Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Zoo
Yesterday we headed to the zoo with my mom and sister-in-law and her kids. I wish I could say Antalya was excited to see the animals, but no matter how excited I got, she just couldn't care less that there was a giant giraffe in front of us, or a monkey swinging in a tree. But we did find plenty of other things to entertain.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Ireland: Day Three
Ya, I realize we have been back from Ireland for several weeks now, but I promised myself I would get the rest of our trip up on the blog, so here's day Three. You can also read about Day One and Day Two.
The day started out on a happy night when Antalya realized the cows that were outside the window when we went to sleep were still there when she woke up.
After a yummy farmhouse breakfast we drove a couple miles to a nearby beach to hang out until lunchtime.
We spent the rest of the afternoon driving the Dingle Peninsula and stopping occasionally to take in the views and snap some photos.
After a quick dinner back in Dingle, we headed back to Garvey's Farmhouse for one more blissful night of falling asleep to the music of the cows.
The day started out on a happy night when Antalya realized the cows that were outside the window when we went to sleep were still there when she woke up.
After a yummy farmhouse breakfast we drove a couple miles to a nearby beach to hang out until lunchtime.
We spent the rest of the afternoon driving the Dingle Peninsula and stopping occasionally to take in the views and snap some photos.
After a quick dinner back in Dingle, we headed back to Garvey's Farmhouse for one more blissful night of falling asleep to the music of the cows.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Sisters
Say Cheese
"Hmmm, What's under this flap?"
"If you mess with my hat, I'm gonna mess with yours"
"Mom wants us to look at the camera. Hurry, quick, look the other way!"
"You're silly"
"I just want to SQUEEZE you!!"
"There, did I get it on right?"
"Hmmm, I'm not sure. But I think it's time to trade glasses."
"Hmmm, What's under this flap?"
"If you mess with my hat, I'm gonna mess with yours"
"Mom wants us to look at the camera. Hurry, quick, look the other way!"
"You're silly"
"I just want to SQUEEZE you!!"
"There, did I get it on right?"
"Hmmm, I'm not sure. But I think it's time to trade glasses."
Sunday, June 20, 2010
A Father's Day Note
Dear Daddy,
Thank you for being the best daddy in the whole wide world. Thank you for taking time to play with me, chase me around parks, watch shows with me, and sit and listen to all I have to say. I love you!
Love,
Antalya
Thank you for being the best daddy in the whole wide world. Thank you for taking time to play with me, chase me around parks, watch shows with me, and sit and listen to all I have to say. I love you!
Love,
Antalya
Friday, June 18, 2010
More To Come
Well, we've made it back to Utah and are in the midst of recovering from a very long and traumatic flight for the girls, and a bad case of jet lag. It's just me and the girls this time round, and I must admit that I would give just about anything to have Jason here with us. I'm wondering how I will survive without him until the end of July.
As soon as I feel like I've got my feet on the ground, I'll post some more pics from our fabulous trip to Ireland.
As soon as I feel like I've got my feet on the ground, I'll post some more pics from our fabulous trip to Ireland.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Ireland: Day Two
We awoke to beautiful sunshine!
After a filling breakfast of potatoes waffles, eggs, and bacon we packed our bags and headed out.
We spent the morning driving through The Burren and then over to the coast. The Burren is an area of Ireland know for it's windswept landscape and incredibly rocky ground. I'm still not sure how anything could grow there.
We saw lots of cattle, sheep, and ruins of time long ago.
The whole while we were traveling on narrows rodes lined with rock walls on either side.
Just around noon we pulled into Doolin to take the one hour boat ride along the Cliffs of Mohr.
After the boat ride the girls were exhausted and ready for some lunch and a good nap. So while we got the girls all settled down my parents walked to the Cliffs of Mohr look out point on land. This is what they saw:
Wish I could've seen that one in person - but sometimes doing whatever it takes to have happy children takes priority over everything else.
After leaving the Cliffs of Mohr we made our long journey (that included a ferry ride) to the Dingle Penninsula. We passed the picturesque town of Dingle,
and drove into a farmhouse in Ventry where we would stay the next two nights.
It was a dairy farm and can I just tell you how excited Antalya was to have cows right outside her window and fall asleep to the sound of the "moo"-ing of the cows. She was in 3yr old heaven.
After a filling breakfast of potatoes waffles, eggs, and bacon we packed our bags and headed out.
We spent the morning driving through The Burren and then over to the coast. The Burren is an area of Ireland know for it's windswept landscape and incredibly rocky ground. I'm still not sure how anything could grow there.
We saw lots of cattle, sheep, and ruins of time long ago.
The whole while we were traveling on narrows rodes lined with rock walls on either side.
Just around noon we pulled into Doolin to take the one hour boat ride along the Cliffs of Mohr.
After the boat ride the girls were exhausted and ready for some lunch and a good nap. So while we got the girls all settled down my parents walked to the Cliffs of Mohr look out point on land. This is what they saw:
Wish I could've seen that one in person - but sometimes doing whatever it takes to have happy children takes priority over everything else.
After leaving the Cliffs of Mohr we made our long journey (that included a ferry ride) to the Dingle Penninsula. We passed the picturesque town of Dingle,
and drove into a farmhouse in Ventry where we would stay the next two nights.
It was a dairy farm and can I just tell you how excited Antalya was to have cows right outside her window and fall asleep to the sound of the "moo"-ing of the cows. She was in 3yr old heaven.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Ireland: Day One
I awoke feeling very relaxed. The deadline of being packed and out the door by 9:00am seemed like a piece of cake. Afterall, it wasn't like we were going very far - just a quick one hour plane ride to Ireland. It would feel like nothing compared to the 24 hour traveling we've done going between Utah and England.
