Hogmanay 09

We started the trip by taking a train up - about a 3.5 hour train ride not bad. Beautiful countryside. That night we did the Torchlight parade - it's to kick-off the celebrations - well usually a torch is a flashlight - these were 3.5 foot wax sticks - it was amazing to see so many torches - I was sure someone's hair was going to catch fire! But it looked like they amazingly had things under control. Funnily I purchased 5 torches - luckily we went with friends - The Whiteheads - and they hadn't bought any yet so we shared with them!

On the bright side the torches certainly kept us warm!






We also went with our other friends The Hamberlins - so we were an imposing group - 19 of us! Restaurants didn't know what to do with us so we split up doing different activities and coming together - it was great fun.

Edinburgh is a beautiful city - my favorite thing was to do the night tour of Edinburgh Castle - it was actually a play and they had the history of the Monarchs or clans - I love when the castles 'come to life'.


They also had a carnaval and there was a super bungee ride - the men & Chandler all rode it - it flew them up so high - I have it on video - my blog still doesn't seem to like when I want to upload video - but I'll try again.

Edinburgh Castle

We are so lucky and this was a great trip - Happy New Year to all!

Merry Christmas!!

We had a really fun Christmas Eve - we had a few families over from church and we had a lovely dinner - there were about 28 of us but with people coming in & out. The kids then put on a Nativity for us so it was very fun.

Mike & I had everything wrapped early this year so it was an early night for us - probably a first in many many years. It's always worth seeing the kids open their presents - we tried hard to keep to a minimum this year and I think it worked - they seemed quite happy with what they all got and what Santa brought. We are so fortunate because our family sent things for the kids to open as well - my Aunties - Karen, Gina & Becca all sent things from the US and the Grands all sent their presents back with me when I went there in October so the kiddies had so many nice things!

We've been reminding the kids about how the Christmas season really is about giving and we are so blessed by all that we have and so grateful and thankful by it all. We hope you all have a wonderful season and are able to spend it with family or friends - we love being here but we miss our family during these special times....

Pre-party

Stars of the Nativity - Hamberlin kids, Whiteheads, Sterling Reece, & Crane Kids

Almost time for bed!

Good Morning! Merry Christmas!

Christmas "Lea"

Lucas the red nosed leaping reindeer

Cool anatomy book from Auntie Becca & Scott!

Tristy-Lu & her new Bitty Baby from Santa Claus

Abercrombie!
(Need I say more?!)

December

December is a good month - it's always hectic, crazy, frustrating at stores - but it is also all about celebration.

After our California friends went home I continued on my whirlwind month. My good friend Cathy - who was my neighbor here but went back to the States - flew in and we went with a bunch of other friends from the school/women's club to the German Christmas Markets - we went to Aachen, Cologne & Bruges on the way home - it was beautiful! We had so much fun - and did quite a bit of shopping!

Me & Cathy - Aachen

Cologne (Koln)

Hat ladies

Bruges, Belgium

I found this little treasure in Bruges - my new purse (for my birthday!) I have a great love for tulips - so when I saw this purse - I had to have it!

Tyler had her girl friends over before the Winter Dance...

We made Sugar Christmas Trees this year

My birthday was on the 13th my big bday (I turned 25 again) and I was given one of the very bests gifts - my kids were so cute - my birthday was Sunday so when we came home from church the kids 'wanted' to stay in their church clothes - what is that about!?

Well they put on a Winter Concert for me - I have it on video but - it's 10 mins long so couldn't download ...they did such a great job though - Tyler was on the piano, Cman - Clarinet, Ian - Trumpet & Lucas on the keyboard! They played Jingle Bells then did a solo each and then met up again with jingle bells - it was so special and I felt like they were the Von Trapp kids!

On Saturday Mike & I went in to London for lunch on Saturday and a little shopping we had such a nice day I loved it!

Now we're on the downward slide toward Christmas - so busy - but we're having some friends over for Christmas Eve since we're not going back to the States. It will be a bit quieter but Christmas is where your heart is and your heart is with your family after all don't you think?

