Halloween

Halloween this year was a little more mellow than last year and certainly all years before. The holiday is not celebrated here in Denmark. The Danes do have a holiday in April called Fastelavn where kids dress up and ask for money door to door. They also beat a bucket with a cat in it. We did that this year and it was fun too. Nowadays they do not actually put a real cat in the bucket, at least not at the kid party we were at) but once upon a time they did. So I think Danes can kind of relate to our Halloween but they don't celebrate it. Last year we went to Sweden to celebrate with Lars and Ulrika and family and went Trick or Treating to houses in their neighborhood. We had such a good time! You can see that post here.

For Halloween this year we dressed Olivia up as a punk rocker. Matthew egged her hair and I put a little eye shadow on her. We used one of Graham's shirts for the top and the high tops Emily gave Graham (for future use) to complete her look. Olivia was pretty skeptical about the hair at first, but Matthew distracted her with candy and all was well! We invited Olivia's little Danish friend, Alma, and her mom, Maja, that live in one of the apartments below us to come Trick or Treating with us. Both girls were so excited. I dressed up Graham as well. He seemed very happy about it, as always!

I went up and down our building to each door ahead of time and gave our neighbors candy to give to the girls when they knocked. A few neighbors were really nice and said they had candy they would give them. Here are the kids before we went Trick or Treating:







When we finished going to the doors in our building we headed back to our house for some hot cocoa and treats. The girls ran around our apartment screaming and eating candy- high on sugar. As the night progressed they looked more and more crazy...


...by the end of the night, Olivia looked like she had seen some hard days as a punk rocker...

We had a great night. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Olivia

Most of the time Olivia acts her age- 2 1/2 years old. Every once in awhile, and it has become increasingly more often, she acts like a mature girl of 12 or so. If I stub my toe she will instantly turn to me and ask, "Are you okay, Mama?" and she will kiss my toe. Sometimes when I put my shoes on she will get down and fasten the straps for me. Sometimes when I am cutting a piece of bread she will reach out and hold the rest of the loaf down for me. Sometimes when Graham cries out in frustration or boredom she will pat his head and say "It's okay, Graham". Sometimes she sits in the windowsill, so wistful and carefree. Sometimes I can't believe how lucky I am to have this girl.

BUG

Happy Birthday Bug! 6 years of crazy, neurotic, sweet, awesomeness! On Christmas morning, 2005, the first year we were married, I made Matthew abandon his pork roast in the oven and drive with me to Queen Creek to "help me pick up another Christmas tree for my mom". It was an unbelievable excuse, but then that was part of the fun. As we drove out Matthew was nervous trying to figure out what was going on. We pulled up to the house and rang the door bell. Who should answer the door? Two of the craziest looking adult Boston Terriers you have ever seen- both wearing bandanas. It was awesome! Then Matthew knew for sure why we were there- to get a puppy. The owners let us in the backyard to look at the puppies and pick one. There was a big, perfect female that Matthew immediately wanted, but she was already sold. There was a male puppy with perfect markings as well. Matthew really wanted a big Boston with perfect markings. I saw this one little runt looking up at Matthew so sadly. This little puppy just sat and stared up at Matthew as he was looking at the other puppies. Matthew asked which one he should get and I said he had to decide- but I loved the little runt. Matthew picked her and we took her home right then. "The best Christmas present" Matthew ever received was named Bug on the way home. Matthew had been wanting a Boston for years and wanted to name it Bug. So... to the cutest, dumbest, sweetest, most annoying dog ever... we love you Bug! Happy Birthday- we hope for at least 6 more with you!
Please view these pictures from our adventures with Bug over the years...

This last one was taken about a month ago. She is America's Gentleman.

Note: as I am rereading this post, it seems a little like a tribute to someone who has died. I must assure you all that Bug is alive and well... I am just feeling sentimental about her right now for some reason!

Home

In August I flew back to the US for three weeks for the wedding of my little sister, Ellen. The only thing that could get me back to Arizona in the Summer is the weddings of my siblings or closest friends. I was not excited about returning to that heat! Ellen wanted to get married before the Fall semester of her husband's schooling, so August it was! Seeing her get married and really just the whole day of activity was truly one of the best experiences of my life. I was a little hesitant to go only because of having to travel with a 2 month old and a two year old, but it was well worth it! Now I am back home in Copenhagen with pictures to document the trip!


Ellen and Matthijs

The beautiful bride

I had so much fun doing wedding things with Ellen! We went shopping for lingerie, her luncheon dress, wedding shoes, gloves and generally just did all the bridal shopping. I just loved it! I did Ellen's makeup and hair for the wedding and it was just so fun to bond with her in the ultimate girl's activities. Ellen looked so beautiful and I am so excited for her and her new husband, Matthijs!


Olivia had so much fun playing with Greg and Emily's kids- Zuzu and Linkin (pictured)
She also had so much fun with Marie's kids and Carl's kids. It was so fun to see her with her cousins and it made me sad that she will have so little interaction with them.




Olivia had the biggest crush on Grandpa. All she wanted to do was see him and talk to him and play with him. Here is she a little scared on the lawnmower.


Graham

Olivia eats some Dairy Queen

Weird car seat stare down

Well, there is really so much to write about this trip but I have been home for over two months now and I just don't feel like dragging it out! Maybe I will on future posts. On to other things! So long Arizona! I can't say when we will meet again!

Camo Babies

Yesterday I put Graham's camoflauge shirt on. Olivia has a onesie that is camouflage that she has grown out of that I still let her wear as a shirt, tucked in you so can't see the snaps. It works great! I thought about sewing it into a shirt but want Graham to be able to wear it once he is bigger. When Olivia saw Graham with his camo on, she said- "Olia wear that shirt!" So she went into her room to put on her camo shirt. Once I saw them all matchy matchy I had to take some pictures. Matthew came in to take a few and asked- "Since when are we dressing our kids in matching clothes?" and then he asked "and why are they wearing camouflage?". I was kind of thinking the same thing as the photo shoot played out but I couldn't help myself!

-Oh, final thought- Matthew and I want to try and see if we can get Olivia to do that huge smile for every picture taken of her until she is at least 16. Do you think we can do it?

We're Like This All the Time

I had the best day yesterday! I went out by myself for an hour and a half or so and went shopping! Matthew watched the kids for me. Graham is just about 6 weeks old. I have not been out by myself since before he was born and probably longer. It was great! I rode my bike to H&M and bought a few things. It was raining pretty steadily and I must say it felt great! On the way there it was just barely sprinkling so I had a dry shopping experience, but on the way home I got soaked. I loved every minute of it! I love riding the bike! Matthew said it best when he said that is makes everything seem whimsical. I think I smiled the whole ride home in the rain. Also, I am not going to lie, I hummed this song the entire time. I am not ashamed! I am sure I looked ridiculous riding my bike soaking wet with the biggest, dumbest grin on my face. What a fun, new combination of awesome things- shopping, raining and bike riding. If only I played tennis in there somewhere it would have been a perfect day.

Me riding in our complex, about to park my bike


Next item of business, Matthew has been growing out his beard for the sole purpose of torturing me, despite what he says. He has been growing it for about 3 weeks. So yesterday he decided to make his move. While I was sleeping he sneaked into the bathroom and shaved this atrocity. Behold the worst Matthew has ever looked:

Apparently, Ambrose Burnside, the man who is responsible for the modern day sideburns, was Matthew's inspiration. Awesome.

Ambrose Burnside

Graham Patrick Kaare Cox

Someday maybe this kid can grow such luxurious facial hair and he and his father can both torture me. That actually sounds pretty awesome if I am being honest!