tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318021182024-03-29T04:29:43.489+01:00Once Upon a Time in a Land Far, Far Away...We are Texas-born and raised, living in the land of 365 cheeses and fresh-baked bread!The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-50297744408173089182012-06-29T22:14:00.001+02:002012-06-29T22:14:34.065+02:00PrayerPlease pray for my brother's friend Brooke. She is young and she just lost her mother. This was unexpected. Thank you for your prayers.The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-83630821366032840592012-01-10T20:46:00.007+01:002012-01-10T21:13:32.711+01:00Kings' Cake!<div><div> </div><div><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPHVMoWPjWDSx5HOnaok676VLhGDb0NtydXYV8TlmE9QIOmvc8xZa2rcuLRuk6rh7-caCUTHrdv-NYEfzFWMuMbx49Qr6huWwBeD39TpLddjcl54nqzPCsjtIaBdMYJzk86l5/s1600/P1077628.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696095915763411154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPHVMoWPjWDSx5HOnaok676VLhGDb0NtydXYV8TlmE9QIOmvc8xZa2rcuLRuk6rh7-caCUTHrdv-NYEfzFWMuMbx49Qr6huWwBeD39TpLddjcl54nqzPCsjtIaBdMYJzk86l5/s320/P1077628.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div>I recently received an email from a friend that commented how funny it is that we are always homesick for the place where we are not currently living!</div><div> </div><div>In France we often made homemade salsa and other American and Tex-Mex things. In Texas, we find ourselves making French food and celebrating French holidays!</div><div> </div><div>January 6th is Epiphany. Traditionally, it is the day when the Three Wise Men met the baby Jesus. On the 6th (or the Sunday after) many families in France celebrate this holiday by eating cake! (What better was is there to celebrate anything than by eating cake!) A tiny charm (or prize or "feve") is hidden somewhere in the cake. Whoever gets the charm ends up being the King! And, no king is truly a king without a paper crown, right?!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696095094840234322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EkpPMMWMhJPUgfdKQBb0jCWkVsDlKxvEaceOI229Bp6BqagK7adrDLKuXq2a4E0Gu2Lvwa-gDd5qTb0bGarUDRSJfZezwtEagBFlrM8WKGaBlvoBwkhKmGVnEd4rtsQKQxU4/s320/P1077633.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The smallest kiddo gets under the table and picks who gets which slice of cake!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>We looked for a Kings' Cake at all bakeries around here. We found plenty of "New Orleans" style Kings' Cakes. They are beautiful and colorful, and I'm sure they taste great. But, nothing compares with the flakey, French almond-goo filled Kings' Cakes. They are just SO good! </div><div>We ended up making the cake ourselves. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>It was good. But, we were a little homesick for our little bakery on Rue Paradis in Marseille. But, don't worry about us, we made ourselves less homesick by eating good ol' Tex-Mex chips and salsa later!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> <img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696096816307370834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoJkWD3EPU1tSShfhIR24C-vNA0OKfqxnYk6JEuP_7ySrku4XK-0S27khVExNu83mIz55Q40FO4OH96CEqBrwnNYyrJ06O4acNGKjEoIyFoEjSbBFN9zf_CZAJBXjkD66Fg9o/s320/P1077634.JPG" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com111tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-84524955444250683922012-01-02T03:41:00.003+01:002012-01-02T03:45:29.601+01:00HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!<span style="font-family:arial;">I know that many people may disagree, but I think that New Year’s Eve is perhaps one of the most overrated days of the year. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />HOWEVER, I have always thought that New Year’s DAY was a day full of potential. Even if I didn’t have any resolutions, I always sort of thought of January 1st as a day of new beginnings.<br /><br />This morning I woke up thinking “Happy New Year”! But, then I thought that God gives us this<br />sense of renewal EVERY DAY if we want it!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><div align="center"><br /><em> Because of the LORD’s<br />great love we are not consumed,<br />for his compassions never fail.<br />They are new every morning;<br />great is your faithfulness.<br />~Lamentations 3:22-23</em></div></span><div align="center"></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />What amazing verses. <br /><br />HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!<br /><br /><br /></span>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-85095217188087451162010-04-22T18:22:00.003+02:002010-04-22T18:33:14.760+02:00Ode to Box Cake<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpsG7VZl2NViHB648PKPBmWh7V9GPalYtQ-egMI18zkoVgAXu_10ZvP22PX_wpiSQq5bYB2lfWEP1sHX20vFwk1qlbsMJzcoPxMq07j4QqSjRE9WobAWjbf_286_HTFI0ss3p/s1600/SDC15465.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463000367139718482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpsG7VZl2NViHB648PKPBmWh7V9GPalYtQ-egMI18zkoVgAXu_10ZvP22PX_wpiSQq5bYB2lfWEP1sHX20vFwk1qlbsMJzcoPxMq07j4QqSjRE9WobAWjbf_286_HTFI0ss3p/s320/SDC15465.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">This past Saturday was Claire’s Birthday. Because it was vacation and everyone was gone we had a family birthday party. (Don’t worry we will have one with her friends soon.) So we have some box cakes that we needed to eat. You know the kind, Betty Crocker box cakes you can get at any grocery store in the States. They do not have those here. They have something like it but the taste really bad. So we used one of our box cakes for the family party. It was soooooo good. There are things that you know you miss when you live over seas and then there are the things that sneak up on you and you say “WOW! I forgot about this.” I will have to stop here and say that my wife is a top chef and has been able to make cakes from scratch that I would put up against anyone’s. But this is different. It is the taste and the texture that reminds you of home; back when you were a little kid. There is just something about that box mix that tastes different. This is not a plea to send more because goodness knows I do not need to eat any more cake. This is just a rambling thought from someone who does not get box cake very often.</span></div><div> </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462998751946378642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPESJ9trk-lcNSBIv9dZBO0Ow03YnfWK-AWFBYgXL6XRIdacK4V4ZTZ-enEn1TEvAq1Ls0C02_miwGQGujp1PSrFqpOj5gRqT78pAPOya9lEihdLsTC3q5VVGNjT7-LW7qjZiv/s320/SDC15433.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-77921369686636587822010-04-08T15:54:00.005+02:002010-04-08T17:10:22.341+02:00New French Adventure<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmisJcK1TKm5GsjPGzMw8c_j5BTcrd6gB7BLZ_tKk3i8rBumpgzyoYeiK1ySBp_ufZ66VBV-IY4IgPH5S9XTPNGhKAybVUYojEDqJeae5R8fBnAYgGwipTlYHGKa9rVOqjaMe/s1600/Pascal.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457764857931010610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmisJcK1TKm5GsjPGzMw8c_j5BTcrd6gB7BLZ_tKk3i8rBumpgzyoYeiK1ySBp_ufZ66VBV-IY4IgPH5S9XTPNGhKAybVUYojEDqJeae5R8fBnAYgGwipTlYHGKa9rVOqjaMe/s320/Pascal.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I (Tiffany) have decided that I need to embark on a new French learning adventure.<br /><br />Strangely enough, I have participated in several conversations recently where I did not have a CLUE what to say! The problem wasn't the French language... The problem was that everyone was quoting French philosophers in otherwise perfectly normal conversations! (I suppose that quoting philosophers IS perfectly normal here...)