Snow..and more snow..and freaking more snow!!!

I absolutely, completely hate the snow more so now then ever!!

Everyday you wake up and it's freezing cold and then it starts snowing!! It shouldn't be like this when its almost April and on top of it in a country where it barely ever snows!! It's ridiculous!!

I just had to get that off my chest....since its pretty much all that happened this week!

No there was some stuff that happened.

I got to FT (Face Time) with Bry!! That's was good..got to catch up on stuff!! Shes planning on coming and seeing be this year ...at some point in which ever country ill be at!! Lol. So that makes be über excited!!

Thursday went to meeting...the girls are starting to warm up to me a bit and are really sweet!! Even though they all are pretty young...they think its soo cool I'm from The States! It was soo funny I got up to go the bathroom and when I came out Ashby was standing there with a crazy look...turns out I went into the men's....oh well!! He thought it was hilarious!!!

This weekend I had to work some soo I didn't really care that I wasn't doing anything. Also everyone went to this big ball some cong had...they tried to invite me but it was a little last minute....oh well!! So instead I spent my nights researching....places Togo...countries to see...just figure out my plan of attack!!! I have a couple weekend away trips in Ireland and then a trip to Belgium and to London and to Paris and to Germany!! Omg soo many places to see!!

On Sunday...they had a little family get together...that's why they needed some help! But when I say little it really doesn't mean little cause Joe has 10 bros and sis and they all have like 3-4 kids soo it was a but crazy at times but I just helped in the kitchen and hung out with the neighbor and her daughter they are really nice! But then the "crazy uncle" had to come grab be and introduce me and show me off to all the nephews...I was like ohh ok thanks for that!! It was funny!!

Tuesday was memorial. We had it at a hotel cause the Kingdom Hall is so small it didn't have enough room last year. There was a lot of people I had never met before that go to the hall..they all come out for this I guess!! Lol. But yea it's surprising how many people i know already! And there's soo many kids and they are just soo stinking cute! Meggan this one little girl she is about 8 or 9. And I always make her talk to me in Gaelic..she goes to an Irish school soo she gets to learn all that, and then she started showing me her River dancing moves...it was soo cool!! I told her she needed to teach me! So we had 108 in attendance but that pretty good considering that there's only 51 publishers!
So after the memorial, this one sister was so excited...she said to me "Normally we go to someone's house after but there's a bar here in the hotel soo everyone's going there, you have to come get a drink!" I was like Uhh ok!! Soo seriously almost everyone from the regular hall came...the bartender lady was being a grouch but whatever...and no kids aloud in the bar soo they were running around all crazy in the lobby...it was just really funny!! I met this one guy who...no joke told me his whole life story within the first 5 min of meeting him and I could barely understand him his accent was soo bad! Lol. But from what I got from it he's a dodgy one!! But he's still nice...his mom goes to the cong! But it was a lot of fun...to hang out with everyone after you get to see a totally different side to people especially when their drinking!! It was around 1 am by the time we left and everyone took taxis home...soo strange!! You can't even have one beer and drive or else!! But it was a good night! I finally met the guy that actually goes and does stuff...soo I'm gonna try and get in with him and invite myself everywhere lol

Jen gave me Wednesday completely off since I helped out on the weekend. So I thought I would go into Dublin and have a walk round...get to see the city a bit cause last time I was there it was madness!! So I got all ready and went to the bus...it was nice and sunny...I got my hopes up!! By the time we got to town it was full blown snowing and all the hills were white...this is dumb!! Oh well, I took the Luas (trolley car thing) to a shopping center and went inside....on the Luas this old guy...ok not very old maybe in his 50 was all chatting me up and after awhile offered to show me around the city! Hah. I changed the subject quickly and didn't answer his question!! Lol So I get to the shopping place and where do I go first!? Forever 21 the American store! Lol. I just walked around , I wasn't planning on doing a lot of shopping, just kinda seeing what stores there was and the layout of the city...which is one of the most confusing city's ever! But I did pt do a whole walking around cause it was snowing out :/ and just soo freezing cold! It was kinda cool though down this one section there was these totally hagged out old lady's with their super thick Dublin can't and were like yelling "2 euro for grapes". Over and over it was really funny!!

