Today I am blogging sitting next to kev in the grass, in the sun, watching kids play and eating lunch in Phoenix park. Does life get any better than this?
We went this morning and did a tour around trinity college in Dublin. The college was founded in the sixteenth century but the buildings themselves were built in the eighteenth century and were amazingly beautiful! The college also houses the book of kells which is about 3000 years old. There is just unbelievable amounts of history here and it is pretty mind boggling.
Next we walked to the Jameson distillery and looked around, and then to the park for lunch. We have walked about six miles so far today and it's only 1:30! Now we are off to Kevins highlight of Dublin, THE GUINNESS BREWERY! We walked by it on our way to the park and he was giddy. And we fully intend (after the tour of course) to sit in the gravity bar atop the brewery and toast our pints to the Stumps, Dave and the Strapples! We know you guys are as excited about that place as Kevin is :)
And now we are off, walking again, just enjoying looking at everything... I wish we could post pictures for you all to see, but I'm sure you will see way too many when we get home! Cheers!!!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
We made it!!
After a slightly eventful flight we are in Dublin! Our flight leaving PDX left an hour late and was able to rebook everyone on the flight except the two passengers traveling to Dublin due to their not being anymore flights out of Chicago today. Nice. So we RAN through Ohare had to take a tram, recheck in and go back through security and made it with like five minutes to spare. So much for eating dinner there. But when we opened the shade on the window seven hours later to the most amazing sunrise, it all seemed worth it.
Amazingly enough when we got here it was morning, again, so we have not really slept in 24 hours. I was able to sleep about three hours on the plane but Kevin only slept an hour and is feeling it for sure right now since this is the first time we have sat. We hit the ground running today and have already marked some things off our do to list, like the amazing Dublin Castle. We have also already sat and talked with some uber friendly Irish people ( i make kev ask them questions because I love to hear them talk) and are starting to get our barings in this BUSY city. Our hotel is right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle and is SUPER convient since we are walking everywhere. We haven't actually got in the room yet so I haven't been able to search for bed bugs, although I can't say I would be overly surprised :)
Please excuse any typos and keep mind I am typing all of this on ou iPod so it may not be very detailed or well done, I apologize!
Tonight we will search for a firestation to trade a teeshirt with and shop a little then we will SLEEP. Thanks for following and we'll post again soon!
Side note- one big downfall- we asked for ranch for our frenchfries and the people looked at us like we were crazy! They don't know what it is!! How will we make it without ranch?
It
Amazingly enough when we got here it was morning, again, so we have not really slept in 24 hours. I was able to sleep about three hours on the plane but Kevin only slept an hour and is feeling it for sure right now since this is the first time we have sat. We hit the ground running today and have already marked some things off our do to list, like the amazing Dublin Castle. We have also already sat and talked with some uber friendly Irish people ( i make kev ask them questions because I love to hear them talk) and are starting to get our barings in this BUSY city. Our hotel is right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle and is SUPER convient since we are walking everywhere. We haven't actually got in the room yet so I haven't been able to search for bed bugs, although I can't say I would be overly surprised :)
Please excuse any typos and keep mind I am typing all of this on ou iPod so it may not be very detailed or well done, I apologize!
Tonight we will search for a firestation to trade a teeshirt with and shop a little then we will SLEEP. Thanks for following and we'll post again soon!
Side note- one big downfall- we asked for ranch for our frenchfries and the people looked at us like we were crazy! They don't know what it is!! How will we make it without ranch?
It
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Getting Close...
Have you heard the Zac Brown Band's new song "Free"? It is a beautiful song!!!! And... every time I hear it I think of Kevin and I on our upcoming trip. If you change some of the lyrics (like "old van" into "backpack"), it doesn't rhyme anymore, but it fits perfectly :) This trip is definitely going to be across this land, just me and you, and we are for sure going to be "just as free as we'll EVER be"!!!
