Ireland...

We had the opportunity to go to Ireland again.  Operation Smile asked Wade to speak at a student leadership conference and be one of the keynote speakers as well as a breakout speaker.  They paid for both of our flights out there and our townhouse we stayed in.  I really struggled to leave Wells for five days but I knew my sweet, kind, beautiful, adorable, generous, smart, cute, loving sister and her girls Lauren and Kate would do an amazing job stepping in as Wells' mothers.

I'm just going to warn my three readers out there that this is one LONG post.  With LOTS of pictures so find a soft chair and kick your feet up if you are willing to read all of it.

It started off with our driver Tim picking us up from the airport.  He was waiting for us with a paper with our  name on it.  I've always wanted to be that person...  check...

Wade had to speak about an hour after we got of the plane.  So here is a pic of him reviewing/writing his speech.

The man doin the thing he loves best...

Once he was done speaking we went back to our "Manor"...  The Adare Manor.  It just happens to be a five star castle originally built around the 1720's that has been restored into a manor. 

These are just some pics of Adare Manor's grounds.

Inside the Manor...

This was the townhouse we stayed in.  It had two bedrooms which made it really nice because Wade's parents joined us the day after we got there.

The Cliffs of Moher.  They raise to a height of 690 ft out of the sea and stretch for 5 miles

This is a tower that looks out at the Cliffs of Moher

This is what a typical house looked like around the 1800's

Wade's dad is tall... but I'm pretty sure he is standing on a rock that makes him look EXTRA tall in this photo.   :)

This is the only castle  built with this kind of architecture

This was one of the many thatch roof houses in the town of Adare that has been converted into a restaurant 

We spent an afternoon on the Dingle Peninsula.  It was a cute little town with a beautiful beach. 

Wade and his dad checking out some sea shells

Can you say cheesy much?...

Wade eating a little tiny crab...

HOT.

I don't know why but I have a fascination with old cemeteries.  I thought this one was pretty cool.  Our driver Tim was saying that the Irish government will soon put a ban on cemeteries and everyone will have to resort to being cremated.  

Here is the traditional Irish Catholic Church.  Beautiful.

I caught Wade and his dad just taking in the little town while Angie (Wade's mom) and I shopped.

I told Wade to "work it" for the camera...

Angie and I came out of a shop to Wade and his dad hysterically laughing.  We looked across the street at what they were looking at and saw this... Mad Hatters Dingle...  boys...

Amazing seafood

Then we went to the Blarney Castle built around 1446

They built the castle right into the stone around it

This is where the guard would stay.  It was right next to the entrance of the castle.  

While in Ireland you HAVE to kiss the blarney stone.  

The stone was at the very top of the castle on the roof. Then you have to lay on your back and someone holds your feet and you lean all the way back and pucker up like you've never puckered before...

Angie

Ken

Me

Wade

Yes hundreds of people kiss the same spot everyday, but hey I need the gift of eloquence, so I was willing to take that risk. 

Well you made it through... That was one long post.  

There are a couple of things that I want to take from the Irish people.  I want to start saying brilliant instead of awesome.  I want to start saying ye instead of you.  I want to say I'm going to go wash, instead of go shower.  I want to say I'm going to the toilet instead of the bathroom.  But most of all I want to take life a little slower like they do.