Clive's new look ....

Clive and Murray are delighted with Clive's new 'fluffy' look from Positive Dog Training.

Murray particularly loves when Clive is really 'fluffy and soft' and Liz at Positive Dog Training did a great job the other day making sure that Clive was a big ball of fluff for Murray!

So that's all the family groomed, Murray and his Dad got their haircuts last week, Murray's Mom got her nails done at Anna Schu (part of a great offer for special needs Moms) and now Clive is groomed and looking wonderful!

With all that preparation done, guess it's time for a trip ....

Stay tuned for Murray and Clive's next BIG adventure!  If we said we're meeting 'PLUTO' you might guess where we're all headed ....

Mega excitment here in the House of Clive ....

- Clive & Co

A fantastic offer for 'special' Moms at Anna Schu until the end of June .....

As Murray's Mom mentioned the other day she had a very special treat the other day.

She was at Anna Schu's in Bray with Lisa from Hammiesblog and Grace App for iPhone, iTouch and iPad - Picture Exchange for Non-Verbal People.  Both were invited to do a review whilst having a mini-manicure and classic pedicure in this lovely Bray salon as Anna was about to announce a very special promotion for 'special needs' Moms in conjunction with the Special Needs Parents Association.

As Murary's Mom mentioned in her last post - it can be all to easy to get caught up in being a special needs parent looking after the needs of your children all the time and forgetting to take care of yourself. But you're important too - very important.  Happy parents mean happier kids so take the time out to look after yourself once in a while and now with this special offer you can have a chance to do just that .....

Just like Murray's Mom and her friend Lisa - they had a lovely morning - enjoying a catch up while both had their finger nails and toenails impeccably looked after and both came away totally relaxed with the most beautiful finger nails and toenails.

Murray who always notices these things - told his Mom she looked "pretty awesome" to quote himself when she showed him her nails that evening.  The wonderful thing is - five days later both fingernails and toenails are still perfect.  Not a chip on any nail.  Impressive stuff - considering all the gardening that Murray and his Mom did yesterday!

Anyway, as we mentioned Anna Schu's are doing a very special offer for 'special needs' Moms from now until the end of June.  Firstly, you need to email the Special Needs Parents Association at info@specialneedsparents.ie to request your exclusive voucher.  The offer is for one special needs parent plus a friend, but your friend can be anyone, parent or not!

The offer is available from Monday to Wednesday and you need to book in together on (01) 282 8422.  It takes just over an hour to have the treatments.

Murray's Mom enjoying her pedicure - it was so relaxing.  The massage chair was pretty cool too!  Murray loves trying out these chairs when we visit our local furniture store - Murray's Mom never gets the time to sit down and try them out so she was particularly pleased to be able to sit back and try out the massage chair while her feet were being buffed, polished and painted.

Admiring her nails after the mini-manicure ...

Perfect polish that has lasted so well - five days later and not a chip ....

Murray's Mom is very impressed!

So here's Anna's offer ....

You can enjoy a mini-manicure - which begins with a nail soak, cuticle work, nail shape and buff, followed by massage and paint to finish, than followed by a classic pedicure. The classic pedicure starts with a foot soak and includes a dry skin exfoliation.  Cuticle work, nail shape and polish, buff are followed by a massage and paint to finish.  All of this for just €56 for two - which works out at just €28 if you are sharing the cost!

So if you're a 'special needs' Mom out there that lives around the Dublin/Bray/Wicklow area - this is a fantastic deal. You can book this special offer and bring along a friend or maybe a friend will book the offer and treat her 'special' friend.  Whatever way you want to work the deal - it's a great offer and we highly recommend Anna Schu for brillant nails and we all need a special treat now and then. Remember with the school holidays and our 'Irish' summer just around the corner - you have the next month at Anna Schu's to get your nails and feet looking perfect for summer.

Remember carers need to look after themselves too!

Huge thanks to Anna of Anna Schu for supporting this initiative on behalf of Special Needs Parents.  It is great idea to have a 'Care of the Self' campaign for special needs parents and we hope lots of Moms out there out to experience Anna Schu in Bray.

- Clive & Co

Don't worry - we haven't forgotten to post up Clive's 'new look' photos either!  We are just saving them for later in the week

Enjoying wide open spaces and some much needed 'wellness' and 'me-time' ...

Families with children with special needs need to take the time to look after themselves as well and enjoy doing things just for themselves sometimes as well.  It can be all to easy to get caught up with the 'special needs' concerns within the family and not take the time to concentrate on their own 'wellbeing'.

Murray's Dad loves playing golf so he was delighted to be asked to take part in a golf outing a few days ago organised by Setanta Sports ...

The Old Head of Kinsale Golf course is one of best in the country and the views are magnificent - Murray's Dad had a fantastic day, he really enjoyed playing the course, in fact he won the competition! GO COLM!

Most of all, he had a well deserved few hours away from all the 'fun' and 'work' of being part of a 'special needs' family.

While Murray's Dad was enjoying some fantastic views (thanks to his work colleague Sam for taking the photos - we really appreciated them) - Murray's Mom was making sure Clive got to enjoy some great views in Howth .....

