Last Few Days in Ireland

Now, this is still hard for me to believe but I'd like it to be a mantra of mine. It's just hard to imagine anything before us can be better than the life we just left. But here we are, 1 month into being in Seattle and loving being back - and 1 month from welcoming our new baby.

At the very last running group, Lindsey showed up wearing a GoPro camera on her chest with a card saying "Tell me your message for Gloria". Awww.

We had about 30 people come to the café after the run on that last Saturday and it was the first time in our months of prep and goodbyes that I started to cry. It was really hard to leave the café that last time - the place we'd come every single Saturday for 3 1/2 years with this group I started in 2012. By the time we left in April 2015, there were almost 90 members.

For a long time Norah was the littlest member of DLPR but last year, sweet Ezra joined the group and he is such a delight. This child is an angel-baby.

Last get-together with Richie & Joanna. This one was REALLY hard. I got progressively sicker those last 2 weeks in Ireland so Dr.'s orders were to cancel all get-togethers and rest before move. Did I do that? No. There was no way, but we did shorten each one to 1 or 2 hours and instead of seeing Richie & Joanna again in our last 2 days, we forced ourselves to say goodbye then. Lots of tears.

But a rainbow came out for us in DL.

We couldn't stop waving to each other from the balcony of our apartment. This one was tough. (but we've already skyped with them several times from Seattle - and text all the time - so we're keeping the love alive) :)

Saying goodbye to the first friend I made in Dun Laoghaire. Kirsten and I met at a baby group when the girls were only 18 months. The teacher introduced us as she knew Kirsten was another American mum. Well turns out, she was from Oregon and lived in Seattle for 4 years. Kirsten & Goran became 2 of our closest friends in our 3 1/2 years there (and Norah & Lilia were always so close) but we know we'll see this family again soon enough.

Norah sitting on her windowsill on our last night in our apartment.

Lindsey & Donal over for one last cup 'o tea.

We miss these two SO damn much.

Heading to the hotel for our last night in Dublin before our early flight. These are all the bags (well, minus 2 that somehow didn't get into the photo). But 6 large suitcases, 2 backpacks, 2 small suitcases, 1 computer bag, 1 bike in a box, and 1 carseat.  

The 2 1/2 month countdown to our leaving which Norah put her sticker on EVERY SINGLE morning before school. This helped her a ton with preparing to go.

And saying our final goodbye to 50 Harbour View, our home for over 2 years (at another apartment 1st year).

Arriving at the hotel across the road for our last night (this is the hotel where the airport bus picks you up so we only had to get our many bags out to the curb at 7:30 am).

One last quick playdate with Peaches, Scarlett and Edie at Pirate Park (outside hotel and 1 block from our apartment).

Aisling and Pierce (and Spiderman & a transformer) came to visit us at the hotel that evening (despite them arriving back from their weekend trip to Paris just an hour prior). These are amazing friends and we were so happy to get to hug them one more time (and for Norah to see her 2 best friends one more time).

Arlo felt like a million bucks in this suit (they brought these costumes back for the boys from Paris just that evening). I think Arlo genuinely thought we didn't know it was him.

And our girl, looking out over her town on her last night in Dun Laoghaire. I want to frame this photo.

 The library (which is a monstrosity on ground level, from the seafront) looked stunning from 6 floors up in the hotel. We realized then that the architects envisioned that it would be seen from THIS vantage point.

Last sleep in Ireland

Our beloved Lindsey. This woman is a full-time (more than full-time) primary school teacher, has run THREE ultra-marathons in the last few months and yet she woke up and met us for breakfast at the hotel at 7 am, before she had a full day of work. You just can't find friends like this.... We miss her everyday.

Waiting for our aircoach bus.

And if it wasn't emotional enough with our Lindsey there, all the sudden, our dear friends Paul & Maria ride up on their bikes (7:45 am), on their commute to work! I'm telling you...we have the most amazing friends.

It's not THAT much stuff right??

Herrrrreeee we go! Flights were somehow completely uneventful and seamless and I couldn't have been happier with that at 8 months pregnant. More to come on our first month back in Seattle.

