August 10, 2015 - First Day of First Grade

It's hard to believe that our Super Girl is in First Grade, but it's true! While she was a little bit disappointed not to be in a class with her three favorite friends (who she requested to be with...hmmm...), she took the news pretty well and took some comfort in having 4 other kids from last year's class with her (even if they weren't her besties).  She did not miss a beat when we got to school this morning at 6:35.  She found two friends on the playground and it was pretty quickly, "Mama and Far, who??" Her teacher Ms. Jillian, who we think is Australian, seemed very nice but we didn't get so much information this first day.  In a couple of weeks there will be a parent meeting where we get to know her a little better I hope.  Grace was especially fascinated by the classroom "star chart" which is a behavior/kindness reward/modification system her teacher uses.  A few kids in her class already got stars today, but Grace did not so she has something to strive for.  As always, I was so excited for Grace to be reaching another milestone but also feeling so flabbergasted by the quick passage of time (thank goodness we still have a little one...but even she isn't THAT little anymore! More on that later...).  

Grace, we're wishing you a fun and interesting year, full of yellow stars!

LMW

August 9, 2015 - Summer Trip Part 2: Denmark!

Our time in Denmark was much shorter - really only 9 days - so we didn't get to do quite as many things.  And the weather was, well, Danish.  But we did love more time with COUSINS (yes!) and strawberry picking and other family time and LEGOLAND! Farmor and Hans also gave Mama and Far a day out and, needless to say, the kids loved their day of being spoiled without us around.  There was one slightly sprained wrist on the trampoline, but Grace bounced back (pun intended) pretty well from that.  We're sorry that there were so many people we didn't see this time around...next time we will try to stay a bit longer! And we're sorry that we didn't take quite as many pictures in Denmark either - I think maybe towards the end of our trip we were running out of steam just a bit!

LMW

August 9, 2015 - Summer Trip Part 1: America!

In July we left Dar for 5 weeks of travel (which at least partially explains my crazy-long blog absence).  The first 3 1/2 weeks were in America!  It was one of our best trips home yet - mostly great weather and great family time!  We were much more active than we usually are when we go home for Christmas (big holiday and very, very, very cold = mostly indoors!).  I will try to let the (many) pictures speak for themselves, but some of the highlights were:  kids pirate ship cruise, 4th of July parade and fireworks (and getting to go up into some fire trucks!), whale watch (we saw 7 different from 3 different species), Red Sox game (no kids!), U2 Concert (no kids!), kids first movie theather experience (Minions!), making SMORES over a backyard fire with a talented cousin playing guitar in the background, visiting a dinosaur park (with amazing splash pad and playground!), visiting friends in CT and NJ (some professional photos included below thanks to Omar!), a birthday weekend getaway for me with almost ALL of my long-time girlfriends in Boston, and just so much wonderful time with my parents and siblings (only we didn't get to see Christine and her family).  There are few things that my kids love as much as spending time with their COUSINS, so that was a wonderful gift.  Thanks to everyone who spent time with us, and a special thanks to my parents who always make everything possible when we are home!  

LMW

 (Below is my favorite picture of the whole trip!  Carrie snapped it of our family just at the exact moment that an INCREDIBLY loud fire siren blared and you can see all of us (except maybe Kristoffer?) reacted to that crazy loud sound in some way!)

  (Grace made us this sign in the hopes of seeing us on TV holding it up!  We really tried!)

(I grew up with the Red Sox starting catcher!  It was very cool to watch him play! Go Hani!)

 U2 - check that off the bucket list!