While the parents are away, Charlie will play

While we jetted off to Ireland, Charlie stayed home with our maid Beth.  We went back and forth with what to do with Charlie, and in the end thought leaving him in his environment with his normal schedule was most fair for him.  We have never left Charlie with anyone but family, but Justin and I both felt totally comfortable having Beth take care of him.  Thankfully I also have wonderful friends here that arranged to have Charlie over and he was able to do his normal school class and gym classes with Beth.  It was definitely the right decision for him to stay.  

I kept getting videos and photo updates throughout the few days, seeing his smiley face made being away from him much easier.

 

The best was this video sent from my friend Alina.  I watched it a million times.

Ireland

I did the quickest trip to Europe yet! Our friends Imdaad and Claudia who Justin has known forever were getting married in Ireland.  Justin and I left Wednesday morning for London.  We were able to stay at my in-laws for the night.  It was nice to see them, even if it was so brief!  We can't wait to go back for Christmas.  The next morning at 6am we left for the airport again and flew to Dublin.  Our friends the Gilmore's were staying there for the month of August to escape the heat in Dubai where they live so we were able to meet them for lunch and a few pub drinks before heading to the wedding.  I tried my first real Irish Guinness with them, I have to say it was pretty good.  It was so lovely to catch up with them even though, again, it was so brief.  Laura is due in November and it was so fun to get to finally see her belly in person!

 

That afternoon we took a train to a town called Durrow where we stayed at Castle Durrow.  We crashed out Thursday night, but Friday were able to walk around the grounds.  It was a beautiful venue.  It was a little chilly, especially for me since I can not handle cold weather any more.  The wedding was that afternoon which was so fun.  A friend of Justin's that he lived with in Italy when he first studied there for school was at the wedding.  It was great to meet him and they loved catching up and reminiscing about old times.  Claudia the bride looked stunning and overall it was a fantastic day. 

The next morning we left again taking the train back to Dublin, then a flight to London.  Justin and I parted ways there.  He has some business this week all over Europe, so I flew home by myself Saturday night.  Thankfully I was able to sleep and was happily reunited with my handsome little boy by Sunday afternoon. I'm exhausted just thinking about all that traveling!

Book Worm

You know if you have a kid and the house goes silent your first assumption is that they are up to no good somewhere?  This happened the other day so I went in search of Charlie expecting to find some kind of mess, but I was pleasantly surprised to find him sitting in his room reading his books.  I mean, how sweet is that?  I had to capture the moment.

 

Typical Sunday

Today was a typical Sunday.  We start the day lounging around.  Charlie did some impressive planking for us.  Then we head out for a morning stroll, which I am convinced Charlie could run for hours.  He has so much energy that boy.

Then we come home, today everyone napped and then it was off to lunch.  The last 6 Sundays have been spent at Iguana's for lunch, our favorite Mexican place along the river.  Today we were joined by friends and their kid.  After a leisurely lunch we let the boys run around the fountain that Charlie was so entertained by a few weeks ago.  Both our boys had so much fun, and they probably spent an hour running around in the water.  Silly me didn't think to bring a swim diaper so we had a little bit of an emergency when Charlie's diaper burst, thankfully we did have back up.  

Water fun

After lunch this weekend we let Charlie run around in a fountain we happened to walk by.  He was obsessed at the spraying water, and was quite upset when it was time to go.  I think he could have stayed all day!

We have a climber!

Charlie is way too adventurous for my liking these days and is climbing up on everything.  I guess this is what life entails with a little boy. Not looking forward to the bumps and bruises that will follow.

Laughs

Charlie loves using the TV remote.  He thinks it is hysterical.  His giggle these days is precious.

Madness

You know what makes for a manic house, putting seven 18 month olds and their moms (and one dad) in our house at one time.  When everyone left it was like a tornado had hit. Seriously it was choas, but of course lots of fun.  Charlie was fairly well behaved with all his friends.  I think it is hard when so many kids are playing with "his" toys, but all in all it was a good afternoon.