(Violin playing)
So we live out in our old van
Travel all across this land
Me and you
And we'll end up hand in hand
Somewhere down on the sand
Just me and you
Just as free
Free as we'll ever be
Just as free
Free as we'll ever be
We'll drive until the city lights
Dissolve into a country sky
Just me and you
Lay underneath the harvest moon
Do all the things that lovers do
Just me and you
Just as free
Free as we'll ever be
Just as free
Free as we'll ever be
And ever be
No we don't have a lot of money
No we don't have a lot of money
No we don't have a lot of money
No we don't have a lot of money
All we need is love
We're free as we'll ever be
Just as free
Free as we'll ever be
So we live out in our old van
Travel all across this land
Me and you
Friday, June 11, 2010
Busy, Busy, Busy!
With the school year slowing to an end, it feels like our lives are just getting ready to hit fast forward!
Everything is turning into a mad dash of getting things finished and wrapped up "before we leave." Kevin has been madly trying to finish up the garden space, working even in the pouring down rain (because there is no other option if he wants to get it finished), but will be mostly finished with it by this afternoon. He feels like it is a good stopping point for while we are gone, but as soon as we are home the yard work starts again!
I have been working like crazy, and just trying to get my life in order and things organized before we take off. On top of everything we decided to take the girls on a quick trip to Cannon Beach before we leave. Kevin wanted to give them one last hur-rah so that they know how much we love them before we abandon them at the kennel, and there is no place they love more than the beach. So, we will be packing up to spend three days at a beach house with the girls and the fam on June 20th-22nd. Once we get back from there we only have 5 days until we are on the plane headed for Dublin! We have lots to do in those five days and may be sorry that we took a trip so close to a major trip, but I'm sure the girls will think it was worth it!!!
I haven't had a lot of time lately to keep this updated, but hope you will all follow us on our travels around Europe in 16 days! I cannot believe it is this close! We are both starting to get a little nervous because traveling out of a backpack and being gone for this long of period of time are things we have never done, but even more than nervous we are excited!
Keep checking back because I have promised my mom that we will do quick updates (hopefully) every evening while traveling so she knows we are still alive, seeing as how we will not be calling.
Happy end of the school year everyone!!!!!!
Everything is turning into a mad dash of getting things finished and wrapped up "before we leave." Kevin has been madly trying to finish up the garden space, working even in the pouring down rain (because there is no other option if he wants to get it finished), but will be mostly finished with it by this afternoon. He feels like it is a good stopping point for while we are gone, but as soon as we are home the yard work starts again!
I have been working like crazy, and just trying to get my life in order and things organized before we take off. On top of everything we decided to take the girls on a quick trip to Cannon Beach before we leave. Kevin wanted to give them one last hur-rah so that they know how much we love them before we abandon them at the kennel, and there is no place they love more than the beach. So, we will be packing up to spend three days at a beach house with the girls and the fam on June 20th-22nd. Once we get back from there we only have 5 days until we are on the plane headed for Dublin! We have lots to do in those five days and may be sorry that we took a trip so close to a major trip, but I'm sure the girls will think it was worth it!!!
I haven't had a lot of time lately to keep this updated, but hope you will all follow us on our travels around Europe in 16 days! I cannot believe it is this close! We are both starting to get a little nervous because traveling out of a backpack and being gone for this long of period of time are things we have never done, but even more than nervous we are excited!
Keep checking back because I have promised my mom that we will do quick updates (hopefully) every evening while traveling so she knows we are still alive, seeing as how we will not be calling.
Happy end of the school year everyone!!!!!!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Some things never change!
This is just too cute to not share!
Here are my girls one of the first times we caught them actually touching each other! Nala must've creeped in after Rahja was already asleep, but we were so relieved that MAYBE Rahja was giving in and was going to end up loving Nala. We could only hope they would turn out best friends...
And this was just the other night. Two years later. The only thing that has changed is Nala's size, and the fact that now this is so normal we never would think to take a picture of it. They are so lucky to have each other, and we are so lucky to have them!!!!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Almost summer!
Wow, I cannot even believe that May is more than half way over!!! Feels like it just started! This has been another busy month in our lives...
I have been working a ton!!! I know this is good, but just like all the teachers who are taking all these days off, I am feeling burnt out too. I am so ready to be in a place where I know what to expect everyday. Where I know the kids' names, and the procedures for each building. I have enjoyed my time subbing because I knew I wouldn't be doing it forever, and because I have been able to pick up things I liked in each classroom, but I am ready now to have a "home." I am ready for long hours and knowing where everything is. And I am so ready for building relationships with just my 29 kids. (Which yes, is how many 2nd graders I will have next year).
