reams in denmark

Roma

2008-09-29T04:03:00.001-07:00

Venice, Italy

2008-09-29T03:18:00.001-07:00

The Venetians were very happy to see us. They were complaining that no Americans were coming this summer because of the weak dollar. So, the kids were crazy into the place. They were just flipping out about the waterways being the streets. They were trying to comprehend how the buildings were standing....or were they just floating??? We camped on the mainland and took a little ferry in each day. We spent 2 days in the city and enjoyed every minute of it. So much to see, so little time, but we did our best.

More Venice....

2008-09-26T04:47:00.000-07:00

There was just to many pictures for 1 post. So below is a typical visit to a church, museum, or anything. Pernille takes the 3 older kids (they're museum rats anyway) on a tour and they check out every little thing, and I take marcus outside to pee, chase birds, throw rocks, or whatever. It really works well and we all have a good time.

Parma, Italy

2008-09-26T04:14:00.000-07:00

So we decide it would really be cool to see the famous Parma, since we all just love Parmesan cheese. We scouted out a little cheese factory, and they were really cool to give us a tour. We learned the difference between normal parmesan chese, and parmesano-reggiano. Parmesano-reggiano is made by hand and is never touched by machines. It's basically the same method and recipe that they've been using in the region for some 800 years! They're really picky about every detail and have very strict rules. A bit of technology tossed in the mix, but not much. It really was a highlight and a blast.(oh, and they didn't speak a lick of English, let alone Danish, but one guy had worked in a restaurant in Germany so between he and I and hands and feet, we did quite well and had fun) Bottom pic is our average dinner on the road, pasta, pesto, and parmesano-reggiano from our little buddies at the factory!!! The kids loved it.

Modena, Italy

2008-09-26T03:34:00.001-07:00

So we decide to Stop by Modena since we're passing by and check out the Ferrari Museum. It was funny, because there was a big Harley Rally that pulled in to check out the Museum also. I don't know, Harley or Ferrari, you tell me?!??!?!? Anyway, it was a bit nerve racking having Marcus with, of course trying to climb into the Formula 1 cars. The little Museum Nazis had a close eye on him, but it was really cool. Carina put in an order for her 16th birthday. I told her to hold the order, we will later visit the "classic" VW museum, 1988 being a classic!!!!!

Cinque Terra, Italy

2008-09-26T02:57:00.000-07:00

So Olpins tell us about this snazzy place called Cinque Terra and we decided to check it out. Whoa, are we ever glad we did!! It's actually a national park consisting of 5 cities that lay literally between the sea and the cliffs on the upper part of the Mediterranean. You can hike, bike, horseback, or take a small train to the different cities and just get lost in and between them. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been in my life!! And the bald guy swimming next to the cliffs, not me, but I went back there at 6:30 the next morning alone and swam in that exact spot!! A bit dangerous for the kids, but it was amazing!!!
I think I loaded the wrong picture (Carina and Marcus), but it's kindof fun and shows how much fun we all have and some of our wacky pictures. Second to the bottom is Thomas catching the evening surf near the campground. He had never quite been in waves like that before. It was great. Oh, and thank goodness for railings on some of the "trails". I've got a few cliff divers in the group!!!

Pisa & Beach...Italy

2008-09-26T01:10:00.000-07:00

We picked up Johanne in Pisa, and went to the tower the next day. It was amazing!!! I didn't realize you could go up!!! So yip, guess who stayed below, and yip, that's a pic of Pernille, Johanne, Carina, Thomas, and Hannah making their way to the top. They said it was pretty freaky! Beaches and sand are always a hit.

France (again)

2008-05-03T10:56:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I already made a different France post below explaining the trip, but there were so many pictures I just couldn't resist. It's hard to just pull 3 or 4 out of hundreds. I'm working on a new site that can show more pictures...less blog!!! Anyway, there are a few more favorites from Oktober 2006 in France with Aunt Marian.

