(Nearly) favorite family photos of our second year in Scotland

Choosing just a few from thousands and thousands of photos is a blessing and a curse. So many memories to reexamine; too many to share them all.

From more than 20,000 photos during our second year — the capacity of digital cameras and memory cards are a blessing and curse, too — I compiled a few hundred favorites, and then trimmed and shaved and pared to a few dozen. Some good ones simply didn't make the cut.

Of course, this was not a fast selection process for me. You might be thinking I did pretty well, narrowing down the photos from the previous year by early February. And that would be good, if only these photos were from 2015. Actually, they're from June 2014 to June 2015, our second (non-calendar) year in Scotland. Yep, it actually took me seven months to get around to these.

Anyone wanna lay odds on how long it takes me to compile our third year photos?

Hiking is one of our favorite activities, though it's more challenging when encumbered by a toddler. Here, Kate and Jackson enjoy the view on the Trotternish Peninsula on the Isle of Skye.

On the beach in St. Andrews, during one of five trips we made to the fantastic city during our first two years in Scotland.

It's an alligator, but Jack decided it was a dinosaur. Because toddler.

Kate and Jackson exploring the narrow lanes of Anafiotika, at the base of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

As you might expect, Kate and Jackson get the bulk of my attention when I'm behind the lens. Actually, only if they're agreeable, or if I catch them unawares.

While visiting Kate's family in Colorado, Jackson got his very first chance to ski.

Taking a breather while exploring the prehistoric sites in Kilmartin Glen, Scotland.

We watched some monkeys groom each other at Edinburgh Zoo . . .

. . . so Jackson had to groom and eat the bugs in Kate's hair.

Baking cookies on Valentine's Day. Could I have made this more like a Betty Crocker advertisement?

Few dogs in the world were more loved than Mattie; I still feel her loss keenly. Click on this link to see her adventures in Scotland.

Mattie was a full-fledged member of our family. Jeez, do we miss her.

Other family members get roped in to my photography, too. In our second year, we had visits in Scotland from my parents, as well as one of Kate's sisters and her family. We also spent three weeks back in the States, which has been our only trip home during our first three years abroad.

I'll even throw in a couple of photos with me in them since, as Kate reminds me, I'm part of the family and should make an occasional appearance in our pictures.

My sister-in-law, Rachel, helps draw your attention to this cup and ring marked prehistoric stone at Clava Cairns in Scotland.

"Oh!" says my niece, Rosalie.

Enjoying the view atop the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye.

My mom, whom Jackson calls "Nana," at home in North Carolina. Looking pretty good for an old broad who'll turn 70 this month.

Jack in a hat, after watching a performance of The Cat in the Hat at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

If only she had seen this sign, perhaps my niece, Macie, might've fared better.

A race back to the car in freezing temperatures.

I'm also beginning to take a few photos of strangers and passersby, though since I have no journalistic reason it feels a bit intrusive, particularly if I publish them online. But, hey, if they're performing in public, they're fair game.

Some Americans seem to think Scots walk around in kilts all the time. Nope. Make no mistake, if someone walks around in a kilt it's a performance of some kind, even if just for attention.

One of several dozen white-robed performance artists strode mysteriously around Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders.

This harrowing horse crash resulted in a broken leg for the rider. Check out the full sequence of the horse crash, which took place over six seconds.

A more scenic view of horse jumping at the Blair Castle International Horse Trials, with Blair Castle as the backdrop.

A military band performing at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

A busking highlands bagpiper at the Three Sisters in Glencoe, Scotland.

Enough about all these random people. Let's finish off this collection of almost favorite family photos with pictures of, well, actual family.

Posing in front of the Acropolis in Athens.

It was a big hit to stop for a chocolate tasting at Skelligs Chocolate on the far western tip of Ireland. We bought a ton of this excellent chocolate.

A North Carolina delicacy.

After visiting Charles Rennie Mackintosh's famed Hill House we took a hike in the hills above Helensburgh, Scotland. Here, a pause for lunch.

On a boat from Iona to the Treshnish Isles to see puffins.

Sometimes, even Kate takes pictures. Jackson reclined in the Kenmare Stone Circle in Ireland.

Hiking through The Whangie in Kilpatrick, Scotland.

Want to see more? Here are the favorites from our first year in Scotland:





Favorite photos of places we visited our first year






(Nearly) favorite photos of places we visited our first year






Favorite family photos of our first year in Scotland






(Nearly) favorite family photos of our first year in Scotland