<br /><br />So, instead of trying to translate what I know of French philosophy from English into French, I am going to start actually reading these guys in FRENCH! I came to the conclusion that it was necessary when I had no clue how to say Pascal's wager in French. I was afraid it would come out like someone trying to translate the old Patrick Henry quote, "Give me liberty or give me death." I would NOT think of Patrick Henry if a French friend were to talk about "that guy during the revolution that said he would prefer to die than to live a life without freedom under <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">British</span> rule."<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457766964050948818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWetSD7iUg4tLhPank7TkbAxTCfqhbOBr-4xwAWBWq8kiQnKZZKGw2JgvXklovkSUJtSATKk6xrheB1anTxGOOQY48mzyNNUZm6l-hAf44kLVUI7EsMBSt1BRttbaLeH6Te7O/s320/PatrickHenry.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />So, I am starting the great French Philosophy adventure with Pascal's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pensees</span>! We will see how long I last!</p>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-88161019228991691992010-03-29T17:03:00.002+02:002010-03-29T17:05:50.715+02:00Baseball ??One of the funniest things happened the other day at the baseball game. If you listen closely you can hear circus music playing in the background. <br /><br />It is the bottom of the fourth (there are only five innings) with two outs. There is a runner on first. The pitcher winds up for the pitch and begins his throw. The runner takes off. (Note: the pitcher is ALREADY throwing the ball so the runner is off to a late start.) The catcher gets the ball and makes his throw to Second. The ball bounces three feet in front of the bag and goes past the second baseman. Then the ball goes by the short stop who was covering the throw. Now the ball is somewhere in center field. The runner continues on his way to third. (He can do this because he had no intention of sliding and came into second base in a full upright position.) He gets to third and sees that the ball is just now getting to the shortstop, who is in shallow center field, so he heads to home. The shortstop throws it to the pitcher (because home was too far away) then the pitcher makes his throw to the catcher. The catcher catches the ball and makes a beautiful sweeping tag at home plate. He stands up with pride like a Cat who just caught a mouse and starts walking the ball to the Pitcher. While he is strutting away, the runner (who was five feet from home plate when the catcher made his sweeping tag) crosses the plate and the Ump calls him safe.<br /><br />Here is a video that could have been made about our team!<br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2kQ83_4RdkA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2kQ83_4RdkA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-23230359218292900562009-12-30T11:01:00.003+01:002009-12-30T11:11:47.893+01:00Let it Snow!<span style="color:#660000;">Since we are awaiting the arrival of Baby Boy Kilcoyne sometime within the next month, our holiday travel was greatly restricted. However, we WERE able to travel about 2 hours up the road from Marseille, and we found SNOW!</span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;">Here are some photos from our quick trip to the Alps. </span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420968681443142274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVpc3u8DwjRpoqrALC3T4avkTy05yRgtQx6csd7oH8DGoWz5vl_Mqmit0gmXVpwR12J7PCSXtKEdvYq9X5txxuhY96gqPvV4w0oQteAjEIj1mKQSRJO09qYzRHCrd-dkAceqP/s200/daniel+working.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">Daniel had the hardest job!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIQWA3TjYMnO1iikL-SY7I83NhQLWc0S2DrfcunPx2F61H_9Q_UAJnJTzxsm7KhsFEJRAWFMztdYwXYSEABRG1AoMpcdqzlOg5wNkVAy-tEoBDu4dm4Lg5sxkPNHKqmR4pfcG/s1600-h/woo+hoo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420968712018504466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIQWA3TjYMnO1iikL-SY7I83NhQLWc0S2DrfcunPx2F61H_9Q_UAJnJTzxsm7KhsFEJRAWFMztdYwXYSEABRG1AoMpcdqzlOg5wNkVAy-tEoBDu4dm4Lg5sxkPNHKqmR4pfcG/s200/woo+hoo.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#660000;">Claire had it pretty easy!<br /></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420968701207453522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 143px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAwYMHNQjZT-GgVIc2e3oMPAZj4MnmBiwtAWjC-6SKW1HyLyjpScsOQU2i09bBSVg1o5RCrWWdv7xEdVLJS2f_A15M2jdbIS9J5sL_0s-rXfiqXv7FnTomPx6ohGtbw_G2-sD/s200/t+and+c+in+snow.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#660000;">Cheese!<br /></span><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420968704675543378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 143px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLy9pX4vN5HAgtJ3I15MKGV0V9huactMhmAb87qZGaRskwoSO7iqs9-UW8akAHDldiKMK74VdgkUReTzcs5AV-zagudXcgbIzpedi5m4hMRRDV-Wgc_n12NssMvgh_mohz7bO/s200/brrr.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#660000;">The snow never stopped falling!<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDp3MNPqXnGLBnBLVivVbmUwzeqdR0MoalO0SKr6OfeE31OuDeuHfEqZgSzc8sjIlclDJWH4KPg6yM7CoBdloyMQu7ap5J00sA4K4IVTzt31v66OhZ9F3hOZWQm6tHIPOK1I4/s1600-h/frozen+smile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420968691618655362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDp3MNPqXnGLBnBLVivVbmUwzeqdR0MoalO0SKr6OfeE31OuDeuHfEqZgSzc8sjIlclDJWH4KPg6yM7CoBdloyMQu7ap5J00sA4K4IVTzt31v66OhZ9F3hOZWQm6tHIPOK1I4/s200/frozen+smile.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#660000;">Frozen, but still having fun!</span><br /><br /><br /><div> </div></div></div><br /></div>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-35740057975699146182009-12-27T07:14:00.003+01:002009-12-27T07:29:37.545+01:00Christmas Dinner<span style="color:#006600;">First of all, we need to apologize for the LONG break we have taken from doing this blog. It won't happen again. (Or, rather, we probably WILL take a long break again at some point, but I hope it won't be for months and months this time!)</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Now, I have to talk about the amazing French meal we participated in on Christmas day. I say "participated in" because it was a lunch that lasted for about 5 hours! Thank you, Marjorie, for inviting us to spend a wonderful day with your family. It made it a little easier to be so far away from our own families on such a special holiday.</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">When we celebrate Thanksgiving here in France, we have to special order the turkeys in advance because turkeys are primarily for Christmas here. Well, we had an amazing, awesome turkey on Christmas. It was served with a type of stuffing that involved liver and nuts (sounds weird, but it was yummy). But, the turkey, potatoes, stuffing, green beans, etc. were the 2nd course! </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">The first course started with salmon mousse and foie gras (goose-liver pate). Once again, sounds very interesting, but was oh-so-good!</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">The third course was the cheese course. That was good, too!