Fall Cleaning...

This weekend flew by! We had some friends over for "Brinner" (Breakfast for Dinner) on Friday night. And then the majority of the day Saturday was spent deep cleaning the upstairs in preparation for our Danish visitors next month - Martin and Lynsey, and Mor og Far.

Saturday evening we attempted to go Christmas shopping. What was originally supposed to be a quick trip, ended up being a 4 hour shopping trip with very few gifts to show for! Johan was definiately the main receiver of gifts. He may have talked me into a pair of mittens (now his 4th pair since in the past 4 years - the boy seems to always lose one mitten.) Johan also "talked" me into getting a new camera...He may have not needed to push very hard - since it was a great deal and we have been really needing a new camera. It's great because it can be charged which means we are no longer dependent on batteries - that always seemed to be dead with our old camera. (Hopefully the new camera means that we will be updating the blog more.)

Today we spent the day helping out a Kid's Church this morning, making phone calls to family in Denmark, taking a nap - while Johan made 110 tacos for the HUB worship night, raking leaves for our neighbor, eating dinner at Aunt Dede's and going to the worship night at the HUB!

All in all, it felt like a relaxing yet productive weekend that went by way too fast. I am not sure if I am ready for Monday morning....but ready or not here it comes!  

Johan, Dad and our neighbor Joe - raking leaves.

Worship @ The Hub ROCKED!

After Dinner Games

I tried to post the video of my Dad and Johan last week competing in the "After Dinner Games" - but it didn't come up...so here it is on YouTube...

First Free Weekend!

This past weekend was the first free weekend in a very looong time. (Possibly since we got back from Denmark in August!) It was a great feeling that we could both be home, sleeping in with no set schedule. We got some home projects finished this weekend too!

Since we have left you waiting for the last three months for an update on our kitchen on our lives, we figured we would start there.

I have been coaching swimming for the past three months along with starting a new job as a middle school 8th grade special education teacher. It has been a busy, crazy challenging time. But I feel so blessed for the experiences and relationships I have made - especially with my swimmers.

Johan has been busy on house projects. Since we have Martin and Lynsey, and Mor og Far coming to visit this December, he has been trying to finish up the last details on the house. He is currently working on re-finishing all of our upstairs doors. Johan is hoping to coach soccer in the Spring at East High School. He should have an interview this coming week.

A few highlights from the last three months...

Kitchen in July

2nd Wedding Anniversary in Chicago - on our way to DK 

Cousin David married the his beautiful bride Sara!

UPGRADE! Our flight back was over-booked so we graciously
offered to stay a night in Finland. We may have gotten
a night at the Hilton, food, first class the next day and
$800 each in travel vouchers with American Airlines!
It was great to explore Finland for a day and even greater to
think that we get a free trip next summer!
All I can say is: GOD IS SOOO GOOD!

Enjoying the first class lounge in Finland's Airport.

You can't see the HUGE bowl of chocolate behind me,
but I may have shoved about a serveral handfuls of
Finish chocolate into my pockets and filled by candy
dish with them when I got home! (Lasting for several months!)
What can I say, I like free stuff! :)

Our kitchen as for this morning...

Thanks Dad for all your hard work and
help on our house...

Our kitchen this evening. We decided that we needed a
little more color (too much blue) So we went ORANGE!
We painted just one wall and I made curtains today.
We love the warm, "hyggelig" feeling we get when we walk
into the kitchen (We will hang cutrains above the sink but we
need to get hooks.)



We thought we would share a video from Friday night of my

Dad and Johan in fierce competition to see who can blow

out the candle from the farthest distance. 

Flip That House!

Johan and my Dad have worked really, really hard on our kitchen this past weekend. (I was allowed to help paint Saturday - but after that it was boys only.) Since we are leaving tomorrow for Denmark for three weeks - my dad really cracked the whip on us to get as much done before we left. (We left this morning for Chicago.) We feel like we are on an episode of 'Flip That House' - when you work on the project to a certain point and then they send you away on a trip while they finish up the room. We are excited to be able to come home to a beautiful kitchen...thanks dad (and mom - for cleaning up the mess below! :)

Our pictures below show the state in which we left the house this morning.

Note: We don't normally live like this.

My dad saved us huge $ by building us a custom made wine rack (aka - Jørn and Jens' wine rack - Johan's dad and brother). He also built the pantry and the cabinet for the double oven...I am blessed to have a dad who likes power toys tools.

All in a Weeks Work!

 There's a glimpse at our past week:

We went to our first ever political/campaign event - Michele Bachmann, Congresswoman from Minnesota formally announced here in Waterloo that she was running for President in the 2012 elections. Since neither of us has never been to anything like it - we decided to go...it was an interesting experience: U.S. politics.

Michele Bachmann

 On Sunday we kicked off or week of Vacation Bible School aka Camp Vineyard at church. Johan and I helped to up emcee the week. It was fun to be goofy with the kids and see them get excited about Jesus was even more fun!

Big kids like to play too!

I love the messy games! The slim was great!

 Johan and my Dad continue to work away at our kitchen. This week my dad built a pantry closet (for storing food), put new drywall up, and totally gutted the kitchen (took out everything...even the kitchen sink!) The goal is to finish before we leave for Denmark on July 11th, I am crossing my fingers!

Hammering in the new sub-floor.

 

Future home of my kitchen sink!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Renovations and Facial Hair...

Here's an update (past due) picture of our landscaping project. The plants have filled out some and the grass has grown in...Notice the tribute to Denmark! Represent...

