Arrival Killarney Park Hotel- Killarney, Ireland - (Day 1)

Our Summer 2014 Trip this year is Ireland. Kevin chose Ireland, because it is one place he has heard so much about (even having heritage there many decades ago)... yet, one of the few places that he has never explored. It didn't take much thought (at all) when he chose Ireland as our next exploration destination. We truly are blessed that we are able to take these amazing trips all around the world... God is too good!

Our first destination city in Ireland was Killarney. Today, after a very hectic flight schedule... and no sleep at all on the airplane, we arrived many hours later in Shannon, Ireland Airport. It was a tiny airport, but it didn't matter... It wasn't long until we jumped onto a travel bus to our first destination city in Ireland - the city of Killarney. We were troopers and stayed awake through it all (although, exhaustion did kick in after dinner). Our hotel was very Irish and beautiful - The Killarney Park Hotel.

Here is Killarney Park Hotel in Killarney, Ireland (our home for 3 days)...

Inside the Killarney Park Hotel (and our room)...

We were able to quickly view the shoppes in Town Centre Killarney (across the street from our hotel). It was quite the Irish district... with pubs every 20 feet, trinket shops and other Irish shops and dive in diners (quick and super fresh food). Side-by-side shops for miles... and colorful. Killarney is located in the South West part of Ireland.

Town Centre Shoppes and City view...

Our first day in Ireland proved to be wonderful! With a little jet lag, we called it an early night (after our welcome dinner). There is lots to be seen these next 10 days... Good night!

4th of July Celebration

Our family really loves watching the fireworks show... not so much participating in lighting dangerous firecrackers. Ha!  This year Kevin had a grand idea to rent a room in our newest downtown hotel (on the top floor) to view the city's firework show from our window! He  invited some of his special clients to enjoy the show with us (we providing drinks/appetizers), along with Kevin's parents. Bentonville, also, had their monthly city festival (First Friday on the Square) going on simultaneously with the fireworks show. So, Khloe got to get her face painted and ride the ponies BEFORE watching the big fireworks show! Too much fun!

Here are some pictures of the evening...

We hope all our friends/family had a wonderful 4th of July! Happy Birthday, America!!

XO

Khloe's Turns 5!

Where have FIVE YEARS gone?? I cannot believe that our baby girl is 5 years old today! Our sweet girl has hit such a milestone. She has the most precious demeanor, big/loving heart, funny/outgoing/spunky personality... and loves life so much! What a blessing she has been to our family. I am so privileged and blessed that God chose her to be our daughter. She has such a great relationship with her brother, too. They adore each other (as long as she's not trying to annoy him). Ha!

This past year, Khloe enjoyed her 2nd year of dance... incorporating Hip/Hop & Jazz on top of Ballet and Tap Dance. She had surgery to repair the muscles in her palate. She grew a couple inches (not much... dropping to the 22% in height of children her age).  She dresses herself... and gained her own fashion sense. She can now count to 100, identify several words, tell you her address, advancing in her speech and so much more... She is completely ready for Kindergarten (knowledge/books-wise), however, because of her situation (height, being the youngest in Kindergarten and her speech not being where I want it), we might let her repeat PreK... It will only advance her more, by the time she starts Kindergarten. We are not 100% sure what we will do at this point... it is literally up in the air. She is already enrolled in Kindergarten... which starts next month, but we'll see. I'm doing a tug of war in my mind and juggling the pros and cons. Ugh!! She really doesn't care, either way. Khloe will begin her 3rd year of dance starting August. Wow!

Khloe has so many friends... whom all she really cherishes. She loves to learn, read, write, create things (loves projects), dance, sing and play her instruments. She is an outdoor junky (like Daddy)... she would live outside if we would let her. She, also, loves to dress up and loves to be a girly girl. (If you don't know her blog address, just ask... I blog about her daily outings/outfits almost every day!) Khloe is very close to her Papaw and Nana... and loves her other grandparents, too. Everyone loves Khloe!!

Today, she got to choose what she wanted to do on her big, milestone birthday. She wanted to get a Pedicure at her favorite kid's nail salon. She chose blue polish for her toenails... she said for the 4th of July (in a few days). Smart girl! I tried to talk her in to pink, but she wasn't agreeing. ;)

Here are some photos from her Pedicure Session...

Khloe was treated to a special birthday surprise this morning. She woke up to Papaw/Nana at our house... Nana was making her biscuits and gravy for breakfast -with a birthday candle in it. So special. After breakfast, Khloe opened all her presents from her friends (from her party)... and our presents to her, too. She didn't want to waste any time! 

After her morning of breakfast, opening gifts and getting her toenails done... She wanted to play at the Water Park in town. It was a nice breezy day. So, Mommy and Bubby enjoyed time with her in the sun! 

Daddy met up with Birthday Girl at the Splash Park!!

After much fun in the Sun, our Birthday Girl (Big 5 Year old) wanted to eat dinner at one of her favorite restaurants in town... We obliged! She chose fish for dinner. After dinner, we headed home... where Khloe finally got to eat her birthday cake (from her party a couple of days ago - we forgot to eat it at her party. Ha)!

One last little surprise for our little birthday sweetie... Mommy wrote a "Happy Birthday" message (in chalk) to Khloe on our back patio! Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl of ours!!

We hope you had a very wonderful Milestone Birthday, Sweet Khloe! Wishing you an amazing next year... We know you will excel in all areas and continue to blossom into a Princess. XO