Month 21

Well what a lovely festive month we have had. The joy of having kids is that we now have an excuse to do lots of fun things like see the Santa & the reindeer. Finlay loved the reindeer at Crathes and wasn't scared of Father Christmas like last year. He saw his first Santa at the NCT Christmas party a couple of days before and got a giraffe mask as a present- he then wanted to wear the mask all the time around the house. He has certainly sussed the whole present idea, especially the unwrapping part. He also loved all the singing and balloons at the Christmas party.

We had the annual mulled wine and mince pies afternoon and Finlay was lucky to have both his godparents round to play as well as Euan, Alex, Lizzie and Billy and their parents. The weekend before Christmas saw us heading to Duthie Park for the carol concert. Finlay was very good and enjoyed all the singing and jangled his bells almost in time to Jingle Bells, and then for the next song, helped to conduct the brass band with his bread stick…

The following day we had booked a local hall and organised a toddlers Christmas party and it was also Connors birthday party too. The wee ones loved the bouncy castle and all the bikes and scooters and running round. Then they all sat quietly at little tables and chairs for their snacks - think they had all entered nursery mode. The afternoon was great and our friend Dave made a very good Father Christmas - well done Dave. Think the Santa suit may a fair bit of use in the next couple of years.

Christmas saw us heading down to Cornwall. It was touch and go whether we were going to make it with all the snow because they closed the runway for 3 hours as we were driving there.

We stopped of to see Nik's brother Kerry and partner Cheryl in London. Finlay was good practice for them, because they are expecting in the New Year and need to do a bit of child proofing in the lounge.

Next stop was Cornwall after a 4 hour train journey Finlay was very good, watching Happy Feet on the laptop, and playing not too loudly. We were blessed with cold but dry sunny days and got out down to St Michaels Mount where Finlay had a lovely time playing on the beach.

The Millers headed down from Salisbury, so for the first time in 18 years all 3 sisters were together hence the family photo. Lots of us headed to Eden to go ice-skating and there was a special toddlers session where Finlay delighted being pulled along on a sledge and making piles of ice. And on the way back north we stopped at Duncan and Verena's where Finlay loved playing, eating and having a bath with Isobelle and Amelia.

Finlay with his hobby-horse early christmas present from Godmother Ruth

All the wee ones sat nicely having tea at the Christmas party

Daddy and Finlay riding on a scooter

Father Christmas (aka Dave) gives all the wee ones satsumas and a packet of raisins

Finlay, Annie, Ruth and a Reindeer

Finlay: "What jammy scone Mummy?"

Finlay and Daddy's massive snowman or
"hee-man" as Finlay calls it

Finlay and Daddy in the snow

On a sledge at the Eden Project

"Faster Daddy"

Our bouncy boy in front of St Michael's Mount

Finlay on the sofa with Duncan and Verena's girls: Isobelle and Amelia

The Truscott extended family Christmas 2009

Month 20

Well it's been a creative month with Finlay enjoying playing with PlayDoh, paints and all manner of foods and toys in paddling pools (think Rice Crispies, porridge oats, lentils etc.) at "Create" an arts class for toddlers. Better than get that messy at home.

Finlay enjoyed lots of play sessions at friend's houses and loved playing with the triplet girls and they all looked so cute sat on a cushion in a row. We also had fun at Lindsay's where Finlay got to play with all of Connors cool toys. They all seemed to fill the room much more than a year ago - something to do with all being bigger!

We went to an afternoon family ceilidh at Westhill - a great idea. He loved all the dances and we didn't get into too many muddles. He also had a great time running after the triplets who were kicking and rolling a ball around, his little legs couldn't keep up though. Everyone thought he was very cute in his little kilt although his 1-2 year age kilt is rather long at the moment; however, his 0-1 year one is just too tight round the belly. Finlay also got to play with Ellen lots this month as we were helping after the arrival of Ellen's baby brother and moving house. They play so well together, chasing each other round the table, up and down the corridor etc. And finally the end of the month saw us getting into the Christmas spirit as we went to an agricultural store where they had Santa arriving in a helicopter. Only in North Scotland could you get a couple of hundred people standing in a field when it was sleeting, waiting for Santa and his elves to arrive in a helicopter. We warmed up inside where there were lots of fab Christmas displays and toy trucks of every brand you could imagine. We then headed to Aberdeen to have a play in the Snow Dome which you hopefully saw on our Christmas card.

Finlay in his kilt (a little too long) with sporran that Nik made!

One of the triplets "throws some shapes", with Nik and Finlay dancing

Finlay takes Mummy for his first Gay Gordon's

Finlay's first School Photograph
(What a charmer)

Steve and Ruth built a MegaBlock tower that Finlay could fit into

Finlay on a horse that Daddy made out of the MegaBlocks

Family Robinson in Aberdeen's Snow Dome

Santa arrives in Aberdeen by helicopter

Month 19

October saw Annie's folks visiting and at last, the Loch Ness marathon. We headed up to Inverness the day before in gale force winds and torrential rain only having a quick stop at the Clava Cairns on route. Luckily the weather improved on race day. Our self-catering apartment was great, very central and had everything we needed including lots of books for Finlay and the Racing Stripes DVD (more later). So we headed off to the marathon pasta party where we all had soup, pasta and pudding. Annie's folks had to carbo load too as they were looking after Finlay on Sunday.

Everything seemed to go just right for the run. Neither of us hit the infamous 'wall', and we were both very happy to finish and chuffed with our times, Nik in 3 hrs 47 mins, Annie in 4hrs, 27 mins. The cheering from supporters really kept us going and we were delighted to raise over £1,700 for MacMillan Cancer support - thanks to all our friends and family for your fantastic support and generosity. The next two days we could be seen waddling around Inverness; you could definitely spot other marathon runners from their gait too. We managed to see a mother and baby dolphin up close at Chanonry point. We also went to Glen Affric, Urquart Castle and the Loch Ness Centre.

As mentioned previously Finlay loved the Racing Stripes DVD about a zebra who wanted to be a race horse. So his favourite word is now "horsey" and we frequently have to go to the stables along the railway line. Finlay has learnt lots of animals and his lion's roar is very good.

We had a busy time toddler sitting Charley first then Ellen while their Mums' gave birth to brothers for them. Finlay thought it was great fun having his friends round to stay and sharing breakfast too. We had a long weekend trip to see Staff and Lisa in Kent at the end of the month. Finlay loved copying Emily and we had lovely outings to the beach and a farm where Finlay loved the animals, and an adventure trail (danger monkey once again). Finally Finlay dressed us a cheeky little devil for his Halloween party at nursery.

Finlay having fun with Grandad T

As you can see, Finlay really likes bread!!

Finlay, Mum & Dad with a rare sighting of the Loch Ness Monster in the background

Finlay with a cuddly Nessie

The wild dolphins named Zephyr (mother) and Pilchard (calf) off Chanonry Point

Family Robinson at the end of the October 2009 Loch Ness Marathon

Nik running and finish time

Annie running and finish time