Weekend and More

Well, the weekend came and went and we didn't get to do any major outings...each kiddo had a birthday party to attend and that kind of took up our time...plus soccer too!

Brendan played his first soccer scrimmage on Saturday morning - we were able to borrow shin guards and cleats, thankfully! It was a messy, rainy morning, but it was of no concern for the people here...on with soccer! I ended up walking around the track with another mom and we had a nice visit. It turned out that her daughter is also in Brendan's class, although she is on a different team. We would walk until it was raining too hard and then we would retreat to the storage shed...then it would stop raining after a few minutes and the sun would peek out between clouds and off we would go again.

After soccer, we hung out at the house and the kids napped a bit...we had a late Friday night (Brendan had John over to play and for dinner, then we walked him home later) and the kids were up at their customary (i.e. very early) time. Brendan and Spencer went to check out the Harley-Davidson store in Stavanger also. After that, it was time for Kyla to head to Rebecca's birthday party. She ended up riding with Abigail and Anouk (Abigail's mom, Stephanie drove them) to and from the party, so that was nice! While she was at the party, we picked up Surfe Inn burgers for dinner - yum!

Sunday we went to check out a bakery we have been hearing about. It is one of the only things open on Sundays here. Stores here are open Monday thru Friday and limited hours Saturday - nothing really opens on Sundays. It was okay, but in a pinch is a good place to grab bread or a carton of milk, etc.

From there, we took Brendan over to Mostafa's birthday party. It was a martial arts party at a facility near here in Gausel. We dropped him off and hoped for the best...he seemed to have had a good time! While he was at the party, I went to see my friend, Shelia's house they are renting - their sea shipment was delivered yesterday (Monday.) It is so close to the CoP offices! Only a twinge of jealousy after seeing their house and all the space they have...I am still very happy with our decision to stay here in Madla. Spencer took Kyla to walk on the beach for a little bit. He picked up Brendan and we all met back here at the apartment. The weather was gorgeous (although a bit chilly and windy!) so we all decided to head back to the beach to enjoy the outdoors. It was really neat - we saw kite surfers - quite a few of them - in the water! It was so fun to watch them! The kite basically acts as a "motor" and pulls them along the top of the water so it looks like they are skiing barefoot. I wish I had taken my camera - we were actually very close by watching them!

Monday it was back to school. I had a fairly open day, so I had lunch with Spencer and went by to see how the unpacking was going for Shelia. I also ran a couple other errands, but nothing too exciting. Today was about the same, except I went to a store called Elkjop, which is basically equivalent to a Best Buy and purchased a cordless phone with a built-in answering machine for the apartment. The phone we had was driving us all crazy because you could only go 2 feet before you had to stop...what a pain! I also hit LIVING and IKEA and made small purchases at each - mainly we are trying to arrange Kyla's closet to afford her more space.

Brendan had a trial class for TaeKwonDo today after school. I was hoping he would take to it a little more, but he really didn't seem that interested or motivated to participate. It is a very expensive activity here and he agreed that maybe it wasn't for him...we certainly didn't want to waste that amount of money if he wasn't truly interested!

I guess the only other thing on our minds is our sea shipment...it was supposed to arrive in port here on Saturday, but when we went online to check the ship's progress, it was giving us random locations on the tracker, so we are hoping it made it in and customs will move it along! I am anxious to have the rest of the stuff we had sent over. I know we have more clothes in there and it would be nice to have them...I think Spencer is the only one with most all his wardrobe here. The rest was split between baggage, air, and sea. I really could use some more of my long-sleeve stuff...it has been pretty cool on several days already! I know, I am a big wimp! Spencer is loving it and the kids don't seem bothered. As a matter of fact, Brendan sleeps with his window open every night! Like father, like son!!!

And, sorry to say, I have no witty observations to share...

Oh, and I almost forgot...! The kids and I received our person numbers today! We are now official Norwegian taxpayers! That means we are eligible for all kinds of stuff - free medical care, grocery memberships, banking access...we are thinking of sending me to the other bank here and trying to open an account in my name. It will be kind of like a game/race to see which bank can get all their stuff together before the other...hmmm...

Have a great week everyone!

School Week 2 cont'd

Another week of school without any major issues! YEA! To pick up where I left off before...

Wednesday was Spencer's day in Oslo for work and I will freely admit that I was a lazy bum! I got the kids off to school on the bus and came back home and took a nap - yes, a nap, on my couch, while the TV was on in the background! Ahhhh!!!

I did eventually get dressed and even run a couple errands later in the day...then it was time to meet the bus and on to the afternoon drama of homework. The kids and I then joined Shelia and Ella for pizza at Dolly Dimple's - their treat (see why below.)

Thursday and Friday were a little more eventful. I volunteered to work at the school kiosk once a week for a couple hours and Thursday was my first day. I got there early and was waiting around for the other person since I had no clue what to do...she was running late and there was a line forming and kids looking a bit panicked in need of supplies, so I asked the front office for a key and dove in...It wasn't pretty...I did not have the money box, so I didn't have change and I didn't know where anything was or how to keep track of what was selling. A teacher ended up joining me and helping me out until the other parent arrived. Once things settled down, Stephanie (my kiosk partner) showed me the procedures and next time will be so much easier!!! Trial by fire, I suppose. The good thing...the other mom I was working with ended up being Abigail's mom, of one of Kyla's new friends. We chatted and had a nice visit.

