Ireland et al

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Well Ireland was all right. The wedding of course, was beautiful. The trip there was largely uneventful! Only two legs, which is nice and relatively tight connections.
We arrived Monday morning in Dublin to no luggage. *sigh*. we were all ready exhausted of course, rented a car, which costs a billion dollars in insurance because no cars are covered under most traditional CC's. then we were off to the small town of Clifden, very west Ireland. I kept falling asleep the entire time and the bottle of antibiotics I had purchased for Kiera before we left came in really handy. She was very sick and had a high fever, but as soon as I gave her that stuff, she was perkier within 5 hours. thank goodness.
we met up with our friends in Galway and drove for another hour or so along some tiny roads where people race along like they are double lane highways. There was a mix up with the house I thought we were renting, but it was still available. I like to say we were in po dunk Ireland. seriously. in the middle of no where.
we didn't do a heck uv a lot. there was no phone, a TV with two channels (which has, I might add a 120 Euro tax a YEAR) and obviously no internet. We were down the street from a monument made to men flying across the Atlantic successfully for the first time. Kiera went on a pony ride for a half an hour. I was quite proud of her, she took to it like a fish to water. One time the instructor walked away and the horse moved and Kiera didn't even flinch :) Kalista did fine on the flights THERE, the way home she was a bit of a pill. The girls dress, which only 3 months ago were touching the ground were now above both their ankles. Kiera is wearing her ugly shoes because her nice shoes had not yet come.
we went on a ferry, which the girls enjoyed, but there was *nothing* to do on the island it was FREEZING. and Doug forgot Kalista's shoes, so she was being held the whole day. there was some cool castle ruins to explore, but the tide was coming and we would have been stuck on that part until it left. that would stink.
the weather was really bad on Sunday when we woke up so we cut it short, cleaned like mad and did a leisurely drive to Dublin. stopped in Galway for dinner and a bit of exploration. and then found a great hotel for a great price just outside of Dublin. after we got there, I went down to the restaurant looking for some ice cream and I said to the guy "we're just looking for some ice cream" to which he said" just a second!" and wentinto the kitchen to bring us two bowls of ice cream, ON THE HOUSE and practically shooed us out the door. LOL.
So that was pretty much the trip. Not like Egpyt cool, but it was pretty relaxing and we'd do it again, I mean the travel part. another country next time.

This is a funny recent conversation I had with Kiera:
"mommy, could be go and see winter?"
"I am not sure what you mean Kiera"
"could we drive to see winter, or should we fly? because if its winter, its going to be CHRISTMAS and then we'll great presents"
me chortling in the front seat. I then explained to her the seasons "the leaves will turn red and it will turn colder" and then it will be winter. but we can't FLY or drive to winter"....
She full on started preschool today. she missed her second and third classes. she seems to be liking it so far.
we also said bye to the binkies this time, with much fan fare. I am 90% sure I have them all this time though. and she really *got* saying goodbye to them. in fact she cried for about 20 minutes about it. I told her the BF was coming and we had to pack all her binkies up. she cuddled with daddy one last time and when the time came, dropped the last binky into the plastic bag, sobbing the whole time. but she did it. and she fell asleep without it. and by God, this will be the LAST TIME SHE EVER HAS ONE IN HER MOUTH AGAIN.

A Big Day at Our House

Today was Kiera's first day of PRESCHOOL! Well it wasn't a full day, it was an open house where she met her teacher and familiarized herself with the classroom. We got her dressed in her new clothes, which she insisted that she wear. She looked adorable, of course. Now I just need to find her headband, which I cant find, sigh. Friday is her first full day, Doug will be here to do the dropping off. I am hoping she will be okay. And that I won't be a mess.
I will upload some pictures when I am on the other computer.

Now, let me think of some stories. Kalista has TONS of words, right now she is doing a lot of parroting what we say, but she is trying really hard. She loves shoes. She insists on wearing them all the time. "ooo, ooo!" When daddy calls or I am on the phone, she yells at me wanting to talk on the phone too. Especially the cell phone. She says "HI!" on the phone quite clearly to anyone who is willing to listen. This morning while we were at preschool she finished her snack and I told her the cup needs to go in the garbage. She looked at me, and walked right over to the garbage and threw it away. She is now able to go down the slide at the park all by herself, which she is also quite pleased with. The other day I put her in a dress intended for next summer, so its big. I tried to get it off her for church, but she freaked out and wouldn't let me. And she started saying "Daddy! daddy!" I deduced that she wanted to show daddy her dress. And sure enough as soon as she saw him she lunged for him and pointed at her dress. To which of course he said "you look so pretty!" and then she blushed. It was quite cute. She is finally quite in love with daddy.
Kiera of course, is always full of mischief. Right now she is telling me on a regular basis "I know daddy doesn't want any more babies, but I would really like a baby brother in there" as she pats my tummy. I tell her we are thinking about it and that I can't guarantee a brother.
She also has coached Kalista through labour a few times. One time Kalista was standing in the spot where I gave birth and said "okay, just one more push and the baby will be out!" seriously. She talks about being born all the time. she has described how she was born, mommy being cut open and then we got to see each other for the first time. and how it hurt mommy lots and lots. I really honestly wonder if she remembers being born. She has expressed she would like to be born again at home and Kalista can be born in the hospital. I assure her often that mommy and daddy were SO HAPPY when she was born and so glad she was here.
I have also come to the conclusion that she is an ENFJ. just like someone else I know ;) Actually that is Oprah Winfreys profile as well. Anyway, it does make her a bit more prone to anxiety when things don't go as planned. She gets a bit freaked out. For example, she thought GG M were coming to dinner, but it was GG Q, which made her really upset. She would hardly come down for dinner. sigh. this is going to be challenging and I am going to have to learn ways to deal with her anxiety without exacerbating it or demeaning it either.
Her present reality and her past and even future get a bit mixed up with her fantasy life. She often states things like "we went to Nana's beach house yesterday" of course that was 3 months ago, so that obviously is not the case. We went to a birthday party and when I wasn't there she walked in and announced that "I am going to the dentist tomorrow!" which she isn't. She is definitely in the words are magic stage.
She has a highly developed sense of justice. if she is not allowed to say something, than neither am I. If she isn't allowed to act a certain way, than neither am I. This is not in issues regarding what adults can do and what children cannot do. more like.............moral things. Like in our family we are not suppose to yell at each other. or hit each other. that kind of thing.
She sure is interesting. they both keep me on my toes.