Saturday, December 31, 2011


I really wanted to send you all a Christmas Card - and they are all lying right here on the table - cute ones too with a fancy little reindeer … but as I said … they are still lying right here ...
And it's bad … because I was asked by a friend if she should send out real cards or go e-card this year and I went - definitely send cards … because it is a dying tradition and I love receiving cards - I really really do, but this year … well, we all know now - it didn't happen!

Sorry!

Let's move on now shall we!

I haven't written here for the longest of times, and I'm sure I'm going to get it in the neck next time I see some of you - but as I said in my last post I am now blogging on my business site - BMDesign - but "over there" I do not show the kids, and I do not mention anyone by name not even Bob - or Casper for that matter … it is all about my life and what I think about things … not that interesting to some of you I should imagine!

Here though - here I can revel in Anna's wonderful smile - or Maia's cheeky face or Jack's tremendous fashion sense.

Or I can show you how we all looked on Bob's 50th Birthday morning

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as I said … early morning - tired eyes but tons of smiles never-the-less!

He had a fab day - even if I'm the one speaking for him … I really do think he did because look at that decor

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or how about the cake up close - seriously made by my three apprentices - Anna made Bob, Maia made Casper and Jack made and decorated all the stars. I covered the cake but it was all their design and doing and we spent hours talking about how to make it look just right - I think they did an amazing job

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and there were presents - so many presents … all fab presents - like this one from Carol and the girls - now hanging in the most perfect of spots

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I think that was such a brilliant present - it shows the maps of Winnipeg Canada, Woking UK and Ottawa Canada … where he was born, where he grew up and where he has settled … I love it!

And there were many wet presents - and a cigar, a CD with Elvis which will go with Bob to Calgary next week never (ever!) to be seen or heard in Ottawa ever again!

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These paintings were from me, the kids, Morfar and Birgit!

While in Denmark we, as told in an earlier blog, visited Røsnæs, Bob's favourite place in Denmark - and we had lunch in the best of restaurants. The restaurant had many paintings on display by this one local artist. I fell crazy in love with one painting but it was monster big and there was no way we could have brought it back with us - however, we contacted the painter and commissioned her to make these two paintings for Bob.

Anyone who has ever been to Røsnæs will recognize it - My Dad and Bob have promised me they will be hung today - but they did so yesterday as well … I live in hope!

The rest of Bob's Birthday was spent enjoying "The Nutcracker" with a Canadian twist - we watched Loons twirl, Frogs pirouette and Bears dance and it was all very good and interesting to see "The Nutcracker in a different way.

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The adults all went out for a lovely meal downtown in the evening and once back home, some of those wet presents were opened and I believe enjoyed too (I was being a very sensible Mama - kids still needed lunches for school the next day and I knew I had to be up at 6.30 so I stayed on the … water!)

Bob's Birthday was on December 20th and we were very lucky that everyone arrived early to celebrate him as well as Christmas - this of course meant 7 days of joy and fun with Morfar, Birgit, Dom, Mark, Milo, Jane, Jerry, John, Adam and Nancy … 7 full days - start to finish!
So much happened … we ate … a lot … we drank … in moderation (believe that believe anything!) … we baked, we cooked (Jerry taught the girls and Jane baked with the girls too), there was fondant being made into cupcake toppers for Adams Birthday, we played Scrabble (I won - which is amazing as "English isn't my first language" … (you had to be there!)) we blobbed, we laughed - oh how I laughed - we "moustached", we laughed some more - we ate … cheese - a lot … I cooked - I cooked a lot, we "cinnamon bun'ed", we "candy ate" … a lot! … we shopped, we walked Casper (not me - not once … bad mama!), we tobogganed once the snow finally came, we ate some more - a lot and it went on and on .. for days and days …

And then it was Christmas

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oh - and there was one for Janey too

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… how could we not get that boot when we saw it in my favourite shop?

It became Auntie Janey's pressie - filled only with red presents - it was a fun present to find and make and I think that especially the gloves went down well

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I'm not kidding though when I tell you that I have never in my life seen so many presents under one tree and I started the day by telling the little people about no stress, no tantrums, pace yourself, take your time - and they did really well. There were no tantrums, there were no upsets - they waited patiently for each other (and the rest of us) and I'm so happy to say that it was a wonderful morning of unwrapping presents.

I love giving - I am really good at that … love finding stuff for my family … and I take such joy from watching especially the kids open their presents

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Maia with her yoga mat from Isabella doing "The Baby" ???

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Jack with his new Hummel shoes (lot of Hummel under that tree :)

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Anna with her big fluffy monster pillow from Jack

But me ...

…  I'm always a little nervous when I open my presents

… can't help it

… sorry

…but

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a Dualit toaster …

… will ALWAYS make me surprised and very very happy!

let there be NO doubts … this year I was spoiled … BIG time … lots …
...over (notice Le Creuset pan on picture!)

and ...

…over

again and again!

But I wasn't the only one …

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Look at that "Tree of life"

or Dom's many Moustaches

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and Casper even got 4 fancy balls to rip apart in seconds!

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… it really doesn't take long!

And then it was time to finish the turkey and to do some serious tobogganing ...

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you tell me - isn't that just the BEST Christmas Day???

and then we ate … again...

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Starter … I FINALLY got to try figs … oh and goats cheese and it was heaven on a plate!!!

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Turkey ...

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...gone!

But we had so much fun … again ...

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and then when it was all over - and we opened even more presents from under that lovely tree

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(obviously Mark is really happy … )

and then once those presents were all done and there really wasn't anything left under the tree 

... and it was now very dark outside

… we still had yet another celebration

because it was Uncle Adams Birthday

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… and cake coppers had been made ...

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such a look-alike :)

Happy Birthday Adam!

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and that is it from us ….

I know I have run it through quickly - well, maybe not quick by your standards, but I had Sixhundredsomething pictures transferred from Jane who was super at taking pictures all the time - I'm sure there are more photos on Dom's phone as well as my own camera … I chose these to tell the story of an extraordinary Birthday/Christmas week.

I doubt we will ever have this many people again … which makes me sad.

But it will never take away the memories of the best Christmas

EVER!

I want all of you who were here to know that I absolutely loved every moment - and I haven't got words big enough to tell you all how grateful I am that you made the effort to come celebrate Bob with me - and stay for Christmas to bring such joy and happiness. I celebrated with people I love so dearly - my only wish would have been to have more of the people I love - but once again distance played it's part.

I will end this post with my love and best wishes for all of you for a wonderful 2012.

My life only gets better every year - I am an incredibly lucky person to have you all in my life.
To my friends - thank you for being in my life … I love you all!

To my Family … I married into a family of fun and laughter - and for that I'm beyond grateful … you show me time and time again what family can and should be - THANK YOU!

Happy New Year!

1 comment:

  1. Sikke en dejlig beretning. Man kan ikke vaere i tvivl om, at du har haft det helt fantastisk :-)God bagjul og godt nytaar til dig soede Birgitte.

    Mette, Dhaka

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