Friday, June 30, 2017

June 2017 in Utah

We have been keeping ourselves busy here in Utah. 
Kate's been taking some gymnastic classes. 
 We've been enjoying sunny, warm weather and cooling off with sprinklers. 
 All the cousins are trying to win Jane's affection- Moana you tube videos are the trick!
 The girls got all fancied up for a Disney fun run at Thanksgiving Point. 
 The girls loved meeting Elsa, Anna, Cinderella, Moana, and Aurora up close. 
After race picture.
 Kate has also been taking swim lessons.  She is doing quite well!
The best part of all is that we get to hang out with our cousins all the time.

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Saturday, June 10, 2017

Our last days...

We were very busy the last few days before our departure from Europe.  
Bryan and I didn't prepare at all for the 1/2 marathon in Karlovy Vary, but we both did okay.  The scenery was beautiful during the run.
Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
The day after the race, I got to experience a beer bath.  You bath in beer and can drink beer and eat beer butter on beer bread.  Quite interesting, but a cross off of my bucket list! 

 The girls got to visit their cousins one last time and play dress up!
 We got to meet the newest addition to the Izu family, Charles.  Super tiny, but not really.  
 We will miss traveling with this crew.
 One last hang out with our kindergarten friends.
 Good-byes to the best candy giving neighbor and friend- Regina.
And lastly, a good-bye for daddy at the airport in Baltimore.

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Thursday, June 1, 2017

Ireland

We all flew into Ireland (from Scotland) and headed to the southwest coast.  
We spent a gorgeous day bike riding around Killarney National Park.  The girls rode on the back of the bikes and enjoyed every second.
During our bike ride, we past the beautiful Muckross Monastery 
and lakes.
Afterwards, we stopped for the famous Murphy's ice cream.  The flavours are fantastic- sea salt, honeycomb carmel, butterscoth- but the prices are outrageous!
The next day, we drove around the ring of Kerry.  Beautiful views and quaint little towns.  The best part was veering off the beaten path and finding castle ruins and beautiful beaches.  
Waterville in the background.  Wonderful little town on the ring of Kerry that Charlie Chaplin would visit frequently.
At the very end of the day, Bryan got a little too close to the edge of the road and popped two of our rentals' tires. TWO!! Luckily, we stopped right next to a resort that had a playground and the girls were able to play while we waited for the tow truck.  We got new tires and headed back to our hotel.  Little did we know, the GPS took us through the Gap of Dunloe.  This twisted, cliffy road was not something my mother enjoyed at all, but it was so much fun driving down it.
Another day, we went to Dingle.  This is probably my favorite little town.  Colorful buildings, sailboats, awesome food, and one of the best little kid playgrounds.
This is the only dolphin we got to see in Dingle however, no Fungie!
We spent a very, very rainy day in Cork and Blarney castle.  I kissed the famous Blarney Stone.  Kate really wanted to do it as well, but there was an age limit.  The stone is quite a distance away and was actually very scary.  
Our drive to the Cliffs of Mohr was quite exciting.  Again, the GPS led us on a different path than we were expecting.  The road just kind of ended and we were at a dock.  Fortunately, it was a ferry port for vehicles and would be there to pick us up in 45 minutes.  Phew!
This might be our only family picture in Ireland.  Whoops!  The cliffs were amazing! but the weather was not.  Super windy.  I was so nervous the night before visiting the cliffs, dreaming about my children running or jumping off the edge.  The main area is very kid friendly.  There is a wall the surrounds the cliffs, making you feel more secure.
Bryan walked the entire cliffs.  This was the one place that he really wanted to visit in Ireland and he was dog sick.  Poor guy.  It was definitely worth it though.
Let me just say, looks can conceiving.  I was so excited to see this tomb- poulnabrone dolmen- and then I got there and I was couldn't believe how small it was.
The rock formations around the tomb were really interesting and fun for the girls to jump from.
Our last couple days were all about Dublin.  My mom and I tried some non-alcoholic beer at the famous Arther's pub.
My dad and I poured the perfect Guinness at the Guinness Museum and Store House.  
We saw the Book of Kells and the amazing Long Room at Trinity University.  Highly recommend.
And, of course, St. Patrick's Cathedral.  

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Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Auf Wiedersehen


I like to keep a list of all the things we have done in the "area" where ever we move.  One, I can look back and see all the things we have accomplished.  Two, others can browse through and get ideas. And three, I like lists.  I already have a few things to check off in San Antonio!



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Scotland

We spent 6 days traveling the lowlands of Scotland. The weather was absolutely fabulous. I had mentally prepared for rain, wind, and cold.  We had blue skies every day.  It was incredible.  
 Bryan did an excellent job driving on the left side of the road.
 Our first stop was Stirling.  We climbed up the William Wallace Monument and enjoyed the beautiful views.  The museum had some fun puzzles for the kids to put together while we took turns hiking to the tippie top.
 We then went to the Stirling castle and had beautiful views of the monument, the city, and the castle.
 Stirling Castle
 Bryan and Jane on the old bridge in Stirling.  
 After leaving Stirling, we checked out The Kelpies.  I think they are the largest sculptures of horses? Kind of a fun to see,...
 but the playground near by was the coolest!
 The next day we hiked Arther's Seat and toured Edinburgh.  

 Mommy on the top!
 Kate and Jane watching mommy hike to the top from a different part of the mountain. 
Beautiful views and good rock throwing.
 Listening to the bagpipes on 'The Royal Mile'
 Edinburgh Castle
Afterwards, we picked up Grandma and Grandpa Koplin to continue on with our awesome adventures. 
We continued on to the Trossachs National Park and Loch Lomond.  There was a farmers market, shopping, and another awesome playground.  We then hired a double canoe and paddled on the lake.  The life vests fit Kate and Jane perfectly, without complaints.  Definitely need those for our kayaks!
 Loch Lomond
 Mom
 We drove to our airBNB and caught a wonderful sunset.  My dad took a million pictures.
The next day we set out to the Isle of Arran.  Surprisingly, the island is very lush and green near the waters edge.  Palm trees and beautiful ferns growing everywhere. 
My parents and I hired bikes and rode around the island.  We passed castles, cheese factories, breweries, and beautiful rocky beaches.  
 Bryan and the girls played on the beaches and playgrounds nearby.  
Our last adventure in Scotland was Hadrian's Wall- which is technically in the northern part of England.  The Roman's built it to keep the hooligan Scottish off their side of the country, for they had little desire for anything north of the wall.  It stretches 80 miles- coast to coast- across the United Kingdom.
We were able to walk on part of the wall that is permitted for foot traffic.  The countryside was beautiful and covered with sheep and their little lambs.
 The area we were in has the best preserved Roman toilets! Bahaha!
 And the girls enjoyed climbing all over- as it was permitted.  Most of the Roman ruins (or ruins in general) that we have visited, you aren't allowed to climb.  But I think Hadrian's Wall is not a HUGE tourist attraction, plus it is in the middle of nowhere! Then we headed off the the airport to fly to Dublin for our Ireland experience.

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