New Acquisitions

Since it was so sunny in Ireland we didn't need them. But our Scottish mudroom has some new boots. A pair for everyone!

Probably the highest prized of the boots would be those of the weeiest Price. The first store didn't have her size so as others were picking some out she started flailing and crying "I too, I too!!!" Totally devastated.

The second place had a much better selection and she even chose some unicorn boots for herself. Perhaps because unicorns are Scotland's National Animal? But she is so proud to present them, and so proud to put them on herself.

What’s for Dinner?

Scottish chicken in a bag! Seasoned and steamed in the oven and it was quite delicious, along with some rice and steamed vegetables. Which was good, since I'm still recovering from being sick.

Then followed up with some fresh popped popcorn on the stove!

The Window Seat -July 17

Lilly moved a bunch of her personal items: a couple toys, water bottle, diapers, wipes... all into the window sill and had a seat. She was not willing to be moved and was relatively still and really so very content- often turning around to take the scene of the Siene. I just sat with her we enjoyed passing some time there.

How Far We’ve Come - July 17

A lovely little stroll from the Tuileries to the Batobus and back home and my heart is full.


Below:

The kids pointing to the Arc du Triomphe to show how far we walked. Well, Jackson is. Molly is pointing to that random guy. We thought this was REALLY funny.

Taking a partial group pic and a passerby offered to take a group pic. I love it when that happens.

Lilly getting a shoulder ride

The kids waiting patiently for the Batobus on the Seine

And the kids being generally delightful - as they most often are. 💕 probably my favorite picture of the trip.

And on our cruise home, some freshly painted celebratory graffiti on the Seine. Past Île Saint Louis- certainly something for the locals to enjoy.

Limericks July 25

At dinner last night, I explained what a Limerick was to the kids. We had LOTS of giggles and ended with these gems:

There once was a boy who was funny
This Jackson, he often got wrecked, sonny
He was sort of Coo-coo
He went off to Peru
And he picked up his own pet bunny


There once was a girl named Molly
And she has a friend named Holly
They jumped on a plane
And left in the rain
And now they live over in Bali

There once was a girl named Lilly
She was small and also quite silly
She really liked blackberries
And also ate cherries
She then got a kitten named Billy

She also liked chap chap


Sent from my iPhone

Lilly’s first roller coaster - July 17

Well, this was awesome. There's a video to go along with it. Actually, a couple videos.

After Moma, Jackson and Molly went on the splash ride in the fair on the north side of the Tuileries by Rue de Rivoli, sweet Lilly kept shouting "I too, I too!!" So we all selected a perfect ride and car for her. We of course put her in Lightning McQueen car on the Grand Prix and buckled her in. She was so proud and happy sitting in that car all big and by herself. And hen it started moving. The look on her face was priceless. As in, "OMG, does anyone realize this thing is MOVING!?!"

So the four of us spread out to different corners of the ride and cheered her on so she knew it was okay. And then, there was a hill on the ride. Whoa! That took her SEVERAL turns before she wasn't obviously wondering "what the thunder?!"

All in, it was a success and everyone was delighted.

Afterwards, Lilly and I got a seat in the Tuileries, just outside the fair and Jackson and Molly took a quick run through the fun house.

Lilly *once again* collected sugar from a random French stranger, this time on the form of a churro from a futbol-Jersey wearing 20-something sitting behind us. She stared at it and him for awhile and then finally mimicked him in eating it and WHEW! Sugar! Obviously amused, she got after it. Either Lilly is a candy/sugar magnet or giving sugar and sweets to babies is a French thing. I'm guessing the latter but will have to investigate.

Horse and Carriage

What else should one do if: it's cold and raining in Dublin, you're leaving the Guinness Storehouse, there are no 6-passenger taxis available and your 6-year old daughter is FULL of logical and convincing reasons to "*please* can we take a horse and carriage??"

Well worth the euros for the thrill.

Clip clop clip clop...

Airports in Dublin and Edinburgh - July 29

By Jackson

Both of the airports were SUPER inefficient. To get to the car rental place, you had to walk a couple football fields in Edinburgh. In Dublin, to get to the plane there were so many different things, I kind of forgot them all. Except I do remember a couple: a long hall you turned at them went down an escalator. Plus we almost didn't make it because they had a line that was really long for a bunch of different flights waiting in the same line. Then security was crazy and mom had to run back to get Lilly's water bottle and run all the way to where we were going to board the bus to go get on our plane.

