Christmas in September

Matthew's dad, Rod, and his partner, Paul, came to visit us a few weeks ago. They stayed with us in Copenhagen for a number of days and then went to Sweden to visit Lars and Ulrika and see the countryside and then came back to Copenhagen for a few days. We had such a great time! Olivia loved Grandpa Rod and Paul and was especially delighted to have them stay with us. We went to so many amazing Copenhagen sites, some of which I had still not been to. Rod and Paul were so generous to treat us to food and entertainment and even watched our kids for us one night so we could go out just the two of us. I just loved having the opportunity to spend time with them and get to know them better.

Paul, Rod, Olivia, Matthew

View from the Rundetårn (Round Tower)

Grandpa and Olivia


Paul

Boarding the boat tour in Nyhavn

Paul

Olivia

Rod and Paul

Like Father, Like Son


Bedtime

Olivia and Graham with the stuffed animals Rod and Paul brought them


We decided to make the traditional Danish Christmas dinner (pork roast with potatoes) for Rod and Paul and invite Lars and Ulrika and family from Sweden. It was so fun! Rod demonstrated how to make his awesome snowflakes and it added to the festivities.



Lisa and Olivia

Then we went with Rod and Paul to Sweden. We stayed at Lars and Ulrika's for one night and then headed back to Copenhagen while Rod and Paul stayed in Sweden. Lars and Ulrika made the traditional Swedish Christmas dinner and it was so yummy!

Olivia and Lisa

We were sad to see Rod and Paul go but had such a fun time with them and hope to see them again soon!

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!