You might consider adding your question to the Publishers Newsgroup section
for their input, and something less labor intensive.  With the many
objectives listed, it makes a difference to know what version of Microsoft
Office-Word you are using. Columns still might be one to consider, no matter
what version.  You can set them up independently  English on one side, Danish
on the other.  You might consider adding all the text first for the body,and
have both colums completed. Footnotes, in the smallest font setting, you can
get away with next, picture objects (optional--set to the front-to account
for space, and future editing), then last pagination (using Headers & Footers
option or other). You're right about the textbox option being more limiting.  
Tables might look too formal for a sentimental layout.  Still, others might
have different options. If you go with Columns, be sure to allow for smaller
margins to create more space. If you didn't want to use Headers & Footers,
you can manually add in a set of numerical picture objects, access each
numbers properties, and set to the front.  You might (not sure) have to
manually center the numbers, or in properties set them to the left or right
of a column.  They have beautiful numbers at Clip Art and Media. WordArt
might be fun to use for the date settings in your memoir.  For the text, be
sure to pick a smaller font setting (12, 14, & 16), because it sounds like
you don't want an extensive number of pages. Fourteen or less for regular
text, and 16 for titles, might still be pretty packed in, depending on the
size and amount of  photos.  It sounds really interesting. Wish I could see
the end result.  You can also increase and descrease your picture objects or
family photos, that you'll be dropping into the layout.