Anyway I was was walking out of one shopping center and saw a lady with a Starbucks cup...totally stalked her down and was like where did you get that??? She told me and it was close..but the only one on the north side of the river...I lucked out!! Lol. Soo I went and got a coffee!!! It was oh so good!! I sat there awhile and used their free wifi and watched people...lets just say people dress horrid over here....there are few that are nice but their outfits I just don't get!! Very weird!!

But that's about all the excitement for this week!! :)

<3 lynds

Holy mackerel!!!

Holy cow did this week fly by...soo much happened!

Thursday I finally made it to the meeting. They are meeting in a hotel on Thursdays until summer and it's lighter out. I guess some kids had been vandalizing the hall and trying to set it on fire when everyone was in there soo when they evacuated they started throwing rocks and a couple bros got hit :/. It's pretty in tense but it's funny cause everyone here just totally jokes about it and doesn't think it's a very big deal at all lol. Oh we'll I guess I don't need to either.

So I had a bro and his 3 kids pick me up...as we're driving to the hotel he says..."I'm not staying at the meeting soo you will need to find your own way home". Uhhhh ok. This shall be fun since I only know a handful of people. Anyway so we get there and he drops me and his 15 y/o son off and away he drives. Awkward!

So we go in and it's soo tiny and barely anyone there, it was a bit weird. So the brother that I've talked to and met is like "Hiya lyndsey" and keeps on walking! Soo then I go put my stuff Down and meet a couple old sisters..then meeting starts. But there's like no one there...hmmm...ok!!
First song..music didn't work! It was hilarious. A few more peeps came but not many. This couple with a baby and toddler came and sat next to me and it was soo funny cause obviously they don't know me and porbably figured the kids were annoying me but the little boy was all grabbing my hair and going through my purse and asking for candy hahah and the mom was like I'm soo sorry!! It was cute!! A really weird thing that through me off a little was that about half the bros have beard/scruff/goatee and I was like hmmm maybe this is a dodgy hall...but then the bro with the biggest beard was the school overseer lol. That's something that's a lil different!

Anyway come to find out...besides maybe 2 families that was the whole hall :/. There was a couple younger ones but not many soo I needed to meet these peeps! I went up to these girls and introduced myself...found out they were young (14,15). So I knew I could ask stupid questions lol I was like how old is everyone in the hall?? Do you guys hang out? Do you go to the movies? Blah blah ...they weren't very helpful lol. I met a couple guys they seemed cool...after I couldn't understand the one guy a million times lol. So me and this random 15 year guy got dropped off my Josh....he seemed really cool and down to earth...so I asked him and he said some of the guys have a band and they play down at the local pubs and ill have to watch sometime. Yay normal people!! And I was totally pushing like..."I'm up for whatever... I don't know anyone in town.... Yea I like pubs!!" Well it didn't work I sat alone Friday night in my room!! Lol

Saturday I called the bro the night before and told him I wanted to go out in service...all he said to me was he will arrange something...that's all I heard!! So I got up and got dressed at like 8:30 in case the meeting was at 9 and they be there around quarter til....9 o'clock ..nothing.....9:30 ....nothing....I was like omg I'm gonna have to call the old bro out in service and give him the business about forgetting me lol Finally at 9:45 a get a call telling me to go outside and wait lol So apparently service doesn't start til 10!! At least I know that now!!

