Linlithgow Palace

Last weekend we went eastward to Linlithgow Palace.  The castle lies between Stirling and Edinburgh and was yet another royal home to the ancestors of Mary Queen of Scots as well as being her birth place.  Though it looks average castle size and isn't whole or furnished, this has been my favorite castle so far.  The grounds we're gorgeous as the castle sits right on Loch Linlithgow and overlooks the countryside opposite the lake.  This is the castle I would have chosen to live in.  Besides the grounds, this castle was so much fun to explore!  There was passage after passage and staircases and entrances over the five levels and underground.  You could play a majorly awesome game of hide and seek in here.

We planned for this visit knowing that there was going to be a Renaissance event for just the day.  We were entertained by a very good jester (those are real knives,) learned about historic artillery and falcon training,  made lavender pomanders (with which to avoid the stench of the servants- and ourselves,) as well as observe a royal feast and banquet with Queen Mary herself!  Each of these activities earned us a tick mark on our scavenger list and the kids were rewarded with a fun badge.

Next to the palace is St. Michael's Parish Church, completed in 1540 and where Mary was baptized in 1542. Jon especially loves the old churches and this one has been restored very nicely from when it had once been used by Oliver Cromwell, 1646, to stable horses or had the walls white washed in the early 1800's.  No such evidence remains, gratefully, and it was a beautiful place to visit.

The pews at the front of the apse were wonderful; each arm had a carving of a wee animal on it.  The mouse was my favorite.

Ancient church or disco?

More Fun Than Disneyland

Howard Park is another lovely place to play in our wee city.  We decided to walk over after picking Arden up from nursery school and Dad was able to meet us on his way home from work.

The teeter totters/see saws in Scotland are pretty cool, but this one has been the most fun by far.  I'm talking just fill up a whole park with these and who needs Disneyland!

I am quite smitten with the combination of my Jon in his handsome work attire playing at the park.

Badgers and Bunnies

While we were living at the cottage Alberto had told us that there would often be badgers, foxes and bunnies about in the fields.  It would always be a treat to spot one of the bunnies but I was determined to see a badger or a fox.  Several nights I went out alone in the field where I had found the badger's burrow, waiting as still as I could.  On a couple of occasions I brought Logan and Jude with me and Jonathan joined us as well.  It was lots of fun tromping through the high grass in our wellies, the kids in their pajamas, after the sun had gone down.  But, still no badgers.  I was actually quite disappointed; I don't know exactly why I wanted to see them so badly but I was in earnest.  

After tucking the kids back into bed I took the torch and told Jon I was going out for one last try. It was near eleven o'clock but I pushed back my fear of being alone in the dark and let myself revel in the cool breeze and the

last bits of pink left in the clouds.  It was lovely and exhilarating and then the clouds gave way to the brightness of the moon and everything around me was suddenly shining and silver.  And, when an hour later there was still no badger, I counted myself blessed to have been a part of such a night.

P.S. I did finally see the back of a badger as it ran away from our headlights as we were pulling up the drive one night- it counts!  

P.P.S Also, I know that badgers can be vicious and that the children have their head right in front of a burrow, but we knew there wasn't going to be anything coming out with the torch light scarring them away in the first place. So we're not bad parents, okay.

Stirling Castle

The weekend before school began we took a day trip to Stirling.  Though we didn't get a chance to explore the city much, it was very picturesque and the views from the castle were amazing.

The best part of our time at the castle was meeting one of the ladies of the house, Mary Queen of Scots' aunt.  She spoke right to the children and displayed how difficult it was for a proper lady to play football, a favorite of little Queen Mary's, as the ball would inevitably get lost in the hems of one's gown.

Our other favorite was the dress-up room!

I Heart Uniforms

Because, seriously- does it get any cuter than this?  I am not ashamed to admit that I was totally giddy  seeing my Logan Bug and Jude-Man looking so smart and preppy and British.  

Sooo, we tried the homeschool thing for Logan's first two years of school and it was good.  I am very glad that we got to keep all the kids together for a couple more years and that they were able to just play and bond at home for a little longer than most.  I had never planned on homeschooling (those mom's were crazy!) but I felt so strongly that it was the  right choice for our family at that time.  And, even though I was terrible at sticking to a schooling schedule and we fell behind a lot last year, I don't regret our decision and I don't feel too guilty about it either.  We covered the basics and then while other kids were in school we were playing with each other, as a family.  

Still, I knew that going into this year, homeschooling wasn't going to be the best option for the children's education ; there was no way I was going to keep two kids on track when I struggled so much with just one.  And, this year, putting Logan and Jude into traditional school felt right. I am so glad they got to experience their first time at school together and we know that they are both ready for  this new phase in growing up.  

We are also very pleased with the primary school they are attending.  We looked at two in our area and knew this one was the best place for our children.  The staff have all been so kind and welcoming and I know that Logan and Jude will thrive with their teachers.  One week down and they have already made friends and love their daily activities- especially gym! Arden is attending a great nursery school here as well.  She goes three hours a day, five days a week and loves it.  Three of the days they have a teacher come in to teach them French, Drama and Dance.  So yay for school!