Tea Time

Some cuddles with GP and practicing for all those cups of tea down the road.

Culdaff Beach

Sand between the toes, fresh air and some cold water = sleep for kids!

Playing dolls

Saoirse played with Ellen and Molly's toys and was a baby doll herself for the girls - they wanted to help feed her and change her nappy (except for the stinky ones).

Simpson's, Carn

Who says bars can't be educational? Nothing like reading Spot and having a pint.

Buncrana

A quick stop at the beach to let Ciaran get some air.

Jungle King, Letterkenny

The kids bounced and played and slid and Heather got tuckered out going around the equipment as well. We need a place like this in Brussels!

Carndonagh, Co. Donegal, Ireland

Ellen & Molly showing their Irish dancing skills

Back to the Motherland...the weather was drizzly, overcast, and cold, but green as ever and the kids enjoyed every minute of it. They played with their cousins, Ellen and Molly, dipped their toes in the cold ocean and Saoirse had such a great time she threw up on the car ride back to Dublin.

New Blog - Check it out

To record Ciaran & Saoirse's travels, one must also consider the many sites they've slept through. I am using these photos as proof that they were at these places, countries, etc. when they claim they don't remember being there. Not that at their ages there's much hope of that. But anyway, check out their naps here.

Some Pixie Dust

One last day of Disney, it was a bit overcast, but Ciaran hit some rides and Heather got her favorite pomme d'amour (candy apple).

Eiffel Tower, finally

Geesh - Third time is a charm. We went to the top of the tower and were rewarded with a beautiful view of Paris. Ciaran at this point had stripped off his shoes and socks and was happy as a clam (which is a better mood than he usually is in). Saoirse got a bottle and a diaper change way up there as well. These kids aren't modest :)

After the ride and a stop at the second platform, we celebrated our victory with some biere et frites below. The beer is the cheapest I've seen in Europe so far - 40cl of Amstel Light for 3 Euros. I could have stayed all day...

Versailles in the rain and more...

We got up earlier on Sunday to try the Eiffel Tower again and nope too long of line so we figured we'd take the train out to Versailles and wait in that hour + long line (some in the rain) to see the Sun King's digs. The kids napped but managed to walk the halls of Louis XIV.

Notre Dame

The City of Lights

We popped out of the Metro and found a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower (thanks Rick Steves for the tip) and headed that way to find at least a two hour wait, so we hopped a canal cruise on the Seine and then went to see the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Ciaran was so taken by the church he sang "Twinkle twinkle" the whole time.

Disneyland cont.

Paris, France

April 28-May 1

Granny Sidenbender has never been to France and Nana & GP hadn't been to Paris in over 30 years and Heather hadn't been since that aweful high school trip in '92 so we thought this would be a good place to go to.

First stop Disneyland for some fun and an early 1st birthday party Disney-style for Saoirse. She's wearing her present from Granny.