Our Christmas Favourite #2

Favourite Christmas Tradition:

This weekend was our yearly visit to Dublin city centre
We weren't sure if we would make it as Oisìn hadn't been well but
thankfully he was much better by Saturday.
We went to see Santa we waited two hours in a Que to see Santa but it was worth it!
We finished off our Christmas shopping, went for a walk in Stephen's Green Park,
strolled about the Christmas markets, looked at the Christmas lights and then went for dinner
It was a wonderful day and we really enjoyed it

Favourite Christmas Movie:

This week Oisìn didn't bother with Christmas movies as he was so unwell he just wanted to watch Peppa Pig and Mr Tumble over and over!
Friday night Paul and I watched one of our festive favourites Trading Places it's not one of the kids and it's not very PC in today's standards but that's what makes it very funny!
If you like the dry wit of early Eddie Murphy and the funny quirky directing of John Landis this one might be for you!

Favourite Decoration:

This decoration has a special place in my heart, it was the last present that my brother bought me before he past away. I always but it up some where safe so that little fingers can't get at it!
It sits pride and place on a shelf in my living room beside my brother's candle

Favourite Christmas Song:

I have heard this song over and over again this week, maybe it's because my brother has been on my mind. I know he does come home for Christmas in my mind every year he is with us, and I sense his presence near us at this time.
It's such a beautiful song and makes me think of all those who for some reason or other can't make it home for Christmas.

Favourite Christmas Special:

I think this is one of my favourite Christmas specials....EVER!
It always without a doubt gets me in the Christmas spirit! It's so cosy and the each of the characters bring there own stamp of Christmas and also there own problems!
I would love to see a one off Christmas special with all the gang! 

Our Christmas Favourites #1

Here are our family Christmas favourites for this week!

Favourite Christmas Tradition:

The Late Late Toy has been a Irish Christmas Tradition for me since I was a child

I remember being allowed to stay up late to watch it with lots of goodies, falling asleep half way through it! Then my Nanny video recording it so I could watch it all again on Sunday when having Sunday lunch in her house! I remember in my teenage years watching it and saying it was boring while I secretly still loved every minute of it! In my early twenties I was too busy going out on Friday night to watch it! Paul and I started to watch it together when we became a couple one of  most memorable memories I have was a few years ago when I was pregnant on Oisìn and I began to get pains while watching! It signalled the start of slow labour pains I would have until I was intruded on the 26th December to finally have Oisìn!

This year we allowed Oisìn to say up late to watch it, we all had love treats, prosecco for Mammy and Daddy, with lots of special treats for Oisìn. He lasted well until 10.30pm and then told us it was time for his nap!! 

It's a long tradition which we are looking forward to keep going for a long time!

Favourite Christmas Movie:

Oisìn loves Home Alone he likes the first one but his favourite is Home Alone 2

He had watched this one at least eight times this week and each time he watches it laughs at little louder! He calls Harry and Marv "the baddies" and tells Kevin to go get them! He dances along with the Christmas songs and cuddles me at the end when Kevin is finally reunited with his Mam

It also holds a special place in my heart as this was my brother favourite movie growing up I am happy that Oisìn loves it so much

Favourite Decoration:

This beautiful new Christmas Angel I got this week 

One of our local stores where having half price sale on all Christmas items

Needless to say I am already planning another trip!

Favourite Christmas Song:

For me it's not Christmas until I hear Noddy Holder scream It's Christmas!

This song was always played loudly in our house at Christmas when I was growing up

My parents taste varied wildly we would have Perry Como mixed with 70's glam rock

I am sure they had every artist Christmas album on LP! Two songs I always remember being played while we put up our Christmas tree was Perry Como's version on Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer and Slade's Merry Christmas!

Favourite Christmas TV Special:

The Vicar Of Dibley Christmas Lunch I love this show and the Christmas specials were always so funny. I love how the soft heart vicar agrees to go to all the Christmas dinners she is invited too!

