Ashley Teaches Piano: July 2012

Oh my...my summer has disappeared in a whirlwind of crazy! I don't know about all of you...but I think something was in the water this summer and kept everyone's schedules stirred up and flying left and right! I think this very moment is the first chance I've had to breathe in about two months. Anybody else experiencing this summer anomaly? I thought summer was supposed to be lounging on the beach and eating watermelon!!!! Well...I have officially decided to take back my summer starting today...and that means back to blogging with you guys :)

So lets start by rewinding. I simply MUST share with you the incredible trip that I took this summer with my family. Family vacations are limited once kids become grown and live in other cities (enjoy your vacations now boys and girls!). However, my family has always been close and managed to keep with tradition this year and get both me, my little (not so little) 19 year old brother, mom and dad all together for a family trip to (drumroll pleases) IRELAND!!! This was my first time out of the country AND to the place where my family originally comes from (can you tell by the pale skin, red hair, and freckles?) so I was in awe the entire trip. Let me let the pictures do the talking:

Real Italian Food

I developed a new love for hot tea...mmmmmm

Cathedral on a BEAUTIFUL sunny day

Look at that organ....breathtaking

Can you tell I liked the food?

Me and my little brother <3

The Cliffs of Moher (ummmmm beautiful...but TERRIFYING)

The Cliffs of Moher (at this point I threw a hissy fit and made the whole family stop and go back...my reason? The path from here on out was ON the cliff edge...no more pretty grass and flowers between us and certain death...one mis-step and you were over the edge...We ended up enjoying the cliffs from here with a cup of hot tea and watching the bravest of the travelers try to wind along the rest of the path. My fear of heights kept us all on safe ground ;)