Homecoming!

Yesterday we had a continental breakfast at the hotel with delicious fresh baked rolls and crossants, cereals, ham and cheeses and juice and coffee.  Our bus arrived on time and off we went to the Airport at 7:20 AM.  The Dublin Airport takes the prize for attentive, smiling service from all with whom we came in contact AND a US Customs pre-clearance section where we were able to check-in, present our customs docs and send our bags straight to Charlotte without encountering either Immigration or Customs officials.  The airport is clean, modern and convenient.  We were too tired to shop in the variety of shops and duty free area (except for Art who found a great deal on his favorite Gin).  We had a longer wait than we expected due to the effectiveness of the personnel.  We boarded and left on time and had our assigned seats this time...made for a comfortable and event-free trip with a few short naps thrown in.  Lunch was fairly good...chicken, salad, and a quite good pound cake with fruit on top (Aaron says Apple, I say Peach :)). They even did a 2nd sandwich service about 90 minutes before we landed (which the boys didn't like).  Since we expected a long time to get through Customs in Philly (based on our experience on our last trip) which we had already accomplished in Dublin, we had a long wait for our flight to Charlotte.  So iPods and netbook were charged,  Smoothies were consumed and we, again, boarded on time.  We were all getting tired (it was now 8:30 PM Dublin time).  Landed a little early, baggage arrived quickly and the Fiori Car Service arrived in two cars to accommodate the luggage and people.  A real service since they were leaving for the beach the next morning.  Everyone slept very well - it's a lot easier to go west than to go east!

Carson is off to the beach.  We transported Aaron to his father when we met for lunch in Charlotte (with the added excitement of seeing Eric's middle school, high school and college room-mate buddy, Allan, who was in Charlotte for their reunion).  And we made plans to have dinner with Allan when we're in Austin next month for my meeting and conference!

It was a fun-filled, too short week.  As always, it was great to be with boys and to share their responses to all that we saw.  AND they are already looking forward to Carson's graduation trip in 2014!!