So we go out and it's like the most awkward kinda service there is...like 20 people in one small neighborhood ..i hate that!! But whatever !! So we were out for a while and they asked me if we take coffee breaks and I'm like YAAAA!!! Lol. So we take one but we don't go anywhere we all just go back to the cars and they have coffee and tea and cookies and sweets in the car and everyone just stands around the middle of the street and has their coffee!! Hah

Later that day I went to the shops...it was the first warmish day. Then Emma rang and asked if I wannted to go to the pool!! Sounded fun!! Plus I like her kids!! Shiloh gave me a flower out in service it was soo cute!! So we went and as we're all in the dressing room she yells over...."Did you bring a cap? ". Me: "Uhh no". Well that was weird I thought..whatev. Then we're headed to the pool area and she hands me a cap....I was like "No it's ok I don't use one" Em: "no you have too" Me : " no it's ok I don't mind if I get chlorine or whatever on my hair" Em: "no you HAVE. To wear it or you won't be aloud in the pool". At this point I probably had the most disgusted look on my face...like I could even fathom putting such a thing on my head and then swimming in it...it was seriously soo retarded!! Pool was fun...the old bro in the hall was there and kept hitting me in the face with the noodles and balls lol
Afterwards they had me over for dinner.....everyone back home will be soo proud of me...I ate whatever it was they gave me and I have no clue but it was some meat situation in a tortilla with corn and idk. I just tried not to think about it. Ew When I left it was nice cause I had to jump the fence behind their house and my neighbor good is right there!!

Sunday..I went into the city!! Not only was it my first time in the city city it was also St Paddys day and on top of that it was raining lol St Patricks day here isn't quite what it is back home...sure people dress in green and like leprechauns but like the parade and stuff had absolutely nothing todo with st paddys day..they have made it into a festival all week long not one day! So I take the bus into town I have no idea where I'm going soo I just start following everyone else lol found the parade and wedged myself into a spot. There was a bunch of Americans standing right next to me and I made friends with them. It was sooo funny cause the parade was weird...like just the most random stuff ever. And we couldn't really see until it was right in front of us but ne of the guys was super tall and he would say ...raggedy Ann doll....and we would think what in the world? Like yea right...then sure enough here comes a huge raggedy Ann doll and then like 20 people dressed like her dancing!! It was soo funny and weird! Towards the end we were all do e wight eh rando m stu ff soo they went to get a beer ..and asked if I wanted to join...so I did since I was by myself lol. Good choice I made too I didn't have to buy a single drink that day lol. We hung out and went to a couple different pubs ...one with live music from the customers just more people would come in a dn join the band it was sooo cool!!

Monday was a public holiday...I think just because everyone is probably still drink from the night before. Lol. But I got to sleep in a little and I helped out a little but Joe was home soo they did a family thing!

Tuesday we went to Cork ....actually Middleton. It's right outside of cork. This is where Jennifer grew up and her parents are still there. So we went down dropped Abbie at the grandparents..she left me as we'll to go exploring the town and she went to get coffee with her best friend that lives in Canada but was back visiting. This places was really cool just because it was soo old and you could tell lol. Also it was right on the beach soo that's nice as well...so I just wandering around all afternoon!! Took lots of rando pictures lol On the way home the babies were crying and Jen was about to have a complete meltdown...she kept stoping and holding them and then feeding them and was like just drive...it's late they will fall asleep. I mean it's only and hour and half drive!! Anyway when we got one the boys were still uneasy and Joe was out of town for the night soo she was having a full on panic attack and started crying!! Lol I didn't know what todo soo I told her to take her and the crying baby outside for some fresh air.... 5 min she's came back and he was fast asleep!! Some people can't function under pressure I guess!!

Anyway it's been a crazy week but fun!! This next week will be just as jam packed!! :)

<3 lynds

P.s. watch out for the adventures of corky!! ;)

The Irish life!

So lets pick up where I left off...I'm on the plane to Ireland lol...well I made it!! Lol once I was here I had to get my luggage and head for the bus! I was looking for the green double bus...but when I got outside there was a gazillion green busses ...crap!! Lol. So I ask a guy and I couldn't understand em haha so I was like huh? Huh? Anyway I finally found where I was supposed to be. Got on the bus!!

