Stonehaven - Day 1

What a day it has been!  Here are our high-lows for the day with explanation to follow:

High
1.  Getting to play at the playground (Caleb, Emily & Maddie)
2.  Getting to go and search for rocks/shells on the beach (Caleb, Emily & Maddie)
3.  Fish-n-chips dinner (Tim & Kerry)
4.  Seeing the kids collection from the beach upon returning from work (Tim)
5.  Eating ice cream from the sweet shop beneath our apartment (Maddie)

Low
1.  Not having a bucket and shovel while at the beach to aid in the search for rocks/shells (Emily)
2.  Not getting a taxi from the train station and having to trek almost a mile to our lodging dragging along 5 suitcases and 3 kids (Tim & Kerry)
3.  Not getting a football (soccer ball) (Caleb)

So, this morning we hopped on a train from Edinburgh and traveled north along the coast up to a seaside town called Stonehaven.  With suitcases and kids in tow, we disembark the train and start walking.  Tim places a call to at least 4 different taxi companies in the area and no one can come and pick us up for at least 30 minutes.  Seeing as we were standing on a sidewalk near a busy street, waiting didn't seem to be a viable option.  Imagine the sight - a family of 5 dragging 5 rolling bags with 5 backpacks hiking down the road in pursuit of lodging.  I feel confident we were the topic of quite a few dinner conversations this evening in Stonehaven!  Thankfully we made it, but it was almost a mile walk so you can imagine what kind of a mood the kids were in by the time we arrived.  Once we walked into our lodging for the week, all our efforts were worth it.  For the next 5 days and 4 nights we are living in an apartment above a sweet shop that looks out onto the North Sea.  The views are breathtaking (pictures later this week) and the accomodations are so much better than the place we stayed in Edinburgh.  Once settled, Tim went to work and the kids and I visited the sweet shop downstairs.  They serve a salted carmel ice cream that is to die for!!!  With treats in hand, we went to a nearby playground that, as you can see from above, the kids loved.  They also had the opportunity to play along the shore and came home with quite a collection of rocks and shells.  It was a joy to watch them receive such pleasure from such a simple activity.  As if the apartment and the ice cream weren't enough, we are literally right next door to a place that has been rated as the best fish-n-chips shop in all the UK.  After having it for dinner, I can see why it has received such an honor...fresh breaded haddock with homemade tarter sauce...delicious!  This place has all the makings to help us experience an unforgettable week of fabulous food and fun - heaven help our waistlines!