Ireland - the short version

 Saturday

We arrived in Shannon and headed towards County Kerry, stopping in a few small towns along the way. 

 

We stayed in a bed and breakfast, Brook Lodge Hotel, a block off the hustle and bustle of Killarney Town Center.  We spent our first night enjoying the town center where we found the worlds smallest bar and most enthusiastic elderly singer. 

 

 

Sunday

We took a Ring of Kerry bus excursion.  Gorgeous sites!

 

 

 

Monday

We drove to Dublin.  Checked into our bed and breakfast and hopped on the Dublin hop on-hop off bus.  First stop Trinity University.  Next, we met up with Katie, Chad, Kayla and James at the Guinness Storehouse.

 

 

 

Tuesday

Matt, Mike, and Charlie arrived.  We walked through a park and took a tour of the historic Kilmainham Jail.  Then headed for a tour and tasting at Teeling Whiskey.

 

Wednesday

We learned and played Gaelic games:  Handball, Gaelic Football and Hurling. 

Good times all around.  Then we drove to Galway, checked into our house, and made our way to a nearby pub.

 

 

Thursday

We took a tour bus through County Galway.

 

Cliffs of Moher

 

 

Friday

Chris and I left the others and headed to Shannon where we stayed in a fabulous bed and breakfast Carry Gerry House.  We spent our first-last night having dinner at Bunratty Castle.

 

 

 

 Saturday

We headed to the airport after one final Irish breakfast.  After 90 minutes in flight, the pilot announced we were having technical issues and would need to return to Shannon.
 

Sunday

Finally back to NY.  Then an overnight drive to VA.  Man, I missed my babies!

 

 

 

 

 

Kindergarten : take one

 It's official...we have a kindergartener! 

 

While getting dressed for school he said, "I don't want to go."  I quickly stole a line straight from The Kissing Hand and said, "Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do."  And that was that.  The walk to the bus stop was slow.  Very slow.  But the tears were only mine.

 

 

The Bus Stop :)

 

 

First lunch...

 

He said he had a great day.  And that's about all I got from him.  I'm calling it a success!

3 Rooms for 4 Kids

In my efforts to preserve the little things, here's a glance into kids rooms.  I know their rooms will change, probably several times, over the next 15+ years.

 

My mom made the curtains in all three kids rooms (and the two large pillows in Audra's room).  In each room is a framed copy of their birth announcement.  And, the alphabet is also in each room (in fact, all the kids have learned their ABC's while getting ready for bed thanks mostly to their Daddy).

 

Audra 

Special artwork by Mommy, Daddy and Nonna.

 

 

 

Ethan & Owen

 

 

Notice the two small paintings beside the bike print, they are 2 of the 3 pictures made for Ryan's room before he was born.  These two are signed Mommy and Daddy.  Nonna's picture remains in Ryan's room.  Technically, we never got around to making ones for the twins room (hey, they came early!).

 

Ethan's Lovey

 

Owen's Lovey

 

Ryan

Note the shout out to Texas and New York...

Growth chart and daily calendar thanks to Aunt Kelli and Uncle Dustin!

Nonna's artwork and baby pictures of Mama's first baby :)

 

I hope they enjoy their rooms as much as I do!