Week of August 30, 2015... Taking It Easy With Some Local Entertainment

The week started off as expected with a new routine and little brains firing on all cylinders.  It is amazing to watch how adaptable and self-assured the girls are.  Of course we have had some tears and conversations about not wanting to go to school... EVERYDAY (the nerve we have making them go to school 5 days a week!), the girls are settling in and have already started teaching us some Irish words and prayers.  We think they might be starting to pick up a bit of an accent as well. One word that is obviously changing is Mom... I am no longer Mommy and I am now, "Mummy."  I really do wonder how they will sound when we move back! 

We decided to do some of the more touristy things in Dublin this week seeing we were all tired from a long first week at school and swim class started on Sunday at one of the local schools, Castle Park!!   We headed north to the town of Malahide to take a tour of the castle and gardens. Malahide became a permanent settlement from the coming of the Vikings, who landed in 795.  From the 1180s, the history of the area is tied to that of the Talbot family who built and lived in the Malahide Castle. 

The girls really enjoyed seeing the rooms of the children that used to live in the castle and all their old toys.  I think they found it funny that kids back then played with the same things they enjoy playing with today.  It took everything in Loralye’s being not to touch the baby-stroller which appeared as though it would fall to pieces in a slight wind.  The porcelain baby dolls and well-loved teddy bears were also quite intriguing.  Those toys along with the “potty-chair" were topics of conversation for the afternoon. 

One of the folktales they told was about the jester who lived in the castle and eventually hung himself from the balcony where musicians used to play...  There was a tiny door that he supposedly used to use to get up to the lookout tower to watch for intruders.  I wanted the girls to get a picture in front of the door, however, they were quite disturbed by this story and the thought of a tiny man (or his ghost) who potentially lived inside was more than a little troubling!  Reluctantly, they went and stood by the door once I pinkie promised that no one was in there. 

Lots of history, strange paintings and lots of things to break.  We couldn't get out of here fast enough with these two in tow and the selfie stick swinging wildly!

Much better... on the outside and back to our silly selves! 

Balcony where the Jester would hang out and where musicians would play during parties

Yes, the Peacock was contemplating coming inside and Annelyse thought this was amazing!!

Before leaving Malahide, the girls convinced us to take a little ride on the Toots Train. Yes, they are still very much interested in any and all forms of transportation. It was a nice little ride through the town with a charismatic and animated tour guide!  He even informed us he liked the Midwest and would be traveling to Wisconsin soon.  This is not typical of the Irish as it's common to hear from them that the Irish "chase the sun" since the weather here is so mild and often overcast with rain.  Most trips you hear about the Irish taking to the states are to Florida or California.  

The fierce Vikings!

Later that afternoon we went on a Viking Splash Tour!! The vehicle used for the tour is a DUKW (aka Duck) which is a six-wheel-drive amphibious vehicle built by General Motors and used during WWII for the transportation of goods and troops over land and water. The girls had seen these vehicles each time they were in the city and were fascinated with the way the group of people on the boat would yell and carry on as they drove through the city... while wearing the Viking hats with horns of course!   

The other (equally fierce) Vikings!

This tour was quite hysterical and the tour-guide really made the trip! He had all kinds of terms for people which ended with 'Celts' because, I think this is who the Vikings were always fighting. Specifically, he targeted people who looked like they were lost, in love or foreign... so pretty much the entire city of Dublin was fair game. The Duck took off and he started with some history flavored with his take, muddled with current politics and tabloid gossip. As we drove, when he spotted a "Celt" he would shout, "One, Two, Three..." and then all of us would raise our arms and make a Viking noise, which sounds pretty much like a pirate. This would scare the "Celt" half to death and they would either scream back, laugh and smile, or cower with embarrassment. He truly was an entertainer... lots of laughter on this tour!! Of course, a highlight of the tour for the girls was when the car drove right into the water and became a boat. Loralye kept asking where the wheels went and when I told her that they didn't go anywhere, they were still underneath, she was adamant that couldn't be the case. Even when we drove right out of the water, she was still insistent someone put them back on... ugh... If I am this stupid now, can you imagine how stupid I will be when she is 15?  

Sunday we started swim class, which of course was a hit!  The girls will surely look forward to their time in the pool each week, assuming the temperature of the pool goes up a few degrees!!  The Irish seem to be much more tolerant of the cold water than we are.  It's not uncommon to see them jumping off the piers at the harbor and swimming in 50 or 60 degree weather in water which is equally cold or colder.  

