Hey there July 5th! It’s time for PART ONE of our summer vacation recap!
I mean…it’s the day after Independence Day. Anyone else besides me finding it hard to adult today? We were up waaaaaaaay too late last night. Sigh.
Okay, enough about me being tired…today’s the first recap of our fantastic trip to Scotland and Ireland!
I always like to break these trips down into numbers for you before we start.
Here we go:
2 parents
4 kids
5 flights
5,896 trips to public restrooms (I mean…could Ashby and Madeley ever just go at the same time?!?!?!)
At least 50 rounds of cards with my big three.
1 road trip driving on the opposite side of the road. And car.
Like 1 billion frites consumed (French fries served at every meal is really the only way to eat, no?)
2 outings to learn how whiskey is made…both Scotch Whiskey and Irish Whiskey
We slept in 1 castle.
At least 20 cappuccinos consumed. They taste better in Europe.
1 haunted ghost tour.
And ALL THE TARTAN. I mean ALL OF IT.
Now, did we see everything? No. Did we miss stuff? Of course. Do we need to go back? ABSOLUTELY! We hit as much as we could considering we had four kiddos in tow who from time to time like to just chill out and not run from one thing to the next, so we tried to do as much as we could without running them into the ground. We ate some AMAZING food, and I tried to take note of each place to share with you…but you know, life happens and I didn’t always jot down these restaurants’ names, but if I do remember (or wrote it down), I’ll add it in the post too.
So, remember a few weeks ago when I said we plan our trips out 2 years in advance? Well, we had originally planned on going to Hawaii this summer, but after Kensington and Smith watched a few episodes of Travel with Kids on Amazon Prime, they asked if we could change it to Scotland and Ireland instead. Um, yes. I love the beach and all, but this is way more mine and Andrew’s speed, so we changed gears and got ready to tackle these two new countries. None of us had ever been to Scotland or Ireland, so it was the perfect trip for the Shull six. Bonus…the week before we left, I found out I was 70% Irish, so it was totally meant to be 🙂 .
Sit back and relax…there are just so many pictures of all the fun!
Airport bound!! We left on a Tuesday morning and flew from Dallas to NYC and then connected on a flight from NYC to Edinburgh, Scotland. The Lord really blessed us because our flight out of Dallas was really delayed, but when we landed, our connecting flight was at the VERY next gate! They were already halfway through boarding, but we were able to just walk right over and get on (instead of changing terminals and missing our flight!).
Because I’m a creature of habit…and because it’s the BEST plane outfit ever. I wore this same maxi dress and jean jacket that I always wear because it just is perfect for flights.
We ate brunch at DFW before boarding the flight. These three sisters were so excited!
Annnnnnnnnd fast forward mannnnnny hours later (THE NEXT DAY), we landed in Scotland around 7:00 AM, went through customs, collected our luggage, met our car service and went to the apartment we had for the next few nights. We all freshened up a bit and then took this selfie as we stepped out into the day to explore Edinburgh. The weather was so nice (low 50s), we were so tired (I mean…legit tired), but we had the day ahead of us and rule #1 for surviving jet lag is NO NAPPING! We conquered the day instead 🙂 . (Psssst: I posted once about our “inflight routine” and how we all sleep on the plane. To read that, click HERE.)
When there is a gorgeous castle as the backdrop to EVERYTHING you know you’re in Edinburgh, Scotland.
We stopped to eat brunch and sat outside in a cute little cafe with a view of Edinburgh Castle. Side note: I’ve had this jacket for YEARS, and it’s so popular that J. Crew still carries it. You will see me wearing it every day for like a week of this vacation. It is MY FAVORITE!!
Photobomber. And when Andrew has his map out…you know we’re in serious vacation mode.
These girls were such TROOPERS!!
Who has time to look at the camera and smile when there’s a castle back there?!?!
I mean…when you’re three, you can only fight the jet lag so long.
We walked all over Edinburgh. It was such a walkable city! We spent the day in the Old Town portion of Edinburgh and there was so much to see and do!
