Aidan Andrew McEwan Wansbrough - Aidan's Gallery

Aidan is five years old! Happy fifth birthday Aidan! It's been a month of celebrations.

We had a wonderful week's holiday with Grandma and Grandpa staying in a lodge in Coylumbridge (Aviemore). We saw Auntie Elaine and Uncle Chris a couple of times while we were there, which was great. We managed to get out on lots of walks - from short "bear hunts for bunnies" (Megan loved chasing after all the rabbits around the lodges), to more serious hillwalks in the heart of the Cairngorms.

During the week we went to the Landmark Centre again, the highlight of which was the waterslides which both kids loved and wanted to go down again and again. Aidan's favourite was the Falcon which is so fast it allows you to experience weightlessness ("like the astronauts", Aidan told us).

We went swimming and Aidan finally conquered his fear of jumping in to the swimming pool, jumping into Daddy's arms - well done Aidan! And he's been trying his hand at learning to play golf, doing very well at managing to hit the ball in a straight line! Mummy and Daddy had a day's walking in the Cairngorms, while Grandma and Grandpa took the kids on a wonderful day out to the Highland Wildlife Park and the Highland Folk Museum (highly recommended). More details will appear on our blog.

Since coming back, it's been a whirlwind of activity. School broke up for summer at the end of June, so Aidan's been to four birthday parties (including his own), a teddy bear's picnic, a sports day and two end-of-term parties! Not to mention the Linlithgow Marches (Aidan marched with Grandpa in the parade at the end of the day, and Megan rode on Grandpa's shoulders), a trip to Edinburgh, a trip to Cumbria to visit Lorna and Andrew, plus our regular visits to Muiravonside, Beecraigs, Polmont Park, soft plays, swimming, bike rides and scooting trips. We visited the steam train exhibition at Bo'Ness and Kinneil railway, and we've been to Livingston, we've had picnics (indoor and out), we've made dens in the house and been for muddy walks along the canal.

And I wonder why we're tired??

While relaxing in Aviemore one evening, Aidan requested we watch the movie Apollo 13, and proceeded to surprise us all by watching the entire movie with intense concentration, and asking lots of intelligent questions (patiently answered by Daddy!). The movie has really piqued his interest in space exploration and much of his play over the following weeks reflected this.

Visiting Lorna and Andrew a few weeks later, Aidan proceeded to create a rocket out of Lego (actually Mega Bloks) with a specially designed (by Aidan) cone on the top. He used the Lego to create a launch pad complete with movable rocket supports, which he twisted away from the rocket after the countdown to takeoff had commenced. Then he made a "moon" out of a couple of bowls joined together, a sea (for the landing module to land in), and a small Lego helicopter to collect the astronauts. This complete, he was ready for countdown and takeoff. He simulated ejecting the LEM and the service module, and then the command module falling into the ocean, with the helicopter coming to pick up the astronauts.

In play with one of his little friends, Aidan and Alasdair went on a space mission to SpaceLand, and the moon - making a rocket out of the garden shed.

We held Aidan's fifth birthday party a couple of weeks early (before the schools broke up). We held it at Calley's Creche, which has a soft play (and the deepest ball pool around!) and the kids played, ate lots and played party games. It was lots of fun. And Aidan was particularly impressed with his Apollo 13 and Moon birthday cake!

For his actual birthday itself, we whisked him away the day before, heading up to Lochearnhead to stay in a B&B there. On his birthday morning, after breakfast and presents, we drove to Killin to go and scramble over the rocks at the Falls of Dochart. Then we drove over to Loch Awe, to Ben Cruachan, which has a massive hydroelectric power development inside the mountain. Aidan loved the bus trip into the heart of the mountain through a rough hewn tunnel, where we got to see the turbines. Aidan asked lots of questions as you might imagine! After that we made our way to Grandma and Grandpa's for birthday tea, cake and more presents. A wonderful end to a fantastic day!

Photos continued on the extra page.

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Image 0082-6991
Canon PowerShot S45
1/79 sec., f/2.8
2008:06:09 13:52:54 UTC
(c) Keith & Carolyn

Paper racetrack. We took a ream of paper and some colouring pencils with us in case of rainy weather. Daddy and Aidan created this racetrack together, on which they raced some toy cars.

Sawdust at Landmark. The Landmark Centre features a working wood-fired steam sawmill, which they use to make planks for sale and for use around the centre. It was fascinating to see the big engine and watch the various belt-driven saws - but Aidan had most fun playing with the pile of sawdust.