This Sunday was also one of the local festivals in our little village, LOBSTERFEST!  There were all kinds of food vendors, musicians, games for the kids, etc.  There was good music, entertainers and lots of good barbecued food to be had.  Burgers, shrimp, crab legs and half lobsters... YUM. The highlight for the girls were the most intricate balloon creations I have ever seen.  Each of these took at least 10 minutes to make.  He meticulously drew the faces on after the balloon was finished.  Definitely a sight to see... people were giving him all kinds of characters to do and each time he was successful! 

Notice Lo is missing... She had been scared already by the lobster on stilts and pirates.  She wouldn't come near this friendly lobster mascot.

This guy on stilts and the pirates (not pictured) scared Lo enough that  she wouldn't even take a picture with the friendly Lobsterfest mascot.

 

We have been trying to take a walk most evenings, because we can tell the seasons are starting to change and it is getting chillier each day.  One evening we walked down to Dillon park and while the girls and I were looking for blackberries, Russ ventured out to the rocks overlooking the water.  Of course, as soon as I took my camera out to take a picture, the girls spotted Russ and insisted on climbing down to see him.  The series of pictures leading up the final ones that I typically post are always entertaining.  To begin, Loralye shows me her muscles and announces “I am going to climb the mountain!”  And off she goes…

Annelyse, decides she too is going to climb the mountain and true to her form, ensured her outfit for our excursion was totally impractical; dressed to the nines, high-heels and cardigan.   Seeing that school ‘controls’ what she wears daily, we have minimized our nagging related to her clothing choices.   Here she is posing… notice Russ in the background racing up the mountain to get Lo who has successfully scaled the said mountain in 1.2 seconds.  

And here is a nice video of Annelyse climbing...

As I mentioned in my last post, we really do get a lot of rainbows... and yes a little rain on the side :)   One evening it was raining and the girls asked if we could go for a walk... now while conditions weren't ideal, there is not a great chance you won't encounter at least a sprinkle most days.  We headed up to our favorite little park and after the rain stopped, the most vivid rainbow I have ever seen appeared.  It was so close we could see both where it started and stopped, which made for lots of good hypotheses from the girls on where the pot of gold was and where the Leprechauns were!  Then, all of a sudden, another rainbow appeared above the first.    Of course we took lots of pictures and when we were looking back through them, Loralye said... "Hey, the pot of gold must be on my head."   On our walk back home, an older lady named Elizabeth stopped us and asked if we were the ones taking the pictures at the park.  She asked if we could send her some and gave us her e-mail address.  I couldn't help but take a picture of her and husband sitting at the harbor enjoying the fading rainbow.

Ms. Elizabeth

Nice panoramic with the DOUBLE RAINBOW.

Double Rainbow. Wow.

OMG, a Double Rainbow

My selfie-stick related rants have backfired....  Annelyse's fascination (borderline obsession) with the stupid things have only intensified and now is rubbing off on Loralye (shoot me now).  Russ, being the wonderful doting father that he is, caved and bought them one... The jury's out on what kind of husband this makes him. 

Remember that super-old castle I mentioned above, Malahide... the one with lots of antiques and signs that said, "keep-off", "don't touch", etc.    The place where I watched little hands and feet more than the tour guide to ensure we didn't break history. Well, Russ must have been beyond impressed with this place because decided this was the perfect moment to reveal his coveted purchase to the selfie-stick junkies, mid-tour!  Yes, the stupid selfie-stick made its inaugural debut in the middle of a presentation, in a room full of glass, chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling paintings, crystal figurines, antique furniture and 20 other people.  Instantaneously, the "me-first" started and fighting ensued. Now, we have two girls competing for an item I completely despise, in a very confined space, with the winner waving a prized stick all over the room and the other trying to snatch it away using her best tackle move.  As an FYI, the jury returned their verdict and he is lucky they oppose the death penalty here in Ireland. 

Here are some of the selfies they have taken recently...  

This thing will disappear shortly and I plan to blame it on the Toothfairy.  Perhaps when she comes for the tooth, she will take the selfie-stick as payment for the chocolate coins Annelyse has insisted she will be bringing.  

Most nights I can't wait for bedtime snuggles, yet know these are the moments and stories that will be our best memories in the years to come. 

