Before the vacation feeling is a distant memory, I went through the photos from our 10 day trip to Scotland. What a great country - a short trip away, and yet a world of difference. From walking the shores, to enjoying tea and scones, cider in pubs, eating haggis neeps & tatties... I think I've seen enough castles for this year. Gorgeous landscape: lakes, mountains, coast. All that was necessary was a good pair of boots for solid footing on the potentially seriously muddy footpaths and a washer to get the mud out ...!

Why Frosty the snowman doesn't catch on here

The proof that it can snow in the Netherlands. Here is what was left of our snowman (well, he started off as a typical snowman, but kinda ended up more like an inverted snow cone) two days after we made him. Almost pitiful really

Monopoly weekend

Blew off the original weekend plans to run a 10k and spend a family weekend away as everyone felt like just hanging out. Ended up spending hours playing Monopoly - innocent Emily wiping us all pitifully out.
Having one day of snow gave us the chance to have a good snowball fight and make a snowman before the snow completely melted the next day.

Finished the next episode of Harry Potter too... it's a debate who enjoys the reading time the most

Winter in the Netherlands

Brrr ... it's finally getting a little wintry here in Holland. We're hoping it'll freeze enough to let us skate on those canals again...
Here are a few views of the kids during their annual Christmas skating lessons. Emily has discovered the fun of taking photos of yourself....