Gingerbread with Kara & Joe, Icy Plunge and Last Irish Christmas

Let's start with a little One Direction. These guys are the New Kids on the Block, the Backstreet boys, of the last 5 years. They're British so I'm not sure if they're as big in the States or Canada but clearly that didn't mean much for the Beatles. I'm sure they're big everywhere. Anyway, Norah heard one of their songs and has since become a bit obsessed with them. She knows all the lyrics to their songs and it's so funny hearing her recite these love songs that have absolutely no meaning for her. I predict we'll go to one of their concerts when she's 13 and we'll all wear their T-shirts.

A few days before Christmas (on little Geordan's 5th birthday) we headed over to Kara & Joe's and she surprised the kids with homemade gingerbread cookies. (Kara - full-time geologist, completing her PhD, mother of two, who 'whipped up' some gingerbread cookies from scratch, before 9 am.  If she's not super mom...)

Norah's

Mine - I completely rocked it.

Auntie Mimi and Uncle James sent the year's most coveted box of presents - which contained NOT only an Elsa full pajama dress (better than any Disney dress I've seen), but also the official, full-on, sequin-embroidered, small-bead-havin', glitter encrusted....Elsa Gown. Pictured above is the PJ dress. You could've fooled us though, we thought this was the dress.

Daddy doing his annual process as Santa Claus - putting out cookie crumbs, a gnawed carrot (from the reindeer), and a letter from Santa.

(Letter from Santa)

Strolling on Grafton Street with the Christmas buzz - our last Christmas when we could do this here in Dublin.

Norah as excited as can be on Christmas morning with a new musical jewelry box from Uncle Dan (Frozen of course), and her beret from Aunt Mary. I guess we have documentation of what was popular in 2014, when Norah was four. :)

And after opening presents Christmas morning, we made our way down about 1 mile from our place to the Forty Foot Swimming spot in Sandycove for the annual Christmas swim in polar temperatures. Wayne and I both did this last year and really loved it. I was terrified but really, truly, loved it. This year, I'm happy to say though, I didn't have to brave that fear again because of being pregnant. Phew! I'm sure I could've mustered the bravery but I'm glad I didn't have to contemplate it. Wayne on the other hand, was an absolute champ and took his plunge with a brave face. :)

Walking down, this is looking at the harbour at Sandycove, just around the corner from the actual 40 Foot (where the REAL jump happens). :)

There were, I'd say, a thousand people there this year. We went at the same time last year but this time was markedly more full.

 Our friend Ted (front, left) organized this year's meeting for the swim in honour of our friend Graham (who we lost in May 2014). He was with us for the jump last year and this was something he did every year. He loved nothing more than getting his friends together to do absolutely bonkers things - things that would always make you feel invigorated (Christmas plunge, 5 hour hikes, drumming circles, 7 am runs, meditation, yoga classes and tag rugby). The thing with something Graham suggested - you always knew, you might be hesitant at first (for fear/laziness), but you would never regret any activity with him. Being with him felt like a life-affirming act and that was his constant gift. We all miss him so much but having this to look forward to made Christmas morning that tiny bit easier, without him. His father and sister also came down to see the group and that really meant a lot to be able to see them.

Pre-Jump - looks of nervous fear! (except Ted who already jumped in once and is going again. That legend)

Wayne's is the last jumper.

Post-Jump Richie, Ted and Wayne. Oooooweeee that was cold!

Afterward - everyone all dry and warm. Graham's Dad is in the blue coat and his sister Mia (grey scarf).

 The whole gang - myself and Catherine (Ted's wife, next to me in the purple hat) are both pregnant and therefore had a 'pass' on the jump. :)

And us, home for our last Christmas dinner in Ireland - together as a little family of three. It might look a little sad but I promise it wasn't. We had a roast chicken, sweet potatoes, 2 types of stuffing and mashed potatoes & gravy (with cranberry sauce). It was small, sure, but we felt it was important and appropriate that we spend our last Christmas (our 4th here) alone, just as we did when we first arrived in December 2011. We didn't know a soul then (and that one was a little depressing) but this time we are surrounded by love and community but still really enjoyed spending this last Christmas with just us 3 (for the last year we'll BE a family of 3), in our home in Dublin. And after dinner we played with Norah's game of Battleship, polly pockets, and K'nex (super awesome building set which Wayne and I get more enjoyment out of than she does). It was a beautiful day from beginning to end.

Early December and a New Library

In the Montessori play this year, instead of Mary (non-speaking), Norah got to be one of the angels. We felt this was a step up. :) Her group of angels sang each song and narrated the story. Adorable-ness overflowed.

