If It's Nae Scottish, It's Crrrrrap!

Saturday was the annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games again. We love going every year and this year was just as fun.

Scott and I actually went to the concert and tattoo on Friday night. We had never been before and it was so cool! We got a babysitter for the girls, went through Subway to get our picnic dinner, laid a blanket out on the grass and listened to bagpipers and Celtic music. Everyone was dancing and having a great time. It ended with the mass pipe band (11 bands) marching out onto the field and then playing "Scotland The Brave" while fireworks went off in the sky. Very exciting. (I was taking a phone call from the babysitter during the fireworks.)Saturday we went down bright and early with Fred and Rama and watched the Scottish dancers (who Brie thought were princesses), looked through all of the Clan booths, got a Scottie dog painted on Brie's face, ate lunch, passed by the strong man competitions, watched the pipe band competitions and most importantly, represented our Buchanan family by marching in the parade of the Clans.

Our two Scottish princesses (as Brielle called herself). Ava's shirt says "Bonnie Bairn". We got each of their shirts in Scotland last year. Ava actually had a Buchanan tartan hair band, but would not leave it on her head for more than 2 seconds tops so we opted for the hat.This was our Scottish princesses' attitude for most of the day.
Scott and his dad, Fred, in the Utah Scottish Association tent where Fred is treated as a V.I.P. and in turn, so are we. Yahoo! Free ice cream for us all. Fred made the posters displayed behind them. Look at the Past Presidents display and you will see Fred Buchanan's picture as the very first president of the Utah Scottish Association.We watched the girls dancing competition and now Brie talks about one day when she is a "piper dancer". She loved watching and wants to dance like them even if they are dancing around swords.
The best part of the day is the parade. A mass band of 11 pipe and drummer bands plays and a parade of clans walks and is introduced. Here are Scott and the girls lining up for the parade.
Walking in the parade.
The mass pipe band playing. Amazing!!The mass pipe band turning around. Crazy!!Fred was up on stage during the ceremony to sprinkle soil from Scotland. Brie walked right up the steps and took his hand to stand by him. He loved it.
Scott, Brielle and Fred.
Brie tasting ginger beer. It was actually soooooo good! Lots of burn!We had a picnic on our Buchanan tartan blanket. Here is Ava getting her diaper changed while sucking on our Buchanan plaid baseball.
Brielle got a Scottie dog painted on her cheek. She was told to stay very still and she did. Look at the concentration it took.
This is how Brielle ended the day - all decked out in beads, painted cheek, purple butterfly fairy wings and a fairy skirt. Of course! This is how poor Ava ended the day. Exhausted and conked out in the stroller.