Hi Guys,
Still can't believe it's Christmas time again. Seems like yesterday that we brought Jamie home for her first Christmas. She has just turned one and is a very very busy!!! It's like a whole new experience for us cause we never really had to child-proof the house much with Ashling but with Jamie, we nearly need to child-proof the neightbour's place!
Ashling is going great. She is getting stronger again and is back walking fairly well with her walker, which is very encouraging for her. She's also in great form, really excited about Christmas. She loves the idea of Santa - but from a distance! She won't go next or near him, not to mind get into a photo with him, and just can't understand why "little girls sit on his lap". She's hilarious!
Below are a few recent videos - there's nothing riveting here, but it'll give you an idea how the kids are doing now.
Well, that's about all for now.
Hope you all have a wonderful, peaceful Christmas.
Love Car and Ger x
1. The girls playing on thier cars with Ger:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgXRKoF-Sv0
2. The new sand-pit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o5_9EZ5NCs&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
3. The Girls watching TV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqTGw_O75BU&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
4. Jamie's Birthday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwZTMBBv4i0&list=ULaLNZb7bna6E&playnext=1
5. Jamie Standing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY9irjIROiE&list=ULaLNZb7bna6E&playnext=2
6. The Girls playing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLY_YytqLvs&feature=BF&list=ULaLNZb7bna6E&index=21
7. Pre-school - Nativity Play:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DOnLrPTNis&feature=BF&list=ULaLNZb7bna6E&index=22
8. Cutie Jamie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u3HsRFUpO0&feature=BF&list=ULaLNZb7bna6E&index=23
9. Why Jamie needs to be monitored!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_ph1xL7noc&feature=BF&list=ULaLNZb7bna6E&index=24
Ps: This is a Christmas letter that we wrote, in case you'd like to read it....
Hi Folks,
Well I’d really hoped to be able to write individual letters/cards, but our 2 monkeys just keep us so busy, I think you’d be waiting until next Christmas for that to happen!! So I’m afraid this will have to suffice for this year.
Firstly, Merry Christmas to one and all. Hope you enjoy the silly season and have some decent quality time with your loved ones.
We are all keeping well, enjoying life in New Zealand. Ashling is continuing to recover from her knee surgery and she’s getting stronger every day. The knee surgery was a big set-back for her walking so that’s been pretty tough for her. Please God she will be back walking independently with her walking aid by the beginning of 2011.It looks like Jamie will also be walking at around the same time cause she’s starting to put her legs under her now. She’s really active; she just flies around the place, crawls faster than I can walk. Gosh, we’re really enjoying her, she’s so much fun and she gets on great with Ashling. Poor Ash has to be really tolerant of Jamie as she takes everything off her - she is at that destructive age! Ash hides in the corner with her toys until she sees Jamie coming at her like a bull in a China Shop!
Ger is in great form, still working in the same job and continuing with his exercise. It took him a while to settle back after the fantastic trip we had home but everything is back to normal now. I’m keeping well too, still at home full-time with the girls. I haven’t done any teaching since Jamie came along cause it’s just too full-on with Ashling’s rehabilitation etc. I don’t mind though. I love being at home and taking care of them, even though I find it hard at times. I get out whenever I can though, my Mam helps out at times, and Ger is great for kicking me out the door for a walk as soon as he gets in from work. We have also made quite a few friends through the kids and are trying to get our social lives back – somewhat!
We are heading away for 10 days over Christmas, spending 5 days with our friends Padraig and Cathy in their summer house, and then 5 more nights at a camp site. We have booked a cabin at the camp site because we thought it might be a bit too brave to go camping just yet…especially since the weather is so unreliable over Christmas. Think the kids will love the experience down there.
The highlight of 2010 was our trip home to Ireland. We had a brilliant time at Ger’s sister, Denise’s wedding; it was a fantastic day and we were delighted to be at home for it. It was lovely seeing Ashling being her flower girl. She never stops talking about it, and has been flat out watching the DVD of the wedding since. We are blown away by how many people’s names she remembers.
It was fantastic catching up with everyone in Feakle and Kenmare and we are grateful to everyone for making the effort and going out of their way to be so accommodating and welcoming to us. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to get to see everyone and we are sorry to those who we just didn’t get to meet. Next time for sure.
Well that’s all for now. We are going to U2 on Thursday night so can’t wait for that.
Hope you have a great break over Christmas and are blessed with good health and happiness in the Year ahead.
Lots of love Always, Car, Ger, Ashling and Jamie xoxoxoxo
