Ohio Scottish Games 2012

Yesterday was Aiden's big day. He's been practicing and preparing all year for it.  The 2012 Ohio Scottish Games! This year Aiden memorized "Scotland the Brave" and "Balmorow" (I honestly have no idea how to spell that so I'm spelling it phonically.)

He was so ready and not nervous at all!



And he ROCKED it!  He competed against 4 other kids. 2 are from his lessons, 1 from Canada and Aiden is the youngest of the group.

And guess what?



Aiden won FIRST!!!



I'm so very proud of him! He's worked so hard this year and improved so much!
Of course we spent all day at the Games and had a bunch of fun!

Liam ate a chocolate cracker and was very happy about it!


Grady got his very own kilt and it matches Aidens! He was super excited! (As was I! I mean, how flipping cute are these two?!)


Liam cheesed it up while waiting for the massed band.


People always make fun of bagpipes but when there is a huge gathering like this, I think it is one of the most beautiful sounds. Hearing 100 pipes playing Amazing Grace always brings goosebumps and tears. It never gets old and is a highlight for me every single year.

And of course we watched big guys in kilts throw trees!  Otherwise known as the Caber Toss!

Sometimes it works better without a shirt. I can't argue....


And this is the Lochaber Pipe Band getting ready for their competition. The man in the blue is Aiden's teacher. He is such a wonderful, nice and patient man!

We had a ton of fun at this years games! I swear, every year it gets better!  Can't wait to see what next year brings....maybe Aiden will be on a set of Pipes!

The Scottish Games and Aiden's first performance!

Today was the Scottish Games in Wellington Ohio and it was also a BIG day for Aiden. Today he competed in his first ever musical competition!

Aiden played in the practice Chanter division. He played "The Blue Bells of Scotland" and did very well! I think he was a bit nervous, but he says he wasn't nervous at all.  And he took 2nd place! He has only been playing his chanter for 6 months and this was his first experience in something like this. He is already eager for next year and to compete again!

I am so proud of him! He was very excited to show off his metal to his teachers in the Lochaber Pipe Band as well! 

Aiden and his 2nd place metal!!!

 My little Grady watching the Highland Games

 The start of the mass band

 My boys watching the mass band.

 There is something so beautiful when this many pipes play together. I always get goosebumps and tear up at Amazing Grace every single year.

 In a few years, my Aiden will be in these ranks!

 This is the Caper toss. And yes, he is about to throw a giant tree.

 The idea behind this is to toss the caper at a certain angle to get it to flip (a 12 o'clock angle is a perfect flip). This Caper is 16 feet tall and weighted 130 lbs.

This is the Lochaber Pipe Band from Lorain, Ohio. There guys are teaching Aiden how to play bagpipes. They are an amazing, patient and caring group and we are so lucky to have found them!

And last but certaintly not least, My Aiden performing "The Blue Bells of Scotland". There was some wind (and other pipers playing in the background) but you can still hear him.

WAY TO GO AIDEN!!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!

A bagpiper in the family

Our family has always been very into our Irish heritage. We love the music, culture, food and spending time at Irish Festivals.

When Aiden was about 5 years old he decided he loves bagpipes. That year we went to Disney World and all Aiden wanted to see was the Celtic Rock band "Off Kilter". He listened to their CD all the time, knew the words to all the songs and would hum along with the bagpipes. The day we were to see Off Kilter at Epcot, Aiden came down with a bad fever. We ended up going to Florida Hospital by ambulance. During one of the afternoon shows, my mom told Jamie Holton (the bagpiper) about Aiden and what happened. Jamie gave my mom his contact information in case Aiden didn't make it back for the last show and said he would come to our hotel room to meet him! We did make it back for the last show, right when they were playing Aidens favorite song: Run Run away. After the show, Aiden got to go on stage and meet Jamie and the rest of the guys. He LOVED it! It pushed him over the edge, he fell completely in love with bagpipes and vowed to become a bagpiper when he grew up!













Two summers later, we returned to Disney World. Aiden was now 7 and still in love with piping. He couldn't wait to meet Jamie again and talk to him about what is the best age to start learning bagpipes.

Watching Off Kilter in the rain. He wouldn't miss it for anything!

                                                         Serious bagpiper talk

   Aiden (wearing his When I grow up I want to be a bagpiper shirt) and  Jamie Holton from Off Kilter.

After our Disney Trip, Aiden was determined to find someone to teach him to play bagpipes as soon as possible. After searching many Irish festivals and talking to a dozen teachers, we found the Lochaber Pipe Band only 15 minutes from home and they offer free lessons for anyone wanting to learn!

We bought Aiden his chanter (which is the mouth piece and fingering area of a bagpipe which you learn on) and he started lessons in October. He caught on very very quickly. Within a few lessons he was reading the music and quickly learning the fingering.

Aiden has been taking lessons for almost 7 months now. He LOVES IT! He is also very very good. He is learning all the intricate techniques and has already learned a few songs, including Amazing Grace. Because he is still young, he won't get his own set of pipes for another 4 years or so. There is a lot still to learn (bagpipes are one of the hardest instruments to learn) and he has to be bigger to have the arm muscles to work the "bag".  He swears he will be patient, he gets excited at every weeks lessons and can't wait to grow up and be a "professional bagpiper!"