Black Friday or November 29th as its called in Ireland

K and L went to school on the Friday after Thanksgiving. I decided to give T some individual time one-on-one.  I felt like he really needed it and this would be the perfect time. After we dropped L off at preschool we drove to a local shopping area and had a breakfast date. T chose a little cafeteria type place that was pretty busy. There were lots of people shopping but it was not Black Friday craziness! We never even saw one sign for Black Friday. T picked out a big Irish breakfast. 

Hash Browns, Sausage, Black Pudding, Ham, and Eggs

We had a great conversion and I made sure that life was going ok for this little 8 yr old boy. It's definitely hardest on him the most with Joe not around all the time. He was such a little gentleman opening  the door for me whenever he had a chance. We ran into a few shops and then went to Starbucks on our way out. It was almost time to go get L at preschool. We had a wonderful morning together!

When K got home from school we got ready to take the bus into town. We bundled up with our hats and gloves just in case it got cold after dark. After we arrived in town we walked up to Grafton St and then went over one street to Dawson St to go to Milano's. This street has many restaurants on it. Milano's was recommended and we wanted to try it out. We all had a great Italian pizza meal and the atmosphere was fun. 

The children got little stickers to decorate their menu sheet but they decided they looked better on their faces. 

A dessert and small hot chocolate came with the children's meals. I had a mulled wine berry crisp in a crock pot. It was so good!

Yummy!

After dinner we walked around town to see the Christmas lights in the retail areas. In the center of town they have a huge Christmas tree with a Nativity scene in the front of it. 

Nativity Scene

The Christmas Tree and Nativity scene in the center of Dublin

These were the lights on Grafton Street. Nollaig Shona Duit means "Merry Christmas to you." T informed me its pronounced - noleg shwona duwit. 

"Nollaig Shona Duit" 

The lights on Grafton Street 

This was a little side street

This was an alley off of Grafton Street

The children loved the Frozen window at the Disney Store

Grafton Street

Then we walked by the GPO which is the General Post Office. The windows of the GPO were all decorated and had moving scenes. 

General Post Office 

Then we walked down Henry Street which is off of O'Connell Street. O'Connell street is the main street where the Nativity scene was. 

"Baile Atha Cliath" means Dublin in Gaelic

Henry Street

The bars are all decorated too!

Then we got the bus from O'Connell street back to our house in Glasnevin. We had a great time walking around looking at the lights and decorations everywhere. Its nice when you talk to people here and they wish you a, "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Christmas." There is no Happy Holidays! I have not seen one menorah or kwanza decoration and you don't have to worry about offending anyone here. I was actually surprised about this too since Ireland has so many different nationalities here now. 

L slept really well after lots of walking!