We watched this yesterday after a lovely festive day out perfect end to a lovely day! 

Christmas Traditions Week #2

Here are this weeks Christmas Traditions!

Bringing Oisín To See Santa
This is the same Santa as last year a different venue
Oisín really liked this Santa he shook his hand
gave him his Christmas letter, asked him for a big car and a Woody from Toy Story!
Was happy to sit on his knee and then gave him a high five at the end!

Our Family Day in Dublin City Centre
We live in Dublin but to be honest we don't go into the city centre that often
We always go in to see the Christmas Lights and this year
Oisín really really liked them he was his in his buggy
and then walked holding our hands with such a expression of awe on his face!

Christmas TV Guide
I love curling up with a hot chocolate
with pen in hand to settle down and
circle what I am going to watch over Christmas
This year we are most looking forward to
Sherlock, Mrs Browns Boys, Call The Midwife,
and Downton Abbey 

Our Christmas Favourites Week #2

These are our Christmas Favourites for this week!

Our Favourite Christmas Movie This Week:

Miracle on 34th Street the 1994 version

While the original is a beautiful movie in it's own right

It's the 1994 Cole's Store version that has a special place in my heart

As a family tradition my parents would take us into Dublin City Centre

for a day of festive treats (a tradition that I am keeping with my own little family)

We would go see Santa, finish our Christmas shopping, see whatever Christmas movie

was out at that year and finish with dinner out.

One year Miracle on 34th Street was the film that was out and we loved it

I would of been almost ten years old and my brother around eight

at the part of the film when there is a court case around Santa

My brother got very emotional and stood in the cinema and shouted

"He is Santa, he is the real Santa!"

Oisín's favourite this week is Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas

which he has been watching alot before bed!

Our Favourite Christmas Song This Week:

All I Want For Christmas has been playing alot in our house
also it was played at my SW Christmas party
so my friend and I had a good bob to that!

Oisín has been enjoying Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
He likes to try sing along! It is really very sweet

Our Favourite Christmas Decoration This Week:

My parents bought me this crib the first

Christmas I moved out and I love it

but Oisín was trying to play with it

this year so my parents bought him

his very own one!

 

Our Favourite Christmas Tradition This Week:

Having our own festive day out in town
Went to see Santa Claus, visit the Christmas markets
and see the Christmas lights it was a lovely day out

Our Favourite Christmas TV Special This Week:

The Royle Family the new sofa
I watched this last night curled up with a hot chocolate

My Top Ten Favourite Christmas Songs

Can't have Christmas without those toe tapping Christmas tunes
Love them or hate them they are as part of Christmas as much as Christmas pudding!
Here are my top ten favourites

10: Kate Bush - December Will Be Magic Again

Unless you are a Kate Bush fan like I am you might not have heard of this song
For me it's a Christmas classic Kate sings about White Christmas, snow, candles, and Santa
It might not be to every ones taste but it's classic early Kate Bush and I love it!

9: Paul McCarthy - Wonderful Christmas Time

This is one of those songs for me gets me all warm inside
I remember it playing the first Christmas Paul and I where dating
We where at a pub having a few drinks with friends before Christmas
Every time I hear that song it takes me back to the feeling of early romance
and the care free joys of being with friends before Christmas
it always gets me in the festive mood!

8: Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas

Another favourite that gets me really in the Christmas spirit
We have all been there driving home from work on our last day before the Christmas holiday
 stuck in rush hour traffic
Knowing that when we get home Christmas can begin!

7: Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas

A couple of years ago this would of been higher up my list
but in the past few years there has been some many re-makings and re-recordings
that to be honest it has dumbed down the original for me
Of course the power and meaning behind this song is still amazing
It is a one of a kind and I don't think we will have such a powerful
Christmas song again

6: John & Yoko - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Beautiful anti war song
It does make me feel wow another year is almost over
when I hear the line "another year over and a new one just begun"
Beautiful message beautiful song

5: Wham - Last Christmas

'

Such a cheesy 80's Christmas tune
but I love it..especially the video all big hair and snow!
"Merry Christmas I wrapped it up and sent it" what a line!
This one I really sang into my hair brush as a teenager! I still sing this around the house at Christmas
A ballad of doomed romance just what we love at Christmas!!