Sweet Madeley! The big kids were already having the BEST time!
We strolled, explored and ate ice cream along the way.
Ashby thinks ice cream helps you fight jet lag 🙂 .
We loved watching this guy perform in the street. He was playing with fire and so the girls cuddled for security 😉 .
We played at the park a little and then, we stopped to pose with the lion. See my boy?
We had heard wonderful things about Monteith’s for dinner, so we had reservations there that night. Everything was delicious! I wish I had taken pics of the inside. It was downstairs in a cozy little den-like restaurant with stone walls. We had calamari for an appetizer and then I had steak frites for dinner. It was so good! We ate an early dinner and then went back showered and went to sleep. We all slept straight through the night and then were ready to go the next day…
Ah! Up and at breakfast sitting by two of my girls. We typically ate a cafe-like breakfast, dinner at a restaurant and then lunch was more pub-style. Psssst: my pullover is HERE.
My view across the table 🙂 .
After breakfast, we had 10:00 AM tickets for a walking tour of Edinburgh Castle. We started here and then the tour took us up to the castle.
Friends, THESE are those TOMS I told you about months ago. The COMFIEST SHOES I’VE EVER WORN. I wore them on this day of the trip…AND EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.AFTER. I brought my pink slip ons and my Go Walks…but after I wore these babies all day, I never looked back. They come in three colors, but my heart belongs to “shade suede”. And my cute jeans are HERE 🙂 .
Here we are…still on the walking tour…learning so much about Edinburgh Castle!
Love this nugget!
Apparently, every August, there is a big festival in front of the castle, so they were busy building these grandstands around the entrance.
Cannons with a view.
I’m so glad it wasn’t windy up at the top of the castle.
Madeley is all “what’s up with your hair?”. Bahahahaha!
Inside the castle made us happy too! After our visit to the castle, we stopped by and visited the National War Museum…but I forgot to take pics of that. It was a really full morning, and we loved it all!
Ice cream makes us happy.
I love traveling with this guy. We counted…30 countries together (and then a handful a part). He’s my favorite person to explore the world with.
We had a pub lunch… #givemealltheshepherdspiefishandchipsbangersandmash …and then visited the National Museum of Scotland.
My thoughts exactly Smith.
She bought a puppy dog purse along the way…and loved showing it off. Doesn’t every girl need a Scottie dog purse? This museum had so many great things for us to see and do. It was VERY interactive with loads of things the kids could play with. Like…
…try and pull themselves up using just their arms 🙂 . It was a fun stop!
Rumor is…if you rub its nose, it brings you good luck.
Ashby loved Edinburgh 🙂
We stopped for an afternoon cappuccino and macaroons and sat at the cutest little outdoor cafe.
Sweet sisters.
I love these girls so much!
Living our best life in Scotland! We were having such a good day!
Selfie life.
We walked from the old town section of Edinburgh to this massive park right in the middle of the city. The kids wanted time to run crazy…so, we let them.
Madeley Moo decided to nap instead.
It was such a gorgeous day to watch the kids play!
After we played at the park, we grabbed a quick dinner before…
…our reservation to go through the underground ghost tour!!! Ha! Ashby! She said she was trying to look scared…trust me, she was not. This was one of our favorite things to do in Edinburgh! It was a big walking tour (probably 20-ish people) and she walked us around telling and showing us so many interesting things about the city.
Kensington’s face! The tour wasn’t fabricated information, it was real info about people who used to live in the city. It was so fascinating!
Madeley was scared.
The tour lasted about an hour and a half…but it didn’t feel long at all.
Madeley was downright frightened.
The last pic of the day I took was here in this old cemetery where they estimate over 300,000 people are buried.
After the tour, we walked back and went to bed. It was a full and fun day to see this beautiful city! Side note, just like when we visited Norway and Alaska…the sun really didn’t set. It was very light and bright all night long 🙂 .
