Ireland Part 1

We had an amazing time in Ireland. It was 14 days of adventure, driving, and breath taking sites. We have so many great pictures and stories that I am going to have to create several posts.

We took off from Chicago on the evening of Saturday, May 10 and we arrived in Dublin Sunday morning. We were tired but we headed right into down town Dublin. The best thing that we saw in Dublin on that first day was the mother of all breweries...the Guinness brewery.

We took a tour through the museum there and not only do you get a free tasting of Guinness...

The give you a WHOLE pint...

The next morning we left Dublin and headed South to Glendalough in the county of Wicklow and we had an amazing hike past on old church and up a mountain.

After our hike we headed to Dungarvan in the county of Waterford four our second night's sleep. Dungarvan was a rough blue collar town but our bed & breakfast had an amazing view of the harbor.

After out night in Dungavan we headed to the famous Blarney castle to kiss the Blarney stone. The legend of the kissing the Blarney stone is that it is supposed to give you the the gift of eloquence or, the gift of the gab. Blarney castle was beautiful with exquisite grounds.

The Blarney stone is located at the very top of the castle and in order to kiss is you have to lay on your back over the castle's edge. A little scary but...there is an older Irish gentleman holding on to you...NOT so reassuring.

Next, we headed for Clonakilty. Clonakilty is one of the towns that Michal Collins lived. Wikipedia described Michael Collins as:

'An Irish revolutionary leader, Minister for Finance in the First Dáil of 1919, Director of Intelligence for the IRA, and member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, both as Chairman of the Provisional Government and Commander-in-Chief of the National Army. He was shot and killed in August 1922, during the Irish Civil War.
Although most Irish political parties recognise his contribution to the foundation of the modern Irish state, members and supporters of Fine Gael hold his memory in particular esteem, regarding him as their movement's founding father, through his link to their precursor Cumann na nGaedhael, a name adopted in 1923 by the pro-Treaty wing of Sinn Fein.'

Jim has read a lot about Michael Colllons and was really interested to see where he spent some of him time. It was a very nice town and in hindsite...it was one of our favorite towns.

Monday evening we evened up in a very charming town by the name of Baltimore...yes...Baltimore. We LOVED this town. The downtown was one side of one street but, it was a great street across from the harbor.

We sat in the town square all afternoon than then into the evening. The sunset was amazing!

The next day we where off the the Beara, Kerry, and Dingle Peninsula. I will post more of our adventures soon.

A Weekend Full of Adventure

The first weekend in April brought us some great visitors my cousin Alison, her husband Scott, their 2 kids Elizabeth and Freddie, my aunt Mary, and my uncle Fred. They drove down from Minnesota on Friday and then Friday night we had a very nice dinner at cousin Joanne's but Saturday was when the fun really began. Saturday morning we all got on the train to Chicago. Freddie was SO EXCITED for the train but, he has a funny way of showing it...

When we got to Chicago we split up into two groups, the boys went one way and the girls went another.

Girls day...

The girls headed right for the American Girl store. Have you heard of this phenomenon? It is AMAZING!! American Girl Dolls are a line of dolls that come with their own series of books. Many of the dolls are historical so they teach girls all about the time that they "lived" in. This might be the biggest store I have ever been in. This store has 3 full floors of shopping and activities.

As soon as we got to the store we went shopping. At this store you can get the same outfit for the doll as you get yourself...too cute!! Elizabeth and her doll got a very nice new lavender dress. Next we had lunch. This store has it's own restaurant where they have a special seat for the dolls.

After lunch there was more shopping and then the doll went to the hair salon. Yes, there is a special salon for the dolls.

At the store we also went to a live doll review show. After the American Girl store we walked Michigan Avenue, it was a beautiful day out and it was a perfect day for a walk.

Boys day...

The first stop for the boys was a trip to the top of the Sears tower. The Sears tower stands at 1,450 feet and 110 stories high. The Sears Tower is the tallest building in North America and the third tallest building in the world.

After the Sears tower the boys headed to the Field Museum, one of the great museums in Chicago. The must see at the Field Museum for Freddie was Sue.

Sue is the largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil yet discovered and a HUGE treat for a 4 year old!

As an added bonus they also say mummys.

After the museum we all met back at the train station for a well deserved adult beverage.

