Ho ho ho ...

I stayed inside and put up our tree.

Thanksgiving 2006

On friday it was off to Big Bear to decorate the cabin for Christmas.

Yum yum ... Turkey with cranberry chutney and stuffing, potatoes au gratin, sweet potatoes, carrots in marmalade glaze and greens beans with bacon and almonds. A feast fit for the Philps!

He handled all the 'is it all going to be ready at the same time" stress and produced a delicious meal.

Stephen planned and cooked this year - a real treat!

Thanksgiving this year started with a trip to the beach.

Avery turns 2

We headed down to San Diego to help Avery celebrate her 2nd birthday. It's hard to believe she is already two, she is talking up a storm these days and was well able to open all her presents. We had a lot of fun rough-housing and playing hide and seek. She was really excited to see Clio, as was Clio to see her. Roll on Xmas and more good times!

Avery's party was great fun - she had a jumpee, a Dora cake, lots of friends and lots of presents.

Having fun in the jumpee!

Our little princesses.

Hanging out at Avery's slide.

They get along better and better with every visit.

Entertaining the family.

Kerry and the girls.

Halloween 2006

This halloween Mam and Colette were visiting - all the ladies had their first trip to a pumpkin patch (myself included). Cliona loved running around and looking at the animals.

All the Hayden ladies

Our little Indian girl

Mam and Colette had never carved pumpkins before

Getting stuck in

Carving pumkins

Pumpkin-head man

The finished product.

Cliona and her Daddy

Cliona was a clown this year - we went trick 'r' treating and it only took a couple of houses before Clio got the hang of knocking on the doors and holding her hand out for candy. It wasn't until she got home and ate 1/2 a mini kit-kat (wrapping and all) that she realised what she was collecting was edible.

Halloween family of clowns

Ireland Oct 16th-25th

Clio and I headed off to Ireland for a week of fun and adventure. The weather was great, Clio got to spend time in outdoor and indoor playgrounds, visited all her relatives and picked up her winter wardrobe courtesy of Nan.

With Ciara and Diarmuid, my cousin's children.

Collecting chestnuts on the green.

Off on a walk to Dundrum.

Swinging with Eoghan - whenever he came home from work Clio would run up to him with her arms in the air, ready for more swinging.

Chillin' with Larry

This was my chair when I was a little girl so it was really nice to see Clio making it her own. And the teddy on the left was Nan's when she was a little girl.

Out enjoying Nan's garden

At a local indoor playground - Clio loved the tub of balls.

Playing the drums with Uncle Eoghan.

In the play area of Marlay park - weather was great for the whole trip.

Off in Granda's car.

Snug as a bug in her dressing gown.

With Nan and Granda