Posting

Well, I haven't posted anything in a LONG time. Sorry about that! My pictures have been acting up so it has been hard to upload them. When I get home I will update it with the rest of the trips I have done and what has been going on here :)

Connemara/Cong Tour

So Laura and I did a tour this weekend to Connemara and Cong with the Galway Tour Company!
It was a lot of fun and the sites were absolutely gorgeous!

Our first stop was the Ross Errily Abbey - it is a 14th century Franciscan friary and is described as "the most extensive and best preserved of all the Franciscan friaries in Ireland". From the outside it doesn't look that big, but once you go inside there are all these passageways and rooms which extend far out. Here are some pics:

 It was bigger than it looked. There were lots of passageways and rooms that kept leading outward and to even more places. It was absolutely gorgeous and so well preserved.

                           

 

Our next stop was at Cong village. It is a small little place where the film "The Quiet Man" was made. It is actually only about 30 minutes away from where I am!

                        

 

                         The Galway/Mayo county line.

A small fisherman's "hut"

Cong Abbey

Next, we headed to Lough Nafooey - this hidden gem of Ireland has breath-taking mountains, valleys and a lake which is home to An Capall Uisce (The Water Horse).

 It was amazing! The view from here was gorgeous! We got to get out of the bus and walk around a little bit to take pictures and enjoy the scenery!

After that we headed to Kylemore Abbey! OMG! It is ... just WOW!

Took my 8 month picture there :)

                             

 

                     

 

Overall, it was a great trip and a fun weekend! Another trip down, so many more to go :)

Back to School and First Day!

Ahh the boys are back to school! 

Charlie is starting his first day of "big school"! His uniform is so small and cute!

Charlie is in Junior Infants (Preschool/Kindergarten) and Jack is in 5th class (5th grade).

                                       

bahahahaha Gracie pooped!

Trip to Dublin with the Family :)

So, the whole family went on holidays to Dublin! It was so much fun!

Day 1, Sunday, Aug. 25: MAYO GAELIC SEMI-FINAL GAME!

James, Jack, and I took the train to Dublin on Sunday morning and headed to the Mayo Gaelic semi-final match! Gaelic football is a combination of soccer, rugby, basketball, and American football. It was hard to understand when I first got to Ireland, but now I totally know what is going on.

I am an official MAYO fan! :)

On the train heading to Dublin

Croke Park

Yes! We are ready!

End Result: MAYO WON!!! 

Mayo 1-16 and Tyrone 0-13

We headed to the hotel (The CityWest Hotel - http://www.citywesthotel.com) and settled in.

Day 2, Monday, Aug. 26: DUBLIN ZOO!

We got up early and had breakfast at the hotel. Then we headed into Dublin on the LUAS (like the DART back home) and walked to the Dublin Zoo! I love zoos, so I was really excited!

                                  

 

                         

ahh the best baby :)

                            

 

We had a great day... long, but great :)

Day 3, Tuesday, Aug. 27: TAYTO PARK!

This place was awesome! So family friendly and a great day out! It is a big amusement park with a rock wall, zip lines, animals, water areas, the Tayto Factory, picnic areas, etc.

                              

 

A huge jungle gym!

                           

 

The entrance to the Tayto Factory tour.

The actual Tayto crisps being made!

High flyers :)

                            

 

Super tall rock wall!

Day 4, Wednesday, Aug. 28: GOING BACK HOME!

Judi and I went to Dundrum Shopping Center (a HUGE mall) and did a bit of shopping :)

Then the boys took the LUAS and the train back to Mayo Abbey, while Judi, Gracie, and I drove back.

It was a really great trip!!