Copenhagen Day Two

One of places on the top of our list to visit was Tivoli Gardens. It is Busch Gardens-esque. Beautiful scenery among side thrilling rides. 

 Tivoli has a Hans Christian Andersen themed ride. It takes you through scenes of his fairy tales.

 "The Brave Tin Solider" Notice the tin soldier, with one leg, looking onto the ballerina that he believes is one legged like him.

 "The Little Mermaid"

 "The Little Match Girl"

 "The Snow Queen"

 "The Princess and the Pea"

 Oh, I love the cleverness of this stair rail!

 From the Tivoli Gardens we walked the pedestrian street mall. We both enjoyed the Lego store. Just look at the mural on the wall!

 Next, we climbed to the top of the round tower. Even with tired feet it wasn't bad since it was a ramp instead of stairs. But, boy, was it windy at the top!

 One of the best parts of this trip is the many many 'dates' we get to have. It is nice to sit down to a meal with our #1 and have 'adult' conversations.

 On the same street that our hotel is on, is the building Hans Christian Andersen lived on. The plaque below the window states that (we think, need a translator).

 Lastly, I had to share our nightly dessert. A Waffle, with chocolate sauce and oreos...YUM! They make waffles way better here. Also, Danish danishes are way better than American danishes, shocker I know.

Copenhagen Day One

We are over in Europe celebrating ten lovely years of marriage. Yep, one decade down, only seven more to go. 

Karl was in Sweden for work. The following week lined up with Brady's spring break so we jumped at the opportunity to meet up in Denmark and enjoy out first european vacation together.

We found a lovely hotel right on the canal that immerses us right in the middle of the Danish culture.

 This is the view from our window. Breathtaking quite honestly.

 Our hotel is the brown brick building with the red shutters on the far right. It is located on the Nyhavn. Nyhavn is manmade canal, originally built for the Danish Navy. People love to buy a beer and sit on the canal's edge.

 Bikes are the main form of transportation. There are only a few parking spots for cars, but bike racks everywhere.

Our first day was only half day, so we decided to get to know the city with a canal boat tour. 

 The Nyhavn is a sight to behold especially from the water.

 There is a hobo town with a lot of character outside of Copenhagen. In the 1970s homeless people took over an unused military plot. The town has its own rules and (lack of) regulations. It is known for its drug induced happiness. Thus we will not be enjoying this bit of culture up close.

 Hans Christian Andersen spent most of his life here in Copenhagen. He is known for writing many popular fairy tales, especially The Little Mermaid. There is a statue that is visited non stop and has been there for one hundred years. Hopefully we will see the front of her later, but for now, her rear end it is.

 This is the Queen's winter residence. She lives in the building with five chimneys on the left. We also plan to visit this later this week.

 Spire of Our Savior's Church. 400 steps to the top... who knows if you will get more pictures of this ;)

 Copenhagen is in the middle of a several years long metro expansion. Instead of a boring run down construction wall, an artist installed this fun changeable wall. I showed my love to Karl and he added that we are 10 years strong.

And, I feel asleep at 6:30 the first night...hence the posting of pictures one day late. After red eyeing the night before, the sleep was welcomed. 

A bond like none other

When we had Dewy, I told Karl I wanted him to have a best friend. So we got Pace. Now they are inseparable. 

We had Brady and I told Karl, I wanted another baby so Brady could have a best friend. We had Reese. Now they are inseparable. 

We gave them their own rooms in FL, they asked to have sleep overs in each others rooms every night. So we gave them a common bedroom with bunk beds. Now, they are sharing the same bed. 

In this first picture, they both have their hand draped over their sister's leg. They are wound into each other like pretzels. 

This next photo was after Brady had a long emotional evening because she missed her daddy so much. I asked Reese is she could make Brady feel extra loved that night. Reese shared her pillow and her oxygen. 

I hope Elli will be able to build this same bond with them as well. 

Orthnerism: Let's speak about spokes

I realized I never made this announcement official on her. In February, Reese became a legit bike rider. With her I wised up to the whole bike riding process, which does NOT include training wheels at any given time.

Two months later and Reese is a master of her bike. She has control like she has been riding a bike for years. Sorry, I don't have an updated video or even pictures but I have this little verbal gem.

After a weekend afternoon out on the alley, I asked the girls to come in for dinner. As they were cleaning up their bike gear:

Me: "Reese, you really are pretty amazing on that bike of yours now."

Reese: "That's the way it is suppose to be, mom."


Alright Reese, from now on, I will not expect anything short of amazing from you.






But I have a feeling you will never let me down.

By the way, this is one of her latest masterpieces. Titled "A girl dressed up as a princess stuffing brownies in her mouth"

My baby is all grown up!

What happened? She isn't a baby anymore. Now the reference of her being my baby has nothing to do with age and ALL has to do with her being my youngest. How did this happen? But what a sweet thing it is to behold.

Let's explore the awesomeness of She.

 She mastered her first easter egg hunt. All I did was tell her "go clean up all those eggs"

 She wanted so badly to enjoy all those sweets she accumulated at the egg hunt. I tried to distract her with the miniature jar of bubbles she got. It worked for 5 seconds (look how sweet her blowing bubbles is) then she dumped out the jar to move onto bigger and better things...sugar.

 Apparently I haven't been giving her enough credit. While pulling the wagon with Reese and Elli, Reese shouts "look mommy!" Yep, Elli unwrapped a tootsie pop and went about her business.

 No worries though, MY baby still loves a good snuggle or piggy back ride. And I don't mind one bit.

 But, more importantly, she loves doing EVERYTHING her big sisters do. If Brady runs out in the early morning with a giant bear in tow. You bet that Elli races to find the other big bear, heft him over her arm, and proceed to the backyard too. Imagine the battles that fall into place when a almost two year old constantly tries to be a 5 or 6 year old.

 I do have to say, she is just as sweet as they come. I love her infectious joy of life.

 I also love her sense of humor. She is our resident comedian, always trying to get a laugh out of someone or laugh right along with others. She loves a good joke that is above her head but makes everyone else laugh. 

But about the sweetest thing as of late, is her new phrase "Daddy home". It can be phrased as a question or a statement. She wakes up, she immediately looks towards the master bedroom and asks "daddy home?". Daddy walks into a door after work, she goes running "Daddy home!!!!". It breaks my heart though, when Karl is out of town. She asks about 15 times a day "Daddy home?" Every time she sees a black sedan "Daddy home!" Playing in the backyard, she walks to the garage door, reaches for the knob and says "Daddy home?" She is a full blown daddy's girl and that makes me SO happy. I think she has her daddy sold on this only daughters business. 

let's band together

Yep, we are on day 34!

Those arm bands were put on her March 1st! She wants to keep them on "incase she goes back to the Great Wolf Lodge, the she can get in for free"

I think she is attached to them because they are a great conversation starter. SEVERAL people have talked to her about the Great Wolf Lodge and then she gets to share her stories. 

But just when I think the yellow one is on its last leg...

We go to a base easter egg hunt and they require this...

Do you see it? Yet another yellow wristband on her right hand. YAH! : /

Master of her own disguise

When she thinks she has secretly gotten into her sisters play make up but has really gotten into their markers!





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Stop the clock...

... My baby girl is growing up

TOO FAST!