Little did I know that traveling with kids - no matter how short or long the distance - never is easy!
We got out the door late, traffic was worst than we expected. But even still we were alright. It wasn't until we were at the check-in counter and found out that the weight limit for our checked bag was 15 kg vs the 35 kg that I thought it was.
Note to self: Never again fly with a discount airline - you end up paying more in fees than you would have if you had just bought a regular price ticket.
They then proceeded to tell us that it was no problem - we could still travel with the extra weight, we will just needed to pay an additional 20 GBP for each kg. That's the equivalent of $30/kg. We were 15 kg over the limit. Gulp.
Panic set in.
We began quickly tearing apart our suitcase and cramming anything and everything into our carry-ons. Coat pockets were stuffed with diapers and clothing, snacks were thrown out. All the while, the clock was ticking and we are getting really close to missing our flight.
The girls quickly picked up on the sense of panic and began screaming, Antalya refused to sit in the stroller and did her best to run away from all the chaos.
When carry-ons and pockets are filled to overflowing we admitted defeat and paid the extra for the remaining 3kg.
Next comes the security check which is always an ordeal with Antalya who gets completely freaked out when we start taking off everyone's shoes and putting all our belongings on the moving belt. She kicks and screams and is unconsolable. And even if I could have consoled her, there was no time. By the time we exited security the screens were announcing that the doors where closing for our flight.
So I threw Antalya the iPhone, buckled her into the stroller and began the mad dash to the gate. And a mad dash it certainly was. I took the lead running as fast as I could through the narrow hallways pushing the stroller with both girls screaming, a bag thrown over my shoulder, and a carseat in one hand. Next was my mom, followed by Jason, and my dad at the rear.
We really were a sight to behold.
But we made it! And soon enough we were landing in Shannon, Ireland.
First stop Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.
I must admit, I'm not really all that into castles. They just seem dark, cold, and uninviting. But they did a nice job with the folk park, making the surrounding area appear as it might have back in the day.
After the castle it was a quick one hour drive through the countryside to our B&B in beautiful Lisdonvarna.
Little did I know that traveling with kids - no matter how short or long the distance - never is easy!
We got out the door late, traffic was worst than we expected. But even still we were alright. It wasn't until we were at the check-in counter and found out that the weight limit for our checked bag was 15 kg vs the 35 kg that I thought it was.
Note to self: Never again fly with a discount airline - you end up paying more in fees than you would have if you had just bought a regular price ticket.
They then proceeded to tell us that it was no problem - we could still travel with the extra weight, we will just needed to pay an additional 20 GBP for each kg. That's the equivalent of $30/kg. We were 15 kg over the limit. Gulp.
Panic set in.
We began quickly tearing apart our suitcase and cramming anything and everything into our carry-ons. Coat pockets were stuffed with diapers and clothing, snacks were thrown out. All the while, the clock was ticking and we are getting really close to missing our flight.
The girls quickly picked up on the sense of panic and began screaming, Antalya refused to sit in the stroller and did her best to run away from all the chaos.
When carry-ons and pockets are filled to overflowing we admitted defeat and paid the extra for the remaining 3kg.
Next comes the security check which is always an ordeal with Antalya who gets completely freaked out when we start taking off everyone's shoes and putting all our belongings on the moving belt. She kicks and screams and is unconsolable. And even if I could have consoled her, there was no time. By the time we exited security the screens were announcing that the doors where closing for our flight.
So I threw Antalya the iPhone, buckled her into the stroller and began the mad dash to the gate. And a mad dash it certainly was. I took the lead running as fast as I could through the narrow hallways pushing the stroller with both girls screaming, a bag thrown over my shoulder, and a carseat in one hand. Next was my mom, followed by Jason, and my dad at the rear.
We really were a sight to behold.
But we made it! And soon enough we were landing in Shannon, Ireland.
First stop Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.
I must admit, I'm not really all that into castles. They just seem dark, cold, and uninviting. But they did a nice job with the folk park, making the surrounding area appear as it might have back in the day.
After the castle it was a quick one hour drive through the countryside to our B&B in beautiful Lisdonvarna.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Let Summer Begin
As I type, my parents are packing their last few items into their suitcases and getting ready to head to the airport. They will arrive tomorrow afternoon. And then we are all off to Ireland for a week. I am so excited!
It's a big deal that my parents are coming all the way to England to visit. You see, my dad is deathly afraid of flying over the ocean. My mom has tried to convince him to travel for years and there's always been some reason not to go. But all the excuses in the world couldn't keep him from visiting two of his granddaughters.
I've been telling Antalya for weeks that grandma and papa are going to come stay at our house. I'm not sure she understands what that really means, but when I ask her if she wants papa to come to Antalya's house she gets a big grin and says "YA!" She and my dad have always had some special bond, and I'm excited to see her face when she sees him and my mom at the airport.
Antalya was throwing up over the weekend, seemed better yesterday and is back to throwing up tonight. Whatever bug this is better find a new home quick because starting tomorrow we've got serious summer memories to make!
It's a big deal that my parents are coming all the way to England to visit. You see, my dad is deathly afraid of flying over the ocean. My mom has tried to convince him to travel for years and there's always been some reason not to go. But all the excuses in the world couldn't keep him from visiting two of his granddaughters.
I've been telling Antalya for weeks that grandma and papa are going to come stay at our house. I'm not sure she understands what that really means, but when I ask her if she wants papa to come to Antalya's house she gets a big grin and says "YA!" She and my dad have always had some special bond, and I'm excited to see her face when she sees him and my mom at the airport.
Antalya was throwing up over the weekend, seemed better yesterday and is back to throwing up tonight. Whatever bug this is better find a new home quick because starting tomorrow we've got serious summer memories to make!
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