That wraps up PART ONE! Thanks for scrolling through all the pics with me. I’ll see you tomorrow, friends! xo
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
What an amazing trip! I’ve said it so many times, Shay, but you manage so well travelling with so many kids! I’m going to Europe in two months and now I’m considering adding Scotland and Ireland to my itinerary! 🙂
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Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Ramona says
Thank you for the pictures and the post! It looks like y’all had a great time and the kids are so adorable! I can’t hardly wait until the next update! Have a blessed day!
Elspeth Mizner says
What an amazing trip!! I have Scotland and Ireland on my bucket list of places to travel! Love that you were able to go!!
Can’t wait to read more
Lindsey says
Everything looks so amazing!!! What an unbelievable trip!! And can we talk about your skin??! You look fantastic! Can’t wait to see tomo’s post!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank you so much!!
Marcy says
Excellent choice Kensington & Smith! Looks like such fun, the castle and a ghost tour. Can’t wait to read about the rest of your adventure. Thanks for sharing.
Narci Dreffs says
Oh my goodness!!! What a fun first day of recaps!! These pictures are gorgeous, and I just loved this post!! Can’t wait to read more about your trip, friend!!
Carly says
Shay! I’ve been looking to plan a trip to Scotland and as soon as I saw the Shulls went there I couldn’t wait for these posts! Keep ‘em coming!
Lindsay says
Looks like so much fun! I gotta ask, out of every country that you have visited, what has been your favorite?
Mix and Match Mama says
Well…China is obviously my favorite for many reasons, but I always think my heart belongs to England (with Germany being a close second!).
Jana says
The ‘big festival’ that they were getting ready for is the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo that happens every August in front of the castle. The Tattoo celebrates the skills and talents of military bands and display teams from the British Armed Forces, the Commonwealth and military teams from all around the world. I saw it when I was in Scotland for my honeymoon, and it was amazing! I thought I’d add this in case any readers are going to Scotland in the near future, and it’s a can’t miss event.
Angela Ellingson says
Wow!! I’m going to have to check out that Traveling with Kids show for my kiddos! So cool your bigs chose the destinations for this trip! That is crazy how comfy those Toms are. Adding to my wishlist! Very fun to see all of the castles. Can’t wait to hear about the one you slept in!
Susan Angvall says
Looks like a great trip so far! I’m curious, how do you handle souvenirs for the kids? Set amount of money or handle each situation as it comes when they want to buy something.
Mix and Match Mama says
On this trip, we told them they could have three things 🙂 .
Dana says
So fun! That street with the multi-colored building is beautiful! So, I always wonder- do your kids not get cranky? It seems like they’re always smiling and enjoying your trips, but I’m sure there are moments of whininess, right?! Any tips on keeping them happy when walking and traveling a lot? Also, I may have some good news for you. We used to always avoid napping too for avoiding jet lag, but we have found that almost everyone who passes through to visit us can take a nap as long as it is less than 2 hours and before about 3:00 in the afternoon (they need to be awake by then ;)). That, plus melatonin at night (up to 10 mg for adults) has made all the difference in us avoiding most of the miseries of jet lag! We still wake up a little early, but that’s actually kind of fun to get the day going before the rest of the world is up.
Mix and Match Mama says
Ah! Hi Dana! They get cranky sometimes, but for the most part, they are so excited about being there that it doesn’t phase them.
Melissa says
So cool! We’ve always taken our kids when we vacation too, but you inspire me to broaden our travel horizons a little. Thanks for sharing!
Brooke Richardson says
Eeeek! I just love Edinburgh and your fam so seeing all these pics make me super happy.
Sarah Shaneyfelt says
This is a fantastic recap! Can’t wait to read about the castles, too!!
MeetTheShaneyfelts
Alexandra C says
Good morning, Shay! I was wondering if Ashby’s KTS will make long haul flights difficult in the future or if she wears some sort of compression garments when flying? I’m admittedly ignorant to everything about KTS other than what you’ve shared but I know you’ve said blood clots are a concern. Thanks!
