Dionne and Ryan's UK Debut

I have found out that you can't be lazy and blog....so, this has been a difficult experience for me - as I am lazy. Thus, my blogs are running months behind. tsk-tsk.

Anyways - I've finally gotten around to February! It was a great month, we had Dionne and Ryan come in for a visit and we all had a really wonderful time together! We had a good combination of low-key nights and nights of complete insanity. One of the highlights of the trip was a 2-day trip over to Dublin, Ireland! It was a first for all four of us - and we definitely 'lived it up'. It was a true experience from the literal moment we started the trip until we pulled back into the drive at Joyville. Our trip started off with a 3 hour delay leaving Stansted airport - this was quite possibly, one of the worst possible things that could have happened - allow me to explain....so, there we all are, sitting in the airport with NOTHING to do (we were already on a late flight so all the little airport shops had already closed down) - luckily Chafin and Ryan had the foresight to buy a bottle of whiskey AND a bottle of winter Pimms from the duty free shop as soon as we got through security. The original plan was to drink this during our time in Ireland - as we were getting ready and hanging around our hotel and stuff...however, since there was a three hour delay - both bottles disappeared before we even got on the plane to Ireland - thanks guys! So - I'm sure you're getting some sort of picture in your head....but it gets so much worse. The excessive alcohol consumption lead to my sweet husband turning into a loud, obnoxious, and eventually sick American on our flight over to Dublin - he didn't make any new friends on the plane! Thank goodness he finally perked up by the time we got to our hotel - he was a champ. The next day we took a Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour around Dublin. We got to see St.Patricks Cathedral, Christ Church, Trinity College, and many other landmarks.

St.Patricks Cathedral ; Christs Church ; Guinness at the Gravity Bar!

Check out that shamrock!!!

Most importantly, we made it to the Guinness Factory! We hopped off the bus and got to take a tour of the factory - it was really neat. I am personally not a fan of Guinness - but we were in Ireland! You just have to drink the black stuff there, period. We found a lot of good picture opps, Chafin learned how to pour a pint like a pro, and we all shared the most amazing little Guinness chocolate muffin - seriously, it was wonderful!

From right to left: The four of us in front of 'water' - one of the 4 Guinness ingredients ; Chafin and his perfectly poured pint! ; a picture from the Gravity Bar on top of the Guinness factory.

That night we all went out in the Temple Bar district, are a lot of good food, hopped from pub to pub...we found some good Irish music to listen to and just had a really great time.

Ryan and Chafin loving life ; Dionne and I + our favorite Irish musician

So, since Chafin had been the crazy drunk one the night before, Dionne didn't want him to feel so bad, so she jumped on that grenade and proceeded to get blasted (in her defense, we were all drinking 'freely' this night). Our sweet little Dionne turned into a stumbly, belligerent, and eventually sick American on our walk back to our Irish hotel that night....is anyone sensing a trend here? :)

Memories were definitely made in Ireland and I'm really glad we all got to go together, it made it really special. C + A + R + D '09

Enjoying our pints at an Irish pub

During their time in England we also got to go to Cambridge, Ely, London, and Saffron Walden. For the next Roberts - Hale vacation, we will have to head over to New Jersey and get the grand tour a la Dionne and Ryan! Be looking for Volume 2 next spring...