A change of plan....

Today we were meant to have guests. Jette, Filip and their 2 children were to come this afternoon for cake and coffee and then stay for dinner. Unfortunately Jette is sick with the flu, so they had to cancel. (All the guests we have planned to have this Christmas have had to cancel for one reason or other. Do you think it´s something to do with us?!! haha)

So our day turned out rather different. It was very quiet. Maybe just as well as Kristian first got home at 4am this morning. He had a fantastic time out in the forest with his friends. They had a great time around the fire, eating delicious food and sharing tales about their life. That´s all I was told!!! 

Leah had Mia over staying last night and the girls also got to bed rather late. So we all had a lazy day here at home. I went over to my studio in the afternoon and painted over my awful picture from last night. I didn´t start a new picture, I wasn´t in the mood.

I made a delicious dinner this evening, even if I say so myself and I then drove Leah over to her friends house. She is staying with her this evening and then going to the new years party at the church tomorrow evening. 

I then spent the rest of the evening clearing out my desk, surfing on facebook, talking to dad and listening to some Bible teaching. 

All in all a lovely, relaxing, quiet day. It´s not long until my crazy busy schedule kicks in again so I am enjoying the peace and quiet while it lasts!

It´s that time again....

....time for my crazy husband to go off to the forest for the night. Every year without fail, he and 5 of his friends head into the forest for their "Man Night". Here they sit around the fire and talk. It´s all very secretive, us wives don´t get to hear much about what they talk about out there. One thing I do know is that they share one good experience that has happened to them in the past year and one bad or hard experience. Then they make one goal, something they want to achieve before they meet again next year. A few of the friends Kristian only gets to see this one time in the year. He looks forward to this night and is all prepared with his fleece, all in one jumpsuit, winter boots, gloves and hat. Blankets are also bundled into the car.

No matter what the weather they hold this tradition. (They have even been out there in -17 degrees) I think it´s great although I would rather meet in a fancy restaurant or a spa/wellness hotel and talk deep in a more luxurious setting.  But for our simple men they love to meet around the fire in the forest in the middle of winter. (crazy!!)

So while Kristian spent the day getting ready for his night out. I went food shopping and got stocked up for the new year. Then I went to visit my old lady friend. We had a lovely afternoon together. 

Then this evening, since Kristian was gone, I decided to go out to my studio and paint. I had a great evening out there and my painting was looking so good - then I did a mistake and another mistake and another!!! Now I am just going to paint over it all and start again! Aaarrgghhhh hate when that happens. Anyway it was fun. I am trying to paint a huge painting for our bedroom wall. Let´s see if I can fix it all tomorrow afternoon. If it turns out you can be sure that a picture will be posted here!!:-)

Date day....

...with my hubby.

Today was our day. We left home at lunchtime and headed to one of the nearby towns. We had a gift card for one of our favourite Italian restaurants so we decided to do lunch there. It´s more value for money at lunchtime. We were able to get, for the both of us,  a 3 course meal.  In the evening we would only have gotten a main course for the same price. It was delicious and we enjoyed having time together to just relax and talk. 

Kristian´s present from me at Christmas was a day out for a make over. So this day had been planned already from the 25th! He was in need of new clothes but when I was doing the Christmas shopping I was so unsure of  what size to buy him. Sometimes he needs large, other times extra large, my head was away looking at clothes and trying to guess if they would fit. That´s when I had the idea of giving him a gift card for  - "a date day out for a make over". Plus I knew things would be so much cheaper after Christmas and the Scottish blood in me just wouldn´t let me buy him something that I could get for half price or more after Christmas! haha 

So today was his day. We went around all the mens shops and we found some great bargins! He got a new coat for 20 pounds!! A lovely one at that, a bit more of a dressy coat that he can use at work. We saved 50 pounds! See what I mean about waiting till after Christmas! He also got a few new shirts - also half price! I had a very happy hubby and also a very handsome one in his new clothes! 

More exploring......

....in the area.

Yesterday (Wednesday) we decided to head out for a walk and explore a little more around the area. We took a walk down to the nearby lake. It was cold but lovely.....

Today Kristian´s cousin Jacob was to come for coffee but had to cancel at the last minute. That left us with a load of chocolate cake to eat this evening while watching "A Miracle on 34th Street" (the old black and white one.) I was back in my childhood. A lovely relaxing day for us all.  I can feel that my batteries are getting charged ready again for the busyness of everyday life.

