60 years together

I hope someday this happens to Troels and me.

Over the christmas holidays, Troels' grand-parents celebrated 60 years of being married together. When I look at that number I just think, how in the world is that possible. To be with someone for so long, and still love each other the way Ib and Betty do.


To celebrate the occasion, Ib bought Betty a bouquet of 60 roses.

I hope someday this happens to me :) (take notes, my dear little hubby :))


As per the Danish tradition, we got up early in the morning to wake them up by singing a few traditional songs at their window. And we added a couple trumpets to that. To be fancy. And also, let's face it, trumpets are easier to hear when you start getting old :)

And I also hope that when I am their age, I know how to throw together a party the way they did :) It was great to spend the evening with all of their friends and family, hear stories about their life.



A little video of a surprise their friends did for them:


I wish you many more years of happiness together, Ib and Betty!

All I want for Christmas is....

...happy moments spent with family.

Sitting around the table with family, drink tea, and eat LOT. LOTS. LOTS. of cookies.



Like watching Olivia play the piano with her farmor.


And decorating the Christmas tree. We found some pictures of daddy when he was young on the way :)


And listening to Troels' grandpa read the traditional H.C. Andersen story on Christmas eve.


Watching the kids try and catch each other.


Going around the Christmas tree while singing Christmas carols.



See, Santa, I really wasn't asking for much this Christmas :)

I want to talk to you about something serious...

Olivia. Age barely two. Is very picky when choosing her books. Here seen with her favorite of all time, about the situation in Kosovo. If she doesn't make it to Harvard, I don't get it.


Photos (and book) courtesy of my mother -in-law :)

December

It's December. And somehow, the leaves are still golden in the trees. So we shall run around and roll ourselves in the leaves for as long as they will last.


But it IS December. Golden leaves or not. Which means that we can't ignore the obvious: time for some Christmas bling around our place. oh how I love Christmas, it makes me feel like a little girl inside. All those memories of previous christmases. All that joy. It's here, it's now, and it ain't gonna go away until the 25th.


It fells even more special this year, now that we have these two little girls in our home. In our hearts. Even more so than last year. And I am not sure why. Maybe because Olivia is this much bigger this year that she's actually starting to understand what's going on - yes, Santa's now her best buddy. Or maybe it's because with two kids, we feel like a "real family"....and isn't family what makes Christmas so great?

Whatever it is, I just love it, and I'm trying to enjoy every second of this month with my girls. Taking extra time to take a little detour to see the Christmas lights around the corner from our street. Making salty dough ornaments for our Christmas tree....and watching Olivia sneak up to the tree to try and get a taste of them ;)

*More photos of the little Olive by my lovely friend Soaz*

Stopping at a cafe to get some warm spiced cider and ginger cookies. Watching Olivia open little presents in the morning from her advent calendar.

Playing in the girls bedroom while listening to our favorite christmas tunes. It's all such a blessing.

Thank you for finally showing up, mister December. We're so glad you're staying with us for a little while.

For the time they are a changin

Don't read too much into the title of this post, I'm not going to go all political on you :) If you know me, you know I am not really the kind....it's just that I've just been listening to this song quite a bit lately, after ready Steve Job's biography, and well, it's sorta stuck in my mind. I look around me, and it's all constant change.

Fall turning to winter before we have a chance to blink.

Little girls becoming big.

New challenges coming. New dreams forming. New hopes rising.

But amidst of those change, one constant: love & friendship.

People who will give to you, no matter what. No matter what. People that will make you travel the world. See the world. Love the word. And kick the world in the butt when it's not being fair.

And yes, the time, they are always a changin....but with those people around me, I have no doubt I can take it all.

*All pics in this post (except the last one) by my lovely Soaz*

A good day.

Yesterday was a good day. A great day actually. We planned our whole day around Olivia so she would have fun. Guess what, the adults got an even bigger kick out of it.

Starting with a trip to Toy'R Us in Time Square. Olivia was impressed. And running around the store looking at toys. Until she saw a walking giraffe. Then she started crying. I give her another year and she'll be chasing after that giraffe :)

BBQ for lunch = Daddy's stomach = Happy.

W went to Central Park to say hi to the sea lions and the monkeys. Olivia was there a few weeks ago with her daddy, and she just acted like she owned the place, telling us where to go and where to turn. With WHOAAAs here and WHOAAs there. She was so excited, she ran the entire time instead of walking.


Oh, and Madeline found her long-lost daddy.

And you know what? My little finger tells me that we had so much fun because this hot chick was there with us. Everything always more fun when she's with us :)



Did we have some tired little girls after that? Betch' ya! Was it worth it? Betch ya! Olivia didn't have a chance to nap all day, so the minute we jumped in the taxi, her eyes closed. But I'm pretty sure I can guess what she was dreaming about.