</span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Then, we had the traditional Christmas dessert. It is a bouche de Noel. It is like a Yule Log, but you eat it! So, just picture a long, skinny, fancy cake that is made to look like a log! We had a chocolate mousse and rasberry cake. </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Here in the Provence region of France, there is another traditional dessert, so we had to eat that one, too! Actually, it is called the 13 Desserts, and if you eat all 13 of them, you are supposed to have good luck for the next year. The 13 Desserts is really just 13 smaller desserts that are served together (chocolate, special Christmas candies called Papillotes, nuts, dried fruit, etc.) </span><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Well, I just wanted to share! Thanks for drooling-- I mean READING!</span>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-24064913500954628182009-09-11T10:06:00.004+02:002009-09-11T10:19:32.713+02:00First Day of School!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380120857948434610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgZRHnvqqirVf4fb4059oI9CkIlc_S5V2XN_wPp6vUWOGwYwhFn4nliDsC15sldY9e3Wf29TU3CjuTGQPbiCjbtMcz-KEZfy1ezY50Qgv3uNTPlPXQWJT5kzbCWpFKbKntxDu/s320/nana+in+town+016.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#330033;">In France, most children start pre-school at the age of 3 years old, even though school is not mandatory until the age of 6. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#330033;">Claire was no exception... she started school when she was still a baby in my eyes! But, now she is "all grown up" and in the equivalent of kindergarten. She loves it! We love the fact that she loves it! </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#330033;"></span> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380120850594370738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimp5XP-7f_U1TRoF4KZSOHPP7E4G31yX7CCGwk88p7erW7xzIL59Z3c6ZqT4JuQH7ltNBJgVmzGftsIuEJxowO5n2zEcDCvkLyMPt7Cn89yetw_C3dmWoY0OPNTPIHbvdJr2Uv/s320/nana+in+town+017.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#330033;">These photos were all taken on her first day of "kindergarten"!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#330033;"></span> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380120867932868258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlueJhrQ8sdHK5p6Jsc0gVZQKpEurnO93rIVVUaW6lGT6jXkMAhDeSunxF35uzooJiaBufcJX1GGXOVF-wRnlnxnJG78lmT0fC2t0kDem9Eqo-2nlZhUSJTqtWbwdXcZY-Spuz/s320/nana+in+town+023.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#330033;">(Her Nana was here, so that made it extra special!)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#330033;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#330033;">They grow up so fast, don't they!?</span></div></div></div>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-25122099369023357072009-08-28T10:39:00.007+02:002009-08-28T11:10:26.160+02:00Vacationing Close to Home<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374934323233141154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNzZk6mlPR2sfyNOT0DnUwL6AjeKQisg13OsQCUTrRQI9SocC3HT4ILmXaXkIX8BsqHhsGcesrFMwMR8SI5x9IDxk099KolR04mpxENS7NrmbfCjB4zfRuut3YSUdcaQM8Ejz/s320/SDC12622.JPG" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">We had a wonderful vacation in Bavaria, Germany with some good friends and their two beautiful little girls. (Those pics will be posted soon!) </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">However, when we returned to Marseille, we realized that everyone else was still on vacation! Most of our French friends get 4 to 6 weeks vacation (at least) every year. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">So, we decided we would take a little vacation here in Marseille. We drove 5 minutes down the road from our apartment, and we experienced Marseille like tourists! </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">Enjoy the pics!</span><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374934336140366994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvMVgAk63XtY-kmVDhCsoaVSWboM3DykEwaPnIDO1xI7M9ve5GxKmbBDuWoEdRHJqeh45QC6obelh_HYgppTrPf4YxCn3_a6b967Kc23RPwHz-KMTm-l7GC9B1ZFD8Ozlx5xJ/s320/SDC12580.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374934345432396258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxXc_SBvZQm86C_rVCmL576-wtHL-e1dquye7Orj-ZoN00dmeC9LC0mIaEGp_w5ZrzQibdYF1RNTijWCtxwYgTvYXj_2RV1VGzwhuGnIm3NqT2LQtROKG7J62jIK2wAnRo9QC/s320/SDC12592.JPG" /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374937061587584770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rH2G0sWf_bGeAA0uFkYyJxQI19vnnPG2RrGGiVGxh1Rn9pc1nukb0V_7_TQGQIR1ojM2xv_oirSvlOldc-HZG_76ceizBSnceLKKDh7Ic5Xgw98jddBYZxqGgwtiGP8K0N-9/s320/SDC12629.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">What day at the beach is complete without Italian ice cream??!!</span></div><div> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374937041809085634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEVj8SPV51XikX7syroacpUz1cng2YuOQUaZEIlzTjD9O0nfJUMsZqXlYrrH-rURL4XMaWsduR8v8WzNV7nuXSzbK0bTiqB-eKp_XmhDE-rOhrL8hMuQiudsB1mUtsDarzVf5/s320/SDC12647.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374937036249409970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChQjJkqMHQMpKBpUIYPY7PL6LKVEbO_9HM16owBEhBFXusJMdIZ1dUQTjX2kOJUOjYVpyHh3IRU_01XJ3O5EAFFdplzW22uaSlRqTxUUH0IOX-uhqHqgugBPZOTlqsydnqIP9/s320/SDC12639.JPG" /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">Building sandcastles is hard work!</span><br /><br /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374937051064421074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEZKj99BpsPtYlLhxJxgWpbBT46_iSn54jCc7NE8Fl0T0XZWt7iLBeuOrxC8e67caJj5Ka0x_h4YvUEogOmddlbonEtQclPnhAxLdP6dA45oMC0I8_eSRJtdo25ZaZ4wHS-AX/s320/SDC12646.JPG" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">Beautiful Marseille!</span><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOoYhuMeKf_YA3l4PiUSTIstv2S_sOmE0YCKy6-b4GFJWTzcfUqQAZ_5VzO3b3WyNbbn8RcQ9qd3g2Tmctp81HKjTewoi17G_w0ZNalsP9b0uxvdMtctngP1GVCRhBZAEPf0x/s1600-h/SDC12616.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374937026700483026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOoYhuMeKf_YA3l4PiUSTIstv2S_sOmE0YCKy6-b4GFJWTzcfUqQAZ_5VzO3b3WyNbbn8RcQ9qd3g2Tmctp81HKjTewoi17G_w0ZNalsP9b0uxvdMtctngP1GVCRhBZAEPf0x/s320/SDC12616.JPG" /></a><br /></div></div></div>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-23544718343122957752009-06-08T13:59:00.003+02:002009-06-08T14:13:11.471+02:00Scared of Twilight??<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQhM56jedcispyolWHiOZ7qo7klYYqIQiwn52OtdJhsD5OjEj3mwfrttbIhM7mz2erQSL6_thIobqCsB_S6sHaQoh02wVqrA-ilRW3OhFu6Aocy8o8yuikkzjFurLwbmxmVij/s1600-h/new-twilight-poster1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344928387602564210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 232px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQhM56jedcispyolWHiOZ7qo7klYYqIQiwn52OtdJhsD5OjEj3mwfrttbIhM7mz2erQSL6_thIobqCsB_S6sHaQoh02wVqrA-ilRW3OhFu6Aocy8o8yuikkzjFurLwbmxmVij/s320/new-twilight-poster1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">First of all, I have to admit that I have read all four books in the Twilight series. I usually like to read young adult literature in French (easy reading, but still good for vocab...blah, blah, blah), AND I was really curious about the big fuss being made over the books. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">Last week I was reading an article in a French magazine about the release of the movie. (I was in a waiting room, so the magazines weren't exactly up-to-date!) The title was something like "Should We Be Scared of Twilight?" The article went on to say that the vampire themes were nothing that anyone should be concerned about. