Tea Party

Olivia loves feeding, diapering, wiping, putting to sleep and waking up her "babies". She spends hours doing this and it is so fun to watch! She often shuts her bedroom door so I can't watch but sometimes she humors me! It is my favorite thing!

København Brandvæsen

The Copenhagen Fire Stations hold open houses with fire demonstration for kids for 5 or 6 Saturdays in the Summer. My Danish friend, Lene, told us about it and so we headed down there this morning. The open house started with the firemen lighting a barrel on fire and putting it out with different methods. That lasted about a half hour. Then the kids were free to wander from fire truck to ambulance to the fire hose and get some hands on experience with all the equipment. They gave out fire safety vests and a fire helmet- which Olivia loved! It was such a fun time! We love Copenhagen!!

Matthew wanted these fire suits so badly!

Video below: Olivia on fire hose- I was having technical difficulties with the camera and didn't get her holding the hose for very long!

Perfect Sweden

Olivia, Joar, Love, Lisa

We went to Sweden this weekend to visit Lars and Ulrika and family. The weather was amazing! We have, of course, been to their house many, many times, but this was the first time we have gone when the weather was so perfect for being outside. All of the flowers and trees were blooming and it was just a wonderful time to eat some food and hang out with their family. Ulrika made Flying Jacob for dinner which is this awesomely unexpected Swedish dish of chicken, whipped cream, ketchup, bananas and sunflower seeds or nuts. It was so tasty! Then she made a rhubarb pie/crumble that was so tasty. Ulrika used rhubarb from her garden. She is definetly one of the funnest cooks I know! We always love going to their house. Olivia had a great time with Lisa. They are really close in age and make a cute and funny pair!

Olivia, Lisa

You can see my 9 month pregnant body in the background- note the tent-like drape of my dress!

Below: video of the kids jumping on the trampoline with a very quick scan of the backyard.

Happy Mother's Day to Me

Last weekend I called my wise sister, Marie, to get some motherly advice from her. I was ready to try potty training Olivia and knew Marie was the person to call and ask about it. Marie has three kids and potty trained them all at or around 2 years old. Olivia turned 2 just over a month ago and my baby is due in 3 weeks, so I think now is a good time to give it a go.

I won't give any real details because those of you who have been through it, I am sure, are happy to never relive it and those who have not been through it should remain blissfully ignorant of the whole ordeal.

I talked to Marie last weekend and then decided I would potty train her starting the next Friday. I usually don't work on Fridays, but I ended up having to work so I pushed it off until Saturday. Saturday went okay, but we did not make a whole lot of progress. We continued Sunday morning. As I was on my knees cleaning up the third pool of pee for the day, I realized it was Mother's Day and thought to myself- why the freak did I plan this for this weekend!? Oh well. It made me feel more like a mother I guess, and I little like a maid. It was all worth it though when we went to church and I picked Olivia up from her Nursery class and she has made me this bookmark that she had glued hearts on and punched holes in. I am not going to lie, I got all teary eyed! The first handmade gift my child has ever made for me! Next Mother's Day I will have an almost one year old. Freaky!

Matthew also took me out to lunch a few days ago, made me dinner tonight, got me some candy and Danish pastries and is going to watch any stupid movie I want to! I am one lucky mother.

Happy Mother's Day to me- and to you!