We're going to Ireland!

To our devoted readers who anxiously check for their daily updates: our parents, grandparents, and the 3% of readers from China (yes, 3% of the page views are from China):

Tomorrow morning we fly to Rostrevor in Northern Ireland. The four of us will be staying in our very own 3 bedroom cottage, equipped with fireplace, kitchen, and  washer and dryer! Luxurious living. We’ve been dreaming (literally) about this for weeks. Madeline and I purchased running gloves and headbands today so that we will be able to run in the Mourne Mountains!

Another special note: CS Lewis loved Rostrevor! In a letter to his brother, he wrote “That part of Rostrevor which overlooks Carlingford Lough is my idea of Narnia.” While living in England he spoke of the magic of Northern Ireland: “I yearn to see County Down in the snow, one almost expects to see a march of dwarfs dashing past. How I long to break into a world where such things were true.” In his essay On Stories “I have seen landscapes, notably in the Mourne Mountains and southwards which under a particular light made me feel that at any moment a giant might raise his head over the next ridge.”

Despite all the cottages have to offer, Internet is not among the available amenities. We will spend a weekend in Galway and go on day trips to Belfast, Dublin, and Newgrange, so you may hear intermittently from the Babes. However, mark November 5 on your calendars! It is the date of our return to London and civilization, but until then blog posts will be few and far between.

A couple updates:

Yesterday, Laurel and I got our hair cut! We both knew we wanted to do it in England. We had a lot of fun, and LOVE our new hair cuts. Here’s a picture (mostly for Mom and McKenzie):

 We visited Little Gidding as a pilgrimage site for TS Eliot. Some of his quotes were displayed around the church. 

 For the first time, the UK has pumpkin spice lattes! They arrived on October 1. We didn’t make it to a Starbucks until October 3, but they were still just as sweet. The first sip:

 

 Chris Kyle is going to grad school in Oxford. We were all excited to see him, but Grace (our Religious Studies Major) was especially thrilled to talk with him. At lunch, they happened to break out Grace's Greek New Testament to solve some conundrums they ran into. Believe it or not, this photo is completely candid. 

 The not as sophisticated side of the table: no Greek New Testaments here...

 Lunch with the Kyle family! In a month we will see Stephanie's parents for a trip to Paris. Special note to the other parents of the Babes (as Madeline would say, Boyce & Mare, Scott & Pam): we wish you could come...I guess this just means an extra trip to Santa Barbara in the Spring!

 After freezing all day on the streets of Oxford, Madeline and I had a special breakfast for dinner date! A little cafe had warm pancakes and omelets--we miss breakfast food. (The typical British breakfast consists of warm beans, tomatoes, fake eggs, mushrooms, and sausage. Gross.)

 When we went to Canterbury last weekend, we happened across Archbishop Rowan Williams. THE Archbishop. Later, he was in the garden right outside my room...I had to document the moment!