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">What should we be scared of then?? According to this article, we should be scared of the fact that the books promote ABSTINENCE before marriage! Yep. The conclusion of the article states that Stephenie Meyer is a Mormon and she is trying to propagate her Mormon beliefs through her books. The fact that abstinence is a theme throughout the novels should frighten everyone! Once again, this is the view of the writer of the article. I am not typically scared of purity in the fiction that I read.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">There are some things I will just never understand...</span></div>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-91684393014657749692009-05-29T17:25:00.005+02:002009-05-29T17:34:18.983+02:00The Driving Test that Didn't Happen<span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;">France is a developed nation. I realize that. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;">I love France. I remember that.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;">BUT... I can't help thinking, "WHAT IN THE WORLD??" when I have a day like today. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;">I have been preparing to take my driving test for my French driver's license since November. France and Texas do not have interchangeable licenses. So, after months of waiting, I was finally scheduled to take the driving part of the test. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;">There are 39 "inspectors" in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Marseille</span> who can give the driving test. Well, only one of them was working today, and he was NOT the one that was supposed to give the exam to me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;">Can you <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">belive</span> that? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Marseille</span> is the second largest city in France! There are over 1.6 million people here! And, they had ONE (1, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">un</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">uno</span>) inspector giving the driving exam today. Just ONE! </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;">We waited and waited and waited and waited. Finally, we realized that the inspector scheduled for us wasn't coming. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#333399;">So, I will get to take my driving test eventually. But, I am not sure I will ever understand how things work here.</span>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-17651478173423051082009-03-18T09:20:00.004+01:002009-04-14T17:35:19.348+02:00Deep Thoughts and Cute Photos<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZjD3N4WZpjNzc3xhcok2Q3oZYN2_bNnTDkT9S1SN4yvP-Oec26QRss-tbiuiFS7R7w-XQvVicwHtZjPeQsHvFcxt0sUBe8Pv1VrmYocQYNDHuZYHgS0ptAl9FoGizYlDEOr9/s1600-h/SDC10862.JPG"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314443394026194482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwAF_e0d_nje2eI4vWOGM8sTiygw_LZVTFLej2yCCNzsEzeHOuStV-GTwZ73uJJYbjDd_82hHC7Ch4H7oE9Dh5qugMf0C646r4BMRhWOYhXJiRhbYQ4FNHZ_maZhImiRw56uX/s320/SDC10892.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">I am reading a book called Hearing God by Dallas Willard, and I finally get one little point that he makes in this sometimes-too-deep-for-me book. He says that with God, we attempt things that are impossible on our own. God allows us to "help" Him even when He could do it all by Himself so much faster and easier. But, He lets us take part in what He wants to accomplish in the world. It pleases God to partner with us.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#66ffff;"><span style="color:#000066;">God has to use visible, tangible, real-world examples to explain things to me. I only understand the "refiner's fire" because I watched my dad refine metals in our garage (long story). I understand the image of the vine and the branches and how the Gardener prunes the fruitful branches because I had a vineyard outside of my living room window for a year. And, I finally understand (in part) How God wants us to work with Him because I get to work with my little girl!</span> </span></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314443407660712898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxCgLkUHFp1AanCnjM9QbAK5YNOcNGhwJvBFhqFtmSe-pcTtmbgmfjAD6h3IZRjfBTTs0J45iojeACOad8vU8Lm3GtHFtpJMd2KBdku9xGFVRg32tB6XlZ8DLfI-28Ew-30-7/s320/SDC10849.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:arial;">God's plans my be much bigger than making a really yummy chicken pot pie, but I still loved watching Claire attempt something with me that she could never dream to do on her own (at least not yet). </span><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314443389688936514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyeeZ08oJ0QWtoQO2j8SXhb04YxYphcRJs4z3hkfU3VSfR5mEs_Ei8ByNQGwGFVF7xNqy6dlPvlCx6I0keNogRwgJaKqCJPn_AOAfG7NzF1gN0aQVs4jMu3d8av8_aEEwIroS/s320/SDC11031.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Nothing is impossible when we partner with God. And, He WANTS us to be his little helpers!</span></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314443401110479410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjor2w8lRtizEzwBbXNn522wjGHqxJaBZBgcnLdCiiE2AQboww525Uq7tMb5iBZMpyHhUr0qnoe8TiBuDB8TDQFMuV8dhQg7x36nftZPTLnVcqJlpgpkOmVAMyWqtI7hqHwjqIX/s320/SDC10888.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#66ffff;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-28735327268475892452009-01-21T09:54:00.004+01:002009-04-14T17:36:27.542+02:00A Little Irony in France<span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:arial;">In 1860, Louis Pasteur discovered germs. He created the first vaccine for rabies and he invented “Pasteurization”. What an accomplishment for the French! Here is the ironic part of Pasteur’s discoveries.<br /><br />The best cheeses are still not pasteurized here in France. (In America, all cheeses must be pasteurized or they cannot be sold to the public.) But, these cheeses with all the bacteria really do have more flavor.<br /><br />Raw and undercooked meats are found in the best restaurants in France. Have you ever tried raw ham with butter?<br /><br />And, the reason that I am writing this post…<br /><br />Claire had to go to the restroom before we left school last week. I peeked around the corner while she was washing her hands. I looked just in time to see her take a drink out of a little blue cup in the restroom. Her response when I told her that we don’t drink out of cups in public restrooms? “That’s what the cup is for. All the kids drink out of it.”<br /><br />Berk! (French for “yuck”!) Talk about germs!</span><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#66ffff;"></span><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293668077616374530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTvzh14Ds0bdlKAriRzkkgbWIsjisUTLFM4WTRURqljMKvaqSDKXu_zJbQza-bz47JmD3G2XtY1mN4DJFSXAiVJoTq_ZsP3DfMsfv2KT9ozCtZOBwlGAr2r6ASuUklqlgf3eW/s400/SP_A0125.jpg" border="0" /></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">I was so horrified I took a picture with my camera phone!