Fota

We stayed a couple nights at Fota Island Resort in one of the villa's.  Any family considering this, do it!  Great spot, great villa's.  Also the Fota Wildlife Park exceeded all my expectations.  A big variety of animals, it's not a zoo, but a reserve, and it's quite fun walking along beside kangeroos... getting up close a personal with alot of animals just wandering.  Others are at a distance, the monkeys were very well loved by Madelynne.  Boy can they put on a show!  After we met up with a bunch of Cork mom's and kids at an indoor play area, was nice to meet some more ladies and catch up with other's.
Stephanie and kids joined us, it was a great day with our awesome friends.
N.B: Many of these photos and photos from the previous Kinsale post are courtesy of Alison, thanks Ali!

Some of the animals...

Monkeys...

Cute 3

Cool park by villas.

Loved the use of corner cupboard space, sink tho small was funky.

Madelynne ready for bed... not!

Kinsale

What a fantastic little place this was.  Only spent a couple hours there, need to spend more time, someday.  It's just picturesque, narrow streets, cute shops (inside and out), lots of restaurants, great atmosphere... just very quaint.

6 roads join here.

Not an easy feat to get a decent picture with the kids!

Daddy's girl.

Valentine's Day Birthday

Best way to wake up on my birthday!

Birthday party, best part, we had dessert first!  Why not eh!

Look at Ruben's expressions in all these!!

Having not 1 but 2 helpers in the house, we got a date at the G.  Yum yum yum!

January, February catch up!

Back in the beginning of January, Alison came over to lend a hand with the kids and house since Ruben would be away alot.  Sooooo glad she could come last minute!  It's been fun having a friend in the house.  She was with us for about 6 weeks and has just come back for a week while Ruben is away again.
Kimberly came to visit for 3 weeks as well!  We were very sad that Kimmie had to go home, the kids still miss her, Madelynne wanders the house saying "where go Kimmie?"
There were a couple trips to Dublin, first for Madelynne to meet an Irish Oncologist and schedule her next MRI, plus I needed to apply for my US passport at the US embassy.  Then a second trip for the MRI.  Dell Children's in Austin sure spoiled us.  The experience this time was far from good, but it's what a hurting economy and no money to build a new children's hospital does.  Our Lady"s Crumlin Children's Hospital is no doubt older than the USA :)... and it's where kids go here.  My heart goes out to families that are there often.  The Doctors, nurses, staff are fantastic, it's just the conditions and overload.
Kari and her twins came down from the "Nort" for a few days since Nigel was away, so that was a great catch up!
We had friends from Nenaugh and Clifden for a brisket dinner one of the Saturdays.
Valentine's day was my birthday, pictures of that in an upcoming post. 
We made a trip down to Cork with the girls, pictures of that in an upcoming post. 
   
Now you get to see plenty of pictures!

A tiny bit of downtown Galway

At Liffey Valley Mall in Dublin

Alison trying white pudding for the first time!  (I have yet to try it, shudder!)

Madelynne trying on Ali's new shirt.

Fantastic play area near Crumlin in Dublin, Spree.

New dress and shoes for Madelynne post MRI!  Daddy spoils her!

Ready for our brisket dinner and Kimmie just arrived!

Special people

She wants this bad, note to self... keep Daddy away from B&Q!

Turoe Pet Farm with Kari and girls

Awesome inflatable jungle!

Chase reading to Lily and Sine.

Lots of time spent on here.

Sine, Lily and Madelynne.

Typical :)  Kimberly took almost 2000 photos here!

I look dorky, but I have TWO passports now!

This picture just makes me want to gobble her up....

Hayback

I must post this before I forget!  We were sitting around the table with Laura, Julie, Kimberly, Alison, the kids and myself, discussing how especially Mason is payback to me.  :)  I used to be such a wiggle worm, always had to be told to "sit square with the world" at the table, giggly, etc etc.  
Mason asks me, "What's hayback?"  
I say, "you mean payback?"  
Chase interrupts and says, "you know, when hair grows on your back and turns into hay, that's hayback."  
Saying this in a matter of fact tone.  Boy did we have a very good laugh!


...when hair grows on your back and turns into hay... Chase will be good at Balderdash one day!  And where does ...sit square with the world... come from anyway?!

Love love love my little "paybacks!"

Flat visitors

We've had 2 flat visitors in the house!  And I'm a horrible person for these visitors to be sent too, because I'm so slow in returning them, but it's off my conscience now, they are in the mail together taking a trip to Canada!


Flat Stanley arrived from my niece Avery almost a month ago!  We had fun getting pictures of him, should have taken more tho!  He was in the US Embassy with me, down town Dublin and Galway in some cool places, but forgot to take pictures there.  Oh well!


Then Flat Colter from Montana arrived!  He's a big one, so only pictures of him in the house!  Added some Irish to him and he's off with his flat buddy!


Now we just need real life Avery and her family and Colter and his family to come visit!