St. Anthony's Chapel- Holyrood Park

Last Saturday, whilst experiencing a very tiring growth spurt, Deaun needed an extra nap in the late afternoon. Dallin and the twins were itching to go adventuring, so I stayed home with the snoring child while they headed to Holyrood Park. Holyrood Park is only a 5 minute walk from our flat, so we've been several times. It's so big that everytime we go, we see something new. 

Wandering, giggling, running, and exploring ensued. They walked about two miles across the park (and then caught a bus home) and Dallin says that the twins were just in heaven running free in whatever direction they wanted to go.

(Pushing the wind back)

During their wanderings, they visited St. Anthony's Chapel on the north eastern side of Holyrood Park. While the origins of this chapel are unknown, it's been around since at least the early 1400's. Hugo Arnot, author of "History of Edinburgh" (1779) wrote that St. Anthony's Chapel was, "a beautiful Gothick building, well suited to the rugged sublimity of the rock." Aren't these ruins just breathtaking? The stone is just gorgeous and it's so secluded. I love that even in the middle of the city, you can get so far away from people and just be alone in nature.

Dallin loved being able to have a "date" with the girls. He's been really busy with school, so I think it was good for them to be able to go out together without Deaun and I slowing them down. Dallin is such a wonderful dad to take them out adventuring and they all had a really wonderful time. (Or so he tells me...)

The Twins turn 4!!

Happy Birthday to my favorite ever twins!
Sabrina and Fiona are such special little girls. They are funny, smart, happy, forgiving, kind, and beautiful. And a million other things. It is so fun having them in our family. We love them so much.

Sabrina:

Fiona:

Birthday dinner: Sausage rolls and oven chips with apple squash to drink. (Their favorite meal, also very British. Also in this instance, squash isn't a vegetable, it's a drink mix, although it confuses me still everytime someone says it. "I want some squash!" never fails to surprise me until I realize they are just talking about juice mix. Ha)

Birthday cake: Individual double-decker cakes. (Where we learned that substituting whipped cream for frosting is apparently not acceptable. Lesson learned.)

Birthday activity: Swimming at the pool down the street. The girls had been begging to go for quite some time, and they loved every second of it once they figured out how to use the floaties to help them swim.

Presents: Too many! These girls were spoiled. They got presents from Mom and Dad as well as two packages from their Grandma & Grandpa "Truck" and their Grandma & Grandpa "Whitecar" in America. They loved every single present though and said thank you and even wrote thank you cards for everything they got.

And now a little bit about each girl indivitually, because even though they are twins, they are each very much, their own person with her own likes and dislikes.

Sabrina (pictured below): The oldest. The boss. The girliest. Loves words like graceful and lovely. Favourite colors are pink, purple, and sparkles. Wants to be a princess or a doctor when she grows up. Her favourite part of being a twin is chasing Fiona. Thinks Fiona is good at gymnastics. She is beautiful and smart and I can't even begin to tell you how much I love her.

Fiona (pictured below): The younger. the peacemaker. The daring and adventurous. Loves slaying dragons but is afraid of the dark. Favourite color is purple. Wants to be a princess or a mechanic when she grows up. Her favourite part of being a twin is always having Sabrina to ride bikes with. Thinks Sabrina is good at doing tricks. Think's Dad's kisses are good but Mom's are yuck. Is gentle and funny and beautiful and adores Baby Deaun. I love her more than I can say.

 So happy 4th birthday to my beautiful girls! I can't believe they are this big already!

Preston England LDS Temple

This past Saturday, we took a daytrip down to the Preston England temple in Chorley, England with some new friends. 

We got up extra early that morning and were out the door by 5:35 am to catch a bus to Waverley Station. From there we took a three hour train ride down to Chorley. Then we caught a bus to the temple. The bus driver didn't make us pay to ride the bus when he found out we were going to the temple. It was so sweet of him.

We came to the temple with Neal and Dani Lutz and their adorable daughter Eleanor. They are Americans here for school just like us. Neal is doing an MBA at Napier. They were actually on our flight from Chicago too. Jen and I were pretty sure they were LDS too because of his BYU shirt. Happy coincidence that they also in our ward. 

We watched their daughter while they did a session in the temple and then they watched our girls so we could go. It felt so calm and peaceful to be at the temple after a while away from it. 

Once we both were done at the temple, we caught the bus back to the station, grabbed a bite to eat, and rode the train home. Oh how the girls loved riding the train! They have been asking since the moment we got to Scotland to ride the train. It was a dream come true for them.

It was a long day, and the girls were all very tired and needing sleep, so there were a few tears on the ride back, but mostly overtired and slightly hysterical giggling. It was so fun to watch all four girls interact and keep each other entertained. That little Eleanor is sure a doll!

We hope to be able to visit the temple again a few more times while we are here. Once we got back to the city, we caught a bus home. It was wonderful to see the city at night. The castle was all lit up and gorgeous and ready for photographing. 

