I will be the first to admit that we had a rough and long winter. Maya and I were sick a ton, we weren’t used to proper winter, and the kids’ schedules meant that by the time they were up from naps, it was dark and therefore not a great time to explore.

So we are now trying to get out more, now that it’s at least light when the kids are up from their naps.

Last month, when it was still chilly in June, we bundled the kids and drove the quick 20 minutes to Newbridge House and Farm and it was super. It was deserted, partly because it had rained all day and also because it was pretty late in the day. The last entry is at 5 and it closes at 6. We spent an hour wandering around, looking at the animals, and it was just perfect for our age kids.

Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of Dublin Zoo. It’s too much walking for not enough animal return. Plus, it’s twice as expensive as the family ticket for Newbridge House (€20, for two adults and two kids for the farm only), which fully satisfied the kids’ interest in creatures.

The best part was the peacocks that roam freely around the grounds. Noah was completely fearless and I was a little nervous he was going to grab at one of their feathers. Maya was nervous, too, and kept yanking him backward by the hood of his jacket. A few goats squeezed under their fences and were off looking for more hay, which was also hilarious. They were only the kids’ height, and clearly cared more about food than children.

I’m trying to build up some solid recommendations for people visiting Dublin with kids, and this would be at the top of my list at the moment!

Newbridge House and Farm, Hearse Rd, Newbridge Demesne, Donabate, Co. Dublin

We picked possibly the worst hour of the whole spring to head up to Deer Park to see the rhododendrons in bloom this summer. It was Ireland’s once yearly thunder storm, so our wander was cut short. But it was still a lovely time, and reminded me of when Maya used to call thunder ‘fun-der,’ and reminded me that Noah doesn’t remember hearing thunder from our time in Houston at all!

We’ve climbed Deer Park with the kids several times, but the time we let them both wander the path that runs just behind the golf course at the base of the hiking path. It runs under the most enormous rhododendron bushes that bloom usually in late May/early June. We called it a magic forest walk and the kids loved it.

I would suggest that if you go when it’s wet, rain boots aren’t the best choice. Maya had sneakers on (she refused her hiking boots and her sneakers are pretty washable) and they were much better for gripping than Noah’s wellies. In fact, Noah took a couple face plants in part because he’s not totally stable on uneven ground, but he would have been in much better shape with different shoes on. When it has been dry, you can probably get away with sneakers, but it can be muddy under the trees.

The only other thing you have to be careful of are nettle plants. Luckily, the kids were bundled from head to toe and there weren’t so many that they would have brushed them with their fingers.

We loved walking under the giant trees and looking up at the rhododendrons. I could have stayed for ages, but we did start to get a little wet after a while. You probably have another week or so of the rhododendrons in bloom if you haven’t been!

I love that last photo — Maya insisted on wearing a pair of leggings I picked up for next year and they kept sagging down her buns. She’s running while holding her pants up in this photo!

Michael and I haven’t managed to get out in the evening very much this year, but last weekend we decided we needed to start trying out new babysitters. Our kids are used to our family members who watch them sometimes, but we didn’t have anyone since our nanny went back to Uruguay who could watch them when no family members were available.

So because I wasn’t going to land the kids or the sitter with nap time or bedtime on the first go, that left us with a brunch date. And actually, it was delightful. The kids are happiest in the morning, so I wasn’t worried about them acting up or needing us too much, and let’s face it, brunch is cheaper than dinner anyway! Plus, I really do love brunch food.

We had been wanting to try Tang, on Lower Abbey Street, but it’s closed on Sundays when we’re usually around the corner for church. So we went a few weeks ago and it was as delicious as it was cute. The Luas goes right by and it feels like you’re right in the city.

The coffee was great (sometimes decaf lattes are hard to get right, but this was very right) and I haven’t stopped thinking about the mushrooms on toast since. I literally could have eaten it again a few hours later, it was that good. I mean, I was full, but it was so yummy. Michael had shakshuka and he loved it, too. A friend said their chicken salad is her fave, so that’ll be next on my lunch list to try.

We brought the kids back today since both kids were home and Michael is out of school for the summer. It was delightfully quiet mid-morning and Maya ate so. much. oatmeal. Which, of course, was probably because it was very delicious oatmeal, with coconut milk, honey, granola and toasted nuts. I think we need to step our home oatmeal situation up a level!

Managing the toddler chaos is definitely easier when there are benches and big tables involved!

Tang: 9A Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1

Michael and I dropped the kids with their uncle and grandpa early yesterday morning and headed across town to be on the radio! We were contacted by a researcher at the Tubridy Show on RTE Radio One who had seen my article on Image.ie (which if you missed the print copy, you can check it out now online!) and wanted us to come chat about our journey to Houston and back.

You can listen to the full interview here (we start around 20 minutes in) and it actually goes on for 25 minutes! I could have stayed and chatted all day. The story of how our family was built is, by far, my favorite story of all time.

Ryan Tubridy was genuine and kind, on and off air. It’s nerve-racking to be speaking live, but he put us right at ease. I’d do it again tomorrow if they asked!