BIG Birthday celebrations

During March is my dads birthday and ricks dads birthday. This year happened to be 2 big ones. My dad turned 50 and ricks dad turned 60. We had a couple of weeks worth of celebrations. Really good fun.

The first party was on Mothers day at my aunts house for my dads 50th.



The following Sunday was the day after his actual birthday so we had a quiet family party and gave him his birthday present.






The day after lindsays birthday we all went to Carl and Mavis' for a birthday celebration. It was a good nights craic playing mafia and listening to Bill recite some stories!

It was a happy mothers day.

This was the first year since rick and I have been together that we got to see both our mothers on mothers day! It was very nice-
Here are three mothers in the allen/mcilrath home

Like father like son

Lilian was having a rummage in the roofspace when she came across a cute wee outfit Rick used to wear, so we tried it on Reuben. Reuben is about 6 months younger than rick was in the pics but don't they look lovely!!









I just think they are both gorgeous!

February stuff

I can't believe that feb is drawing to a close already! We've been taking lots of pics to update the blog but never getting round to actually updating it!

Here is a quick, picture full review of February.

1st Feb
We celebrated Toris birthday and she kindly shared her party with Reuben. Good family night had by all.




5th Feb
Rick, Reuben and Katie all have a go with a frying pan for pancake Tuesday.




15th-17th Feb
Weekend in Portballintrae- weather was beautiful and the weekend was very relaxing.




21st Feb
On Thursday Winnie, Lindsay, Lilian, Reuben and Katie went to Belfast to have a ride on the Belfast Wheel. Reuben and Lilian stayed on terra firma but the rest of us enjoyed the scenery.


This is Lilian and Reuben on the ground, taken from the wheel.


I know Tori and Winnie read our blog so I promise to update more regularly, with plenty of pictures!

Reubens First Birthday

Reuben turned one on 29th January- can you believe it?
Last weekend was the McIlrath celebrations. My granda took us all out for a lovely meal to celebrate his 81st, My 24th and Reubens 1st. It was a good night.


On Sunday we then had a quiet birthday lunch- Reuben wasn't in great form as he is cutting more teeth but he seemed to like the candle on the cake.



Monday and Tuesday were spent with Granny and Granda Allen. He got a DVD from Stewart (In the night garden) which is the only thing to have kept him calm over the past few days- he enjoyed watching it.

Tuesday night (his actual birthday) granny had some candles and a cake for him.


This weeked we are going to Ricks grannys to celebrate Reubens birthday and also Ricks cousin Torys birthday- she's a wee bit older!

Lets fly away, lets fly, we'll fly away

Our family friend Pete McAvoy took Rick up flying on Wednesday. They had a great time.




To my surprise when I arrived to pick Rick up, I ended up flying too! Not only that but because Rick doesn't travel too well, Pete wanted to have a bit of fun- I didn't really know which way was up or if my stomach was inside or out. Nevertheless- we had a great time.

1st Birthday of 2008

I had a really good weekend. On Friday 11th (which is my birthday) I had cards and a wee packet of Chocolates waiting for me in the kitchen from my hubby and my son!

Friday night was a church induction thing in Hill Street, with both sets of parents involved,so there was no celebrating done. Rick whisked me away to Malmaison in Belfast on Sunday for an overnight stay. Peter and Dawn McAvoy met us for a delicious evening meal that was fun filled! We had a great nights craic.



Another birthday over... Reubens is next in a fortnights time. I cannot believe my little baby is going to be ONE!!

Mr Independence

Since Reuben has come back from New York he has turned into Mr Independence. He wants to feed himself, drink himself and put his shoes on by himself. He has a drinking cup but wants to drink from a glass- NOT ALLOWED! However we are allowing him to experiment with cutlery and his dinner....

HAPPY 2008

Well, I am sorry it has been a wee while since the last post! I have some excuses but the main one being that we had no internet access on our main computer and I couldn't be bothered updating from a laptop (PC!). It takes so much longer.

Anyway, this Allen family have had a lovely Christmas season- from Gingerbread house competitions (which we won!!!) at the beginning of December to a wonderful family Christmas with my family in New York.

Here are some pics of Christmas in NY- Reubens first Christmas.




We caught two shows while we were away - both were excellent and we must have put on several stone between us as the meals out plus christmas days feast were amazing!

Lindsay and Lilian picked us up from the airport and we celebrated a second Christmas with them plus granny winnie on new years day after ALL of us bringing in the new year with toast (which Reuben can eat with his new teeth. He cut four while in New York!)



The men prepared a wonderful feast of Goose, roast vegetables, stuffing mmmmm- it was delicious. Afterwards we skyped Canada and did our pandoras box.



I hope 2008 is as exciting and fun filled as 2007 was for us! Now let the onslaught of significant birthdays commence-
(reubens 1st, my dads 50th, lindsays 60th, my grannys 80th, ricks aunt and uncles 50th and ricks 30th) not to mention the hundreds of January birthdays in our family- ah well, isn't it great we can enjoy them all.

Autumn loveliness

Since the last post granny and granda allen have returned to us. It is great to have them back- reuben was glad to see them, although grannys sling means she can't pick him up just yet!

lots has happened in the past wee while- at the start of November rick and I went with friends of ours to the Youth for Christ formal in the Stormont. We didn't feel very youthful in comparison to most other people there but it was a good night and fun to get dressed up!


We went to Castlewellan for the day and it was beautiful. I love the autumn and the walk around the castle was great!



On friday granny winnie got a wee surprise and was given her christmas present early! it was a computer from the whole family and we were (nearly) all there! Here is a really bad picture of us all crammed in her study.


On saturday night stewart took rick and I to the mandella hall in belfast to hear foy vance- it was amazing. The performance was unbelievable so I am keeping an eye out for tickets next time he plays here, i know loads of people who would love him. He is a christian guys who writes everyday guitar music but he is brilliant, and he is from Belfast!

Well reuben is teething so haven't had much sleep over the past few nights- so far so good tonight. please let his teeth come soon!