Water Taxi to Greenwich

When my sister, Katy, was visiting Eliza and I joined her on a water taxi down to Greenwich.  I got so excited going under all the familiar bridges and passing London landmarks from the view of the river.  I knew it was something we wanted to repeat with the boys in the family, so on a misty Saturday morning we headed down to the dock to catch the boat.  Going under all the bridges and passing Traitor's Gate at the Tower were cool, but apparently not as cool to the kids as the seat trays.  Ha!

We were off to explore some more of Greenwich after the short water ride.  We'd been before, a few times.  First, looking for a place to live when we first got here.  Then again to stand over the Prime Meridian line.  There's always some more to discover!  Katy and I had found a medicinal herb garden tucked and hidden in a little corner of Greenwich Park.  So fun to run around and smell all the plants and try to guess what they are.  Then check yourself on the map.

There's a great small space museum that is free and a planetarium (that is not--but the shows are actually reasonable, for London) we treated the family to.  I always loved a planetarium trip as a kid and I think ours did too.  I think Collin fell asleep in the reclined chairs and dark room, but I probably shouldn't out him!

We then had to hurry to a dentist appointment to deal with a dental emergency (mine).  That wasn't my favorite end to what was otherwise a wonderful day out, but that's the thing with picture memories.  You get to choose the ones you actually want to keep forever.  So looking back on this day I remember how wonderful it was to be exploring with our family.

Her Majesty's 90th and Trooping the Colour

The Queen celebrated her official birthday the same day we celebrated Eliza's official birthday.  Both their actual birthdays were on different days but the big party was on a perfectly lovely day in June.  The weather cooperated.  The whole of London was decked out and just beautiful with bunting all over.  People seemed to be extra cheerful. 

We decided to brave the crowds to see the Trooping the Colour parade, with great hopes of seeing the Queen.  The crowds were actually quite manageable, considering the population (including tourists) of London.  Plus people were surprisingly civil, so even though we don't prefer being where lots of people are, it was a pleasant experience. 

We got a pretty good place, partway down the Mall in between Buckingham Palace and Horseguards.  We had flags to wave and free crowns to wear.  All to be done was that we not take out the eyes of any neighbors by waving the flags too enthusiastically. 

The guards marched down, Prince Harry and Kate rode a carriage down, and at last we did see the Queen herself.  Wearing lime green, no less!  We were all surprised at the fashion choice but if anyone can pull it off it's her.

Eliza's Third Birthday--Teddy Bear Tea Party in the Park

She is well and truly three.  And so so good at it, too!  Eliza Bee loves being three with all her heart.  Liza is the light of our lives, she just adds that extra sparkle of joy and cuteness to everything.

We ended up celebrating Eliza's birthday several times.  Later I'll get to her actual birthday, which took place in Utah as we visited family.  For now, let's enjoy a look at the picnic in the park with friends, about a week before her actual day. 

Going along with her invitation, we invited the teddy bears and dollies to join us for a picnic at Primrose Hill Park.  Colors pink and gold, something I'm sure Goldilocks herself would approve of.  The main attraction were oatmeal cookies with three kinds of chocolate chips.  Also served were everything "bear" or pink that we could think of--all sorts of berries (see what I did there?), jam, ham, and salmon sandwiches, bear-shaped potato crisps, Yo-yo dried fruit rolls with bears on the packaging, and of course gummy bears.  I just wish I would've thought ahead and asked an American visitor to bring teddy grahams!  But, no, I think it was perfectly right.  Fun yet not too overboard.

We invited our "London family", the Colvins.  They made the party a party, as always!  Grandma sent lovely thoughtful gifts.  What with all that and double fisting the pink lemonade with pink and gold straws I don't think we could top the day for our little girl.  Excuse me, big girl.

Ireland, Day Two

The day started out stormy and rainy but I was determined that I would ride if at all possible.  I'd been dreaming of riding on a beach for months--actually, since I was a little, horse crazy girl.  I met my horse for the day, Cookie.  She was a feisty one, as the barn manager said, "not slow" and perfect for a gallop.  We rode out with the day still threatening but hopeful it would clear.  And all my prayers were answered as the sun came out and the day turned increasingly gorgeous.  Riding through the Irish country side was a dream come true.  I saw those Murphy ice cream cows, cantered up "milk lanes" and trotted along rolling pastures with sheep as far as the eye could see.  See that low point in the hills in the picture above?  We rode all through the country lanes and fields and along a river to the other side of the hills, where the ocean met us. 