</span><br /></p>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-63855748449152712672009-01-13T14:08:00.002+01:002009-01-13T14:18:37.146+01:00Change of PostI was going to post something silly about a challenging French language experience. I was going to attempt to write a halfway humourous post about life here in France. But, all I can think of right now are my friends Bryan and Olivia Brigham. They were almost able to adopt a baby girl 2 weeks ago, but she was taken back by the birth parents hours later. <a href="http://bryanbrigham.blogspot.com/">http://bryanbrigham.blogspot.com/</a>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-9563917991845066252008-11-08T21:08:00.006+01:002008-11-08T21:33:05.544+01:00Spoiled in Marseille<span style="color:#ffcc00;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I used to laugh when I heard someone from Marseille talk about how "bad" the weather was just because of a few clouds in the sky... I used to think it was silly that I could talk to 10-20 different people at different times during a day and just have ONE conversation--- how horribly unlucky we were that the weather wasn't cooperating... I never understood why people felt like the weather was something that could make decisions and conspire against you...</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffcc00;">And, then I went to Basel, Switzerland for a conference. I was so cold that I had to get a new scarf and gloves! It was cloudy most of the time, and it was drizzly. There was actual drizzle coming out of the sky and nobody else was using their umbrellas! Why? Because they thought that it wasn't really raining! What? There was water coming out of the sky... that's rain!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffcc00;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffcc00;">On one of the mostly cloudy, freezing cold days during my trip, people were talking about how "good" the weather was. That is when I realized that sunny Marseille has spoiled me! </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffcc00;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffcc00;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffcc00;">Then, when I came back to should-be-sunny-all-of-the-time Marseille, it was raining! It rained for 2 weeks! I found myself complaining about the weather and acting as if it were conspiring against me...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffcc00;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffcc00;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffcc00;">SO, when it finally got sunny, Claire and I spent ALL DAY LONG at a big park in town. We had a picnic, she rode a pony, we played, and we talked about how great the weather was!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffcc00;">Enjoy the pics!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#6633ff;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7OUp2O-exLSKvtYgkvgadlB-28UwwoKgY-pIx0UdYwntvM5YdkLC7mK4D37VRpbvH4hDBJfAMV8HMW77gQluQCfIlG937rB5SPvXQiR9q9CTo7qQYVxTelTNCRhsNXPSudy5/s1600-h/NIce+Day+at+the+Park+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266385999716277794" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7OUp2O-exLSKvtYgkvgadlB-28UwwoKgY-pIx0UdYwntvM5YdkLC7mK4D37VRpbvH4hDBJfAMV8HMW77gQluQCfIlG937rB5SPvXQiR9q9CTo7qQYVxTelTNCRhsNXPSudy5/s200/NIce+Day+at+the+Park+006.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ3KpjJxQxAWP4nPDlWKW00V23J3lYbdNW7Ep5tl-EXVHm4yWescUPDw3L8GGGe6c9w5BGaRGVkMrk5saMx3P6evNy0kUoCnq0ETJv0DMtXCOTlWKIsTqmrG95h8_EWBVWPNY/s1600-h/NIce+Day+at+the+Park+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266385693459880530" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ3KpjJxQxAWP4nPDlWKW00V23J3lYbdNW7Ep5tl-EXVHm4yWescUPDw3L8GGGe6c9w5BGaRGVkMrk5saMx3P6evNy0kUoCnq0ETJv0DMtXCOTlWKIsTqmrG95h8_EWBVWPNY/s200/NIce+Day+at+the+Park+007.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQCKuFWrKksxCfUNPM0voAFYpZan2EN6ou7sENDwV3WmGIAhAdtmWQ6GJdLaxAGr_VcYHt_7q8kHYi6NcnkLf82XtPjj4XJ34kyByIKFiYRbiD6gDLqNTuMvSrlsYlzu2XRgu/s1600-h/NIce+Day+at+the+Park+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266385687768639570" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQCKuFWrKksxCfUNPM0voAFYpZan2EN6ou7sENDwV3WmGIAhAdtmWQ6GJdLaxAGr_VcYHt_7q8kHYi6NcnkLf82XtPjj4XJ34kyByIKFiYRbiD6gDLqNTuMvSrlsYlzu2XRgu/s200/NIce+Day+at+the+Park+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgaJBU_uIPrZ-YxNgtx0GiVqukdCwIL7hWfvTwTU0XEX0Ja_tmZ2eNvbbP3Yu71Dt2TTTyG5anrdxUXss3RqqnUnoS3-OVTnaO1XUsCB168UZl5q7EsKx3cJae7F0QiugJ-0K/s1600-h/NIce+Day+at+the+Park+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266385666293628226" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgaJBU_uIPrZ-YxNgtx0GiVqukdCwIL7hWfvTwTU0XEX0Ja_tmZ2eNvbbP3Yu71Dt2TTTyG5anrdxUXss3RqqnUnoS3-OVTnaO1XUsCB168UZl5q7EsKx3cJae7F0QiugJ-0K/s200/NIce+Day+at+the+Park+024.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgth1mrZuE5bCJLocJHcNhDEpwukbqGrssEf7kMvWKqXrGd7ulgNnpc9IrMaT3zchzpAIYggn5ZHHRVtF8iWd1Q4KA3we3aHJcwcKah4Nrfj-dDPwXyN1eZOufQFwPTS3H3E7p/s1600-h/NIce+Day+at+the+Park+066.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266385679707630386" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgth1mrZuE5bCJLocJHcNhDEpwukbqGrssEf7kMvWKqXrGd7ulgNnpc9IrMaT3zchzpAIYggn5ZHHRVtF8iWd1Q4KA3we3aHJcwcKah4Nrfj-dDPwXyN1eZOufQFwPTS3H3E7p/s200/NIce+Day+at+the+Park+066.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-iN6ao8ZjLgZppNaCdtUd0GO2mKLJoGGzVuc_591E4lrlGsxgcd32yEvsf4jb0xKZsc4ozhkr3BTJHahdsDl7FrXLxRCpxTEesRpJdO-ZJip_7mgZsJA_e67_KRiYFP3HvBD/s1600-h/NIce+Day+at+the+Park+106.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266385674885626834" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-iN6ao8ZjLgZppNaCdtUd0GO2mKLJoGGzVuc_591E4lrlGsxgcd32yEvsf4jb0xKZsc4ozhkr3BTJHahdsDl7FrXLxRCpxTEesRpJdO-ZJip_7mgZsJA_e67_KRiYFP3HvBD/s200/NIce+Day+at+the+Park+106.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-60300114060165765582008-09-18T12:57:00.006+02:002008-09-18T13:20:14.079+02:00Photos (First Day of School: the Sequel)<div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffcc66;">Claire started her second year of school a couple of weeks ago. She is having a wonderful time! She is playing with old friends and making new ones. Praise God, she is doing great!</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffcc66;">Here are some pics of her first day of school, the second year:</span></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRg-ka8jVs0K_yjnl6VtJcnhxtZxZOvpRdCEpSGKlcshFLRNfzz6g4N_NLU52OQATpqsq2uHWzDp5zraQcORceX9izw8hl6giAVcFr22YFsi37fFZzzHY18mwcgR3_vVakPQE/s1600-h/bike+ride.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247314936997773874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRg-ka8jVs0K_yjnl6VtJcnhxtZxZOvpRdCEpSGKlcshFLRNfzz6g4N_NLU52OQATpqsq2uHWzDp5zraQcORceX9izw8hl6giAVcFr22YFsi37fFZzzHY18mwcgR3_vVakPQE/s200/bike+ride.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwt2b_2lSM2tNwwvkf8bENw94un-hKKljiV4liuzU7JGkADjrl69idDJ40-GG9jjqZBlRU1DQwb3AASDUH32STu9cOb68IqxAMCtIawcEOKj-gtd5R6oVcEd7Iw-TNUk02BRN/s1600-h/silly+pose.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247315807914208850" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwt2b_2lSM2tNwwvkf8bENw94un-hKKljiV4liuzU7JGkADjrl69idDJ40-GG9jjqZBlRU1DQwb3AASDUH32STu9cOb68IqxAMCtIawcEOKj-gtd5R6oVcEd7Iw-TNUk02BRN/s200/silly+pose.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjza5rj39m95OJTBiEcWCtSTXnQN2c9Y20sk1cmciOWCgNFMQL5tv9XKhKYe4K2gsqFr0FQ-0YiUUf3HUvoLWo4bm3DoS0g8nsnvjMq6mxavPdcVoDxNkRru5fiSWSpcXXXyy5c/s1600-h/claire+and+daddy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247314930419555090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjza5rj39m95OJTBiEcWCtSTXnQN2c9Y20sk1cmciOWCgNFMQL5tv9XKhKYe4K2gsqFr0FQ-0YiUUf3HUvoLWo4bm3DoS0g8nsnvjMq6mxavPdcVoDxNkRru5fiSWSpcXXXyy5c/s200/claire+and+daddy.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoy3_8z9tB-SWxD6VzM00xrRKhBxEo60lqmTbqsrEUE8EyXYVEYdZ4wdGz8v03HmwegRsyP99V8ViyfUo_rq9C4JhSze-kyT4v8DdnDinD1OxSwGX8_RuUNauEDCybJ4iP2j-5/s1600-h/Mommy+and+CLaire+first+day+of+school+(2).