It was my first commercial propeller plane! It was small and really fun. It had to propellers on both wings and we walked up steps to get on the plane but it wasn't high, it was low.


HARIBO products in a vending machine at the car rental place.

Guinness Storehouse visit, pt 2

Guinness Storehouse visit

The the old warehouse or "storehouse" and now museum was actually really amazing. I don't really like beer to begin with and Guinness or "the black stuff" is not really my wheelhouse. However, I have a new appreciation for it now. It was interesting learning about the brewing process and the older-than-the-USA company history. He museum is beautifully designed and built within a centuries old building used for storing the product and the interactive museum is definitely a destination for all ages. The kids were delighted. Having seen and read about the ingredients and roasting process, I can even appreciate the coffee and chocolate flavor within the beer. While I only had a small sip, it was a an fun experience and Joe, of course, was on cloud Guinness.

These Three

Tigey, Dottie and Bebe are the kids only companions that traveled with us from home. We've managed to pick up a few odds and ends along the way (mostly from kids meals at restaurants, but also a pocket fooseball table Jackson got at the 1€ store in Florence) but it's remarkable how little they've had, how little they've needed also how much they have enjoyed and treasured the few items they have.

Definitely an insight worth bringing home.

Sick Day for Mom

Well, if it had to happen, I suppose I'd rather it be me than the kids and be in this comfortable house in the Irish countryside instead of in Paris.

But I've been in been sickity- sick all day. Ive finally turned the corner and have some sprite and chicken broth and am sitting up but have incredibly bad aches- I feel like I've been in a car accident. It might have been the sour cream with dinner last night (we opened a new tub at the end of our taco night dinner and I was the only one to get some from that container) or it could be some virus I picked up along the way- who knows. But it's a doozy.

Again, happy to be here than other places to be sick and recover. Except recovery will have to be quick because we plan to get up early in the morning tomorrow to start the 4 hour drive to Dublin so we can make the most of our quick time there. Hopefully I'll be a-okay [enough] to not be totally miserable.

This was super sweet: Jackson was playing on his piano app on his iPad and got the sheet music to Gymnopedie and came and sat in the bed and played it for me a few times. So precious. He has a heart of gold.

On another note- now that I'm sitting up. This is one of the views from my bedroom window. If you shot an arrow from where I sit and slipped the corner of the rock on the left- that arrow would sail around the world and pass over Austin. To the right, the arrow would make it to New York. So stretched out before me, over that wild Atlantic Ocean is the (almost) whole of the United States. Pretty lovely thought to go along with a pretty lovely view.

Paris to Cork on the Plane!

Such fun to load up outside and once again- we got to self-service our luggage a bit. Again, with a smaller European plane, even our 20" suitcases were gate checked and put into the cargo hold

But here's the real delightful bit: the coffee and drinks on the plane were not only free, but delicious! And then... wait for it... our *free* snacks were a trio of delicious madeleines in vanilla, chocolate and raspberry. Leah Elena was asleep and in the row ahead of us so we asked the flight attendant to please leave one for her so she wouldn't miss out on this amazing-ness.

Well, our enthusiasm for the madeleines came full circle because the same lovely flight attendant came back and gave us some extra madeleines for later!

Lilly was a hot mess the whole flight, not sleeping. And I have now changed her diaper on two airplane bathrooms and a catamaran bathroom - among other tricky situation (ahem- dirty diaper at the beach 👎) but the crew was so helpful and kind that the crazy toddler situation wasn't really that bad at all.

Much to the kids delight, we got to exit the plane in the rear- which Jackson had asked about while still at CDG. So this went over huge. As we left our seats I did a final sweep as I tend to do (though some might call it a wee bit OCD) to look for random things we left behind and even joked about it with the flight attendant.

Much to our disappointment in the evening, Leah Elena realized she had taken off her special ring which her grandmother had given her so she could put on some hand lotion and then fell asleep- forgetting it. We've been calling airports and airlines and filing missing items reposts already. On a hopeful note- apparently our plane just goes back and forth between Cork and Paris with the same crew, so at least it stays between the two airports- assuming it's still in the plane.

**Update** On Thursday night, Leah Elena got a call from the Cork Airport lost and found and they have her ring!! On Saturday we are driving to Dublin so will go the route through Cork and get it. Amazing!!