France 2006

2008-05-03T10:25:00.001-07:00

This is actually from the fall of 2006 when we met up with Aunt Marian in Paris. It was amazing and one of the kids most memorable trips. We saw Paris, Versailles, Le Mont San Michelle, and my personal favorite was the beaches of Normandy. Absolutely amazing!!! Thanks Marian.

Easter Fun

2008-03-23T13:50:00.000-07:00

Carinas Soccer Team got tickets to a Major League Game and we brought Thomas along. It was really great! My first Professional Game and the kids too. The only thing is that it was Freezing!!! Hey, we live in Denmark, what else should we expect?

Stuff...

2008-03-16T13:42:00.000-07:00

It's kindof tricky to stay current with this thing. Maybe also it seems kindof boring, what's current. At any rate, I need to keep things coming so I'll work on a few random posts with random things.
First picture is of our one and only snow storm this year. There was about 2 inches and the kids were so excited they gathered up snow from the yard and packed it on the steps to make a makeshift "hill", with a small jump at the bottom naturally.
Next is Carina's soccer team, Kids at Schoen Bruen in Vienna Last summer, and one of my favorites, Marcus helping me "navigate" last summer on our trip. He loved it. I think the recessive "travel" gene that his grandfather and father have, has been passed on another generation. (Especially when it's on an adventure in the Fatherland!)

School Pictures

2008-03-11T12:32:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, it's been a while. The kids just got their school pictures back and I though it would be fun to post them. Yea, they're growing like weeds, but good little weeds with nice flowers on them. Marcus didn't get any but we're working on something.

Persistence

2008-03-09T16:54:00.001-07:00

Ok Ok Ok Quinn, you are one persistent young lady (as your parents and your new bedroom will attest to). There will be more to come very soon!!

Grandpa Ream

2007-12-23T12:13:00.000-08:00

Our Grandpa Ream passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 19th 2007. He was 92. All the kids were able to visit him before we left last year. He was a great person and we will miss him a lot. Since we've been here Pennys had a grandmother and a grandfather pass away also. It was SO wonderful that we had those last months with them here. I guess you can't be everywhere at once!

tis the season.....

2007-12-06T15:18:00.000-08:00

Non-Crappy Starring You! eCards on JibJab

Uganda, Afrika (yes, spelled with a K in Danish)

2007-10-21T01:04:00.000-07:00

Pernille went to Uganda for 2 weeks to work in a shelter for homeless and handicapped people. Our friend here in Denmark, Lisbeth, owns, funds, and runs the shelter herself. It's very small compared to the need there, but hey, you do what you can, right?? Needless to say, Pernille had a great time and some wonderful experiences! I'm sure she'll write more later. (can you find her in the last picture? click on it to enlarge if you like)

2 funerals, a wedding, and yes, finally a baby!

2007-09-28T06:36:00.001-07:00

This is Camilla, Mette(Pernilles 1st sister) and Bjarnes new little girl. She's beautiful! I threw in Pernille doing one of her favorite things, using her scrapbox.

Thomas: Nice, France

2007-09-28T05:11:00.000-07:00

Our friend has a beach house in Nice and invited us to go down for a couple of days. We had a blast and it was cheap!! (I love the low cost airlines!)
He begged me to burry him...didn't matter, sand or rocks.

Marcus 3 years old August 16th 2007

2007-09-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

A few of his presents, his first day at school, and finally a VERY BIG PRESENT FOR MOM AND DAD!!! Yup! He's 100% !!

A Danish Wedding

2007-09-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

Rikke (Pernilles sister) and Per got married Saturday Sept 8th. It was a great day!

Videos!!

2007-08-19T01:28:00.000-07:00

Hopefully this works. This is the kids having a waterfight at our camp spot in Schladming Austria. Click below.

A day at Kronborg

2007-08-19T00:18:00.001-07:00

Some pix of a great day at Kronborg Castle.

Our Danish Rental...Not to bad.

2007-08-18T23:58:00.000-07:00

Steve Olpin took this picture of the farm we live on. Next is the house from the back, and a sunrise in the back yard at about 5:00 a.m. So who's coming to visit us next??????????