Saturday night we all went to Ted's Montana Grill. Ted's is one of Jim and my favorite places right now. Ted's specializes in Buffalo burgers. Yes, tatonca. They are delicious! They are extremely lean, juice, and just plain finger licking good.

Thanks for coming everyone we had a GREAT time and we can't wait to see you again!!!

Not exactly the weekend we planned...

Last weekend my mom came to town and it was not exactly the weekend we had planned. My mom came in to town on Thursday and then on Friday my mom, my cousin Joanne, Jim, and I drove to Minnesota for my grandfather's funeral. 5 plus hours later we where in there!

My Grandpa's funeral was very nice. It was Hawaiian themed and very well done.

The highlight of the weekend was spending time with the Suhler-Hart clan and my cousin Joanne's very 1st trip to Starbucks. Can you believe it?!?! Her VERY 1st Starbucks coffee.

My mom and dad had a difficult time getting home. My dad was flying out of Minnesota and his flight was delayed for 3 hours and then they lost his luggage. My mom on the other hand tried to fly out on Monday but...her flight was cancelled and she was unable to get her luggage back and her luggage flew to Seattle without her on Monday. The good thing about that is that i got an extra day with her and her flight did successfully leave on Tuesday.

This weekend we have the Suhler-Hart clan visiting us here in Chicago...it should be a blast!!!

Chewy Gets a New Do

Today Chewy went in for his summer buzz cut and the pictures are too cute not to share.

Chewy before...

and then, Chewy after...

He is still too cute for words and he seems very happy with his new do.

Renovation, Game Night # 3, Easter, and the End of an Era

The weekend began with Jim chipping out the cracked tiles in the Powder Room. Once he got all of the broken tiles up we discovered the issue....a cracked foundation.

Jim has now filled in the crack and we are ready to re-tile.

Saturday night was game night # 3 with Frank and Manuela and, as usual, we had a GREAT time! This month Frank's kids Mo and Anika where in town to visit and it was a pleasure to see them again.

Here are some pictures from the evening...Tonight's game, Texas Holdum:

And the winner was...

Frank!!!

Here are the standings so far:

Game night #1:

1. Manuela

2. Frank

3. Amy

4. Jim

Game night #2

1. Jim

2. Frank

3. Amy

4. Manuela

Game night #3

1.Frank

2. Amy

3. Manuela

4. Jim

I am due for a win and we are behind in the money contribution. Jim and I have contributed $55 and Frank and Manula have contributed $35.

On Easter we went to meet Joann and her family for brunch. Joann's mother Kay has recently moved into a nursing home. The interesting thing about this particular nursing home is it used to be a hospital....the hospital where my father was born, St. Joseph's.

Easter brunch we ate at the Gasslight Manor...it was interesting but, HIGHLY entertaining!!

The weekend ended on a sad but good note, Fredrick Stolp Suhler Sr. has moved on to a better place. The people he has left behind will be better for knowing him. Rest in peace Biggy.

Corinne Comes to Town

Our dear friend Corinne came to visit us the weekend of the 15th - 18th, it was so GREAT to see her! It was Corinne's first visit to see us and we "tried" to make it memorable. Corinne came on Saturday afternoon and we showed her around our home; she saw her old friend Billy and met our boy Chewy. First on Corinne's to-do list was to give Chewy a new hair-do...

...Chewy looks good in a pony tail! HE WAS NOT PLEASED!!!

Billy was so happy to see Corrine that he slept with his tongue out.

Saturday night we headed into the city to Greek town. In Greek town we went to Greek Isles. Jim and I had been there once before for my 30th birthday. It was VERY tasty!!!

Sunday was a bit of a bust, we where going to go into the city but time got away from us for a Sunday. We tried to go to a nice little town near us named Hinsdale. Hinsdale is a cute town full of little shops and restaurants but, the problem with Hinsdale is, EVERYTHING IS CLOSED ON SUNDAYS! Corinne and I ended up walking around our local mall.

On Monday, St. Patrick's Day, Jim and I had to work so Corinne headed into the city to The Art Institute of Chicago. I have not been there but I hope to this summer. One of the main things that I would like to see there is the American Gothic...

On Monday afternoon we headed to Quigley's, our favorite Naperville Irish pup. It was crowded but a lot of fun!

Corinne even had a shot...

First thing on Tuesday morning Corinne headed back to Seattle. It was great having her and we can't wait until we see her again!