Winter Wonderland

The mountain behind us has just had a nice smattering of fresh snow, so we (yes the WHOLE family) headed up this afternoon for some winter fun. The boys were introduced to icicles for the first time and learned how rain freezes into some pretty gorgeous shapes. Learning and laughter, nice work Brothers Trimm!

Me and My Shadow - Caedence's review

I'm so excited to have a friend join us on the blog today. Everyone meet Caedence. Caedence, meet everyone. 

This kid is one of the nicest I've met around town and I was delighted to have him review a wonderful theatre performance recently put on in our lovely theatre in town. If you find it in your city, do go and see it.

During the school holidays our family went to see the Patch Theatre Company's production of, "Me & My Shadow" at the Theatre Royal. It was extremely funny: laugh out loud, hysterically funny.

There were two actors playing a girl & a boy in a city made entirely of brown paper bags.

My favourite part was when the 'boy' tried to imitate what the 'girl' had done in the beginning of the play when she was on the stage alone. The 'boy', watched behind three huge, tall, long sheets of paper that hung as a back drop to the set.  

At this stage we did not know about the 'boy'. This is partly why the imitation scene was so funny as we were not expecting him to play as she had. The 'girl' had made some paper-cut-out-girls all in a row and said hello behind each girl with a different voice. She then kissed each girl goodnight and lay down with them for a nap.

When the boy imitated this scene, it was hysterical, I laughed until I coughed and had to get a drink! 

Not only was there humour, there was creative use of lights, shadows and spray paint. I would highly recommend this play for ages 5-12

4 out of 5 stars

Caedence Thorp Kuepper

(age 10)

"A wonderful, humorous play with high creativity using just paper bags. I give it 4 and a half stars out of 5" Noah - brother (age 8)

Turtle Power

Move over Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - this guy is WAY cooler... seriously, what this kid couldn't do with that back pack and beanie! I'm in love.

Map it up

Genius for any boy traveller - a map that you can scrunch in your pocket, no need to keep things neat, just stuff it away til you need it, and once you do, hey presto - big bursts of colourful imformation. You'll never get lost again!

This one's for you Dad

This year my Dad retires from over 40 years as a barrister. He'll be hanging up his wig and gown at the end of August for the final time, leaving behind many MANY years of litigation for a road of relaxation, photography and his beloved rugby. 

As his career draws to a close, I wonder where one begins to review those working years, and how do you even begin a new life as a retiree? It's a major leap especially for a man who worked so hard. But even when his workload weighed heavy his family always came first. I remember the lengths and the drama that would lead to his attendance at major events like school plays, confirmations and parent teacher meetings, always it seemed by the skin of his teeth, but there he was nonetheless. At Valentines Day he would often be out of town on circuit, but would send us cards with the worst cover up handwriting ever, thank goodness he didn't try his hand in the spy game. Every Sunday, my sisters and I would write him letters, promising good behaviour and that we would do our homework and listen to Mummy. We probably wrote the same thing every week to him, but after our lamb roast, up we went to secretly tuck our notes into his luggage, while he would do the exact same, with notes popped under pillows to enjoy just before bed.

But although his work kept him away a lot when we were kids, his loyalty to us, his work and his faith is one trait that will keep him in my highest esteem. He has the respect of everyone I know and that makes me so very proud. Proud as punch actually.

So in celebration of Father's Day in Ireland, I would like to raise a glass to my Dad. A father, a grandfather, a man full of love for his wife, kids and grandkids. Often silent in emotion, he shouts loud with his sentiment, and for that, I will always be grateful. x

I just love the tender moment caught between Dad and his Mum. The day is his first as a barrister, known as being 'called to the bar'.

Tee Pee Night LIght

I am so excited that Moomah has an online store for those of us unable to visit them in NYC. I'm seriously considering this Do It Together night light for Mr Almost 5's birthday. It's just plain gorgeous and the perfect winter project.

Lego Mania

Lego - wouldn't you love to have been the person who invented it? I recently found some old pieces when snooping around our old attic at home in Dublin and brought a big bag home for the boys. Did you know that the old lego never had any faces drawn on them?> Nor did they have arms that moved. Geesh, we older kids were robbed!!
My husband is starting a photography project, inspired by the boys creations. He is documenting all the 'machines' that they build. Who knows what he'll do with them, but I think it's a sweet idea.

Crafting with Boys

Meg Rosker is a dynamo. She is a born advocate for children and the importance and power of play for all kids. She has recently redeveloped her website which is a MUST for you all. Recently she shared a post from my old pal Jen Cooper about introducing boys to crafting. We all hear about reluctant readers, well how about coy crafters?  Here's a helping hand for all those who'd like some support. So here am I sharing the sharing..so to speak.
x

Mothers in Arms

We work hard, us mums. We work hard at raising our kids AND for those who try to pursue our creative dreams, we work stupidly hard to make a difference to our own lives and hopefully light up a few others. I have the REAL pleasure of working for one such mother who manages to raise a large family while following her dream of becoming a respected photographer and artist, away from her homeland and the support of family.
Andrea contributes to The Brothers Trimm under the guise Flannery O' Kafka.  This week she had her work blatantly reproduced by an Italian newspaper without consent or credit. What's even worse is that it was a shot of her daughter suggesting that she, along with other female bloggers like to sexualise child models and abuse their childhood through suggestive poses and inappropriate dress.
Ok so there may be some truth in this elsewhere but certainly not here. This woman doesn't have a TV for goodness sake! She prays, she creates, she devotes HERSELF to her kids and to print an image without permission, without proper investigation and with such slander, well, it just makes me a teensy bit angry. Actually, it makes me mad. Shame on the journalist, shame on the Editor of La Republica. Shame Shame Shame.

You can support Andrea by sharing this article on Facebook. Tweet away too.

Tattoo - tastic

Birthday ideas for Mr 5 are abound and here's the BEST tattoos I've seen for ages. Made by the clever clogs' at Tattly, I would be super mum if I presented these to the boys. Monsters? Oh yeah. Oh and did I mention there's an Oliver Jeffers design?!