Max Turns 4!

Max turned 4 years old on the 22nd of November! It was a big day, starting off at 6 am with our little 4 year old alarm clock letting us know that it was his birthday and we had promised to let him open 1 gift before his birthday party, which turned out to be the knight costume you can see above.
Here is Max blowing out 4 candles on his requested chocolate cake.

Later that morning, all of the 10 boys from Max's daycare made the trip up the hill to our little apartment. They played with Max's toys and then we all had lunch together; pigs-in-a-blanket and fresh veggies. Afterward, I helped the kids to make these pirate hats, which turned out to be quite fun. And then it was time for, you guessed it, chocolate cake.

In these 2 pictures, Max is sitting next to his good buddy, Elias.

And here's Max in his hat, later that day.

We decided to go over to Grandma and Grandpa Denmark's house for the opening of presents and eating of cakes and blowing out of candles.

Here's Max opening one of the many lovely presents he received. Thanks to everyone who remembered our special little guy on his special day!

Learning to Fly

Reminds me a bit of a rodeo cowboy, tying calf legs: DONE!

Samuel is practicing, practicing, practicing his balance. He loves going for walks with his push wagon, as well. So, we're all eagerly awaiting the chaos that will ensue once he starts walking soon. But of course, we're proud of him. Funny how something so natural for a child to learn inspires such pride in his parents!

Winter Goodies

Samuel, most assuredly wondering why his mother has dressed him like an elf. Can't help it, sweetie. When you're old enough to protest, we'll talk. Until then, you're my little doll. And I like this hat.

Sweet little face...

There's another one...

Big eyes

Look! I STILL don't have teeth!

Well, just these two....

On safari.

Max, baking with mom. That stuff in the bowl turned into a chocolate cake about an hour later; Max's request.

Morten's 30th Birthday

One can't really celebrate one's 30th birthday the way one might prefer, when one is smack-dab in the middle of final-year exams for medical school, but one can expect that one's family can at least give one a couple of gifts, right? So, Morten hit the big 3-0! He's officially a grown-up now: No turning back. But 2 (and a half) kids, a wife of almost 7 years, and almost a doctor (God-willing) ain't bad doin's for 30 years old. We're pretty proud of him!
Here's Max with some presents he picked out for poppa-daddy himself from the hardware store.


Morten's mom, Anni and Morten's dad, Jens joined us for dinner and a birthday cake. Here is Max and Anni looking at old pictures together.

Here's Morten's pride and joy: He got a cool new camera from his folks-in-law (and a little from his wife, but only a little). It says on the box "Canon", but I think I'm going to start calling it "Mistress", the way he spends time on it.

Look at those eyes. Kid in a candy store eyes.

We plan on doing a real shin-dig when the weather, and Morten's study load, lighten up. But for now, looks like he had a good day. Happy Birthday, babe.!

Brothers

I don't know if there is anything more a parent could ask for their children than that they would get along, respect each other and honestly care for each other. Being an only child myself, as is Morten, we really didn't know what to expect. But it sincerely warms the cockles of my heart to see the way these two are with each other (well, most of the time...). Samuel adores his big brother, and I think Max is beginning to sense that this bald, little rug rat could actually get to be a bit of fun.


"Hey."
"Wassup?"

This Max just did spontaneously when dad said "Let me take a picture of you guys." A hug just seemed like the natural thing to do....

And here's Samuel doing the best he can to cheer up a sick Max. He brought him (and then beat him with before presenting as a gift) his chew fish. It's the thought that counts, right?

Best Buds

My mom says "You're lucky if you can find 2 good friends in this lifetime." Here's Max showing how lucky he is. These are Max's "BEDSTE venner" (Eng. BEST friends): Christian (in the dark jacket) and Elias( in light blue and orange). Lucky for me, their moms are also really nice people so it's not hard for us to agree to get together with the kids.
Here are the boys on a little outing by a lake nearby there where Elias lives.



This is what it's all about right? Charging the road ahead with lots of energy and two good friends.

Grrr.... Got their game faces on. Watch out for armed ninjas/tigers/vikings/pirates in the grass.

Cute little snots....

Hanging out on the sofa. Here is Max, looking frighteningly similar to my own dad at that age. Can't doubt who that boy's momma is...

Well, we were at our 19 week scanning, and got the probable sex of the next little bun-in-the-oven: And looks like she's got 2 X chromosomes! We're taking all bids on names, so send 'em in!

We're thrilled! (especially mom, who is already planning which My Little Pony and which pair shoes she should have first).

Muppet Baby?

My mom says our youngest, Samuel, looks like Professor Bunson Honeydew from the Muppets. His glasses needed to be a bit rounder, but there is an equal amount of baldness going on....

