Aberdeen

On the road again...and you can see how excited the boys are to be back on a bus!

This time we were headed for Aberdeen, the "city of granite." Exciting I know, but they were celebrating "Tartan Day" and we wanted to check it out. Really, I have never seen so many granite buildings and it was beautiful. I think this picture looks like we are just standing in front of a backdrop.
We got there just in time for the bagpipe parade. Just as we were thinking what a nice day is was for a parade, it began to rain. I love that a little rain doesn't detour anyone in this country. The umbrellas just came out and everyone enjoyed the parade.

This was taken right after the parade got over. Note the blue skies now overhead. The weather here changes so fast.

What's a stone statue without a seagull perched on it's head?
After the parade, there was to be a festival at one of the parks. As Scottish weather would have it, we were only there a few minutes before it began to really pour this time. We just hid under a tree and ate one of the best hamburgers ever, made from real Angus beef. (Today, I get an email from Brittany saying not to eat the meat over here because of mad cow disease. Whoops, hope we don't die!)
It did finally clear up and we were able to have a great time. There was bagpipe bands, Celtic dancing, and people dressed up in kilts all over the place. Thomas looked like a complete tourist with his sneakers, hoody and kilt. But, he didn't know the difference. (I brought Nate's kilt as well, but forgot to put it on him. Thomas of course, insisted.) The other boys, in their full attire looked much more classy.
I wish we had a better picture of this...it was so funny. Thomas was running up and down in front of the crowd, wearing his kilt, flashing those on the front row and waving his sword just like "Brave Heart."

Who knew a little paper flag could provide so much entertainment?
Thomas could not be persuaded to try on the real helmet, as he is in love with his four dollar plastic one.

The flip side to this wonderfully fun filled family day was that we almost didn't make it back home. We usually buy our tickets for these kind of trips at the Dundee bus station ticket office. This time for some reason, they wouldn't sell us the tickets and said that we would need cash to buy them from the bus driver. So, Ryan runs off with Thomas to try and find an ATM. It seems to me like they are taking forever. When he gets back he tells me that he couldn't find a machine that would give us any money. (Ryan just got paid, hurray!! So, funds shouldn't have been a problem.) He was finally able to find one, but was only able to get out 10 pounds at a time. He got enough for one way tickets and we were on our way.

We get to Aberdeen and have a great time and then realize that we don't have enough cash for our ticket home. Long story, short we had a frustrating couple of hours walking around the city trying to find an ATM that would give us money.(The boys are tired and crying.) We somehow figure out that for some crazy reason the machines pull the money from the savings account, which is umm...empty. So then we are walking around trying to find internet access to transfer money. And of course by this time it is evening and everything is closed. We finally get cash in our hands and run to the bus station to make the last bus back, to find a huge line to a bus that doesn't have a ticket machine, the ticket office is closed and oh it's raining. The first bus driver looked and me with no mercy, but his friend in the back let us on when we paid him cash, which I am sure that he just pocketed. But, at this point we are just happy to be on our way home!

Soccer or War??

Ryan has been playing indoor and outdoor soccer, excuse me, "football" on a company team. Thomas and I were able to go and see one of his games awhile back. It was so fun to see Ryan play. I was surprised to see how serious these guys take the game. Afterwards, Ryan jokingly commented that he didn't know if he was playing football or advancing on a battle field with shouts of "Alright lads lets FLANK 'EM, FLANK 'EM!!" (It's funnier if you imagine it said in a heavy Scottish accent. )


If you look close, you can see Ryan on the left (in white) taking a shot on goal, and the opposing player wincing as the ball flies by to score.





During the 30 second half-time, Thomas and Ryan were able to kick the ball around.

Super Thomas, the team's mascot.

Out on my own.

We have been getting a little cabin happy, since my mom left. Without a car, the boys and I can only go within walking distance from the apartment. While still in Utah, I bought a new double jogging stroller to bring over. The big wheels have been awesome with all of the cobble stone roads, but the thing is massive and practically impossible for me to take on the bus by myself, plus the two kids. Today the sun was out, which is an occasion to be celebrated, so I took the boys down to Broughty Ferry. I wasn't sure how I was going to make it without the stroller, and it was at times quite a struggle, but we made it and we had a great day!

Thomas and Nate love playing on the toys and in the sand at the park.

It has been so much fun seeing the boys play together and become "best buddies." (On Sunday, Thomas didn't even want to be in nursery, unless Nate was there too.)

For a little over a pound you can buy a token to ride one of the go carts. If Thomas's driving today is any indication of what is to come... watch out. He couldn't get enough of the gas pedal.

