Happy Hogmanay and a wonderful 2008 to our friends and family!

Welcome to 2008! On New Year's Eve Phil's parents arrived in Edinburgh flying in from Canada ... we welcomed them to Scotland with big hugs and a great meal. Mom who was tired from the flight went to sleep early and while Phil put the boys to bed Harriet and Dad went for a walk around town and unknowingly into a gay pub a few blocks away ("not that there's anything wrong with that"). Later in the evening we went with Dad upstairs to a neighbour's flat to visit, ring in the new year, and hear/watch some of the Hogmanay (the scottish term for celebrations of the new year) fireworks out of their window.
Reflecting on the past year we have been particularly fortunate with friends, family, health and adventure. We have talked together many times that, although coming here felt like a "huge risk", moving to Scotland has been awesome and probably in hindsight not filled with as many pitfalls as we envisioned. It has been a good reminder for us to smartly welcome risk into our lives more often since it usually brings exciting and healthy things.
Looking ahead to the coming year, Harriet continues her studies towards a Masters in neuropsychology, Harrison continues with Beavers and swimming lessons and starts acting lessons this week with a more professional arts & drama company (Stagecoach), Phil gets a bit busier picking up some additional yoga classes and taking a couple of continuing education classes, and Parker continues to be lots of fun with toilet training on the agenda this year (sooner than later).
We love entertaining and welcoming friends and family into our home. We sincerely hope that many of you reading this might be inspired with some of the things we have written about in past blogs and consider coming to visit us in Edinburgh and discovering this wonderful city and country. Even if it isn't coming to the UK, get out and do something new and exciting!