Christmas 2012

This year's Christmas was celebrated in two places for the Skehan-Riff clan. The first location was in our new home in Ottawa. Finally settled with about 95% of the boxes unpacked, it was important for us to start our family traditions in the house. After Siobhan and I had the chance to sneak out and see the Hobbit, Siobhan put together this awesome Christmas dinner with the full works, roasted chicken, potatoes, carrots in white sauce, gravy, brussel sprouts and broccoli.

Being really energized with Christmas cheer, the boys were singing a lot of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman at the dinner table.

After our lovely dinner, the boys had a bath, opened new pajamas from Nana and Papa and made up a nice plate of cookies, milk and vegetable scraps for Santa and his hard working reindeer.

Here are Siobhan and the boys in their new pajamas reading a Christmas story before heading to bed.

A picture of the living room after Santa dropped off his bounty of gifts.

Christmas morning was really nice, the boys actually stayed in bed for a while and we didn't come downstairs until after 7am. The boys enjoyed opening their presents and took time to play with each one. It didn't feel overwhelming and we managed to keep the number of presents down. Thank you to everyone for the wonderful pressies. Once we had a chance to eat some breakfast and tidy up, we packed up the car and headed to Montreal to celebrate Christmas with my parents and brother's family.

Not too sure what my Mom thought about the turkey at first but in a nutshell, I bought enough groceries two weeks previous to get a free turkey. Not thinking, I picked up one of the biggest ones at 22lbs (big enough that it didn't fit in our freezer). My Mom took it an did a great job turning it into a fab dinner, (plus a week's worth of leftovers inlcuding turkey sandwiches, turkey rissoles, turkey soups and turkey pot pie.) Here's a picture of the old bird (Ha!) (The turkey brand name was "Granny's" too)

This was a nice trip down memory lane when we walked into their house. My Mom & Dad set up the old card table just like it was when my cousins came over for Christmas dinner when I was young. And it didn't fall down.

Boxing day adventures didn't involve any shopping. The only queueing was on the toboggan run at Centennial Hill. We raced down the hill several times in various combinations. Here's Scott with the two young-uns.

Walking up for another run.

Brendan being skillfully driven down the hill by Dustin.

Brendan and Duncan trying to avoid hitting anyone (e.g. Siobhan)

I almost missed the train on this one. The sled was a bit too small. It'll be even smaller next year when we add two more kids to the toboggan bus.

And finally, my little Tiger, all smiles and thumbs up.

first little boy birthday party

Tadhg is four! I can't quite believe it. Or at least it catches me by surprise every now and then when I think about it. It's so much fun to see him growing and changing, but sometimes I want to slow it all down. And we certainly didn't plan for Tadhg to be four when our third baby joins us!
But back to Tadhg and his birthday celebrations. He had a brilliant couple of days and made the most of celebrating thrice, first with Nana and Papa, then with cupcakes at school and then we all enjoyed our first proper birthday party. He had invited 5 children over for a birthday supper, two classmates and three neighbours.

 Nana and Papa came up for the day on Sunday and brought these lovely cupcakes with them and a much appreciated fire truck toy present. 

 Thankfully when I asked him again what kind of cake he would like he had forgotten about being fixated on a giant spider cake for the best part of the year. Lately he's just been saying "chocolate" but when he mentioned a brown snake cake I went with it. This request was undoubtedly inspired by the hibernation theme at school a few weeks ago, during which time Brendan dropped the word 'hibernaculum' into the conversation one supper time. 

 Dad's homemade pizza was enjoyed by all.

 This is Tadhg's new best friend in his class.

 So this was our first go at public present opening at a party. After witnessing this craziness at other parties Steve and I both thought we'd manage this a little 'better' and keep it under control. Well, we tried, but it was wild nonetheless... each child desperate to give him their gift and help him open it. They mobbed him, he loved it, and Steve and I soon sat back to let 'em at it and shrug our shoulders. Very funny.

We ended the day with a candle lit bath, which was actually the day's activity in our advent calendar. The lollipops were an optional extra on one of those special days when pretty much anything is allowed :) 

Happy 4th Birthday to our fantastic wee boy! We love you xxxxx

Paddy's graduation

 Oh so proud of our little brother!

Steve took the boys to a park while those of us with tickets attended the graduation ceremony. The boys joined us afterwards for a bit and then we headed back to the flat to deposit the boys with Jo, who had kindly offered to watch them while Steve and I joined the others for Paddy's graduation dinner and a couple of drinks on Ashton Lane.