I just love that face!

Last time we were at this beach it was cold and windy. Today was beautiful. I wish that I had brought a change of clothes for the boys, because it was hard to keep them out of the water. The tide was higher this time too, so there wasn't any washed up jelly fish to worry about.

We had such a great time. We just wished that Ryan could have been there with us!

Beat Up.

Today just wasn't the best of days for Nathan. We were at the Jungle Cafe, which is an indoor kids play area and cafe. (Really it just reminds me of McDonald's play place, but you have to pay to get in.) We have been there a few times since it is just across the street. Anyways, while jumping in the bounce house, Thomas's head connected nicely with Nate's right eye. I was sure that we was going to get a shiner.
Later, as we were walking to meet Ryan after work, Nate got so excited when he saw him coming down the sidewalk, he began to run. His shoes have gotten too small, so I had put him in a pair of sandals which were apparently a little too big. He tripped on his own shoe, forgot to put his hands out and hit his left eye on the pavement. I felt so bad. But at least he is still smiling, right?



If you are confused as to why he is sitting in his car seat, in the house...it's because Ryan tied it to a kitchen chair and we are using it as Nate's "high chair." :) Actually works quite well if you don't mind finding rice and cereal stuffed in every possible place!

Cheers Mum!! (Thanks mom!!)

We had to say goodbye to my mom on Sunday. You never know how much you appreciate someone until they leave. It was so nice having an extra pair of hands around all the time! I have often fantasized about having a nanny/cook/housekeeper...but who needs a nanny when you can have a "granny?" :) I never would have made the flight over without her help. And we were able to go and see so many great places together. It felt like we were on our own castle tour of Scotland, but now life is pretty much back to the normal day to day stuff.
We sure did have a great time though, Thanks Mom!! We miss you!

Edinburgh

Over the weekend we went to the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh. When we got there it was rainy and cold. But, by the time we stopped to take cover and have some lunch, the weather cleared enough for us to head up to the castle, which is the biggest one we have visited so far.

Thomas has started really enjoying going to the different castles as he now pretends that he is a knight. He even insists that we now call him "Sir Thomas." His helmet and sword accompanies us everywhere, of course.

On the bus ride over we let Thomas watch a movie on the Ipod and Nate really wanted to as well. So, I think when he got a hold of the audio tour headphones, he probably thought he was finally getting his turn. He wouldn't let us touch them! It was cute to see this little guy walking around the castle like he was taking a self tour.

From the castle, there were some beautiful views of the city.

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Nate is starting to be such a ham for the camera. We were letting him just walk around and chase the birds, then we would randomly get the camera out. He would always give us the cutest expressions. Apparently other tourists were enjoying his show, because a group of Asian girls approached me and asked if they could "take a picture with your son?" Then they proceeded to take turns getting their picture taken with Nate, like he was some kind of celebrity! How funny.





Since my mom had to fly out the next morning, we all stayed at a hotel that Saturday night. It was really nice. (Thanks mom!) At dinner, we asked just for water to drink. This is what we got, $5 a bottle. Bottoms up Nate!

Glamis Castle

Last week, my mom and I took the boys to the little town of Glamis. After walking down this very long road, you come to an amazing castle. It is where the Queen Mother of England grew up and I was amazed to find out that her nephew and his family still live there. It reminded me of the castle at Disneyland. The batteries on my camera died that day, but we loved it so much that we went back Tuesday with Ryan.

We were lucky to keep Thomas out of the fountain!

Apparently, Nate isn't as impressed with all the castles that we've seen, because his favorite part is always the rocks!

Tuesday night they had an open air theater production of Peter Pan. It was right beside the castle.

Their take on Peter Pan was definitely different. There were only six actors, who played all the parts. It was pretty funny watching the guys as the mermaids. And some of the humor must have been cultural, because I didn't get it. But, everyone else seemed to!

Before the show, they sold goody bags with props that the kids could put on and be part of the show. It was really fun as the actors changed hats to be Indians or pirates, all of the audience would do the same.

When we first saw this little boy dressed as Peter Pan, we thought that it was maybe a children's theater and he was Peter Pan. But, so many of the children came dressed up as characters of the play. There were Peter Pans and Thinker bells running around everywhere.

After the play, it was too late for us to catch a bus home so we stayed at a little bed & breakfast not far from the castle. Jean(who we stayed with) was at the play with her grandchildren anyways and drove us to her house. This is the view from her garden. It was so nice. Thomas loved playing with her grand kids, they had a crib for Nate, and we got a full Scottish breakfast in the morning. It worked out great!