Yes I have written LOTS of posts about our 3 week Irish vacation, sorry…but I felt like we had so much to document! I didn’t want to leave anything out. So this post is the odd bits and bobs…some of my favorite moments/pictures that didn’t make the cut in another post.
Family pics using a self-timer…funny to say the least because it took about 15 attempts.
I laughed as I hung my kids laundry out…in Cali this would be done at a baby shower or for something cute..here its the way of life. Gotta get our clothes DRY!
This trip Owen LOVED bugs, animals and the outdoors. He’s always been a lover-of-all but we got him a LadyBird (Irish word for Lady Bug) tank. He caught and watched. It was cute.
He is his Mother’s son…when I was a kid I would always obsess about something…one year I fell in love with Baby Chicks…so Kathleen Gaughen gave me some! 
Watching Ella finally warm up to my Nanny was heart-warming. Thank God I had my camera close to catch the moment!
We walked this path a few times a day. Its the road from the main road that leads to my aunts, cousins, parents homes. I fell in love with the little wild flowers…and warning my son (as I was warned many years ago) about the nettles and the chance of being stung.
Waiting for our take-away…the kids found cool spots on Main Street Foxford.
THIS might be my all-time favorite picture. During our ladies lunch my dad asked Yosh if he could join him in bringing the kids to the park. With my dad’s major back problems he isn’t really able to walk any distance…but he toughed it up and walked (very slowly) into town, got sweets and crisps for the kids and they played at the park. Just some Father-in-Law time for Yosh…first time in the 11.5 years I have been with Yosh. We were driving back home and caught them walking back…I LOVE this picture…a lot!!!
And I came across this gem…from 1989…MY Dad with his Father-in-Law…on the same road…. 
My AMAZING mom. We went out one night…Ella was still adjusting to Irish time…and Mom slept on the couch with her…and this was how we found them at 4am. What this awesome Nana does for me and my kids.
Mom caught my Dad in the moment. He was reading my kids a book…yes you read that correctly. I don’t think he EVER read us books…but Ella brought him a book to read and he did! Love seeing my parents get the opportunity to spend quality time with my kids.
These are the best thing the Irish have done. They do a lot of shit ass-backwards. BUT these ice cream sandwiches are genius. As an ice-cream lover I have to say…when you are eating an ice-cream cone…the BEST part is at the end. When you have reached the cone…and properly pushed the remaining ice-cream down into the cone so you can get a bite of cone with ice-cream. Well….the Irish made ice-cream in blocks and sell wafers the perfect size. They are ice-cream sandwiches with wafers…so every bite is like the best last few bites of a cone! YUMMY!
Absolutely LOVE getting text messages from family like these. Seeing my kids being LOVED my those that love me is a great feeling. The text Majella sent said “I knew your kids would eventually love me!” haha (Ella can be a lil devil warming up to people!)
The whole trip there was a constant battle…Ella LOVED the same chair that Grandad loved!! It was so funny. He always sat there…as soon as he would get up for anything Ella would RUN and dive into the seat. And sit there until Grandad came back and got her out of it! haha This evening she settled for his legs as a great rest for watching tv. I thought it was adorable.
This evening in Irishtown was special. It was June 23…bonfire day in Ireland. We weren’t out at a bonfire but we were here…together. It was the only night that my mom and I were alone with Nanny (she gets a lot of visitors, especially in the evenings). They did most of the talking. I just listened…and cried. I heard stories from their family past that are emotional. These two women are the strongest women I have EVER encountered. Both having lost children in tragic situations…many years later still grieving their loses. I love them. I loved this evening and will cherish it forever.
This pic was sent to me on bon-fire night. My little cousin Caoimhe sent it to me…I love it. You can see some of the different village bonfires…but its a beautiful pic.
This could be one of the best non-professional, self timer pictures I have ever seen!!! We don’t get many family pictures (can’t you tell my father just LOVES taking pictures! haha) but I knew we had to get a good one while here on vacation.
And mission accomplished.
Another self-timer family picture…we are getting pretty good at them!
My parents rental home in Summerhill (100 yards away from there retirement home) this was where we spent our vacation. My parents rental home which they have for an entire year during the construction of their home.
My parents dream come true….their retirement home!! Still a work in progress and hoping its done by spring.
My family…and our emotional good-byes.
So…I’m done blogging about Ireland. For now. haha Until we meet again the Emerald Isle!!
Now on to our OTHER summer fun!
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