Month 18

Despite some awful flooding we headed up to Elgin for Matt and Caths wedding. Finlay certainly made an impression with his kilt ("aww isn't he cute") and his bubble machine - the environmentally friendly alternative to confetti after all. We spent the night in a hotel in Elgin as the next day Annie was working in the Cairngorms. In the meantime Nik took Finlay for a long run and then along to a concert that Michelle was playing in. Hopefully Finlays and Ellens "Hiyas" didn't put the orchestra off to much!

In further preparation for our marathon race it was Annies turn to go for the Moray half marathon attempt. She was very chuffed to finish in 2hrs 6mins. Finlay helped by clapping all the runners across the line. The rest of the month saw us doing more runs along the beach front and the railway line before starting to cut back on the training.

Finlay waiting to meet Mummy on a training run

Bubbles at Matt and Catherine wedding

Space-hopper races in Ruth's garden

Finlay's first ascent of Bennachie

Month 17

The start of the month saw us off to Michelle and Steves wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony held in the woods so wellie boots were donned with posh frocks and kilts as the weather was far from summery. This was followed by a lovely meal, beautiful music and lots of running around the marquee by the wee ones. We even managed to get all the Mums and Dads together for a photo in the few minutes it was dry. To carry on the musical weekend we headed up to Fochabers on the Sunday and after a 14 mile run to Spey Bay and back we went to the Speyfest Survivors ceilidh with Ruth and Steve. There was lots of lovely fiddle music to get all our toes tapping and Finlay clapping too.

As our marathon attempt draws closer Nik competed in the Haddington half marathon to get a feel of what a half marathon felt like. He completed it in a superb time 1hr 45mins, so much easier when not pushing Finlay in the pram. Annie and Finlay in the meantime had a lovely time relaxing with Tom and Fi. Not to be outdone Annie then ran 13.1 miles from the house northwards ending up somewhere between Ellen and Auchnagatt. So we were both very tired by the time we went to visit Imogen, Ken and baby Harvey. Finlay was very impressed with Harvey pointing and saying baby baby.

We then headed south to York for a week's holiday with Annie folks and the Millers yes you can get self catering places big enough for nine of us. The trampoline was a big hit especially with Finlay who delighted running around the edge (more grey hairs for Annie then) and rolling about. We had a great time in York and at the railway museum and Yorvik. We also met up with Louise and James in York which was lovely. We also went to the maize maze which was fabulous and is the largest maze in the world shaped as an astronaught. The Robinsons and Miller children took on the old folks (he he!) but we were all impressed that we got round and found our way out. Finlay also loved the pig racing, bouncy giant cushion and water tractor ride. On our drive back north we had a quick trip over to Holy Island managing to get back across before the tide came over the causeway otherwise we would have been waiting another 10 hours. And finally a surprise birthday bash was had for Steve and just to prove we weren't getting old many of us were seen bouncing around the garden on Space Hoppers.

Finlay and Christina, they grow up so fast!

At Michelle and Steve's wedding.

A photo of all the Mums, Dads and babes

Planning some mischief!

Hiding under tables at the wedding

he wee ones loved playing with the balloons

Finlay loved playing on the trampoline

Finlay goes for a ride on some ducks

Katie and Finlay in the rain

Bouncing on the big inflated cushion

Month 16

For those of you who don't know, Nik and Annie are training for a marathon!! Yes a real Marathon, all 26.2 miles of the Loch Ness Marathon in October. See www.justgiving.com/annierobinson or www.justgiving.com/nikrobinson to read how we got roped into this crazy endeavour. We are aiming to raise £1000 between us for Macmillan Cancer Support and as part of this we held a fund raising picnic. Unfortunately the weather was not kind, and dispite erecting a marquee even we gave in and had the picnic inside. Much fun was had by all who attended and we raised £150.

The following weekend we had a night in Inverness Youth Hostel (another stamp for Finlay's book). We drove the route of the marathon along the shores of Loch Ness and were both horrified by the distance that we have commited ourselves to run, and the number of hills involved! Ouch!!

We then visited the Highland Wildlife park which was great, Finlay was very comical when he went up to the tigeress with her three baby cubs and pointed and exclaimed "Wow!". We are not the best example of the Queen's English at the moment with "hey ya", "uh oh", and "wow", but he is certainly really starting to communicate and he definately knows what he wants, and more often what he doesn't want with a sharp shake of his head to indicate No!

He is extremely mobile now, and prefers to walk on his own most of the time, not even needing a hand. He also loves going out for walks at nursery, when they gave the toddlers a choice to go out or stay in, he was first in line to go outside. Definately one outdoorsey little man!

Finlay plays in the ball pool with two of the triplets, at our indoor picnic

Finlay, Craig and the big kids enjoy the bubble machine.

Finlay was "Wow'ed" by the tiger and cubs

Finlay playing with his mega block brick and the tower Daddy built