Easter in Wales!

We're lucky enough in the UK to get a 4-day weekend over the Easter Holiday, so we had the opportunity to take advantage and be adventurous! Our friends, The Osguthorpe's (Aaron & Stephanie and their kids Anna, Paige, Julietta & Sam), called Wednesday night and told us they'd found a great cottage to rent on the Gower Peninsula in Wales. So we checked on renting a car (because we STILL don't have ours!) and made a few preparations and were off! Aren't we spontaneous?!

Along the way we made a few stops - first at an old coal mine called the "Big Pit" in Blaenafon, Torfaen - there's a little Welsh for ya! We were getting a kick all weekend out of the Welsh language. I don't really have any pictures of the place though as anything picture worthy was underground! Here's a link if you're interested in knowing more about it: http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/bigpit/ Drew had a blast! Unfortunately I couldn't take Noah down, so I stayed above ground with him and Addison who decided it was too scary.

Next we headed to Caerphilly Castle near Cardiff in South Wales. Here's a link to it as well: http://www.castlewales.com/caerphil.html As it was our first castle experience, we were pretty blown away. I did get LOTS of pictures here - so take a look!

Here's the bulk of the kids on our way to the castle - Drew, Anna, Paige, Julietta, & Addison

The whole fam - looking a bit cold! Anna, Paige, Drew and Addison
Wade got to be the pack mule this time so I could take pictures. Here he is (with Noah) in the main courtyard - Paige and Sam to the right.
Sam, Paige, Anna, Drew & Julietta

A rare couple shot with the leaning tower behind us. Anna, Julietta & Drew

Addison was cold and not feeling especially photogenic.

Then we headed to the cottage. It was in the city of Llangennith on the Gower Peninsula. The views were spectacular! Pictures really don't do it justice - especially these. We were surrounded by rolling hills covered with sheep and over looked the ocean. Here's a link to the place we stayed: http://www.stormycastle.co.uk/The Easter Bunny came on Saturday and hid eggs all over the hillside behind the cottage. The kids put on their "wellies" and had a great time despite the cold and wind.

Addie after the hunt looking REALLY cold!
On Saturday, some friends from the ward, Andre & Ginny Pittaluga, came by for the afternoon. Wade and Aaron decided to go exploring with them to Rhossili Beach. I'm totally bummed I didn't get to go (to long and cold for the kids) because the pictures they brought back are pretty amazing.

So - they had to cross this causeway to get to where they were going that is only accessible at low tide. They have a timetable here by this sign that tells you when the tides come in and out so that you don't strand yourself out there. Well - they misread the timetable and came awfully close to getting stuck. Some guy saw them heading out and was ringing the bell (which they didn't hear) trying to get they're attention to tell them to come back. Apparently, if it hadn't been for the high winds, they would've been in trouble!

Aaron on the trail

There's Andre!

Here's a little evidence of those high winds I was talking about!

I kids were totally fascinated by the sheep. They were everywhere! We woke up one morning to a couple sheep grazing by the car. Addie's trying to chase a couple down here.

There were a lot of baby sheep popping up in the flocks. What could be more Easter-ish!? Drew's checking out a couple here.

So our first big adventure was a success! Wade's first real driving experience even went without incident! My only regret is that it was too cold and windy to really do everything we would have liked. I would love to go back again in the summer when we can enjoy the beach, etc. A big thanks to the Osguthorpe's for putting this all together - it was exactly the relaxing vacation we needed!