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247319095898309250" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoy3_8z9tB-SWxD6VzM00xrRKhBxEo60lqmTbqsrEUE8EyXYVEYdZ4wdGz8v03HmwegRsyP99V8ViyfUo_rq9C4JhSze-kyT4v8DdnDinD1OxSwGX8_RuUNauEDCybJ4iP2j-5/s200/Mommy+and+CLaire+first+day+of+school+(2).jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7MsB6x0iyulISVJMX9y8SEaaJ63nWIFeGOWo_AcBL97WKiKAbIqpRrLP_TTlZPq8eFzzWV8wE_fmUAZWckKpiutJhkqzI_JT8C2FUltk8ZO2lFDamy915qlUjUjJWWncVreo/s1600-h/silly+face.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247314950745507250" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7MsB6x0iyulISVJMX9y8SEaaJ63nWIFeGOWo_AcBL97WKiKAbIqpRrLP_TTlZPq8eFzzWV8wE_fmUAZWckKpiutJhkqzI_JT8C2FUltk8ZO2lFDamy915qlUjUjJWWncVreo/s200/silly+face.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNY6mhMIPVEazIk9IqRX7Zb9hZgb7m39l1_jhJFlTFd95XWRieZQDp01074KHxcjChxP9Iv8wdro-vvZw5iBkgIwDsEwdLCUisjN7P7NfdyhQjP0Q04XMlLsiWaV0DGtUQYBC/s1600-h/sweet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247314952126548290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNY6mhMIPVEazIk9IqRX7Zb9hZgb7m39l1_jhJFlTFd95XWRieZQDp01074KHxcjChxP9Iv8wdro-vvZw5iBkgIwDsEwdLCUisjN7P7NfdyhQjP0Q04XMlLsiWaV0DGtUQYBC/s200/sweet.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center"> </p>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-74794447553699530342008-08-30T09:46:00.005+02:002008-08-30T13:56:03.507+02:00A Tour of Scotland<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Earlier this month, we took a brief trip to Scotland. It was wonderful. There are so many things I want to share, but I am going to follow the lead of a friend of mine and tell the story through photos. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? So, enjoy 10,000 words or so on why Scotland was one of the best vacations ever!<br /></div></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240215563611603746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmlijXUDQ2sPMYuUod92dV561xnVft06Ui2noHrY1PXtCtmnFmuady_aYvqtNBvacViIiaF20TVWwfzmMdOhKc3BVxQD7p9w6CAGKl1ppyFATP_jSQbhi2AIrLrXWGBdi2lcF/s320/scotland+007.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We camped (IN A TENT!) across Scotland! </span></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240277471270754578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhum8UZEUjSWOSekQHXOAPg-D7ZC5cQ8zg3P4V4Z7ksVJ8TAbG8JtwIWkpIO8IwyI52MDJ0rpFs-oRgfAugzFbfrWynch_TfB3fI0X9rtJdxwcvuUhx3GToYye4B2W9UL2oW_Ro/s320/scotland+010.jpg" border="0" /><br /></p><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240215573767516162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2UEX2aoWUOtoxmACCMDOlSv6O03Q1i5Vz4Zl2bNKXxmBqvzaxkG1x7N72rZB90ZnN_wMXbUh4GTWe4EShhTtraZJQLVCP0CS5LlTdLKhHHrrfkzHExzPNi0gK1DVsGzMp5a9/s320/scotland+104.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:Arial;">But, look where we were!</span><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240215568617578274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFGijC9yP1S6prbZc5Kr2WAfWP4Lpp0YUXsljzOyRTGSP4w22PIozi7HPq1OJhslMzhZ3gCTNvaF0hqXLA-kQjgojIUaaXUvsef8j5nhOe4fhGwb_QYbhJPnGSf7faSuMeRSS/s320/scotland+115.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:Arial;">And look at the views!</span><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240217493176641666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7Yo1oIkvl28O2qGIgeTIiUCp2KQFL5WLSEVN8HLmp6vlSUFrCJehwhU8tvyzp59OBn_OjyLeRKPvOkAhejTtRhvUzDZeJKzP5IbJX1BeIYPcnWOFQSLedaeYia3RhYvwPKdO/s320/scotland+113.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><p></p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240215581989650802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_PlTdeMoI7KU2qaHv59X0NVy5_Q7sZ-iIGieeqXQ9ZlvIGg1Ssn4s8U-Zk9OoskHTJ0ogjMS9595WrUQJ7-wBFTNeP-PAJrcrR10ujk_Q8pVp30e7PlS3VMt1kPF9t56EoSr/s320/scotland+133.jpg" border="0" /></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">The Highland Games were a highlight!</span><br /></p><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240217495261357826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiXec7Vt8vj4h_0eIaMnrVla6fKY2kVkcMmnKRDM9Rp-lKdHNgjCnoFxtal7D06UfWiyaAvRuLKfbelWhcD3ftF-igr8syg6H2-AGSMmnnIG7txl0nQdoa1mYaeUYLEmixaCT/s320/scotland+170.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240219963135361666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvBv2h55fIlk6PWxgDpRZLW-7G3gbbxhCm8ZoRX7lhEZv3wxRJDjdVYBPZKLx900z9qmB5lbX9va5BVWQaQ3MM07mNZ3LNzOLElnnhMhyphenhyphendW2kuo41qll0FNLPl4_LR_bWnDN4/s320/scotland+265.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:Arial;">We looked for Nessie (on our boat tour of Loch Ness)</span><br /></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240217499576684306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzHnO7kK5Zz930HY6HgDC8OX1EGI6JSddFGoRqIxdlyPUz2TCg7M254UvtbW-SQysG73A3Om6ke_kj3dIK2fvDMlQHgoEfKGbXVYktmYvDOu0_lV4grOh1i7BRoCwjuo2ZACE/s320/scotland+290.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">But we only found this:</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240221866510444418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VMqEQkf39qJ5qUDtjTF9YoGMUjEc7JaGRHsLi9818MPZ4uxzC7xiiLYwMEk0PDNePIYrC7PTHpxipMkBYmu2Lv7IJtS62hOjrJEJ1_AYHjsHso4evecDudP2n0AFbgepM1W4/s320/scotland+295.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /></p><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240217503753940418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICSui0HYrpywi0_9Cbwiz0zqqvSGKE-w2zyqFNtH6F-k9uUB8ov33NcW2brLBb6HIwWZM9lNZV5cYMgnYGX1o0MBfmTSKv_Joyq1jPHyd0vtyobFxXUPLvFjqmHb7hxHa0nnN/s320/scotland+026.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">The Castles were all beautiful!<br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240221886126761858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w39q1dNgNuH_A5xz7NbG8FODE2rATQbIM8tLC2wRF4UjCqUq790Sl0yZvQkKQd3uI_CBSbHsS68XUmaZwcomsKRNU3EXvvxDAV6oSNP8N8d3MQP3GMR8tfcaOQmHvM3l70HZ/s320/scotland+247.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240221871385677218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nLQhM60wKQPAJusSg8hF5RbNt43HAbj-f0PPWMW-IV_Ppf6tKgMblpe6hR8oBQgUY2xC8CGXhFowK9UkBdp2BWPl3ew5RMtLoMqhD-xpMYoCdf6qJTUcibfejm6wSF6WVfVV/s320/inverness+castle.jpg" border="0" /><br /></p></span><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240219963404104386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieznphChsUGt60In6RVEykYWXLgouhsN0jAbNTGtHym3qrOtADRW2CvPW3gSxrHk0P5Bt4ryPxTvlkaydxBE3AC0Lv1I5eARfW9PWI1WMNs0hHyGW9E993bsLYAgY2m1kOAK6k/s320/scotland+004.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">But, our American food fix was almost as amazing!</span><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240219965137284210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpryPPIYwyFILkvmU_tkXuyhk9hQPFGiHhTsOgcZNkqto2jw9YL_h02FmON2ebjAaXWi5AHbhJIr35DJZdexqAgBTNAncYiMG6kdJnmcFZnxOR5fS4LRyRU91V24T7s7xNRnh/s320/scotland+006.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240219970691404594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSRi78HDLRYQbf6pgxS4YC5WiaFj0x-dAmbQgBhEuTLFSdy0TP5pOHBSPUzFWK-BZmH1MYi905wMhe_OhZp9n7ooLhckadFg80eaNfVqdcTOG2Qj0uKNERN4kQj5ncGi2M-83/s320/papa+johns+sign.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240219975500321490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28HcaOlhu2OVbiZKC_cemdNuUUNL6QLUp1CTn-W7KQ26Be4Gf55EJXGXKNaGSCPOGmsakrhM6PoqKsX9QuH8kpusrqa12iFCn7izy0_9SGX4HZpBcVNXouQqFGLpNt9KWjOyv/s320/scotland+005.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240221877530583618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitp-PjCTL3JfYTpIcH_kFA1fr2lrpmAhHbBQp7EgmVRdMNeH-7AsmKmhLB46J7FFbVOR4GKbVdDgmG27qMMVRRsjGZhWeufdbG3M5NJtZY-lh8pk6A3TYzbMeVcYokV3qEuNco/s320/scotland+049.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Kilcoyne Family at Edinburgh Castle 2008!