Lost Luggage--Found

Well, after a stressful day of dealing with the lovely people at United in Des Moines, all our luggage showed up by 9:30 p.m. I talked with some lovely ladies on the United 800 number who helped me arrange delivery. Then, got frustrated with the nasty people in Des Moines who were NO help and couldn't give me any answers, just gave me attitude. Had to talk with the supervisor at the 800 # and he was NO help. Ended up driving to the Moline airport to pick up our luggage, just as the Riverside kids were having their delivered. Such stress, for stupid reasons... not a big fan of the United DM agents.

I think we're all adjusting back to reality, slowly but surely. Glad we brought the awesome weather home with us!! The kids wrote some very sweet things in my journal - such fun memories to go back & read. Am currenly uploading pics - will put some on here as well.

Thanks to those who faithfully followed and read my blog!! Am off to Houston for a conference on Sunday and then to Denver the next week. Next big overseas adventure will be in September to Paris.

Hope you enjoy your summer!!

Toodles for now ~ steph :)

Home Sweet Home

Well, we made it... it's been over 24 hrs since we awoke in Shannon, Ireland until we put ourselves to bed in Iowa and what an adventure it's been getting here.

Our hotel was literally in the parking lot of the airport, so we just wheeled our luggage over, in the spitting rain. We have been SO extremely blessed with absolutely gorgeous weather for the past 13 days, so once the spitting started, we left the country. In the Shannon airport, they checked us in in groups of 5 (important for later), got thru security no problemas. Met some lovely people from Maquoketa, IA, as well as Waterloo, IA... such a small world. Had about 3 hrs in London, which is where we said our good-byes to the other 3 groups. Grabbed some lunch and once our gate was posted, headed to our gate.

Since we checked in on Aer Lingus (who gave us boarding passes all the way to DM), United decided that we needed new boarding passes. So, off to the service counter we go, they enter in our luggage tracking #'s and give us our 2 new boarding passes and off we go. Flight from London to Denver is delayed leaving - weather issues in Denver, but eventually we take off on our 9+ hr flight...

We got to watch 4 movies - I watched Last Chance Harvey, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Paul Blart: Mall Cop and most of The International. Got to do some loopty-loops over Nebraska cuz of weather and trying to avoid it... oh joy!! But made it safe & sound.

All the luggage showed. Went thru immigration and rechecked our bags. Viola! After a potty break, stood in the HUGE security line at Denver and off to our gate we went. Our 3 hr lay-over turned into about an hour... not too bad.. enough time for a drink/snack and back on our 3rd plane of the day. Most of us zzzz'd during the last flight, otherwise was a nice flight.

Made it to DM safe & sound and headed to baggage... to NOT find our luggage.... yes, ladies & gents, none of our 12 pieces of luggage made it!!! So, over to the United counter we go to the extremely rude lady who, since we checked in together (refer to above), we don't know which tag belongs to which person to have it shipped to either Omaha or Moline.... GRRRRRR!! So, am basically told I could have them all shipped to one locale and I have to pick them up and decide to have them go to DM.... so, I'll be back in the car to DM tomorrow since the next Denver flight gets in at 1 p.m. Happy?!?! Elated.... Fortunately, Mary is coming to meet me in DM and take the Riverside kids their luggage so I don't have to drive all the way over there and then back.

So, get the car from the Holiday Inn - say good-bye to all my good friends and off we go east whilst the others go West. About 1/2 way home, I run over a dead deer in the road - there were lots of guts from other deers previously, but this one was pretty intact. Pull over, pop side bumper back in and we're in business. Thank God for Jenna who stayed awake the entire way and kept me awake (mwah!!). Drop off Sanjana and then Jenna, whose lights were on and I can see deer fur hanging from the bottom of my car... oh joy....

So, yes am glad to be home... wish we had luggage, but if it's just delayed, no problema. Glad I have new clothes here so I can change out of mine that I've worn for a while. Think my bed will feel good tonight... turned on the A/C (apparently it's been hot here) and apt is cooling down nicely.

Will report tomorrow on luggage status, but it's bitter sweet being home.
Buenas noches - I'm exhausted!!
~steph :)

Sweetest kids :)

So, at dinner tonight, we did some reminiscing about our trip... best hotel... best dinner... best place in London... best city in Ireland... coolest souvenir they bought... etc... Was great to hear the variety of answers - everyone had something awesome & different they liked yet they all experienced the same thing.

Once done with that, one of my travelers, jenna, gets up and presents me with an England flag signed by all the kids with little messages written on it. It will be one of the coolest souvenirs I have ever received and was honored that they enjoyed their trip so much to do that for me... flattered and semi-speechless. Parents, you should be proud of your kids... they done good. :) I am the lucky one to have had the priviledge of taking them around these amazing countries and showing them a piece of the world that I hope they'll be able to get back to see some day. They have many stories to tell - be prepared!!