Mix and Match Mama says
We tried compression therapy at the beginning of summer (for the second time) and it still backfired on us. They’re tweaking things now and we’ll try again soon…but it just hasn’t been working for Ashby,
Alexandra C says
Thanks! I know you wouldn’t do anything to endanger that sweet girl, I just wasn’t sure if you had to do something special to make sure flying didn’t negatively affect her. 🙂 Can’t wait for Recap #2!
Sandra says
I love this…thanks for posting so many pics. It is beautiful!! My daughter went with her grandma 2 years ago so I missed out, but I’m hoping for an opportunity to visit soon. Those first few gloomy pics are so Harry Potterish to me!
Valerie says
Ah!!! What a great first couple of days! There is so much to love; the castle tour, Madeley’s Scottie purse, and the ghost tour. I’m a quarter Scot and Scotland is on my bucket list, so thank you so much for sharing your trip with us and I am looking forward to your upcoming posts.
Kimberly says
How do you control or limit the amount of souvenirs for the kids on a trip like this? Or any trip in general?
Mix and Match Mama says
We typically set a number. On this trip, we told them they could get three things each. It always cracks me up what they pick. Kensington and Smith each picked silly putty as one of theirs… 🙂
Laura says
Can’t wait for the Ireland recap! My family is planning s trip for next summer!
I noticed Madeley’s boots….. are they comfy for kids? Thanks!!!! 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! And warm!
Mindy Tierney says
I thought for sure you were going to Hawaii this summer when I saw Hawaiian Falls on your summer bucket list post. Wasn’t it difficult canceling airfare and hotels in Hawaii and booking a new destination last minute? Great post and pics. Love all of the details!
Mix and Match Mama says
We didn’t do it last minute! We plan out about two years in advance and the kids changed their minds last summer, so we didn’t have air booked and things like that!
Tracie says
Hawaiian Falls is a local waterpark. 😉
Meagan Ruse says
I am offficially sucked in! This may be my favorite of all your vacations!
Laura says
Can’t wait for the Ireland recap. My family is planning a trip for next summer. I noticed Madeley’s boots- are they comfy for walking? Thanks!!!! 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! My girls love their Wellies!
Ashley says
I was so looking forward to this post! Scotland has been on my list to visit ever since reading and watching Outlander! It’s set in Scotland and the scenery in the show is breathtaking. Can’t wait to hear about the rest of your trip!
Jaren says
Castles are on my bucket list for sure!!! Can’t wait to see more!
Emily Henson says
Shay, you totally need to read the Outlander series (if you haven’t already)! The books have been around since the early 90’s and take place mostly in the Scottish highlands and they are AMAZING! It will make you love Scotland even more! They even do Outlander tours in Scotland because of how big the books and TV series have gotten!
Justyna says
How does the black dress size? I saw it was sold out this morning!
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s not! I fixed the link! I bought an xsmall!
Caitlin says
Awesome looking vacay! What size J Crew jacket do you wear? Very cute!
Mix and Match Mama says
xsmall
Meg says
I just love reading your blogs!! I cannot wait until you get to the Ireland portion, I’m so curious to see all you did, because we just got home 2 weeks ago from a 3 week Ireland and England trip with our 3 kids and my parents!! So funny! It was our kids first international trip and it’s fair to say they have now caught the travel bug too! Thanks for sharing yours! I’ll be taking notes for when we go back and visit Scotland! 🙂
Anna Jones says
I live for your trip recaps!! They are my absolute fave! I love traveling through Europe, so these are especially exciting to me!
Erika Slaughter says
I’m still LOL’ing at Madeley’s face when your hair was wind blown!!! Loved this post and am ready to read more!!
Casey says
Oh my goodness such an exciting trip! Can I ask where your pink slip ones are from? They are super cute!
Mix and Match Mama says
They’re Vince!
Susan says
Shay, are the TOMS you posted grey? I don’t see the option in the Zappos link.
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes!! They are the ones called “shade suede”.
