Sunday, December 30, 2018

Europe trip 2018. Ireland Part I.


September 18th, we headed to Santa Monica to meet Brian who had already been away working for a week in Anaheim.  We had a little time to kill and soak up some last warm California sunshine before boarding our plane for Europe.

Bon voyage!!!

Then we waited....

The boys were total troopers.  Owen and I slept most of the flight. Scott was about 50/50 sleeping and binge watching movies. But all in all the flight went quite well...we were even delayed in London a couple hours before we caught our flight to Dublin, thankfully I had saved some new Harry Potter lego guys for just that circumstance.

And then we arrived in Dublin.  It was late when we arrived so we all slept the first night in a hotel by the airport.  The next day we made our way to Dublin and the B&B we'd be staying at for the next 4 our so days.

Our first thing to do in Dublin was hop on a bus for a tour around the city, hoping on and off to see the sights when we wanted.  It made for the perfect way to travel since it was one of our only rainy days while we were there.

Learning the ropes of public transportation


Touring Dublin

Group shot in the rain


The next day we took a tour of Trinity College.  Truly fascinating, so much history and tradition.

The highlight was that our tour guide was not hard to look at (not pictured: Irish accent)


We followed our tour with a picnic lunch in the park with a view of the Oscar Wilde statue

One of my favorite lunches of the trip, picked up at a little deli style restaurant.  Our only issue was warding off the aggressive birds while we ate.

Then we played

And posed...





Until we headed back to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells



That night we headed to Temple Bar for a musical pub crawl.  So the boys got to officially experience their first bar. 

We got to listen to music, learn some history, eat dinner and of course have drinks (ginger ale for the boys!)

By the end the boys had had enough and were exhausted so sadly we missed most of the Irish dancing.


Dublin to be continued....

Friday, September 14, 2018

Back to school 2018

And then school started.  Always bittersweet. 


Scott 2nd grade


Owen kindergarten



And why go back to school and not add sports...Fall ball comin' atcha for Scott

But never without his speedo

Practicing his pitching skills

School starting hasn't stopped us from beach days though





Mondo's with our faves

Owen up on the board (lovingly called "the big black tuna")

But before you go thinking he's a natural...he didn't catch every wave:

Another weekend morning Owen and I conquered a six miler in wildwood while the rest of the Campbells enjoyed the beginning of football season

And then sports weekends begin.  First up soccer Saturdays for Owen.

Purple Megalodons comin' atcha


And then baseball Sundays for Scott.  

First time pitching


Buddies cheering each other up after getting creamed in both games.




End of summer adventures

Summer seemed to come and go just like that. Before we knew it, it was winding down and we were making sure to sneak in a few last minute days with friends, beach trips and freedom!



Megan, Deanne and I met up at Heaven's beach...so now we can officially say its annual thing.



Owen took us on an adventure to his "secret beach" that he and I found during his adventure week. 



Then we rode back to the pier that night to meet up with our friends for some fishing and tacos.




Ren is super cooperative for pictures...

My heart...




Success.  His first ever catch.  Unfortunately i missed it as i was picking up tacos.  Thankful for sister wives who grab the perfect photo!

 The perfect end of summer fishing adventure.  I could not love this group of kiddos more!  They are so amazing!  Framily forever!



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