Aquarium and other random events...

We had been planning on heading to the Dublin Aquarium for a few weeks since Easton has a love of fish...mostly inspired by 'Finding Nemo'. The aquarium was hardly remarkable but it worked for us. We went through the entire thing twice in 30 minutes and by that time Easton was ready to go anyway. We stopped and got some ice cream and our outing was over!


This is right outside the aquarium.

Also, we got our car this week! We went for our first family outing last night to the grocery store. It was pretty exciting. I am still very nervous to drive but I guess I'll just have to get out there and do it.



A few pics of Easton and 'his pumpkins'. He really loves our pumpkin lights and the toy grandma sent him. We bought some real pumpkins last night at the store too and he's pretty excited about that.

Easton licking brownie batter off the spatula. Lately he ALWAYS wants to help me with whatever I am doing in the kitchen. I could be getting a glass of water and soon enough he'll be scooting the chair over saying "Easton help." It's fun...usually!

Powerscourt

So we have had a busy few days here in Dublin. Rob was gone most of the week for work in London and then in Scotland. Once he was home we had a work dinner at a fancy french restaurant downtown and left Easton for the first time since we have been here. We left him with our great neighbors and he did great.
We then welcomed our first guests here in Ireland. Our friends from L.A., Jared and Kristi, finished up their 3 week European adventure in Dublin. It was fun to hear the stories of their travels and great to see some familiar faces. They did some touring around the city and then on Saturday (another beautiful day...I am eating my words) we went to Powerscourt Gardens. They are these amazing gardens a bit south of us. They were built in the 1700's. We were barely out of the city but the change was dramatic. It was super peaceful and just like you might imagine the Irish countryside. We saw herds of sheep and small winding farm roads.








In other news...I am getting revved up for Halloween. We didn't know if they celebrated it here but, alas, they do! I guess Halloween just gets me excited for fall. My friend, Emily, found me some orange lights so the decorating can begin. I think Easton might end up being a dragon this year...he would love to be Diego from 'Go, Diego, Go' but I don't know if the shorts and t-shirt outfit will fly in Dublin weather.
Our car finally got here from the states this week! It is currently going through customs but we are glad that we may have a car at our disposal soon. The bad part is that then I actually have to figure out how to drive a left-hand drive car on the left side of the road. Let's be honest, I am not the best driver ever...it could get messy. Hopefully with some serious practice and a GPS system we will survive!

A Trip to Howth

Saturday was honestly the first nice, non-rainy Saturday since we have been here. I have been kind of grumpy the past Saturday's because it's our one day to get out and do stuff as a family and we've been confined to the house. So I was really happy when this last Saturday was sunny and warm with no rain in sight! We decided to take off early in the morning and go up to the fishing village of Howth, which is on the peninsula on the northern bay of Dublin. We rode the train, which Easton loves, ate breakfast near the bay, let Easton play on the playground and walked a bit into the actual town. It was nice to see a new part of Dublin and enjoy the sun!

Easton and Rob on the train...that is Easton's smile believe it or not.


Some Frenchman took this pic after we asked him to get the cliffs in the background. Obviously we need to brush up on our French.


After Howth and a nap for Easton we headed for the park that is near our house for some more playground time and to feed the ducks. The ducks there are brazen! Easton's fingers have been bitten more than once!




And here are a few pictures of the inside of our house that I promised a while ago and that some people who will not be mentioned (Nicole) have been asking for. It is only a few rooms that were clean right before I posted! I'll get more up soon.


Kitchen...the fridge and freezer are the tall 'cabinets' on the left side of the pic disguised as cabinets.

The sun room/enclosed patio/conservatory. They call it a conservatory here but I just can't make that fancy of a word come out of my mouth on a regular basis.

Our downstairs wc (water closet...bathroom in American) that is the width of Rob's shoulders! I know it's kind of weird to show you all the bathroom but it's just the kind of thing I know my mom will ask about..."What does the bathroom look like?"

The living room

Until next time...

We went to the Dublin Zoo last weekend. There were lots of lions, elephants, monkeys and farm animals to keep us busy. Easton loved the monkeys and has been asking to go back and see them since! It was actually a nice day...the last week has been pretty rainy, windy and all around nasty...it puts me in a bit of a funk but I'm working on being peppy anyway.




This is Easton and I with the rhinos. Also, my unattractive hair and our new stroller...double stroller that is!

Rob and Easton snorting with the pigs.

Today was another rare sunny day so we played outside in the yard after church. Some pics of the boys :




This week was mostly spent in the house. Rob went to London for a work conference and talked about the past, present and future of famous financial institutions...riveting. Today at church Easton made it through all of nursery without us which allowed us to go to all of our meetings...I think the first time since he was born! We also showed up a bit late to church which landed us a spot in the front row...yikes. Easton usually is occupied by cars and food on the floor of the back row. He actually was a stellar little buddy though and was quiet and not crazy the whole time. Maybe we'll sit in the front row more often!

