The DC Arboretum with Granny & Uncle Sean

This has got to be one of the best places in DC to spend the day! It is never crowded and it is so relaxing to just wander or sit and picnic. Ciara LOVES the columns, which are the old DC Capitol columns, she would stay there for hours if let. She also loves to feed the fish (Koi) - no matter what we do, we have to do those two things.

Visitors - put it on your list of places to go!






The Grove of State Trees.





The Azealea Gardens and the Frog Pond.



Ciara's new "Croc Bling"






Feeding the Koi.





The Columns and a game of hide and seek.

I think it is time to go home and rest after the day.

Finally summer is here.

The sun is out and it is time to play. Ciara plays outside from morning 'til evening, while I garden.


Ciara and her friend Edward. We look after him every Wednesday for a few hours and they get on like a house on fire these days. They have known each other since Ciara was 6 months and Edward just 3 weeks.

Put up the umbrella and stay in the pool all day! Now I need to convince Skip we need a bigger one!

Our April trip to Ireland.

The weather was absolutely brilliant from start to finish in Ireland. We did however arrive back into a severe NY spring storm and ended up driving back to DC after our transatlantic flight. How this keeps happening to us I don't quite know? Roll on direct DC-DUB flights this September! C was an angel as usual, us adults were not quite so calm!


A dip in the Irish Sea.



Bulloch Harbour.

Killiney Beach

Killiney Hill with Granda and Auntie Sinead (aka Hee-Hee)

Carlow with cousins Emily, Louisa, Uncle Cathal & Auntie Marion -
A day out at Altamount Gardens and Brownshill Dolmen.

A birthday party in Ireland!

Thanks Nana for organizing my best birthday ever! And thanks to all those who came and made it so special.

Ciara and her cousins Emily and Louisa.

The winner of musical cushions. It helps when you just hover over one all the time ... we'll allow it at birthday #3.

The beautiful cake.