Leaving Edinburgh

JToday we checked out of the travel lodge and left our gear at the front desk. We then went to the castle to finish up the rest of the tour. Today we got to go into all of the inner sections of the castle the queen was in yesterday. We saw the queens jewels, the scepter, the sword, 

Stone of destiny, and the crown. Liesl got to have her picture taken with Mary Tudor (an actress of course). There were many different suits of armor and swords to see. We also got to see how the crests have changed from 2 unicorns to a unicorn and a lion symbolizing England and Scotland. The inner parts of the castle had many stained glass windows and carvings on the castle walls. When we were through we visited the McDonald's' which was insanely crowded. But it made the kids happy. Dad got lost getting the car, one wrong turn and whammo there goes an hour. The kids were just going nuts. But now we are on our way to Bardon Mill on the borders. It will be a long drive this evening.

We did manage to take a short break at a border abbey, Jedborough abbey to take pictures and took a shot of the border between England and Scotland. The abbey was so pretty with all of its arches open to the air and the beautiful river running next to it. Liesl had a good time smelling the flowers and exploring. We made it through all of the sheep filled highlands and to the youth hostel pretty late. It was kind if fun staying there. The kids relaxed on the top bunks watching a little bit of a movie. Liesl got to stay up there to sleep. Jeannie spent the night on the bottom bunk but it was so much of an adventure. We did manage to get out for dinner. There was a pub next door. The only thing for miles. I got to have some meat pie and bread pudding. Yum. Comfort food. 

When we woke up in the morning the hostel had some very awesome breakfast prepared for us and the kids ate up and good thing, it was a super busy day. First we visited Hadrian's wall which is a Roman wall to keep out the Scots and Picts as well as a garrison. It wasn't entirely intact but oh boy do I love the archeology. Jeannie was very excited to see the sheep. There were sheep roaming everywhere and we got to walk amongst them and their poop. That was the one part that the kids were not too find of. They all enjoyed the climbing on the wall. Like the castles that I have seen the wall just seems to be growing right out of the mountains. We managed to buy some fantastic wine and mead in the gift shop there too. I can't wait to have more of it. 

After that we saw a castle on the way and took a picture from the road as it was closed to the public. I wish it wasn't. It looked pretty cool. Then the Lanercost priory where we had some lunch. The fish and chips wasn't as good as we were accustomed to here and the hamburger was a little weird for Liesl but we were hungry enough. Then we visited the ruins there. They were very pretty and they had a very  quiet feel to them. Again, loved the arches and the way the light came through them. From there we travelled a bit and came to Carlisle castle. The castle had been through 10 sieges! Amazing, and started Mary Tudor's imprisonment in England. It was a little more sterile there but still kept a few medieval structures despite it being occupied by several different groups (Scots, English and Romans). We even got to see the living quarters there that the royalty occupied. We were not sure where Mary queen of Scots was kept though. What I really liked were the battlements and there were some carvings in the wall that they said were from bored guards. Jeannie and oma bowed out due to a nap and were ready for us when we got back. 

There was another stretch for us to drive and the most scenic mcdonalds I have ever seen along with potato wedges and sweet curry sauce Hello! We found ourselves around 9 at Parr Hall where we are staying for the next 8 days. We have been doing laundry today and hanging it all on the line all day. It is nice to relax and the kids are getting their naps in. We will be having pizza tonight from a local place. Robbie is really looking forward to it.

Edinburgh visit

Today we explored Edinburgh. We had a little mcdonalds breakfast this morning since it was right across the street. My kids polished off 8 pancakes between the 2 of them. Crazy. Learned that they just must not have chocolate milk or something, 2 times we ended up with chocolate shakes which the kids hate thank god for that. Our hotel has an amazing view, at least from Melisa's room. The kids like to hang out on the bay window and look out. We have the sir Walter Scott monument right out the window there which is just amazing. I can't take enough pictures of it. This morning they had pipers playing in front of it. The hop on hop off bus is also righ out in front of the hotel as well. We got lucky. That was the first thing we did this morning was to get on the bus and view the city. Too bad Jeannie wouldn't let me listen to the recording. I took lots of pictures, the bus gives a fantastic view from the top of the double decker. The kids were so excited to see the Edinburgh castle up on the mountain. Jeannie calls it momma's castle. We hopped off right where we hopped on and let the kids get the wiggles out in a really night grassy park right under the Scott monument. They all chsed each other in circles for a little then we made our way up the hill to the castle. When we arrived there we found out that the queen was visiting so the inner portion of the castle was closed off. However, after we ate lunch there in the courtyard we found. Out that the queen was going to be driving through! There were hardly any people there so we got a very good view of her and she waved at us. We were only a few feet from her. I loved how the castle seemed to just grow right out of the mountain. It was so beautifully built I could just look at it forever. We went through a couple of the exhibits showing the military dress and styles and then found out that we would be seeing the queen driving out as well. This time there was even less people! Again we got to wave at the queen. Mom was just kidding when she mentioned waving to the queen to one of the people working earlier. When we made it out later Scott swore he saw her again. We then made it down the hill. Jeannie finally fell asleep. She was exhausted and crazy there for a while. Scott and Melisa went to some really cool pizza joint and mom, dad and I and the kids went into the elephant house to see the inside where jk Rowling write her books then greyfriars bobby pub for lunch. I had Good fish and chips there and Jeannie stayed asleep for me.  We then caught up with Melisa and Scott and all went to the cemetery where grey friars Bobby's master is buried. Loved the headstones there! Everything is so old it really takes you back. It is like nothing in the states. There were the most beautiful headstones I have ever seen there. I Took lots of pictures of them. They were like nothing I have seen, so intricate. We let the kids run wild in there again and then headed back to the grassy park for a few minutes. We heard some rock style piping on the other side of the museum and wished we had the energy to seek it out. The kids danced a little and then we headed back to the hotel to get ready for bed. Mom, dad and Scott jwent out for whiskey this evening, I was too pooped. 

