A Belated Happy New Year!

We’re back and 2016 seems to have taken off like a lightening bolt! Or like a firework, perhaps? Yes…pun intended.In Denmark, everyone launches their own fireworks on New Year's Eve - literally.  Even the youngest take part - don't forget those safety goggles!Now that school is back in session, our days are normalizing to routine again after a whirlwind holiday season but it couldn’t have been more fun.  A few rounds of family, a few trips, and a lot of time at home soaking in the whole holiday season.  In Denmark, everyone launches their own fireworks on New Year's Eve - literally.  Even the youngest take part - don't forget those safety goggles!We welcomed the new year, like most Danes, with a few rounds of fireworks (and also, a gala classical concert at the Opera House on the water, where the wraparound glass atriums give you view of all the other fireworks but who wants to hear about that?).  Everyone sets off their own fireworks here, and I do mean EVERYONE.In Denmark, everyone launches their own fireworks on New Year's Eve - literally.  Even the youngest take part - don't forget those safety goggles!When we first moved here, people in my office told me that would be the case and I basically nodded and assumed it would mean a few firecrackers here and there with a main fireworks display somewhere or other in a central location.  Nope.  Here in Denmark fireworks start when it gets dark and frankly continue for one or two days after that. And this being Denmark, no one is too young to set them off.  Just don’t forget those safety goggles! In Denmark, everyone launches their own fireworks on New Year's Eve - literally.  Even the youngest take part - don't forget those safety goggles!We did a nice little assortment here in our yard after the concert, which although I had some trepidation (especially being the only adult supervising it all), was a blast.  Pun intended.  My only regret was that we didn’t buy more.  And they were legit too – hard to photograph of course, especially when you’re the one doing the lighting – but lots of lovely cascades and colors and ooh’s and ahh’s.In Denmark, everyone launches their own fireworks on New Year's Eve - literally.  Even the youngest take part - don't forget those safety goggles!Nonetheless, the sparklers, big and small are always a favorite around here  – maybe because just for a few seconds there seems to be no noise.  Just a lovely light that surrounds you while you watch.In Denmark, everyone launches their own fireworks on New Year's Eve - literally.  Even the youngest take part - don't forget those safety goggles!Here’s to the new year and new adventures in 2016! It will be a big year of change around here but we’re ready!

A Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wishing all the readers and forest schoolers (and forest schoolers at heart) a very merry Christmas season and happy new year in 2016!Tips for Visiting Hamburg Christmas Markets-1We’ve had a revolving door full of visitors, a calendar full of family birthdays and celebrations and now, a little winter break in Norway before the holidays.  I can’t seem to keep up with posting so taking a bit of a breather until the new year where we’ll have loads of new posts for you, including my day of tagging along to forest school, what happens when you find your toddler’s vocabulary to be more colorful than anticipated and little trips and thoughts and adventures.

Above all, wishing you the peace of the holiday season, both indoors and out!

PS – This photo is from our trip earlier this month to the Hamburg Christmas Markets – if those are on your list, check out our tips for Christmas Market visits over on the other blog!