København

We had a great weekend in Copenhagen this weekend. Except for the wind, we loved it. Warning again, a lot of pictures, so it may seem a little long. =) We flew in Friday night, its only about a 30 minute flight there. When we got there, our nanny took Broderick back to the hotel with Burger King and we went out to eat for a late dinner. We ate at an Italian restaurant and it was awesome.
Here's the group starting out on Saturday morning to see the sights. It was cold with the wind.
The Danish Parliament Building.
Not sure what this statue is exactly but Broderick liked it because it was a horse.
Brad and Megan in front of the old Opera House.















Nyhavn, a well known old street in the city along a canal.



























Broderick with Sanne, his nanny.







The new opera house. You have to book tickets at least 6 months in advance.





In front of the Royal Palace.








The queen's guard outside means the queen is inside. They are there whenever she is.







This is where the queen lives.






The main church, I believe the one the royal family attends.
Like I said, it was freezing with the wind, but at least we were walking. Poor Broderick in the stroller finally had enough and had a meltdown. So we stopped at a coffee shop and thawed out. He was so cold, poor little guy just layed there.
This is the royal band, and for some reason they were playing the day we were there.
We walked to the famous statue, the little mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue). It took so long to get here, so by this time, we didn't care what the statue looked like. We were just glad we had finally made it.
Den Lille Havfrue
We spent the afternoon walking around and shopping in Copenhagen. They had a great shopping district and then that evening we went to Tivoli. It is an amusement park that they really decorate and have a Christmas festival in. People were riding roller coasters and it was so cold, they were crazy!!!
Broderick and Sanne checking out a shark.
The Pirate Ship where we ate dinner. Broderick was so excited. He's been talking about pirates ever since.
Broderick, Kirstine, Megan and Sanne trying to stay warm outside while waiting for our table.
Broderick drinking out of his stein. There's no drinking age in Europe, right? Just kidding, its just juice in there.
Broderick the Pirate.
He thought he was so cool.
The whole group after dinner.
Our hotel had an ice bar in it, so we had to check it out. I can't imagine anyone spends too much time in there, since its literally freezing, but it was pretty neat to see.
Joergen and Kirstine.
Megan in front of some ice art.
Brad and Megan "chillin".
Sunday morning we went to a big shopping center which is on the way to the airport. We needed to get out of our hotel, but our flight didn't leave until 4. This was a much more American shopping center as it was all indoors. Kind of nice since it was so windy out. (I realize those back in the midwest right now don't feel sorry for us since its above freezing here, but when the wind blows off the ocean, it is so cold.)
Broderick is in heaven in toy stores. He LOVES checking everything out.
Brad telling Broderick "tories" to pass some time.
Broderick hanging out in some sweet Danish furniture.
Rådhuspladsen (city hall) and the clock tower
We really loved the city and can't wait to visit it again. Hopefully when the weather gets a little nicer. Now, only a few more days until we fly home to the states. Broderick is getting to be a pro at flying. Unfortunately he hates the seat belts and there is always a fight when trying to get him to keep that on. Tomorrow morning I'm supposed to go on a fieldtrip with my language class to Aarhus to a market/bazaar. I'm still debating as I have so much to do, but it would be a cool experience I'm sure.

Its Christmas time

We went to downtown Aalborg last night. They have a Christmas festival set up in the shopping district with little rides for kids and a Ferris wheel and little kiosks set up with different things. We thought Broderick might enjoy seeing these so we headed down there and met our friends, Brian and Janne. Here he is riding the little train. Broderick likes Santa Claus (Julemand) and we saw him there last night and Santa gave him a cookie. Today Broderick keeps talking about Julemand and "tooties". Now he's riding the merry-go-round.
Brad and Broderick with Brian, Janne, Krister and Iben in the carriage.
We went out to eat. Broderick and Krister enjoying a little Curious George (Peder Pedal).
Brad and Brian
We haven't gotten as much snow as most of you in the states, but we did get a little bit and Broderick likes it a lot. He made Brad stay out as long as possible drawing him pictures.
Today at dagpleje, they made sugar cookies and Broderick got to bring some home. He cut them out himself and was quite proud.
Almost everyday Broderick talks about going to "mama and bop-pop's hus", and he doesn't really understand when I tell him this many days or 1 more week. So, this afternoon I decided to make a countdown with him. (Thanks for the idea Nicole.) I had made the numbers and then he colored the strips. Of course after we tore off the first ring, he wanted to tear them all off, but I convinced him to hang them up somewhere.
Only 7 more days!!!!
Tomorrow we go to Copenhagen for the weekend and then we really do only have 7 more days until we get to go home. We are getting excited to see everyone.

Amsterdam!

We spent this last weekend in Amsterdam and had a great time. It was quick but long enough for us to get a feel for the city. Broderick, except for a meltdown at the Anne Frank house, (the one tour we did) was a good little boy. Just a warning, this is kind of a long post because of all the pictures.

It really was a beautiful city with the old architecture and the many canals winding though the town.
In the airport, they had a Lego-Lounge, how great is that. Broderick was happy as a lark, which made his parents very happy.
Daddy and Broderick on our way to our hotel from the train station.
Eating a little Italian our first night there. Broderick of course with his DVD player.













This is the Anne Frank house (you weren't allowed to take pictures inside), one of the many churches, the shopping mall, and Dam Square.













Brad says of this picture, "We were heading to the Anne Frank house ... really!"
Mommy and Broderick hanging out in the center of town.
Megan along one of the many canals. The scary thing about these canals was that there was no guard rail along the side and the water was dirty. If Broderick would have fallen in, not a chance we could have found him.
Daddy and Broderick along a canal.
Megan in an open market place. So many good things I would have liked to try.


Noah's Ark was in Amsterdam. Broderick loved this. The animals weren't real, but he of course did not care. We had to walk forever to find the ark though, my feet were killing me!!


















We went out to eat that night and asked our waiter if he could get Broderick a scoop of ice cream for dessert. He came back with this! Broderick thought he hit the jackpot. 3 scoops of ice cream and some cookies too. He made it through this meal without the DVD player too. Surprise, surprise!

Brad and Megan getting a quick picture while Broderick sleeps in his stroller. You can see my belly in this one. =(
Brad and Broderick sunday morning after breakfast.





Hanging out in Dam Square. Broderick had a lot of fun running around exploring all the different things. He liked the birds and liked the bagpipe guy.

















Broderick is modeling his new dutch slippers. He thought he was pretty cool in these.
I've never seen so many coffee shops in a town. Maybe because of the plants growing in the window. You could really smell the drugs as you walked by. I wonder ... where do you go if you really just want a cup of coffee.
Eating breakfast.
On our way to find a breakfast place.
We had a great time and look forward to Copenhagen this next weekend. Then the next week we come home to the great USA. Why we have saved all our travel to the same couple of weeks, I'm not sure. Hopefully Broderick can handle it without getting to worn out.