A Fabulous August Bank Holiday Weekend

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend we headed down to the Midlands. We stayed in Kettering and were able to visit some really great places. It was a perfect way to end the summer.

Kirby Hall

Stratford-Upon-Avon

I absolutely could not row this boat!

Holy Trinity Church, burial place of William Shakespeare

Birth place of William Shakespeare

Wrest Park

Wrest Park was newly reopened over the Summer. It was absolutely one of the best properties that we have visited since living in Britain. We spent a whole day exploring the grounds and the pavilion.


Cambridge

Hardwick Hall

Bolsover Castle

Tynemouth Priory

This was our last day with Uncle Howard and Barbara before they headed back to Chicago.

Ireland

We were blessed to have Uncle Howard and Barbara come for a visit in August. We had a fantastic time. We spent a few days in Ireland which was absolutely gorgeous! We flew Ryan air, which was our first experience on a value jet. The boys thought it was the funniest thing when we landed and they did a bugle call. I cried on the flight back when the turbulence got really bad, and the pilot came over the air and said all the other air space was taken and we would just have to endure it for awhile. But we did make it both ways. As with every big city we have visited, we absolutely loved Dublin. Cork was gorgeous, although I don't think any of us would recommend the "bus tour". The Ring of Kerry had the most breathtaking views and was well worth the time spent in the car. Here are just a few pictures from Ireland.

Uncle Howard, Barbara, and Mike took the Guinness tour

I took the boys to the Dublin Zoo

Blarney Castle

Right after Mike kissed the Blarney Stone.

Killareny

on the Ring of Kerry

Mike dared Barb to ring the church bell, and she did

A little behind

I have gotten a little behind on updating the blog. I just don't know where the time goes. I am going to attempt now to get caught up.

Samuel's Imagination

Samuel has started "big School" this week, and he is really enjoying it. He is only in half days for the first three weeks and then will start full days. Today on our walk home from school it was raining, he asked me: "Mom do the aliens remote control the rain?"