More Ireland

this was a very last minute trip

as we were unsure if steve could

get the time off from work.

we pulled it together pretty quickly.

here is our itinerary...

we booked our car on 

the Oscar Wilde ferry

leaving from Cherbourg, France...

about 3 1/2 hours northwest of us.

the ferry was not leaving until 

9:30 at night so we took advantage

of our time and visited Normandy.

visiting the american cemetery was emotional.

i'd love to go back with the

older kids and take a guided tour.

the ferry ride from cherbourg to rosslare ireland

left at 9:30 and we arrived at around 3:30 the next day.

it was a rough ride that night

and we were all looking a bit green the next morning.

we drove from rosslare, which is south

of dublin..to cork.

we stayed in a hotel that night.

the kids loved the indoor pool.

the next day we checked out and

drove to the charming town of 

kinsale.

it was COLD and windy and snowing.

but the sun was out

and this being a tourist town in the summer

we had the place to ourselves.

(photo cred's to Will :)

i loved the brightly painted store fronts in kinsale.

we popped into one shop

and bought some new wellies.

we lived in our wellies in ireland!

lunch at the fishy fishy cafe

was delicious!

we had our fill of

fish and chips and seafood chowder.

and maybe a guinness. 

if you're ever in kinsale..

visit the fishy fishy cafe.

i bought their cookbook :)

full belly's

and new wellies

we headed northwest for the 

town of dingle.

(let me say that the boys

had a field day with the name 

of this town...and not just the

young boys)

we arrived

after dark at our cottage.

what a surprise the next 

morning..waking up

to a view of the  snow capped mountains,

grazing sheep all around

and the ocean.

this cottage was charming..

and cold. 

steve kept the fire going all 

night that first night

and i think the kids slept

with their coats on.

our view from the front of the cottage

view from the back

little hike up to see the sheep.

dingle also was painted brightly.

we ate lunch two days in a row

at Murphy's pub.

we loved the food,

the hospitality

and the free wi-fi.

and then went for ice cream

at murphy's.

lots of murphy's.

:)

the next day we drove

the ring of dingle.

we followed a guide book

and it took us

most of the day.

the sights were breathtakingly

beautiful.

at one stop on the tour

there is an old ruined church

from the 12th century.

we got out and walked around

and as i read more from the book

it talked about an old stone that was

there 900 years even before the church

was built.

it marked a grave, indicating that this

was a pre-christian holy spot.

a hole was drilled centuries ago

through the top of the stone as a place

where people would come to seal a deal..standing on

the graves of their ancestors and in front of the house

of God, they'd "swear to God" by touching their 

thumbs through this stone.

you can still use this to renew your marriage vows..

and that's what we did.

(photo cred's to hannah :)

sun going down on 

part of the three sisters mountain range.

we loved dingle! 

more tomorrow!

Ireland

we arrived home in paris

last night.

i kept thinking during the car ride home

..as i saw

the signs for paris..

this is my home.

i live here!

in paris!

even after 7 months

i'm still in awe that we live here.

ireland was incredible.

when i think back on our week

in this beautiful country..

i think of..

 the people.

their friendliness,

smiles,

and laughter.

i think of the 

beautiful landscape

and the never ending

rock walls.

i think of 

the abandoned stone

houses and the 

families that

left them.

i think of 

the sheep and 

the warm woolens

we bought!

more ireland tomorrow.

i have laundry to clean

and a fridge to fill!

18

i became a mother 18 years ago

yesterday.

and all day i reflected on that moment.

i have the worlds worst memory..

but i remember every detail of each

of my children's births.

we had a lovely family dinner

with each of us telling stephen

what we love and appreciate 

about him.

steve sent me this text yesterday.

in our days of texting and emailing..

and not much letter writing anymore..

i wanted to remember his words.

i feel like the most blessed

person in the world.

4 healthy, happy children.

a loving, hardworking husband.

the opportunity to live here in paris

and travel the world.

 tonight steve and i are

taking stephen to dinner

here..

and tomorrow

we're off to ireland for the week!

Les Invalides

it was a beautiful day here in paris yesterday.

sunny but still cold.

this week spring is in the air

and i'm ready for it.

we walked to the library 

with the little kids yesterday

and then on to 

Les Invalides.

it is such a beautiful building.

ordered to be built by

Louis XIV in 1670 and completed

in 1676.

it was a home and hospital

for soldiers.

there are a few different museums

inside..all relating to french military history.

it is also the burial place of 

Napoleon Bonaparte.

and had it not been late in the  

afternoon..we would have 

gone into the musee de l'Armee.

we will be back to visit this museum

for sure.

however, we did enjoy

just walking around the 

grounds and courtyard.

leaving les invalides

walking towards the 

grand palais on the left.

we spent a lot of time this weekend

planning our next trip!

the kids start vacation this coming

weekend and we're headed 

to ireland!

ireland has been on the top of 

my list to visit and i could not 

be more excited.

we leave saturday on the overnight ferry!

WTF (welcome to France)

sarah at clover lane's post today

made me go back and look

at pictures of the kids

when they were younger.

or maybe i just have time on my 

hands today as i wait

and wait

and wait

for my plumber to show up.

why WOULD he be here at 1:00

when he said he'd be here at 9:00 a.m?

i've learned to stop questioning

the french and their ways.

we just chalk it up as just another

WTF.

(welcome to france)

oh..believe me,

i have many a WTF moment.

starting way back with our visa process.

and then of course there was the 

carte de sejour..

or our temporary residence card.

that was a fun process.

waiting ALL day in lines 

and waiting half naked

(have they heard of a johnny?)

to have an x-ray to make sure 

we don't have tuberculosis.

after we passed all the necessary

questions and medical exams

we had to run across the street

to the TABAC shop

to buy stamps to pay for the card.

why WOULD  they take a credit card or check?

and why would they sell the stamps there?

of COURSE they sell them at the TABAC shop.

"yes, i'll have 700 euro worth of stamps,

a pack of smokes and a lotto ticket,

s'il vous plait?"

i'm NOT complaining. 

really.

i actually get a kick out of

french customs and behaviors.

but more importantly,

it opens my eyes and mind

to different cultures and that

is one of the reasons we moved 

our family here.

we want our children (and us!) to experience

difference.

difference in language, environment,

clothing, education, food, religions.

ok..

plumber is here.

i don't think i've ever seen 

a plumber dress so nicely.

WTF.