</span></p>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-6511168239654300402008-08-03T23:52:00.004+02:002008-08-04T11:30:43.279+02:00Scotland, Here we Come!<span style="font-family:arial;color:#66ffff;">I love travel. I love discovering new places and things and meeting new people. HOWEVER, I really don’t like to spend too much money—ever. I prefer the word “frugal” to the word “cheap”.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#66ffff;">Being frugal and seeing the world is easier than you might expect IF you plan ahead. We are leaving for Scotland tomorrow, and we have been planning this trip for quite some time.<br /><br />I did some research and I looked up just about every battlefield that we might possibly cross on our whirlwind tour of Scotland. I tried to remember my college history classes and if Bannockburn was the deciding factor in 1715 or 1314; which Edward or Bruce did what and when, etc. I was a history major (and teacher)..<br /><br />And, then it hit us. We had not yet made reservations anywhere. That is a key to traveling on a budget! So, we set ourselves to work. To make a long story a bit shorter, everyone in the world is descending on Scotland next week. The remaining available establishments (those that were not booked 7 months ago!) are out of the way or out of our price range. 250 pounds for one night is a bit much, don’t you think?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#66ffff;">So, we will be camping across Scotland. I’m sure sleeping on a ridge that overlooks Loch Ness will be as wonderful as it sounds, but I am still kicking myself for waiting too long to find a place to stay!</span>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-61185209835201762092008-07-15T16:37:00.002+02:002008-07-15T16:52:02.182+02:00Once again, Lost in Translation<div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffff66;">I went to the doctor recently, and I understood every word they said. However, I had no clue what they were trying to tell me! This happens more often that I would really care to admit. I understand the WORDS in a conversation, but the MEANING just escapes me. This situation happened again while we were visiting a cute little Mediterannean town with Daniel's family. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffff66;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffff66;">The sign on the restaurant said something like "small fried fish". We asked the waitress what it was, and her explanation made it sound like expensive fish nuggets for adults. This town was a tourist trap, but it still served "authentic" meals like small ocotpus, squid, fish pie, etc. So, fried fish sounded good. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffff66;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffff66;">A better translation would have been "small fried fish-es".</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffff66;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffff66;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223253019276041298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPl_DyC7l5-dys2COJURAdYdZyoCGZt9btbPqIQnjKMSvVEOv7RtH4nzdwslksTCXEZyuJ_L-2QODvXHG36_T6HIC1_i7GCwSyMqqbQjdkLKBit6qNimKx2uNsqpCzY2VjduZH/s320/N&Gdaddy+015.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffff66;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffff66;">Claire asked why our fish had eyes. I think her grandparents and great-grandparents almost choked on their own little fish when she said that! But, being the good little French-ified American that she is, CLAIRE TRIED ONE! We were so proud! (She did, however, turn down a second fish.)</span></div>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-15905413648889971012008-07-03T00:06:00.001+02:002008-07-03T00:12:10.452+02:00Documentary Contest<span style="font-family:arial;color:#66ff99;">We are now officially launching our documentary contest, "What Do You Believe"!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#66ff99;">For more information, go to </span><a href="http://www.143pelican.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#66ff99;">www.143pelican.com</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#66ff99;">AND, we now have a short promo on youtube!</span> </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx2ufEz8RQCOXkGFdDH1Mt5OUArHIQmCkSa2izCPInpbUPyuEDskprmee_jm3BaTktP_s0DxMusmx0' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-51878366728492845812008-06-24T09:05:00.003+02:002008-06-24T09:12:06.183+02:00Little Yellow School Bus<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGeZxednbNRyyiElXZC8d9IH8VAuWPY8q0Z_jZpUHLpOEMxu-v0K5mQHgHUBfgXWl-vsEWWgkVi1a0jNEe6VgbMeWfm2TRNaOo8U_YMGk3Sz4nRh4KsEslAqc_ORAtWHVshPm/s1600-h/bus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215341748603331378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGeZxednbNRyyiElXZC8d9IH8VAuWPY8q0Z_jZpUHLpOEMxu-v0K5mQHgHUBfgXWl-vsEWWgkVi1a0jNEe6VgbMeWfm2TRNaOo8U_YMGk3Sz4nRh4KsEslAqc_ORAtWHVshPm/s320/bus.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffff00;">I miss little yellow school buses! Claire’s class took a field trip across town to watch a puppet show this last week. Marseille is the 2nd largest city in France, so it was quite a trip!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><p><span style="color:#ffff00;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215341764545513970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQWj5F9cB17euK7Lx5EC_l15VTuxgD3t24NcxEUTYQAW9YIjioKw4uBx4wMyY7U_w9HCz9mBeynt9E2UbfvV7CITnGhQrIHSsj_LtxUGvGyPkHKXBlr7h58A5rH3UQ106ewDq/s320/Field+Trip+058.jpg" border="0" /><br />We took 24 four- and five-year olds on the metro here in Marseille. First, we walked a mile to get to the metro stop (so that we wouldn’t have to change trains). We had to spread out the kids among us, try to hold as many hands as possible, and walk beside the busiest and largest street in Marseille. Did you know that you can actually hold up to 6 little kids’s hands at the same time?? Then, we shoved all 24 kids on the train in the 13-20 seconds that the doors are open. Then, we had to shove all of them off again at our stop. (I think the conductor waited for us!) </span></p><p><span style="color:#ffff00;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215341753897110562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjMTjTRzuN887LXkosXj9uJUx36vM0e0xG3Do8PMQjGgmlKinoZ011s6MILZh-IZWxU4hzZhse9-dfvRk2QvXHh43eKwmcibz8OXncd9B6PMI6b2Jn_chsWw1zAbo7bh8GDsz/s320/180px-Metro_Marseille_Metro_Logo_flickr.jpg" border="0" /><br />After the teacher got finished arguing with the controllers about the price of the tickets for our kids, she asked me if it was like this in the States. All I could think of was a little yellow school bus that drops kids off right at the entrance to a museum or park.<br /><br />We had a great time having our picnic, playing at the park and watching the puppet show.<br /></span></p><p><span style="color:#ffff00;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215341768997118146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCioYc4kkPZlqy9Aqm8BmIuyPFoOY05F9Sk569O2rbwL2IDnNdcoa4dgKUBFd-hZAttLfhDfkJusKLE9WIuc7UE9NT_AHNOZqrO04Z8CFUTS8601veCguaG9Zz8yF2LeMnHxAP/s320/Field+Trip+001.jpg" border="0" /><br />On the way back, I was reminded once again that we now live in another world. All the kids drank from the same water bottle. Yuck! But, they were thirsty.<br /><br />Vive la France.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215341769663388178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vH51XE4CUdbIuSMOpuv_ABN8nraUvmZs0VyW6CQWvIR6nQNU2p0PP86vp_X3Lc9soZ80M-fnH9h3OheF1FPDEV0Adg0O5_0GR1LJB8sSGu-RpZhHBwx9w_C0EYNu6vwPSB7P/s320/Field+Trip+040.