Another surprise!

I think I´m done with the surprise visits... it is too hard to pull off!  After hearing how surprised my kids were when my sister came to visit, my mom wanted in on the action.  So she planned a Christmas visit and didn´t want the kids to know.  She wanted to see tears of joy in their eyes!  lol  Oh, the pressure!  Well, we pulled it off!  She got the tears... she got the joy. :)  It is so nice to have her here with us.  We love Puma!  

Ainsley had her JuleBall last night (Christmas Ball).  She looked beautiful!  I was pleased with the dress she picked out... it is hard to find ones that are cute yet not too adult. I thought it was perfect for her.  Oh, and she got her braces off last week... just in time!  So here are a few pictures of her....

Hanne Louise and Ainsley hamming it up!

No more braces!
She looked amazing.... and so tall!  She is as tall as me in those heels!

Pet lover?

I guess I am!  Who knew?  

My pet owning horizons have been broadened since losing Spike.  Is it guilt?  I´m not quite sure but I love having happy children!

Punky the cockatiel was added to our family a month ago.  We adopted her from a friend of Ainsley.  I didn´t know how much joy a bird could bring.  She gets a lot of love and affection.  When I walk into the room she always flies to me...it could be all the sparkling jewelry I wear.  :)  Oh, and she has laid 3 eggs since she´s been here!  Crazy!

Today was the big "Bring home a hamster" day.  Griffin looked at all of them at 2 different pet shops and finally decided on Bella.  So far she has explored every inch of her cage, gone through every tunnel, and ran on the wheel.  I think she will be happy here!  She is so cute!

9 yrs ago today....

Griffin was born!  We had just moved to Norway 3 months before.  I remember thinking that the nurses stood outside my room playing Rock Paper Scissors to see who would have to go talk to the American!  Now here we are....9 yrs later.  :)

We started the day early (6:30am) so that Reidar could join us for a birthday breakfast.  Reidar made Griffin homemade waffles.  Our tradition is that the birthday presents are at their place at the table on the birthday morning.  He was so excited to see what was waiting for him.  See the cage in the corner...he completely missed it!  Sat down at the table and didn´t even give it a second glance...how does that happen!  

This is a shot of the weather we woke up to this morning....the wind was blowing and the snow was falling!
Griffin opening his presents.  I had to turn the overhead lights on to get a good picture.  That was way too much light for that early in the morning...candle light is much kinder.  lol  I love his fluffy morning face.  
Garrett and Zoey hamming it up for the camera...as usual
Me and my 9 yr old baby!  oh, and Zoey pouting in the background because she couldn´t take a picture with me at that moment.  
Yes, he finally noticed the cage...after I pointed it out to him.  He is getting a hamster!  We are going tomorrow to pick one out.  He is still deciding on names but Bella is in the fore front.  The hamster WILL be a girl because boy hamster are "well endowed" and it kind of freaks me out!  lol
Griffin blowing out his candles...we put trick candles on it...pretty funny!  They kept relighting for a long time!
Ohhh..... Ahhh.....
Some of his birthday guests.... Tobias (in motion), Griffin, Håvard, Hans Petter, and Sander.
Ok...birthday down....bring on Christmas!

the aftermath...

These pictures don´t really do the "day after" justice.  You need to be able to walk on the floors to appreciate how filthy they were..and you need to smell how smoky it smelled.  Yes, there was no smoking inside but it managed to infiltrate anyway.  Gross.  

Aunt Chris hid in the pantry and I had the boys go and get a bag of chips.  They were so surprised to see their aunt there they got all teary eyed!  It was too sweet!
Yes, we should be cleaning but "didn´t feel like it!"  Chris got me the groovy apron for my birthday!
The kitchen
the sshhhhh... alcohol left overs..... sshhhh
you know, it doesn´t look as bad in the pictures as it felt that day!  lol

For my sister!

Because I love you Chris...here are the pictures from my birthday party!  These are a little out of order but you get the jist.  The best part of our party.... my sister´s surprise visit!  Reidar rocks!

