Bubblers

Are we getting ready for ballet class or what?



No, just struggling to get a few precious drops of water on a very hot day. Hello summer.





We went to the Botanical Gardens today to stroll among the flowers and ferns and while it was lovely along the trails....





And there were FISH...(what's not to love about that? Aside from my irrational fear of water and the assumption that children will indefinitely fall into lily pad ponds)...



Also, cute babies to peek at, and who doesn't like peeking at babies?!....



Plus, yeah, there were a few flowers as well...



If you ask Saoirse what her favorite part of the adventure was, she will let you know it was in fact the bubbler (or water fountain for pretty much everyone else from anywhere else).



Yes, the bubbler wins this one. With the fact that no one fell in the fish pond coming in a close second!



P.S.
Here's a totally random shot of my cutie pie cousin Sawyer. He was not at the gardens with us or probably even near a bubbler today (WI are we really the only ones?), but this picture has sort of just been hanging out in cyber-nowhere just begging to be seen on account of all the adorableness.
That's all.

Little Bug

Just in case you were wondering, someone had a birthday recently...













Hard to believe that it's already been three years since June8ug became Saoirse. Happy birthday little bug, you are quite the lady these days.
















(we went looking for frogs on her special day)















So basically, she's awesome. You don't want to mess with her, she's got a hairy eyeball when need be. You don't want to wake her up in the morning or she will fly right off the wrong side of the bed. And whatever you do, please don't underestimate her for one second just because she's been the "baby" of the family for the past three years.

She loves to cuddle still and has the cutest voice on the planet. She watches and listens to everything and doesn't miss a single beat. There is comedy here and she is often times hosting the show. She can get just about anyone to crack a smile. Even on the serious days.







Good grief am I ever thankful that she is ours. I remember how nervous I was about adding another little one to our family when the twins were still so young, and I laugh at the memory of that poor sleepless lady and I thank all the stars in the sky for sharing this treasure with us.

And I'll tell ya right now, she's going to give us a run for the money...

Welcome To The World Baby Girl

As you know, Maija and Sidhe are in Boston this week with their school. I know they are having fun, but I must admit that it is very strange being so far away from her on her birthday! It's also strange to think about my baby girl being 14 years old when I can remember so clearly just how tiny she was when we first met (8lbs 2oz and 21 inches long to be exact).

You made my heart skip in that moment and you still do.

Happy Birthday little lady, we can't wait to celebrate properly with cake and candles and lots of hugs. For as often as I beg and plead with time to please slow down, I wouldn't mind it one bit if the next two days just happened to fly by....



Until then, just remember that we are sending YOU tons of birthday love from home.

Soda Bread

Now what in the world could inspire such a marvelous feeling you ask?

Why measuring cups, special ingredients and messy kitchen counter tops of course.

Nuala helped prepare the soda bread for dinner tonight and took her job very seriously.

I am having so much fun right now watching them grow, watching them soak it all in.
They are so curious about everything and still so eager for new information.
Every day is filled with countless learning opportunities.
I have to admit that some days I feel like the world's biggest slacker if I haven't been able to provide them with enough new challenges and some of their questions are mind boggling.
Assuming I knew at one point, am I really supposed to remember where the 5 deadliest spiders live? Or the differences between squids and colossol squids?
I mean, one's just bigger than the other one, right?

Thank goodness for Google and the fact that Brendan is usually just a phone call away. Those 2 guys have saved the day on more than one occasion.

Beluga whales are the smartest animals on earth. Just in case your 4 year old ever wants to know.....

I guess it doesn't hurt that today's lesson made the house smell delicious and tasted even better.
Just an added bonus I suppose.