Opening Day

Seamus got to march in his first Opening Day Parade!  Seamie and the Firebirds are a very enthusiastic brood.

His own "MURRAY" hat.

Supportive Sister Saoirse.

Marching...

Children's Musuem

Finn and Dad are gone for a campout. The rest of us are having a grand old time at the Dupage Children's Musuem. It is our first time here.

Star Wars

Seamie's new obsession is Star Wars. He refuses to watch it but he wants every Lego Set and plays Darth Maul constantly. We have read every library book associated with Luke and his crew. Currently, he is working on a mural of the entire galaxy.

Disney 2013

Click here to view these pictures larger

Here are a "few" of our favorite pictures!

Some of our favorite memories:
Saoirse - Tea Cups, Chef Mickey's Breakfast, the Barnstormer, a hug from her favorite, Sleeping "Dudy", her chocolate Mickey dessert and her new Perry the Platypus stuffed animal.

Seamus- Tea Cups, the Barnstormer, Chef Mickey's Breakfast, the volcano slide at the Polynesian Hotel, endless meals of chicken fingers, the "old time" Disney cartoons playing constantly on the Hotel TV, and his new Perry the Platypus stuffed animal.

Finn- the volcano slide at the Hotel, Chef Mickey's Breakfast, the Safari ride at Animal Kingdom, Country Bear Jamboree, the parade and fireworks at Cinderella's Castle, riding the Monorail and his new Perry the Platypus.

* I also think that we could have simply taken a cab to the airport and stayed in a hotel in the middle of Indiana and they would have been just as excited...Both of these experiences were a big thrill.

Meg- Chef Mickey's Breakfast, Cinderella's Royal Table breakfast, the Little Mermaid ride, It's a Small World, Peter Pan, Country Bear Jamboree, the Parade and Fireworks at the Castle.

Mike- Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Barnstormer, Safari and the Animal Kingdom, the pool at the Hotel...and then going to Fort Lauderdale.

There was one bad decision made on my behalf: Space Mountain with Finn and Seamus.  TERRIFYING.  I don't remember it being so awful, but then again, I later found out I was between 8 and 10 years of age when I rode it...not 5.  Oh well...

Ellis Island (Part II)

I had some more Ellis Island photos to share.  I don't want to miss recording this important day!  Finn and his classmates reenacted the process that immigrants went through when they came the the United States.  They had to dress the part of an early 1900's immigrant.  

They had a briefcase with a passport, foreign money and a few trinkets from "home".  Each child went through the process of changing their names, exchanging their money, buying a train ticket and going through a medical exam.

Afterwards they brought food and other artifacts to their room where they had to make a speech in front of all of the parents.  Finn did great.  It was very fun to see months and months of research come together for this amazing day.  Thanks, to Grandma for helping Finn with his research.

Ellis Island

Finn did such a great job today! Here he is, all dressed up. Also posing with his portrait of Grandma and a story about her heritage as well. Looking good, Grandma!

Finn took us along as he went through the Ellis Island experience as a German immigrant. We had to have a medical exam, a passport, exchange our money and purchase train tickets to our new cities. Afterwards we ate lots of tasty treats. The pretzels were a hit. Finn was very proud and rightfully so!

More to come when I have time to download more pictures....

"Bretzel" Making

We are getting ready for Ellis Island Day tomorrow. Finn has been studying Germany since Christmas. Tomorrow he will dress the part of an immigrant and navigate his way through the 1920's immigration process tomorrow. They have lots of things planned for us. We are looking forward to t!

Finn is bringing German "bretzels" in for the Heritage Festival that follows the immigrant simulation. They are pretty tasty if we do say so ourselves.

Aufwedersein!