4: Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You

This the hubby's favourite Christmas song and I am sure he love the video too
(Mariah bouncing around in the snow)
It's such a catchy little tune and I can help myself singing along
I remember singing it to my pregnant bump a couple of Christmas ago
It has took a couple of year over this side of the Atlantic to become a classic
but it's played at all the office party's now!!

3: Slade - Merry Xmas

I grew up with 70's music coming from my parents radio
So it's not wonder Slade is high up in my list my Mam favourite band growing up
She always had Slade's Merry Xmas on while we where putting up our Christmas tree
So it's no wonder it doesn't feel like Christmas for me until I hear
Noddy Holder scream IT'S CHRISTMAS!!

2: Wizard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

The 70's really was the time for Christmas songs!!
Another Christmas tune that was always played in my house growing up
Even the lead singer looked liked something out of Lapland!
Something so festive about the sleigh bells and the children choir joining in
This will be played alot at our house over Christmas!
When I was a kid I really did wish it could be Christmas ever day!
When you get older your glad it's only once a year!

1: Pogues - Fairytale of New York

I love this song and always have when I was younger I loved it
because it had naughty words in it
Now I love it because it reminds of my brother
us singing it together the night of my 21st birthday and laughing our head off!
I love it because its a tale of  loss, hope, despair and above all love
Yes it's over played especially here in Ireland but the
next time it's on the radio close your eyes
and really listen to it.....

So that's my favourite Christmas song what about yours?

Christmas Traditions Week #1

We have a few festive traditions we always do over the next few weeks
here are the first of them!

The Late Late Toy Show
This tradition is with me since I was a child I remember
being allowed to stay up late with popcorn to watch this
My brother would fall asleep after a while but I always managed to
watch all of it! Of course as you get older it's less cold to watch it
but hubby and I always curl up with a hot chocolate to watch
and maybe next year Oisín will watch it too!

Putting our Christmas Decorations Up
I like to put our decorations up nearest to the 1st of December as I can
This year this meant putting them up the last week in November
We had a little helper this year Oisín was happy to help!
We waited to put up the tree until he was in bed
His face the next morning when he saw it was priceless

Console Concert
This was my third year at this beautiful concert
for families affected by suicide
It is a wonderful event that I always enjoy going to
It was also lovely that my Dad got to go this year too

So that's our traditions for this week
what are yours?

Our Christmas Favourites Week #1

I enjoyed doing a blog post like this a couple of years ago
so thought I would re-do it this year
I am excited for Christmas this year although it will be a little different this year
as my parents are staying in a hotel over the Christmas time
It has been something my Mam has wanted to do for years she is finally getting a chance to relax over Christmas time!
Oisín seems to be enjoying the festive time so far, he loves the Christmas ads,
songs and lights. We sat down the past few days and have watched some nice Christmas movies which he seems to enjoyed!

Our Favourite Christmas Movie This Week:

Paul and I favourite this week is Trading Places
we enjoyed watching this on the weekend with a glass of Baileys
 It tells the story of upper class snob and commodities broker Louis Winthorpe (Dan Aykroyd) and a homeless hustler Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) who lives change and there paths intertwine when they are are unknowingly made part of an elaborate test and bet of nature versus nurture by wealthy elderly Duke brothers, Randolph and Mortimer.
It's a very funny movie with Eddie Murphy really on form one of our favourites!

Oisín's favourite is Disney's Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas
he loves Donald Duck and really enjoys these cute little Christmas stories

Our Favourite Christmas Song This Week:

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas....I have been playing this alot this week!!
I had it playing while we where putting up our Christmas decorations on Saturday!
It really gets me in the Christmas spirit!