We had the food catered.  It was very nice not to have to worry about it but the cleanup wasn´t fun!
Me and my Seester!  xoxo
My peeps!  (l-r) Cindy (we met at Fresno State), Pia (my sister in law), Siren (my best norwegian friend), Nina (my Martha Stewart), Chris (my heart), me, and Cheryl (she is what gets me thru living here, best American friend here)  Most of us are over 40...hot mommas!
another shot of the food because it was so yummy... and I didn´t have to make it!
some guests...
Cheryl, me and Siren
The birthday couple!  It was an 80 yrs party! (since we both just turned 40)

My house!

After living in a tiny apartment for 1 1/2 yrs, we have finally moved into our new house!  It feels so good to live someplace that we decided from top to bottom.  These pics got out of order somehow but that´s ok!  I´ll walk you thru a little bit of it... 

This is a picture of the kids bathroom.

The boys are really happy to have a urinal in the house!  
Our entry way...love this wallpaper!
Our bedroom...simple just the way I like it.
The guest bathroom upstairs... love this wall paper too!
Living room
Dining area on the other side of living room.  We inherited this set from Reidar´s parents.
Kids playroom downstairs..
And finally here is a peek of the outside...once we get the inside in order, we will work on the outside.  
Notice I didn´t share any of the kids rooms...lol  Oh, and I forgot the kitchen!  Next time!

What kind of mother....

Lets birthdays go by and doesn´t take any pictures?  Can I use the excuse that my camera has no charge and my charger is in a box somewhere?  Well, that´s my story and I´m sticking to it!  

Yesterday, Sept, 29th, Reidar, Ainsley and Garrett all had a birthday!  Yes, it happens!  I fessed already so I have no problems saying that Reidar celebrated his 40th birthday.  And he just gets better with age.  :)  My first babies are 14 and 12 now.  CRAZY!  In the midst of unpacking, I came across photo albums.  They were so small!  And it wasn´t that long ago.  And now my daughter is almost as tall as I am!  They are both beautiful, wonderful, clever children....and I´m proud to be their mother.  

So Happy Birthday alle samman!  

Because I´m not shy...

...I can say Happy Birthday to Me!!  Yep, today is the big 40.  The kids woke me up by singing the birthday song and had lovely presents waiting for me in the kitchen.  It has been a really great day so far.  Since Reidar turns 40 at the end of the month, we will celebrate together on Oct. 18th.  We´ve invited friends and family over so we are looking forward to that!  Other happy news... our house should be done with week!  Regardless... the movers are coming on Monday... just hope there is water and electricity!

On a sad note but it needs to be mentioned... we had to put our beloved Spike to sleep yesterday.  It came as such a shock... he was only 6 yrs old.  After 3 weeks back and forth from the vet, we discovered yesterday that he had an inoperable tumor in his head... it invaded his mouth, nose and eye socket.  It was just so tragic but prolonging it would have just been for us and I couldn´t let him suffer just for our own comfort.  Needless to say, yesterday was a very sad day in our house... well, it is going to be sad for a while.  You don´t realize how much enery and love is spent on these little creatures until they are gone.

We love you Spike!

Sept. 15th, 2oo8

Post Holiday Blues

Vacation is over... back to reality.  I always have a hard time jumping back into the swing of things here after all the family time.  My life here is great, no complaints coming from me.  But leaving my family makes me a bit sad.  

Now that my Grandpa is gone, I´m not sure how much longer Grandma will stay in the house in Corcoran.  I took the opportunity before I left to capture some favorite images of Grandma´s house.  A huge part of my life was spent there and I´m so thankful that it holds sweet memories for my children too.  I just wanted to share these.

Humble... but yet so rich.

Time is Flying By!

Our vacation is speeding along!  We are half way and now the weeks will fly by, it always happens that way.  We have really been enjoying ourselves!  We took a trip to the beach, gone to the movies, swam almost every day, taken swimming lessons, watched fireworks, and have loved being with the family.  I don´t want it all to end!

I love you Grandpa....

Marshall Ray Hess

3/8/1919 - 6/15/2008

I wish I had something inspiring to say...

I´ll miss you...

I´m thankful my children got to know you so well....