From the Emerald City to the Emerald Isle....and Back Again.

After three and a half years in Dublin, and several lifetimes worth of love and friendships, we are preparing to fly back to Seattle. We leave with Wayne having completed his PhD in Psychology (well, he'd tell you, all but the Viva-defense-panel), and two months from welcoming our 2nd baby. We are flying back to Seattle in 36 hours and I'm just about 8 months pregnant. A lot has changed. We have changed immeasurably in our time here - all in ways for the better. Because of our life (and lifestyle here), we return to Seattle, healthier and happier individuals. And despite arriving with a strong, healthy marriage, I'm proud to say we're returning having grown in ways we couldn't have imagined and our marriage & our family are stronger because of it. Not only did Wayne complete his PhD (our main agenda for coming here) but we both, unexpectedly, became runners and each completed our first marathons. We travelled and saw more of the world than we thought possible in our entire lifetime! Norah went from being a 17 month-old toddler in diapers (nappies...) to a near 5 year old girl and she is certain she's Irish. (I suppose in most ways she's more Irish than anything else) All we know now is that we have a 2nd home here and that we'll be back, many times.

I'm sharing photos from our last two weeks here and I hope it gives a small snapshot of the love we are surrounded by here in Dublin. We leave here with heavy-hearts but we are trying to look forward to this next chapter in our lives which is pretty easy, given we have a new baby joining our family very, very soon. We have so much to look forward to and so much family to surround us in Seattle so we know we are returning to more love and incredible things ahead.

Norah's last day of school - first day where I got a bit emotional. Norah had two incredible years at this Montessori school and the three teachers took her in like family (and us too).

My last run with the group - 29 weeks pregnant - sloowww and steady

We had a great turn out for our last weeks.



 Rainbow over Dun Laoghaire for my last run.

 The group bought Norah a beautiful charm bracelet and balloons as the "littlest and most loyal DLPR supporter".

The last sleepover with "the boys"

And that night, the running group through us a surprise party that abbbsolutely blew our minds. About 40 of them came out and we have never felt more showered by love (except our wedding, I kid you not).

Wayne said he'd have a Guinness to one friend and within a few minutes, he was given two.

 Not only did they throw the entire party and rent the space and put up the decorations, but they then presented us with speeches, a gorgeous bouquet of flowers and a painting of Dun Laoghaire.

And the next day was our sweet Jasmine's baby blessing where Richie & Joanna asked us to say a few words.

A few nights, up until 2 am, doing final edits of the PhD.

My compiling notes for the last couple days.

Norah going off to school on the day Wayne turned in the PhD.

On our way to turn in the PhD - feeling giddy and nervous and nauseous, all rolled into one.

 The final sign-off from his supervisor!

The final product, all printed!

One proud man (and a very proud wife) with his 300-page dissertation.

Officially handing in the PhD!!

 Norah's list for errands one day. Each box was a different errand-location.

First: Art Store, which includes Model magic (clay), string and stickers.

Second: Pharmarcy for inhaler and "hairstuff"

Third: Bank for "muny"

Fourth: Post office to "mal box"

Fifth: Hospital to drop off my chart.

And after each errand, she wrote her check in the box. Love this four year old.

Norah at her last sleeopover over at the boys' house.

We haven't had a TV for 3 1/2 years (which we love) so when we watch movies, this is our set up: Computer on dining rooms chairs, in front of the couch. :) Class, all the way!

One of our very favourite things - having Donal & Lindsey over for tea

Wayne made me the first ever cake he's made! And now I'm 32!

Norah will tell you, the Rector hid 192 chocolate eggs in the garden here and she found 8!

Easter breakfast at Loren & Agi's after the service and Easter egg hunt.

Love these 3 so much.

 Seb, Norah and Arlo

One of my dearest friends here - Aisling - mother of Norah's two favorite people - Sebastian & Arlo

Wayne had never been to the Sugarloaf so we made a trip out this week for a hike. I've been sick these last two weeks so I walked for a little and then sat in the sunshine while they made the summit. Norah hiked up and did the rock scramble at the top, all on her own.

Last time feeding the seals at the fish shop in Dun Laoghaire