I subbed in the room I will be teaching in yesterday and picked up a whole packet of information that the teacher has been writing for me. It overwhelmed me and excited me all at the same time. I know the beginning of a school year is stressful even for a seasoned teacher, but I also know that I have an amazing support group. It should be a fun ride!
The O'Neils
I have been working a ton!!! I know this is good, but just like all the teachers who are taking all these days off, I am feeling burnt out too. I am so ready to be in a place where I know what to expect everyday. Where I know the kids' names, and the procedures for each building. I have enjoyed my time subbing because I knew I wouldn't be doing it forever, and because I have been able to pick up things I liked in each classroom, but I am ready now to have a "home." I am ready for long hours and knowing where everything is. And I am so ready for building relationships with just my 29 kids. (Which yes, is how many 2nd graders I will have next year).
I subbed in the room I will be teaching in yesterday and picked up a whole packet of information that the teacher has been writing for me. It overwhelmed me and excited me all at the same time. I know the beginning of a school year is stressful even for a seasoned teacher, but I also know that I have an amazing support group. It should be a fun ride!
My darling husband has been busy this month as well. He has completed the brick walls... That's correct, COMPLETED! A job that we dreamed up when we bought this house, that at some times I'm sure we both thought "is it really worth all this?" is working it's way to an end. Here is what our ridiculous hillside looks like now...
But now, don't be fooled. This yard is FAR from being finished. The garden will be in the middle of these two walls, and that is what Kevin is tackling next. It will have raised beds and a brick "floor". Then we have to pour a concrete retaining wall at the bottom of the yard so that we can attempt to level all the dirt from this hill into our yard. After that wall there is more leveling, topsoiling the entire yard and planting grass. And since we will be gone for a big part of the summer, we are hoping to have it all finished by the time school is back in session. It's closer to being a usable yard than it has ever been, and I can't wait to look out and see nice green grass and a garden full of stuff!!! THANKS to my amazing, hardworking husband our dreams and visions continually come true!
On another note, we leave for Europe in 40 days!!!! I cannot believe it is that close now! We can't wait to be writing on here every evening from our journey through Europe. Please cross your fingers that that horrid volcano calms down and we are able to fly on time to each of our four stops :)
Thanks for taking the time to stay updated with our lives! We hope the sun finds you and yours happy and well!!!!
The O'NeilsSaturday, May 1, 2010
May Day!
When I was searching the internet one day in early April, I found an annual fundraiser for the SW Wash Humane Society called Walk for the Animals. You pay an entry fee and then go on a 1.5 or 3 mile walk on the Vancouver waterfront with your dogs. Well since Rahja's birthday is in May, (hence the middle name Maye), and because there is nothing else in the world Rahja likes more than other dogs and walking, we figured this would be a perfect event to base her fourth birthday around. Also since both of our dogs are rescue dogs, (one from the humane society and one from a shelter in Gresham), this is something that is very dear to our hearts.
The weather did not look promising, and as far as we had seen there hadn't been any advertising for the event beside on their website, but we were determined to make this a fun day, so we went thinking we would be three (Kev, my mom and I) of maybe 20 people there. Much to our surprise, when we reached the park where the registration was, there were HUNDREDS of dogs. The look on our dogs faces was of amazement. It was a really heartwarming thing to see, around 1,000 people, most of who had brought their furry sidekicks, were lined up ready to walk for the cause. And although it was a busy and kind of smushed walk along the water, it was a sight to see. Rahja, who knows what birthday parties are, was SO excited that we had done all this just for her. :) The weather held up for us all day, and we were even able to stop along the way and let the dogs swim in the Columbia.
Needless to say, after we got home and ate birthday cupcakes, the girls were a little tired!
And so was their Daddy.
And their beloved Grammie!!
What a fun way to spend a Saturday! And thanks Mom for always joining in on our crazy dog birthdays! Oh, and notice Nala's collar in her picture... We went shopping at the farmers market that started after the walk and Grammie bought the girls new collars for Rahja's birthday, aren't they cute?
I feel like May is starting off on the right foot. It feels good to give back. Let's hope the sun hangs around and we will be able to get this yard moving again! Talk to ya'll soon!
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