Week of July 27

 I had some travel coming up for work, so we decided to venture out on a bus tour the weekend before which took us down south about 2 hours to the cities of Kilkenny, Glendalough and Wicklow.  All three areas are known for their natural beauty and are famous for being the locations of some well known movies, like Braveheart. 

St. Kevin's Church

Glendalough is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, renowned for an early midevil monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St. Kevin. 

As with most kids and history, they were less than impressed with the architecture.  We would say things, like... "Did you know this building is thousands of years old?!?" To which Annelyse replied, "Is that older than God?"



Round Tower - built for protection from Viking raids

Tunneling under fallen graves...

We ventured to a place called the Wicklow Gap.  The gap is a 26 km section from Hollywood to Laragh and it is one of only two routes crossing the Wicklow Mountains from east to west.  The road through the Wicklow Gap is both an important regional route and a very popular tourist route as it travels through some spectacular scenery.  The roads are very narrow and winding.  We found out being in the back of the bus that the girls do in fact get car sick... nonetheless, it was beautiful even on a cloudy, overcast day!

It was VERY windy at the top of those mountains... Annelyse was making sure that Lo didn't get "blown over"

I love all of their faces in this picture.

After Wickow we headed to the village of Kilkenny.  It is a popular tourist town in the south-east part of Ireland.  We only had a bit of time to explore and at this point in the day, the girls were about spent, so we mostly just walked the streets and of course found yet another souvineer shop.  They still haven't yet figured out that we aren't exactly tourists at this point and therefore don't need a trinket that says "Ireland" from each city we visit.

Kilkenny Castle (the girls opted not to take the tour.)

Bus trip back to Dublin... they were burned out.

Russ has discovered the panoramic setting on the camera!

My three musketeers found plenty to do while I was gone with picnics in the park and meeting new neighboors, playing on the Killiney beach and of course, being goofy sisters!

People's Park Playground in Dun Laoghaire

Upon my return, the girls are always anxious to find out what I have brough them (usually candy) and  to dress up in my dirty clothes.  Annelyse's vote on the candy was the chocolate from Italy and Lo's vote went to the Spanish cookies.  Seing that they devoured both of them, I think it's safe to assume their vote was based on which ever one their sister didn't pick!


Sadly, these dresses don't look that big on them!

Another week in the books!  Next week we are off on a mini-family vacation with a little work on the side!

Hope all is well with everyone! 

Love & miss you,

Lyndsey, Russ, Annelyse & Loralye