Kristy says
That must be the Edinburgh tattoo they’re setting up for. I have a couple of friends dancing in it! Did you see any Highland dancers?
mary says
I have been waiting for this recap as I am headed to Edinburgh this fall. I cannot wait! I’m guessing you don’t know the name of the Macaroon place you stopped at? I think you guys sold me on the ghost tour, I am such a scardy cat, but It looks tolerable 😉
Mix and Match Mama says
It was so much fun!!!
Karen says
Your photos are amazing! They make me want to book a trip to Scotland ASAP!
And you look so beautiful in all of them Shay! I agree that you were meant to take this trip instead!
Keisha Dawson says
I just love these recaps of your trips! Looks like you had a lovely time!
Melanie says
All of those cobblestone streets just tug at my heartstrings! I LOVE IT!
And those row houses in all colors! How fun!!!!!
Anne says
Great pics! Ironically, we leave for Ireland tomorrow and last year we took an Alaskan cruise the week after you did. So tell me–where are we going next summer, LOL? Hope to see your Dublin review before we leave. Thanks for sharing.
Debbra Weber says
What a great get away! I LOVE Madeley’s little purse–sooo cute! 🙂
Melanie says
Ashby’s coat is so cute!
shawnna Griffin says
hey girl- looks so cool! great pics!
Karen says
Do the Toms run true to size? I have usually downsized a half size on their regular slip ons.
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! I bought them in an 8 and that’s my normal size. I don’t think they stretched like the regular Toms do.
Karah Stracener says
Your vacation pics look amazing. Thank you for sharing. I have officially put Scotland and Ireland on my bucket list. You always make it look so easy traveling with kids. I cant wait to hear about the rest of your trip.
Laci says
Love following the Shull family adventures!
Kim Cole says
What a beautiful family on a wonderful vacation. Thanks for sharing & have a fun time!
Constance says
Madeley and her purse… so adoranle and hilarious!! 😉
Andrea McAnally says
All I see in these photos are JACKETS!!! AAAH!!! The jackets alone make it seem like the best trip 😉 Can’t wait to see the rest of your pics!
Raimie says
My roommate and I are going to Ireland and Scotland in August and this makes me more excited than I already was! My only worry is how the heck to pack for the variable weather! (we’re going to be doing a lot of outdoor stuff- hiking/kayaking/etc.) Can’t wait to see more pics! Glad everyone had so much fun!
Amanda @ That Inspired Chick says
We went to Edinburgh and Glasgow when Craig was in NFL Europe one year but that was 15 or 16 years ago. I don’t remember many specifics besides the Edinburgh castle, football games, and walking around the adorable city…oh and going to a Glasgow nightclub with Craig and all his teammates! hahaha. Love all your pics and can’t wait for Ireland!
That Inspired Chick
Darcy says
Oh my gosh, this post was SO FUN to read! And your funny sarcastic comments were fun too. 🙂 It looks like your entire family had a great time!
Maria Pappas says
Love all these recs!! Looks like the Toms’s shoes link to a different style?? Are yours the TOMS Platform Alpargata?
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes!! The platform makes them AMAZING!
Anna S says
With all the traveling your family does and will continue to do, your kids will have so many experiences that will connect to the classroom. Even the small amount of traveling my family was able to do when I was young helped me immensely in school, especially history classes.
Unknown says
Yeah, my kids would not want to do this trip and i don’t think i have the energy to survive it with 4 kiddos myself…just being honest
Kara says
Funny
Tabitha says
Wow! So fun !! Looks like you guys had an amazing time.
I see Madeley is now devouring ice cream like it’s going out of style! Seems like her aversion to sweets is thankfully over. More please!
Jessica says
Ghost tours are my favorite thing to do when visiting any new city, even in the US! You always get fun and interesting information.
Jennifer says
What a great trip, your pictures are amazing!! I love your J.Crew jacket! What size? I noticed it even comes in xxs, so I was courious if it ran big.
Mix and Match Mama says
I bought xsmall! It’s amazing!