Funny story....

Last night Andrew put on one of the DVDs he got for Christmas. It was a thriller called The Dream House. Kristian, Andrew and I sat down to watch it. It was a bout a family, a man and his wife and two small girls,  who had moved into their dream home.  One of his girls kept seeing a man at the window. They had all the usual effects of the wind blowing, tree branches hitting the window,  the scary music playing, the darkness and shadows making it even more scary. Apparently a family had been murdered in the house....

Well, after about 15 minutes of this scary stuff I decided I had had enough. My imagination is too wild and I knew I would be too scared to be here alone if I saw such a movie. After all we are now living in our dream house, and we are now living on the ground floor. Easy access to windows and all! So I decided I wasn´t going to watch anymore.

I said I was going to the bedroom to sit. Off course Kristian and Andrew were having a laugh at this and giving me a hard time. They kept saying "I wouldn´t do that, you are better off in here with us, it´s safer in here." "You never know who is watching you mum." They were scarying me even more. 

But off I went to the bedroom. I pulled down our blind and just as I got it pulled to the bottom someone knocked on my window. I nearly wet myself!! I ran out of that bedroom and into the living room, quicker than you can say "Jack Robinson!". I was scared out of my wits. 

Now if I had not seen the start of the movie I would not have been scared. You see many times Laura, my neighbour, will knock my window at night while I am sitting at my desk in my bedroom, She likes to brush her teeth outside and if my blind is up she knocks the window and we have a chat and say goodnight! 

After a few seconds my senses were working again and I knew it was only Laura. So I went back into the bedroom and pulled up the blind. There was no one there. Meanwhile Laura had gone down to the front door, she thought I had gone there to open it for her.  She had seen me pull down the blind and she wanted to return my car keys, as she had borrowed the car. 

When I didn´t come to the door she walked back to the window. 

Meanwhile Leah and I stood looking out the window. We couldn´t see anyone, then suddenly there was a face there. It was Laura, but I was so freaked out from the film that I nearly jumped out of my skin and screamed, Leah did the same! We both grabbed each other and stood looking at Laura - screaming. What a laugh. Laura was so shocked and was trying desperately to calm us down through the window. We laughed sooo much! Took me a while to recover. 

Kristian and Andrew had a great laugh at us!

No more scary movies for me!!! Not even 15 minutes of them!

All over...

...for another year. 

Once again it has been a lovely Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve down at Kristian´s brother´s house. There were 14 of us gathered together to celebrate, not as many as usual but still it was a really cosy evening.

There was time to relax and see the final episode of "The Christmas Calendar" on TV,

 My sister-in.law was busy in the kitchen.

 The table was all set.

 There was time to talk to Kristian´s sister Hanne and husband Flemming who were spending Christmas Eve in Panama. they are visiting Aunt Edel (Kristian´s aunt) who lives there. We usually spend every Christmas Eve with Hanne and Flemming so we were missing them. It was great to get to talk to them through Skype. 

 There was time for hugs and time to take loads of photos with friends and family.

 There was time to play wii....

 Time for our yearly family photo.....

 While we were having all this fun the Mother-in-law kept a check on everything in the kitchen....

 I had to make the dessert - Risalamande.

 My first time for making it and I was feeling rather nervous about it all.....

 I love the photo below. My mother-in-law is tasting to see if everything is as it should be!!! Will she give me her approvement?! I look so scared as I await her judgement! haha

 Phew - she is laughing, she must have liked it!! It actually tasted really good. I couldn´t believe it! Everyone loved it! In some ways that´s a bit of a bummer because I will probably get the job of making it next year again!  I hate making the stuff! You have to stand over the rice pudding stirring it for ages!

 The food was delicious!

 Kristian actually found the almond that is hidden in the dessert. He won the prize, but since he already knew what the prize was, he decided to be a good big brother and give the almond and the prize to his wee brother!

  We had some fun with Sara and Philip. They played a game of hitting each other on the head with a wooden spoon which they had in their mouth. You can´t hit hard with it, but whenever Philip was going to hit Sara, Andrew was the actual one who hit her over the head with the spoon. He was sitting behind her. She thought it was Philip and just could not understand how he could hit her so hard, when she couldn´t hit him hard with the spoon in her mouth.

 After loads of fun and a Christmas quiz,  the Christmas Tree lights were lit....

 We sang carols while walking around the tree...

