While we were in Ireland...

My husband's family drove all the way from Oklahoma to treat our kids to a week at the beach while we were in Ireland.  Since they live so far away, they have made it a tradition to take our kids for a week of intense grandparent/grandchild bonding, and we parents are NOT invited.  So we decided to make the most of that child free week this year by sneaking off to Ireland while the grands had our kids.

Thankfully, we did get to see them briefly before our flight.  They spent a night with us and helped me cope with one of the worst back aches I have had in years.  I'm so thankful I married into a family of doctors considering my back pain history.  And it was a bonus that I got to see my chiropractor an hour before our departure flight.

While they were here, we had a mini family jam session.

Then the kids were off for a full week of beach fun.  Our niece flew out from Oklahoma to meet them at the beach for a few days, so getting to spend some time with their oldest cousin before she headed off to college was an extra special treat for our children.

Just as our daughter had lost a tooth while at the beach with Grandma and Grandpa a few years ago, our son also lost a tooth that week at the beach.  And apparently the tooth fairy pays more money for teeth lost at the beach than for teeth lost at home.  Thanks to my husband's parents for notifying the tooth fairy in our absence.

Unfortunately, we just happened to schedule this week of travel the same week that tropical storm Andrea blew through, so they had some windy, rainy days at the beach.  They joked that they must have brought Oklahoma's tornadoes with them all the way to the eastern coast.

 

They dropped our kids off with my parents and enjoyed a meal and some fellowship together before driving all the way back home.  At least they got to enjoy some of our state's beautiful landscapes during their long drive.