Birthday party

Fantastic Fun Birthday party today. Six is a great age. Just so glad we didn't have it in the house. These guys have a lot of energy and know how to be loud. Now if only we could harness this sound energy and convert it to say do a load of laundry! All mothers everywhere would be happy.

Swim Lesson Super Heroes

Belgrave Square Sports Day

It was a beautiful day on Saturday and perfect for running some races. We had two winners Lex got the first race for 4 and under then Maxim won the "slow bicycle race" which is much harder than it sounds. You must be last but keep your feet on the pedals barely inching along the field.
Unfortunately I didn't get more photos as it was hard to wield camera and watch all five while loosing the mothers marathon. Maxim has vowed to run in every race next year he had such a great time.

September

Just back from a fabulous weekend in Rome with friends. Sun oh so lovely and good food. Late breakfast and afternoon naps made the visit paradise for me. Thanks so much Terry and John. Lots happening here. School - yes we have two boys in school now. Only 3 at home. I am having such a good time the mornings are so easy and quiet. Lots of work travel for Jon and then a marathon to run. Maxim's birthday is on the 15th and we will be celebrating with lots of chocolate cake. Baby number six will love this I have no more nausea and am now eating for two!
Susan we love you and are thinking of you everyday at this time. I can not imagine how tough it must be to loose your home to fire.

Santa Monica Beach

Can not believe it is the last day of Aug. and summer is gone. The kids start school tomorrow and they are so excited. LA beaches are far away now and it is raining cats and dogs here.
Oh well soon it will be Halloween. Yippee.

A little trip

So I completed mission impossible - I took a trip without any kids! (We won't count the one growing inside me). It was a fantastic trip. One week of bliss. In fact nothing phased me, this trip was sure to be the best as for the first time in six years I was in charge. Yes, no baby, toddler, child to pull on my arm and direct my day. Amazing I felt like a queen the entire time. You could loose my luggage, burn my toast, set off the hotel fire alarm and it would still have been the best holiday ever. (Now none of these things did happen, I did have the usual delays but I don't even remember them.) This is one of my favorite views in SF. I took this photo the minute we arrived and after bought an heirloom tomato to snack on. The thing I miss most about CA is fresh produce - they don't know how lucky they are. Here in Dublin I dream about a fridge full of ripe red tomatoes. Can't wait to be back.

Sun Sun Sun

It is a fantastic day here in Dublin. The hottest we have had this year I would say and we are off to the beach. There will be a lot of people in swimming and hopefully our guys will get a chance to cool off in the water. Pics to follow.

Wool behaving badly

This beautiful alpaca from a farm in Santa Barbara has gotten into a tangle. Then I let my four years old help untangle it. Bad went to worse and now we have what you see here. There goes my next free hour.

Noro color

Just finished knitting this for Zoë. It is silk and wool mix beautiful for an Irish summer. My knitting projects are picking up speed now that I am in the second trimester and don't feel so sea sick all the time. I might even finish an adult sized something!

Who?

The boys and I have decided that our Zoë is really like Olivia from the Olivia books.

Baeutiful Day

It is a truly beautiful day here in Dublin. I walked the west pier for the first time in two years since we moved back here. I bought a bucket and spade for the boys and they are off to the beach. Lots of people are in swimming. It is a full 20 C or 68 F.

At the table

Now you see Zoe has graduated to the big kids table. Her spot has moved Liam down a notch. She shows her appreciation by screeching loudly for service. As you have by now noticed we have so many kids that getting them all in the one photo is beyond me.

Crafts

After the park the boys are sitting up to do more crafting. Maxim is in his green Spiderman T-shirt which he was just re-united with and I now can't prize it away. Lex is showing me something very small but he is very proud of and well, Eoin not really crafting. He is just having a snack.

Yum Yum

Fruits of this morning work. It is hot and over cast here so we are expecting a storm. Lex keeps saying "this is as hot as it gets here, right?" It is 18 c or 64 F so I am not too sure where he gets this but he also reassures Maxim that when he grows up he will own a cannon and they will "love it".

Where oh where does time go?

Ok this morning got off to a good start but it is eleven and I have touch nothing on my list. I did stretches with boys. But then Liam side tracked me by wanting me to make scones and then I realized the kitchen needed a clean. The chickpeas that were soaking over night were done so they needed a little attention. Made a plan for the afternoon - who am I kidding - plans don't work! This afternoon is going to be about as organized as this am.

Reading

I am reading a great book by Nobel prize wining economist Paul Krugman "The return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008" certainly worth a read. The only draw back is I have to put it down after about a page and a half to contemplate all he had just said. I am afraid I am not loaning this book you will have to get your own copy.

Exhausting the boys

We went to two parks today just to wear the boys out. Really it is just like having puppies. They even play catch.

So much to do

Today I had so many things calling for my attention - my knitting, my writing, my reading, e-mail, phone calls, etc so I ditched them all and went to the park. Love my life nothing is more important than playtime.

Rain Rain Rain

When it rains they say it pours certainly has today. The boys were afraid I would flood the house just by opening the window. In fact I, the curtains, the carpet and the toys did get rather wet. But I just felt today I couldn't give in to the rain. It wins everyday. We constantly run for cover so when I just wanted a little air I did battle. Mother nature always wins. Lesson learned.
One of my best friends just had Mother nature pull a fast one on her. She went for a routine ultrasound scan to see heart beat and low and behold - identical twins! She is one in 250 births. Always the unexpected. Now I am terrified of going for my scan I am not sure I could handle my sixth and seventh child at once!

Eoin's 2nd Birthday

5 4 3 2 - Now we have a five year old a four year old a three year old and a two year old in the house. Fun, fun, fun! Eoin blew out all candles in one go as we sung the "B" song.