Amy Procter says
Love the pics…Scotland is one of my fave places in the world! Got so excited when I saw a sign that looked familiar behind Andrew & the kids in one of your pics. The Witchery by the Castle is a realllly cool restaurant! Did y’all get to eat there? Loved that place.
I second the comments above about Outlander. If you haven’t read the books or watched it…think you’d love it! 🙂
carol says
Great pics can’t wait for the next installment.
You were blessed with the weather it seems.
Found your flight routine helpful.
One question, now as a family of 6 what seat configuration works for you (Do they do 6 across)?
You fly coach? Dosen’t Andrew get majorally crunched up?
Mix and Match Mama says
It depends on the configuration of the plane. We fly coach when it’s the six of us and on the way there, we were three and three (in front of each other). On the way back, the plane was 2-4-2, so we sat 2-2-2 front to back. Andrew sat with Smith in the bulkhead (the first set of “twos”).
Jessamyn says
It’s always funny to me how much I look forward to reading about someone’s vacations that I don’t even know! But you inspire me to get out there with our kids, and I’m guessing a lot of people feel the same way! Thanks for sharing your special memories with us 🙂
Polly says
I live in Glasgow and can’t believe you were so close by – I’ve been following your blog for a long time. So glad you enjoyed Edinburgh- looking forward to hearing about Ireland – my grandparents came from Ireland and I still have many relatives there
Diana says
I love reading all of your travel posts! Sounds like an amazing trip! 🙂
Carissa Nelson | Spoonful of Easy says
Hi Shay,
Great write up! I love that miniature pair of Hunters! Scotland & Ireland are definitely on our list, but I’m intimidated about crossing a state line with my kids, let alone going abroad! I think I just need to cast that off because it’s obviously so worth it!
Carly says
I’ve been wanting to visit Scotland and Ireland for so long so I’ve been so excited for these posts! Did you Air B&B while you were there?
Leanne says
Hi Shay! I am so excited to see that you traveled to Scotland!! All my family is from Scotland (I live in Canada) and we are travelling there next month to visit family. Every time I visit Edinburgh Castle it still amazes me at how beautiful it is and I still can’t wrap my brain around the fact there is a castle smack dab in the middle of the city! The festival that happens in August is the Military Tattoo (YouTube it if you haven’t already) It has been on my bucket list of things to go and do in Edinburgh (we never seemed to travel there in the month of August lol) I am so excited that we are going in August so we can finally go and see it!! Scotland will always hold a special place in my heart. I secretly wish I could move there permanently lol but as my papa always says ” Eskimos wouldn’t want to live in Scotland” (Because the weather is always so cold haha) Thanks for sharing, can’t wait for more recaps!
Dianne Whiteman says
What bag, or kind of bag, do you use when you are out during the day on travel trips? A good cross body bag or backpack? I know so many places are funny about backpacks anymore.
Mix and Match Mama says
I always use a crossbody!!
Lisa says
Can you put a link to your sunglasses?
Laurel says
I’m a new mom living in seattle, and in October we need to fly to DC with our baby who will be 5 months old then. Any advice for flying with an infant? I’m terrified!
Mix and Match Mama says
Well, the basics…bring everything that makes them happy (blanket, pacifier, toys,etc). When we used to fly with babies, I immediately apologized to everyone sitting around us as we were boarding. I would always be like “oh my gosh, I’m so sorry you’re stuck sitting by the baby” and EVERY TIME, the people would melt into a puddle of “oh my gosh, I have grandchildren/God children, nieces that I love so much”. I found that acknowledging to other passengers that sitting by a baby isn’t the most fun made the passengers super sweet and kind if the kiddo was crying. Trust me! Try it 🙂 .
Erin says
I can totally relate to the public bathrooms!! Seems like mine need to touch every square inch!!!
