Last Day in Dublin

It's hard to believe but my two weeks in Europe are coming to an end. Kari took me out to Howth, a town on the coast, for a little excursion. We had a great seafood lunch including oysters on the half shell, and then went for a long walk along the pier. Once we got back to her house, she checked the post and Sine and Lily's passports had arrived. So now they can go on holiday to Portugal next week.

I had a wonderful trip but I will be very happy to see my husband again! I've missed him tons!

Here are a few photos from today:

KARI AND THE BABY CADILLAC

SINE AND LILY'S PASSPORTS

Downtown Dublin

DOWNTOWN DUBLIN (ABOVE)

LUNCH AT THE WESTIN

Kari and I went to downtown Dublin yesterday for a full day of eating, sightseeing, and shopping, with the girls in tow. We started by having lunch at the Westin where Kari saw her co-workers and everybody got to meet her daughters. Then we walked down Grafton Street to do some shopping, and we took a break by having coffee and dessert and doing the feeding of babies/changing of diapers routine. Then we were off to do more shopping and ultimately met Nigel for dinner. Once we got home, we all crashed but it was a fun-filled day!

Downtown Dublin

Yesterday evening, Kari prepared a delicious Irish dinner of Beef and Guinness Stew, Caramelized Parsnips, and Stir-fried Cabbage while I baby-sat. I've copied all the recipes because I want to replicate the meal when I return. It was fabulous!

Today we're planning on having lunch at the Westin in downtown Dublin and seeing a few of the sights nearby. These days have been (thankfully) lean on the sightseeing action so there hasn't been much to post. Hopefully I'll have some photos to post this evening when I return.

A Few Reasons Why Dublin Has Been So Fun......

LUNCH AT THE AVOCA CAFE

HAPPY GIRLS

Relaxing in Dublin

Kari took me to a great store called Avoca in Dublin. We shopped around and bought some clothes, had lunch, changed three diapers (one baby pooped immediately after changing a wet diaper!), fed babies, burped babies, put babies back in carseats, put carseats back in cars, inserted pacifiers, and then came home. Now we're just chilling while the babies nap again until dinner, at which time I'm sure it will start all over again!

It's so cute to see the differences in personalities. Lily has a "panic attack" (Kari's description) when she wants something or needs to go to sleep, while Sine simply falls asleep. Both are smiley and cute and when we lay them down together, they play and stare at each other. It's fun to get to know them!

To Dublin

This morning Audrey and I went our separate ways in Paris. I flew to Dublin to spend the rest of my vacation with my cousin, her husband, and their twin daughters. Audrey is on her way home. When I got to Dublin, Kari and I enjoyed some lunch outside in the sunshine while the girls napped. We got caught up over great food, wine, and coffee. Nigel is out of town this evening so it is all girls! The babies are currently napping so I'll post photos later when they wake up.

It's great to see the sun shining again!

Versailles

GATE INTO VERSAILLES

TONS OF TREES

THE CASTLE

STREET IN THE TOWN OF VERSAILLES

WITHIN THE CASTLE

Audrey and I took the train out to the Paris suburb of Versailles today to see the amazing castle that King Louis XIV built in the late 1600s and early 1700s. We ate lunch in the town and then spent the better part of the day seeing the expansive grounds, the king's "retreat" within the grounds, and the castle itself. The extravagance of the grounds and castle were incredible.

We returned to Paris in time for dinner and I enjoyed one last French meal of a kir, French onion soup, roasted salmon, and a yummy apple tart for dessert. Tomorrow I leave for Dublin and Audrey goes home. It has been a fun-packed week!!