Ah here!!

As no. 2 would say.  I'm lying in bed, have just discovered Spotify so listening to one of my favourite bands, The Stunning , and totally chilled.  I should be getting up to take the kids to see some movie I promised them but . . . I'm warm and it's windy out and . . . . It's like this.  My room is  a tip.  My side of it anyway.  I've turned it into some sort of Den for myself.  A badger would be ashamed though, I bet she wouldn't allow her space to get this trashed.  I am, in fact, a filthy animal.  You can't see the worst of it, that's at the bottom of the bed.  6 pairs of knickers just lying on the floor in the shape of the number 8.  My er, excuse?   Well, it's been mental here so basically I get up, drop knickers, get clean pair and stagger downstairs.  At night I stagger upstairs and fall into bed only to get up the following morning and repeat.  I'm a hound.  Actually, I'm such a hound the hound (Billy)won't even come into the room anymore.  There are three glasses with water in them  beside my bed and all the paper I ripped off my birthday presents is on the floor beside me.  I bought an orchid the other day for myself in the hope that I would get it upstairs ans put it on the bedside table and that would cause me to desire simplicity and niceness.  It hasn't.  The orchid is still at the front door and there are still 4 socks on the floor.  Hmmm, sure what else would you be doing on the day before Christmas Eve other than lying on your back, typing and 'thinking' about cleaning your room.  Actually  I'm not even thinking about cleaning the room,  I'm thinking 'must get up', 'must get up and go to the cinema', 'must get up and go to the cinema and then go to Lidl and see if they have any lobster tails left',  basically I'm thinking of anything other than clean your room you filthy animal!

Humbug!

We got this tree from Lily when we moved in here a couple of years back.  It is one of my most treasured possessions, I love it.  Really I do.  Each little drawer has a decoration in it that you hang on the tree when it's it's turn to be er, hung on the tree.  

The Advent Fairy also puts a chocolate for each of the lads into the drawers as well, so every morning the kids wake up, leg it downstairs and grab their chocolate and hang the decoration.  Usually it's nos. 2 and 3.

Himself had a tooth removed (ooh, but it was a big job.  Tooth was impacted,  "Like suturing jelly" etc.) and, as a result, he's not entirely with it.  Due to his lack of with it-ness I'm meant to be more with it.  

Yeah, .... that's not happening.  

No. 3 said to me today: "Mam, have you noticed how the Tree Fairy is kind've shit at remembering to come and put the chocolates in the tree . .  now that dad isn't well??!   Hmmm?  I think it's safe to say, Mam, that the fairy is not on her game at all".

Swine.  

Recap!

I'm sitting here in my pj's, cos this blogger ain't getting dressed today if she can help it, listening to #3 having a meltdown over a present they got.  It's not bothering me.  I am finally, finally chilled out.  Himself is cleaning the oven.  #2 is still Anakin Skywalker and #1 is causing #3's meltdown.  

Me?  I'm in my pj's typing this.  Happy, happy days.  In my defence I am going to start the ironing now.  Whilst watching one of our many cool Christmas present movies. 

We had an absolutely fantastic Christmas.  It started with lunch in Malahide on Christmas Eve and ended with me driving the Brazilians and Eoin home at 1am on Christmas morning.  We had everyone over for dinner on Christmas Eve as is our new habit.  Himself cooked a fabulous dinner as I had bailed to bed (started vomiting the early hours of Friday and was shagged) and I came down in time to set the table.  11 of us in total and it was brilliant.  We were like the UN.  Everyone was talking and translating and miming.  Carmecy mimed eating the bone from the beef and I was thrilled as it meant she felt at home (Carmecy is Isabella's mum and Eoin's future MIL).  Ibo was delighted as everything was cooked so separately there wasn't a chance of him accidentally getting sausage juice, ick, on his food and Fiona washed her face and teeth before she kissed her hubbie Merry Christmas.  

Then it was presents all around.  Knackered kids were put to bed at 10.30 and then we played Just Dance on the Wii.   Brilliant.  Photos below to prove how brilliant.

Forgot the Christmas Crackers.  Forgot to make a dessert but it didn't matter cos everyone was stuffed.  Dropped everyone home and drove home in the snow in the stillness of the night and it was lovely.  I love driving at night.  Especially when the radio is good and everyone is where they are meant to be.  

The usual quiet panic ensued once I hit home, cup of tea had and then . . . . . and then bed.  Really feel like my head only hit the pillow before we were woken up by 3 small ones bouncing on us.

Okay, #3's whinging and whining getting to me . . .  chilling feeling is wearing off. . . . a moment please.

Right, small bouncing kids.  Stocking emptied.  Santa seemed to have misplaced or lost the usual socks and undies he gives me and Himself.  But he remembered everything else although he did give Arthur a game that his nana and granddad had also bought him which led to some mad panicking and running around trying to rustle up  new presents.

Big sleep whilst everyone else watched Despicable Me and then showered and dressed and off to the in-laws.  Another big dinner and more presents.  Catch up, eating, sleeping and home.

St. Stephen's Day.  Kildare.  More great company, great food (especially the ham, not a turkey person.  I'm with my da on that one) and dancing.  Home.  Cup of tea and bed with book and great radio.  

I'm a really happy, relaxed camper and today I'm not getting dressed.  A very happy camper indeed.

 The family.

 Eoin, Carmecy, Isabella and Anna

 Carmecy giving it loads

Himself and Carmecy getting into the swing of it all

 Fiona and Eoin - doesn't Eoin look, er, interesting

Us and Dinner!!!!!!

 # 1 - Got Iron Man 2 I'm guessing

 # 2 got Toy Story 3

 # 3 is very pleased with his movie and his book

Happy Christmas

Hey everyone,
Hope you've all had or are due to have a lovely Christmas.  Am absolutely out of it now.  Not on whiskey but of sheer adrenalin, it's been a mental day.  Yesterday was even more so.  Won't bore you with details  . . . . yet.  Will get head and photos together and tell you everything then.  In the meantime . . . . . .

Squeak

That's pretty much the noise I made when the kids started singing in # 2's school play tonight.  He was Balthazar, a king.  It's his last school play in the Infant School, big school next September and ... squeak.  If you get the chance to send your kids to St. Sylvester's on the Malahide Road TAKE IT.  I have another 2 years left there with # 3 and I'm going to miss it when it's gone.  I love that school.  Love the kids.  The teachers and the fact that it's an Infant School.  Happy Christmas to everyone in St. Sylvester's.  The Little Red School on the corner.

Isn't there something really magical about hearing a load of small ones singing "Sleep in heavenly p-e-e-a-c-e-e-e" in that incredibly high pitched way of theirs.  Sweethearts the lot of them.