Tammy M. says
What a wonderful trip with your family! Love the pics and looking forward to Part 2 . After reading and watching “Outlander” I only dream of visiting Scotland some day. Please read the book series or watch the show on Startz. It was amazing to see the books come to life on TV ! There are 3 seasons so far and Season 4 will air this November. It is exciting, enchanting and the war events are true to history. The romance between Jamie and Claire is simply breathtaking. Think Jack and Rose from Titanic but 10 times deeper. Here is the recap… “After serving as a British Army nurse in World War II, Claire Randall is enjoying a second honeymoon in Scotland with husband Frank, an MI6 officer looking forward to a new career as an Oxford historian. Suddenly, Claire is transported to 1743 and into a mysterious world where her freedom and life are threatened. To survive, she marries Jamie Fraser, a strapping Scots warrior with a complicated past and a disarming sense of humour. A passionate relationship ensues, and Claire is caught between two vastly different men in two inharmonious lives. `Outlander’ is adapted from the best-selling books by Diana Gabaldon.”
Alicia says
It is my dream to visit Ireland and Scotland! Thank you for sharing your trip, I can’t wait to read more about it! I’ll have to look into those Toms…I have a lot of foot/leg/back pain and shoe shopping is pretty terrible! I need something supportive and comfy!
Anna says
Love reading all you trip recaps! This may be just me but my feet get so sweaty when I wear TOMS while traveling and they end up smelling afterwards. Does this happen to you? If so, what do you do?
Mix and Match Mama says
Ha! They do sometimes smell! I typically wash my Toms in the machine and air dry them. For these, I just sprayed them with Febreeze.
Mary Jane McNeill says
I’m glad to see y’all chose the Ghost Tour instead of the Pub Crawl! 😉
Mix and Match Mama says
bahahahahaha!
Wendy says
I hope you looked up the story about the dog statue you were touching (more than just reading the plaque underneath his statue). His name was Greyfriars Bobby (Skye terrier) and after his master died, he laid on his grave for over 14 years guarding it until his death. He is buried next to his owner, John . There are books and a movie about him.
Liz Thorson says
Thanks for sharing, Shay! Your family is such fun to follow on everyday and your trips are a delight!
Heather says
Hey, Shay! I’m a follower who is actually from Scotland. I live in Texas now. I thought I’d leave you a few things about your blog that you may not have known, but would love to know. In Scotland, whisky is spelled whisky. In Ireland it’s whiskey. The spellings are different to each country. The street with the different color buildings in Edinburgh where you are taking selfies, is actually the most photographed street in Edinburgh. It’s where JK Rowling got the inspiration for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. Not sure if you made it to the Elephant Castle Cafe when you were there. It was just before you got to Greyfriars Bobby. We just got home from visiting, too! We had the best and most unusual weather. I’ve been up all your stops and glad you liked it! I’m off to read your other posts about your trip.
Sara Irie says
Hi Shay, I have been loving looking at all your pictures. When you and your family, are you using your iPhone camera or do you use a dSLR?
Mix and Match Mama says
Nope! We just take basic pics with the camera.
Karen says
Looks like a great trip! We just got back from Hawaii yesterday…did 2 weeks….we did the 2nd week on the Pride of America with our kids. I remember you doing Norway on a ship a few years ago. It was a great way to see a good bit of each island without flying to all of them! (I have my own travel agency too, and we kept busy with all the things I knew about by sending people on trips!)
Sheaffer Sims says
SO MUCH TO SAY! First of all, oh my goodness it’s so obvious that everybody is having the best time. Secondly, K and A cuddling during the fire show was precious! Third, I loved the pic of A and M with their yellow bows. Fourth, I want those TOMS. Can’t wait to follow along for the rest of the trip!
Lo says
The only downside to this entire trip is that now I’m pretty sure you have to get Ashby her own cannon. ???
Mix and Match Mama says
Hahahahahaha!
Bethany says
Hi Shay, My husband and I are going on a business trip to Ireland and would like to extend to Scotland. Would you please send hotel/restaurant recommendations please?
Mix and Match Mama says
Email me! Let’s see if we can help you guys out! What a fun trip!! mixandmatchtravelagency@yahoo.com