The Eagle has Landed

We had a good week last week especially with the anticipation of Joe coming on Friday! L did much better with the drop off routine at school. She was sad when I left her but did not cry at all. K has been riding her bike back and forth from school and is loving the independence. A few times she has informed me that its uphill both ways! I just laughed and told her she will be telling that to her children some day. T was looking forward to Friday because they were having "Jersey Day" for the big All-Ireland GAA (gaelic football) Finals and Dublin was in the final match. Its basically equivalent to our Super-Bowl. Dublin flags coming out of cars, windows, stores, bridges, pubs, you name it...it had a Dublin flag on it!

Go Dubs!

Last week I went into the local tax office which is basically like our DMV. I took my ticket number from the dispenser. There were 50 people ahead of me. FIFTY! I filled out my paperwork for my learners permit. I had my certificate that I passed the permit test, my EU passport, and proof of address. I just sat down and "people watched" until they called my number. I will have to give them credit that it did move pretty fast and I was only sitting for 20 minutes. I gave the teller all my paperwork but he said I needed an eye exam form filled out. WHAT! This is a permit! Seriously. I then informed him I just had my eyes checked a few months ago...didn't work. I still need an eye exam form filled out by a doctor. He stamped my paperwork and said if I come back before 3.30 pm I would not have to wait in the long line again. I would just have to come up to his booth and he would process the application. On the way back to the car I definitely gave my mother an earful! This is just nuts! She drove me to the local shopping area that had two eye doctor offices. The first one we went into said they could do the exam in 10 minutes for 15€. After they did their silly little eye exam to say I was all fine they filled out the eye exam form.  I then went back to the tax office and went back to "yer man". He said everything was all perfect now and that it was 35€ to process the application. WHAT! More money...seriously! After I paid that he said the permit would be mailed to me within 5-8 business days. So I still don't have my permit and I have now paid 85€ (roughly $114) for this whole process. 

On Thursday morning friends of my mothers flew in from Charlotte, NC for her 70th surprise party that Saturday. I had my cousin pick them up at the airport. After I dropped the children off at school I went to meet K&S to bring them over to their B&B. This is basically when I had to start telling little fibs here and there since we were only a few days away from the big party. We were keeping it a surprise they were here until Saturday. On Friday I sent them into the city to do the hop on-and-off bus to see all the sights. 

Joe finally arrived Friday morning. L was so excited to see him and made Joe sit in the back seat with her on the way back from the airport. T was playing cool when he saw Joe, "hey dad!". K came looking for us while we were walking back from T's school on her bike. When she saw Joe she threw down her bike and came running into his arms! They all definitely missed their Dad! 

L with her Daddy!

That evening the 5 of us took the bus into town to meet my mother's surprise guests for dinner. K&S have been amazing family friends since before I was born. We decided to all meet
at the Church restaurant in town. 

The Church Restaurant at night

I think this might be my 3rd time eating here in the last 8 years. It just has a neat atmosphere and great food. It used to be St. Mary's church. I'm not quite sure as to why but it closed down in 1964 and was left vacant. Arthur Guinness was actually married in this church and Jonathan Swift attended services here. In 1997 it was purchased and it took 7 years to renovate and restore it. 

Looking up from the entrance

The inside of the church - you can see the original organ in
the back. The bar is downstairs in the middle. 

The other end of the church

We all had a fantastic meal. I ordered fish and chips with mushy peas! We all had a great time hanging out and catching up since we had not seen K&S for a few years. I will have to give credit to the children because they never mentioned to my mother that we were out to dinner with K&S.  After dinner we took the bus home and L fell asleep on Joe's shoulder. It was a great night!

Fish-n-Chips!!!