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<\/a>Yet another chocolate birthday cake. This time I opted for something smaller to write the letters with than the colorful smarties. This was both good and bad: The letters fit better, but they took a lot<\/em> longer to make. Bedime: 2 am.<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n The kids were a little on edge all day, but there were moments of sunshine here and there, such as when they played ball with Emma in the morning.<\/p><\/div>\n I ordered the kids outside right before Emma’s post-lunch nap, so that we could have some peace and quiet. \u00a0Emma didn’t really like the look or the feel of the cold outside.<\/p><\/div>\n Two kids, not very happy to be sent out into the cold. Even though it was GORGEOUS outside with a relatively mild temperature and lovely snow falling.<\/p><\/div>\n We’ve had a surprisingly long period of a lot of snow on the ground this December. I just hope it’ll last to Christmas.<\/p><\/div>\n I’d only just put Emma down when they returned, with Bjarki furious after some accident or other. I tried sending him out again to help make a snowman (see image above), but Anna was being Ms. Annoyingly Bossy and wouldn’t let him do anything. So in he came, and she followed soon thereafter. They managed to stay quiet for a little bit, and I managed to sleep for about 20 minutes, but boy was I pissed at them for ruining my<\/em> naptime. \u00a0Grrr…<\/p><\/div>\n True to form, we arrived ten minutes late to our own party. We hit literally every single red light possible, except one, and traffic was heavy.<\/p><\/div>\n I\u00f0unn is a big Elmo fan, and has an artistic mother! \ud83d\ude42<\/p><\/div>\n Having gotten everything onto the table, we sang for I\u00f0unn first.<\/p><\/div>\n Grandparents carefully documenting I\u00f0unn blowing out her two candles.<\/p><\/div>\n Ylfa, N\u00f6kkvi (my brother), J\u00f3hanna and I\u00f0unn. Yes, they’re the ones who lived in Japan all last school year!<\/p><\/div>\n Then it was Anna’s turn to get sung at.<\/p><\/div>\n Fire-extinguishing like a pro!<\/p><\/div>\n Happy Anna, with a curious L\u00f3a and an excited Bjarki.<\/p><\/div>\n \u00c1sd\u00eds S\u00f3l, \u00d3\u00f0inn, Bjarni, and P\u00e9tur who kindly held Emma for a good long while.<\/p><\/div>\n J\u00f3hanna helping Ylfa get some food.<\/p><\/div>\n Great-grandma Hrefna saying hi to Emma.<\/p><\/div>\n Bjarki and R\u00edkey’s Dagur are only a few months apart in age, just like me and R\u00edkey.<\/p><\/div>\n Eating time! \ud83d\ude42<\/p><\/div>\n The seating area.<\/p><\/div>\n Anna, and aunt R\u00edkey who took care of Emma once P\u00e9tur had done his duty.<\/p><\/div>\n The two birthday girls. \u00a0What a difference eight years make!<\/p><\/div>\n L\u00f3a wanted to be on the picture too, but mostly as a lioness.<\/p><\/div>\n Presents! \ud83d\ude42<\/p><\/div>\n The kids got a sun lolly for dessert. \u00a0They seem to be the least evil of the lollies!<\/p><\/div>\n Well, hello there P\u00e9tur!<\/p><\/div>\n \u00c1sd\u00eds S\u00f3l and \u00d3\u00f0inn listening intently. \u00a0J\u00f3hanna’s family in the background.<\/p><\/div>\n I\u00f0unn opening presents.<\/p><\/div>\n Bjarki ‘writing’ on Dagur’s back. They’re such rascals!<\/p><\/div>\n It was soon time to start cleaning up and heading out. \u00a0N\u00f6kkvi and J\u00f3hanna very kindly offered to clean up properly so I could get the kids home and into bed, because I had a Sewing Club Christmas Party to attend that evening! \u00a0That turned out to be a lot of fun with glorious food, but I sensibly left before midnight because the next day was also fully scheduled.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" J\u00f3hanna (my brother N\u00f6kkvi’s wife) and I, decided to co-host a birthday party for our girls who have birthdays in December. \u00a0<\/p>\n This turned out brilliantly, a) because they live in student housing and therefore have access to a big party room, and b) it meant less food prep for both of us. \u00a0In attendance were relatives on my mother’s side, as well as J\u00f3hanna’s family.<\/p>\n Still, we were both up until late in the night the night before, decorating cakes. \u00a0Here’s my effort: (29 images total)<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>