Dublin

The Saturday before Thanksgiving we loaded up the van and headed for Dublin! Yep, we drove there. We drove 5 hours to Holyhead and took the 3 hour ferry right to Dublin, then drove about 20 minutes to Eric's flat that is right down town in Dublin. We parked in the parking garage and went to the top floor where his apartment was. I waited there with the kids, while Blake and Eric went back to the car to get the rest of the stuff and a key from security because Eric had left his in his car at the church. Then one of Eric's roommates came home. It was a little awkward standing there with 4 kids and not knowing his roommate. Luckily both roommates were really nice and his apartment was huge, so I don't think we bothered anyone.

That night we just hung out, some people sat in the hot tub, then we ate dinner and chatted. Blake was really sick, so he went to bed early hoping to feel better before he flew home Sunday morning. No luck, he was still really sick Sunday morning and when he got home headed straight to the Dr. to get tested for strep. Before we left Remi tested positive for strep, then Parker had a fever and really swollen lymph nodes, so he was treated for strep, then I got sick, so they gave me a shot in my bum, so I wouldn't have to take meds. It hurt SOOOO bad. It felt like I was having contractions in my bum cheek and down my leg for 2 days. Kelsi had also just gotten shots and was not her usual self, she was miserable. Come to find out Blake didn't have strep, and neither did I. They tested me for it, but just figured I had it so treated me before we left town. So, I got that shot for nothing:) Blake missed work on Monday, then went back Tuesday and worked half a day Wednesday then flew back to Dublin that night feeling MUCH better!!!

Sunday we woke up and got ready for church and headed to church with Eric. He had gotten a new roommate that week, so it was his first Sunday at church in that ward. His name was Ryan Jones, funny! So we all went to church in our van. After church we went to Wicklow Forest, Powerscourt Waterfall and hiked around. It was so pretty. There was a big waterfall and trails all over. Even the drive there was beautiful. We stayed until dark exploring and playing at the park. When we got home the kids and Eric sat in the hot tub and I made dinner.

The next morning we just relaxed, did school work, sat in the hot tub and played games. It was fun to not have any responsibilities and just play with the kids. Broden was sick that day. It was a weird sickness, he was just freezing cold and didn't a fever. He just wanted to be under lots of blankets and in really warm clothes. Eventually he would fall asleep. Then he would get really hot and kick off the blankets. When he would wake up he would feel ok for a while, then repeat the whole thing again. I gave him some Motrin and it seemed to help a little. That night for FHE we had a lesson, then played hide and go seek tag. His house was perfect for it. There was a big kitchen, living room, informal dining area, dining room, laundry room, 3 bedrooms(we could play in) 4 bathrooms, 2 hallways, a family room and lots of nooks and crannies. We would have one person count and the rest of us would hide. When they came to look for us we had to make it back to the couch with out being touched or we were it. We laughed so hard!!!

One side of Eric's apartment was all windows. One time I was hiding and Eric and Blake were trying to find me. I was hiding in the dining room across from all the window. It was a good hiding place because they were going around the other way, so I could go through the dining room to the living room. Parker came around the window and started laughing and saying I see you mom. I realized he could see me in the reflection of the windows. It was too funny.

The next morning we got school stuff done and went for a walk. Eric told us about a nice park right by his work, so we walked through there, then tried to find his work. We didn't find it, so we just went back to the park and the kids played at the playground and in the leaves forever. When we got back to Eric's apartment we sat in the hot tub again, then made dinner. After dinner we went to the store and the Young Single Adult FHE. The kids thought that was the best thing ever. After FHE all the singles went in the gym and played games, frisbee, ping pong, and chair soccer. They let the kids play and they thought it was so cool that the adults wanted to play with them. One of the girls there is a reception teacher, so Alissa attached herself to her. Her name was Lorna. Her and Alissa sang songs and played the whole time. It was too cute. Alissa really wanted her to come back to Eric's with us. Lorna promised she would come see us one day.

Wednesday we woke up and the kids entertained themselves and eachother while I worked on Thanksgiving dinner. We brought some stuff with us, then got some at the store the night before to make a big meal. Eric wanted to invite some friends, so it turned out to be dinner for about 20 people! So I spent the day making rolls, pies, pumpkin bread, mashed potatoes, jello pretzel salad, turkey and gravy. I love doing it so I had fun being in the kitchen all day and the kids were totally entertained being in a new place! The hardest part of cooking was that Eric lives with all boys and none of them cook. So, they don't have things like measuring cups or spoons, or a hand mixer. So, I made do and everything turned out fine. The dinner was lots of fun, there were people from the United States, Ireland, Russia, Africa and England(If you count us being from England). There were 2 investigators and 4 missionaries. One of the boys was a recent convert. He has only been a member for about 2 months and has such an amazing testimony. Eric left a little while after dinner to go to a basketball game, but we were ok without him. The other singles were great hosts, so I didn't have to worry about entertaining complete strangers. We all sat around one table after a while and took turns talking about what we are grateful for. It was an awesome experience and I everyone loved the idea of Thanksgiving dinner and wants to do it every year, even if they aren't American! Blake came just as we were finishing our gratitude circle. I talked about how grateful I am for friends when we are so far away from family and Blake talked about how grateful he is for me and the kids, which he realized how much he missed us when he was too sick to take care of himself and didn't' have us to take care of him. We were so grateful to have him back with us and that he was feeling better!

