Sunday 18 April 2010

A Week Of Pictures.

A week of sunshine. And friends in abundance.
I hope you all had as wonderful a weekend as we did.


The Bear. 
He sometimes growls rather loudly.
But he gives the best Bear Hugs.


This is what I found in the garden.
'It's sunny,' she said. 'I just thought they'd look nice.'
My Only Girl.


Oz. 
He'll always find the sunniest spot.
And this week he was spoiled for choice!



Sometimes the simplest things are the funnest!


What is it about sunshine that inspires bunting?
At a little friends 1st Birthday Party.


I love when she PLAYS.
Proper make-believe.
Even though she is nearly twelve.


The Smallest.
His quiet murmurings drew me in.


At the party, he waited patiently for the 
'Troclate Stwawbewwy Butday Cake'.


The Eldest, with The Smallest.
My beating heart.


Tonight, as the sun went down they went back out into the garden with my camera.
Hilarious photos ensued. 
The Eldest took this of his sister.
I love it.


Volcano Sunset?
We have been having the most stunning evening skies.
I do wonder...

36 comments:

Gigi Thibodeau said...

Oh my, these are some of the most beautiful photos I've seen this spring! I felt like I was on a mini-holiday just looking at them, Ciara--all that bunting, all that sunshine, toys and games, and cake, too! I feel like every one of these shots belongs in a frame. What a magical weekend you've had. Thanks for sharing some of the beauty with us. xo

Sara said...

Such lovely pictures... sunshine and friends, you can not ask for much more than that.

Make believing... there isn't an age limit is there? I enjoy a little make believe every once in awhile too. Maybe more often than I really should. :)

Have a wonderful week. xx

Róisín said...

Beautiful stuff, thank you. I just have to point out that your blog makes me really broody (or should that be 'even more broody'?). Your family are really beautiful, but I don't think anyone needs to tell you that.

p.s I've been wondering about the sky too, up here in Donegal. What is this ash cloud supposed to look like anyway?

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Like Oz, I feel "spoiled for choice".
Each photo more perfect than the next.
Wishing you a lovely week.

Susan said...

What a fun week, Ciara. Very nice shots. Thanks for sharing. Sincerely, Susan

Anonymous said...

~sigh~
what a gorgeous week you've had. hope the new one holds twice as much joy as the last.

all my best
cyndi

HKatz said...

Great photos of warmth, imagination, fun, and love.

I love when she PLAYS.
Proper make-believe.
Even though she is nearly twelve.


Hopefully one never grows out of the urge to participate in proper make-believe. There are elements of our childhood that should never die out :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pictures! Just stunning!

Elizabeth said...

Such a beautiful photo montage. I've seen several photos of sunsets from blogs in your northern countries -- they look a lot like the skies during the wildfires in southern California that happen every fall. I do hope the air calms down soon.

Ellen said...

There is magic at your home. Dreams of fancy, the make believe of childhood that one never hopes to lose....a snapshot of life that you see and absorb...

The bunting...it does create a freshness of Spring of life to be outdoors!

Your photos gave me joy of seeing childhood with all its purpose...thank you

Dorn said...

Incredible photos. Loved the paper men and the scooby van. Thank you again for sharing glimpses of your life, home and talent.

Martin said...

This scene of blissful family harmony is framed in your minds forever. Gentle days to hold precious memories.

Andrew Judge said...

A lovely post Ciara. Sorry we missed you this weekend. We'll all catch up soon.

Elaine Prunty said...

There is so much joy and happiness in these photos,every one of them a gem ,
the first two are straight off an album cover , milkmoons greatest hits?...love the eldest photo of daughter too ....he has his mother's eye...and is that a julie arkell keeping watch over oz?
A gorgeous glimpse into your life ciara,

MissKris said...

live in Portland, Oregon, not far from Mount St. Helens. When it blew in 1980 it caused all kinds of disruptions, too. And I agree, it also caused some of the most beautiful evening skies! Hard to believe it was 30 years ago now...when I think back on it it seems like yesterday! Keep face masks handy, tho, in case the winds shift down towards you. The dust is horrible!

Stephanie V said...

Absolutely wonderful! I enjoyed the way the 'week' seemed to start quietly and rev up to the kids under those amazing water drops. Then it quieted down again and ended with those lovely sky shots. I agree, the one of your daughter and the moon is perfect.

Mise said...

Blogging, in a way, is make-believe, even if it's true, and even if we're more than twelve. Make-believe goes on and on, and if it doesn't, we'll make it. The Only Girl would expect no less.

Heather said...

It was nice to see something posted about the Eldest. You haven't said much about them in a long while.

Erin said...

Beautiful! I love all your pictures here. What a beautiful life you seem to have. :)

Rebecca S. said...

What a lovely series today, Ciara! Oz looks so content, so strokeable with his sunlight tinged fur - and very much like my childhood cat Kiko.
I love when my eldest and the youngest have some alone time to connect in that way - always a blissful, satisfying moment for a mother :)

gracia said...

Beauty, all of it... from bear hugs to Oz and that final photo. It is nice to see these spring moments that have a little in common with our autumn. Gentle sunshine and quietness captured.

Acornmoon said...

What a very scary bear, I have always been afraid of masks!

The sunset does look rather volcanic doesn't it?

Jay said...

I'm so proud of all of them - x

Anne said...

Such beautiful photos...:)

louise said...

Gorgeous photos, they capture the joy of Spring.

Emma said...

Gorgeous photos. All of them. I love the bear and the two brother together and girls playing make-believe. Are they playing make-believe in Irish?

Flow said...

Actually she's doing Irish homework in that picture. So not exactly make believe ...

Ciara Brehony said...

Thanks for all your lovely comments, everyone!

Emma, and Flow, you are both right! I was surprised to see them doing what appeared to be homework on a saturday (as if!) and they told me they were playing a game where they were two friends. This made me laugh because that's exactly what they are! But they were some other girls in this game and didn't elaborate. The one on the right is writing in French, and the one on the left has an old homework notebook, which includes Irish homework!

These two often play at being secretaries too...

Jo said...

All lovely but that second last one is stunning. Beats all her mother's shots of her, I'm afraid@

ronel said...

the kids was fun, like it..:)

Last blog's Prince ronel and iamronel

Relyn Lawson said...

What absolutely amazing pictures - especially the bunting. Thanks so much for following Gigi over to her guest post on my blog. I loved the chance to drop by here and "meet" you.

Paddy said...

Great collection of evocative photos.

Jess said...

Wonderful pictures of home! It's so lovely to be back in this part of the world after the Dust Cloud Disaster we had last week.xx

Gift registry said...

That is the most stunning sunset I've ever seen.

Karen said...

Gorgeous pictures Ciara! x

denise said...

beautiful.