Oisín is learning Jingle Bells in creche this week
so of course I have been playing the Michael Buble one for him!
Oisín love shouting BELLS at the top of his voice!!

Our Favourite Christmas Decoration This Week:

This also seems to be Oisín's favourite he
keeps hugging and kissing him it's actually very sweet to see!

Our Favourite Christmas Tradition This Week:

This is an Irish tradition is almost every house hold
sitting down with a hot chocolate to enjoy this
cheesy funny show!

Our Favourite Christmas TV Special This Week:

The very funny Father Ted Christmas special!

Over The Weekend #11

This weekend was the start of the busy ones!

We have something on every weekend from now to Christmas!

Friday Paul and I settled down to watch the Irish Tradition that is

The Late Late Toy Show every person in Ireland remembers watching it as a child

Oisín is still too young to stay up for it but we did Sky plus it and

he enjoyed watching it Saturday morning

I woke Saturday not feeling well again not as bad 

but it felt like my sinus where blocked and my ear was hurting too

I done my best to get over it and put our Christmas decorations up

We waited till Oisín had gone to bed to put the

tree up it takes awhile so I like to take my time over it

His face Sunday morning was priceless

he kept saying Wow over and over again!!

My parents and I then went to Console's annual concert

for families effected by suicide it was my Dad's first time at it

It was another beautiful concert and I came home 

with a lighter heart

Christmas Traditions Week 3

Going for a Christmas dinner/night out with friends and family

We done two of these last week

on Friday we went out with family and friends
for out Christmas night out but we also celebrated my
30th birthday it was great fun.
Then on Sunday I went out for a meal with
friends for my 30th birthday it was lovely

Bought Oisín a Christmas tree decoration

Never took a picture of the decoration
but Oisín liked a red reindeer with long legs
We are going to do this every year with Oisín

Get the TV guide and highlight everything I want to watch/record

*This picture is from last year!!

I love doing this! Cup of tea and highlighter in hand

I mark everything I want to watch or record of Christmas!

Christmas Traditions Week 2

Going to see Santa Claus

This was a new tradition for us this year
apart from going to see Santa as a child
this was the first time we have been back
It was such a wonderful thing when on
Sunday morning we brought Oisín to
see Santa Claus for the first time
He loved the toy work shop he got to
play in before Santa
He wasn't so sure of Santa at first
but then he came around and sat on his knee

Visiting a Christmas market

This is a not so new tradition
we started this three years ago at
the Christmas markets in New York
this year we went to a new
one at St Stephen's Green
it was good fun
We drank mulled wine
and ate pulled pork!

Going into Dublin City Centre to
see the Christmas Lights

This has always been a
tradition in my family
but as I got older I forgot
about it and never made a huge
effort to go see the lights in town
this year was different we
wanted Oisín to see it
He face was a picture when he
woke from his nap in his pram
to realise it had got dark and
there was lights all around him!

Christmas Traditions Week 1

Each Thursday I am going to write about the
new and old Christmas traditions
we have done or are going to do that week
Here is week one:

Putting up our decorations

This week we put up our Christmas tree & decorations
I love doing this we waited till Oisín had gone to bed
to start on our tree
Our tree is rather large at 8ft so it's a bit of a big
job and takes around two hours from start to finish
We played soft Christmas carols and had a
glass of Baileys while we decorated.
Oisín's face Sunday morning seeing the
Christmas tree for the first time was classic
He laughed, smiled and then just sat there
looking at it!
This year we even decorated the bathroom
for a bit of fun!

Starting to write and post our Christmas cards

We send alot of Christmas cards we have family in
America, Sweden and the UK
so we have to start early to make sure everything gets
there on time

Watching Christmas movies

Christmas is not Christmas without the movies!
We love all Christmas movies but this year its
fun watching with Oisín and seeing which ones he
likes! So far he likes Elf, Polar Express, Arthur Christmas
and Home Alone!