An icy run with the Saturday group at the beginning of December (for me it was very slow and just before I got my 2nd round of a 3 week-cold).

On a trip out to Dundrum town centre (shopping mall), after weeks and weeks of begging, Wayne and Norah went ice skating. I sat out as it's not exactly advised when pregnant.

At first she was really unsure and a bit scared but then she got a penguin and was all smiles. It was only about 30 minutes but at least there's no more mystery about what ice skating is. It's just plain hard. :)

Norah's Christmas List - our girl wrote this all on her own and brought it to me.
Let me go ahead and translate:
Barbie Doll
Silky Hair and make up

and pairs of earrings and high-heels.

(all items she wanted the Barbie to come with)

3rd Annual (and our last) - Dun Laoghaire Pier Runners Christmas Party. I organize this each year, with fellow leader Clare and they are so fun. The larger Dublin Running group has given us money the last two years to purchase medals for all our runners, to have them engraved and some spot prizes. Of course it's fun to all get together and celebrate the year but getting to announce the medals and hand them out is so fun.
Last year we had 10 runners complete the Dublin Marathon - this year there were 14. We gave medals for the fastest man and woman, over that distance, as well as some for 'most improved', etc. etc. This picture up top is of one of our warrior women, Lindsey. She and Donal also completed the biggest feat of the year, each running the entire Wicklow Way - 131 kilometres, over 3 days. They did this unaided and completed over 50 km's per day, and 30 km's on the last. Just an incredible feat!! It's a lifetime achievement to run ONE 50K distance (there's of course was over mountain ranges and therefore worth wayyyy more) but then to get up and do it again?! And then again on a 3rd day?? I wish I could explain how impressive it is, but unless you've covered some long distances, it's hard to grasp what it means to cover that, on mountain terrain. They are two of our best friends here and just so humble. So, anywho, they each got an engraved medal with the distance and date and they were so happy to get that.

These four ladies I'm with are the toughest, most badass running women I have ever known.

Lindsey accepting her medal!

Two of our favorite people - Richie & Joanna (Wayne's doppelganger, Richie)

With baby Jasmine, in the buggy.

Norah trying out the baby carrier I got - she's ready to help out.

On our way to the Christmas Pantomime - an old, old Irish tradition (maybe British as well?).

Here's us arriving at the very famous Gaiety Theatre, Norah about to explode with excitement.

The Pantomime is a play where there's this set 'call and response' stuff that everyone knows (maybe you already know this, I had no idea before coming here). For instance, this play was Peter Pan (but it doesn't matter which it is)...and say Captain Hook is sneaking up on Peter Pan, he might ask the audience "Have you seen Captain Hook??" and we're all supposed to yell "He's behiiiind youuuu!" Or, there's this back-and-forth where a character says a known line like "oh YES he issss!" and then we have to yell back "Oh NO he's nooooot!" (a couple times).  There are a few of these and you learn real fast. It's so fun though because all the little kids (and parents) just scream bloody murder and it's completely acceptable. When we moved here, we were always told we had to see a Christmas Panto so we knew this was the last chance.

And it wasn't just some small-scale play either - it was genuinely really impressive and we laughed out loud the entire time. The other big thing they have is one male character who's dressed in drag and ends up stealing the show (apparently this has happened since time began). In this play, that was the granny in Peter Pan and she (he) was hilarious - definitely stole the show.
If we lived here for forever, this is something we'd plan on doing every single year for the rest of our kids' lives.

Decorating our last Christmas tree on our 4th (!) Christmas here in Ireland. Hard to believe.

Looking down to the new monstrous Dun Laoghaire library. This thing has been the center of hot debate in our county, here for about 2 years. Short story: It cost 36 million to build (tax dollars) and apparently the county council approved it, and hired the architect (who also happens to be connected to the county council) without ever consulting the public. So, while it is a gorgeous space inside, the debate is still open on whether it needed to be this extravagant. (Also many people think it is a hideous eye sore on the otherwise Georgian architecture-filled seafront) It is by far the largest item on the horizon now and is a bit of an eye sore, until you go inside. It opened at the beginning of December and good news for us: It's 2 blocks from our apartment and Wayne can do nearly all of his research from there. This saves us about €30 a week in bus fare to/from the University, which is also a 35 minute ride, each way. This adds over an hour to Wayne's work day and saves us quite a bit. Win-win!

This is the children's section on the 2nd floor of the library (3 floors in total). Looking straight out, over the Dun Laoghaire harbour, and out toward Howth.

Looking back in to the library from window.

Out into library's new courtyard. Marine hotel to the left (where cousin Suzy stayed while here in 2014), and into the center of Dun Laoghaire town.

Looking back over toward our apartment, 2 blocks west of library.