Happy Sunday

Jeff's been gone for almost two weeks and he got home this morning. The kids were so happy to see him. We decided to spend the morning out, so we took the kids to the Ballina playground and Simply Delicious. Then, upon coming home, Jeff decided to lay down for a couple hours, having been awake for 23 hours, and I had the kids play outside.

Spot the kids! They are all in there somewhere.

Adele wouldn't let me push Walter. I guess it is her job for now.

Daddy is here!

After time at the playground and time down at the river, we walked along the riverfront to Simply Delicious.   I took this photo on the walk back, after lunch. It wasn't dark out, it was just the angle of the sun.

I took the boys back into the playground while Jeff stayed in the park area with Adele, so she could feed her horse grass.

Basket of boys!

We got home and it just seemed like an ice-cream kind of afternoon.

I was getting really hot sitting outside, so I decided to pull out the pool for the kids.

Taking a break to eat some ABC crackers

The kids burst into song spontaneously when the crackers came out. So I encouraged them to sing again for the camera.

Little adventures

Nellie and I made plans this morning to meet at the Ballina playground. The weather was a little overcast, but the temperature was perfect. We arrived a while ahead of Nellie, and the kids initially played, but soon lost interest in the equipment, so we went down to the river to explore for a while.

I love watching the kids work and play together!

The kids did a little climbing and exploring, but the playground wasn't holding their attention.

We headed down to the river and Adele started right up a tree

Walter and Gordon initially wanted to throw rocks and sticks

But Walt soon decided that climbing with Adele looked more fun.

Then Nellie and Aidan showed up to help toss rocks into the water.

We then walked the path along the river, which the kids thought was a grand adventure.

The river trails spills out near the boat launch, so we stopped at a picnic bench and watched someone back their boat into the water.

We headed back to the playground to play with Nellie and Aidan a bit longer

Aidan was fascinated by the big kids and kept wanting to help or do what they did.

The Spirit of Killaloe

The weather was predicted cloudy, but warm and dry, so after an early lunch we took the kids to the playground. Jeff kept saying the playground looked different, but as we left he realized the only thing different were how much bigger the kids were versus the last time he'd been there.

From the playground, we went to Flanagan's for a late lunch/snack. We ate outside and the kids ran around in the grass. As we finished eating, the local river/Lough Derg cruise pulled in to dock. I ran down to ask if they had openings and they did. I've set up so many of my visitors on this cruise, but had never been myself.  It worked out perfectly.  The boat wasn't too crowded and they were running the bigger of their two boats. The kids had a great time, though I think their favorite part was the pump-flush on the toilet in the head. LOL.

Adele spent a LONG time letting me push her, and her kitty-cat, in this basket

Walt took his kitty-cat zip lining 

Gordon kept his baby kitty-cat close by

Adele even sent her kitty down the slide a few times.

Silly boy, Walter

Adele spent a long time with Dad on the zip line. Jeff said she was almost doing it by herself.

Dad and Gordon having a deep discussion

Every time we go to the playground, Walt has to work up the nerve to go across the rope bridges.

I just love this photo of two of my monkeys

Waiting for the river cruise to start

We take off from the Ballina side of the river

So much green! There were swans in little hidden areas all along the river, and then more when we got into Lough Derg

Adele checking out the water.

This is a panoramic I took when we moved from the river onto Lough Derg. If you click on the photo, it should take you to the bigger one on photo bucket. 

The cruise was about an hour long. For the first half hour, the kids were content to explore. The second half hour, they started just playing games, pretending to be cats and horses, like they do at home.

About 45 minutes in, Walter decided he was ready to go home. He didn't complain or whine, which is unusual, but he kept asking when we could go home.

A great photo Jeff took of Adele looking at the historic bridge and St Flannan's cathedral as we came back into town.

They played Irish music along with a commentary over the loudspeaker. Naturally, Gordon decided this meant he must dance.