N. Ireland

On Thursday, we got back from our 12-day visit to Northern Ireland to visit my sister, Melissa (a.k.a. Auntie M). Meliss is working as a missionary for the Presbyterian Church in Belfast since August of last year. What an amazing trip! More than anything, it was wonderful to get to see Meliss again and spend time with her. We also were lucky to take a side trip to London and York with her while we were over there. Though we have many, many stories from our trip (you'll have to ask to hear them), it's better on the blog just to post the pics. So, here they are...

Happy reunion at the airport

In front of Queens College in Belfast

The tulips of the Botanical Garden in Belfast

All of us in a booth at Crown Liquor Saloon

Melissa liked the Children's Museum more than Anna, it seems :)

This picture is for Keegan - we saw a lifesize version of your puzzle at the Belfast Children's Museum!

This is just one of many drinking pictures Melissa and Jimmy have - ah, I remember the happy time when I used to be able to drink... :(

Ice cream at Harrod's in London

Picnic at Clifford's Tower across from our hotel in York

Melissa trying to stuff an entire profiterole in her mouth in one bite - you be the judge on how successful it truly was!

Too cool for school

York Minster

On the train back to London - Meliss entertained Anna the whole way by beatboxing, a skill no one evidently knew she had!

If you look closely, the rocky cliffs of Cave Hill in Belfast look like a giant man's face, which inspired Jonathan Swift to write "Gulliver's Travels." Being an English nerd, this was about the coolest tidbit I learned on the trip.

The view of Belfast from Cave Hill, where the Belfast Zoo is

I will post our videos soon - we have several that are great, but for some reason I can't get them off my camera today. Anyways, thanks for the great trip, Auntie M - we love you and are so proud of you!