It's a Good Exhaustion

So right now you're probably amazed by the fact that I'm back again so soon. (I know. I'm surprised too.) But I had a few free moments so here I am. ((Yay! Don't you feel loved?!)) I kind of still feel like I'm recovering from our Scotland trip, but I think it's the end of summer exhaustion that's getting to me. Well, that and the fact that we had a super busy weekend. Maybe it's some kind of combination of all of it. 

Brian and I realized last Saturday that we had some free time that day and rather than sitting around, we all hopped in the car and took the kids out to a local farm. It's probably the most amazing farm ever created...just so you know. And it is like kid paradise! I really wasn't sure we were ever going to convince ours to leave. I was pretty sure they were going try to quit school and just go live on this farm because it was that amazing. Lol

Having fun with Grandpa!! I don't know why Miss M looks so upset here. 

She really did have a great time...despite the look on her face there.

They got to feed pygmy goats...which are completely adorable, by the way. So freakin tiny!! 

There were these go-carts that weren't really go-carts. Whatever they were, they were excellent for getting kids to use up some extra energy. Going 5 laps around that track had the girls wiped out....for about 10 minutes.

I'm pretty sure Hayden found his calling in life -- cheating at mini golf. It was hilarious to watch, but he was so proud of himself. Lol 

And of course...my favorite part. The corn maze! There's this huge (like seriously, huge!) corn maze that we went through. And yes, Brian and I were making Children of the Corn jokes very loudly. We're obnoxious like that.

Being obnoxious in a corn maze...and getting photobombed by a shirtless kid.

Thanks kid. That sure does make it memorable!

Sunday might have been even more awesome than Saturday. (You know, if you can really top the corn maze.) We spent the afternoon in Cambridge which is always awesome. But we also went punting - Yay!! 

You're probably wondering what punting is, right? I know. Before we came here, I thought punting had something to do with kicking a football. Turns out, in the UK it means riding on a these flat-ish boats down a river. (Like gondolas in Venice, except we were in England and not in a gondola.)

Punting!!

My boys!! I just love these two!

These are 2 of our most favorite people ever sitting with me -- Amy and Mani. 

And I'm so glad they came with us. Punting would not have been the same without them.

All in all, it was a superb weekend. Exhausting, but so great. Actually, remind me another time to tell you the story about my nap on a London tour bus because I was so exhausted. But it was a good exhausted. If you're ever thinking about coming to England, do it. Sure there's all the normal touristy stuff. But there's also punting. And a corn maze. 

On the Road Again

Last time I'm pretty sure I told that soon I'd have some fun adventures to tell you about, as long as everything worked out. Well! It did. And I do....have adventures to tell you about, that is. Since our time here is counting down, we've been talking about doing one more big trip while we can. And with Brian's parents here visiting us it was the perfect time. So last weekend we loaded up the car and went back to Scotland. (Eeek!!) Pretty mountains, fluffy cows, castles, and potato scones! 

I am happy to report that this time around, I did not come home with any injuries. My booty remained unbroken this trip and I'm extremely happy about that. Although we did visit with the offending boulder in Glencoe and I tried to make peace it, in the rain. ((You know, forgiveness and all that for breaking my ass.))

This is the boulder. And those smaller rocks in front of it are actually what broke my ass. The boulder and I did not agree on me using it to take pictures and I may or may not have fallen and landed on those smaller rocks. And that is the story of how my ass was fractured in Glencoe, Scotland.

Probably my favorite part of the trip was driving through the highlands towards Isle of Skye. Let me tell you - it was absolutely breathtaking!! That is scenery that you will not be able to find just anywhere. But I'm telling you now....find a way to go up there and see it. I could take a million pictures of it....you could Google even more...none of it will be the same as standing there. Pictures just don't do these mountains justice in any way.

  

**Sorry for the rain spots in this one. I had to take it while we were driving, in the rain, because there was nowhere to pull over without risking death. And I needed a picture of it.** 

I wish we would have had time to visit the list of things we want to see on Isle of Skye but there just wasn't time. But I was sufficiently pleased with just staring at these mountains for hours while we drove. 

Aside from staring at these gorgeous mountains, we also visited castles...lots of castles. And I was reminded, yet again, that those Scots like to make you work for anything you're going to enjoy. The walk to Stirling Castle wasn't as bad as Edinburgh Castle but I was still cursing someone for the uphill climb on slippery pavement. 

Half-way up and I'm just glad it's not cobblestone anymore. 

It was raining, of course, and very slippery.

Inside the gardens of Stirling Castle

The Palace of Holyrood House - where the Queen stays when she's in Scotland.

Unfortunately, she was not in that day. So sad. I know she would have enjoyed visiting with us

The ruins of Urquhart Castle over Loch Ness

Eilean Donan Castle over Loch Tummell

And of course, what vacation would be complete without wierd stuff? Well, I don't know about your vacations but ours are full of the weird. And we embrace it!

We found Kierstin in our suitcase!! Lol

We found a street performer dressed as an Alien (as in the Ridley Scott movie). He was awesome!! And funny enough...2 blocks over, there was one dressed as a Predator! ((Fabulous))

Standing in the middle of the smallest 2 lane road I've ever seen. Driving was interesting, passing cars was even better. It had great views, but it is an experience I'd like to not repeat.

We like to stalk the Highland cattle. ((It's so fluffy!!))

I have no explanation for this other than the fact that they're fluffy/furry cows. And we don't have them in America. But it could be that we're a little weird. Whichever explanation suits you.

So that is our trip in a nutshell. We actually saw a lot more stuff but I would be sitting here forever and a day trying to tell you the stories and upload all of the pictures. 

For being our last big trip, I'm glad we chose to go to Scotland. There are still about a dozen places we'd like to visit but unless we stay here for another 10 years, and some bazillionaire decides to give us all their money, it's just not going to happen. ((One day we'll make it to all of those places, but they will have to wait.)) 

We're still counting down the last of the kids' summer break, though I get to go back to school on Monday. (yay??) Are you jealous? You shouldn't be. Lol I do hope you are having a wonderful summer! Much love sweets!