Backing up a little I was hoping to see some of the Irish country side on my way to town or flying in but no....it was super thick fog! Lol. Soo I stead I just watched all the people get on the bus and off...at one point I asked a random lady when my bus stop would be cause I felt lie, I had been on there forever...but she said it was the very last stop before heading back to Dublin soo hat made sense. I didn't get to see a whole lot but I did see there was lots of sheep!! Lol

So when I got to my stop Jen and Abbie were there waiting! Then we went to me new home!
The house was a lot bigger then I was thinking it was going to be, my room is like the master bedroom lol. It's a good setup! :)

So then I got to spend some time whith the kids...the boys are happy chaps and Abbie kept wanting me todo everything with her. Me and Jen talked about "people" from before and after lunch I was dead....I mean I felt fine but my brain kept zoning out I had been awake for over 36 hours lol So I took a nap!

Later that day we went to town and she showed me where all the shops are and where I will be taking the kids. It's a cute little town...it's not huge but has very thing you need. Apparently the town is known for the prison!! Lovely

The next couple days ..just getting in routine with the kids and getting them used to me. Going out shopping and hanging out.

Friday we went to Dublin...the boys had a dr appointment. Jen totally filled me I. On a lot or Irish history and junk about the Catholic Church. I'm glad I have her cause she herself is a big history buff and so she knows soooooo much informatIon on everything here. Like there is a castle ruins a few miles from our house and she knew the whole back story on the castle and everything. It's awesome!

Saturday even though is my "day off" i still helped out and did things with her. Later that day we went over to Joe's ( the dad) sisters for a family BBQ thing. I didn't realize he had 10 bro and sis. Lets just say there was a lot of people lol. They had two bouncy castles...which I was on like the whole time....I was helping Abbie :p So I got to meet all his family which is good cause ill probably see them quite a bit around town.

Sunday....I thought was gonna be my first meeting....nope....found out Friday hats its assembly this weekend and that it's in Wexford. Which is about and hour and half away all the way to the bottom on Ireland on the coast.

Anyway so I called the bro who I had a number for and asked if someone could take me! Not a problem! It ended up being his daughter who lives right behind our house! So I was a bit nervous just cause I had no clue what to expect lol ...but 7:30am cas pull up and honk their horn and the. It's like 4 people frantic.y moving stuff in a car to another car that had pulled up and the one sis says hi but keeps doing her thing and and the. Her husbands like go sit in the front...so I do! Lol the. I hear a lil squeaky voice..... "Hi lyndsey!!" I look back and there is two of the cutest lil kids back there...twins. Shiloh and Gigi! They are 4 years old and so cute! Anyway by this time everyone is in a car and off we go. It was nice drive...went through some of the cutest/ picturesque towns. It was good to talk to a witness and see how things are from their point of view. I asked her like how do people view JW's. and she said that most people don't even know who we are. Or all they know is that we're the crazy door knockers and don't except blood! She said that witnesses can't even adopt kids because of the blood issue. I thought that was pretty interesting! Then she told me how we arnt meeting at our Kingdom Hall at night because ...it's in the rough neighbor hood and people were throwing rocks and trying to set them on fire. Errr scary!! Lol

So when we got to the assembly it was in a big hotel. It was a lot more awk then I was expecting. Just because I knew nobody and I didn't even know where to start and I was t sure of how they did things..not that it would be that different but still there was still just so much going on. We went and got our seats and I met allot the sis family. She has like 4 or 5 bro and sis and they all married with tons of kids soo there was a lot of them and that's like the majority of my hall soo at least I got to meet all them. It was fun listening to the talks...1 because I still am getting used to the accent and 2 cause there is soo much verity. Lots of bros from the UK, heaps form Poland. It was funny I was just listening and I thought...this bro sounds weird...he was American..he sounded weird cause he didn't have an accent. Lol So come lunch time..we went and had lunch..the I was just sorta following her around cause I knew no one. I met a few young sis for. My hall and was asking them what they did for fun and they just stared at me :/ not a good sign lol I asked them if like groups of people go to Dublin and like go ice skating or something and she was like I wish....hmmm still not a good sign. Later I found out they were pretty young soo I'm hoping that's why they did nothing. Lol. Soo I will have to wait and go to regular meeting and see who's actually there and try and get in with some peeps. Is driving me nutzo now knowing anyone.