Finally it was time for the presents. After all that we still managed to fit in a game of Bingo! We had great fun with that. It was 1.30am when we arrived home, tired but full and content. Another wonderful Christmas Eve.

This morning (Christmas day) we slept long - really long. I woke at 10.15am. Kristian and I were actually up waiting on the kids to wake up. Finally at about 10.45am they came crawling out of their beds (one advantage of having big kids, they sleep long on Christmas morning!) 

We had a lovely morning opening presents. Then we went over to Laura and Mia in our PJs to say Merry Christmas to them. We didn´t stay long. It was then home to make the ham and turkey. We had the most wonderful Chrsitmas dinner. The rest of the afternoon was spent being lazy. (Well, after all the mess in the kitchen got cleared up). 

 The kids got Kristian and I a gift card for a date night. Dinner and a movie. Can´t wait to use that:-)

 Andrew and Sara bought Leah new shoes (from Sara´s shop). She loved them.

 I so enjoyed making Christmas dinner in my new kitchen. I have been in my PJs all day!

 Leah got a jumpsuit from Primark which she has had on all day.

  Our first Christmas dinner in our new home....

Yes, another wonderful Christmas for the memory box!

twas the few days before Christmas....

  ....and The Rasmussen Family were all very busy.

At work the Christmas "hygge" (cosiness) really got going. We organised delicious lunches, each person bringing something to contribute to it. We bought silly gifts for each other and played games to win the presents. We even got silly hats to wear. (You pressed the button and it sang "We wish you a Merry Christmas" while dancing on the top of your head.) All in all a great week at work with wonderful colleagues.

Friday was busy! After work it was home to get the Christmas tree decorated. What a job that was!!! Getting those stupid lights untangled took me ages. This year I WILL pack them down nicely!!

 

Sara was coming home late Friday evening and she had requested that I make rice pudding for her arrival. I HATE making rice pudding! But Friday evening found me in the kitchen anyway, making rice pudding - the things you do for your children!

Finally at about 10.30pm Sara arrived home along with Chirstian (her boyfriend), his little sister Mette and bagfuls of washing! 

We had some rice pudding and ended the evening watching The Griswold`s Christmas Vacation, a film we watch every year after putting up the Christmas tree. It was really late when we got to bed.

Saturday morning and we were up around 10am. I made brunch - it was delicious, even if I say so myself! Then we all headed to one of the neighbouring towns to do Chrsitmas shopping. 

Late afternoon and we were all home again. We ate dinner together and then the kids (or young ones) all headed into Tivoli. I spent the evening packing in presents and doing Sara´s washing. Seven wash loads I got done over the weekend! Everything washed and dried for Christian to take back with him in the car, as Sara will be taking the train back later on in the week.

Sunday just before lunch Christian and Mette left for home. There was a snowstorm on the way and they were afraid that they wouldn´t get home. It took them double the length of time to get home because of the snow.

It snowed all day and we had about 20cm of snow! It was wonderful. Sara took the train into her cousin. She was going to stay the night with her. 

Late afternoon and we got the house cleaned up again. Our house has never been sooo messy since moving in. Wonder why?!! (give you a hint, her name starts with S!)

So last night Laura and Mia came over for our wee tradition of exchanging gifts. We had a great evening together. 
 

 Laura and I got to sing loads of Christmas Carols and we even did a wee dance to some of them!

  We exchanged gifts.....

I got this huge gift from Laura (and this was after getting some other gifts). I wondered what it was....

 Then when I saw what it was I had such a laugh....

 When we moved in there was a horrible lampshade in our hallway. It was something we joked so much about and we left it up for such a long time. It was one of the last things to get changed in the house. Laura managed to get her hands on it and I got it back again!!! LOVELY!! :-)

 Kristian served us all evening. He did a great job! He made us hot chocolate with fresh cream, then later in the evening he served tea and cake with home made Lemon sauce. (Not made by him, but Laura - she makes the best lemon sauce!!)

Now it´s Christmas Eve. The shops are closed and it´s the big day for celebrating here in Denmark. We are heading down to Kristian´s brothers house. There will be 14 of the family gathered together. I am so looking forward to it. Good food and company!

We are now just about to go and visit my old lady friend and wish her a Happy Christmas. We have a bag full of surprises for her. I can´t wait to surprise her!

Happy Christmas to you all.   

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders; and he will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace"