Jude's 1st Christmas

Santa always does a "theme" basket for the kids. This year was Star Wars and Hannah Montana.

Our first video game thingy... All she wanted was a Nintendo DS.

(out of order) Getting ready to see what Santa brought

2 days before Christmas I found these matching jammies for $4 bucks each. Blake was mad because he didn't want to match a baby... go figure!

Jude's 1st Christmas. He loved every minute of it.

Christmas 2009 - Part 2

Santa went overboard as usual.

Mornin'

They bicker a lot, fight, and boss eachother around but they do love eachother.

Auntie's fun gift to them...

Daddy and Jude... he is our cuddle bug.

Christmas 2009 - Part 3

I think Christmas is best spent outside playing with the new toys, throwing the football, taking a walk, going on a bike ride - just being together, seeing the neighbors, and having fun.
We did exactly that this year!!

Blake teasing his Daddy with his Cherry on Top gift card

We had a stomp rocker in Denmark but couldn't bring it back. The kids love it.

Again, we're starting over. Wall art for her new room in Philly.

He was such a ham today. He played with some toys, ate a lot of dirt, and just loved being outside.

More in CA - December 2009

He's almost 1 year and this is his first time on a swing (at a park)

Feeding the ducks at Eisenhower... the simple things...

Fashion Island - Cute story. Our friends are from the Farroe Islands (we met them in Denmark. They have a little girl Paige's age). Paige asked where Fashion Island was. Blake responded, you know, where Silja is from. So cute!!

Baking cookies with our neighbor. Kim has made this a tradition and they love it.

I am so blessed to have 3 beautiful, healthy, well adjusted children. I love them and thank them for making me a mommy. I feel so lucky to have my PB& J Sandwich :)

December 2009 - Random in CA

At our favorite spot - The Orange Circle

At the Newport Beach Boat Parade with the Olivas. I was actually a bit disappointed with the boats - this one was one of the better ones. However, the kids all had a great time playing in the wet sand at 7pm at night. Only in Southern California.

He is loving being outside. Poor guy hadn't felt the grass since summer (the grass in Denmark stinks - prickly things everywhere).

His train had to look exactly like the box (geez, no pressure on me). I think I did a decent job. What surprised me the most is that the entire time it took me to make the train he never asked to eat a candy.. so not my child.

Paige was in charge of our tree. She put every ornament on herself. It was super cute too, her singing Christmas music while decorating.

So Long DK!

Although I am sad to leave the friends I have made and the memories we have shared, it has been a long 4 years and I am ready to start new again! Here's my list of things I'll miss and the things I won't miss (too easy):

Won't Miss:
Weather
1 car
Stick shift
Cost of living
3 sets of stairs in my house
Long flights to and from CA
Their money - the coins stink
Language - although everyone speaks English, Danish is ugly
Going to the many grocery stores just to get a deal

Will Miss:
Friends I have made
Our free gas card
Our house - the yard is amazing, each kid has their own room, we have a playroom, large living area, etc..
Listening to Paige and Blake speak Danish (it's cute when they speak it :) )
My Thursday lunch bunch get together
Taking the train on Saturdays - it's kind of fun and the kids love it
Having Europe so close.... but we'll be close to other places near PA so that is exciting

We are outta here in 4 days and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am. Right now the kids are sitting in our big living room where a super comfy blue couch once sat. Soon, our beds, the table we ate on for 4 years almost everynight, and the home we made will be gone. The only thing we'll take is the memories we made. I hope the kids will remember because we have some great ones, sad ones, happy ones, and ones we'd like to forget. Either way, Thanks Denmark for the memories!!

Random - December 2009

Crazy!! Danny took the kids to this museum in town. (I stayed home to pack) I was shocked at how big and real this guy looks.

On a walk.. a very, very small Christmas tree lot.

Hey Mom, That's the beer Papa drinks.. Great, my 4 year old already knows about beer.Thanks Dad!

Jude is officially off the bottle. This means he isn't a baby anymore. It is a month earlier that I wanted to do it but I was out of his special formula and figured it would be a good time. This is really the only time Blake has ever fed him.. As you can see, he was too engrossed with the TV to actually look at me.

Paige lost her 4th tooth. Well, let me clarify, I pulled it out with pliers. I can't believe I did it. I never wanted to do it but I gave her a deadline, 2 weeks and if it's not out, pliers. Why?? Her big tooth was half way in and had no where to go... I kept thinking of her cute smile and a crooked tooth and the orthodontist bill later.. She did not want me to do it and it took over an hour but with Danny holding her and me pulling the tooth, we did it. The top right one is super loose too but she won't pull it out. I even bribed her with a new outfit! She is definitely not my child when it comes to teeth pulling.

Blake's impression of Madagascar

Paige is done at ISAa

I had a meeting with Mrs. Kristensen last week and she said Paige is, in her 12 years of teaching, the most polite child she has ever had. That makes me so proud!! She said she is very good at math, a perfectionist and is often to hard on herself (gets that from both of us), should be reading above where she is at, but recommends putting her into 1st grade when we get home. We'll do K when we are in CA and get her adjusted and then hopefully 1st grade when we move.

The class is small, only 14 kids, and only 4 girls!

Paige goes to the SFO (after school program) at ISAa and loves it. They have an amazing arts and crafts area which she uses daily. It has also been really good for her too because she knows a lot of kids that speak Danish so she can use her Danish as well. You will all be impressed at how this child can speak another language. She has a gift.. It blows me away every time. Blake and her can have a conversation now and I have no idea what they are saying..

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