 Glasgow streets at night. It was special for me to be back there, 12 years after my own graduation from the same University. What a wonderful day.

Monschau Christmas Market

Caitlin, Billy and Paddy all came to stay for an early Christmas. We celebrated Steve's birthday on Friday evening and then headed to Monschau in Germany on Saturday to explore the Christmas market.

We ate typical German Christmas Market fare- bratwurst, curry sauce and chips.

Chocolate covered banana and grapes and hot chocolate in a take-home-with-you mug.

I'm trying to add more photos but am having trouble with the new blogger update- it's driving me crazy so I'm just going to post this and try again later.

Birthdays

Tadhg had asked for a "green monster cake with one eye" and had reminded me every day for about a week- so this was the resulting effort. We had a wee party with three friends over for a couple of games and food.

Tadhg was leaning over the cake so that I couldn't get a good photo of the whole thing. I said, "let me see the tongue" so he leaned back and stuck his tongue out.

A few days later, with Paddy, Caitlin and Billy in the house, we lit the candle fire and tidied up while waiting for Steve to come home from work on his birthday. I was really excited because I had caved in and bought a bigger telly for him. It was a genuine surprise because I have been so anti-TV, let alone BIG TV, pretty much since we met, so he never thought we'd get one! It's not HUGE, so I'll still be able to sort out a cabinet or curtain or something to hide it :) For the moment, it was necessary to butcher the current cabinet in order to fit the telly on it...

The surprise ski mountain cake was made by my lovely Polish friend Monika. It was very well made with special little touches and was absolutely delicious. There were better photos on Caitlin's camera- I will try to remember to add them.

Thumbs up at being 40? Or just cake approval?

Uncle Paddy

Brendan and Tadhg love having Uncle Paddy here. And he's been great help, when he isn't sleeping. He's working in the Irish Bar in Mons and seems to be enjoying it, despite the all nighters and lack of sleep. The money is good and he has someone else paying his rent in Glasgow so he's saving a bit for his forthcoming trip to Greece and Italy.

Here they are watching a movie.

On a walk in the woods. We had to wait by the train tracks for the next train.

The huge crater in Bois de Ghlin- we don't know how it formed but we have a couple of theories. When googling in french, it's very hard to zoom in on the exact information you are looking for!

Paddy staying up late to build with lego. Such fun when you haven't done it for years.

Uncle Paddy will be missed when he goes :(

He's also a handy babysitter:) Steve and I are off out tonight on a surprise date. (Surprise for him that is, my idea.)

Birthday, Bonfire & Beer

Another year has rolled around and Siobhan is now 34. This birthday was special in that her family, Caitlin, Paddy and Uncle Phil, flew over as a surprise. Or maybe not?
(They all tried but by the time the day arrived I knew they were all coming- didn't make it any less special! Siobhan)

A lovely tidy house before everyone arrived.

A walk in town on Saturday. We went to my favourite junk/vintage shop in town. Paddy was less than thrilled! We then had brunch in my favourite cafe- a birthday is a day for favourites :)

Ready for a rice and curry birthday dinner. Siobhan's favourite obviously. Homemade by Steve & Paddy.

Uncle Phil made birthday cake(s).

Supper was followed by a chilled out evening by the fire. Notice Tadhg in the sand box- he had had a long nap so wasn't ready for bed till quite late. I think it got dark well after 10.30, so this is later than it looks.



Not sure what's going on here.

The day after. Here's Caitlin and Tadhg tidying up and getting things ready for our next arrivals- Lindsey, Matt, Ira and Hannah were coming to Europe from New Brunswick for a couple of weeks and visiting us as their first stop.


Caitlin and Phil leaving for he airport. It was only a short stay but it was great to have them here. Paddy had the bright idea, just the week before, of staying with us in Mons for about 6 weeks.

And lastly here's a wee video of Phil playing by the fire. Well, I tried, but for some reason it won't upload. Perhaps I'll try to add it on a post of its own later.
It was lovely... with family, staring at the fire, watching my wonderful husband tend the fire(or play with it), swinging in the hammock and cuddling my 2 year old, and all the while listening to the sound of Phil and his guitar. A sound so familiar and beautiful- and every time he plays these days I feel like it's both tying me to the past and pushing me to look forward- it gives me butterflies thinking about the future, and all the music and family and good times we have ahead of us... I know, I know, I've been talking and thinking about and stressing the need to just live in the present, every day, but there's no harm in a little happy remembering of the past and hopeful thoughts of the future now and then.