Love,

Russ, Lyndsey, the Little Stooges

Week of August 24, 2015 - Back to Life... Back to Reality

* Posing in their new Mount Anville coats! *

As vacation came to and end, we all had to come to grips with the summer also turning to fall.  But a another adventure was beginning for the girls... their first day at our new school!   The girls officially started school on August 26.  The first day was met with all kinds of emotions for all of us, sadness for the girls that the summer was over, joy for Russ to have more than 12 minutes per day to himself, nervousness for me as we started a new routine with new teachers, friends and environment.  The first day was great... and consistent with our experience here to date, everyone was very welcoming, warm and eager to help the girls become acquainted with their new classrooms.

The girls look beyond adorable in their uniforms and haven't put up too much of a fuss wearing them.  Annelyse as commented that "the school as too many rules."  But aside from that, not much from the fashionistas.  We did find out that Lo can wear anything under her smock, however, in an attempt to avoid any fighting or conversations regarding unfair treatment... we found her 'uniforms' which closely resemble the older girls.  Needless to say the morning routine is much easier thanks to 'the rules'.

This child... I don't know why I try to get a good picture and only post those... all the ones leading up to "the keeper" are so much better!! I would like to think she saying, "praise the Lord" for school to be starting, but doubt that!

Best Friends... or at least they pretend to be when they are at school!

We thought the girls were going to be in the same class, however, they are not.  Loralye has Ms. Helen and Annelyse has Ms. Siobhan (pronounced Shee-von).  In some ways, I think this will be better and discourage the constant competition.  Within a week, they both made a few friends and seem to be settling in just fine.  Loralye has always had a tougher time separating, but by the end of the day, she is eager to show us around and appears happy to be there... this is what I keep telling myself anyway. :)

I ask the girls each night what they did that day and attempt to use more probing, specific questions to avoid the "fine", "good"  or "nothing" response.  One day last week, I asked Annelyse if she did any math work that she found interesting.  What followed, was quite funny.  She said... "Oh... yeah, Ms. Siobhan asked me if I could do this worksheet that had really easy pluses and minuses work... and I told her I didn't know how to do it because I wanted to finish my insect work."   I explained that even though it was easy, Ms. Siobhan was likely trying to understand what type of math work would be appropriate for her.   If she told her she didn't know how to do the easy problems, she would probably give her even easier work.  To which she replied... "that's fine, I would rather do the easy work."  Any suggestions on how we change that perspective now, would be much appreciated :)

Another little situation we have going on with Ms. Annelyse is a loose tooth.  Russ had promised them a treat in the afternoon at pick-up to help with the separation woes (Yes, we bribe our children quite often and the results to date have been quite great!)   I am sure what we are setting ourselves up for ugly things in the future. One afternoon, Russ gave them a Shopkin.. a tiny, plastic, figurine that they collect and serve ABSOLUTELY no purpose, except to cause pain almost as excruciating as a Lego when you step on it.  I digressed, anyway... Annelyse decided to use her teeth to rip open the package and managed to loosen her tooth in the process.  Now while this tooth is quite wiggly, I am not sure it would be without the excessive gnawing she did on the bag to get to the Shopkin.  I also find it no coincidence that she is eager to loose a tooth, given one of her little friends back home (Anna) just lost her first tooth which Annelyse found out about during a recent Facetime session.  Needless to say, she is excited to be just like Anna!     

The girls have caught a little cold since returning back to school (which is always expected.)  On Thursday both of them were quite sneezy and I think at one point before heading to school, Annelyse sneezed 6 times in a row.  Following the last sneeze, Lo said to her... "If you keep sneezing you are going to sneeze your tooth out!"  They crack me up... sometimes I wish there was a recording running constantly to capture all the funny things they say!  However, it would also capture all of my reprimanding, which is not nearly as funny or endearing.

Some great news to report is we FINALLY got a car!  Now, it isn't Russ's dream car and really isn't what we expected, but it is transportation, which we desperately needed to get the girls to and from school... so in my eyes, it's PERFECT!   It has also allowed us to venture out, which make the options endless!   Should it be concerning that Loralye seems petrified about Russ driving away?  And I'm sure she doesn't even know his full history of driving incidents!

