Going to the zoo zoo zoo

So last weekend we had a great family outing to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. JJ and Mathilde had never been there before and it had been years since I was there so we were all very excited. Even in the middle of January, aka winter slumber months, the zoo was awesome!! Of course, I feel so mixed about caging animals in the middle of unnatural habitats, but for an animal lover they also hold such magic and sense of nature. The sounds were incredible from the hippos to the lions roaring. Mathilde especially loved the giraffes, hippos, elephants, lions and penguins. Such fun!! We will definitely go back soon.

Our little knee-walker now runs full-force everywhere. We are so proud (and of course relieved)!





YES, we were THIS close to the lion. It was absolutely amazing and we are very happy about thick panes of glass.

What's next????

Fun with Aunt Kerri

A little late, (of course!), but I just had to post this photo of Mathilde with her Aunt Kerri from New Year's Day. I wasn't kidding when I said Aunt Kerri is the only person Mathilde will let brush her hair. So yes, needless to say, it's been a few weeks since Mathilde's hair has been brushed. When are you coming back Aunt Kerri??
































And here's my super stylish little girl just being her adorable little self (in an outfit courtesy of Mormor!)

Happy Holidays 2009!

Happy New Year to all!! Our family has had a wonderfully full holiday season and today we're relaxing in our cozy home and contemplating what the year will bring, or what we will bring to the year. Mathilde is napping (awesome!), JJ is trying to get over the big football loss this morning, and I am happily wearing sweatpants and catching up on home stuff. Commence 2010.

I can't help but look back a little at the past few weeks though and post fun pictures of Mathilde. She had quite an end to the year:

2nd birthday



















Huge birthday party in Illinois - Thanks Grandma Guajardo!





































Christmas eve with ALL of her Guajardo family including 13 cousins (and Santa who she was not very fond of)


























Christmas day again with the cousins (and she finally starts to smile)













And a smile-filled, mellow new years eve in Seattle. Pheww, no wonder she's napping so well!


















Then this morning, our little sweetie wanted to take her own pictures, starting off the new year just like mama:


















Wishing everyone much love and lentils - which apparently bring good luck when eaten in honor of the new year - this first day of 2010!

Mathilde's First Haircut!

We tried to make it until her second birthday next month but we just couldn't, her hair was getting out of control! You'd think her beautiful little curls would just keep curling up and out of her face but unfortunately they are a bit crazy and our little munchkin was having a hard time seeing through her bangs. Plus she won't let me 1) brush her hair, or 2) put clips in it, so we paid the big bucks for Mathilde's very first haircut this weekend. And she looks great!

Notice how she's not exactly thrilled in these photos but she never shed a tear and was mostly preoccupied with the fun new toys and barber's chair shaped like a car.

Here we have before, during, and after shots:

Like Daddy, Like Daughter

You know how family members start looking like each other after spending much time together? Well, it's starting to happen in our family. I've noticed recently that Mathilde and JJ have a lot of matching clothes... Here they are yesterday both wearing their aprons.


Then last weekend they both wore their Chicago Bears shirts in honor of the game (today they took them off fairly quickly).




I thought they also looked quite cute in their matching white t-shirts this summer on Long Island.










And then a few months ago they were seen putting together furniture in our new house wearing the same Bowdoin t-shirts complete with Polar Bears on their chests. Note: I actually went to Bowdoin but don't seem to have one of these matching shirts. Hmmmm...










Oh yeah, the matchy-matchy doesn't stop at Dada; look here at Mathilde and Mormor looking pretty in their purple dresses this summer.










Ok, I searched through Mathilde's early baby pictures and finally found one of Mama & Daughter in our matching shirts. Look at our bald little two month old!


Moral of the story: Since I'm the big shopper in the family I guess it's up to me to coordinate our outfits. Just wait until the holidays!!

Halloween photo

Although Mathilde had a fever on Halloween morning, we still dressed her up in her semi-handmade costume and made her strike a pose. Look at our sweet little Tooth Fairy!!

Where have we been...

I am finally taking the time to create a brand new site for our family. I know, I know, it's been almost a year since our last post, but I can explain...

Well, that would take a long time but basically we moved from Copenhagen to Seattle in May, bought a house in July, actually moved into our house in September, started Mathilde in day care and found me a job starting Monday. Phewww, I'm exhausted just thinking about everything! We are so happy to be back home in Seattle, despite missing our friends in Denmark, and life is good. Very very good.

Now let's see if I can figure out how to post this...