Just Some Stuff

I've sat down to write a new blog post numerous times, but haven't been able to make the words flow well enough for my liking.  Thinking bullets are going to have to work for this one since this is the way my mind seems to be working right now.

• Scarlett started going to school for the full day this week.  She has been so excited to finally be able to eat her lunch at school (though she never finishes because she eats oh, so slowly).
• The kids are coming home sounding more and more Irish.  Scarlett was upset the other evening because Gray was being "cross" with her, and I hear things being described as "class" constantly.  Grayson has also taken to describing food as lovely, or "SO nice!" 
• I signed up for a sewing class at the Limerick College of Further Education.  I was pretty apprehensive about my first class last night, but I think I'm going to really enjoy it.  The class is titled "Curtains and Cushion Making" so I should be able to deck my house out once I'm finished, right?
• Grayson is back to soccer training.  It's so great to see him doing something he enjoys so much.  I've noticed definite improvements from last year.  Really hoping this is something he will stick with for years to come.  He expressed an interest in playing basketball here, so I found a league for him to sign up with.  He hasn't been too thrilled so far.  I think it has more to do with the fact the training time is on Sunday mornings, than Gray not wanting to play.  He seems a little overwhelmed with not having a day "off" to be at home all day and just hang out, which I completely get.
• I'm still trying to settle into my new normal of having my days to myself.  I haven't managed to get myself into a real routine yet, but I'm trying.  I am attempting to do something around the house every day, so that I don't have to spend entire days cleaning.  Floors one day, bathrooms the next, etc.  Hopefully with my sewing class starting I'll find myself with something other than cleaning to do.  
• Scarlett is 2 weeks into her ballet class and LOVES it.  She gets upset that she can't go everyday.  Her little friend, Eve, is in her class with her and it is so cute to see them dressed in their dance outfits together.  (Again, having trouble with uploading pics on the blog.  If you follow me on Face Book, you can see a pic of ballerina Scarlett there)

That's it for now.  Hoping I can get my head back in the game for some more frequent blog posts soon!

Catching up

For the first time in way too long, I am sitting in a quiet house all by myself.  Nate is at work, the kids are in school, I have no errands to run, and no chores requiring my immediate attention.  In short, pure bliss.  I have almost forgotten how very much I need these quiet moments alone to sit with my thoughts, calm myself, and regroup. 

We've been back in Ireland for 3 1/2 weeks now and are finally starting to settle back into a more normal routine.  The kids and I really enjoyed our time at home in the States, especially when Nate was able to be there with us, but by the end of the 6 weeks, I think we were all looking forward to coming back to Ballyneety.  Living out of suitcases for 6 weeks is only fun for so long, and we all had a difficult time settling in without Nate.  It was an eye opening experience in the sense that it became very clear that it really doesn't matter where we are, or where we live, as long as the four of us can be together.  It's been nice to all be in the same house again and to finally have all the suitcases unpacked and put away. 

My mom was able to come for a 2-week visit when the kids and I got back and it was so nice to introduce her to Ireland.  (For some reason Blogger isn't letting me upload photos.  Grrr!)  We did some traveling around and visited the Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher (yes, again), Galway, West Port, and Dublin before heading back to spend the last few days at our house.  Hopefully mom will be able to visit Ireland again with us.

The kids started school last Thursday and are loving it!!  Watching Scarlett bounce into school every morning with a backpack almost as big as she is takes my breath away, and hearing her tell me how much she loves her teacher already completely melts my heart.  Grayson walked into the school like he owned it on the first day, and hasn't looked back since.  He's very happy to be back with his friends, and surprisingly excited to be using his new textbooks. 

Gray decided he wanted to play basketball this year in addition to soccer, so we're already busy getting back into the swing of our extra-curriculars.  Scarlett is thrilled to finally be old enough to participate in dance class, and will be trying ballet for the first time next Tuesday. 

I'm still not sure what exactly I will be doing with all of this "free time" on my hands, but I'm sure I will find plenty to keep me busy.  Hopefully I can finally make a comeback with the blog and get some pictures posted for your viewing pleasure.  ;)

See you soon!