Urquart castle pics

Urquart Castle and Loch Ness

Today we got up early because we needed to leave Loch Insh. Jeannie was up at 6 this morning happy as can be. We were too early for wifi so we couldn't do much but wait for the rest of us to get ready and packed up to go. Today we visited Loch Ness and Urquart Castle. The Lochness monster museum was pretty cool showing all of the theories and evolution of the legend over time. It was kind of a walking movie. The kids enjoyed the floor in one of the rooms that acted like splashing water. At the end there was a whole bunch of newspaper clippings all hung upon the wall for us to flip through. I got to do a little shopping then. I bought a few things for Jim and his boys and Liesl and Jeannie got a few souvenirs of Nessie. I also managed a sweatshirt there because I was so cold today. I wish I had waited though until the castle because there was a much cuter one there that I really wanted more. 

Urquart Castle was a very short distance, right on the shores of the loch. It was a very old castle in ruins. The girls were both very excited to get to the castle and explore. Both of them enjoyed it very much. We got to peer out battlements and see the dungeons and climb up the towers. It was super cool. I can't wait to post pictures of the castle. It was very very windy and raining out there I almost lost my hat and Liesl got blown all around, she was not at all comfortable in the higher places.

We are now on our way to Edinburough to go to a travel lodge and do a hop on hop off and visit the castle there and greyfriars bobby. It has been raining since the castle as we are driving (we almost lost Scott and Melisa too). I have been enjoying watching all of the sheep grazing on the side of the mountains. I say out loud "look at all of those cute sheep, they are making me wool" and Liesl would say "forget about the sheep, they are not making you any wool". I will be finding myself some wool don't you worry little person. Currently we are looking for a mcdonalds since we are running so late.

Up the mountain

This afternoon we took a drive up the mountain and took some pictures. There was some pretty sunlight coming through the clouds and a loch down below but too many little flies driving us out so we didn't stay long. We are just hanging out and hoping to get some wifi time and card playing time in before bed tonight.

Well we didn't get any wifi time in. They turned the wifi off at night uuuugh. Looking forward to communicating again with the states

News for us

Jeannie has been working hard on pottie training. She very rarely has an accident and extremely rare is a number 2 an accident. I am thinking it is the cloth diapers and me being home with a regular routine. She is able to run around naked which she loves and doesn't want to get it on the floor so tells me when she has to go and runs to the potty. So glad she got this down before going to the UK. 

She has also been doing very well with talking. She is a regular chatterbox and can say anything she puts her mind to. She has started recently to say have a good day and I love you to daddy in the morning before he goes to work. 

She seem to really like princesses and baby dolls and all things girlie and has gotten into the my little ponies too with her sister. Jeannie, Liesl and I had a play date with Korrina and Eliynne the other day and played ponies with them. They are about the same ages as our girls so it works out and they all love the ponies.

They have both been enjoying the weather, helping me garden, playing on their new climbing wall and swings and playing with the hose outside. The neighbor kids that just moved in are so sweet, we really hit the jackpot. The girls like to play with them every chance that they get.

Liesl had an awesome first year of school and is ready to start first grade in the fall. She got fantastic grades, learned a lot and is very ready. I feel she is strongest in math so far. We have also been working on everything this summer. We are also going to keep her in scouts. She earned all of her badges and is working on her daisy awards now. Her vest looks full up. I am so proud of her. Shannon and I are going to be the troop leaders next year. It is going to be super fun. 

