More Shetland

Isla loved listening to people's accents and hunting for seals and Dolphins. 

There was a 100mph headwind, so we flew home at 10,000ft and had a lovely view of Orkney and all of northern Scotland! The kids were disappointed they missed 'guising' but given all the other stuff they got to do this weekend, I'm not feeling like they are neglected. 

'Shall I be mum?'

Rather than driving home before our next appointment, we're waiting in the car...an oh, the magical stuff you find in the car when you are 3.

Weekend adventures

SO, we had an early start on Friday but managed to catch the first flight to Shetland for a family weekend going to a retirement 'event.'

The kids were great all weekend (thanks to Uncle Basil and his high entertainment factor).  We went to a surprisingly good school concert--a strong island music tradition meant fiddle playing was of a much higher calibre than we were used to, some bagpipe and accordion music by both school staff and pupils. 

An emergency vet appointment meant My little bat and I walked back to the hotel while daddy and the girls took Aunt Isy's cat to the vet. 

We Drove a rockin mini bus! The kids loved the space. 

Seems everyone plays the fiddle well! Here were four staff playing.

For a small school it had a great playground for the lower school. 

Overlooking the voe 

It was stunning scenery...just a bit breezy! 

Not having seen Basil since our last adventure to the Monkey Forest, the kids had to tell him that monkeys groom each other to show they are friends. Ever a good sport, he decided to show Fergus he likes him. (and even more of a good sport, he had a large scratch down his head from where the girls battered him with a Halloween torch!)

School is back

After a fabulously restful and reflective 2 weeks, we started school again yesterday. 'A' had her first day with her new teacher--the new teacher 'doesn't do' show & tell, the measured things with their hands today, the trouble maker boy got in trouble again & they learned 'claps/cheers' that I won't let her do at our dinner table...I'm trying to keep and open mind.  Not the major academic day though...let's hope day 3 is more impressive. (We have hearing appointments today so she'll miss most of day 2). 

We also have a slightly  injured Number 1 as she decided she should get in the middle of the terriers having a go at each other and came out with a bruise on her arm--we'll see what it looks like this morning. I had a talk with all the kids about staying out of ANY dogs who are fighting. 

We're back to 'non-summer time' and it's dark! The rule is when we get home from school they should change their  clothes and go straight outside to play (they spend hours on the trampoline doing 'routines'--a combined love of 'strictly come dancing' , Singin in the Rain, and gymnastics, usually involving number 3 being thrown, lifted or spun around--yesterday it was to a sung version of 'Eye of the Tiger'), then once it is dark or they can't feel their hands and feet, they can come in for homework and other stuff. 

I just found out yesterday their swimming teacher is on maternity leave, so looks like we might be hunting for a new swimming venue :( we've been going there for 5 years. 

Holiday Bribery

Once back from England, I decided to capitalise on their obsession with 'House Points' (from school) so we started charts  where they can earn Mr Potato Head stickers for doing chores or being helpful. So far we've gotten lots done!

At the end of the week they will be exchanged for money (the exchange rate is the subject of great negotiation) to be spent at the toy store. As an update, we had to take Grannie to the airport on Wednesday, so we agreed on .30/sticker and happily went to the Disney store. The two youngest got "Lady and the Tramp" stuffed animals (renamed "Belle and Cho-co-lat-e') and then an airbrush Crayola set was found at TK Maxx for Isla, while we were really looking for new fake Ugg boots for the girls for the winter.

It also inspired our Friday night dinner.  Isla decided we needed to eat at a restaurant, complete with signs, a menu and silverware wrapped in napkins (kitchen roll--we are classy like that ;) 

Saturday is a special day...

Daddy took a Saturday off! It was nasty this morning outside so everyone started an indoor chore. 

This one has a real gift for scrubbing grout! In fact we had to tell her not to scrub so hard as she was sanding grout out with her scrub brush (the magic things you buy from Amazon), all while singing 'Singing in the rain' soundtrack and doing hand movements from the dances (we bought the dvd this week--and she loves 'all I do the whole day through is dream of you..'

I was scrubbing the mudroom when she asked if she could help (she was trying to dig through pockets of jackets looking for money). Instead I told her I'd pay her .20 for every full square....such a motivated girl! And she learned a little about geometry--although she quickly realised she could scrub small blocks quicker, but for the same money--daddy was secretly proud. 

Then she wanted in on the payment front, so it became .10 a door 

Meanwhile, the boys decided to make molasses-spice cookies. 

Then the girls moved on to gymnastics trampoline routines (the rain stopped) and daddy started some chores we've been waiting 6 months to get to. (With some helpers)

St Andrews aquarium

Life's a beach..

Working out with my dog

We all know she's a little on the crazy side, so this really shouldn't have surprised me when I looked up from makin breakfast and saw this....she told me it was her exercises. 

Bike Riding

Today's walk was teaching to ride a bike, letting the kids play in the burn in their wetsuits and doing LOTS of crafts. Ah, the magic of the holidays. 

More of the Family Five Mile

It was a great walk.

To motivate Ailsa, I gave her my phone and let her take pictures on the way up the Glen 

It was easier to get everyone to walk, if you held hands or pushed them on the bike or stroller. 

And off-roading to look for sticks is always good fun. 

Daddy found a suspended caterpillar in the middle of the path which was a nice stop 

And someone had his own 'method' for crossing the cattle grid. (He decided to step thru every rung---then at the end Murphy decided to jump on his back which he thought was very funny. 

Sunday Afternoon Family 5 mile

We decided it was dry and the dogs needed walked, so we headed out for a family walk. The loop is 5 miles (but we didn't tell the kids that). Ailsa is on a running kick, so she took it as a personal challenge to get home first (and she did). She is very funny about it and who knows where her energy spurts come from! Isla had her bike and everyone took  turns running or being pushed in the buggy--mum made sporadic attempts to run (mostly to catch the kids).

Piglets, and calves and woodpiles, oh my!