See you late tomorrow night!!
~steph :)

Last day.... :(

Well, here we are... our last day in the UK and Ireland. When we look back on what we've done in the short time we've been gone, we are absolutely amazed. London feels like forever ago, but when we look back at our pics, many smiles appear on our faces!!

Today we did a short bus tour around the Connemara region & saw a marble factory. We then had about 4 hrs of free time in Galway. So after lunch at O'Briens sandwhich shop, we wandered the streets, did some shopping, and chilled out around the river whilst eating ice cream.

Our day ended here at the Park Inn, right next to the Shannon airport. We are currently awaiting dinner and then need to finish packing for tomorrow's long journey. Our flight is out at 8:30 a.m. but we'll be there by 6... oh joy... thus starting our LONG day to get home.

We fly from Shannon to London - 2 hr layover - London to Denver on a 10 hr flight - 3-4 hrs in Denver and then Denver to Des Moines, arriving there at 10:30 pm... then we have to drive home... oh joy!!! :(

Although we are excited to go home - back to our own beds, real showers, milk, our pets, ICE, air conditioning/ventilation, peanut butter, wide roads, processed foods/corn syrup (although I like the real sugar best!!), different clothes to wear, cheap food, the dollar, our families & friends, driving on the right side of the road.... and many more things we'll laugh about at dinner tonight... we have thoroughly enjoyed our time here and are sad to leave. We have OODLES of pics to show off - just you wait!!

Erin go bragh - see you all soon!!
Hugs -- steph :)

Wednesday

Just a quick note about yesterday - I have 1 min. 30 sec on my timer... yikes!
Yesterday was another gorgeous day in Ireland... sun a-shining... castles to hike around... beautiful landscape to enjoy... singing on the bus... good times!!!
Today is our last official tour day in Ireland... sob sob sniff sniff... We're off to explore the Connemara region and tour Galway.
Leaving early manana...

Ring of Kerry

What a beautiful day today!! The weather was absolutely gorgeous - barely a cloud in the sky! Not hot & humid - little breeze coming off the lakes...sigh...

Anyways... today we did the Ring of Kerry tour. Before heading out on the bus, we got in jaunting cars and went around the lakes of Kilarney. Jaunting cars are buggies pulled by horses. Our horse was Tim and our driver was Jim (not real talkative). Went thru Kilarney National Park - saw the castles and the lakes - even saw some deer (cue the deer...). After that hour tour, we jumped on the bus and started the Ring.

1st stop was the bog village - like Pioneer village/Living History Farms. We stopped for some photo stops along the way. Another stop was to see sheep herding. Another stop was where Charlie Chaplin had a summer home, etc...

It was a day mainly on the bus, with a stop here and there every hour or so.
The scenery was AMAZING!! So green - one kid even commented at the end that they were sick of the green... but not sure how that's possible. We got to see the Atlantic Ocean but didn't spot any of the dolphins or whales that lurk in the waters.

We all survived without any barfing - yippee!! That's quite a feat since our driver said on his last run, he had 11 sickies...uck!! I 'drugged' some of the kids so they slept during part of the trip, but at least they weren't sick and won't be for the rest of the week...that's the important part, right?!?!

Anywho... we're off to dinner down the street.
Tomorrow we're off to Galway and the Cliffs of Moher - more awesome scenery!!

Erin go bragh!
~steph :)

Blarney & Killarney

Kids have said this was one of their favorite days. Think it's because we've left all the big cities and are out in the gorgeous greeness that Ireland is famous for!

Our 1st stop was at the Rock of Cashel - a big, huge rock with a cathedral on it. Kids got to climb around on the rock around it and do some exploring of the little village.

Next up was the Blarney Castle. If you kiss the stone, you are said to receive the gift of gab. So, we all hiked up the 120+ steps, sat down, grabbed the guard rails, leaned back & downwards and kissed the stone. Wandered thru the castle a bit and headed for lunch. Took the cheat route for lunch and headed to the grocery store and sat and had a picnic in the park. Did a little shopping at the Blarney Woolen Mills which has a bit of everything in it. I think everyone is just about done with souveneir shopping...YEAH!!!

A couple hours later thru some stunning scenery and we arrived at our hotel. It's quaint - think we have almost the whole place to ourselves. Walked into center city after dinner (5 min) and just wandered the streets with the locals.

Early to bed so we can be ready for our day tomorrow - the Ring of Kerry. In the morning, we jumping into jaunting cars - horse & buggy - and heading out along the lakes of Killarney. Then we'll get on the bus and away we go around the Ring.

Weather was a bit warm today - supposed to be beautiful tomorrow. Heard it's hot & humid at home...ugh.. not looking forward to that, so I guess we'll enjoy the lovely Irish weather while we're here.

Erin go bragh!
~steph :)