5 reasons why everyone needs a trip to Donegal..

This times last month we were on our holidays..

If you've met me or stumbled across my Facebook feed you'll know I love Donegal.  When I was young my granny used to book a house by the beach at Portnoo and everyone used to pile down for one glorious week during the summer.  It was an old house with a miss match of double beds, single beds and sofa beds in a variety of rooms.  Someone new would arrive every day and the tiny kitchen was full of granny, my mum and my aunties tee-hee-ing and laughing while cooking up the dinner.  You were lucky if you managed to keep the same bed 2 nights in a row and it rained 90% of the time but they were really happy holidays!

Now my mum and dad book a house each year in Dunfanaghy.  It too is gathering a crowd of regulars who join us for a couple of days.  As a parent I loved seeing Joel enjoying what I used to love.  From the moment he woke he would be pulling on the back door to go outside to play and explore.  He would play with my cousins, potter with his bucket and spade, go on walks to see animals and dig on the beach until he'd collapse rosy-cheeked, ready for bed.  I loved seeing him spend time with lots of family and being soothed to sleep by my granny singing to him the wee songs she used to sing to me...

My Aunt Jane she called me in

She gave me tea out of her wee tin

Half a bap with sugar on top

Three black balls from her wee shop

My Aunt Jane she's awful smart

She baked 10p in her apple tart

When then halloween comes round

Beside that tart I'm always found

Phil has fallen in love with Donegal too and each year we fantasise about winning the lottery and the big holiday home we would buy there  with our winnings.  So I know its not just me, everyone loves a bit of Donegal, and heres why..

Beautiful deserted beaches...

 

Not a sinner in sight.  

Stunning scenery...

Staring into the Atlantic from the tip of Ireland.  I could be wrong in my geography but I'm pretty sure if you had super dooper strength binoculars the next piece of land you would be able to see would be America. 

Outdoor fun....

We were very lucky with the weather this year and were able to go to the beach without a jumper!  But rain or shine, welly boots or sandals, Joel could be found exploring the beach

There was a field next to the house full of sheep that Joel liked to visit and baa at.  This picture was taken at an outdoor centre.  More of a run down 'Father Ted' affair.  We paid our £4 in, briefly looked around and then swiftly left.  Don't think we'll be back next year.  Do any of you recognise this place from the picture?  

6am rock pooling.  When in Rome, eh?

Joel visited the local stables most mornings to see the horses getting their breakfast.  He's too little to get on a hose this year but he was just as happy to watch..

Family friendly ...

Making sandcastles with granny Jo, great-aunt Emma and my wee cousins.

Exploring the dunes with my cousins, the location where he subsequently met his summer love Amber.

Discovering a hairy caterpillar on the beach with granny Jo.  Pretty much his holiday highlight.

Swinging with daddy.

Sitting and enjoying the view while granda took some photos. 

Nutella pizza...

Ok, so nutella pizza isn't something you would associate with Dunfanaghy traditionally but we went for dinner in a place called The Rusty Oven this year.  It does amazing pizza and you can sit outside practically on the beach to eat it.  There was a surf school in getting a meal and they were served nutella pizza's as dessert.  They looked so good we had to try so we got one to take away to bring back to the house for everyone to try.  Lovely stuff!

Good views, fresh air, family and fun.  Total relaxation, a Donegal break is definitely good for the soul.  Just wish it wasn't so long until our next break..

Family Photo Session

Before I became a mum there was a number of things that I thought I wouldn't ever do;

- Bring the baby into bed
  Wise up, sometimes I just need to sleep.

-Allow my house to become a multicoloured plastic toy fest
*Sigh*

-Get a family photo shoot, spending money on photos when everyone has cameras on their phones      anyways.  And give the photos as 'presents' at christmas time.  And post the photos all over  Facebook, and force everyone with a set of eyes to look at them.
I did all that.  I'm not even sorry, getting a family photo shoot is a brilliant idea, and I'll tell you why..

