Soon to be HOME SWEET HOME!

Our flight back to Kuwait leaves tonight and we should be cozy (and perhaps really tired) in our little apartment early tomorrow morning.  Funny enough, I think we are all eager to get back.  It's true that absence makes the heart grow fonder and I think we've all come to appreciate our country of residence a bit more over the course of this vacation.  Here's why:

1)  Kuwait is SUNNY.  Mostly ALWAYS.  It's not necessarily WARM at this time of the year, but you can count on the sun to be in your corner ;)

2)  The service in Kuwait is UNBEATABLE.  I challenge you to go to a restaurant and have a bad outing.  It would be IMPOSSIBLE.  You can expect a ba-zillion people to inquire about your dining experience - including the manager or owner! 

3)  You're going to laugh at my next point, but it's the truth.  Kuwait just feels SAFER.  I don't walk around with paranoia about getting robbed, attacked, etc.  (For the record, you can leave Copenhagen out of this!  It felt safe, too!)

4)  When there's not much to do, you can always count on THE AVENUES!  The mall is always open and ready for business (really special holidays included)!  And it's one HECK of a mall, too!  The best one I've ever been to, in fact :)

5)  Starbucks is everywhere.  EVERYWHERE.  And Tim Horton's might be one day too..... 

Of course, we also can't wait to return to our Kuwait family and exchange stories from our holidays.  Nory has new toys waiting to be played with and I have a cake pop maker and a crock pot to try out as well!  Basketball season is officially here and Nory's first birthday is quickly approaching!  There is much to look forward to once we get HOME.

In moments like this one, I realize that staying in Kuwait in our near future is the absolute best decision for our family.  Kuwait has been so good to us.  We've saved up for and purchased a house!  We've had a baby!  We've traveled!  We've met lifelong friends!  And if we could somehow tow the continent of North America this way, things would REALLY be swell ;)

Farewell dear SCANDINAVIA!  We liked you too.  But there just really is NO PLACE LIKE HOME!   

GOODBYE COPE!!!!!!!!!

After spending a week at our cozy little hotel in Copenhagen, it was tough to say farewell.  The hotel staff were clearly smitten by Nory's daily appearances and Nory was equally as happy to see them every morning and afternoon.  She became especially bonded to Marina The Breakfast Gal and we picked up a wee teddy bear for Marina as a token of our appreciation.  Marina took Nory from us each breakfast so that we could have a slow and easy start to the morning (TALK ABOUT AMAZING!).  While we enjoyed a relaxing breakfast, Nory was busy "working" the kitchen and bringing out smiles in other hotel guests.  It was the sweetest thing. 

Nory and Marina.  This was departure day.  Nory definitely knew something was up....

Once we checked out of the hotel, we were en route to Malmo, Sweden.  We had the full intention of doing this by train, but once we reassessed the luggage/10 month old situation, we opted for a taxi from one hotel to the next.  I am so glad we did, too.  Within 30 minutes, we were at the new hotel (an old chocolate factory, I must add!) and ready to embrace the CANADA SPIRIT that has flooded the streets here. We went for a walk after check-in and were pleased to see tournament signage everywhere, as well as hockey fans of all sorts.  We saw lots of Canada fans and some Leafs fans too (which are basically the same thing, right?).  Ah - you could just FEEL the hockey excitement!

Walking down a main pedestrian avenue.  Christmas lights are still up, as well as mini-markets and activities!

The sun sets here at the same time it did in Denmark (3:30ish) which has been making us feel tired earlier than usual (and we are early-to-bed people under normal circumstances!).  So - after our late lunch, we returned to the hotel to relax and enjoy the play space that this apartment-style accommodation provides.  For some reason, none of the hockey games were being televised and we had to watch How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days instead.  Shoot!  (Notice I am trying to make up for the lack of tournament coverage by sarcastically using hockey-related terms...)

We love this place!  There may not be a Marina, but there is so much space for Nory to crawl around!!!  Also, we have a kitchenette!  And heated bathroom floors!  And heated towel rods!

Now is also a good time to point out how much I love the two people in the final picture.  I love them SO, SO very much.  And the two of them together - just KILLS me :)

We hope you are enjoying these last few days of 2013!  A new year is just around the corner! xo

BOXING DAY.

On the day after Christmas (are we the ONLY people who call it "Boxing Day"?!), the three aunties had a bit of a sleep-in and we embarked on a family date.  We strolled from one place to the next, discovering things as we went along.  It felt like we walked for miles and miles but the weather was great and the sun was (mostly) shining which equated to IDEAL ROAMING AROUND WEATHER.  Here are some pictures of our final full day in Copenhagen!

Clean streets, fresh air, pretty buildings.  It's NICE here.

Inside the round tower.  We climbed to the top to enjoy a view of the city!

From above, you realize how much yellow and orange dominate the city!

Little Miss Curious.

I think we took parks for granted when we were growing up.....

.....which is why we visit as many as possible while on holiday.....

Captain Canada and the Little Mermaid statue.  Believe it or not, but this here is a major tourist attraction.  Kinda....lame....eh?

Perhaps my favourite location - NYHAVN!

Colourful buildings and a pretty canal.  The perfect place to sip on a warm drink and relax!

We chose to have lunch at this Italian restaurant.  It was SO CUTE inside - six tables in one small room and an adorable father/son duo running the kitchen.  By son, I mean a hard-working 7 year-old who delivered a rose to our table!

