ScotsFest

A few weeks ago my Scot and I dusted off our kilts and set out for the Orange County annual ScotsFest, where we were not disappointed!  What may have seemed like a very easy task turned out to be a little tricky considering how many accessories accompany a kilt for it to be properly worn.  For those unfamiliar with kilt attire, here are just a few of the accessories that I have learned, which can be very easily explained:

Kilt: man skirt

Sporran: man purse

Sgian-dubh: man knife 

Kilt hose: man stockings 

Garter Flashes: man garters 

Ghillie brogues: man shoes

When worn in unison something very special happens called: man.

And I can't keep my hands off this hunky man when he is wearing his manly kilt!

While at the festival, we met up with his Uncle Dave and their family to enjoy the Scottish festivities, which included,

sheep herding,

celtic harping,

bag piping,

Scottish Dancing,

Log throwing (manliest sport I know of),

Tall Scotsman spotting,

 Scottish Rocking,

 And this guy!

 I've got some Scottish blood in me, but when I come to these kind of things with my Scot, I become enamored with the life and spirit of this vibrant culture and people.  I told McKay on numerous occasions that I wanted our girls to learn Scottish dancing and harp, and our boys to learn the bag pipes and become log throwers.  The cutest thing I saw all day were these two young boys running around in their kilts, completely shirtless.  I resolved then and there that one day that would be my children!  Thank heavens for Scottish people and for my very manly Scot!

Getty

When I was in high school my family came out to California to visit my oldest brother.  Besides spending time with my brother, one of my favorite memories of our trip was visiting the Getty Museum.  I knew that one day I wanted to come here with my husband, I just didn't know that day would come so soon, or that my husband would be this sensational!  

As you take the tram up the hill to the museum, it feels like you are entering the space age, or as McKay put it, "Like entering the planet Risa from Star Trek."  

The best part about the museum is the free admission!  Thanks Getty for being awesome! 

The museum was unbelievable to me then and still is now.  I didn't even need to step inside the museum before I could appreciate the museum's amazing architecture, grounds and views of Los Angeles.  And by the way, I really love hanging out with this guy! 

The museum has many famous and wonderful works of art.  Below are just a few of my favorites.

This was McKay's favorite.

Look at this male model!  What a good looking guy I married!  Rrrarr, Baby!

Our European Family

Since McKay's family lives over in Europe it's always a big deal when we get to see them and this year we got doubly spoiled because we got to play tourist with them in LA.  The last time we saw them was at our wedding, so their visit was definitely overdue.  I still can't believe how big his "little" brothers are!

On a beautifully sunny day (which we get way too many of) we took the family down to the Third Street Promanade and Santa Monica Pier.  I wish we could somehow donate some of our sunny days to our friends from the less fortunate, cloudy citys.  Then I could enjoy some of my much missed rainy days.

Apparently we were not the only people that thought it would be a nice day to go down to the pier!

A large reason for McKay's family coming to LA was because of the parent's planned cruise up to Alaska with their siblings.  With parents gone, we became the "responsible" adults for some of McKay's siblings and cousins.  We had a blast, and I definitely got a little taste of what it would be like to be the mother of 8 children.  Now I understand mother's complaints about making food all the time.  I did nothing but think, and prepare, for what meal I was going to make next.  God bless you mothers of big families, and small families for that matter!  I'm just glad I get to cook for only McKay right now, who fortunately, is a joy to cook for!

While McKay was at work I tried to make sure the kids ate, played nicely together, got out and about, showered, you know, the regular things you worry about making sure kids do, however...

...sometimes that did not always happen.

But when we did it was always worth it!  And it was especially awesome when I took care of all four of my worries with this beach outing!

Up next, the special adventure of Clarissa and I!

The Second Happiest Place on Earth

While skipping, prancing, dancing and singing my way into Disneyland, I declared, "We're going to the happiest place on earth!"  McKay must have felt like he was escorting a 5 year old girl, which in my heart, was accurate.  He watched me in amusement, relishing in my delight with me, but he did correct me.  He sweetly said, "Silly girl! This is the second happiest place on earth!"  I got a furrowed brow and just stared at him.  My bubble had been burst!  But then I thought about it for a second, and how wonderful our wedding day had been in our REAL castle and then responded back, "You're right! The temple is the happiest place on earth!"  Our happiest, most precious memories have been in the temple.  After that serious moment of reflection, I got even happier inside and then continued my happy dance and waltzed through the gate saying, "We're at the second happiest place on earth!" 

 ( I'm pretty sure I offended the Disney employee at the turnstile.)

I'm a very, very deep sleeper, like death-to-the world kind of deep sleep, however the night before we went to Disneyland I must have woke up about 12 times with the biggest smile on my face.  I couldn't stop thinking about all the magical things that would happen the next day - All my favorite Disney characters would be there and I would finally get to ride on all the thrilling rides that I had heard about a million times growing up, but never experienced.  It was a dream come true, but the greatest dream that came true for us was spending the whole day with our closest Utah friends, and their adorable little boys that I used to babysit.  I've missed them soooo much!

I got this nifty little pin to show that it was my first time to Disneyland!

McKay temporarily satisfying his baby cravings...

Our friend's oldest boy was fearless and he's still a little guy!  He hopped on any and every roller coaster that he was just barely tall enough to ride and squealed with delight after each declaring that he wanted to go again!  I love him!  That's right!  He even went on Splash Mountain and absolutely loved it!

Us Looney Tunes in Toontown

The whole morning we all just kept saying how amazing our luck had been because no one was in the park.  We rode rides over and over again with no lines.  We figured we must have hit the lull right before spring break.  Too good to be true?  Yea...around noon, while we were in Toontown, we found out that our "lucky lull" was actually more of an early morning bomb threat.  They let people in for the first 10 minutes after it opened and then completely closed the park off, not letting anyone in or out for 4 hours.  I'm so glad that we made it in during that 10 minute window!  When they opened the park again the lines went from minute waits to hour waits.  McKay and I figure next time we go to Disneyland that it might be a good idea to, you know, maybe just send Disneyland a nice little package with some powdered sugar in it or something...because everyone likes to get sugar through the mail, right?

Ok...I guess not...

Good ol' 50's style milkshakes

SPACE MOUNTAIN

First Attempt: Broke down

Second Attempt: Broke Down after 30 minutes of waiting

Third Attempt: Mission Accomplished 

(We were pretty determined, can you tell?  I guess this was karma's pay back for our incredible luck in the morning)

Posts to come on Singapore and Bali!  I just have to start sorting through our almost 3,000 photos and videos!  It was an incredible experience and we can't wait to share it with you!