Fall in DC

This week, we stocked up on supplies for our next year on the island,  and then took advantage of the wonderful fall weather! We met up with friends for dinner each night, went to museums and shopped 'till we dropped! I love DC more every time we go back! This was a wonderful time of year to visit.

Work is done! Time to play!

 I♥DC

 Shopping with mom

 Money from Yap!

Is this accepted at vending machines?

 Butterfly garden

Kylie's favorite / most terrifying exhibit!

 Beautiful butterflies!

 Oh no! They're attacking!

 Ok, they're friendly!

 It wouldn't be DC if they weren't trying to construct a grassy lawn...

 It's a swamp. Just give up!

 Dinner with Naomi in Chinatown 

@ Ping Pong Dim Sum

 Fall splendor

 Swings!

 Playground fun

 Ladybugs!

 American rose!

K: DAD! DAD! DAD! Can I throw a coin into the fountain?

E: Yes.

K: I wish Aya was here!

K: DAD! DAD! DAD! Can I throw a coin ....

 Kylie's prize for being good at the National Gallery

Whew! What a week!

To Rio!

For Memorial Day weekend / my birthday, we finally flew down to Rio!! We stayed in Copacabana, ate at some really great restaurants, and had a wonderful time! Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with our plans, but we improvised and decided that we would just HAVE to make a second trip later this year!

 Do you like Dora? - Kylie:  "I love it!"

(yes that is a folded up shopping back propping up the baby earphones!)

 Trying again with the cell phone cover!

Parenting success!

 A cloudy stroll down Impanema

"Late night" Starbucks!

(it's about 6:45pm)

Rio Getaway!

To celebrate my friend's birthday, we spent a long weekend in Rio de Janeiro!  It was my second trip, but my first as a tourist.  I visited before in December for my job, and I worked the whole time.  I saw the Christo from a taxi, and that was about it.  This time my friend and I set out to see things that we couldn't bring our kids to, since it was a rare trip without them.

Starting the day off right at Stabucks.  Olin?  That would be me.

Fresh produce in a street market.

This is the Metropolitan Cathedral downtown.  Very modern.

Stained glass inside.

The top.

Next we found this Presbyterian church, so we had a look there too. 

Beautiful and peaceful.

Following this we proceeded to get pretty lost.  Getting lost can be fun too, though.  :)

After getting our bearings and grabbing some lunch, we had a tour of the Municipal Theater.

Stained glass inside.

The ornate interior.

 Dinner brought us to Via Sete, where I had this burger with pesto, cherry tomatoes and burrata.  What a day!

Dublin 4

Fully rested and recovered (except for J-Bone who was still a bit under the weather), we headed out for an action packed day of fun and adventure with Ireland's national pastime....drinking!! First stop was the Guinness Storehouse, then a surprisingly efficient horse-drawn carriage ride back to Temple Bar to meet up with Johnathan for a late lunch, followed by live music and dancing with Kyliezinha in the afternoon.

 Lil' K got up with the sun, so we had a little pre-breakfast snack!

#whyistherenobreakfastinbrazil?!

 Heading over to tour the Guinness Storehouse on a frosty March morning!

 So excited!

 Bottles, beers, taps, and a Guinness sculpture!

 So much Guinness, so little time!

 The year's first contender for Oakley family Christmas card!

 Fun fact:  Krissy is an official graduate from the Guinness school of bartending!

 Finally, our "free" pints

 Guinness mustaches

 Even Kylie had fun!

(again primarily due to a pocket full of grapes)

 View over Dublin

(hint: the white domes have Guinness in them)

 Group shot!

 Eric:  Let's take a horse-drawn carriage ride!

Everyone else:  *crickets*

Eric: No seriously, it will be fun!

And fun was had by all!

 Krissy demonstrating what to us is two way to say "all good" or "ok",

but don't do #2 in Brazil because, it means a$%#0!e

 Snug as a bug in a rug!

 More carriage fun!

 Who's winning the t-shirt contest on the O'Winston's home turf?

For more info on why this is funny, see Krissy and Johnathan's blog Stories from Somewheres

 Our lil chub!

 Could Dublin be cuter?!?

 Finally! Proof that we did see Johnathan on this trip!

 DELICIOUS Guinness Stew and Roast Beef at Quays

 Kylie showing off her cool moves!

 Autumn "forgot" to mention that we embarrassingly ate 

almost every dinner in Lisbon at the Hard Rock Cafe. 

What? We're American's and the Portuguese food was just about 

the same as the Brazilian food the we have a home in Recife. 

Don't judge.

 Ha' Penny Bridge over the Liffey River

Say cheese!

...um I'm busy eating raisins guys! - K