Highland Games

On Saturday we slapped a kilt on Oliver and headed up to the Highland Games at Loon Mountain. You could not have asked for a more beautiful day! It ended up being about 70 all day so Oliver was able to wear his kilt all day long! He was not alone in his Scottish-wear. I had no idea so many people in New England owned kilts! Anyway, it was so much fun, Oliver was perfect all day, we ate our brains out, listened to some great bands, and just had an awesome day over all. Can't wait till next year's games...Shane's going to buy himself a kilt!

Oliver's first bus ride!! (we had to be shuttled to the Games from The Whales Tale)

One of the many pipe bands warming up...does one of them seem like he's with the wrong group?

Baby Kilt!! Many thanks to Carolyn for tracking this beauty down!
The main event...the Caber toss-Here is a video of one being tossed from the Games 2 years ago (which we were also at) Our friends, Deb and Kevin
My fave! The Highland Dance Competitions! These dances are amazing!

We saw this really awesome band called Albannach. They are like the grunge of pipe and drum bands! Exactly our style! They were really fun to watch and we bought one of their DVDs so we could bring the excitement home! When we watched them my first thought was "Take THAT Ariane and your Riverdance! These guys could take down your dancers any day of the week!" Sorry Ari!!

Hiking and Daniel

I recently started babysitting an 11 week old baby named Daniel. He is very easy and it certainly makes the days go by quickly! Oliver gets a little jealous sometimes when I've been holding Daniel too long, but he seems to be adapting quickly...its good practice for him for the next one! (<-thats not an announcement)

The boys!His hair actually grows like this! A natural mohawk...take that Angelina Jolie!

The second day I babysat him I took the ambitious step of going hiking with both of them...It wasn't easy but I made it! Daniel is in the stroller, and Oliver is aslepp in the backpack...I couldn't feel my arms the next day!

scotland...sigh

So I've been harassed by a certain sister-o-mine to update the blog. In Oliver news he is crawling, clapping, and stood alone for 20 seconds yesterday.
In other news, this time last year Shane and I were in Scotland. It has been a rough year since returning from there. We talk often about if it was the right decision. Then I think about the fact that Oliver's grandparents would have seen him at Christmas and in March. I just can not fathom that. I love that Oliver shakes with excitement when he sees his Grandma. It has been such a blessing to live next to my parents this past year. They have been so much help to us. I think about being in labor and how much help mom was (with that "Ah yes, I remember that, thats normal" attitude) and how I didn't have to cook for 2 months after having Oliver because we were still living at my parents. Then I think about the rock hard bed in Scotland. And the ridiculously useless pillows. And I think about when the midwife asked me where my pubic bone was (so she could measure my belly) and I thought she said "On what date were you born" so I said my birthday instead of "yes." I think about those things and I realize that no matter how many trials we have gone through this year that it was definitely the right decision to come home.

BIG BABY BISCUITS!!

WARNING:
BIG
BABY
BISCUITS
AHEAD!!!
NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!!!!!

Family Hike

A few months ago I bought a hiking backpack off of Craigslist. I hiked with it once and mainly used it to do chores when Oliver didn't want to be on the floor (good for vacuuming, chopping veggies, sweeping, etc. that can't be done while holding a baby)
On Tuesday we went down to Chamberlain-Reynolds Experimental Forest and spent an hour exploring the trails. Our shoulders were pretty sore by the end of the walk, but it was worth it for the views!
Oliver was so pooped by the whole trip that he fell asleep on Dad's back!

A Visit with Cousins

Last week we helped Shane's sister, Crystal, move out of her apartment in Porland, Maine so that she can move to San Diego. We moved a bunch of her stuff to Shane's parent's house in Penacook. On the way we stopped and spent the afternoon in Portsmouth with Sheena, Shane's other sister, and her family. We had a great day with them!

Sheena, Oliver, and Crystal

Kayley, Zach, and Oliver

Mark, Sheena, Oliver, and Jessica