Rachel's case a stirring rendtion of Baa Baa black sheep. We also don't stay out too long and just do our neighbourhood so we know the people we are calling too - it make for a much more pleasant evening for all.
Rachel loved calling to the doors and she even got her own pumpkin from one lovely lady.


The weather held out and it was even quite mild, the evening went great and the kids came home with bags full of goodies and as I said we didn't run out, the last callers came at around 8.30 and there were only a few organised fireworks being let off so no bangers late into the night.

It has been a busy week followed by the craziest weekend in our town's calender and I can see it being a bit mad for the rest of the week :)
First we found out that "Pixie" is not a girl HE is now a Pixel but is growing stronger and more boisterous by the day - this is him taking over Meg's bed.

Becca had her fancy dress day at school on Wednesday and looked amazing - so cool and I adore her stripy tights.

Caitlin's fancy dress party was on Friday which was the last day before half term for the girls- she was bat girl.


I made "mummy" buns for the school's bake sale ( trays and trays of them )


All of this led us to the weekend and the Annual Pumpkin Festival. It is turning into an amazing event. Friday we headed down to watch the opening parade, we even brought our own pumpkin in the shape of Rachel :)


The parade is always fantastic but this year was even more special because Caitlin was taking part. An amazing group of street performers from Donegal came down and trained the kids and provided them with costumes, make up and props over 90 kids from the primary school were involved.

Caitlin had a ball and claimed it was much better to be in the parade than watching it but it was pretty good watching it from where we were.


The group have fire eaters and drummers and an amazing girl doing acrobatics on a sash.


The parade was followed by an opening ceremony and the switching on of this amazing sculpture -it is rotating balls hand painted and lit I wish I could of captured it better - it is gorgeous.


We took the girls down to the fun fair for an hour or so - I took Caitlin on the rollercoaster and Caitlin took Rachel on the teacups.


Saturday the rain unfortunately bucketed down but most of the events were indoors that day
with fancy dress parties for the kids and a concert by Bell X 1.
Sunday the rain let up which was great as the closing parade is even bigger than the opening one.
There was even more spectacles to see and acrobats and this time the secondary school was involved too.Becca was down practising for most of Sunday and Caitlin went down in the afternoon to join in.


Caitlin was thrilled as she was put in the lead of the bird this time - she looked fantastic in her costume.


There were samba dancers which the boys loved of course and fire eaters - so much to see.


Finally Becca's group came along and we saw why they were practising they did an fantastic dance routine all the way down the street and the costumes were amazing.


There were great big "giant" puppets as well - the town did it self proud honestly every year the parade gets better and better. And I love that the kids were able to be involved in it - it made the parade for them.


After all of this we collected the girls and headed down to the lakeshore to watch the Fireworks display.

We had a good view and the display beautiful as always - over the lake is the perfect setting and the moon was peeking out through the clouds.

There was a giant pumpkin floating on the lake.

After the fireworks we went back up to the fair and went on as many rides as we could, Becca even went on the slingshot which is basically a ball contraption that flings people way up in the air- she is braver than me.
We finished the evening with a healthy dinner of chips and candyfloss before leaving the revellers for the adults fancy dress to it - and the were some costumes on display I can tell you !!

Great weekend was had by all .

I am sat here typing with a singing toddler beside me, the newest addition to the house sleeping in my hair and my eldest off exploring the wilds of Northern Ireland.


Becca has had a mad couple of weeks, she was chosen by the school with 11 other kids to represent the school in a cross- border camp where schools from the North and the South of Ireland get together to learn and have fun. She was so thrilled to get a chance to go and we are so proud of her that the school thought she would be a good ambassador for them. So we packed her all up and dropped her to the bus on Monday apparently she will be abseiling and trekking and doing team building exercises and the like, we expect her back later in the week totally exhausted.
She did find it a bit of a wrench to leave because she had to leave the newest member if the family - her name is Pixie she is approximately 4 weeks old and she was abandoned by the side of the road.


A neighbour found her and thought she might be Meg's kitten, being black and all, but Meg was neutered a long time a go so she is not responsible and the mother was no where to be found, she was cold hungry and barely moving when we found her.
We got her some kitten milk and started feeding her with a dropper and after a couple of days she was a lot perkier and started venturing out of her bed. She is now back to her playful self.


She is here over a week now and is growing stronger by the second, she now has a proper bed actually it is a cat house from Jennie's work and she has even started using the litter box which I am incredibly happy about.


And poor old Meg is starting to feel less displaced by this usurper to her kitty throne - last night they ate side by side and slept either side of me on the sofa so an understanding seems to be reached after the initial shock she had when Pixie arrived in the house. You think she would be understanding she arrived pretty much the same way herself.