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We figured just being back to school, the weekend should be simple and close to home.  Of course, our carefree, spontaneous journey (the type of journey  never, ever do) would be met with some unpredictability We had a destination in mind  about an hour north of us, Newgrange.  On our way we noticed a castle on the map in a small village called Slane.  We made a slight detour to explore the place and found it was closed on Friday's and Saturday's.  We found that odd.  We still took a silly picture for the memory!   

Newgrange was a dual purpose destination, a farm for the kids and some history for us... and hopefully the kids :)   The farm was a HUGE hit!  Of course the visit resulted in a commitment to getting a puppy (or puppies depending on who's recollection of the story you choose to believe) when we get back to Kzoo. We single-handedly fattened-up every single animal on the farm and made lots of furry friends along the way.  Much like myself, the girls have inherited the Italian mother gene from somewhere in our genealogy and excel at showing affection through food.

Loralye did not like any of the animals which "made noise." Every half hour they would bring out bottles of milk to feed the sheep and cows. Just before feeding time, the animals would start making their respective noise in anticipation of dinner... Annelyse ran right up and got a big kick out of how aggressive they were with the bottles. Loralye in turn stood there with her hands on her ears asking to leave. It always amazes me how different they are and how one can love something and the other hate it. They had go-cart pedal cars which were quite fun and a big hay maze that was good for lots of laughs and scares.

But we couldn't resist lifting them!!!

Annelyse feeding every creature in sight... they loved her! 

Loralye not enjoying feeding time... baaaaaa!!!!!



Feeding the babies... we were really shocked Lo didn't want to partake given her strong mothering tendencies. 

 

This was the only animal Annelyse thought was questionable... the cow kept trying to lick her coat...

I was glad (and surprised) the donkey's didn't try to nibble on her while taking this picture!  

The farm had this little wagon ride that took us past the River Boyne.  The Battle of the Boyne, a major battle in Irish history, took place along the Boyne near Drogheda.  Interesting to us, but not to the kids... what was interesting to them, was all the stories the Irishman on the wagon was telling as we bounced through the fields.   One of the stories was about the Leprechaun that lives out in the field and his castle with the red door. The best part is when we rode past the Newgrange monument (which we planned to visit after the farm) and they guide explained it was the home of the tooth-fairy.  Given our little tooth situation, it was of particular fascination.  We also were a bit nervous how the conversation was going to go, when we made it over to the "toothfairy's" house and all the little white 'teeth' on the outside were actually stones.   Needless to say, Annelyse must have been tired or not on her game, because she didn't seem to notice that the toothfairy's house and the Newgrange Monument were the same thing :)

The River Boyne 

After the farm, we headed over to the Newgrange Monument.  Newgrange is a tomb dating back 3,200BC  (older than Stonehenge or Pyramids of Giza, which the Irish are quite proud of!) The mound covers a single tomb, which consists of a long passage and a cross-shaped chamber. The most famous feature of Newgrange is the small opening or ‘roof box’ situated above the passage entrance. At dawn on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year (December 21st) and for a number of days before and after, a shaft of sunlight enters the chamber through an opening in the roof box. The winter solstice marks the start of the New Year to those living in the valley... a sign of nature’s rebirth and promising renewed life to crops, animals and humans.  

Building a Fairy House in front of the Toothfairy's abode. 

Another amazing quality of the monument... after 5,000 years, the roof at Newgrange is still water proof!!  Quite amazing and ingenious, given the the sheer amount of rain this island receives!!  They wouldn't let us take pictures inside the monument, so you will have to experience it for yourself when you come for a visit!!

While we were waiting to tour the monument aka the toothfairy's house (in the background) the girls were busy preparing a fairy house in the tree stump they are sitting on.

Newgrange Monument

The light box is the square just to the right of Russ's head.  Obviously by the girls expressions, you can tell how impressed they were by this site.  It was truly fascinating.

A little building and a rainbow in the background... there really are a lot of those here! 

It's hard to see it, but on the stones to the right of Loralye there are carvings known as a Triple Spiral which are unique to Newgrange, however their symbolism remains unclear. 

More goofy ones to keep the ladies engaged and participating!

Trying to move one of the boulders!

What started with us setting out just for visit to Newgrange Farm, ended up including seeing another neat castle and a tour of a fascinating Neolithic monument.  There is no shortage of things to see and do here...  All in all it was a nice little day trip and another great week!

Lots of love,

Russ, Lyndsey and the little Leprechauns