The Front Yard

Back side of house

Little Denmark in Waterloo

 Johan was a part of "Stockholder's Dinner Theater" a fundraising dinner for the youth group. He performed as Hans from Saturday Night Live...Hans is an 80's Body Builder...So to fully dress the part he grew the FuManChu

Here's a view of the Actual Saturday Night Skit: Hans anf Franz...



På Gensyn - See You Again...

Tuesday was one of those days when we are reminded of just how difficult it is to be an international couple with families on two continents. We got a call in the late morning from Johan's parents to let us know that Bestemor (Johan's Grandma) had passed away earlier that morning. It was especially tough because just five months earlier in November Bestefar (Grandpa) passed away. It is times like this that we really wish we could be in Denmark with family. It is strange to think that when we go back to Denmark this summer - both of Johan's grandparents will not be there. Because we are so far away it can become easy to deny the fact that they are no longer with us.

Hygge kaffe med Bestemor og Bestefar

Since we can't be there for the funeral, Johan and I decided it would be a good idea to do something in memory of Bestemor and Bestefar. I tried to talk Johan into getting a dog, because Bestefar really liked animals...But I couldn't sell Johan on that idea. So instead we decided to plant a tree in their memory. We are both so grateful for the many memories that they have given us...After all, our first kiss was at their house! I know that in talking with Johan he has so many wonderful memories of  growing up with his grandparents close by. We will miss them, but are encouraged to know that just like the new tree will foster and grow, so will we continue to foster and grow the memories and lessons that they have taught us.

It's a small tree, but we know that it will grow to be come something strong and beautiful. A great reminder of the strong memories and beautiful heritage that Bestemor and Bestefar have left us with.

Weekend Tackles

This weekend we took advantage of having a three day weekend (well Johan worked until 2 on Friday). We did some Spring cleaning around the house on Friday. Went to a baptism service to support some of the participants that Johan works with at the learning center.

Today we Will, a guy from church, tackled the three stumps from huge bushes that used in the front of the house. We knew we had to call in the professions when my dad couldn't even get them to with his truck. (see video) After a year of looking at stumps, we were more than excited to see them go!

You can see that I hoped to get some real action with the truck...but it just turns out to be a bit disappointing and boring...

We plan on adding new plants in two weeks. There is a big city plant sale May 7th - we hope to get some good finds and inspiration for what to put here... Finished product coming soon!

Vores første danske Gæst

Last weekend we hosted our first Danish guest since we have lived in the U.S. - Henning from Silkeborg. We were very excited to host - in what we hope will be the first of many Danes coming to visit. We know that Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa is not exactly the most exciting place to visit in the U.S. but that is was makes it so much more special when a friend comes to visit. We do have some really nice trails for hiking/walking/biking and in the winter snowshoeing/cross country skiing. Johan and Henning checked them out on Sunday after church. (I unfortunately got really sick on Sunday, so I was unable to join Johan and Henning.) All in all it seemed to be a relaxing time for Henning along his trip to just rest and enjoy some midwestern life.

Date night on Friday - out to eat at Applebees

Today we have been busy outside all day doing yard work. It was beautiful, sunny and 75F (25C) here today. We were even able to wear shorts! Summer here we come! My dad came over and "cracked the whip" on us...we raked the old leaves/dead grass, put down fertilizer and re-seeded the yard. Hopefully we can get some good grass growing soon. We also planted raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry bushes in the backyard...We topped off the day with some of Johan's homemade pizza, puppy chow and a movie. Gotta love the weekend!

Weekend Breaks and Wrapping Up!

Three weekends ago we ventured up to Minneapolis, Minnesota for a quick get away. We felt like we have spent so much time working on the house that we haven't been able to have a relaxing weekend. I like to think that we didn't go up to Minneapolis for the sole (eneste) purpose of going to Ikea, but I am not sure I can say this is true. The weekend entailed Ikea, relaxing at the hotel, swimming and The Mall of America. It was a bit of a crazy time at the mall, because it was a holiday weekend. Someone told us there was 60,000 people at the mall on Saturday...Imagine (forstill) all of Kolding (Johan's hometown in Denmark) being inside the mall! Johan made a point to pay tribute (hyldest) to Denmark as we walked through the LEGO store.

Johan said I didn't need it...But he did talk me into a $20 miter saw (motorsav)

Two weekends ago we hosted the second edition of Nintendo Olympics at our house. It was quite the competition with the Linds and Engbers, and if I recall new records were set by a few of the all star athletes in attendance.

Last weekend we went to Winter Blast with the youth group that we help lead. It was a time of great fellowship with the students, getting to know them better. We were both really tired at the end of the weekend, but for me it was refreshing (forfriskende) to be around teenagers who know how to be respectful and follow instructions the first time asked. As opposed (i modsætning) to the students I currently teach...)

When we were gone my dad (and mom) worked hard to finish up on the bathroom. When we got home trim was up, the sink was in, (and it was all cleaned - thanks mom). We are so happy with how the bathroom has turned out! And a bit jealous that it is not our master bath! We went pink, I am not normally a pink fan when it comes to painting walls - however, it's not a pepto pink (pepto bismol is a gross pink medicine we have in the U.S.) or a girl pink, but I like to think of it as a fresh, happy pink...I think it works.

Manhood not defined by paint color

A Modernized 1920's Femininity (En moderniseret 1920's Kvindelighed)

Almost done with the kitchen!

Jeg håber at I alle nød min danske tema. Jeg tro at jeg vil prove at brug vores blog for mig til at oeve min danske!