- weather-wise: what a TREAT! it has been here in Belgium, lots of blue sky, warm weather and balmy BBQ evenings
- family-wise: we're all getting along terribly well! Louie and Jules are two very happy babies who just love eating, sleeping, and playing - ahhhh! could not have wished for better
- holiday-wise: Nikita and Jojo had a great time at scout camp end of July. And the whole family went off to Denmark for a very relaxing, quiet break with family and friends
- work-wise: I think that I may have 'struck gold' in finding the work-life balance that really! rocks for us
The highlight of our past two months has to be the twins baptism in Denmark on 9 August 2009. Church service was at 12pm with reception luncheon at Fregatten Jylland cafe/restaurant. The ceremony itself was brilliant. FIVE! babies were christened altogether: our two, Nikoline (Chris' cousin, Pernille's baby) Rasmus (baby of Helena, sister to Pernille) and little Oliver (no family relation at all, but certainly in the right place at the right time:)
Needless to say but it was a little mayhem there for a while as the priest went through the motions for each of the babies (and their godparents and parents - phew!)
A GARGANTUAN thank you to Kirsten (Chris' mum) and Uncle Knud for hosting the reception at Fregatten Jylland!! And a very big thank you to ALLLL the friends and family for the many! gifts that the boys received on their baptism day.
Water is a major feature of any Danish holiday and so it was that this year that Nikita and Jojo took their first sailing lessons! Jojo is clearly a sailor's boy. He cannot get enough and cannot stop talking about it! Nikita on the otherhand is well, we think she is interested. She is certainly able. It's just a little disconcerting when, if left to her own devices, she will tend to plait the guide ropes together rather than use them to manage her sails......hmmm.
Disappointingly? (so I am told) enough, neither Nikita nor Jojo managed to capsize their little optimist sailboats. Oh well, there is always next year;) See more summer photos on the link to the right of this page.
So we are now back in Brussels! Nikita has just had a small surgery to re-seal the ear-drums in both ears. This means that she should actually get to 100% hearing capability within the next couple of weeks. School started back last week (1st September): Jojo is in his 3rd and final year of pre-school; and Nikita very proudly started primary school (parents very proud too:) The sun is still with us although we sense very much the beginning of autumn (bl**dy leaves EVERYWHERE in garden). Chris and I are back at work thanking our lucky stars for Aabida, the twins new nanny who incredibly makes it so that when I come home from work, all I have to do is play with my children.
Next up on the Hoff-Nielsen family agenda:
- my 40th birthday celebrations (crikey!) with loud friends in September (while weather still nice) and quiet family in October
- Nikita turns 7 years old at end of October
- Chris's Uncle Henning turns 60 also in October and we'll try to get up to his celebrations in Denmark
And before u know it, it will be Christmas!! Lots love to all in meantime:)
