Galway ~ February Mid-Term Holiday ~ Post 1

The kids had 2 days off of school for a mid-term break, so we decided to head up to Galway.  The kids and I had already spent some time there, but it was Nate's first visit.  We didn't go with any real agenda and it was perfect.  I love how laid back all of our weekend trips have felt.  These are just the pictures I took with my phone and are completely out of order.  I'm too lazy to try and switch them around, so you'll just have to bear with me.  :)

Self-portrait with Galway Bay in the background.

I absolutely love this kid.

Our pints at the Quay Bar. 

Scarlett loved walking on the walls between our hotel and the aquarium.

This picture isn't that great, but it's a good memory. 

I took this at the first pub we visited. 

The bartender was great with our kids. 

Scarlett had asked for crayons and paper,

which he didn't have, so he gave her his biro (pen)

and a piece of paper, and then came back with a pack of stickers

that he had found somewhere.  About a half hour later he came back

with chocolates for both of the kids.  They were in heaven.

Scarlett attempting to hold a crab at the aquarium. 

That sucker was pretty heavy for her little hands.

Gray wasn't too thrilled about holding the crab,

but he thought touching the starfish was pretty cool.

Nate wouldn't hold the crab and the kids weren't too sure,

so I stepped up and took the poor thing. 

It was a little creepy, but seeing me hold him

convinced Scarlett to give it a go.

Had to take a picture of this bakery since my brother's name is Griffin.

More wall walking.  Loved the view behind her.

Sleeping Beauty.  This girl sure knows how to hog the bed.

Walking down the main pedestrian shopping area. 

Seems all of the bigger cities in Ireland have these

and I love just meandering down them with my family.

Scarlett posing with Oscar and Arthur (?) Wilde.

I'll post more pictures from Galway tomorrow.  Stay tuned!

A Date With My Boy

I took Grayson out for a date a couple weekends ago.  We don't get much time alone together anymore and we both miss it.  Gray had decided that he wanted lunch and a movie, so we parted ways with Nate and Scarlett and headed out.

 

Getting annoyed with me for taking pictures while he was trying to eat lunch. 

He chose popcorn chicken from KFC.

While eating lunch he decided he didn't really want to got to the cinema after all.  We discussed our options, and he chose walking around the mall and a new DVD purchase.

We stopped in one of the sports store where Gray felt the need to try out what felt like every. single. rugby. ball.

When he decided he'd had enough, we walked over to pick out a DVD.  He went in with lots of ideas, but ended up coming out with the

Home Alone boxed set, movies 1-4.  :)

We headed home after that, much sooner than I had initially anticipated, and he quickly abandoned our movie for playing soccer outside with friends. 

He is growing up and away all too quickly, but I am so thankful that he's still willing to take time out to spend with me.

"We need to start giving others a hand."

Grayson was busy drawing this morning before school. I didn't really think much of it, as he is constantly drawing, coloring, and writing. Right as we were getting ready to leave for school he handed his paper to Scarlett and asked her if she would take it to school with her so she and her friends could talk about it. I glanced at it and had to do a double take. As I read what he had written and took in his simple pen drawing, my heart swelled with love for my very sweet boy. We are most definitely doing something right as parents and my boy's kind heart is all the reassurance that I need.