Gotta love this weather!

Ok so I had to start out with these cute pictures of the kiddos. I still can hardly believe we have 4 kids but there they are in all their glory...and matching outfits! haha We took this after church so they were still semi clean and put together from that. And to make it even better we actually got a picture snapped with all three of the 'big' kids looking the same direction! Added bonus!

Ok so on to the real reason for the post...its sunny and warm outside!!!!!!!!!!!

We are definitely enjoying being here now. It has been so beautiful the last several days, even the wind is bearable! We all played/walked around outside yesterday afternoon and today Dagan, Aunt Carol, Meara and I walked to school when it was time for Dagan to go. It was wonderful out. Its supposed to be nice like this for a couple more days anyway....wishful thinking I'm sure to think that we are finished with winter so we better enjoy this while it lasts! Last week we took the kids to play at one of the parks after school too. Of course we had the camera with us...no surprise there...

I had to add this picture in here too. Ty's grandma loves to hold Meara, unfortunately though it seems like when she is out in the living room with us and wanting to hold her, she is a being fussy or its time to eat and she's angry about it! Grammie Great has held her several times but when she did Meara would cry. :( She is generally such a good baby and really only gets upset when she's hungry and its time to eat! Well we finally got it together and gave Grammie the baby when she was in a good mood and got a great picture of it too!

Ok so thats about it for now. I don't really know much more to update....I'll try to add more later....bye for now

Back home?

Last Day of School for Emma, Austyn and Dagan in Ireland.

Dagan and his teacher and 'snowy' the class stuffed toy that goes home each week with the 'Pupil of the Week'. The class voted that Dagan get it since he was leaving. So we said we would take pictures of snowy at different places on his trip back home and send it on to them.

visiting friends at dinner before leaving.

Sisters hanging out in the hotel the night before we left.

Dagan and 'Snowy' getting ready for a nap??? If only...

Kel and Meara...I was sick can you tell???

Hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa Jims house.

this is Autumn (the little girl that Great-Grandma Austin watches everyday) holding Meara at granddads house. I have some pictures of grand dad with the grandkids too but I think they are on his camera...will have to get them.

Now that you've seen all the pictures...I'll bore you with my rambling...

Well we spent a few days in Richardson TX with my mom. We weren't much fun I don't think though because me and Ty were sick! I got the flu or something in Ireland before leaving and the flights over didn't help matters at all so by the time I got to mom's house Monday night I was feverish, achy, etc and basically took a hot shower and went to bed. Nothing quite like flying all day with the flu! YUCK!!! Two weeks later now, I think I'm gonna live...We also got to spend a little time with my dad and my grandma too. We were feeling a bit better by the time we visited with them thankfully and managed not to make anyone there sick, unlike poor mom and Jim, we left them with our 'exotic flu bug'. Its always nice to be able to just hang out and spend time with everyone. Wednesday the 4th we headed out on the 7 hour drive to Ty's aunt's house in Greensburg KS where we will be staying for at least the next few months. We have basically the run of the basement, our own little space. It will be a bit strange for a little while til we get settled but so far its not bad. Its good being by family, most of the time.

The kids started school on Monday (the 9th) and so far are loving it! Dagan only goes four days per week which he thinks is great. He's telling us now that he can clean his room on Friday and on Saturday when the girls have to clean their room he can watch cartoons! LOL The girls have Valentine's Day party in their classes on Friday and they are so excited! They celebrated Valentines in school in Ireland, but not like they do here. Its fun watching them do the things that we did when we were in school. The biggest thing so far though that they are most excited about is Cafeteria food! haha I guess when its new and something you've never had before, its exciting. :o)

First day of school in Kansas.

All in all though, things have been going ok so far. Will be better once we know for sure what we are doing and where we are going permanently. For now though, we are helping out around here, looking for work for Ty and applying for licenses.....thats about it for now...more later!

Give me a Revelation...Show me What To Do...

My life has led me down the road that's so uncertain

Now I am left alone and I am broken

Trying to find my way, Trying to find the faith that's gone.

This time I know that you are holding all the answers

I'm tired of losing hope and taking chances

On roads that never seem To be the ones that bring me home

Give me a revelation......Show me what to do

Cause I've been trying to find my way, I haven't got a clue

Tell me should I stay here Or do I need to move

Give me a revelation, I've got nothing without you

My life has led me down this path that's ever winding

Through every twist and turn, I'm always finding

That I am lost again. Tell me when this road will ever end.

I don't know where I can turn, Tell me, when will I learn

Won't you show me where I need to go

Let me follow your lead, I know that it's the only way that I can get back home

I am really loving this song right now...of course if you read it you will understand why. I guess it is really speaking to me because of all that is going on in our lives right now. The song is by Third Day, called Revelation. We have this CD and all of the songs are great but this one is my fav, at least right now.

Ok, so on to the reason I am posting. We are living in a mostly empty house (except for all the furniture and stuff that belongs in the house). So that is good and bad, good because it means we are almost ready to move, bad because...well we are almost ready to move....ugh! We've loved our time here and feel so incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to live in Ireland and see all the things we've seen and meet all the friends that we have made along the way!