So then this week...just been working watching the kids..hanging out... Talking with Jen about places I need to see and how much fun were gonna have when we go to Spain and all the shopping we need todo!! It's not good that she's a shopper cause then together it will be a big problem.

One problem I've been having is that is is bloody freezing here. My hand and feet are constantly cold...I've been sleeping with my hewn under the covers and with a heater water thing...and I cringe at the thought of going the bathroom because it seriously feels like your peeing on ice cubes!! Lol. But it shouldn't last long...it's my fault anyway I bring the bad weather everywhere I go....they said it hadn't snowed here in 2 years well it snowed twice soo far lol
Also everyone says you can get all four seasons in one day...well it's true I've seen it multiple times already!! Lol

Also another lil thing....Abbie the little two year old apparently didn't get on so well with the last nanny and now is all about me doing stuff with her and Jen said today that both the neighbor (Ann who watches her all the time) and her Nana ( Jens mom, who stayed over last night) and Joe can see a difference in Abbie...not just around me but she said she seems all together happier!! Which makes me happy cause all little kids should be happy!!

Oh and I'm sick! :(.

Well that's all for this week...we shall see what happens next week!!

*Havent done a whole lot yet so pictures are of just around town and with the kids*

<3 lynds

Leaving Once Again!!

Well I'm doing it again...I'm off on another adventure!!

It's only been 8 months....since I've been back from Australia and a crazy 8 months at that!! I've been from coast to coast and lots of lake time and lots of weekend trips to Arizona and met a lot of new awesome people and got to go to DLand ...twice. I've despised the snow an cold for my last winter hopefully!! Lol.

But now I get to start another adventure.... IRELAND!!

To tell you the truth ...I have no clue what I'm getting myself into lol. It's all happened soo fast and even though I am writing this on the plane to Dublin..I still can't believe I'm moving there. :)

It all started when my job in Spokane wasn't turning out to be what I expected or wanted and so I thought Ireland or the Uk would be a fun place to go. (I like going palaces I know the language) So I resumed my nanny profile online, within a few days I got quite a bit of interest but nothing looked like something I wanted to get my self into. So a few weeks passed by and I didn't think much of it and then out of nowhere I get a message on Fb from Jen.

"We would really love for you to au pair with us. You seem to have lots of experience and are exactly the help we need. We have 3 small children. Abbie is just turned 2 and loves trips to the park, walks, swimming and playing. The boys..twins Max and Alex are presently 6 months old. They are very cute and love fun too. I can show you around Ireland and we can take trips with the kids if you like. Please let me know what you think."

When I read I was like woah! This could actually happen. So then we emailed back a forth a few more times and everything sounded good. I was planning on going over in spring so I still had awhile....but then certain things about my job in Spokane were happening that I was not ok with and Jen was having problems with her current nanny so we both talked about it and decided that it would be best for BOTH of us if I came over asap.

Next thing you know....it's a month away. I had to give notice at my job but still work that for the last month. Move all my stuff back home to my parents and try and see all my friends. Holy moly I had a lot of stuff todo in a short period of time. But in the long run everything worked out perfect!!

Last week all my awesome friends threw a lil going away party for me...they are so sweet!!!

Then I spent some time with my parents while I was trying to pack....I hate packing!! But I got it done and then came to Seattle and got to have one last supper with Bry,Lyndsy, and my mommy!! It was a fun send off!!

So now I am in the midst of my 12 hour journey to Ireland, where I am ready to start a whole new adventure, meet new people, explore new places, and I couldn't be more excited!!! :)

<3 lynds