I picked the kids up from school on Thursday and we immediately headed over to the British School to pick up Ella for Shelia. Dan is in the states this week and wouldn't you know, her boss called a meeting from 5-7 pm on Thursday and then the Houston office had previously scheduled a meeting from 4-6 on Friday, so that left her in a bind getting Ella two days this week. So, I picked up Ella and we babysat and played until Shelia could get home. I remembered my "secret password" and only had minor traffic, so all went well.

This morning (Friday) I attended the Welcome Back Coffee at the school. It was another opportunity to possibly gather tidbits of information and maybe meet more people...I saw several ladies from the CoP spouses' group and ended up visiting with Khaled's (a co-worker of Spencer's from Houston) wife, Nada for a good while. Their son is also in 2nd grade with Kyla. From there, I went on the hunt for birthday presents for all these parties the kids have been invited to...okay, that cost a chunk of change! Four birthday presents are now purchased, plus I ended up picking up a couple other things on sale for use at a later time! That is definitely one of those "if I had only known" items that I would have gathered some of and brought with me! I am definitely not counting every kroner we spend here because I think I would just die when I converted it to US dollars! Yikes!

Following the shopping excursion, I went to the office to have lunch with Spencer. Now that is a reasonable amount to spend for a good lunch! Oh, and we can't go a week without a trip to the bank. And no, we still don't have our internet code for the online bank...don't even get us started on that... We had to go in though because we had a giro (like a bill, but paid directly from your account to their account) that was due and since we can't get online, we have to do it in person. What a pain in the a$$! While Spencer was in the bank, I told him to ask for a printout of all our transactions so I could at least make an effort to reconcile our account and see our current balance, etc. It is very hard to try to figure out what you are spending and try and budget without being able to access your stuff!

By the time we finished that, it was about time to head over to get Ella. Spencer met the Brendan, Kyla, and Brendan's buddy, John getting off the bus while I did Ella's pickup. Brendan and John had a playdate this afternoon here at our place. Today was also the first day of soccer for Brendan. Even though we don't have his equipment in yet from our sea shipment, he went to practice and will be able to borrow shin guards and shoes for the scrimmage tomorrow morning. John tagged along for that and then we all enjoyed tacos for dinner. Shelia even made it back from the meeting in time for tacos too! Later this evening, we walked John home after a successful playdate! Whew!

On the horizon...the kids have a couple school holidays coming up and we are trying to decide which weekend excursion we want to take first! We are strongly considering Denmark and Legoland on our first 4-day weekend and then we have a week off in October, so we are going to try to get over to "mainland" Europe - Ireland, perhaps?

I guess that is all for now. I also guess these are getting kinda boring...we have settled in, school has started, and now it is just routine. :)

Haircut!

Well, we are almost halfway through another week...so far, so good!

Sunday was a low-key day after our busy Saturday. We went to church, picked up takeout Thai food at Phad Thai (a little place near the apartment,) and took the kids to swim at the office pool for a little bit.

Then, time to start another week of school! This week, we decided to try out the bus! Monday went great - the kids rode both ways! Today, not as smooth...it was messy rainy this morning and we headed out and waited for the bus...and waited...until it got to the point that they were going to be late and I wasn't sure the bus was coming. We literally jogged over the garage to get the car out only to pull into the school right behind the bus. I guess he was just running behind and I gave up about 3 minutes too soon. They did ride it home though, so we will give it a go tomorrow. I would like to get them (and me!) comfortable enough that they can do it all on their own. One thing about Norway, probably because it is so safe, they are very open to letting kids take off on their bikes, walk to school, catch the bus, etc. all on their own and at a pretty young age. The bus stops are very close to the apartment so that is a big bonus!

Yesterday while the kids were at school, I headed over to find a swim cap for Brendan
(required here for swimming and kids will swim in PE class!) and decided on a whim to stop and inquire about a haircut at one of the "frisor" shops at the mall. I have been watching every time I go by and they seemed competent and professional, so I asked the girl if they had experience with short, curly hair...It just so happened it was slow that day and she could take me in right at that time, so being the spontaneous (HAHAHA) person that I am, I went for it! Lillian did a super job and I now have a hairdresser here! She was so sweet and chatted with me the whole time! My hair looks just like it should and I am so happy! What a load off to now have that detail figured out! I then made a super quick run through the store and headed over to have lunch with Spencer at the office cafeteria. The food there is great AND cheap!!!

Today, the mission was to find a casual brown leather belt and beige dress socks for Spencer. For a change of pace, I headed over to Kvadrat (the BIG mall) and decided to wander around a bit. Mission accomplished...found belt and socks and several other places I had heard about in the mall. From there, I accidentally took a long way home since I missed my turn, but it all worked out! I then took a little detour over to the Harley-Davidson shop to pick up some t-shirts for some of Spencer's buddies and my dad. The guy there had a collection of H-D shirts from all over and I told him I would hook him up with a couple and he ended up giving me one of the shirts I bought for free! As we have mentioned, the taxes here are VERY high - the guy was saying that the taxes alone on a motorcycle here are the same as what you pay for a bike in the US! Crazy!!!