Clive and Murray's Mom were out in Howth visiting Murray's grandmother's grave and enjoying the sunshine  there.  Speaking of 'well-being' - Murray's Mom was treated to a very special treat today at Anna Schu's salon in Bray - more about that in the next few days.  We will be telling you about a very special offer at Anna Schu's for special needs Moms!

Again, it is all about looking after 'self' and making sure that the parents of children with special needs take time out to look after themselves.  If the parents aren't in a good place, the children with special needs certainly won't be - so it's very important to take the time to make sure that the Moms and Dads are good too!

Thanks to Setanta Sports, the Old Head of Kinsale golf course and Anna Schu's Salon for providing some much needed 'therapy' to Murray's Mom and Dad over the past few days.

- Clive & Co

Spring haircuts .....

For the boys - well for Murray and his Dad!

Clive has his 'grooming' session tomorrow!

More photos to follow .....

- Clive & Co

The boys were well looked after - thanks Sorcha!

Last weekend the boys were very well looked after by big sister Sorcha!

She is one special sister!

Saturday morning she took the boys into town to shop in all their favourite places!

Our blogging friends will know that Murray has always loved the colour yellow - especially yellow t-shirts!

In fact it took us a lot of time to get him to accept to wear anything other than a 'yellow' t-shirt!

These days he will wear 'blue' but yellow is still his favourite colour so he was thrilled with the new yellow hat that Sorcha got him and the new sunglasses too!

Murray is all set for the summer holidays in Spain!

Last weekend Sorcha also baked with Murray!  She is the star baker in our house and had offered to help a friend bake a special cake for her friend's Dads 50th birthday!

The baking took most of the evening and the pizzas weren't ordered in till after 10pm but that didn't matter - the girls baked a great cake (with a little Murray 'help') and most importantly the cake was a great success!

In fact Murray's Dad has put his order in for his special cake for his BIG birthday this summer!

While the boys were enjoying been looked after by Sorcha - 

their Mom and Dad were enjoying a few days in Lyon - they had a great weekend and really enjoyed all that Lyon had to offer .....

They were particularly impressed with the dogs that were allowed everywhere - not just service dogs but pet dogs in bars, restaurants and most impressively in Lyon Zoo.  Murray has so wanted Clive to be able to visit Dublin Zoo here for years and in Lyon the dogs were just able to walk in with their families and the zoo was free too!  Lyon was a lovely city and the boys are already planning a visit back with their Mom and Dad!

It was wonderful to be able to enjoy a few days away knowing that Murray was very happily being looked after by his 'great' sister Sorcha!

Thanks Sorcha!

- Clive & Co

Have a great May bank holiday weekend ....

The boys are looking forward to the May bank holiday weekend here in Dublin ....

No school till next Tuesday and the sun is shining this morning!

We hope you all have a lovely weekend and a long one if you are enjoying a bank holiday weekend too!

- Clive & Co

Happy May Day from the boys!

The boys wish all their friends a very Happy May Day!

We hope the sun is shining whenever you are in the world today!

The boys are in a great mood today - the 1st of May and they are hoping that our cold, spring weather will now be replaced soon with some much warmer weather.

They like to spend their time together out of doors ....

When Murray's Mom was a little girl - her Mom always welcomed the first of the month in with the phrase "rabbits and hares" - we don't know why, she just did and it's a tradition that has carried on in the family.

So Murray's Mom was smiling when both Murray and Clive jumped on to her bed this morning shouting "rabbits and hares"!

They haven't forgotten it was the first of the month but then again neither had Murray's dad when he woke to say "rabbits and hares" to Murray's Mom a few minutes earlier!

We don't know why we say it every month, we just do, but sometimes silly traditions like that are good and put a smile on everyone's face!

 So "rabbits and hares" and Happy May Day!

 - Clive & Co

The boys celebrate Dublin winning their first league title in 20 years .....

The boys were thrilled to be in Croke Park today to watch Dublin play Tyrone in the League Final .....

It was a cold day in Croker but a feed of chips with ketchup at half-time helped (for our American friends - chips are "french fries" here in Ireland!)

The boys love their chips!

They were so happy with the final result ....

It was a close match ....

But Dublin won by one point in the end!

Happy days for the boys!

C'mon you boys in blue!! 

- Clive & Co

Clive helping Murray at the supermarket .....

The boys were shopping in Dunnes Stores, Cornelscourt earlier this evening ....

Helping their Mom to do the weekly shop ....

They got a little distracted at the DVD display .... T

They love looking at DVDs!!

The boys go shopping .....

The boys have been a little quiet for the past week a so ....

A few personal problems kept them from blogging but they were back out and about today and Murray insisted his Mom took some photos for 'Clive's blog' ...

So here's the boys enjoying the book selection in Dubray Books in Blackrock - one of our favourite bookshops ....

Many thanks to everyone who sent us birthday wishes for Clive!

We very much appreciated them all!

Clive had a great birthday!

Murray was so happy celebrating Clive's 'special' day!

Now that the boys are back out and about again - they are looking forward to another Dublin match this coming weekend!

In the meantime, they have gone to bed with their new books!

- Clive & Co