Ireland 2012 - Days One and Two

On our first day, we arrived and had a trek from the airport to the town I grew up in, Crumlin.  We had a few errands to run (Eoin needed to be fitted for his tuxedo) but more or less went to a great dinner at O'Connors and then called it a night! 

After a full day of traveling on Day 1, Day 2 was spent relaxing for the most part! We explored a little bit of my hometown. While many things have changed, there is so much that has remained the same - I love it. Everyone is a little bit older, there are new buildings and some are gone; but there are old buildings and businesses still standing, many people remember me and I still know my way around town.

We stayed with my cousin Paul and his wife (or soon to be) Grainne, while my mom stayed with my Auntie Hannah and Jordan's parents stayed at a little b&b right on the outskirts of town. We met Jordan's parents for a late breakfast at the bakery in town (Bush's). I ate everything in sight which is no surprise; it is my comfort food! Jordan loves the Irish breakfasts too!

Everyone is Ireland is much more laid back and relaxed. While errands were ran this day, there was a wedding the next day afterall,

In order to burn some energy and start seeing 'the sights,' we decided to take a short walk to Crumlin Glen.  This is literally inside the town I grew up in.  It is amazing how you take beauty for granted while you are surrounded by it!  The Glen reminds me of Fern Gully . . . waterfalls, green everywhere!  I was so excited to show Jordan, the boys and Dean and Lisa just how gorgeous Ireland is, but the thing is, this was just the beginning!  

Eoin and Papa hiking through the Glen



McKaylah, Kennedy, Eoin and Liam . . . Irish cousins!  Liam is sitting on the "wishing stone" outside of the Cockle House that is buried deep within the Glen.



The Kohns

Eoin had a blast throwing rocks into the water!  Everytime he would throw one, he threw his arms up in victory.

My cheeky little monkey!

The Glen is literally just down the street from my Auntie Hannah's house, she lives on Mill Road and the Glen is right next to an Old Mill.

Just outside of the Glen, we are in a spot where 5 modes of transportation combine.  We are standing on a path next to a roadway (vehicle and foot), a river runs beneath the road, a railway is above the road and it is also a flight path for the nearby airport . . . the more you know :)

everyone gathering at Auntie Hannah's house . . . (l to r) Angeline (my cousin Michael's girlfriend) and my fav cousin, Paul (the groom) and Helena, excuse my super cheesy smile!

Ireland 2012 - The Flight

On May 16th, we arrived at the airport nice and early for a 6:45pm flight to Ireland!  Although I was completely anxiety ridden over how the boys would be on the 7.5 hour flight.  My concerns were more for Liam than Eoin - Liam was teething and is basically on a kick where he will scream loudly for no apparent reason if he isn't getting his way.  But my plan for the worst and hope for the best attitude prevailed, the flight was amazing!  Eoin played he leap pad, watched some shows and ate some snacks, Liam slept the entire way!  Jordan and I had a seat with a fold down bassinet for Liam, Grandma Lisa was directly behind Jordan and Eoin and Papa were right next to each other next to Grandma.

We had been planning this trip for almost a year and couldn't wait to get there, the 6:45pm flight with a 6 hour time change meant we would arrive there the morning of the 17th; in order to adjust to the time change in enough time to enjoy ourselves, the plan is to sleep as much as possible on the plane and then stay up until we would normally go to bed that night.

Thie kids were amazing!  I was even told by a flight attendant that we had the most well-behaved children she had ever witness - proud mommy/daddy moment right there :) 

The boys had a blast watching the planes; the Aer Lingus plane was ours, Eoin especially was very excited!

When we got on the plane, we took the time to get Liam in his jammies; he played for a little while before we took off.  He sat on my lap with an extender for the take off, then we could lay him in his bassinet.

Grandma and Grandpa Kohn were a big help!  Grandma sat right behind Jordan, Liam and I and next to Eoin and Papa; Papa and Eoin sat together. 

Liam was OUT the minute he could lie down.  He slept the entire way, stirring only a couple of times.

Eoin did sleep a little, but he had plenty of entertainment and snacks! 

Long Time Gone

It has been f.o.r.e.v.e.r. since I have blogged about our little family.  I would like to think that it is because we are so incredibly active and living life to the fullest that we simply haven't had time; in reality, blogging hasn't been a priority, but I've had the refound urge to document and so here goes . . . (again) . . .

Instead of back-blogging and trying to catch up, I'm starting anew with a few glimpses of our last 8+ months thrown in there! 

Glad to be back . . . now someone hold me accountable for keeping this up!



Eoin and Jordan 'fishing' off the coast of Ireland, May 2012



A visit and a flurry

Last night we finally stopped by as a family of four to see our good friends Annie and Jay and their beautiful baby boy, Max.  It was such a great time and reminded me how nice it is to have friends you can relax with.  Pizza and a big salad and baby talk made for a great night and also made us wonder what we ever talked about or how we ever entertained ourselves before children came into the picture.  Max is seriously one of the cutest little men I have every met!  He has grown so much since I last saw him.  Liam was very jealous of me holding him, so I didn't get to squeeze him as much as I would've liked.  But I did get to feed him whilst Liam was distracted!  

As we were leaving it started snowing.  We didn't have any accumulation, so  white Christmas is out, but Eoin still had a blast trying to capture the flakes!

Our Elf

Eoin has been really into Elf on a Shelf this year!  He has been a part of our family for a few years now, but this is the first that he's really been a part of it!  He was even renamed this year, now he's Woody, proudly named by Eoin.  Each night he travels back to the North Pole to report to Santa whether or not Eoin and Liam were good little boys all day long.  It is a race in the morning down the stairs for Eoin to find where Woody has landed from the night's trip.  Santa has learned about many items on Eoin's Christmas list since he talks to Woody (it is seriously the sweetest thing in the world!).  Christmas time really is magical with children!

Prepping for the holidays

 See this little man pose!?  That's exactly what he does now when I bring out the camera.  It's hilarious.  His dirty little face is a norm also.

Helping mama make cookies.  This is one of his favorite things to do.  I have to watch him closely or he sneaks the dough which leads to an upset tummy.

Liam is content to munch on a mum-mum.   

'Tis the season for runny noses 

But he is still happy.  This picture is one of my favorites!  I love this little man ... and if you look very closely, you can see tooth #1!

This past weekend was a weekend filled with preparations.  We baked, we dipped, we wrapped, we cleaned, we lounged (a little) and played . . . it was filled with excitement and magic . . . Christmas is only days away now!

Just found . . .

I am getting really nostalgic and Liam is only 8 months old!  I'm not ready for my baby to grow up.  Alas, I was cleaning out my phone and found these pictures . . .

This crocheted blanket is his lovey, probably since I let him have it so young because I knew he would be able to breathe if it covered his face.  He likes to stick his fingers and little toes through it!  I never want to forget this! 

 My chubby little Irish boy, absolutely love this picture!

 One of the first things I wanted to do as soon as I knew I was having another boy was to pick out matching and coordinating outfits.  This was one of the first times (definitely not the last) the boys matched.

Nothing like a sleeping baby.  He rarely sleeps if not in his crib right now, so I'm reminiscing through pictures like this one.