One of my most favorite things I have ever done, was to attend the U2 concert in Glasgow Scotland in the summer of 2009. Bryan and I were on a trip to Ireland, and knew that U2 was playing in Scotland the next week, so we arranged our trip to include the stop in Glasgow. (Thanks for the idea Andersons!) The concert was so amazing. The only down side was the weird Spanish guy I sat next to (behind me in the photo) that breathed really loudly through his nose......ewww.
Since we are attending the U2 concert in Salt Lake tonight (YIPPEE) I thought I would show you a few of my favorite things we saw while in Ireland and Scotland.
As a result of that trip, I discovered my favorite place on earth (so far). Edinburgh, Scotland. This is St. Margaret's Chapel inside Edinburgh Castle. It is the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh. It is tiny at only about 10 X 16 feet, and very intimate. (A wedding here would be awesome).
There is something so special and reverent about the little chapel. I teared up while inside, (I know...not that surprising considering how often I tear up). But I really didn't want to leave. Bryan finally had to drag me back outside. The Chevron moldings (they looked like they were made of stone) were simply fantastic.
I plan to have a large print of this photo made some day.
A few of my other favorites from around the city. Miracle Mile.
One of Edinburgh's amazing rooflines.
The Castle built on the rock cliffs.
The West Bow. We looked up something at in Internet cafe here. I think it was in the shop with the blue doors.
Another castle view. Photos don't do this city justice.
Another thing I loved loved loved, were all the Georgian style brightly colored doors in Dublin. The doors have been highly photographed (remember this poster?) but they really are cool in real life. And they are EVERYWHERE. It is not an isolated instance, they really are all over the city. Law firms, retail stores, homes, apartment buildings, you name it! They all have these crazy bright colored doors. I took dozens of my own photos of the doors, but since we were always in a moving car while I passed the doors, they are all blurry :( sad I know.
I plan to do another post with more detailed Ireland homes and architecture, but I can't now, I'm off to get ready for the concert!!!
I cried most of the way through preschool graduation. 
This is sort of how it went, "Days of the Week" (snap snap) "Days of the week" (snap snap)....loud sniffling sounds from me. I am not really accepting the growing up of my children very gracefully. This year is especially hard. I have Cameron who has four days left of elementary school, and then will be in Junior High, and Tinny, who is finishing preschool and starting full time school in the fall. At least Lucy is in a non-milestone year. 
I must be overly sentimental, because truthfully this is causing me to have a breakdown of sorts. Bryan insists that I will still like my children even when they are older......we'll see.
I'm just really going to miss the little children phase, and I can't believe it's over. It's making me tear up right now just typing these words. How did this happen so quickly? I feel like I laid down to take a nap and when I woke up they were big. 
On a lighter note, Tinny was the star of the graduation program. During one song in the program their teacher, Miss Tammy, prompted them to "sing louder". 
After the song, Tinny turned to Stella on his left and said loudly, "Really...did you have to yell?" To which the audience erupted in laughter. That was all the encouragement he needed, and he hammed up the rest of the program. I motioned to him to stop, but he didn't, and truthfully I didn't want him to stop. There's always got to be at least one kid to make the program interesting. 
So, I have the summer now to cherish every last drop of fun, before I take Tinny to kindergarten, and the elementary school police may have to forcibly ask me to leave. And then I'll drop off Cameron at Jr. High, where I'll try to hug him, and he'll pretend he doesn't know me. Good Times. 
