When Irish eyes are smiling...

The week before St. Patrick's Day, Kevin and I embarked on a trip of a lifetime with some of our dearest friends. Thanks to Mike and Bridget, who decided to tie the knot in rural Ireland where their families are from, us Hawks left the kids at home and spent a week together witnessing their big day and traveling the country together. The week flew by, and with it dozens of cherished memories were formed along the way. There are too many to list here, but we look forward to re-hashing them together soon!

First stop: Dublin
Followed by: County Offaly... and pretty much every village in it! ....Castletown... Cashel...  Kinnity... Mountrath to name a few!
Last stop: Galway

Unfortunately, the camera was on manual focus for what would have been an amazing group shot in the airport!

We ate dinner at this pub twice while in Dublin. The beer was fabulous, and perhaps the fried Snickers dessert even more so!

Tim, Kev and Carrie outside our last pub crawl stop.

The last time I participated in an Irish pub crawl, it was with 3 girlfriends in 2002 and I was missing my "boyfriend" terribly. So glad to have him with me for the second time around. :)

At Oliver St. John Gogarty's Pub in the Temple Bar district of Dublin

Gotta do the bus tour!

Everybody move to the back of the bus!

Quiet please- Jameson sleeping! At the Jameson Distillery in Dublin.

My first Jameson and Ginger.. I am not a whiskey girl... I am nervous!

I am officially a whiskey girl. But just triple-distilled Jameson. And just with ginger ale. :)

Taking a rest at the distillery.. Kevin and John are very secure with their male friendship.

Sky bar at the Guiness factory. As Cole said "I wore the t-shirt to the concert."

Post-Guiness.. Kevin, John, Jimmy, Bill and Tim

Nothing like a little bit Calvey in a lot of Guiness

GUINESS Factory

Learning how to "our the perfect pint" As you can see, we took this very seriously.

Carrie and Cole take their first sip.

Yum!

Kevin practices his artistic photography...

I forget their names. But they taught us how to properly pour a Guiness. And they were great.

At the reception for Mr. and Mrs. Mike Deangelo!

The happy couple, singing a song.

Looking out of the Rock at Cashel.

This was our one truly historical/monument stop of our trip.

Cemetery outside the castle.

Look down beloooooooow

Foreboding, isn't it?

Scenery from the top of the Rock.

So many beautiful doorways and archways...

Cashel Calvey

We had more fun on this trip...

Us girls at a Castletown Pub later that night, for a second celebration for Mike and Bridget!

Brazills and Calveys... Doesn't Bill look like a local??

Notice our great Irish entertainment behind Jimmy

Notice our great Brazillian entertainment while the Irishmen took a break. :)

We should be in a Jameson commercial.

Castletown, Brokeback style.

Shopping in Galway.

Our "Last Supper"!

6 months!

February 29, 2011
6 months old with a temperament of gold. We don't think it's possible for a baby to be any happier than our Gavin. We thank our lucky stars for him!

Weeknight fun with Grandma and Grandpa

Gavin and Aidan are lucky enough to get to see their Grandpa and Grandpa at least 5 days a week. Aidan often will do something at home and then announce that "Amma taught me that." When a toy breaks it is a toss up as to whether he thinks Daddy or "Boppa" should fix it. And while Gavin can't verbally express his feelings towards his local grandparents, his excitement for being with them is obvious, as the second we walk into their home he starts squealing and jumping up and down in my arms! 

Once in awhile, they even get to have some quality time with all of us... their parents and their parents away from their parents! So here are a few pics from one of those recent evenings.

From Gavin's point of view.

Our pudgy little Hawk, having a good time.

I don't know what my brother and Grandma are doing over there, but I am having fun watching!

Look, Mommy! A Ladybug!

Grandma is tooooo funny

I just want to give her a big kiss!

I can't look at the bug with Aidan and Grandpa so I'll just enjoy a little hand snack instead.

Love,
Gavin

Rocky Balboa

Way better than the Rocky Statue in Philly, Newark, Delaware has our very own Rocky... :)

Good times

Some things Aidan has said to us lately...

(While I was in the bathroom)
"Mommy, what you doin in potty?
(Me- "Pooping!")
"Oh, I like poop!"

(After a good game of tag)
"I need some animal cookies and raisins cuz I did all that runnin."

"Mommy can I have 2 snacks because you're my best friend"
(Two minutes later...)
"Mommy can I watch 2 shows before my nap because I so love you much"

Gavin also knows how to have a good time... When his aunts came to visit, Gavin wanted to show him how tough he already is! So he got right to fixing Aidan's car carrier. :)

 Anyone with kids will understand this game... It's Aidan's favorite.
"Swiper no swiping!

Gavin had so much fun by himself the next morning that he literally jumped himself to sleep!

Aidan's new favorite game with Daddy is to make, decorate and then fly paper airplanes

And in Gavin's sparetime, he prefers to catch up on his People magazine. He especially liked this issue, which featured Halle Berry's daughter, Nahla. Good taste already, Gav!