Dr. Mølgaard.... Paging Dr. Mølgaard

Well, sort of. He ain't done yet, BUT Morten got to pick today where he is going to take his residency (or the Danish facsimilie thereof). And he got one of his Top 5 picks! We get to stay in Aarhus, our little apartment and the normal, routine little life that we currently enjoy (the labrats that we are). And Morten will be working at the Orthopedic Surgical Unit, which means Emergency Room and lots of broken stuff, like Morten likes. The great thing is that he has an option to follow those patients which require neurosurgery afterwards, which is what Morten hopes to get to do when he's done.
The second 6 months, Morten will be at the Renal Unit and all that entails. Don't ask me... all I know is dialysis and high blood pressure. But he tells me that it's a lot more complicated than that... I'm sure it is.
Either way, he is stoked to say the least! You're almost there, babe!

Hallo-WEEEEEEN!

Well, it's as close to Halloween as you're gonna get in Denmark! Tivoli, our local amusement park, hosts an autumn festival, complete with all sorts of spooky things. Max and good buddy, Jasmine, met up last Sunday to join in the party.
Here's Max in his own creation - spider mask!


Here's the two goofballs together. This is pretty much how they are when they get together; silly, silly, silly. They are like two peas in a pod - there's no arguing or disagreeing. Just as an example, the one normally wants to ride in the pink plane, the other in the blue, but the two of them just simultaneously decided to compromise in the yellow, without any parental involvement. How's that for comradeship!

Little witchy and little ghosty.

Spinning out, in the teacups.

"I miss Halloween," Max said when we got home later that night. And when I asked him, "What was the best part of your day?" his answer was "Playing with Jasmine".

Patricia (Jasmine's mom) has already got the two kids arranged for marriage. I can only remind her that's illegal in this country. But if things keep going this way, you never know.....

The Forest Mill and Jasmine

Max has a good friend, Jasmine, that is daughter to my good friend, Patricia. Last weekend, we all got together and had an incredibly relaxing and fun Sunday in the woods close to the beach.

Here, out in the middle of nowhere, is an old, forest mill that still works. The kids can go in and see how to make flour and watch all the gears and millstones grind and churn away. There is also a little area for the kids to draw outside and Max and Jasmine spent a good half hour drawing together while the two moms yacked.

A walk in the woods led us to this fallen tree that made a perfect bridge over a little stream. The kids were like moths to a flame, so Patrica and I pulled ourselves together and walked the plank with our much more daring 3 year olds.

Another bridge to spend heaps of time on. The kids threw sticks and dirt and leaves and all sorts of things in to see whose stick or leaf came first. They looked for bubbles and fish and just enjoyed the heck out of not having to do anything at all. (So did we!)

The two little cuties. Here it is, caught on film, one of those moments of childhood where time is on your side and everything is just as it should be. Wish I could go back there sometimes. Pretty cool that having kids gives you a chance to relive all that fun in a new, grown-up way.

Saturdays

Morten has been a busy little bee, reading and reading and reading to finish up his last semester of medical school (WA-Hoo!). But he still manages to find a bit of time on Saturdays to hang out and so we make the most of it. The last few weekends we have hit the beach and the forrest to catch the last few rays of the late summer sun. Here's Max with his proud mommy (with a rapidly expanding belly...)

And here again with his catch of the day; two dried up, sandy, and quite dead starfish that went promptly in the back pocket and almost into the washing machine. And dad.

Max in the Box

And here are a couple of videos of Samuel these days. He's about 10 months old now, so he is crawling all over the place and standing up on all the furniture, trying out his new legs. Sam, like his brother and his pops, loves cars. So that's what he spends alot of time doing these days... playing with his, and often times (to Max's dismay) big brothers cars.

The other video is of me and Sammy. For whatever reason, we started rubbing our heads together awhile back. Now it's our little game. Here we are, one cozy Saturday morning after pancakes, rubbing heads.

Hangin' with Albert

Max got a chance to hang out with a new friend, Albert. He is the son of one of the girls I go to school with and is just as sweet as he can be. The two boys got along famously right from the start and we have plans to keep the friendship going. Here they are checking out the "Supersej (tr. Super Cool)" skaters downtown.



We spent the day at an indoor playroom with a huge pillow area, slides, a reading room, a coloring area and this stage with all sorts of costumes. Here is Max, as an Indian.

And Albert as a King.

Afterward, the boys sat and ate raspberry pie from home and looked out at the goats in the petting area downstairs. We visited them as well a bit later, though they were quite cranky (the goats, I mean...)

A great way to spend a chilly, autumn day!