Someone just finished the marathon

Someone just finished the marathon
Originally uploaded by Ella's Ma.

The Hills came to stay last night. That's because John was running the marathon today. And the marathon runs right past our house. He didn't have to run yesterday when they arrived. They brought us loads of stuff- even a birthday present for Mammy although her birthday isn't till next weekend - in fact the present is for her birthday in 2 years and 6 days time.

Caoimhe slept in Ella's room and that meant I got to go in to Mammy and Daddy's room and sleep in my Fifi bed. By the time we all got downstairs in the morning, Daddy had already brought John to the start of the marathon. But Daddy came home - he didn't stay to run the race. So we played for a good while and then we decided it was time to go to the end of the road to wait for John to go past.

When we got down there, the McCarthys were there too waiting for their Daddy to go past too. So we all waited together and shared some sweets and ran up and down the road. And then Daddy decided to get his bike so that when John went by he cycled off with him - I think he was feeling left out! Una, our next door neighbour, was there too with pom poms to cheer people on so she let us borrow them and cheer with her. And then we decided to try to clean up the street because people were throwing little bottles of water everywhere even though we were right beside a bin so we spent ages picking them all up and putting them in the bin. We didn't drink out of them tho. You can't if they've been on the ground.

On my throne

On my throne
Originally uploaded by Ella's Ma.

We're in the middle of a mid-term break. I never used to have mid-term breaks when I was in creche but now that I'm in school, I do get them. And Ríodhna gets them too because she doesn't go to creche when I'm not in school. In fairness to me, I've been working very hard and learning loads and figuring out how school works so I really need a break. And I'd say my poor teacher needs one too.

Mammy is not going to work for the whole mid term break. And we had a long weekend to start off with so Daddy had a few days off too. We had a cool Saturday.

It's not even Halloween yet but Mammy decided it's time to start thinking about Santa Claus so I got all dressed up in the birthday clothes Auntie Nicola sent me (along with heaps of other stuff) and we went to Dundrum. I was meant to get boots but there were no nice ones in my size but Ríodhna got a really nice pair.

First we went to the cinema. We saw a film called Up in 3D. It was cool. Mammy and Daddy were a bit worried at the start because they thought the first bit was very sad. But we loved the whole thing. We didn't spot the special boosters for kids until the end of the film. God to know we won't have to sit on coats the next time. Thats' what we did at Ice Age 3 3D too. We're getting good use out of our 3D glasses.

Then we went into Hamleys, the great big toyshop. They were having a birthday party for the toy shop (isn't that strange) so there were loads of things to do and there was face painting and finger nail painting. Only Riodhna got things painted on her hand because her skin is too young for face paint. In fact there was so much to do that I don't think we spotted anything to get from Santa at all but we had great fun.

Then we went and got some food. I spotted a whole load senior infants and John from my class at a party. We had loads of yummy food which was just as well because we were starving...

My turn to bake

My turn to bake
Originally uploaded by Ella's Ma.

Just in case you think that Ella is the only one in this house who ever does any baking, it's just not true. Sometimes I do the work.



Although when it gets to the easy bits - the decorating and licking the bowl and other utensils, I let her help because sharing is caring and I'm very good at sharing.





And of course when it comes to eating, everyone has to help out. Yes I think we did well...

Off to Galway

Ok I'll help you
Originally uploaded by Ella's Ma.

So once we got over the excitement of all the birthdays, we needed a weekend away. So off we went to Galway because we haven't seen the Crumps for a while. We thought we might like to be able to leave really early on Friday but Daddy had to stay for a meeting. But Mammy got home a little bit early and we managed to get ready to go in extra quick time so that when Daddy arrived we were almost ready to go.

Although it was dark, Ella and me stayed awake until after we got to Athlone for our regular McDonalds. And when we got to Crumps, we went straight into bed - Ella in Liam's room on the bottom bunk and me on my Fifi bed with Mammy and Daddy in Séan's room. Despite how excited I'd been all week about sleeping in the Fifi bed, I actually spent most of the first night in bed with Mammy and Daddy.

We get loads of fresh air in Oughterard. We went for a huge walk on Saturday and picked blackberries. Séan looked after me very well on our walk. But when we got to one place where there is a park and and little small island in the river, I couldn't follow him and Conor because they can walk on bits where it looks like you are walking on the river but you're not really. Everyone got wet feet. I was pretty glad Ella and me had our wellies on. We played with some of the kids outside too - trying to change the colour of muddy puddles using markers. It doesn't work.

I tried to make most of the Crumps jigsaws. I can't do all of them but I made a pretty good go of their Winnie the Pooh ones. I think one of the Crumps must have a soft spot for Winnie the Pooh too. Séan got to spend a lot of time on the Wii on Sunday for walking with me so much on Saturday so I sneaked in beside him to sit near him and eventually by ignoring him and being nice and playing my DS, I got his attention. It takes patience but it turns out I'm good at that.

