summer catch up

Well it's been a while and a whole summer has come and gone ( did anyone actually see the summer as it seems to have passed our corner of the world by but lots happened.

I got a new hair do and new glasses, not the most flattering of pictures I know but I only had the web cam at the time. I even got these fancy Red or Dead ones for going out :)

We built tents , the girls went on their travels to various locations. Becca going to working in stables and Caitlin going down to Granny and Grandpop's for a visit.
I turned 40 in August ( I was going to pretend it didn't happen but there is no point really !! )

I did have a nice birthday party thanks to Dave and Finn who went to a lot of trouble to host a bar-be-Que . Finn made enough food to feed  a small army and the rain stayed mostly away .

We took the girls down to visit Granny Lorna too where we saw Dolmens.

and met Danny the horse and Lily the mad dog .

And Caitlin found a snail called Steve ( apparently!! )

We went to see Ireland play France in the Aviva less said about that match the better but our seats were great.

And the girl's returned to school and Rachel started big school and looks very cute in her uniform.

 

 Right quick round up of Harrop-Johnston life in April/May

1. Rugby -- lots of rugby. Brilliant time at the 1/4 final in the Aviva supporting the lads has been amazing.  Caitlin getting to meet her favorite players was priceless and a moment she will never forget.

 2. Jennie's birthday and bar-be- que season started

 3.Becca ever changing hair colour(this is the current incarnation )  and the junior cert study is in full flight

 4. The girls had their first dressage tests and did brilliantly Becca even won a prize - proud Mammy moment.
5. I SCRAPBOOKED !! thanks so much to my friend Kirsty for the kick up the bum I need to start again.

 6.Caitlin took up GAA and met the president and is now into the Finals with her team as they won the Semi on Tuesday.

 Life has been hectic and not always great recently so I am sorry for the lack of blogging but hopefully now I have a bit of time on my hands I will get back to it .

 Long time no typing , much has happened over the last couple of months , Caitlin turned eleven and celebrated with a sleepover with friends unfortunately she ended up on crutches that weekend after a particularly nasty fall of a horse so was hobbling around on her birthday but enjoyed it never the less.

 Becca is now sweet 16 and yet again has dyed her fringe, she has also picked her subjects for Leaving cert this week which makes me realise how quick she is growing up. We have been looking at College courses so that she could could gear her choice towards her what she wants to do, it is mind blowing to think in a couple of years she is an adult and will be off to college.

 

And Miss Rachel turned 4 she has just been accepted into primary school and will start in September,

everyone is growing up fast it seems.

 Rachel celebrated her birthday quietly too because she got the chicken pox the day before - just like her cousin her timing was a bit off so her party had to be cancelled and a smaller affair with just us was had instead.

 It was a nasty dose of the pox too so we did our best to cheer her up. I made spotty chocolate spread sandwiches in her honour and she got the spotty cup and plate ( handy we have plenty of spotty items in the house really) 

The girls have started riding at a new school - we had one accident too many in the old one and the final straw came when Caitlin after a nasty fall was, without anyone checking her well being, forced to ride for 30 minutes on an injured foot pulling all the ligaments in it. Truth is the old school started going down hill when one of the teachers left and lessons had been increasingly more chaotic. 

 Becca on Muffin

So we did our homework and found a new school and the girls couldn't be happier , we quickly realised how little teaching was going on in the old school and the girls will be taking part in their first dressage competition in a couple of weeks now they are getting back up to speed. Plus the fact the place is gorgeous and by a lake.

In house news -  the boys laid down some paving outside the back door to make a mini patio and even added a seating box and it is a little suntrap out there and the weather has been so beautiful recently it has been nice to enjoy it, we have even bar-be-qued.

 

The garden is returning to life too and I can't wait to start back with the vegetables again - the strawberries are already back and looking healthy hopefully we should get a bumper crop and I love the daffodils at the backdoor.

I also got a new coat, I have wanted a mac for ages and when I saw one that was dotty well I had to have it and I love it.

And last but not least we celebrated Paddy's day down in Navan. Becca went with the girls and we went with Caitlin . Fun day out was had by all.

Hi peoples - I have been ill recently with a lovely inner ear infection ( that is the bit that looks like a snail ) and it gave me a rotten case of vertigo, so I felt like I was on a rough ferry crossing from Holyhead rather than just walking around.Couple that with the fact I get really seasick on rough ferry trips from Holyhead and you can imagine it wasn't pretty !
I ended up at the doctors for injections to help make me feel human again and  I am on pills for the next few weeks, which work wonderfully well as long as I remember to take them.

To cheer me up my lovely hubby brought me these beauties, to bring a little spring into my kitchen. It was a whole week before I could venture outside but by Sunday I was getting totally stir crazy and so were the kids so we decided to head out and find a bit of spring for ourselves. We headed to the lake and woods for a bit of a walk. Caitlin is looking so grown up these days, I can't believe that this time next year I will be taking her for Induction day at Secondary school.

Becca came with us and seems to have enjoyed herself and the fact it was a sunny afternoon helped she brought her new camera with her and even let me take a couple of her - miracles will never stop.

We also managed to find a proper piece of Spring the snowdrops were out in the woods :)It was a lovely afternoon - unfortunately my tablets ran out before we made it home and I felt it but still worth it.

In animal news Cookie monster had an appointment with the vets - her teeth were getting over long, we couldn't understand it , she has a mineral block ( her 2nd I might add ) , and apple stick which she chews like a demon and has eaten through the hutch more than once. She has a great diet of fibre and hay so we were at a loss, but the vet thinks her skull is not growing as quick as her teeth or something of that ilk. She also got neutered at the same time, killing two birds with one stone so to speak . Poor bunny.

Mixie will be next in for neutering as she keeps trying to make a break for the door - it is either that or she is determined to eat Caitlin's hamster - six times she has broken into his cage, good job he is quick is all I can say. She is now banned from the bedrooms until she gets manners.

I did spoil myself this weekend too - I picked up these from the local Aldi - I had too they match me kitchen and I know it is old fashioned but I use aprons, I am notoriously messy while cooking and it is just safer for my clothes and I might as well have cute ones.

And last but not least Becca's hair is now Blue and Black - it has taken two attempts but she is finally happy with it ( I stole this picture from Facebook - she may kill me  )And her father doesn't mind as it is Leinster blue !!