And then the real fun began!  We rode straight out into the waves, up to my knees.  After the horses were cool we galloped the length of the sandy beach, back into the waves, then down the beach again.  It was some of the most fun I've ever had.  Collin got some good video, but you can't quite hear how big my smile was.  He was so cute, saying something like, "I didn't know you could ride like that as fast as you were" and I thought how I used to be brave enough to jump fallen logs and ditches at a gallop.  And the greatest accomplishment of the day?  I was not nearly as sore as I feared I would be (although I was plenty sore)!  A special thank you to Collin, for making all these dreams of mine come true.

After cleaning up a little and drying off from my exhilarating morning we hopped on the Wild Atlantic Way (Collin finally figured out that's what the funny chevron sign stood for) and meandered along the Dingle Peninsula.  We saw where Star Wars was filming, up on the top of a cliff.  No less important, we popped our heads in the Gallarus Oratory.  This pretty little building is one of the earliest structures built by the earliest Christians in Ireland.  It's amazingly well preserved and cosy.  The walls are very thick, very tight and it is quiet and dry inside.  I can imagine people huddling in there for services or meetings being quite snug with storms raging all round outside.  One tiny window lets in some dramatic light.

We saw some stone circle forts in random pastures, picturesque and entirely unappreciated by the sheep who live there.

There was a winding path down to a small harbor and ferry dock.  I was fascinated by the idea of living on one of those islands.  What would it be like to be so remote and inaccessible?  The ferry only ran a couple times a week, to bring supplies over or let you come to the mainland.  Sure was a tempting prospect on a beautiful day.

I sure like this guy.  If he keeps making me laugh we are in good shape.

Last stop was an ancient cemetery to see a few really interesting stones.  At Kilmalkedar we saw some Celtic crosses, an alphabet stone used for education, a holed ogham stone (or the peek a boo stone as I call it), and a sun dial.  It felt like holy ground, all those markers of people and language and God all around.

At last it was time to return home.  It was only two days (and a late night and very early morning to make three nights away) but it was a good, much needed time to reconnect as two people who love--and like!-- each other and talk about what's up next for our family.  We left Ireland with a rainbow behind us and a day of playing football with the kids ahead.  Thank you, Katy, again, for doing that for us.  I know taking on three kids wasn't the easiest and we really appreciate you being willing and capable.

Ireland, Day One

While my sister, Katy, visited London we asked if we could sneak out for a couple days and she graciously watched the kids so we could.  It was amazing!  I really needed that time with just Collin.  We've had a few dates the last two years (I'm so grateful we've had any!) but it felt like it had been a very long time without really talking and being together.

We hopped over to the far West coast of Ireland and thoroughly enjoyed two days in the Emerald Isle.  And what a true name!  As we flew over I looked down and thought, "I don't know how any place can be greener than England, but Ireland really is."

First we drove up to the Cliffs of Moher.  Otherwise known as the Cliffs of Insanity (from Princess Bride, naturlich). They were stark and dramatic and beautiful.  We walked a ways along the cliff, not bothering with the mud and wind, before we finally did turn back to avoid a real soaking.  Nothing like a cliff walk to get the brain clear.

After enjoying the Cliffs of Moher, we drove down to the little town of Dingle.  Collin's sister, Janeil, had visited Ireland quite extensively last year and said one of her most favorite places was Dingle.  With that (and Rick Steve's comment that there is a saying in Dingle that "the next parish over is Boston") we knew that was where our main adventure should spring from.  We explored the town on foot almost the whole way round.  I especially loved the street signs in Gaelic and the charming little cottages.  I'd never be able to pick one to live in if I ever had the chance, there were too many too cute!  We splurged on a really yummy three course dinner.  Saving up two years of dates makes it really easy to make that decision.

I loved everything green.

And even though we'd had dessert at the restaurant, we could not pass up Murphy's ice cream, made locally from the milk of the rare black Kerry cow.

After double desserts we braved the crowded bars for some music.  But then it got too crowded for our tastes, so we went outside for fresh air and realized we could listen just as well--if not better!--from just outside the window.  The Mormon way of pub crawling, we dubbed it.

Then home to rest up for the next day's adventure.  I'm so excited about it, even just remembering!  The video is a giveaway, but I'll catch up on the second day in another post.