The next morning, which was actually Thanksgiving we loaded up the van and headed north to Giant's Causeway. We hiked around and explored the columns of the Giants! The story goes that the giant Finn McCool was challenged to fight by a Giant in Scotland. He built the causeway across the North Channel so they could meet to fight. When Finn saw how big the giant in Scotland was he rushed back across the causeway and had his wife disguise him as a baby in a cradle. When the giant from Scotland came across and saw the size of the "baby" he assumes the father Finn must be a giant among giants. He fled back to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him so Finn could not follow. We enjoyed hiking and climbing on all the rocks. It was amazing that there are so many interlocking columns. Most of them are hexagonal. It really is like a bunch of stepping stones.

The rocks were amazing, but I always think the ocean is just as amazing and powerful. Standing so close to the water as it is crashing on the rocks is always a reminder to me of how powerful the water is. It is a little scary to me to see the water come in and crash on the rocks. I always wonder if I am standing far enough back. Sometimes it would hit the rocks and spray so high in the air because there was so much water and force.

This is the petrified "Giant's boot"

After Giant's Causeway we headed to Derry. One of Eric's friends told us they had a light show there. We went expecting some light shows on the sides of buildings, but they had like 15 different light displays throughout the city. The first one was on the side of a building and just random images. Then we came to some flying lit up people sculptures. The next one was one the schools in the city did. They wrote a story and edited it, then acted in it. It was really neat to hear all the different parts to the story and see their pictures all up on the side of a building. After that display we went to a park that said they were going to have a fire display. When we first got there they were lighting some flower pots with oil in them. We thought that was it, but then realized they were lighting different kinds of fire displays all over the park. It was awesome! There were flower pots all lit up and welded into different shapes, spirals, spheres then there were shirts that had candles in them, and big metal things that had holes in them that would glow orange. Hard to describe, but amazing to see.

After leaving the light shows we grabbed some food and ate on the way to the house we were staying in that night. We were excited that we found a 4 bedroom house that we only had to pay 50 pounds for. The only problem was that we didn't give them enough notice to get the oil filled up so there was no heat. So, we brought all the mattresses into one room that had a fireplace and all slept in there! We made some good memories! The lady who let us in was so cute. She even had scones for us. We saved them for breakfast and were going to have nice warm scones with butter and jam, but there was no microwave. So we had cold scones with butter and jam. It was still good:) After we ate and cleaned up we headed back to Dublin. We got back and sat in the hot tun and hung out. Eric was feeling sick now, so he took a nap, then when he woke up we ate dinner and got the kids to bed. Then Blake took me on a date to "Temple Bar." It is an area in Dublin known for its live music on the streets and in the bars. We enjoyed listening to lots of different singers. Some of them were really good Irish bands. Its fun to see so much talent just on the street and in bars. Bars over here are different that in the states. In the states everyone seems to go to bars to get drunk and it is all about the drinking. Here it didn't' seem so much like that. Yes people were drinking, but they went to hear the music. It was still a little weird being in a bar, the music was awesome though! We did get a little bit of a sad reminder. We were following some people into the bar. The security guards checked all their ID's. We were a little nervous walking in, because I didn't have my Id. They didn't ask us for our ID's though. I guess we don't look as young as we feel(and act!).

We got back to Dublin and sat in the hot tun and hung out. Eric was feeling sick now, so he took a nap, then when he woke up we ate dinner and got the kids to bed. Then Blake took me on a date to "Temple Bar." It is an area in Dublin known for its live music on the streets and in the bars. We enjoyed listening to lots of different singers. Some of them were really good Irish bands. Its fun to see so much talent just on the street and in bars. Bars over here are different that in the states. In the states everyone seems to go to bars to get drunk and it is all about the drinking. Here it didn't' seem so much like that. Yes people were drinking, but they went to hear the music. It was still a little weird being in a bar, the music was awesome though! We did get a little bit of a sad reminder. We were following some people into the bar. The security guards checked all their ID's. We were a little nervous walking in, because I didn't have my Id. They didn't ask us for our ID's though. I guess we don't look as young as we feel(and act!).

The next morning Blake took Remi out and around Dublin. Then we all enjoyed sitting in the hot tub together. Then we got dressed and walked around. We fed the birds, went to the Museum of Natural History(which is much more interesting when you are trying to learn to identify birds), trinity college, got a picture with a leprechaun, and enjoyed watching the street performers. The kids were intrigued by all the entertainment. There were a couple bands, a man building a dog in the sand, a boy making giant bubbles, a a group of men pained black like statues and my favorite was a group of 8 kids playing music. They had a little girl with them who was really young. She was playing the violin and sometimes she would get up and dance. She was adorable. Alissa really wanted to share some candy with her, so when she took a break Alissa shared some candy with her and she shared a piece with Alissa. It was really cute.

That night we packed up and in the morning we went to church and left to catch our ferry after sacrament meeting. We loved Dublin and what we saw of Ireland. It is a beautiful country and it was nice to be able to stay with family and have our own "tour guide." A big place to stay and a hot tub to use whenever we want are some great bonuses too!!!

The ferry ended up taking about 2 more hours than it was supposed to because the port was full so we had to wait in the water. They tried to make it up to all the passengers by offering everyone a free drink. It was frustrating and we were all starving, but all our food was in the car, so we couldn't go get it. Parker also peed his pants and I don't carry extra clothes for him anymore, so Blake had to hand wash them and blow dry them in the bathroom and he wore one of Kelsi's diaper. We were SOOO ready to be off the ferry. I think we finally got home at like 2 in the morning. We were all exhausted the rest of the week!