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></p>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-60226048959081480782008-06-10T15:25:00.000+02:002008-06-10T15:27:02.559+02:00Things CLaire has said...<span style="font-family:arial;">Kids really do say the funniest things.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Joy Ride:</strong></span><br /><br />Driving in Marseille is not an easy task. Dodging and swerving to avoid being hit is considered “good driving” (and, it is quite necessary, too)! It was a typical day and Daniel was trying to avoid the cars that were stopping (to park in the middle of our lane) in front of him. Claire was in the back seat. She suddenly said, “Daddy, I have an idea. Let’s name our car McQueen because he swerves around cars, too!”<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Lost in translation:</strong></span><br /><br />Claire can understand French VERY well. It’s not fair, really. But, the other day, Claire’s teacher told her to “cut it out” in French. Apparently, Claire’s teacher made a gesture like swiping a finger across her neck. (Her teacher did this to her own neck, not to Claire’s neck!) This gesture was made in conjunction with the “cut it out” statement. Claire came home and told us that her teacher told her to stop doing something. She then said that her teacher was going to cut her head off! Oops. <br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Singer/Songwriter:</strong><br /></span><br />Have you ever heard the song “Bubbly” by Colbie Caillat? “It starts in my toes, then I crinkle my nose…” Well, Claire likes it when this song comes on the radio. However, she has her own version. “Touchin’ my toes, then I lean on my nose…” I think she has a chance at being a song writer!</span>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-13184392713171606872008-05-14T20:46:00.002+02:002008-05-14T21:01:39.362+02:002 Castles in 3 Days<div align="center"><br /> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200308798808821250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVIv9Dw4rlNTPA1TGrgTNDWNbhEQuYtMt0I2q87_Fxsz9yp2OWHgOK9XBbgZ4NbA9j718ZLwl9sQk4_VBeIZQhdZG1Zch54r1WGAlZpv6J9yMzMvAQHvDDruAboIY_5ScDXuB/s320/Claire+at+Mornas+(2).jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="color:#333399;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Claire waiting to enter the Fortress of Mornas</span><br /></span><br /><br /><br /></p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">We really do "work" sometimes, but it is so much more fun to show you what we do in our "spare time". (Life does seem to run together sometimes. Sometimes work is fun, sometimes having fun is just exhausting...) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Last Friday, we went to Chateau d'If (the famous, real castle/prison from the fictional, made-up story "The Count of Monte Cristo). We had a great time! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Then, on Sunday, in order to celebrate Tiffany and Mentanna's birthday, we went to the Fortress of Mornas. It is about 1,000 years old!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Here are some pics from our Medieval Weekend:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#000099;"></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#3333ff;">Claire picking flowers outside of Chateau d'If</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200308790218886642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtm-Lc3bZxEn-qrq3Mo5sHKYl1hdlfkEVHtTSnPciAhggxBqalSCyR31RHq6OVg2bdSNwToegEakXZ1D0eISyk13eEcoupIT0aAClEv7f-ml7N8WJScTh166cGyY57wvkF9R8/s320/Claire+at+IF+(3).jpg" border="0" /><br /><p> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#3333ff;">The Lighthouse at Chateau d'if</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200308837463526962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiCpItVKwEUXfpIGwZtaYfv82SWwo8d-R7TN06SiRBlKKQBSDrEvz7O2Mp8zuj01x9aJvr12B5qf1gg4_TMCymjY96XDEVaNfKlSgJfkpEOFIb73iuJ8Vch62G-krdi_Y6rjl/s320/May+027.jpg" border="0" /></p><p> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#3366ff;">The Day didn't go as Daniel had planned</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200308824578625058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVduHREancb0CHrbWaJ2-u9293Fg8a7XZ4rGSkgnnLvF5AOQcNlpn5zOGFXDct_cvekT0d6av55X9nXFSvi7_R3br3KdiyyPn8-An3ie64LaMcHKC8-d1Hwd0DBG-vcNJhsKIi/s320/Daniel+at+IF+(2).jpg" border="0" /></p>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31802118.post-77462024080885456322008-05-03T20:13:00.005+02:002008-05-03T20:26:19.705+02:00Les Calanques<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196218869763291730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnJlGFTsQKJzK0a-Q6a8mhnGPK-Zjq2v8iaFxb5Cby32UhdhWDA5JrfkFbo9uhgZ-f5_P0EYPKE8EnbFzWSV8ck5oz6OWYy1ziOSz46OCpPZcdLNiM04D7EyV49nrbccHG1mf/s320/On+the+HIke+(2).jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">In the last post, we "vented" a little about life in the big city. (Marseille is the 2nd largest city in France.) Well, yesterday we were reminded how great Marseille can be.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">We went hiking with some friends in "Les Calanques"-- the cliffs that line the Mediterranean Sea just outside of Marseille. It only took us about 15-20 minutes to drive out there. We took Claire, so the actual hiking part took about an hour. Another blessing we were reminded of yesterday--- Claire loves to hike! (And, she is pretty good at it, too!)<br /></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196218848288455202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdch7iHKvALbHknF2v_cU9Fqac1xA5AijylpK73woDW2Kn6tTPVi2kEfc2vPFWrWmw4SOq7SD5bnaOAlLLkIaJPvYw5Nay_81FgDuTO1lQn6IHzRXXzgZX1rF01grVxUj4bMqA/s320/Flat+Spot+(2).jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">We hiked/walked out to a restaurant that is only accessible by foot or boat. There was a little beach (emphasis on the word "little"), so Claire got to play while we waited 3 hours to get seated! But, the weather was great and the food was good. (But, the water was pretty cold-- see pic of Claire.)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196218865468324418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-T0bO0xeFjEJB_9FH-f0Bn1jlBwK3f0cb8-Jfk8uFUfuECaXA9aj4PgeAzDN-yoAxp_hj5fVXNuBsFgnkKEBr5Hylcd1AhJdAH_QtP2MQPyETYUelftDcaB5kM23JSi3o0Em/s320/Hidden+COve+(2).jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196218839698520594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVT9Gg3iRLEs19nxC8QVs2wcj30VYtoz3qb-g2XyuWRyL5dMBf1PaYUQWqX5xQFz2FeZLZgKPrPD30VnjBgMbuZ5nFo87o__X-Z_1KZu76Xzz-XgIjhNZX1RnwSLGdxicBSlg/s320/Cold+Water+(2).jpg" border="0" /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">After eating lunch at about 4, we started off on the hour-long hike back to the car. Apparently EVERYONE went hiking that day because EVERYONE was on the road on the way back. Our 15-20 MINUTE trip there turned into a 2 1/2 HOUR trip back. We were quickly reminded that we do live in the 2nd largest city in France! (Look at the pretty flowers we took a picture of while waiting in traffic!)<br /></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196218852583422514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibM_CbzZSZIlOso59dN7BxAto9dXxwtI5TU9JNqPD-yPIKnSWsss-Z0LnjQuXjoAjKBuZEIomxFfUto1_3PYNlBuHWG6IhTY92wcCdK-CtvsGs9on1tX1m92_Kk-biuQvaxpEa/s320/Flowers+(2).jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div></div>The Kilcoyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468400668866266341noreply@blogger.com2