Day 30: Happy Birthday Tristan

Tristan turned One on November 21 - I cannot believe she is one already, but in the same breath - I cannot believe she's only been in our lives for one year.... I love having her in my life sharing this English Experience with me. She is so fun and cute - and adds so much to all of our lives. She is walking already and mimics words or hand gestures, she knows where her eyes, ears, nose and mouth are - she sings to me all day and likes to dance around. She is a bit of a mommy's girl - but you can't blame her - I'm her main playmate all day long. She has 2 little teeth with a third one almost out. She has already been to Switzerland, France, America (CA, Nevada, Utah), Italy - next Scotland, Spain and perhaps if we're lucky Dubai! What a jet-setter! I love this little pumpkin!

Pau Pau handmade this beautiful dress for Tristan's bday

I love this snarky smile!

Superstar

Deja Vu - Tyler has a photo just like this one

Me & my shadow

(On my birthday)

Day 29: California Girls

Laura, Mary Alex, Michele & Katie Rose all came from California to celebrate Thanksgiving with us....these are my mother-daughter go-to girl friends we always do fun outings together. When they arrived we went straight on to Paris - it was so fun to be all together!

Crepes with bananas & nutella - delish!

The silly moms on a rue a Paris

Getting on the train....


We also met up with Ms. Laura in Paris for dinner...
she was gorgeously glammed up (as usual) for a party after

High Tea at the Ritz

I went to London 3 times that week! A record to be sure but I wanted them to see everything they possibly could - it was a very fast trip but we had a blast. It is so much fun to have such good girlfriends ;)

Day 28 - Mike's Bday

November this year was my busiest month by far (as I'm still catching up on my blogs for the month!)

Mike's birthday was on the 9th. He truly is the best man I know and I love him so much! He is very patient and kind, smart, and it doesn't hurt that he is pretty cute. He works very hard and I think he enjoys it especially being out here. We love to travel together and he is always about adventures!

I am so happy we met by chance all those years ago - it is funny how things are truly put in your path for a reason. I love my husband and our life and am so thankful for him and all that he supports me with and for all the good (hopefully lots and lots more) and the bad (hopefully not too many) times!

ugh - I'm still jetlagged!

Day 27: It's good to be home

This is what I had waiting for me... the kids were all snuggly waiting for us in our bed....We really missed them!

Day 26 - Michael Phelps Day

Day 26 of my photos was also toward the end of my SLC trip - the day before I was to leave I got Strep Throat - I swear I thought I got hit by a Mack truck! Bowen - Linda's son had it so I must have caught it from their house - but I love those Smith boys so a few days of Penicillin did the trick and all was good.

The flight home was good for the most part - we had 2 flights with a bit of a layover. Everyone we met was so nice and helpful to us, except one - we had to sit by a nasty lady from Chicago to London - she started screaming when she saw Tristan "I can't sit by a baby, I have to work as soon as I get there!!" But the flight was full so she had to sit by us - who works at 6AM on a Sunday morning anyway - a hooker?! So we refused to look at her, every time I tried to explain Tristan was a good baby she's close her eyes, put her hands up at me and say, "I don't want to talk about it, I just need my sleep!" Lots of people heard, I was mortified - people were so nice to us. And of course Tristy-Lu was EXCELLENT. So at the end of the flight I said very calmly, "I think you owe us an apology" and she said, "I didn't do anything wrong, I just said I wanted to change my seat because I have to work! You don't know my story!" I told her, "No I don't but you don't know mine either. You were extremely mean and hurtful and selfish so I wanted you to know for the next time you should pay full-price to sit up front next time". All the while she wouldn't stop to listen to me - she just kept saying, "I said I didn't want to talk about it!" So I just said, "by the way she was really good" what I wish I added was - 'but you wouldn't have noticed since you slept the whole time'. Some people. The people all around us heard - the people behind me after that asked if they could help me with the baby. They thought she was ridiculous. But I was proud that I didn't yell at her, or call her names or lose control, but I'm sure she didn't even care that she made me feel so badly and I'm so glad Tristan didn't have a clue and she was sweet as pie as usual. I felt like I stood up for us though and let her know she was truly hurtful.

One good thing that did come out of Chicago however was - during our layover - I found a quiet little area - all of sudden a bunch of teenagers- like 40 of them- came to sit near me, my initial reaction was oh no! I guess kind of like that mean old lady, but at least I didn't cry and raise a fit! But then I noticed they all had USA Swim bags....after about 15 minutes I looked up again and low and behold right in front of me sat Michael Phelps! How cool is that! I took a double take though because he was all scruffy - and he looked short - perhaps incognito. But I got the courage to ask if he'd take a photo with Tristan and he was very kind an gracious....