Overall, it was totally worth getting up early and being exhausted to get to see and go inside the temple. We had a wonderful time and we're SO grateful to Dani and Neal for inviting us to go along with them. It's sometimes been hard for us to find the motivation to get out and explore with the girls while juggling nap times and strollers and backpacks and long walks, so it was nice to have some friends to go with!

A successful weekend for sure!

*Visited 20 September 2014

Craigmillar Castle

Craigmillar Castle is located in Southeast Edinburgh. Some people call it "the other castle" in Edinburgh, but even if this is the case, we loved visiting it. Built by the Preston family in the 1300's, it was used until the early 17th century and then was left to ruin. 

The castle is well known because Mary Queen of Scots visited it frequently, including after the birth of her son, future king James VI. And it was there that the "Craigmillar Bond" was made- the pact to killer husband Bramley. 

Dallin and I bought a Historic Scotland membership so that we could visit a lot of the tourist places (Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Craigmillar Castle, etc.) multiple times and for free and we think it will see a lot of use. 

One of the things we loved about Craigmillar is that it wasn't very crowded. We could explore the castle at our own pace and we're able to take a lot of time without being crowded out. It was fun getting lost among all the rooms and staircases. We will definitely go again! 

From this vantage point, you can see Arthur's seat and Edinburgh Castle in the distance. 

No visit to a castle would be complete without a family selfie!

Sabrina practicing her gymnastics. 

And Fiona too! 

Craigmillar Castle- visited 13 Sept, 2014

Deep Conversations- Vol. 3

More deep thoughts, for your reading pleasure.

Sabrina; Deaun came from mommy's tummy.
Grandpa Wayne: Really?
Sabrina: Yeah.
Grandpa: Where did you come from?
Sabrina: The bathroom.

Fiona: I love daddy cuz he's so pretty.
sabrina: Yeah! He is so beautiful!
fiona: He is funny when he tickles me.
Becki: What else do you love about daddy?
Sabrina: He loves to go to the farm. There is a little house on the farm.
Fiona: And a slide. And I didn't even pee on the toys!

Fiona: Mom you need to chill down or Santa not going to bring you presents!

Sabrina: I'm gonna cook a baby in my tummy.
Fiona: Yeah and then it's going to pop outta there!

Me: I don't know how to turn on movies at Grandma's house so we will have to wait til she gets home.
Fiona: It's okay. I can help you! I have a strong body!

Sabrina (pointing at Deaun): Oh! Look at her little baby eyeballs! Baby Deaun is such a grabber baby!

Fiona: It's too big!
Dal: What is?
Fiona: You are!

**Some of the following conversations happened LONG LONG ago. But when you are only three, last year and eighteen months ago is practically half of a lifetime. Oh wait... Anyway, I found them on my phone and they were too good not to share.

Sabrina: It's so sunny today.
Fiona: Oh no! Sunny is not my favorite. It's not good.
Me: What do you like?
Fiona: I like the shade is better. The shadows in my room is nice.
Sabrina: I wish the clouds would hide the blue sky.

Sabrina and Fiona fighting at their bedroom door.
Dal goes over to see what is going on.
Dallin: You guys can't fight. What are you even fighting about?
Fiona: I need the door closed.
Dal: Why?
Fiona: Because Sabrina needs it open.

Sabrina: This salads be choking. I just want veggies.

Sabrina: Who tooted? It smell! It was me!

Sabrina: Bug! Bug!
Fiona: Don't worry, I stomp it! (Stomp!)
Sabrina: Bye bye bug!

Sabrina: We not have to sleep in the crib. It's in the closet.
Dad: Yeah, it's in the closet.
Sabrina: Yeah. Cuz it not have batteries, right?

**These are some from when Deaun was a newborn and the girls were learning about nursing.

Fiona: What her doing?! Why Deaun eat your dots?!

Sabrina (watching me nurse): What's sister doing?
Me: She's drinking milk.
Sabrina: What?! That's CRAZY...

Sabrina (watching me nurse): Is she drinking milk?
Me: Yes.
Sabrina: Oh I LOVE milk!

Fiona: What are those? (Pointing to my boobs) And why Deaun eat them? I do NOT like baby milk!

Tourists

                  

One of our first views of Scotland

We're playing tourists right now in our new city. Edinburgh is amazing. It's so old and full of history and you can find beauty in just about everything here. We are adjusting to the time difference, a little homesick, but overall really loving this place. It's gorgeous. 

Waters of Leith Walkway

On the corner, almost home

Deaun loves the new park

A peek of Arthur's seat

Dal and Deaun- Holyrood Park

Fiona- Posing at Holyrood

Sabrina- Holyrood

A view of Edinburgh Castle at Sunset

Portobello Beach

At Portobello

At Portobello

Looking over the George IV Bridge

At the National Museum of Scotland

Pollock Hall

What would you like to see here as we dig in to the city? Have any questions? Recommendations of places to visit?