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Happy New Year All!

At last I have gotten round to posting for myself - and even though I am not in the habit of New Year's resolutions - I resolve to blog more often in 2008.

We have had a busy 2007 - Richie turned 40, Noah started Big Boy School, Seth turned 2 (say no more) and I started and have been amazed at the growth of my own little business.

It has been great, it has been tiring, parts have been difficult but mostly there have been lots of laughs and I would say it has been a good one for our little family! The boys get more and more amazing every day and I still relish and am thankful for the opportunity to spend every day with them - see I can say that now they are tucked up in bed!!

Anyway - a very peaceful, healthy and happy new year to you all and I look forward to finding out more about you and sharing more with you in 2008.

Gone to the dogs

During the Autumn we heard that there was an Apple Harvest Festival down at Crawfordsburn Country Park. We'd go down to Crawfordsburn quite a bit. It's a country park with a beach. Superb!

Anyway, the Festival was really good and free, which really surprised us. There were apple fritters to be eaten, things to make and apples to peal (OK, perhaps not the most fun activity in the world but, hey, there's only so many things you can do with an apple).

There were pigs and donkeys, a BBQ and a display of apples (yes, I know, that might not sound that thrilling either but it was good and you could try them - there's loads of different types you know); there were toffee apples and freshly pressed juice; and archery! But no one standing with an apple on their head so I think they missed a trick there.

The weather was lovely and the boys got their faces painted like dogs. And they got free EHS Biodiversity T-shirts with very cool sharks on (drawn by the brilliant Julie at Stray).

We ended up on the beach, Seth dressed in nothing but his new shark T-shirt after soaking his trousers in the sea.

The end of the summer: Big school

So the major event that marked the end of the summer was, of course, Noah starting big school. Any concerns that he'd be hesitant were unfounded. He was up and raring to go. Got dressed in double quick time, breakfasted, becoated* and queued orderlyly* at the door; ready, willing and eager.

Karen was less prepared and all ready for a bit of home schooling. But she was very brave and let him go.

And yes, I know what you're thinking and you're right, he was by far the best looking and as it turned out, the smartest new kid on the block. We always said he was blessed with Karen's good looks and my, well actually, er...Karen's brains.

When asked to comment, Seth was heard to say, "Ooah, chooooo, chooooo!"

* Yeah, I know, no such words but there just aren't enough in the dictionary for my needs.

So that was the summer: Off the rails again

It's about time we got over this summer recap so I'll make this one quick.

We wrapped up the holidays with one last treat for the boys. Downpatrick Railway, while nowhere near as great as the Great Central from where we used to live, is still excellent. The better the weather, the better the experience. You pay for a day ticket so can go up and down the short line as often as the trains run. At he far end you disembark and take a short walk to Inch Abbey, where, if you're lucky, you can chat to a real live monk who hangs about in the shadows frightening the kids (not really).

On a fine day the Abbey is a lovely place for a picnic. It's beautiful. This day wasn't so fine so we just messed about a bit then realised we'd better get back for the last train of the day.