On the really lighter side, did I mention how much I love my kids!!! They seem to be a never ending source of love and laughter! I'll tell you what I mean....
Dagan: 'Dad?'
Ty: 'yes Dagan'
Dagan: 'when I grow up and become a super hero, will I be make-believe?'
Ty: 'snicker....well..snicker snicker, laugh...ummm'....(uncontrolled laughter impedes ability to answer....)

Emma: 'So Dad how'd you sleep?' (I seem to miss alot of these funny conversations)
Ty: 'umm it was ok, a little tired but not bad'
Emma: 'good, how did little Meara do?'
Ty: 'oh she was ok, was up a few times, that's why I'm tired.'
Emma: 'well, I guess thats what you get for having another baby...'

ok..last one, again by Miss Emma!

Emma: 'I'm really looking forward to moving home now'
Ty: 'Well that's good, I'm glad you aren't sad anymore'
Emma: 'Yeah, I'm excited to see my grandparents.' 'Grandpa Jim is an excellant fisherman, he caught that huge fish hanging on his wall, maybe he will take us fishing. And we all know that Grandma (Joyce) is excellant at shopping and she told us we would go shopping for 13 outfits!!!!!'
Ty: '13 huh? that's a lot of outfits are you sure you heard that right? Maybe she said for AN outfit, only 1?' Then there was too much laughter for her to continue with what everyone else was 'excellant' at...you hate to actually laugh AT your children but sometimes they are just too funny! :o)

ok, so that's about all I have for now, no pictures this time but I will post up some of the kids last day of school in Ireland soon, probably not til we get back stateside though. Stay tuned...more soon!

Packing and Pictures

Well we are right in the middle of packing up, what seems like, our life into 12 boxes that are 23kgs or less. It is unreal to me that in 3 years we can accumulate so much......well just stuff! Its not good or bad its just stuff and its everywhere!!! It just amazes me. Oh well, we will get it in or we won't, either way a week from now we will be back in the good ol USofA. :o)

A lot of people ask, 'are you excited?' I don't know really what to say, part of me is excited to be home again and the other part is really sad to leave our life here. We are very lucky in the fact that everywhere we've lived we have made such wonderful friends. It would be easier to leave if we didn't like it here or didn't have such good friends. Moving always brings with it a sort of great adventure even though it is a bit sad too. I think once we have more things packed up and stacked by the door it will seem more real and the excitement will set it, for now though all I see are all the 1/2 empty boxes/totes/suitcases and the small piles of things that are waiting to be packed, given away, sold or dumped!

Ok enough of that...here are a few new photos of our newest little one....


Cutest little knitted dress and bag a patient (and mum of a good friend) made for little Meara. Isn't she so cute!!!!! It is so soft and fuzzy too....I think she knows how beautiful she looks!



Our three sweet girls...


Well I guess that's it for now....next post will likely be made stateside....

Rah Rah Rah...Emma turned 8 & had to cheer about it!

For Emma's 8th birthday we had a Cheerleading Party at the local dance studio set to the tunes from High School Musical 3. We had 9 kiddos there shouting, cheering, dancing, and snacking! Everyone had a wonderful time. It was so much fun watching the concentration of all of them learning the routine, they took it very seriously! They all got to dress up in little cheerleading outfits complete with sparkly pom-poms!!! I think Emma said thank you for the great party about 2 dozen times in the last couple hours. I'm pretty sure she enjoyed herself....here are a few pictures from the party:

I'm so glad Emma had so much fun at her birthday party! Happy 8th Birthday sweet girl! I can't believe you are 8 already...the time has flown by, you are such a big girl now and such a joy to have as a daughter. We love you very much...Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me.....

Yesterday I turned 34 and I couldn't be happier! I woke up with an 8 day old gorgeous daughter beside me and 3 more bright happy faces grinning from ear to ear and saying happy birthday mommy!!! I was given homemade cards and a fabulous new set of 'snoopy' pajamas along with several hugs and kisses from everyone. Life doesn't get better than that! Along with the comfy pjs I also got a voucher for a facial and pedicure from Ty and a little money too from Ty's mom....little mini shopping spree and some pampering is in store for me...... :o) As if all that wasn't enough I also got to go to dinner--TWICE! Me and Ty and the wee one went to eat Thai food on Saturday night which was fab! This is the little missus all dressed up cute for dinner.

and napping after we got home....

This outfit was SO cute...it even has a little bity tail on the back! Adorable!!!

Then after church on Sunday and a lazy afternoon of doing nothing, the whole crew went to eat pizza and pasta Sunday evening. All in all it was a wonderful day. I am truly a lucky lady to have such a loving family that takes such good care of me!

This is Meara dressed up from her first Sunday at church...

She is just about back up to her birth weight now and doing fantastic. Her brother and sisters are so proud and are such a great help to us. They love her and it is incredible to watch their eyes widen when she smirks or smiles or coos and even when she doesn't do anything more than just lay there and sleep. Me and Ty are slowly getting used to not sleeping thru the night.....sort of. Its amazing how fast you forget....it also amazes me at how I can actually function, semi-effectively, on such a little amount of sleep. I'm not sure that it would be safe for me to operate heavy machinery or anything but the toaster and cappuccino maker haven't proved too difficult...........yet! ;o)

Emma's birthday (OMG she's going to be 8, when did that happen?!?!?!?) is on Friday and her party is on Sunday so I will be back here with pictures from that...check back in a few days.