Not Quite Cirque de Soleil, but Pretty Darn Good

Happy Burns Day!

A day late but still. Seems right to post our nerdy Burns red jumper shot with the Scottish country in a state over National independence.

This is Team Roberts the day before "the juggling show". Something Savvy has created from start to finish and involves her and MegaDob heading to the Macrobert centre tomorrow, stealing a stage and busking with a crazy routine they've practised. It involves forward rolls, yoyos, juggling (of course), and "something for the young ones too" as Savvy describes it. Managing Savvy's expectations has been tricky. She keeps inviting folk to "the show" and we're really worried she's expecting 100s with popcorn and lights.

More on Sav - she's doing great with her vocab:

- Oh, how magnificent!

- That one in particular

- What are the consequences

etc.

-But potato is still "tato" (second "t" optional).

Mac is starting to get a bit cheeky. Doesn't like being told off (bursts into floods of tears).

We call him the Swedish Chef from the muppets as he is always throwing bits and pieces wildly over his shoulder, one cheerio at a time. He can walk short distances with a wee walker but is showing no signs of wanting to let go. No rush, little guy.

Harvey's Outdoor Forest Party: Wet, wild, FUN!

A great ride to Dunblane

A gorgeous Sunday for getting out and trying Dob's new helmet cam (thanks Nana)

I had the lighter load but quads didn't agree on the climb.

Tree down so it was a muddy work around for Team Roberts.

A stop at the cafe...

...and a trip to the park...

...before a cheeky train ride home.

A few cute ones

Sav comes out of her room ready for a sleepover. Party shoes in hand for putting on on arrival.

Another great outfit for child number one.

Mac soaks up what he can from the beer mat at the librewery. Free cuddles with Ian.

Mac gets in a jam while pushing himself on his trolley.

The Strange Game of Football

I went to Ibrox in Glasgow today to watch Rangers vs Aberdeen. Good fun. But a few crazy observations:

Crazy 1. Found the crowds quite negative, even toward their own players. Not the kind of fans I would want to have in my cheering squad, "terrible, rubbish, go home" … and a lot worse from the 75 year old grandma in the section beside me.

Crazy 2. As for violence, sectarianism, and racism, in the packed stands of 50,000, the organisers can only allow 1,000 away fans. They are kept segregated on the trains as they approach the venue, and then ushered direct to their wee corner (on the far left above). To protect both the home and away crowds (from each other), the away crowd are penned in with security guards throughout the whole game.  Check out the below zoom in of the away crowd.  Glen remembers it all - he was at Protestant school (rangers in blue) and across the playing fields was a Catholic school (celtic in green) - scrapping all the days away.  Madness.

Crazy 3. It is a lovely game, football, but in a nation of 5m people, how can the country get behind their team (by shouting abuse) and fill stadiums 50,000+ every weekend of the season, even when the teams are made of almost no Scots and play in a rubbish league (even by UK standards, let alone Europe).  The papers are full of football stories, and yet our very own Scots are doing wonders in the pool and the media, the people, don't care.

Crazy!

Love at first sight

Ok, Mac has been on a train loads of times, but usually sleeping or too young to appreciate the adventure.  This was the first journey where he really took in the sensation of motion while marvelling at the outside world passing him by.  Gotta love the Wallace monument and the Ochills in the background.

Mac Turns One…Again! Announcing a change in birthdate to 12 Jan!

We were all sick on rotation during the holidays and Mac stayed sick for 3 weeks (only just better now). Plus, after all the Christmas excitement, it was exhausting to get fired up for a party on the 2nd of Jan. Therefore, we are officially moving Mac's birthday to the 12th of Jan from this year forward. Not so long away that he will be gutted at having to wait for presents when older, but not so close that we will still be jetlagged from the holiday madness. The 12th of Jan it is!

Lovely jammies from Nana - thank you.

Just not himself:(

When the wee guy is ill, the only thing to cheer him up is a good rock in the swing.

Tool time at his party today. Happy Birthday lovely boy!

Captain Canada(s)

Captain Canadas prepare for trail clearing in the forest after crazy heavy winds take down trees, small and large.

Sav joins in on the disc launching action.

The boys in action.

TEAM Brand - Part Two of Three

Another work related post. But camon - doesn't Hannah look great? Look out for her in London!

A: It's what Mommy tells you when she is too lazy to give you a proper answer.

Q: What does "blah blah blah" mean?

New Toys New Clothes

Happy First Birthday Mac!

 
Hiya - yup, it's my day!

All very ill still so a bit of a struggle to make it up Dumyat to take advantage of the light snow dust, but we pushed on.

 

Presents and cards a bit much for the wee one even with Big Sis' help. But he got into it eventually.

No cake for Mac so a fish cracker line up instead.  And another, Bartender!

"Mommy your fat bit round your tummy is back"

 

Said Savvy to me on the 31st. Timing wasn't great - was heading to the Marshall's to celebrate new years with a big ganache cake. Sadly Mac was ill on arrival. He started in the kitchen but managed to work his way round the house with his sickness...three loads of laundry later we got him down so we could enjoy the food and company. Glen started 2012 at 4am on the 1st with Mac's recycled bug. He emerged from our room a broken man at about 7pm before Mac started round two of the barf fest. And today Sav's been hit. The boys are better but I live in fear...I'm next!?