A random—and I mean random—selection of photos of the kids.

Sure it’s a cheesy photo opportunity, but it actually produced a really nice photo.

After a hard day at the park, it’s time for a snack.

Our first stop on our trip around the US in 2009 was Austin, Texas, where the Texas Memorial Museum [link] was one of our few actual tourist activities.

Even though it was still quite cold, the girls had lots of fun playing in the pool at their grandparents’ house in Austin.

It’s rare to get a natural smile out of Joan (rather than her trademark cheesy grin), which makes this photo special.

Joan and Alice immediately bonded with Scott (the husband of one of Erica’s best friends), mostly because he let them jump on him!

And there’s the space needle in the background, just to remind you which city you’re in!

Taken during our trip around the US in Apr 2009. Joan on the ferris wheel at the Seattle Centre (Alice was at the hotel after having a temper tantrum).

The kids had lots of fun playing around the International Fountain at the Seattle Center. That thing is just amazing!

Craig and I took the kids to the Bathgate Highland Games in late spring 2009. It was a glorious day and the kids had a ball.

Proof that you can play around with the lawn hose in Glasgow, just not very often.

For Alice’s fourth birthday we had a BBQ in the back garden, complete with sparklers!

In Aug 2009 Craig took Joan on an organised cycle around Glasgow [link].

At the Hina Matsuri for Glasgow [link], Joan dresses in a kimono.

A great photo, taken shortly before she fell out of the tree, bashed her head, and spent four hours in A+E.

Who says you can’t go to the beach in Scotland? On the last day of the school holidays, the weather was just gorgeous and we drove to Stevenston Beach for some fun in the sea and sand.