Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

Thursday, August 29, 2013

4th of July

I can't believe it has been so long since I have blogged! There is just not enough time in the day... So I am playing catch up. These are all pictures taken on my phone. I have not downloaded the ones on my big camera yet. I am so behind.

By the end of June I was ready for a scenery change. Cooper was eight weeks old and doing great so we loaded up and headed down to Point Clear for our annual trip with the Pringles.

The kids all fell asleep and it was nice and quiet. That lasted for about 30 minutes. And it is a 5 hour car ride...


We headed over to the hotel once we arrived and enjoyed the afternoon outside at Bucky's. Here is Bob checking out his statue.


We enjoyed the beautiful weather at the Lakewood Pool. Cooper napped in his bassinet. Most of the time.


Anne and Martha Glen swam together at the Grand's Pool. They are in the middle of the picture.


Bob discovered his belly button. Funny stuff.


He also had fun hanging around with Uncle John and Aunt Caroline!


Baby Cooper was a trooper and was along for the ride everywhere. 


He was also a good sport when little hands were grabby (and this looks worse than it was!)


Anne enjoyed playing in the castle


with sweet friends


and snuggles with daddy (the glasses are part of a Nerf game and for some reason my kids love to wear them/make others wear them!)


We took Anne to see the fireworks at the Grand Hotel for the first time. She was scared at first, but did not cry. She was not a fan of the loud noises, but was in awe of the pretty colors!


Bob just being silly on the sunroom door. He is at such a fun age and cracks me up daily!


It rained ALL day for the last several days of our trip. We played inside most of the time and I even attempted to take A & B to the indoor jumpy place in Spanish Fort. It was fun for about 20 minutes until Anne had a MAJOR meltdown over losing a game of musical chairs?! Epic. Like had to throw her over my shoulder (while also carrying my bag and Bob) and she was screaming so loud everyone stopped what they were doing and watched me drag her out. It was the end of the week and she was exhausted by that point after staying up late with her big cousins and not napping. Remember I was also waking up in the middle of the night with a newborn so I was tired too. I was not amused. She fell asleep on the car ride back to the house and woke up a much sweeter little girl. Thank goodness.

On our last day in Point Clear we finally saw a glimpse of blue sky! Beautiful. 


It was a crazy, exhausting week but loads of fun too. We made wonderful memories and scenery like that is just icing on the cake!


I read recently that vacations with little ones are not really "vacations", they are really just "trips" as they are not relaxing. We are in that stage of life for sure, but after a car ride back to Birmingham where baby Cooper slept the ENTIRE 5 hours and we did not stop once (a miracle) it made me want to go on another "trip" sooner than later!



Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Ireland: Part 3

After a week on the coast in Kinsale we headed north to Dublin. Our German friends, Steffi and Guido, were able to join us for this leg of the trip. It is always nice to spend time with them... Once we arrived we immediately headed out to check out the city.
Jan and Caroline
Grafton Street performers
Grafton Street shopping
That evening we were able to meet up with Glen's cousin Lizzie and her family who live just outside of Dublin. We had a fabulous dinner in their garden.
Glen and two of Lizzie's sons.
Catching up with Steffi and Guido
Jan and Glen reading their card from Steffi and Guido's boys.
Will, Glen and Caroline with their cousin Robert. Our gracious tour guide for the day.
Typical street sign. Glad we had a driver!
Pringle family grave site
Caroline and Will at the old family church
Guido and Will
Hill of Tara. Fabulous views.
Steffi, Jan and Guido
I loved this old Castle that is being turned into a resort. The trees were square shaped. It reminded me of Alice in Wonderland.
Dinner with cousin Robert's family at the Station House Hotel
Double decker tour of Dublin
I loved all the flower boxes everywhere!
Dublin Castle
St. Stephen's Green
Guided tour of Trinity College grounds
Trinity College. Where we saw the Book of Kells. Very cool.
The beautiful library at Trinity College.
St. Patricks Cathedral
Typical Irish doors
Our final dinner in Dublin
Group shot
Home - seeing the kids for the first time. It was a long two weeks!

Ireland: Part 2

We did a road trip with Eugene to Blarney Castle, Foto House, and Killarney National Forest. It was one of the few rainy days we had in Ireland and it was a wet one! Here we are checking out Blarney Castle from a distance.
Blarney Castle
Will and Jan waiting in line to go inside the Castle.
People kissing the "Blarney Stone" at the top of the Castle.
The Beautiful Muckross House. Reminded us of Downton Abby!
Waterfall in Killarney National Forest
John and Caroline relaxing after our long, wet day!
Muckross Traditional Farms
One of the many old barns at the Farm
This sweet horse was checking out the cat who appeared from his stall
Precious lamb
Charles Fort on Kinsale Harbor
Kinsale Harbor boat cruise on a rainy day
Will on the Harbor Cruise
Fishing boats
The Greyhound Pub. The oldest Pub in Kinsale.
Enjoying a Pint (or half-pint) at the Greyhound before meeting the Pringle's of Kinsale.
Group photo with Jim Goode on our last day in Kinsale. He was our concierge who made everything perfect!