Chow Time and hitting the sack

So, Josh and I went to Edinburgh Friday and Saturday whilst (a good Scottish word) Nana and Papa took great care of Rebekah and Luke. I took over 100 pics, so I had to organize them somehow. Since half of the joy of traveling for Josh and me is eating, I thought I'd start there!

We didn't actually eat here, but I liked the name.

We started off at Turkish Kitchen. We like ethnic food. We loved this restaurant.

Great hole in the wall ambiance.

We kept finding these 3 course meal deals...what's better than eating than eating a lot??

Josh got a lentil soup and I had ravioli with tomato sauce and yogurt to start.

Then, he had mini lamb burgers and I had chicken kebabs. We finished with baklava- fab all the way around.

We happened upon Mai Thai- we decided to splurge a bit here and get a "set menu"- where you get a variety of starters and entrees.

We had fish cakes, spring rolls, pork ribs, chicken sate with peanut sauce. Delicious.

Then, we had a feast of green curry, sweet and sour shrimp with pineapple, ginger beef, and jasmine rice. Another score.

Also didn't eat here. Hilarious name. Tatties are what they call potatoes here for you slow ones.

This sign at our hotel cracked me up. We were room 507.

The inside of our hotel room. We were very comfortable. You know the honeymoon is over when you pick twin beds over a small double. :)




Our hotel. Inexpensive, which suited us great. It came with a great Scottish breakfast, too.

Also funny. (sound it out)

Great pipers throughout the city.

We had another 3-course meal at this great Italian restaurant.

I forgot to photograph the minestrone soup, but here is what was left when I did remember to photograph Josh's chicken milanese and my pizza.

Great dessert- chocolate something or other with vanilla ice cream.

We had our 4th and last fantastic meal last night at a Thai restaurant (did I mention we really like ethnic food?).

We started with chicken spring rolls.

Then, Josh got #35 and I got #32. Helpful, I know. :) Both had chicken and were delicious!

Check back and I'll post our sights- lovely trip!

Beach and Winter Gardens with Nana and Papa

It has been HOT! We actually went to the beach in shorts!

He loved his ice cream!

And being held by Papa.

And going down the slide with Papa! I think he likes his Papa!

Rebekah was excited to see 7 turtles sunning themselves!

These are all from the Winter Gardens...I thought Dad would like all the flowers.

Luke giggles now WORKING!

Okay- Josh fixed it so you can view my precious boy. Try again! (See post below)

Giggles Malone

Check out how precious Luke is! Luke is laughing at Rebekah, who was jumping in puddles. NO ONE was tickling him. :) I NEVER do video, so this is totally worth it- turn up your volume!

Nana and Papa!!!

Rebekah has been soooooooooooo excited that Nana and Papa were coming! Us, too, actually! Truth be told, we just love Josh's parents! They flew in on Monday and have adjusted beautifully. They both managed to sleep on the plane and the past 2 nights fairly well. I wasn't sure how long they'd take to adjust, but I knew all was well when 1) we played a game the day they arrived at 9 pm! and 2) Nana and I spent afternoon nap time shopping within 24 hours of their arrival! Phyllis is the ONLY woman who can outshop me! It has also been nice to have 4 extra hands- Mike is game for anything and doesn't mind staying with kids or a sleeping kid while we galavant around. Thanks, Papa!

We did have a scare that a bag didn't arrive, but it was delivered within a few hours and my, what a fun bag it was!! I sent Phyllis a massive list of needs and wants for all of us, from food, to stuff we'd like for our new flat next month, to clothes for all of us. She got it all. Maybe you missed that- ALL. I was so excited- it was like mini-Christmas! Just like when my mom came bearing gifts, I was like a litle kid going through it all! Phyllis had the added advantage of getting to bring more luggage due to there being 2 adults' worth of allotted baggage, and cool weather clothes being on sale in TX, so she stocked up for us! I am just tickled and blessed beyond belief. Thanks, Mike and Phyllis, for taking the time and spending the money to spoil us so much!

She'll kill me for posting this pic- we were trying out our new camera they picked up for us (thanks agin!) and promised it wouldn't be posted, but it turned out so cute! I loved it.

Both kids LOVE Nana and Papa. Srriously, I have hardly touched my children the past 3 days. Luke has truly turned a corner with his added skill of crawling and that freedom has chaged everything about him. He is so content, I am just beside myself. (Granted, his sleep has seriously waned and he cries almost every night at bedtime- hard and for a LONG time :( but his daytime attitude is PRECIOUS, so I guess it's a trade-off. He also has a massive molar poking thru, which can't be fun...always teething- do they really need TWENTY teeth?)

Nana playing with both kids...it was so sweet, we had been talking to R about when they were coming and it ended up being easiest to explain, "You'll sleep 3 more times before they come...2 more times, next time you wake up, they'll be here!" Sure enough, she woke up, I wnet in, and in a very sleepy, but excited voice, she asked, "Are Nana and Papa here?!"

My poor Mom had a hard time adjusting coming here, mostly because Luke was crying a good part of her first night, and she was sleeping in the room his room comes off. Now the light stays around so late and comes in so early, especially in that room, that we decided to give N&P our room so they could actually sleep. Interestingly, Luke had a hard night (probably because I tried to go in Luke's room to grab the air mattress and woke him up...that MIGHT have contributed to it- sadly, I wasn't even successful b/c the silly mattress was wedged under the crib and i just couldn't get it). So, I sneaked into R's room and pulled her extra toddler mattress onto the floor and curled up there. She slept fairly well, and woke up at 7:10, blinked a bit, saw me, and excitedly goes, "Mom!!! Did you sleep in HERE? With ME?!" Precious girl. Poor Josh was on Luke duty and rubbed his tummy and tried to soothe a very sad baby at midnight. It took some time and some Ibprofuren, but Luke went down and slept in. Thanks, Josh. :) Last night was a rough put-down, but once asleep, Luke slept fine.

We have a fun weekend and week coming up..i"ll tell you about it next time!