Blarney, Co. Cork

After leaving Fota Wildlife Park, we drove to Blarney and stayed at The Woolen Mills Hotel.  Using that as our base, we had some things we wanted to check out with the kids in the surrounding areas.  Unfortunately, we ran into a little bit of car trouble on our second day.  Luckily, we were able to find someone who could fit us in right away.  While we were waiting we wandered around Blarney and through a cemetery in the village.

Once the car was fixed we headed off to our original destination, The Price August Toy Soldier Factory.  We didn't take any pictures while we were inside, but it was pretty cool.  The kids each chose their own mold, and then Grayson was able to pour the liquid metal and cast his soldier and Scarlett's ballerina.  Once the molds had set and been primed, the kids were able to paint them.  They loved it!  I most definitely want to visit again!  When we were finished the kids climbed up the hill behind the factory asking for their picture to be taken at the top.  In the second pic, Grayson had just accidentally smacked Scarlett in the head with his bag.  Oops!  :)

Guinness, anyone?

When the driver of this truck looked up and saw me taking pictures he gave me a big smile and a thumbs up.  ;)

Fota Wildlife Park, Co. Cork

My aunt and I took the kids to the Fota Wildlife Park while she was here in April.  We lucked out with fairly good weather, and the kids really enjoyed themselves.  While there were fences to separate us from the animals, we were able to be much closer to them than we ever had at a zoo.  There was no zoom on the camera in either of the next two pictures!

The kids were thrilled to discover that they could buy food for the ducks and feed them.  Scarlett loved these babies!  They actually jumped out of the water at one point and waddled around a bit.  Scarlett was even able to pet one before it jumped back into the water.

This guy was so expressive and easily my favorite.

And this guy shocked everyone when he jumped up on shore right in front of us.  He. was. MASSIVE!  I wish I could have put Scarlett next to him in the picture for comparison.  Never knew pelicans were so big.  Look at those feet!!

I think the highlight for the kids may have been the train ride around the park.

Loved the way this guy was peering into the train as we drove by.  ;)

There were plenty more animals, but it was kind of nice to just enjoy the day without snapping pictures every other minute. 

Sunny Days

It's days like today, when the sun is shining brightly in skies of blue and there is a gentle breeze blowing, when it's easy to remember all that I am thankful for.

Days like today when it is easy to smile at their crazy antics and take a step back and soak up all that they are and all that they offer this world.

Days like today that get me through all the other days.

Nate and I have had a lot of conversations lately about the length of our stay here in Ireland.  It's come up at the office for Nate a few times in trying to get a game plan together for what needs to be accomplished while he's here, and it's come up at home as we try to think about things that we want to accomplish as a family while we're living abroad.  And I'm struggling with what I'm feeling.

I love Ireland.  I love what we have here with our little family of four.  I love the relationships that we are making and the laid back lifestyle we have found.  I love that my kids are happy here, that they have made friends so easily, and that they know the freedom of running and playing outside with those friends.  I love that they are happy at their schools and that they are learning and growing in leaps and bounds.  I love that I can support Nate in his role here and that I can be here for my kids before and after school. 

This isn't to say that I/we love every. single. minute.  But I will come clean and admit to all of you that I have actually asked Nate about the possibility of making his position here permanent.  And then....

And then we skype with friends from back home and my heart aches from missing them and hearing about all of the things that we are missing out on.  Or my kids talk about all the things they want to do when we get to Bloomington this summer.  I think constantly about projects I want to work on in our home in the states.   I think of sitting on my couch in my sweat pants having a glass of wine with my closest girl friends.  And I don't know that I could ever do this permanently, the giving up of all I've ever known.

It's not easy, living with a foot in two different places.  Missing friends back home while still trying to form relationships with new friends here.  Trying to make this house a home all the while the place we consider to be our "real home" is thousands of miles away.  Adjusting to a new environment and relishing the new-ness while eagerly anticipating returning to the familiar. 

I honestly don't know what the future holds for us long term other than the fact that we will be back in the states at some point.  I don't know how we'll feel about returning to Ireland after spending 6 weeks back in the states for the summer, or even how it will feel to be back in the states after living in Ireland for 10 months.  It all just seems so uncertain to me at the moment, and it has been consuming my every thought.  I'm trying as hard as I can to stay in the moment and enjoy the here and now, but keeping my thoughts where they need to be is proving more difficult than I would like.  All I know for sure at this point is that there is definitely a piece of my heart in 2 separate places thousands of miles apart.