Tuesday, December 31, 2013

New Years Eve

We were pretty excited for New Years this year, with knowing what to expect with the fireworks.  We ended up watching our friends little girl for the night because her baby brother was in the hospital =(.  But, it made it more of a party for the kids.  We started out the night with dinner, got our pj's on very early and started watching movies, eating treats and then playing around with these PhotoBooth props that I've been selling in my shop.  The fireworks had been going on all day, but really started to pick up around dark, which was around 4 in the afternoon.  It just got louder and crazier as the day went on.  We spent a while just sitting outside, wrapped in blanket, watching the fireworks.  Noah was a little scared of some that were so close, but it was so fun.  Really, if you've never been to Denmark on New Years Eve, you can't even imagine how crazy it is!  But so fun!




 Movie Time!





Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas 2013

Christmas this year was very low-key for us.  We made cookies on the 24th, wrapped presents, watched The Night they Saved Christmas, ate homemade pizza, opened pj's for the kids, read in the Scriptures the Christmas Story and finished off the night with Dad reading The Night Before Christmas.  On Christmas morning, the kids were up at 6, but we wouldn't get up and out of bed with them until 7.  It has been a late night before for Chad and I, wrapping presents.  I really love Christmas with kids.  It's so magical.  To see their faces light up with such excitement and wonder.  I love it!  We had a fun time opening presents.  We had a nice breakfast with Homemade Orange Rolls.  Then I spent a good portion of the day cooking.  We decided to have a Turkey and all the fixing's, so it was a lot of work!  The kids played with all their new toys, we skyped with our families and just had a very enjoyable day. 

 Look at that excitement!

 Just let us open the presents already!



  Quick break to roll around in the wrapping paper.




 The aftermath.

 Christmas really tired out Dexter.
 Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas 2013



Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Return of the Elves

Guess who came back this year?  Holly and Pippin returned and they brought a new friend, Krystal.  I know the Elf on the Shelf seems to get a lot of slack each year, but I think it's a lot of fun.  Our elves do simple things each night, like hiding in the Christmas Tree or exchanging the kids stockings for underwear, hehe.  And they are there to report back to Santa all the good things the kids do.  It's very fun and adds a little bit more magic and wonder to the Christmas Season.  The only bad thing is that the kids seemed to get up a little earlier each day, wondering what the Elves had done that night.  Here are a few of our favorite things our Elves did this Holiday Season.




 They decorated our door!

 Hehe...






Thursday, December 19, 2013

Tivoli

Tivoli Gardens is an amusement park right in the middle of Copenhagen.  It opened in 1843 and is the 2nd oldest amusement park in the world!  You can read more about it here.  
When you look at a list of top places to visit in Denmark, Tivoli is usually right at the top. So, we knew we would definitely have to go there at some point during our time here.  We have avoided going because it was pretty expensive and with the kids being young, we didn't know what they would be able to do there.  But, during the Christmas season, they decorate up the park with a lot of lights, including Santa and live Reindeer.  So, we decided to surprise the kids and take them to Tivoli one night for just an entrance pass, not a ride ticket.  It was so fun to surprise them.  We told them we were going shopping in Copenhagen, which they weren't very excited about, but when we walked by Tivoli and said, Lets go, they were so thrilled.  The park was very pretty with the lights and atmosphere, but overall, I have to admit we were all a little disappointed.  It's quite small and we were so glad we didn't buy a ride pass, because it seemed like there weren't very many rides for the kids.  I guess when  you've been to places like Disneyland, Disney World or even Lagoon, its hard not to compare.  Anyway, we still had a really fun time there.  We got to see the Reindeer, waiting in line for over an hour to visit Santa Claus, had a really yummy hamburger dinner, played in a super fun playground and watched a fun water/light show.  I think the highlight of the trip though was finding one of those crane games that was filled with stuffed animals.  It was reasonably priced and you played until you won.  Myra went first and ended up with 2 toys.  Lexi went second and ended up with 3!  And then Noah got just 1, but it was his favorite color.  The kids thought it was the best day ever!  So, overall, we did have a really fun time.  Not sure we'll go back again, but who knows.  =)  To end the day off, the trains home were delayed and we ended up standing at the train station for over an hour before we were finally able to head home.  Not fun!










 Yes, that is rain you can see.  The weather has become a non-factor for us now.
 Christmas tree of Teddy Bears.