Scotland, Snow, & Santa- Oh my!

Playing outside in my first proper snow storm!

Busy busy post this week. So much to share! We could have put TONS more photos because Alicia got a fancy new camera and is sharing all hers with us too, but I think you'll like what you see :)

We drove through the Lake District in North Western England en-route to Scotland. There are many lakes here, but Lake Windermere is the largest natural lake in England and we stopped here for some photos. I had so much fun chasing all the ducks and pigeons, I really didn't want to get back in the car!

Mommy's favorite picture of the lake.

Our week was very eventful in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland! We had so much fun seeing new sights with our friends Clint and Alicia. It even started to snow our last couple days there. Big, fluffy, beautiful flakes that we all admired from our 6th floor apartment. This place provided an amazing view of the city outside, but you'll have to ask the boys what they thought about carrying all our stuff up all those stairs (and we drove so everyone packed a bit extra)!!

Edinburgh Castle... our apt. was just down the street
(which worked out nicely when I'd had enough and was due for a long nap!)

Castle view from the Royal Park.

Castle view toward the bay over the city.

The city was so beautiful at night. They even had a Christmas Fayre going on where we got to sample some yummy food and buy a few nice things!

The city was built in a stair-step fashion so everywhere you went, you had a great view!

Daddy and Uncle Clint went on a Whiskey Experience tour. They got to learn about how it is made in Scotland and sample a few different kinds. They also saw the world's largest collection of Scotch Whiskey. They appeared to have enjoyed themselves!

Our last day there brought beautiful big snowflakes. The morning we left Mommy took a couple pictures of the view outside her and Daddy's bedroom window.

St. Giles Cathedral and it's courtyard (below)

We got snow in England while we were away also and it is even sticking around. Our route home took us through York England. Although it was much too cold to explore the city as much as we would have liked; we got some nice photos and a some yummy soup and sandwiches before finishing our journey home. Plus I got to walk around in the snow! (Alicia took a nice family photo that I'll have to get Mommy to look for...)

With the highs this week at 30 (very very unusual here) we think little melting will occur and we may even see a white Christmas - Unheard of! Nicely enough, all the snow is bringing blue skies and bright sunshine. Below enjoy a video of Daddy teaching me what to do with snow (good thing Daisy left weeks ago!)

Finally, I want to share my Santa experience(s) this year. Mommy was only going to share the first, but Daddy really liked the second and thought you should see both.

1st encounter (above) 2nd (below)

And last news from just today...
I spent my last playdate with Ms. Maureen. I have so much fun with her, Mommy hopes to find just as great of a daycare in Texas. Also, although it is not yet official, Mommy got a job! She had an interview on the phone tonight and things went VERY well!

This last video is on the way home from Maureen's. Although Mommy really wanted me to wait 5 more minutes until we got home... I REALLY needed sleep!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!
Shaye, Jody, Madelyn, and Daisy

P.S. Mommy says that you all are getting New Year's Cards...heck, you may actually see us before they arrive!