I did manage to tag along on a field trip this year to cranbrook with the class. Liesl and her friends were so quiet and well behaved I barely had to do anything but help them with their lunches. We had a very good time exploring the science center together. What a fun day. She really hit the jackpot with her kindergarten teacher. Loved Mrs Colburn. She  helped make her first year of school work for her. Thank you Mrs Colburn

Loch Insh day 1

Thins morning Jean and I woke up pretty early at 830. She was so ready to face the day and I got quite a bit of sleep last night. The view is amazing from our cabin and there are all kinds of water sports on the lake. Mom and I walked into town and got some groceries this morning in a little party store-ish place. It was a nice walk and there was many times we wished we brought a camera. When we got back the rest of the kids were awake and had some cereal and milk which made Robbie so very happy. Then Scott, mom and I and the bigger kids took a walk on the hiking trail and visited the kids area. There was all kinds of ropes course activities including a small zip line..

Here are a few pictures I took on the iPad of our drive yesterday

Stuck

Well we were stuck a little worse than we thought. There was a hole in Scott's rental the size of Liesl. I actually saw it fly off the car. Well it want as easy as just getting the tire changed because it was a hybrid, didn't have a spare or even tools. Dad ended up shuttling us to a restaurant. We ate some meat pies and wonderful desserts and the. Figured that dad needed to take me and all the kids but Ellen to the hotel in Loch Insh. We didn't get there until 930 and he then had to take the car back 2 hours to pick up Melisa, Ellen and mom. They didn't get in until 230. Scott got back on a much shorter route by 1130. The good thing was that I did get some amazing pictures on the scenic tour. I believe we even saw the remains of a castle and wall.the mountains were just awesome, all mossy with rocks peeking out of them and lakes at the base reflecting them back up. It was a much longer trip than we expected but amazing. Liesl was trying to fix the tire with a block of wood and a stick below and Robbie had his way with Melisa's glasses. She is now forced to wear her contacts. 

Day 2, the drive to Loch Insh

Today we "slept in" and got some breakfast downstairs. The kids and adults alike were in a much more sane mood and able to handle more of what the trip had to hand us. Driving the countryside was gorgeous although a little scary. Mom's comment was "they don't waste too much money on pavement here". The roads are extremely narrow. There was a little bit of squealing as we went along. We drove by Loch Lamond on the way and we got a little bit of a taste there. I tried to take some pictures as we drove but don't know how successful I was until I remembered the iPad. It takes them a lot faster.                   

The highlands looked so beautiful out the window. I wish the kids were more interested in the scenery. Jeannie was at least willing to look out the window when I told her there was something interesting out there but she was soon fast asleep which was for the best. The mountains were gorgeous with their green rolling hills and rocky, craggy spots on them. Near the lochs they just dropped so abruptly to the water. I loved it. I wish Jim could have seen this with us. We'll we didn't get farther than about an hour I would bet and Scott got a flat tire on his rental. He grazed one of the few curbs and a big chunk of tire flew off their car. Luckily there was a spot to stop. We haven't managed to get our SIM card for the phone yet and no spare tire so mom walked to a hostel and called for help. Jeannie is still asleep so I am enjoying the view and getting a little blogging done and everyone else is hanging out at a tea room down the hill.

First days of our UK trip

 We flew out of Toronto Saturday night after a long trip from Detroit. The kids handled it rather well on the car ride and the airport. They had some things we brought for them to do so that part wasn't too bad. Jeannie and Liesl had their own seats but Jeannie didn't want to be in hers and made it very known to everyone when I tried to put her into it. After we finally got her calmed down with Nemo I found out that she had lost her "toothless" (later found by one of the other passengers at the end of the trio) which might have unhinged her. She just didn't want to go to sleep so I had Robbie get into her car seat to sleep which he did. I then figured Jeannie probably wanted her blankie and she settled down but nursed for the whole flight. Liesl didn't sleep until about an hour before we touched down so the three of us didn't get much sleep...me...none. It took a while to get luggage and get our car rentals but we were happy to get settled then. It also took us a few round abouts to figure out how to get away from the airport. Thankfully the hotel was not far. Driving through Glasgow, Scotland in parts was a little like Detroit or Chicago. There was a lot older buildings there too though. Buildings with architecture I had only seen in books. I saw a church spire every block or so. Some of them had spikes all over. Quite a few of them had been transformed into pubs! One with a huge blue ring cocked sideways on it's spire. When we went on the hop on hop off bus which was a red double decker we got to take a tour of the city which took 2 hours. I think the 9 of us all saw different things because we all took a nap at different times during the city tour. I did manage to snap a few pictures of it but as I dosed off I had a few of my legs and feet which was kind of funny. Mom said that she was having nightmares that we missed our stop and had to go around again. There were some botanical gardens there that I would have liked to visit in a huge glass building, a pipers museum, the pub in the old church, to name a few. There was also a big festival going on around one of the squares. We were way too tired to do anything else but ride a bus and I am not sure how we managed that. After that there was a cute little fish and chips place next to our hotel that we all visited to have our first dinner other than the plane. It was very nice to sit and eat and relax. We then hooked up to the wifi, took baths and got to bed by 7. Liesl even put herself to sleep. We didn't stir until 830 the next morning.