Púca, Púca, is mise and Púca

One week of mid-term is over. Where did the hours go. It flew by........ My little púca's below enjoying Oiche Samhna. I had a cat, a cereal killer, a skeleton and a box of kleenex!!! Such a proud Momma......

Bobbing Apples

The prize is mine!!

The winner takes all

A.....choo

Below is what I have been working on all week, that and studying for my Measúnú which takes place on Wednesday... Yikes....

Adventures with the littles

After a telephone conversation with my sister during the week, I look out the window. You know that feeling, when their is only silence but the littles are around. Silence equals up to no good!!! And below is the scene that greeted me. I don't know are they budding Steven Spielbergs or budding pyromaniacs.

(Master H went through his pryromania stage during the summer, attempting on numerous occasions to burn the house down)!

Budding Spielbergs

All the diggers were line up in order with lines of flames so well done. Looked like a mini film set and they were oblivious to anything else but the task at hand. Thankfully, they were being guided by Master M who has an old wise head on his shoulders. Mr SAS man, and safety is paramount to him.

Autumn Fruit

Master H checking out the planes in the sky

It reminded me of my own carefree days as a child. Always in Famous Five mode and ready to find a tunnel that would lead to an island of mystery. Maybe it's a case of rose tinted glasses, but we spent most of our days gone in search of adventure. Hunger would finally bring us home. I love to see my own littles indulging in their own inate sense of adventure and childhood - and away from TV, and all the other electronic gizmos of the day!!!

Simple acts of love

I came home from college the last evening, to sleeping children, whom I hadn't seen since morning but this was waiting for me on the kitchen blackboard.

How simple a message and how powerful. Life can get so complicated and busy all the time, catching up on endless paperwork, worrying about financial security and worrying about worry. But Miss S really has it down to a T. Love, love love. A child's love -  so pure.

And then, our wonderful friends from California posted this to their blog. 

http://bluelily.squarespace.com/blue-lily-blog/2011/10/14/the-screaming-cold.html

I am truly blessed to have met the lillies, their praise, love and words of encouragement always lift me from whatever darkness  or self doubt I may be feeling.

There is so much to give thanks for today, 

1. The sun is shining in the sky

2. The love of friends and family

3. My health and the health of my family

Today, I have begun a gratitude book, which I intend to fill daily.

It's time to give thanks : - )

Master H with the Lalaloopsy's and Lego, wonderul combination!
 

Miss S practicing her piano, in the room of fun. Lillies be prepared
for your return visit. We shall have a concert!

Miss Ellie trying to take down Minnie, but it never happens

Miss T rocking her new fringe.

My Baby is 5!!!!!! How did that happen?

My little Master H turned 5 on Saturday. Quite the social butterfly since he started school he had no less that 14 people at his party - not one invite was turned down. But where have those years gone? Seems in the blink of an eye I was making his bottles, changing him, putting him down at night, and he fit into my arms quite snugly. Thankfully, he still loves snuggling, he allows me to change him (more time for play), and he loves his goodnight routine. Yet, I still miss his smallness.

So many mothers of another generation always tell me to cherish this time. It seems as I get older I truly understand what they are saying. Childhood is such a precious magical time, that can be taken for granted with the daily trudge of living.  So I am going to treasure this time as it passes, the little nuances, the sayings, the actions, the re-actions, the laughter, the tears, the tantrums, the magic.

BTW Maxi the Taxi Drive was found, hiding behind the TV. He is safely enclosed in his cage until his next escape. 

Maxi the Taxi Driver

I had this blog ready to publish and in adding the last piece ,....... aaaaaaahhhh it all went, vanished. Oh Lord. And so I begin, again....

Maxi the Taxi driver, our hamster, is missing. It was noticed after our return home yesterday evening, once the initial craziness had settled down. That craziness when you come in the door after work and school. Like they had been away from home for days on end, rushing to play with toys and explore.

None of the littles will own up to leaving the cage open. There were droppings found in the sitting room but after that the trail goes cold. Come back Maxi, we miss you : - (  I had grown attached to that ball of fur, as had Miss S.

Other goings on at Coole Park......

As easy as 1,2,3

And off he went. Little H started school. He joins his brother and sister on a learning adventure. Where have those short years gone, blink.......  and they're over.

I'm off on a learning adventure myself and returning to college part time. The oldest little has also begun a new learning curve and has begun College full time. 

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. --William Butler Yeats

And so we begin..................

Frontwards, backwards and sidewards....

Yesterday, I look myself and all the littles on a trip. Back to the grind for me today. It is National Heritage Week so with this theme in mind we set off early. We first visited Kiltartan Museum which we pass (sometimes daily) but have never ventured in.

http://www.gortonline.com/gregorymuseum/ 

It was a national school built in the 1800's by Robert Gregory of Coole for the local school children. He also built schools in Sri Lanka and it is said that the plans were mixed up as the school here has beautiful red brick and red tiles on the roof. I digress.

Bah.....

Onwards to Kinvara, where a French film crew were doing there thing, we stopped to rubberneck and got 99's. I also met the wonderful Nessa, whom I hadn't seen in about 8 years and in the course of our catching up she dropped her iPhone : (



To Ballyvaughan, where we me a beautiful Tom cat - would look wonderful with our Minnie!

Mr Tom

And then to Doolin, where I happened upon a ferries office and thought it a wonderful ideal to get tickets for us to see the Cliffs of Moher from the sea. Our final destination. The point of the whole trip. This was turning out to be one of the better 'spins'.

Down to the pier we went, after a stop for scones and hot chocolate. Beautiful sunny day, the sea looked amazing, all blues, greens and illuminated by the rays of sun. We decided we would take passage sitting outside on the boat to truly take the experience in. Our companions were mainly tourists (as we were for the day). As we set out there were some rollings, which we thought were funny - Whooooo, kind of like the fairground. Laughing, we were, oh wasn't this fun!!!! Five minutes later the joy was gone. Terror. The waves were huge, we were swaying from side to side, so much so I truly believed we were going to capsize. So did the littles. They were bawling. 20 minutes of this and we finally made it into the cabin. Not that it was much better, but when you are not being covered in sea it helps. Cliffs, I did not even see them, nor did I care if I never saw them. Worst experience EVER. How ironic that I am reading The Perfect Storm at the moment.


When we made it safely back to dry land, (I prayed the whole time)..... we went to see the Cliffs overground, and yes they were spectacular. Truly deserving to be on of Natures 7 wonders of the world. Please vote http://sevennaturalwonders.org/europe/cliffs-of-moher 
A far superior experience that the sea version. We lived to tell the tale, we will not forget this adventure for a long time.