Oh my gosh!!!

We had a really nice, relaxing Christmas in Dublin--the first time in 10 years. Santa and the reindeer came, left presents and had a snack. Síofra woke up at 6:30, but didn't realize the significance of the day, so she managed to stay in bed until a more civilized hour of 7:15. When she came into the living room and saw the presents, she exclaimed, "Oh my gosh!" She repeated this with every gift that was opened.





Santa came through with the bike Síofra wanted.
As it was rainy yesterday (and today) she just managed to go up and down our hallway, up and down the hall outside our apartment, and around the roof garden.









Pádraic got his doll, and has been kissing it regularly. By the way, his hair is getting curlier by the minute.








We had a delicious dinner with Eric and Kusi, along with 3 desserts: a cranberry cake I made, an organic stollen cake we got at the Dublin Food Co-op market and a homemade Christmas cake our neighbor Des gave us. All that eatin' makes you sleepy.




Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas...missed the family, and the "progressive" but we'll seen you soon enough. Happy New Year!

Ok, Techno-phobes...

A few of my thousands of readers have expressed confusion at how to publish comments. Since I value the input of all my followers, here's a brief explanation of how to share your thoughts/praise:

1. Click on "comment."
2. Now, you can choose either "other" and put in your name, or choose "anonymous".
3. Write your witty comment.
4. Click login and publish.

I am looking forward to hundreds of comments soon!

P.S.: The Alyssa Milano pic is for Sarah and Becky...who IS the boss?

Adam Bricker, where are you?

I've always had strange and vivid dreams, but when this guy appeared out of nowhere in my dreamland last night, you just have to wonder...is Daithí getting me a surprise cruise for Christmas?!?!?! Yeah!!!!!

Firsts

Síofra has had an eventful week;

1. She had her first haircut (well, one inch trimmed off)

2. She has transitioned to underpants full time (except for her "nap" and bedtime).

She's practically adult, really.

While visions of sugarplums danced in her head...

You'd Better Watch Out...

We visited Santa yesterday and it was a great success!

Huge suspense had been building all week as Síofra prepared to see The Man in Green (this was an "Eco-Santa"-the earth friendly, anti-consumer, un-Coca Cola version. We're so predictable...). She is getting a bike for Christmas, so we wanted to be sure that she asked him for that, and not some other thing that isn't on the agenda. She also had to do the talkin' for Paddy, so she had been instructed to put in his order for a doll. She was excited, we were excited, Eric and Kusi met us at the Fair Trade market where Santa was holding court, and poor Paddy was just rubbing his conjunctivitis infected eyes and coughing.

There were 4 or 5 kids ahead of us in line, and Síofra was getting more and more excited and less and less patient for her turn to come. She kept peeking into Santa's grotto and saying, "Hello, Santa" in a very high pitched voice. Then she was down on her knees looking in at him while the other child was on his lap. Then she was lying on her belly inching into the place.

Finally her turn came, she barrelled in there, jumped on his lap and gave him a big hug. Then she shouted, "I'd like a bike," followed by, "He wants a doll." Ok, our coaching worked...

Green Santa attempted to talk about being a good girl, helping out at home with her brother, recycling...but she responded with, "I'd like a bike. He wants a doll." Maybe too much coaching?

Anyhow, it was a great day, and she was thrilled. It was exciting to see her so excited, and the Fair Trade Market was a great atmosphere...we were even able to come home without buying anything, which is pretty remarkable at this time of year. Sarah D, you'd be proud.

Hark!

Siofra made her stage debut today as Angel #12 in her playschool's nativity play. That fur bolero jacket my mom gave her really came in handy, and she was thrilled to wear it!














She did a great job of singing and dancing, taking time to wave and blow kisses at us in the audience. I took about 25 photos, but most of them ended up being of that boy next to her in the blue and grey bathrobe.

I feel she was meant for the stage, just like her mother.


























It was a great day that couldn't even be marred by Paddy and I being struck with conjunctivitis.

Happy Anniversary

December 12, 1997...Molesworth Street Registry Office, Dublin...40 people crammed into one small room, Richie Heffernan and Becky Flynn as witnesses...and dancing to Rainy Night in Soho later that night...

It seems strange that 9 nine years have passed since we got married. In one way like time has flown by, and in another like we've always been together. Life has changed dramatically since then--while we were once up until 4 a.m. in Doyle's drinking pints of Guinness we're now up at 4 a.m. spooning Calpol into Síofra (it's been a sick week in our house). Back then a treat was hitting the town at 8 p.m. for dinner, the pub and then, possibly to Rí Rá's if we were feeling especially energetic. Now a treat is getting into our jammies at 8 p.m. and ordering Indian takeaway.

We've seen lots of places in the past 9 years together-Morocco, the Basque Country, Greece, Appalachia, all corners of Ireland, Paris, England, Portugal, Los Angeles, New York. We've lived in three homes. We've had a combined total of 8 jobs. And, of course, had our two children!

Our nine years together have been full of surprises, excitement and most of all love. Daithí is still the measure of my dreams.

I'm a lucky woman.

Eruption!

We waited. And waited. All the other babies had one. Some of the other babies had two or three. With every cough and runny nose we thought one was coming. We even started to wonder if they were in there at all. But, alas, after almost 10 months of waiting...

Paddy's first tooth has arrived.

Iron Maiden

When I was pregnant with Paddy my iron went low, and I had to get it up quick in order to go ahead with the homebirth. My midwife suggested this recipe, and it worked...plus, it's super good. We often stir it into natural yoghurt, or into porridge. Siofra likes it spread onto toast! It will keep for a week in the refrigerator.

Iron Booster

what you need:
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dried unsulphered apricots
1/2 cup dried figs
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup water

what to do:
Blend all the ingredients together, adding a little more water if necessary.

Reflections on a Hard Boiled Egg...by Siofra

Siofra examines the yolk of her hard boiled egg...

"This egg...it's like a party!"

and

"I think it's playdough."