And Caitlin is thrilled Pixie too although she has to be constantly told to take it easy with her as she gets over enthusiastic in her care of the kitten.
Rachel is constantly telling me to feed the kitten and following her everywhere - poor Rachel has had a rough week she had a double dose of tonsillitis and laryngitis, it was a nasty old dose and she had no voice for a couple of days - today though she is making up for it by talking nine to the dozen and singing.

So we had lots of medicine and hugs last week and she found a new obsession - she loves doing jigsaws, her favourite is the 100 piece one we have of the rainforest which we have to make at least 3 times a day.
I am feeling bad too, the only creative things I have been up to have been in the kitchen, with lots of baking and home cooking going on - it seems to be this time of year as the days grow shorter and the air gets cooler, that make me want to get all homely and cosy in the kitchen. And I have been spending a tonne of time on the Bakerella site - I love her cake pops and so want to try them.

So lots of peanut and chocolate chip cookies have been made and I had a glut of free range eggs so lots of quiches were made too which came in handy for lunches.

and I had to make 36 caramel slices last week with Caitlin as she was "chef of the week" in class I just wish I could get back to scrapbooking again - I miss it if I am honest.

Yet again another long gap between updates but I have my reasons and this has been a particularly hard couple of weeks - our small community was hit by an awful tragedy in which a friend and lovely young lady lost her life last week,which knocked everyone around here for six.
The details have made the headlines and you suddenly realise that being part of a small and welcoming community as we are means that you too are affected when something like this happens, so we have all been pulling together to get us though.


It is strange how life goes on turning though and so it has - we had been minding Ruby while Mum and Dad were in France, she has the most loving personality and gentle nature and everyone has been taking it in turns to walk her.


Caitlin got her chance the other day - she had been begging for days and I felt a good long walk would be good for all of us to be honest. So we took her on the usual walk down the lake and thankfully had a beautiful day for it. Ruby loves the water and inevitably ended up wet.
Then we trekked through the woods before heading home with Caitlin's haul of nature for the school nature table.

Talking of all things nature I meant to post about this last time but forgot !! I am very lucky to come from a large and talented family and one of my lovely Auntie's who is actually in hospital at the minute happens to grow Organic Veg and sent us up the biggest haul of organic goodies to feast on - this is just a small selection of what we were sent - it makes me want to start growing my own veg again.


Actually my Auntie's talented husband made the bowl the veg is sitting in ( it was a wedding present) I told you I was lucky in the family department.


While I am boasting about family talents - Becca has been asked to be on the school Equestrian team and is very excited about the whole thing. I actually went to watch the girls riding a couple of weeks ago with Andrew and wow I was blown away by how far they have come recently,


Becca looks like she has been riding all her life and is so natural in the saddle and was jumping much higher than the rest of her class and Caitlin, well thank goodness we got her that body protector is all I can say, as she was thrown off but as her teacher says Caitlin could be a stunt rider as she rolls off a horse and gets straight back on like it was all part of the act while all around her have their heart in their mouths !! When she was on the horse though she was riding well too, I am so proud of them they really are riders now.


Rachel isn't being left behind in the talent department either that little ones control of a computer mouse is actually quite frightening (she is only 2 !!) she can log in and find the games on the computer in her own house and loves playing on the Lazytown website in our house.
I just wish she would stop turning the screen upside down - it took me a while to figure out how to fix it !!
Mam and Dad arrived back on Friday and picked up Ruby this weekend while spoiling us all with wine and boots LOL - My mum is a shoe fiend and Becca adores here new boots so much I think we may have to prise them back off her feet - today she was challenging her inner 80's child ( think early Madonna !!)

The last weeks in August are always a bit "crazy" as Rachel is fond of saying, between our Wedding Anniversary and my birthday and the inevitable rush to get everything prepared for going back to school and I have been guilty of neglecting this blog of mine.
This year CJ and I were celebrating ten years of marriage ( where on earth does the time go ?)


I have made a card every year we have been together so I decided to keep with tradition and make one - at the last minute of course.

Two days later it was my birthday - timed that one well didn't I ? And the less said about how old I have become the better but I was spoiled rotten so I will quit complaining.


CJ treated me to breakfast in bed with pastries from the new bakery in town, everyone knows I love where I live and now I love it even more because the most gorgeous bakery has opened - it looks so like a French bakery and the pastries and cakes are divine, god help my waistline !!


The girls brought me a lovely vase in my favourite colours with their own money no less!



Even Andrew spoiled me by bring me some gorgeous flowers and Jennie-Lee my lovely sister brought me the most gorgeous bedding - again in my favourite colour.

And after dinner I was treated to a surprise birthday cake - organised by my brother and sister again from the new bakery.


It was just gorgeous but the hubby forgot to get any pictures before it was demolished when he was in charge of the camera as I was busy blowing out candles, so I had to take shots after it had been demolished.



The parents came up this weekend baring gifts and delivering a doggy for minding as they take the trip to France.


Mam will kill me for this picture I am sure - but hey she is off to France so I will risk it.

