2012!

Happy 2012 everyone!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday filled with family, friends, and food. And I hope everyone's new years had as many fireworks as mine did! And no, I'm not speaking metaphorically.

I had a really really wonderful Christmas thanks to my Danish family. I really hit the jack-pot when it came to au pair families. I felt so at home and so much like I belonged, I wanted to cry all night. It was my first Christmas away from home and in the big scheme of things it wasn't too bad!  We ate a delicious meal, drank wine, lit real candles on the Christmas tree and danced around it. Yes, we danced around the Christmas tree--even the dog joined in. It sounds pretty silly but during traditional Danish Christmas you walk around the tree singing Christmas Carols (in Danish, and then a round of 'Silent Night' in English for me) before you open presents; it's really quite lovely and such a homey thing.

The kids got some great stuff and were stoked about everything. I gave Goose 1 a copy of the Hobbit in Danish so he can get ready for the movie that comes out in a year (AHHHHH! I CAN'T WAIT) and Goose 2 got an absolutely adorable stuffed owl that I wanted to keep for myself. They gave me lovely stuff as well--the beach chair Goose 1 made in wood-shop (can't wait to try and fit that in my suitcase...) and an awesome framed drawing Goose 2 did of a rose. Goose 1 also happened to get an electric guitar for Christmas, he was almost as excited about it as his sister was about the box it came in. Go figure.

I also had one of the best New Years ever, and a really lovely kick-start to 2012. I spent the evening with good food and good friends. A huge thank you and hugs and kisses to Elina and Flippo for hosting us (even though Flippo was working). We made delicious food, had awesome Brizillian cocktails, champagne, and even Danish New Years cake. We also played a present game (much like a white elephant) where we gave each other terrible presents then stole them from each other--the best presents I got this year? a stolen candle holder from a bar frequented by all of us, and a white coffee cup with blue flowers  (a knock off from 'Royal Copenhagen' brand, ah har har har).

Then we all ran outside at midnight to hug and scream and watch the ridiculous fire-works displace the neighbors set off.  For all my American friends--we have no idea what real fireworks are like. The tiny little things we buy for 4th of July and run 100 meters away from as they're lit are laughable compared to what they were shooting off from the middle of crowded streets next to screaming infants, puppies, pregnant mothers, and kittens (ok maybe I didn't see any kittens).  The city of Eureka's annual 4th of July fireworks show could learn a thing or two. They sell those type of fireworks in the grocery stores here. People shoot them off from the street, tops of buildings, parks, back yards, baby strollers...you get it. The whole city has sounded like a war zone for the passed week. A beautiful, multicolored, exploding, whistling, cheerful, drunken, war zone. After the chaos, midnight kisses all around, and more champagne, we went back inside and drank some more and ate some more and played dice until I thought I'd fall asleep at the table. All in all it was an absolutely wonderful night.

Anyway, I'm missing my family and friends a ton. Especially after skyping with the parents and siblings this weekend and seeing my little nephew has grown too much! I can't wait to see everyone again, and I wish it was coming up a little sooner. I hate missing out on all the amazing things going on in my friends lives and wish I could be there to hug the crap out of my Nephew and go shopping with my momma.  I want to cry every time I remember I'm missing out on feeling up Kai's baby-bump and perusing through baby name books with you (though I don't know why you don't like the names Leonard and Leann). At the same time I can't imagine starting 2012 off in a more amazing place. I love where I live and where my life has taken me and am so blessed to be having such an wonderful experience. This next year is going to be incredible with so much traveling already planned and so many fabulous people to get to know better. I cannot wait.

Alright, enough with the gooshy stuff. Did anyone make New Years resolutions this year? Normally I'm not a big fan of kidding myself and making false promises that I know I wont keep; but this year my New Years Resolution is to update more!!! What about you guys? Anybody?

Reason I ♥ DK

# 12. Extremely loud, large, and dangerous fireworks are legal.