Sunday Stroll

Last Sunday was actually a gorgeous day in Dublin so after Church we decided to go for a walk at the sea shore. It is only a 10 minute walk from our house which is great! The 'beach' isn't the classic SoCal beach that we are used to...much more rocky and not really lounge in the sand-able but it is still pretty and nice to be on the water. Easton chased a lot of dogs and kites and we chased Easton.



A shot of the houses on the beach




I just finished the book I had been reading and am on the market for another. Any suggestions? I am also in the midst of several projects...a quilt for Easton, painting some old picture frames and maybe attempting to make a quiet book for church. As most of you know I am not the craftiest girl but I'm stretching my soul (as Sarah would say) and trying to be more resourceful. any helpful hints on the quiet book would be welcome!

My Name is Katie and I'm a Chocoholic

So seriously. Of all the things there are to love about Ireland, I might love chocolate spread the most. This blessed concoction is not only an Irish delicacy. Years ago while I was a missionary in Spain I found Nocilla. It is a lot like Nutella but there are no hazelnuts...it is just pure, creamy, chocolate. I bought Nocilla on one of my first preparation days and shockingly enough downed the entire peanut butter sized jar in one day! The madness had to stop. I limited myself to one jar of Nocilla after each 6 months of my mission, which would give me 3 days of pure gluttony. I kept to my guns...mostly because I knew if I didn't I would come home 50 pounds heavier and pre-diabetic. Fast forward 4 years...Rob went out grocery shopping the first night we were here and among his purchases is a jar of familiar looking chocolate spread. In Ireland it is simply called 'chocolate spread' but I knew what this was. So again I finished a whole jar in about 36 hours and told Rob to never let me buy it again. And I haven't. But Rob did go to the store one more time and he brought with him another jar of my nemesis. I finished 3/4 of this jar and then threw it away after making Rob vow to never buy it again. If I come back a big as a house you all will know why.



In other food news...we accidentally bought asian black bean sauce instead of black beans for our chicken enchiladas...those ended up pretty interesting. And after searching for Crisco I finally found it under the name 'baking fat'. I wonder if anyone would buy it in the U.S. if we called it baking fat? Live and Learn.

The Mother of all Posts

Ok...there are quite a few items to cover in this post so I am warning you now it could get lengthy! We are officially moved to Ireland but before we got here, there were 3 weeks of living out of suitcases in 3 different states and multiple households...here is a recap of the mayhem:
We moved out of our apartment in L.A. and into a hotel for a few days while we wrapped everything up there. It was super swanky...we paid $8 for Easton's glass of milk! We also said goodbye to all of our friends and I cried like a baby. Here are a few pics of that and some of a little farewell party thrown for us before we left.


Me and my friend Heidi

Our good buddies the Roberts family

Easton and his BFF, Josh



Nicole and I showing our not too pregnant yet bellies


The Smiths. Minutes before Val and I were crying our eyes out

We went from L.A. to Ireland and left Easton with my parents for about a week while we finalized our house and furnished it as much as we could. I went back to Colorado and Rob stayed in Ireland for another week. In CO Easton had a blast without us being spoiled by his grandparents. Once I got there we played in the pool a lot, saw some farm animals, had some BBQ's, even took Easton on a bike ride in Breckenridge. Here are the pics

Easton sees the goat

Grandpa and Grandma Nancy with Easton in tow...Nathan and Lindsay should be proud (I also went on this bike ride lest anyone should call me lazy :)

Easton lounging at the pool

From Colorado we headed to SLC for Rob's sister, Juli's wedding. Rob met us there after working in L.A. for a few days and the festivities began. While in SLC we got to meet up with our good friends the Millers from and the Smiths from L.A. We also got to see our friends the Rosens. Other than that it was pretty much wedding mania. Mania isn't quite true. Juli is pretty laid back so mania was minimum. We had a great day. The sealing in the temple was great and the luncheon was super cute...done by the grooms sisters. Then we had the reception at the Lion House in downtown SLC. It was outside which was nice especially so the kids could roam and not break anything. We are really happy for Juli and Rob (yep, that's one more Rob in the family) and excited to have him in our fam.


Friends reunite. Beckham, Noah and Easton


Juli and the men in her life

The cousins

Easton workin' the bow tie

So that was it in the US of A and then we came over to Dublin. The flights over were not too bad. Easton did pretty well even though I had a minor breakdown at one point (I think right before or after we changed the 2nd dirty diaper in an airplane bathroom with no changing table) . We have now been here 4 days and we are just settling in and getting adjusted. We are trying to keep busy and trying to get our house all set and furnished. I am thrilled with our backyard and the washer and dryer and our neighborhood is really nice and quiet but also really close to the city center, where Rob works. Rob is doing great at work too. Here is a pic of our house here. It is pretty cute. I will post pics of the inside once we get organized.



So there you go...lots of pics and news...don't say I didn't warn you! Between moving in and playing with Easton I am reading a book I am loving called the Lemon Tree...a recommendation from Nicole and I am about to start a new quilt for Easton's toddler bed (when he'll actually be in said bed, who knows!). Keep us posted of all your news and we'll do the same!