A trip to Scotland - David and Ellie

Due to Margaret's illness we decided that David and Ellie should make a trip to Scotland to visit her. It was a hard, last-minute decision, especially as the timing came at the start of the school year. But we decided it was the best thing to do. 

They left on Wednesday and are gone for five days. I am looking forward to the return tomorrow. I was very nervous about being apart from LA, and Ellie was very nervous about being apart from me. Our goodbye at the airport was quite teary, much to my attempt not to let it get that way. I failed.

They arrived safely after some minor fighting with the airlines to assure Ellie and David could actually sit beside each other. I have talk to them each day on face time. FaceTime is a wonderful thing. Being able to see Ellie and see how she's doing has been helpful to me, and I believe to her as well.

She has really enjoyed the time with granny, Miller, grandpa, and all the Scottish cousins she has met. She got to see Great Nana twice. I think she appreciated getting to see her. At the first visit she actually did a little ballet for her to twinkle twinkle.

I held down the fort at home with Max and Claire. It wasn't easy at first, as I was recovering from strep throat. But for the last few days we've hit a nice rhythm and I have gotten to enjoy the simplicity of the two of them. It's hard with three very different ages to feel that you share yourself appropriately with your kids. When it's down to two, it is much easier.

Max has been my big boy and little buddy. He has slept most nights in the bed with me at his request of course. He feels quite special getting to do that. 

Our family handled being separated across the Atlantic pretty well. 

Here are a few pictures from Ellie and David's trip. I don't really have the stories to go with them. I guess this is a start of many times in her life I won't know what she's been up to as she grows more independent.