Our life lately...

I know, I know, I haven't written on my beloved blog for over a month, now... Sorry! But it has been quite hectic in the house for the last few weeks...

Sam is having so much fun in school, lately. Shannon and I collect him every day at 1 o'clock and on our drive home he has so many stories for us. Every day he has a "new" best friend with whom he had shared a exciting adventure. He so full of energy. He really likes his Montessori activities (he keeps saying the days of the weeks NO STOP!), he is such an amazing boy, so loving and caring with his little sister. They are great together...

Shannon, on the other hand, has grown so much in the last few weeks. No more reflux, no more pain, no more tears. She is now full of smiles and giggles. She can sit up all by herself, plays with her toys independently and has such a happy loud laugh! She loves her food, especially fruit, any type of fruit. Shannon is really a joy and has blended so well into our crazy house. Sam is definitely her favourite "character" in the house. She is always following him with her eyes...

They are best friends already, I can tell... 

Although I have been busy between the children and the house, I got a few hours for me only. I eventually finished a dress for Shannon that I started in January...

... and I have also made a few more greeting cards, for family and friends...

I'm now working on my Easter ones... busy busy busy...

A Merry Italian Christmas...

We were all so excited to have our Christmas Holidays in Italy...

We left Ireland on 18th December and flew down Italy to stay with my family for 2 weeks... so cool!

This was Shannon's first time in Italy. She met all my aunties and uncles and my beloved cousins. It was so great to see all of them.

 

We had dinner with my dad's side of the family on 23th December. We had lots of fun. We had pizza together (... my favourite!) and we played bingo afterwards... and WE WON!!!

 

On St. Stephen's Day, my name's day, we had lunch at my uncle and aunties' restaurant, with my mum's side of the family. Again, we had lots of fun and lots of beautiful tasty food...

 

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at mum's. This is the first Christmas we spent at home since Dad passed away. Last Christmas, my mum and sisters and Gianfranco ;) , my sister's fiancé, were over in Dublin.

 

 

 

 

We had LOTS of food on both days... mum cooked non stop for more than 24hrs!!! My mum is an Amazing cook! I cannot count how many courses we had... I just know that we were all stuffed!

 

Traditionally, we have fish courses on Christmas Eve, and meat courses on Christmas Day. Of course we had lots of veggies, too. Chiara, my sister, she is a vegetarian.

 

 

The weather has been quite mild. We had a few sunny days. We took advantage of it and had a lovely family walk...

 

The most significant event, though, was Shannon's Christening on 30th December. My mum and my sister Francesca were/are Shannon's Godmothers. We had a lovely ceremony at my local Church and then we went to my cousin's bar to party!

 

 

 

 

 

We had an awsome time together... it was so great to have family around and spend time with all of them. The thing I miss the most in Ireland is my FAMILY. We are all very close and not been able to share our everydays together, it's such a pity... 

 

Well, I guess this is my last post for 2013... I wish all of you a Wonderful 2014. I hope it will bring all of us many Happy and Serene moments...

Happy New Year!

Christmas Spirit

Our Christmas tree is up!!!

The last two weeks have been crazy... I haven't got time to write or cook... there were days when I barely found time to shower, ops! That's too much information..

Shannon and her reflux are slowly improving, but the poor little girl is still in pain after her feeds, and also started teething... Happy days. Sam, on the other hand, is such a happy, super active boy. He is always on the go... so, when I'm not rocking, nursing and cleaning Shannon, I'm on the floor with Sam playing cars, trucks or airplanes.

My sister was teasing me the other day. She said that every time she reads my blog or sees one of my pictures, it's like looking at the little-happy family that you see in tv commercials... 

Ahhhh, truth is so far from it. Of course, we're having lots of fun, we all play together and we laugh, I might bake some cupcakes on the weekend, but... our house it's also full of screaming, crying and chaos. 

Yep, like every other house with children, our house is a complete mess!!! There are toys everywhere, clothes everywhere and boxes full of stuff (... that we should put in the attic at same stage, but are still sitting around the house)...

... And now, that the Christmas Spirit has knocked at our door, we have decided to put up our Christmas tree!

When you have kids, it's all about them, and making them happy! Seeing Sam all excited, and jumping and dancing around the room, showing Shannon the Christmas lights and decorations, made my heart burst with joy... and who cares if my sink is filled with dirty dishes... Christmas is almost here!

November, Quite and Rest...

Autumn: A Dirge

The warm sun is falling, the bleak wind is wailing,
The bare boughs are sighing, the pale flowers are dying,
And the Year
On the earth is her death-bed, in a shroud of leaves dead,
Is lying.
Come, Months, come away,
From November to May,
In your saddest array;
Follow the bier
Of the dead cold Year,
And like dim shadows watch by her sepulchre.

The chill rain is falling, the nipped worm is crawling,
The rivers are swelling, the thunder is knelling
For the Year;
The blithe swallows are flown, and the lizards each gone
To his dwelling.
Come, Months, come away;
Put on white, black and gray;
Let your light sisters play--
Ye, follow the bier
Of the dead cold Year,
And make her grave green with tear on tear.

Percy Bysshe Shelly 

The last few weeks have been a bit hectic for the whole family. 

While outside everything looks calm and sleepy, our house is in full swings and roundabouts.  

Shannon is keeping us very busy. She is still struggling with her reflux and colic and this has been affecting all of us. It breaks my heart to see her feeling so uncomfortable. I wish I had a magic wand and take her pain away forever... but of course, this is not possible. I will have to wait. They all say that she will grow out of it.

In the meantime, I should stay calm and quiet, like Nature in Autumn does. Everything is getting a rest and this gives you a sense of relaxation and serenity. Like trees with their leaves,  I should learn to let it go...

...I will patiently wait... 

and for now, I'm going just to enjoy those precious snuggles with my girl... They won't last forever, either...