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Originally uploaded by berlydallas.

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Ten Things of Christmas

The Holiday Ten

Instructions: Copy and paste the questions to your blog (with your answers, not mine).

One. What is your favorite holiday movie?
Love Actually! It has my favorite British actors: Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, and Colin Firth!!!

Two. What is your favorite holiday song (title and artist)?
All I Want for Christmas by Mariah Carey

Three. What’s the best holiday gift you were ever given, and why?
I think that my children our the best holiday gifts I was ever given since they were both born around the holidays.

Four. Do you have a special someone to kiss at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s?
Yes, the same person for the past 11 years!

Five. Name of your favorite reindeer?
Vixen

Six. Favorite Holiday food?
Bavarian Mint, my Grandma Verna's recipe. I make them every year and I don't know if I can find the ingredients here in China to make them this year!!!

Seven. Snow day — cuddle by the fire, or hand me a snowball?
Cuddle by the fire, but I have kids now, so snowballs of course!

Eight. What was your New Year’s resolution for this year? Did you stick to it?
I think it was to get through this year, which I have.

Nine. Is there really a Santa Claus?
Yes

Ten. Present, or stocking stuffer?
Presents and stocking stuffers

In Memorium

I recevied sad news yesterday morning that our friend Annette Hess, who was about 29 weeks pregnant lost her baby girl. We are very sad for our friends and want them to know they are in our thoughts.

In Baby News...

In baby news my sister Jenny and her husband welcomed their first baby Abigail Kathryn into the world on Thursday, September 22nd. Abby was 5 lbs, 2 oz and mother and baby are doing well. There was also a weird coincidence, my friend in Arizona, Donna Rugg also had a baby on the 22nd and named her Abigail! Congratulations to everyone!

We are in China now!

I realized last night that I didn't share my new blog address with my faithful readers. I have started a new blog to chronicle our new adventure in China. I have only posted a couple of times, so I hope you enjoy Chengdus and Don'ts!

http://chengdusanddonts.blogspot.com/

I still pictures to share from N. Ireland, so I hope to post those in the next couple of days on Berly's blog. I look forward to your comments!

Scotland the Brave!

After spending the day with Jonny's family in Perth we headed into Edinburgh, Jonny's home for his 4 years during University, to show my dad the sights. Edinburgh is a beautiful city, one where I could definitely live. We were going to be staying with our friends Nick and Jen Ball and their son Charlie. Jen and Jonny went to University together and Jonny had the great honor of giving Jen away at her wedding 5 years ago.

We started our tour of Edinburgh by taking the open top bus tour, which is usually really good. Fortunately and unfortunately the Edinburgh Festival parade was going on at the same time, so we missed some really great sights.



Gemma, Me, and Angus (eating the seat) on the open top bus.

It was exciting to be in Edinburgh during the festival as there were many theatre productions going on and many street actors trying to entice us into attending their performance.



Fringe actors



A very dead looking Fringe actor.

On our second day in Edinburgh we took my dad to Edinburgh Castle. I have been to the Castle at least 3 times and every time it is more enjoyable of a visit. Here are a few photos of the Castle.



The entrancece of the Castle.



Jonny, Gemma, Angus and me inside the Castle.



Gemma sitting on something she isn't suppose to in the Castle.



Gemma sitting on a cannon in the Castle.



A view from the Castle down to Princes Street.



Here are where they keep the Crown Jewels of Scotland.



My dad with the kiddos.



This is the best toursty shot in Edinburgh. Isn't the Castle beautiful from this angle!

After our tour of the Castle we headed back to the Balls house for dinner and prepared for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The Tattoo is performed just outside of Edinburgh Castle every year during the month of August and during the Edinburgh Festival. This years Tatto consisted of performances of massed pipe and drum bands, motorcycle team, massed highland dancers, Royal Marine display, Steel Drum band from Trinadad and Tabago, Russian Cossack State Dance Company, etc. The night was amazing! I was very surprised by the multi-cultural aspect of the Tattoo. I expected it to be just pipe bands performances. There were motorcycle performances, the Royal Marines showing their military prowess in a skit , Russian dancing and singing, highland dancers and in true Scottish fashion the pipe bands played a Rod Stewart tune and of course Robert Burn's Auld Lang Syne. Here are a few pictures from the evening:








Trinidad and Tobago defensece Force Steel Orchestra

The remainder of our time in Edinburgh we spent walking around Edinburgh checking out the beautiful architecture, the Fringe Festival, the gardens, and people watching.



While walking in the gardens we met this very large Irish Wolfhound.



There were a ton of piper standing around the streets in full Scottish attire playing the bagpipes for photo opportunities. Here is my dad with on of the street pipers.



Jonny, my Dad, and Gemma went for a tour of Holyrood Castle. Holyrood is the Queen's residence when she is in Edinburgh. Here is a view from outside of the castle. Not a bad view for being in the center of the city!



In the gardens we saw this very creative clock made out flowers and plants. It actually is a running clock!



While walking down the Royal Mile we ran into this gallery. It has the name of Gemma's little boyfriend Carson Clark!

We had a fabulous time in Edinburgh! We look forward to our next trip! The Balls took good care of us and Gemma really enjoyed seeing Charlie again.



Charlie and Gemma



Jen, Nick and Charlie

Our visit to Perth

Highland Cow

After our most enjoyable time at Adi and Dot’s wedding we headed back to Perth to spend the day with Jonny’s Aunt Inez and Uncle John. We were also able to see their daughter Amanda and her two teenagers Andy and Amy.



Andy



Amy



The group outside the Girvan’s flat in Perth, Scotland.

As always we had a lovely visit with the Girvan clan and their hospitality was impeccable!

Next up, Edinburgh!