Newbridge House and Farm, Donabate

Bank holiday weekend in October we decided to take the kids to Newbridge house in Donabate (http://www.newbridgehouseandfarm.com/joomla/) It was advertised that they were having a spooky weekend. We headed down after lunch with the girls and it was great fun.

We were brought around the house on a guided "spooky" tour it was just scary enough for the girls but it didn't terrify them. The tour lasted about twenty minutes, we then went out into the courtyard were we got a list of questions that we had to find the answers throughout the farm. Emma was delighted with her little adventure. Chole loved the animals and took a particular shine to the baby goats.

When we had finished at the farm the girls were delighted when they were given a loot bag and some chocolate. We ended it with a little run around the playground. The spooky house is open until the 31st of October.



Pumpkin Day

Well we started off in the morning with everyone willing and able to help..... Needless to say this did not last long......... Chloe our 2 year old got bored once she found out a little work was involved and resumed her place in the playroom. Emma while eager to help wanted like all 5 year olds to have the whole task completed in the blink of an eye.

However Emma really wanted to carve her own Pumpkin so after I had done some we let her have a go. With daddy supervising of course.

This is what we came up with she was so happy with her pumpkin.

I do love Pumpkin pie so I made it with the left over pumkin. Our 2 year old became very interested again, what a surprise. I have gone through a number of receipes and this one is my favouite:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pumpkinpie_70659  

All in all it was a great day our pumpkins are out in our porch and the girls enjoyed the pumpkin pie and so did I yummmmmmm.

Avoca (Malahide Castle)

So Avoca has opened in Malahide 4 weeks ago (http://www.avoca.ie/home/explore/stores/?id=14) and I think my waist may have gone up 4 inches. I have a small issue with all the lovely treats and cakes. They are a little expensive but I am unable to resist. I have also bought the Avoca tea time book as if I wasn't bad enough.!!!!!! On top of that today I brought my mum I had to show her around and have lunch yummy.

So I am not going to go there anymore if I want yummy treats I will make them myself, I have the book after all. Ahh well I am delusional if I last a week away from that place I will be amazed.

What I will say about the place is. The staff are really friendly and willing to help. The food in the Cafe is lovely. However the shop is not very well laid out it is a big packed, I wouldn't want to take a large pram or double buggy into the place or you would hear plates crashing all around.

I would recommend that you do check it out if you havent already...

I am in love with my steamer

I know it sounds a little odd that I am in love with my steamer but I am. Let me take a few steps back and fill you in. I have a stone floor in my hall and kitchen that you are not able to put any type of bleach on it. It always looked dirty around the grout and I was very close to taking it all up and starting again. I had a little go of a friends steamer and I was amazed at the results. Simon(dh) did some research and came up with the Karcher steamers (http://www.karcher.ie/ie/Home.htm).
The first time I used it my hall looked fantastic. It has all the little accessories that one needs to get into everywhere. It is quicker then using the mop and bucket and no chemicals used at all.  My little 2 year old girl loves to scoop yogurt that she drops on the ground with her finger so when I saw her doing this after I had steamed the floor (nothing stays clean long!!!!) I felt like mother earth…… ok maybe not but I did smile to myself.

Weekend in Virginia, Co Cavan

We just spent a brief but really relaxing weekend in a log cabin in Virginia, Co Cavan (http://www.lakeshorelogchalet.com/index.html). We arrived on Friday night with the cabin all lit up and looking very inviting. We went in and found it warm and homely with everything you could need. Fully fitted kichen, ensuites, TV and DVD player. I was waiting for someone to come in and say we were in the wrong one ours was the leaky damp cold shed in the back. Our luck was in, it was ours for the weekend.

On Saturday morning we went horse riding in The Rock Equestrian Farm (http://www.bailieboroughequestrian.com/). I observed while Simon (my husband) and Emma ( my eldest daughter) went. Emma who is 5 jumped up on the horse in the blink of an eye. The girl who was instructing them was fantastic Emma took to it like a duck to water. Simon really enjoyed it it was something different and the girl was really informative. The lesson lasted and hour and was great value.

Our cabin had a little forest in the back so on Sunday we went fairy hunting. Our girls Emma 5 and Chloe 2 loved it. It also had a little lake to the front we went down to it access was not perfect but the girls were way too busy looking for fairys.

Would love to go back their this weekend as Virginia have their annual Pumkin festival and it looked like it would be great fun. http://www.virginia.ie/

It had no phone coverage but that was not a bad thing. We all had a fantastic weekend and didn’t want to leave but like all good things……….

Welcome to Parenthood, Kids and Life…

My name is Davina and you’re very welcome to my blog about …. well parenthood, kids and life.

I’m a very busy mother of 2, wife of 1, daughter of 1, sister of 3 and oh yeh – I am self employed too. So time is precious. In my future blog posts I will share my secrets of parenthood with you and will ask for your secrets in return!