Malahide Park and 2nd Anniversary in Dublin!

An unexpected drive to Malahide Park

Today is our two year anniversary of landing in Dublin - when Norah was only 17 months old and we had absolutely no clue how this adventure would unfold. Here we are though, two years down the road, fully situated in life, and community, and surrounded by friends and love. We are even starting to feel real sadness at the prospect of potentially leaving this place (and simultaneously, we feel excitement about returning to Seattle, or Canada, or wherever Wayne's job opportunities might take us).

For today though, on this anniversary, we are so thankful to be HERE - this place where we are overwhelmingly well-adjusted, contented and full - in every sense. It's a wonderful place to be.

This weekend we tried to make-good on our resolution to rent a car every month or two, just to explore and do normal family-life-things. This is what we did every single weekend in Seattle - go for drives, explore new parks and walks, etc. etc. Here, we never really leave Dun Laoghaire (barring flying to Paris of course!), except to move along the bus routes or the DART line. I've talked about this, ad nauseum, but having a car for a couple days is just incredible. It's only €30 for the weekend so its more than worth it and it leaves us feeling like we can handle another month of brutal winter walking. Well, today Wayne had the day off work so we drove Norah to school in the morning (cutting out the 4 mile-round trip in walks), Wayne worked while she was in school and then we picked her up (again, in the car....awesome!) and drove out to Malahide Castle. This is about 50 minutes North of us, and so, so worth it. The drive out there is beautiful and the playground on the grounds is the best in allll of Dublin. (maybe all of Ireland...) :)

First, there are the 3-storey slides which Norah is now the perfect age for. Before she was a bit afraid of them (We had only been here one time, last year, when we took the train).

Wayne giving the big one a test-drive.

Norah coming down the 3 (or 4?) story-beast-slide. It basically forces you onto your back so here she is flying out the end of it.

Whoa, that's faster than I expected.

Oh look, the same Avoca that's in every single village and castle throughout all of Ireland. And look, it's me, STILL falling for every item and trinket in the store. I honestly don't know why I walk into Avoca's....all I do is covet every single item and leave feeling awful because I can't actually have any of them. Why do I do this to myself?? Because its just that magical in there. It is a wormhole.

The books!

The kids' section - oh my WORRRD!

Every single item is gorgeous and perfectly laid out. They manipulate you, I tell you!

Yep, soft-woollen gloves with leather bows on them - didn't know I wanted those, until this very second.

Now I'm upset that I don't have them.

Same with this skirt and sweater. Didn't know they were in the world but now I know I'm living without them....

Also, these handmade Avoca socks (actually, I DO have a couple pairs of these because Aunt Mary got me some for my birthday last year!). :) Alright, that's one thing I can rest easy about.

Oh and the handmade Irish-woolen sweaters....I know. I covet. I covet hardcore. I don't like the way Avoca makes me feel but I can't stop perusing.

 

Ok, so I finally peeled myself away and found Norah and Wayne, who very wisely chose to play hide-and-seek in the lawn instead. One thing I love about Wayne is that he somehow gets my obsession with this place, lets me peruse for 20 minutes, and doesn't even give me a bad time.  

Front Entrance to Malahide Castle

 

Malahide park is home to the most incredible zipline!! It's super long, a bit bouncy and surprisingly relaxing. I wanted to ride it over and over but Norah kept pulling us away.

Wayne havin' one last go.

An incredible day out together! Now that Wayne has finished teaching for the semester, it feels like we have him back. Today was the perfect way to celebrate our two year journey here in Ireland.

And, last but not least, tomorrow is my sister Mimi's 38th birthday! (December 3rd) This will now be the third, December 3rd, that we've been away. (arriving the first year on December 2nd). We've missed so many birthdays of friends and family but I try my best to always let our loved ones know we're thinking of them. Mimi, we love you and wish you such a wonderful year ahead! Happy Birthday!