We're all going on our summer holidays.....

We head off today to the wilderness of Westmeath,
where we will attend Earthsong for 9 days......

We camp, and get back in touch with nature without interruptions
from phone, computers and without my boys frantically trying to get
to the next level on their DS's. No MP3's, no electric music, no alcohol(?)
and no meat.

Cooking is done on a campfire, and we cook a communal meal in the
evening for those in our circle.

I'm so looking foreward to this, and I am astounded by how much there is
to pack for 6 people....

Watch this space on my return early August.....

Castletown

'I just want to look at

the Gingerbread man!'

There is a huge space with

the open gate, and Saul decides

to go through the Style.....

What to do in the rain....

This was how they started out!

And this is how it ended!

Back to some level of Normality....

It was so refreshing to see Cal and
Reuben sitting together, if only for
a few minutes on the beach.........This was the view of our group
from the cliff walk to Carnivan
Bay. The weather was glorious
and we had the beach to our-
selves until 4pm! Heaven.

One of my favourite things...

Michael on fire duty!

It was midnight by

the time we had fire

and marshmallows

and chocolate, but it

was worth the wait.

Thanks Michael...

Saul's new friend

He wants to keep him forever. Oh dear.

Gathering wood for our fire when Dad arrives.

Today's adventures

For Tia, my sketching spot!

Glorious day on beach

A heart for Michael

Aubrey and Eoghan

Saul's work

Saul and his flower passion!

Look closely to see Saul walking down the hill.

Our kids in sea!

The time in The sea really made Reuben's eyes so green!

Crazy Day

I seemed to spend a lot of today dealing with our ailing car. Quotes as high as €850! It rained until 4, and just as we prepared to head to the beach, Saul fell asleep. I took advantage of the quietness and prepared dinner. Tonight at bedtime Saul started saying he missed his Daddy. He said he needed him to give him a Goodnight Kiss. Aubrey started to cry too, missing Michael. He also wanted supper. Cal was choking and upset about a lose tooth causing him pain. Reuben tried to quieten Saul by promising all sorts of things tomorrow, including seeing Michael! This made him sob even more! Helena and her kids were trying to sleep . It was madness. So now they are all asleep and I'm heading there too. Love Annah

Carnivan Beach

Today we woke to glorious sunshine and made the best of every minute. Carnivan Beach by 10am, the sea was so rough, scarily wild. But the kids didn't care. They built a super dam and made a fort and built up a huge appetite for Michael's roast dinner! We then had our annual trip to the light house with my car chugging slowly. I'm suspicious that the clutch is going. More about that tomorrow! Ice creams and another trip to Baginbun finished the day off. Everyone else is asleep and I'm enjoying the silence, apart from Saul snoring next to me. Michael headed back home sadly, he has work tomorrow.

Hook Lighthouse

Off to Baginbun

Lying in bed, silence inside and the roar of the sea together with the wind outside. Crazy weather! Kids had so much fun regardless. Into the sea clothes and all. Littlies found it tough venturing back sodden and barefoot and shivering. Promises of a hot shower and hot chocolate kept them going! Poor kitle Souls! Enjoy the holiday pics.

Ready for the rain

The long walk home

The beginning

First day of holidays. Lashing rain, thank God for playdough! Michael having a nap. Bless him. He'll need his energy for fishing through the night. I know this feeling of anti-climax knot in my stomach will go away, and in the meantime I will referee my fighting boys and listen to the sound of the rain lashing on the roof. Sigh.

Cheeky faces

Thank you Go-Go's

This morning I was greeted by Cal waking Reuben to come and play with their Go-go's. This is 2 rare occurance in our house for them to get on at all, so this was a lovely start to our day.

Evening Sun

Aubrey with my new ball!

Birthday boy..

Happy Birthday Johnney...

Beautiful

I took these photos in Johnney's workshop. He and my sister

Claire live in a lovely spot near Kells with lots of space and time

for their creative expression. More photos to follow...

Playground days....

Boys had a great time in Maynooth

Playground yesterday. So simple...

Fairy's Day

Saul got this beautiful handmade dinosaur

from his Fairy Godmother at Fairy's party. Ahhh

How sweet is this???

A tradition in the making.....

Animal magic

Our guys thought this poor creature was dead!

I love the drop of water from

this guy's mouth....

Our trip to the Zoo.....

Some of the animals we saw on Fri, during our trip

to the Zoo with some friends, Ciara, Jo and Morganna.