Misc December Photos

Here are some random photos of other things we were up to in December... 

S, at a party at her school getting face-painted.

E got her's done too.

Walking through the park in the evening.  December was dark, yes.  But it really wasn't as dark as I was expecting and it certainly wasn't dreary.  

The park had fun light displays everywhere for Christmas time.  Here they had white sand in a large square on the ground to make a movie screen.  Way up above there was a projector and at night it projected this moving image of cells dividing and rejoining each other.  Accompanying this display was a speaker playing bubbly inside-your-tummy noises.  I'm sure I'm missing some important cultural commentary this light display was intended to convey.  I have no idea what it was all about.   But it was certainly eye-catching and every time we walked by we would stop to check it out.  

Maybe it was the short daylight hours but my girls were super tired in December.  They routinely fell asleep in the cargo bike on the way home.  Let me tell you, sleeping in the cargo bike is nothing like falling asleep in a comfy car seat.  S still has the bruises to prove it. 

Not a comfy nap spot... 

This is one of the main squares in town.  That's the Rådhus (Town Hall), the white building on the left.   Here, in the background, there were St. Lucia singers on stage, see the red lights in the center of the photo? 

Sweet girl

When I took this photo her top front tooth was loose.  These are some of the last photos of her baby smile.  >sob<  She's growing up so fast!!

S was a frog in her school play.  She licked off most of her face paint before the play was even over! 

This is a house near E's school... looks like Santa got a little stuck! 

E, preparing for her St. Lucia celebration at her school.  Parents were not invited so this is the only photo I have of her as St. Lucia. 

They made snow people in E's art class.  

Guess which child made one of "Mommy and Me." Yeah, that's my girl! 

An outdoor walkway on campus.  Love this ceiling! 

A view of one of the main university buildings, Universitetshuset. 

This building houses a tiny little stationary shop. 

The Lund Domkyrka seen from one of the main university buildings. 

Pretty buildings everywhere

More cool lights in the park near our house.
In the background of this photo is a glass-walled restaurant that serves delicious smorgasbord.  

The cargo bike?  Tuk tuk?

Taken late evening December 31st.  It was so foggy I wasn't too sure about how the fireworks were going to turn out!  In the end they were great, of course. 

Family Visit

We had a great time with W's family here.  The weather was very kind to us so we were able to explore town as much as we wanted.  

Riding the train

Riding on Uncle P's shoulders!  She was so happy up there! 

Here we are walking along the embankment that where the city wall used to be. 

Look at that happy little girl.  She loved having everyone here.  

Uncle P and S getting some work done. 

All this touring can be tiring. 

  

A nearby school.  

With a zip line in the playground. 

E was eager to try out her new bike.  

It is much bigger than her bike at home so it took some getting used to. 

 

S is perfectly content to go out while E is on her bike.  

As long as there are swings nearby she's a happy little camper. 

In the park we ran across these pieces of fruit hanging from a tree.  

Around the tree you can see a red ribbon and a note.  

Here's a note - a poem about animals surviving until spring. 

And with the poem, this note saying "Merry Christmas to the animals (djuren) 

best wishes from the children (barnen).   What a sweet tradition!  

(Maybe it isn't a tradition though, I can't find anything about it online.  I'll have to ask around!)

Handboll <--- not a typo

Handball is huge here in Sweden and the arena where they play in our area is very close to our house.  I had been itching to check it out.  W's family was also interested in seeing it played and, as luck would have it, there was a large handball tournament going on while they were here.  All week around town we saw teams from all over Sweden and some neighboring countries.  

Handball is a cross between netball and football (non-American)... or basketball and soccer... and it goes very fast.  You use your hands to catch and throw the ball but the goal is kind of like a soccer goal although maybe in size it is more like an ice hockey goal... or... well, you get the idea.  It isn't hard to understand how it is played, it is very close to several sports we already know.  How's that for a good explanation?

Copenhagen and Rosenborg Slot

Every time we go in to Copenhagen we see something new and every time I come back from the city with a longer list of things we must see next time.  

Legos were invented in Denmark, so of course you know the Lego shop in Copenhagen 

is going to be good.  This is just the entrance-way. 

Snack anyone? 

The shopping district

...with cool pavement. 

And our destination today:  Rosenborg Slot (slot = castle), in the middle of the city. 

  

The park and gardens around the castle are beautiful.  We've only spent time there in the autumn and winter months.  I bet in the spring and summer it is stunning! 

  

The castle, as seen from the rose garden with Queen Caroline Amalie in the foreground.

Looking back out to the gardens from the castle entrance

Inside cameras were allowed but only without flash.  This meant that despite the fact that I took numerous photos, not many came out very well.  And of course then my battery died.  Oh well!  

Here S is checking out the amber collection.