So nearly forgot!

This morning as I was sat beside our Christmas tree reminiscing about where I bought all our baubles, ornaments and decorations; I suddenly remembered that the kids and I did buy some new ones in Paris last February as well! Where were they??! Ummm...

I started rummaging around in my cupboards, and found the Paris ones, together with a few other new ones I had forgot that I had bought this year! Duh!
So now they are finally all on the tree, ready to soon be packed away with the other ornaments so that at least they can get some more tree-time next year!

The Paris ones: a Santa on the Eiffel Tower and a rose window from the Notre Dame Cathedral:

The Denmark ones: a classic glass 'Dannebrog' bauble and a handmade The Little Mermaid clay ornament:

And finally, from Scotland, a cute royal corgi dog that we bought on our visit to the Balmoral Castle at Easter:

I wonder if I have any more forgotten ornaments stashed away anywhere..??

A Codonas afternoon

On the last day of our stay, it was grey skies and rainy weather. We decided, like many others, to go down to the seafront to the Codonas Amusement Park. We were really just there for the ten-pin bowling, but as there was no lanes free when we first got there, the kids got to try some other things as well.
Like bumper cars!

Slot machines, perfect for our little 'Scrooge'!

Air hockey:

We played a game of Watsons vs Whites - and surprisingly, the Watsons won!

Surprisingly, since this was the attitude we had to deal with after each failed play... :)

Cousins:

Birthday fun

We got to celebrate the birthdays of both Uncle Kieran (we arrived one day late, but they had saved some cake for us!) and Auntie Nikki while we were in Scotland.

Auntie Nikki's birthday morning in the kitchen, gift opening!

I spot a theme here amongst the birthday cards...

To celebrate Auntie Nikki we went for a drive to have lunch at a cosy little place in the countryside.

Lunch was fab, and the shop attached to the restaurant was gorgeous! Us girls stayed on after lunch to have a good browse around all the pretty things. I managed to find some things there I've had on my shopping list for a long while: artificial but real looking flowers and branches! Well, you need some green in your home when you live in the desert! F.e I bought some birch branches to use for my Easter feathers and decorations next year, and some Monstrea, Lily of the Valley and more.
So pleased!

And lucky us, in the evening it was cake time, yum!

Hanging out

As our cousins are leaving Scotland in the summer, the main purpose with our visit this time was really just to hang out and enjoy each other's company. The kids wanted to do all the things that we normally do, when we have been there before.

Things like playing games, both good old board games like 'Risk', and gaming on the Xbox...

 ... and the iPads...

 ... and the newest addiction of the whole family - 'Words With Friends'!

Enjoying fabulous meals all together in the kitchen:

Going for walks down by the beach. Yes it was cold, but it was still spring, and spring means it's time for ice cream!

One rainy afternoon the kids, Kieran and I went to the movies. There wasn't room for all of us in the car so Linnea and I went on a bus adventure!
The big kids saw "Batman vs Superman", and Linnea and I watched "Zootropolis".

Of course we also did some shopping, although this trip was mostly about essentials. Like school shoes. (He is only one size below mine now!)

Visiting the Queen

One day we all went on an excursion to a place I've been wanting to see for a while, the summer residence of the royal family - Balmoral Castle.

Another sunny and beautiful day, although it was a little bit chilly. We took a ride with the tractor from the entrance up to the castle.

You are allowed to walk around the grounds and gardens. The Castle is open to the public daily from end of March until the end of July; after which the Queen and other members of the royal family arrives for their annual stay.

We could watch a movie about the history of the castle in one of the stables:

Someone had been practising their golf skills on the lawn of the vegetable garden!

You could borrow a handset with an audio tour that guided you through the visit. The tour detailed the story of Balmoral and all the workings of the Estate. It also told stories of the most famous residents and visitors at the castle.

Can you spot Lucas?

The kids got to do their own little activity, looking for "Corgi Clues" and learning about the castle:

The estate is a working estate, including grouse moors, forestry and farmland as well as managed herds of deer, Highland cattle and ponies. The royal family employs about 50 full-time and many part-time staff to maintain the estate.

We also were allowed to go inside to see the Castle Ballroom, the largest room in the castle. It housed an exhibition about the Balmoral traditions which have been upheld for over 160 years. Unfortunately you were not allowed to photograph in there.

 Linnea got herself a little corgi as a souvenir, and named it Willow after one of the Queen's corgis.

A Scotland Easter

I hope you understand, my posts about Spring Break are coming up a bit late. This has been a very sad and emotional week for our family, and it's been hard to find any energy or motivation.

But now comes the time where I start needing the distraction, so here it goes.
We arrived in Scotland just in time for Easter Celebrations. The Whites took us to Crathes Castle for an Easter Egg Hunt. The cousins took off to solve a word scramble, and win chocolate bunnies.

It was absolutely glorious weather and such a lovely feeling to see sprouting trees, green lawns and spring flowers everywhere!