Ella and Liam and Monica had work to do while all was doing all of that. Liam had homework to make something that people live in so they decided to make a teepee. And Ella made one too even though it wasn't her homework. Everyone seemed to do lots of work on Sunday. Simon works for a great company who have all sorts of magic products. They have one that helps make your car look like it's brand new. So Simon and Daddy did a lot of work to make our car look great. Ella was helping too. So then I joined in and in the end we all helped. I'm sure all that cleaning and polishing helped us drive back to Dublin extra smoothly to see Johanna again and find out all about her weekend with her friend.

Happy Birthday to me

Ready steady go
Originally uploaded by Ella's Ma.

I like this thing of having loads of birthdays at the same time. Because having loads of stuff to do yesterday for Clare's birthday really distracted me from thinking all the time about today ot and my birthday and my party.

I love birthdays. We started with presents in the morning and pretty much kept going with presents from all different people all day. Mammy and Daddy and Ríodhna got me games called Guess Who and Buzz and more lego. So that kept us entertained in the morning. I really like Guess Who. I don't think I'll ever get fed up of it because you if you decide you don't like one llot of people you can switch and do Guess Who monsters or kids or loads of other things. Apparently Guess Who is an old fashioned game that Emma had when Mammy and Emma were little girls but I don't think her one was quite as cool as mine.

We had a busy morning because we had to get ready for my party which is quite a lot of work. Blowing up balloons, putting up signs, making cakes and setting the tables. But the work was all worth it when my friends started to arrive. Even though I'm in big school now, I don't know all the children there so well yet so I invited my creche friends to my party. It was a good idea. Joanna did the same thing a few weeks ago for her party too. So it was the usual crew plus Adam & Clara and Susan & Peter & Louis plus Ella who lives on my street. Plus Mark and Jill and Johanna.

You should see all the presents I got. This year mammy thought I might leave them to one side but I managed to gradually get them all open during the party. Mark and Jill brought me Elefun which is a fantastic party game so we played that loads of times. It didn't rain so we trampolined and blew bubbles and played in a tent in the garden. We played pass the parcel twice and musical bumps too. I think 5 year olds are better at playing those types of games that 4 year olds because this year we were all great at playing and at winning prizes.

Daddy made loads of cupcakes and wasn't finished decorating them when Ella arrived with her Mum. She was a bit shy because she didn't know all my friends from creche. So she helped Daddy put the icing and the decorations on the cake. We had loads of different colour icing and millions of different toppings. Then Ríodhna woke up from her nap and she was a bit shy too so she helped Daddy to decorate cakes too. So that meant we definitely had enough cakes for everyone.

After we'd played loads of games we had pizza and drinks and popcorn and cupcakes. Which gave us loads of energy. So then we ran around some more and then we came back for Happy Birthday and birthday cake before it was time for everyone to go home.

And as if that wasn't enough excitement, Emma and Jamie arrived with Clare too to say even more happy birthdays to me.

I had so many presents that day that I thought it was all over. But Nana's presents were hidden up in the attic for the next day. Now I can dance to high school musical and test who has the steadiest hand for Buzz Off. And then Auntie Nicola's present arrived in the post and I had more lovely new clothes to wear.

Happy Birthday to Clare

Blow
Originally uploaded by Ella's Ma.

Clare was 1 yesterday. Ella and me didn't have to go to school or creche yesterday so we could have had a party for her yesterday but I suppose Mammy would have missed it because she was at work and Johanna probably doesn't know where Emma and Jamie's house is and I don't think she's been to the zoo yet either!

Anyway we had a fab time today. First we went to the zoo. Loads of us went. Mammy brought us. Jill was there. And Emma and Jamie and Clare and Clare's Nana and Pa. Big crowd. Yes, it rained again. Not as much as it did in July. But we ran to the restaurant and ate chocolate muffins again so that was ok. Didn't last two long. I brought my backpack. Because these days I never know when I'm going to find a bag full of random toys useful.

This time the best things in the zoo where the snow leopards because there were two baby ones running around and playing together. And the gorillas who ran around loads and looked like they might try and escape through the glass out to meet us. And the elephants. We timed our visit to the elephants really well so we saw feeding time and shower time for the whole family.

Clare had a two part party so in the afternoon we had to go to her house for birthday cake and presents. Sophie was there too. She's a big girl who is in school like Ella. So there were loads of dolls and buggies and cards and musical instruments and generally loads of noise and fun too. I'm glad Clare has her own baby Anabelle now because that means I can play with hers just like she plays with mine.

And the best thing about it - we get to do it all tomorrow for Ella's birthday....