I will keep you in my heart.....

"I had a little dog

and his name was Nickle,

I put him in a jar

and he turned to a pickle."

Countdown

There is definitely some California dreamin´going on in this house.  Zoey has woken up every morning, for at least the last 20 mornings, with a smile and the latest countdown.  Today it was 2 more days before we start our vacation!!

A year is undeniably too long to go without seeing your family.  I´ve missed our house on Mayfair Dr.  I´ve missed sitting in the dark on a warm summer night chatting with the YaYa´s.  I´ve missed my Mom.  I´ve missed my Dad.  I´ve missed my other half, CeeCee.  I´ve missed having cousins around for my children to play with.  I miss my Grandparents. I know that I have this fairy tale version of California because we aren´t living our normal life while there.... it is full time vacation mode.... but it works for me!

Reidar is traveling with us the first 3 weeks then he returns home to work and make our new home ready.  We try to do our family trip while he is there.  This year we are going to Denver to see my cousin and her family.  We had originally planned to drive... but that changed yesterday.  While road tripping is fun, I just had this vision of us pulling into her driveway with the children bound and gagged and us completely gray.  So now we are flying.  Whew!  We will stay a week there.  It is up in the air about spending time in Pismo... our favorite beach.  I have a feeling that Reidar will miss it too much and we will end up there for a couple of days too.  

After he leaves, it is the women in charge (not that he was ever *in charge but you know what I mean).  We will hopefully borrow a neighbors pool to use.  Swimming lessons are planned for the youngest ones.  But other than that, we will just be content to hang out and enjoy each others company.  I already know that there will be a lot of laughter.  

So here I am, Friday afternoon, sitting here with my thoughts.  The suitcases are still in the closet.  Clothes are still in the drawers.  You get the picture.  But I have a list!  lol  That is something, right?

Tonight is the Norwegian premier of the Sex and the City movie.  My SIL bought tickets for us the day they went on sale and it is sold out!  She just sent me a message that there is going to be a red carpet, welcome drinks, and dresses.  I must hop in the shower and shave!  I must find a dress to iron!  I wonder if it is "allowed" to still eat candy while watching the movie while being dressed up.  I´m sure I can find a loophole if that is the case!  It should be fun regardless.  I´m glad I have friends here to be girly with!

Tomorrow will definitely be spent packing and doing laundry.  I only found one of Zoey´s crocs so the other is probably hiding in the vastness of our storage room (it isn´t that big but it is FULL).  Bathing suits need to be found... and the googles, where can those be?  I´m not going to worry about that until tomorrow.... it is a gift I have.  lol  Choose Peace!  lol

Sunday starts our travel day.  We leave at 6:45am on Monday and the airport is 2 hrs away.  So we are taking the bus down on Sunday and spending the night at the airport hotel.  I don´t mind starting everything early!  The kids are excited that they are getting out of school early...about 2 weeks early.  

So, that is what is going on over here.  Lots of excitement!  

California or Bust!

Musicbox

Syttende Mai

The 17th of May is Norway's Independence Day from Sweden. We celebrated with many parades and festivities yesterday. It was busy but a good time was had by all. The weather is always a lottery here so it was a plus that the sun was shining.



We met Reidar's oldest sister in town for the 7am morning procession. Yes, that meant getting up way too early to get all of us dressed and out of the house. But it really was lovely. Above is my oldest daughter (in the pearls) and my oldest niece. Emilie is wearing a bunad, which is a traditional dress. Ainsley will receive one next year when she is confirmed. I'm already working on the stitchery!
After the morning parade, we headed back to where we lived to participate in the school parade. It was a long walk from the church to the school but Zoey did great. Here she is with her bestest friend. We have a bunad from when Ainsley was little so hopefully it will fit Zoey next year.
Here are the children all lined up. Each class tried to outdo each other with their Hurras and singing.
This is the Retzius grandchildren. The kids always have fun when they get together.
This day is by far Zoey's favorite day. She gets to walk in parades, wave flags, toot her horn, dress up, and eat all the ice cream she wants. She was sad when the day was over. It might actually top her birthday!