Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Winter is Coming...

Our familiar California climate is officially out the door and we are acclimating to high 40s and low 50s on a daily basis. Thank goodness for warm meals, a fireplace and lots of firewood. We are beginning to break-in all the winter clothes gathered by Grandma Leu and Mimi (you two are lifesavers!) and learning the art of layering since most indoor spaces are kept quite warm. The weather doesn't seem to phase Joel or the girls...but I on the other hand am still a wimp when it comes to the cold.

Evelynn was on holiday from school this past week, so we did a little extra adventuring while she was home with us. We set up house after a furniture delivery from Ikea, had a nice play date with a few friends from school, made lots of hand drawn books (basically time with paper and colored pencils is her favorite...so much so that we are turning our dining room walls into her art gallery), spent a day at Legoland and ended the week with a party for her K2 class from school. We also got to work on figuring out our Halloween costumes since a few international families are putting on a big party for families. Evelynn requested a Frozen theme (shocker!)...so she will be Elsa, Daphne will be Anna, Daddy Olaf (snowman) and Mommy Sven (the reindeer). There are a few sneak peeks at the costumes below.

We are beginning to feel more settled in our rental house in Billund and getting into a routine with school and work. Joel has been able to play badminton and dodgeball a few times and I have gotten out to a few social events with fellow expat partners. I am so grateful that many have walked this path before us and are willing to offer help and advice as we adjust to life here. It is hard and we miss our friends and families, feeling the stretch to grow more as a couple and family almost daily. Joel is living his dream as a LEGO designer, enjoying the creative challenges and brainstorming sessions as they develop the girls' themes for LEGO. It is so great to see him in his element, with people who share his passion. Its hard to believe it has only been 5 months since we uprooted our lives and moved to Denmark. Still many things to adjust to and look forward to (hopefully including bringing the 5th member of our family - Mr. Kitty aka Sam - to live here with us - fortunately he joins in on our Skype sessions with Grandpa and Grandma). Until the next update, sending lots of love from Billund!

Conversations with a newly turned 2 year old... 
Trying to warm up
After school pick up
Daphne's bday trip to Legoland
Evelynn is looking like a big girl these days 
Slice of LEGO pizza
Smiles with my girl on the train ride 
Birthday girl and Daddy on the train
Mushroom hunting - they have some crazy looking fungus here
Reading her birthday book from great-Grandma LaRene
Showing mommy her school work
Daddy's Halloween costume arrived and Evelynn was making a joke about eating his carrot nose...as you can tell Daphne thought it was hilarious
Girls loving on their Olaf Daddy
Dinosaur family craft
Time for surgery...one of her dino tails ripped
Introducing her buddies to each other
Sneak peak of the hair I made for the girls costumes
Silly faces...
Smiles
Sad faces
Daphne practicing her selfies
Solo safari ride for the big girl at Legoland
Daphne and Daddy followed behind
Family ride
oh the wonder of a four year old mind
Fashionista always dresses herself in tights, dresses and boots
Bundled up for a walk to school
Ev gets to have the class monkey home this week...meet Speedy!
Stopped off for a swing at the park before heading to the grocery store




Thursday, October 8, 2015

Photos of our "everyday"

Walking through the forest behind our house
She likes to find a walking stick and then say "old lady." Already a comedian
Show and Tell for parents at Ev's school - she made a phone out of magnets...which turned into a space ship and an airplane
Drawings pictures
Roly Poly
Enjoying a hand-me-down bike from our neighbors
Fancy Rapunzels
Dancing Rapunzels 
Family coloring sesh
Sick day painting
Fun at the library
Crocodile buddy 
Hot Dogs

Daphne Turns Two!

The littlest of the Baker crew has officially moved in toddlerhood. Oct 6th, Daphne turned 2 and we did a little celebrating at home since Daddy was away at a team retreat...more celebrating to be had as a family this weekend. Evelynn has been asking almost every morning for the past week "is today was Daphne's birthday" and she was so excited when I finally was able to say yes. She ran to their playroom where she had hidden some drawings she made to give to Daphne. She also had saved an extra Doc McStuffins Duplo character to share with her sister. She was very proud to present her gifts.

After our morning walk to school, I asked Daphne what she'd like to have for breakfast...to which she immediately yelled "BACON!" We made breakfast together (Daph likes to be in charge of scrambling our eggs) and played around the house. Before nap time we whipped up some homemade chocolate sauce to go on some birthday ice cream once Evelynn returned from school. Daphne was a very willing taste tester as you can see in the photo below. Nap time commenced (these days that means "reading books" and singing to herself at the top of her lungs).

Her official "I am 2" birthday smile
Exploring the creek
Breakfast time. Can't handle her sweet eyes in the pic.
Post breakfast mommy snuggles and tickles

Sending kisses to Mimi and Papa over text
Chocolate sauce taste tester
We picked up Evelynn at school and the girls went straight for the birthday treat. Daphne opened a couple more gifts she had gotten in the mail with the help of her very excited sister. She played with her new toys and colored with Ev. They eventually requested popcorn and Doc McStuffins. Perfect timing for mommy to get dinner going (homemade mac and cheese for the cheese lover in the house). 

Singing Happy Birthday
She wasn't so sure about holding the burning candles. We've been working on her understanding the fire is hot since we have an open fireplace in the living room.
Enjoying the birthday treat.
It got very quiet...
New Duplo from Daddy and Mommy
Best reaction while opening presents from Grandpa and Grandma (cut digging/gardening set and crayons!)
Using her new crayons
As you can tell, D is very excited to have her own crayons...her big sis, not so much (although after a few minutes D happily shared and smiles were back) 
Birthday Dinner
All in all a good, simple day to celebrate a very special little girl. We missed Daddy and are looking forward to celebrating with him this weekend. Hopefully the weather will be nice so we can walk over to Legoland or go on a forest walking adventure.

As a mommy, today I sighed a little relief that we have made it to 2...although the road ahead will be interesting with our strong-willed, spunky adventure seeking explorer. It has been so special to watch her grow from a tiny 8lb 10oz baby to a beautiful curly haired little girl who's ready to tackle just about anything (including her sister).