I bet this place is a real beauty in the summer!

Finishing off the day with a cup of the Danish "Starbucks".  Who knew Starbucks wasn't a thing all around the world?!

Nory's FIRST Christmas!!!

You won't believe it - those MAGICAL PAJAMAS worked!!!! Santa found us in Denmark and filled our stockings with many wonderful things!  Then we headed to the aquarium to take in some sea life :)  Check it out:

Santa had already left Nory some "big gifts" before we left for our trip.  But when we went down to breakfast on Christmas morning, the hotel receptionist told us to "wait just a minute!"  She went into the back room and came out with a small Disney box, with a small note that read "To Nory, Love Santa".  Inside was her very own LAMBIE from Doc McStuffins! 

The stockings were placed by the window with care......and Santa DID come and he put stuff IN THERE!

Somebody got some Canada gear for the hockey games!!!  And an adorable little hair clip to spread some CINDY-LOU-HOO-like cheer!!!

Our Christmas family photo!  She's been teething quite badly the last few days.  Just try catching her with something NOT in her mouth!  Poor thing :(  Thank goodness we packed the Tylenol and Orajel!

Way to work, S.C.!!!  Canada mittens for ALL!!!!!

Taking some street-side selfies while waiting for the ladies to join us.  In this moment, Nory was charging for smiles.  And our financial incentives just weren't cutting it ;)

Smiles at last!  After witnessing her reactions at the Kuwait aquarium, we knew this Christmas Day activity would be a hit!  HOORAY for FISHIES!

Quality time with her God-Mama!  We are so grateful to be spending this holiday with her and two other aunties! xo

Front row seats during the fish feeding show!

We hope all of you had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS, spent warmly & with loved ones.  We were thinking of you every fish of the way ;)  XOXO

Juleaften (Christmas Eve)!

In Denmark, Christmas Eve is THE BIG DAY and mostly everything is closed (including restaurants!).  Lucky for us, the zoo was open to explore and we were able to walk to the metro, take a quick ride to the nearest metro stop, and then walk a good 5 km to get to our final destination.  Ha!  Emily and Suhaila were with us at the start of this journey, but had to return to the hotel shortly after due to Gem's random foot injury.  (Side note:  Dad - Em claims she will have one "DOUG SIZE" calf by the end of the trip thanks to her current walking regimen).  It's a real shame they couldn't participate in our zoo fun because this zoo is, I believe, THE BEST ZOO we have ever been to.  It's not the biggest one ever.  It's not the most diverse ever.  But there's this charm about it that draws you in and makes you want MORE.  Truly, we could have returned for another visit yesterday or today!

Here are some pictures of how our family spent Christmas Eve in Copenhagen:

We all agree that this outfit is ADORABLE.  She's wearing her first turtleneck ever and the sweetest wintery leggings!

A skating rink we passed on our walk to the zoo.  It was so fun to watch the little ones learn how to skate!

A random maze - also on the way to the zoo.  Placed beside a pub, too, of all things!  HA!  Can you find Phillip?!

Finally - we made it to the zoo!  And we had the BEST LUCK while we were there.  People had been waiting HOURS to catch a glimpse of the polar bears.  We walk by and a polar bear swam right beside us!  Too bad Nory was sleeping!

Polar bears rock.  How COOL is this?!

I love how child-friendly the city of Copenhagen is.  Everywhere you go, you see families.  And everywhere you go, there are activities FOR families.  Nobody seems thrown off by little ones.  They welcome all ages with open arms - offering strollers, high chairs, baby spoons, changing stations, WHATEVER YOU NEED!  Here is an arts and crafts station by the polar bear enclosure!

Our luck continued at the ape house.  The zookeepers stuffed Santa hats with oranges, threw them around the ape enclosure, and then unleashed the apes for playtime!  We walked in just in time to get front row seats!

We weren't the only ones SMOOCHING at the zoo.  Hippo LOVE!

Just us three - out for Christmas Eve dinner.  We were craving Chinese and were especially pleased with our choice of restaurant.  In addition to giving us our own private room, the owner came out and told us that he had lots of experience with babies and he would love to watch Nory as we ate our meals.  We kept her with us, but the offer was UNREAL!

6:30 p.m. - time for bed!  Nory's in her magical Christmas Eve pajamas, left by the elves a few weeks ago.  This is one of the best shots I could get.....you win some, you lose some ;)  I really hope the elves come again next year and make this tradition an annual one!

Lille Juleaften (Little Christmas Eve)

The first day that we saw ANY sunshine!  Consider it SAVOURED!

Soaking up every sunbeam possible along the river ;)

Tivoli Gardens in the early afternoon.  (The sun goes down at 3:30 p.m.!)

Fake snow works for me! / Children in snowsuits are the CUTEST THING!

Browsing shops with Christmas decor and cold weather woolies :)

Seems so perfect, right?  Wait until you see it at night!

Fresh mini-donut break!

A mid-afternoon rest back at the hotel.  I think we need to write Patagonia a really big thank you letter for keeping our girlie so warm and cozy on this trip!

Tivoli Gardens at night!

Mini Moscow?

I love this building!!!!!  And I firmly believe in perma-lights.  As in, ALL-SEASON, ALL-THE-TIME.

The tree of hearts next to the merry-go-round for elves :)

One of the best views in the park!

And another :)