I discovered Jonathan Ryder Photography through a friend.  Laura is getting married in 2015 and has become an expert in wedding shows.  Jonathan Ryder was an exhibiter at one of these shows and she followed his blog.   He posted calling for families looking for a family photo shoot, he was offering an enticing deal in exchange for the right to use the images in his portfolio.  To be honest I had never considered a family shoot until I read his post.  As I sat in work I read the post on my phone.  I reflected on how much time had passed already.  How did I end up back at work already? Maternity leave was over.  Joel was no longer a wee baby, in fact he had just learnt how to walk all on his own that week.
I responded to his blog and he agreed to come and see us for a family photo shoot.

Jonathan arrived at the house and of course Joel was napping.   What bad timing.  But Jonathan didn't bat an eyelid, he has plenty of experience of the magical routine blips of babies that rear their heads around important plans.  A father himself, he knew the importance of allowing Joel to nap in order to have him in good form for the photo session.  Jonathan relaxed on our sofa and had a cup of tea.  He chatted about his family, why he moved to Belfast and his thoughts about where he would send his child to school.  He was a quiet man but friendly, it was very comfortable to have him in our home.  We were totally at ease with him.  And so was Joel.  He was snoozing on Phil's knee on the sofa.  With the gentle noise of us chatting he openned his eyes.  He sat up on Phil's knee and gave Jonathan a huge grin.  He dropped down off the sofa, toddled over to Jonathan's side, placed a hand on his knee and gave him a giggle.  Brilliant, I knew that this shoot would go well, Joel had already made friends with Jonathan.

Jonathan sprung into action.  He brought in his equipment, assessed the lighting in our flat and rearranged the furniture.
There was no posing, no stiff awkward positioning, no forced smiles.  The afternoon evolved naturally,  Joel playing and practicing his new walking skills.  Jonathan was patient and responsive to Joel's mood and whims.  Joel was facinated by the camara equipment and then when that wore off we used the magic of the noisey rattle to get him to look at the camara direction.
Jonathan spent over 2 hours with us and only made a move to leave when Joel was showing signs of tiredness.  He gave us a jolly goodbye with the promise that the photos would follow soon.

I was stunned by the photos that he produced.
Yes, they are high quality beautiful images, but I don't even care about that (sorry Jonathan).  I am not a person for the tiny details and I am unsure if I would notice the quality of images hanging on peoples walls.  And every photo I own of Joel is beautiful, even the blurry ones on my Iphone.  I do not need a professional to produce a photo of my child for me to find it beautiful.  What is unique about these photos is that it captures beautifully a snap shot of Joel's development, of his wee personality, of our family happiness in images for us to display.  Having Jonathan come to our home rather than to direct us to a studio has added an extra warmness and personal nature to the photos.  They are natural and warm and exactly how I see our family life.  I feel like Jonathan has pinpointed what is important to us in these photo's.   I just adore them, and since some of you aren't within grabbing distance for me to force your head to look at my images let me share some of my (many) favourites here with you.

I've been on the record as saying this many times, who needs toys??  Joel is a natural explorer and this image shows his natural curiosity.

I love this wee snap shot of a natural family moment, in our own kitchen.  

Look at my two men having a wee chat, I love that his moment has been captured. 

Joel ready for a carry on, this was snapped as we were playing peek-a-boo popping up from behind the sofa.  I know my hair is messy but that is everyday motherhood, eh?  For me it just adds to the natural nature of the image, a real family moment captured. 

These images were captured just as Joel had found the confidence to take off by himself.  This photo, taken mid-waddle, just reminds me of his wee awkward amble at this stage.  His wee finger pointing where he wants to go, his face mixed with concentration at what he is trying to achieve and smiling with excitement at his new skill. 

I hope you can see why I love these images.  To me this is no ordinary photo shoot, rather a selection of images captured from a day in the life of our family.  I am so happy that I became one of those people that gets a family photo shoot.  When we pack up and move to our new house next month i am looking forward to finding the perfect place and hanging these memories on the wall, memories of Joel's first year in our first family home.