Summer Holidays 2012

I’ve been very remiss recently with blogging. That’s more to do with Sharon being away and juggling with looking after the kids and work. Anyway, after Sharon’s recent employment in sunnier climes, we went away on our holiday to France. We went to La Croix Du Vieux Pont situated about an hour and a half from Paris.
The site was perfectly set out with 3 large lakes, indoor and outdoor pools and onsite restaurants. The countryside surrounding the site was rolling hills a bit like Fermanagh. We were able to take advantage of some brilliant days out including visiting the breathtaking castle at Chateaux De Pierrefonds and pony trekking around Berny Riviere.
Here are some pictures….

We were blessed with good weather for our 10 days away. The temperature was mostly in the 30’s. One thing we didn’t take advantage of was the closeness of Disneyland. Lucy was too young to make that possible this time round. Perhaps another time…

Springtime 2012

I know I’ve been quiet of late on the blog front……it’s mostly down to returning to work in January (no manpower, more work etc etc), sickness (kids sharing viruses and chickenpox) and preparing Sharon for detachment. Never mind….all is settling down now so back to updates on the rascals.
We went to Emily’s parents evening and, no surprise, she’s doing well. Well mannered yet shy and her reading is great. That's not surprising either considering the amount of stories we read! Her art is fantastic…she loves colours but is a bit of a perfectionist…which has lead to a couple of frustrated tears at times…bless.
Hannah has recovered from a horrible dose of chickenpox and a particularly nasty virus she still hasn’t fully shifted. Nevertheless she’s still a chirpy cheeky chappess full of love.
Lucy’s walking! Heaven help us! She has come on so much in the last month. She isn’t a baby anymore. In someways, it’s a shame as I’ve missed all of her first year and I’m left with this strong willed, loving and giggling kid! She has recovered from chickenpox now as well.
I know I’m going to be missing a chunk of occasions out since the last blog, but I’ve got to restart somewhere. I’ll revisit where I can because we’ve had awesome trips to Wales, Ireland, the North…..and had some wonderful times with friends and family. It would be a shame not to share them…
Oh..I’ve had a few problems with spam being dropped into my comments box, so I’ve put a filter on the comments now. Please still drop comments off tho…….

St Patricks Day, Enniskillen

We took a weeks leave to go back to Ireland and see our family and our new house.  Again Sharon’s sister Denise looked after us like royalty, and nieces Laura and Elaine pampered us and really made us feel at home. Thanks to the Armstrong's for that xxx.

We were lucky enough to be over for Paddys Day this year…especially so because Enniskillen had reintroduced the Paddys Day parade through the town.
The kids loved it…we went with Laura together with her son Matthew, Denise and their brother Stephens kids Alex and Dillon, and Elaine….so all in all, a nice little group of going down to see Paddy arriving at Enniskillen on the boat and walking through the town.

Now the parade was a bit random…there were trucks going down there that got me wondering….like one with concrete pipes on, a fleet of unmarked white vans, a completely unusual gathering of a trike, followed by a knight galloping on an imaginary horse then an old VW Beetle…I got to thinking what Paddy would actually make of it…..

Anyhow, have a look at the pictures……

Trip to Whipsnade Zoo

We went to Whipsnade Zoo on 8 March 2011 which was an inspired choice as the weather was fantastic…and all the kids were actually on their best behaviour.
Emily really had one thing she wanted to see at the zoo; the penguins. She has a lovely song she learnt at nursery about them…
…Hannah’s favourite animals were the giraffes and gorillas, while Lucy really slept through it all……bless