And this week all my girls are finally back to school - books have been brought, shudder, the price is always a bit frightening to be honest and the appropriate and trendy school bags are packed and the newly purchased uniforms have been pressed.


Caitlin was first back she was looking forward to it as she had her 2nd class teacher again and she adored her. All went well on her first day and she seems to have settled back well.


Rachel was back to playschool, she is also wearing proper pants and is coming on in leaps and bounds with her training. Also she now has discovered "why?" you know that phase they go through when every question comes with a "why ?" attached.


Last back was Becca who was back today - no pictures were allowed this morning of course, Becca doesn't "do" mornings and truth be told co-ordinating all the differing start times and lunch requirements was about all I could handle anyway.
And finally my lovely friend Janet ( her blog link if over on the right - under tigger's blog ) had a beautiful baby boy this week so welcome to the world baby Elijah :)

This time last year we were on a plane to this place - wish I was on a plane right now, yes I would even put up with Ryanair to get there.
We have had so much rain this year that the place is inundated with slugs and as a consequence we have had quite a few frogs turn up - this little cutie turned up at the beginning of the week , now there is no pond in our garden so we had to find him an alternative home.


Rachel had playschool for the week in the morning so during the rain soaked afternoons we had to come up with entertainment. So we made marshmallow faces - then ate them :)

We made cupcakes - Rachel likes to do everything which is why the mixture ended up everywhere and I am sure there were lots of eggshells in them too.

We decorated them with lots of icing and Disney characters.


Then of course Rachel had to taste test them.


As Rachel wanted to make cakes by herself, Caitlin and Jazz decided to make the cookies that Mum had sent the mix up for and my new cookie cutters in lots of shapes.


They mixed and rolled and cut things out for the afternoon and made lots of very yummy cookies :)


On Friday - Rachel had a fancy dress party at playschool and wanted to be a princess so borrowed her cousin's dress which fit quite well considering Caitlin can still wear it.


I had promised her Mum lots of pretty pictures of Princess Rachel and eventually after a bit of persuasion she obliged.



I did have to bribe her with cakes.


And promise to read a story although I was not sure about the choice of book - bit old for her I think .

She had a ball at the party in the end and will be back in playschool full time in Sept.

Not much else to tell this week - but it is my anniversary and birthday next week so might have slightly more news then.

Hello, the summer is flying past isn't it, can't believe it is August already.
CJ had some days off last week so we took the opportunity to head to the big smoke to see the new Harry Potter movie with the girls - it was enjoyable enough and I would like to actually watch it again just to take it in but it definitely didn't stick to the book but as I re-call that book was a brick of a book anyway.

After the movie and a bite to eat we hit the shops - Becca who is not usually a shopaholic or that demanding when it comes to labels or things like that, has been after a pair of Vans for a LONG time and has been saving to get them so she finally got her first pair - to say she is happy is an understatement .


Caitlin also got something this week - she had taken a fall at riding and is now doing big jumps at riding so we thought it was a good idea to get her a body protector, she was lucky the last time she fell and was okay but it is not a chance we wanted to take again.


Body Protectors have to be properly fitted and Cait is such a small little thing so there was lots of trying on but she is now ready to go.



She also was getting crafty and made this for her door - she is getting good at this crafting lark all I did this time was cut the C out of the paper she did the rest.


We also had some carrot cake while we were busy and I have promised to teach her how to make it in the next couple of weeks.

I was supposed to be attending my friends wedding this week unfortunately the fates conspired against me and instead we ended up being little monkeys in the play center, I brought Rachel, Caitlin, Becca and Andrew.
Rachel hadn't liked it when we took her before but this time she was in her element and basically tore around the place like a loon - she had us worn out chasing after her.


There was no going on the small slide for this girl and she insisted on heading for the "BIG GIRL " slide, which is up a long and convoluted jungle gym.

It was a bit too high to go up by herself so the teenagers, who I thought would be bored by now, willingly volunteered to bring her on it - in fact I had a hard time getting them back off it again.

Luckily the girl who runs the place was willing to let them on as they were doing a good job of minding the kids.


They took a quick time out to fill up with sugary slushies and were off again.

Playing in the ball pit went down well especially with Becca, although she didn't appreciate us throwing her in the first time and she lost her zen mp3 player and we had to root for it to find it but she got over it and started to enjoy herself.


Although she did threaten me with the football if I took another picture !!


On Saturday Caitlin and her friend Jazz begged for a sleepover so we gave in and they set themselves up with goodies and DVD's and settled in for the night.

They seemed chirpy enough the following morning too they actually weren't to noisy and seem to sleep quite well.
While they were sing along to High School Musical or whatever it was they were watching ! Becca was over at her Auntie's house turning her hair a different colour this time she went blue black. She looks very cool - all pale and interesting !!



And I am under no circumstances allowed to call her Morticia LOL