December came and went as quick as 2011 arrived...we started the month of December with an early celebration of Chanukah by exchanging gifts and not lighting a menorah. One canNOT find a menorah in Ireland. We've tried and I went as far as finding perhaps the only temple in Ireland, e-mailing and leaving a message inquiring where Jewish people in Ireland find things such as a menorah. No reply from anyone...no surprise there. So, the teaching of Chanukah to Brennan will have to wait another year.
December also brought more snow and cold weather...Brennan's stroller, the Bumbleride, has been a fabulous "AWD" vehicle and has gotten us through many snowy days for our regular walks throughout town.
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| Waiting in line to see Santa. |
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| Hanging out at the mall. |
Brennan and I love to meet up with friends for coffee, lunch, shopping, etc...here's Brennan with his friend Isabelle who is about 4 weeks younger than him. The other picture is Brennan with some of his favourite fans...Noeleen and Jean, they're two girls that I work with.
We checked out two Christmas markets in town...one better than the other, adorned in festive lights, vendors everywhere, and many delicious overpriced food and drinks to choose from (5.50 EUR for a small, I repeat SMALL glass of eggnog). One of our favourite things to do with Brennan is to get out and walk through town with him; on this particular cold, but sunny day, Brennan enjoyed the walk so much, he slept for nearly 3 hours in the stroller and woke up with Momma and Papa enjoying a coffee at Starbucks.
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| Brian enjoying a homemade doughnut. |
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| Starbucks Kodak moment. |
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| Playing with Momma at Starbucks. |
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| Papa always makes me laugh! |
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| O'Connell Street at night. |
Christmas Day was relaxing and low-key...we enjoyed the gift of having Brennan in our lives and marveled at our lil family of three. Christmas movies played throughout the day, our fiber optic tree was lit, gift wrapping everywhere, and the smell of Yankee candle (cinnamon) burned throughout the room. Christmas dinner was a simple dinner of Satsuma Soy Glazed Salmon, asparagus, and salad with White Chocolate Ginger cookies for dessert.
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| Thanks Grandma Carter for my outfit...the hat was a bit tight on me, but I wore it long enough for the photo op. | |
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Brennan enjoyed his gift from Santa, a Spiderman helium balloon...this gift came because of his love and awe for balloons. A friend brought over an "It's a Boy" balloon when he was born and to this day (yes, it's still alive) he still stares at it, so Santa decided to bring him another balloon to look at.
