Juledag // Christmas day

Christmas Day was a relaxed and happy day. Just look how the men all dressed up nicely in musical ties :-)

We took our time opening presents. Duncan and I gave Samuel a bike (en løbecykel) which he was very proud of, and helped morfar and Daddy to put together.

Since we had a white Christmas, most of us went out to play on the sledges just behind my parents' house. Samuel absolutely loved it. Even on the steep hill.

Afterwards there was more playing for Samuel, reading in books for the adults, laughing at the comic books, that had been given, marvelling at whatever presents we had been given, drinking tea and eating sweets.

God gave us the greatest gift of becoming our family in Christ. And o, we are thankful for our family!

Jul // Christmas

In preparation for Christmas, we took part in the family service in Vejle the week before Christmas. Samuel enjoyed - as usual - all the music, the children and danced around when the children's choir sang. His "hero" Christian played the drums, and Samuel was quite awed.

Every Tuesday since September Duncan and Samuel has spend with their friends Jaco and Joel. Taking turns to visit each other each week the four "boys" have played and had so much fun together. The two boys call each other "El", not being able to pronounce each other's names properly yet. The last Tuesday before Christmas the celebrated the end of their Tuesday meetings as Samuel is off to play school (vuggestue) after the new year.

On the 21st we went up north to my parents to celebrate the birthday of my dad on the 22nd. Samuel and I stayed with my parents and my brother while Duncan went to Vejle and Esbjerg to celebrate the services for Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve (which is the time Christmas is celebrated with gifts etc. in Denmark) we were at my parents with my mum's old Dad. Samuel quite enjoyed having his Uncle, grandparents and even is greatgrandad around. The picture below is my grandad opening the picture he was given of our little family. The ear-muffs are a form of hearing aid.

All though Samuel liked his presents and were proud of them, the best thing about Christmas, I think, was that Uncle Lasse was there for several days in a row, and had the time to play with him. Here they are reading a book about a noisy car:

Fødselsdag // Birthday

This weekend we have celebrated Samuel's second birthday - though the first birthday with us. It's been a great succes. Not that he's understood the concept - except the cakes. And the delight of having grandma, mormor, morfar AND uncle Lasse here at the same time! Presents are a new thing, and not something Samuel rushes through. He spend a long time discovering each thing he unwrapped. He loved his Postman Pat, his little play egg and the digger from Lasse. And his mum and dad loved all the clothes (Sam and Aly gave him a t-shirt which said "Little man, big attitude - to general amusement)

THANK YOU ALL for the lovely presents and cards you've send him!

And then, off course, we've had grandma visiting. Samuel was not a happy bunny when he had to say goodbye! Luckily we know she'll be back soon - next time with granddad!

Winter has come to Denmark for sure. It's white all over, and has been for a week now. Still more snow is coming. Last night it was -14 in a neighbouring town. Samuel has learned the use of wearing gloves!

Last week he and I went to visit Louie, who Samuel lived with in South Africa - we travelled home with Louie and his parents, and are seeing them regularly. At Louie's there's a little car in the garden. Big enough to fit in for the boys. With a steering wheel and doors to open and shut it's perfect for Samuel's games of coming and going. He has gone directly to it every time we've visited and been in the garden. Last time was no different.

He wanted me to push him around, which would've been no problem if the ground hadn't been covered in around 20 cm of snow. We tried to lure him to the sledge. We tried to show how much fun such a thing is - and how much easier it goes on snow. To no avail. Samuel wanted the car and nothing else.

A proud man and his car. Who cares for snow and sledge-fun when there's a car around?!