I could tell from the way Tony was acting that he'd planned something very special and wanted me to be happy with all he'd done. He didn't say anything and to most others it wouldn't have been noticeable but from the little looks he threw my way and the way he kept straightening this clothing, I knew he was slightly nervous.
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I can't say Tony or I have ever been very good at St Valentine's Day, not in the traditional sense at least. Tony isn't usually very interested and I tend to view it as a time to celebrate all love, love in all of its glory and forms.
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Baby Brendan made his entrance into the world early this morning and is already as gorgeous and precious as the other O'Connal offspring.
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Between work and sorting clothes and other belongings we'd had a rather busy start to the day, a fact no-one would ever suspect should they happen to see me and the girls reclining the way that we were ( Read more... )

As soon as I woke this morning I knew for certain that there was no baby on the way, what I didn't know and wasn't at all certain about was how I felt about that ( Read more... )

The boys are I were spending some time together playing with their Lego and listening to good old kiwi music when the girls walked in.

Instantly Annabelle groaned and said, "Mum! It's not May you know, a little less of the Kiwi Music, please.... as in none!"
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I've been so preoccupied with Christmas and New Year that I didn't realise I was late.

Tony quite naturally is thrilled, a sentiment I strangely don't seem to share. I did my best to hide that fact but he knows me far too well to be fooled, just as I know him too well to know he wasn't fooled despite him not saying anything about it.
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Just as quickly as they arrived Christmas and New Year are both over but the blessings they left behind remain. Christmas as usual was wonderful, a time spent with loved ones, the presents given only shadowed by the greater gift of each other.

I think this year in among the wonder and joy three things stood out for me as being really special.
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Every year I know Christmas is coming, after all it is an annual event and one that we all look forward to immensely. Every year I vow to be more prepared for the next one and every year I'm not, yet it still comes together perfectly and the preparations become almost as enjoyable and memorable as the day itself ( Read more... )

Early mornings are always my favourite part of the day, the time of the day when my only company are the sounds of the birds, the weather, the silence and usually Ravensmoore pottering around in the dining room ( Read more... )