Ellen doesn’t actually turn two for another week (the 16th) but this last weekend was the only time Lisbeth’s family was free to get together to celebrate. So we took the train to Vejle and spent a quiet weekend with Lisbeth’s family.
It was November when I was last in Vejle, so I was really looking forward to going. It’s always relaxing and it’s a lot of fun to see Ellen with her cousins and her grandparents. (And Karen’s cooking is no small benefit.) Unfortunately I was still recovering from a bout with pneumonia, so although it was relaxing, I wasn’t very good company.
But, despite fierce competition from her cousin Storm, Ellen is still fairly popular with her Danish relatives. Plus Danes just take birthdays very seriously, so a big fuss was made, complete with brunch that included American pancakes, of which Ellen is particularly fond.
Ellen, for those of you that haven’t seen her in a while, is a talkative child. She blathers on and on, and although no one is very clear on what she’s saying, it’s abundantly clear that she knows what she’s trying to say.
She seems particularly outspoken compared to Storm, who seems to have a deeper understanding of quiet, introspective recreation. Not that this difference prevents them from being happy playmates. They get along very well.
One strange thing about this trip was the train rides. We always reserve spots in a family car, where there are spaces for baby carriages, and where no one reasonably expects peace and quiet. It a good setup because parents understand that kids make noise, and the kids often entertain each other. But for some reason on this trip there were virtual no other kids in the family car. On the way to Vejle Ellen was the only kid, and the people sitting around us — while not rude about it — certainly made it clear that they would rather not be sitting next to a noisy child. On the way back there was one other kid, but usually there are six or eight kids.
Recent Comments