"Logger" as the kids call it!

2007-08-18T23:15:00.000-07:00

Everyone had a face off, except Pernille and Noelle!! We were disappointed.

Legoland with Olpins

2007-08-04T20:02:00.000-07:00

Olpins are Lego nuts (even more so than us) and they've waited forever to go to the original Legoland with us and we finally made it....and had a blast(except for the rain!)

Thomas 9 yrs old Aug 4th

2007-08-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Thomas!!

1/2 way

2007-08-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

Marcus July, 2006 (TOP) Marcus July 2007(BOTTOM) Can't believe we're 1/2 way there!

Ream/Olpin Kids fun

2007-07-26T16:43:00.000-07:00

A few pix of the kids having a good time together during their summer vacation....

More Vienna

2007-07-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

We visited several sites and had a blast. The kids got to ride on one of the Lippazzaner mares and loved it....Carina would like to bring one home...yea right!!

Vienna

2007-07-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

We traveled half way across the city past dozens of restaurants just to have Schnitzel in the Schnitzelwirt....a well kept secret. Needless to say we got full.

Olpins

2007-07-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been a while, we've been on the road to Germany and Austria. We met up with the Olpin Family in Germany and partied our way to Austria. They headed back to Belgium to see the Tour de France and we went on to Vienna to eat giant Wienner Schnitzel and check out the city!!! We've been in Denmark now for a week and have 2 more to go and the summers over for us. Enjoy the pix....

SUMMERTIME!!!!!

2007-06-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

I forgot what these flowers are called, but they're beautiful and are only here for a short time. I'd ask Pernille the name of them but oh, she's in New York doing a little paperwork we forgot to do before leaving so she could stay our of the country for an extended period of time! If there are any problems, I hear there's a few tunnels in Arizona we could come back thru!! WE LOVE SUMMERTIME!!!!!!!!!!!

Family in town!

2007-06-10T13:09:00.000-07:00

We had a great time when Grandma Jewel, Uncle Daniel, Aunt Sara, Sadie, Sausha, and Savannah came to visit us!! The first family that dared to come over!! We think/hope they had a good time and that we didn't break the bank in the process!!(2 day excursion to Stockholm!!!) It was worth it though. Daniel gets a kick out of scaring Chinese people in the dungeons of Old Castles and well, lets just say that Sara doesn't really like to eat fish eggs (or watch Jason do it either) Ask her about it when you see her next. SO, Who's next???

Weekend in Prague

2007-05-26T13:38:00.000-07:00

I just love low cost airlines!! $120 flights each way, $89 hotel per night(in a 150 year old hotel) $1.25 ticket on the bus/train to the airport, Weekend in Prague with my lady after a month in the states....PRICELESS!!!!! What a city, tons of history and absolutly beautiful. Highly recommended.

Kronborg

2007-05-16T14:39:00.000-07:00

A day at the Castle Kronborg. Hannah's smiling for you Maia!! Carina and her Cousin Savannah doing a mirror image or something....not sure....we call them Salt and Pepper. They're having a blast.

Putgarten,Germany

2007-05-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

Guess which one of these kids is thinking..."how can I jump in there and swim with that bad boy shark???" This was a fun aquarium we stopped at on the way back from Berlin just before the ferry.

Snow in Denmark?

2007-04-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

People ask if there's snow in Denmark...Um, a, yea!!! The whole town was completely shut down for a couple days until they could get the roads cleared...kids had fun on their sleds (no school) dad had fun in the Acura pulling people out!

Berlin Trip

2007-04-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

Boyz hangin at the Brandenburg! Look like a bunch of Nazis to me, the master race infact! 1/2 German 1/2 Danish!! I love that city.

Berlin trip

2007-04-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

What can I say, this kid left the "American Sector" a long time ago!!

Berlin trip

2007-04-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

What can I say, Hannah getting ready for Berlin! They say it's the style capital of Europe!! She'll be right on top!!