Day 38 - Packing and Good-byes

The morning began with lots of packing. We dragged out our eBag and Eagle Creek packing cubes and got busy rolling clothes :) 

It surprisingly took a lot less time and energy than we thought it would. 

Packing in progress

Packing in progress

In the afternoon, we headed over to Mike and Andrea's house to say farewell and to thank them for their warm hospitality, and we were treated to a delicious shrimp appetizer.

Shrimp Appetizer ... Mmm Mmm...the sauce was so delicious

Shrimp Appetizer ... Mmm Mmm...the sauce was so delicious

It is really amazing when you end up meeting people so far away from home and feel like you have known them for ages.  We were sad to say goodbye, but thankful for all the technology that will keep us connected and future travels that could reunite us. 

From Left to Right: Baby Ginger, Hannah, Kian, Baby, Ciara, and Roisin

From Left to Right: Baby Ginger, Hannah, Kian, Baby, Ciara, and Roisin

Richard and Veronica, the owners of the farm and the cottage, had kindly invited us over for dinner.  When we arrived at the house, once again we felt like family. We all started talking and the kids all had a great time talking, running outside, and playing with Sam (have I mentioned how much our kids love Sam?)

Our first course consisted of fresh and extremely scrumptious oysters still in their salty water. Mmmmmm.....Mmmmmm!

I am not sure if the most amazing thing about the dinner was the oysters, our delicious entree, or the fact that both Kian and Hannah tried salmon for the first time and loved it so much they kept asking for more! 

After dinner, Caroline played a bit accordion for us (which was awesome) and both Caroline and Richard (Jr.) sang a couple of songs. They are both very good and talented kids. We will definitely miss the entire family and Sam very much. 

From left to right: Richard (Jr), Hannah, Kian, Sam, and Caroline

From left to right: Richard (Jr), Hannah, Kian, Sam, and Caroline

Thanks again to Richard, Veronica, and the whole family for making us feel so at home this past month.  We are so fortunate to have found such a wonderful house in such a wonderful little town.  It was a really wonderful experience for us all, one we will never forget (well, maybe Hannah will, but thats what the pictures are for!).

And again, thanks to technology, we will keep in touch, and who knows maybe one day we will meet again.

Tomorrow morning we will head out to Dublin to catch our flight to France. We will have two slightly crazy and hectic days before we settle down in Nimes.

Adventure awaits...

Day 34 - Little Friends & Persian Food

After breakfast, Hannah wanted to earn her keep and wash the dishes, and hey there is no reason to say no to a happy child who wants to wash the dishes (mostly utensils)!  Yes she got plenty wet, but she did actually wash the spoons and put them on the drying rack.

Hannah washing breakfast's dishes

Hannah washing breakfast's dishes

Our main plan for the day was to go back to Andrea and Mike's house and make a Persian dinner, khoresh bademjan (eggplant stew over rice) for everyone.  After a few around-the-house chores and preparing the eggplants in the oven, I put all the ingredients needed for our dinner in the car and we all headed to the Killeen playground for a bit before heading over to their house.

Once we got to their house, the two little girls went off to make trouble.  It's so cute how friendly they are.  Kian started playing with some of his toys, and Andrea and I started making dinner.

Ciara & Hannah giggling =D

Ciara & Hannah giggling =D

Ciara & Hannah drawing

Ciara & Hannah drawing

Kian was a little bored again, but honestly he was too busy earning tomatoes in Turbo on the iPad to even notice.

We were all busy chatting and cooking and chatting some more, and so we did not take too many pictures. 

We all ate dinner, had dessert, and chatted some more!

Eggplant stew & white rice

Eggplant stew & white rice

We ended up staying way past the kids' bedtime, but when you are in good company it's always hard to leave :)