November Happenings...

Since it took a month to post all my pics I thought I would do a quick update on whats been going on this past month.  

K has been having a good season with her soccer team and has been getting a lot of playing time. They played their first cup game in Nov and won. They don't have tournaments here, they just play cup games occasionally. Its kinda like how the pros do it in Europe. I don't quite understand the whole thing. She played in the cup quarter-final game this Sunday (they won yesterday so now they have a semi-final this Sunday). I had my first conference with K's teacher and she had all good things to say. The only thing she told me was that, "she needs to slow down!". No Kidding! We have been telling her that since she was 2 years old! K races through everything and has to do it fast...whatever it is…reading, going down the stairs, homework, tests, etc. She had a field trip to a local secondary school and saw the play, Evita. K said she really enjoyed it and the music. K has been playing camogie during their gym class (which they only have if it does not rain since they don't have a gym or cafeteria). Camogie is the female version of hurling.  Therefore, men play hurling and females play camogie. She said she really likes playing it and its a lot of fun. 

This is a pic of K's classroom. They don't use desks here and
remember its a very OLD building!

Ohh and I also learned they don't have a school nurse. The teacher acts as everything! Its amazing how simple everything here is and still so old school.

The falls leaves at Corpus Christi church next to K's school

T has been doing well in school too and is getting much quicker on his mental maths. We're all still having a hard time getting used to the metric system but thank goodness for the convert app on my iPhone. He loves his swimming class every Thursday during school, and was happy that last week he got moved to the deep end. Remember when Dubs won the All-Ireland championship game? The players have all been visiting the schools in the area and bringing the Sam Maguire Cup. 

Sam Maguire Cup

T was really excited that day because he got to wear his Dublin jersey. Why is it called the Sam Maguire? I had to look that up on the internet. Sam Maguire was a native of Cork, where he was born in 1879. He was prominent in the GAA (Gaelic football) league. He played in the finals in the All-Ireland in 1900, 1901, and 1902. In 1928 they named the trophy after him.  Maguire did a lot for the Republic of Ireland and fighting for their independence from England. A few players also went to K's school and she got to hold the Sam Maguire Cup, but the school has not released those pictures. Hopefully they will soon! 

T's class with two of the Dubs players. T is the shortie in the picture!

T is still enjoying learning Gaelic. I think it helps they see the language wherever they go - street signs, stores, etc. Occasionally you even hear people speaking it. 

T conjugating a word in Gaelic…remember we had to do this in Latin?

We attended my 3rd cousin's 5th birthday party in Tallaght. It was mostly family and a few of H's friends. H was so excited that T was going to be at his party. He ran up to his Mom during the party,"Mum du ya know T is from America?". His Mom J responded, "yes I did." H then said, "but its so far away and T had to take an airplane to get here. I'm so happy!." It was so precious…the last time we were in Ireland H was only 2 1/2.

The three boys who love being together!

L has been loving preschool and goes now 5x/week. I try to get her to stay home somedays but it never works. She would rather go to school. My little girl is growing up and I don't like it! L likes to come with me for K's soccer games so she has been my buddy in that department. T tries to stay home at any chance he can get! Lately it has been chilly during the games especially if there is wind. It can be very windy here!

Picking flowers for me at K's soccer game

Hanging out in the car during halftime to warm  up!

We have finished the 4th season of Downton Abbey here. Don't worry I will not give you any spoilers! We just have the finale Christmas special which airs on Christmas Day so I will have to watch that when we come back in January. We had a big family mass and get together for the 3rd anniversary of my cousin's wife, Mary's death. After the mass we went over to my cousin's house for a late dinner and the drinks were flowing. Everything here turns into a big party! There were loads of people coming through the house! I left around 10pm with my children, I found out the next day most people did not get home until around 4am! Geez…I missed a good party. Thats how the Irish do things. Its crazy. 

I love being in a country where they spell my name the CORRECT way every single time in Starbucks. I think I know where every Starbucks is in this city. 

The Christmas music came on the radio here on Thanskgiving…so I have been in heaven!

Thats all the updates I have for November…