This evening there was a deal at the school called the Leisure Fair. It was basically a chance to see what activities are available in and around town for kids, parents, and families to sign up for - everything from sports to music classes to swimming to yoga classes to scouts, etc...and more! It was a good opportunity to see what options we have for the kids to get involved in something outside of school. The really nice thing, several of the activities are immediately after school and are held at the school - very convenient!!! Sports here are basically soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring. Kyla is interested in a little dance class being offered too. I found some walking groups and possibly a yoga class to take during the day.

Spencer is heading back to Oslo tomorrow for his weekly meetings there. He is also turning the rental car in tomorrow, so we officially become a single-car family. I have been driving the Ford a little more and it really is easy to drive.

Weather report here...rainy...and traffic is extra heavy this week due to the ONS Conference (some big oil and gas deal.) Hopefully the weather will clear a bit tomorrow. I think I have gotten spoiled with the good weather we have had!

Until my next edition...oh, and here is a picture of the kids from the first day of school. I don't think I ever posted any!

Fjord Cruise

Today was the day! We woke up thinking the weather would be iffy today, but it looked pretty good, so we headed into town to get tickets for the fjord cruise! I am so glad we did! The weather was perfect and the views were beautiful - huge cliff faces, waterfalls, islands scattered with summer homes that have been passed down through families for generations... it was also neat to see some of the places we have driven through or climbed (like Preikestolen) from a totally different vantage point.

We sat on the open top of the boat and took in the amazing sights. We also ended up visiting with some folks here from Canada for a big oil and gas conference being held here this coming week. I am attaching a few pictures, but as I have said so many times already, pictures just don't give you the real perspective or beauty! One picture shows Preikestolen...one is of the waterfall, plus a few others.

We also enjoyed walking around town and checking out some areas we haven't seen before. While in town, we also picked up fresh shrimp from the harbor, which we ate on the spot, and made it to the butcher just before it closed to pick up some more goodies, like bacon and pork chops!

After we got home, the phone rang, which is unusual...ha! Turns out it was Brendan's friend, John inviting him over to play. We took him over, met his mom (you may remember, I met his dad the other day) and dropped him off...that was at 4:30...he ended up staying for dinner and longer. Their family walked him home around 9:00 tonight! Needless to say, Brendan was exhausted, but we were soooo very glad he has made a friend!!! John rides the school bus that Brendan and Kyla would ride also, so I am going to try to get the kids to try it out this week. Kyla wants to, and I am hoping that Brendan will decide it isn't so bad since he has a buddy there!

While Brendan was playing at John's, Kyla and I joined Sheila and Ella for some playtime over at Ella's new school, the British School of Stavanger. Ella will start there on Monday. It was a nice playground and different than the others around here, so it was a nice change of pace. Kyla also had her "popcorn party" with Spencer while they watched Phineas and Ferb. It was good to have the kids apart a bit!

Tomorrow - church and ??? I am sure we will figure out something! :)

Update

Okay, so I have obviously taken a couple days off - but here I am again to give you a run-down on the week...and I know you have all waited anxiously for the next edition of my random rambling!

First, the kids and school...Day 2 was rough for Brendan - needless to say, it was a very long afternoon on Wednesday. Thursday was much better, thankfully and he seems to be getting the hang of things. Kyla has had a good week, although her favorite description is, "It is boring..." so hopefully she will be a little more challenged as the school year goes on. I think she picks up a lot from listening to Brendan do his work, so she stays a bit ahead of the game. They both seem to be enjoying their Norsk class and of course, 3 recesses and snacks are always a hit! Kyla has already been invited to a birthday party and when I asked her who the girl was, she honestly wasn't sure which kid was having the birthday...hmmmm...apparently the whole class was invited.

They both have the opportunity to play soccer, if only I had sent the shoes and shin guards in the air shipment...ugh! It starts before our sea shipment comes in...and I am dreading buying MORE shoes and equipment that we already have, just not in hand. It is a co-ed deal for expat kids that go to either ISS or the British school - practice on Fridays and play games on Saturday mornings. Seems like it will be low-key, but good to meet people and play soccer!

I attended a ConocoPhillips Wives' Coffee on Wednesday morning. I met several nice ladies and one husband too who happened to be John's(Brendan's new buddy) dad. A couple are a little high-strung for me...but, it was a good opportunity to get information about various things and find out ways to get involved. The best jewel of information...a store called MENY! I took a little trip over there Thursday morning...I had a BIG smile as I walked through that store! Welch's Grape Jelly, Wish Bone Ranch Dressing, Aunt Jemima syrup, Dr. Pepper, Betty Crocker cake and cookie mixes, Tabasco sauce for Spencer, and various other "American" items! But, still no applesauce and not the cereal selection we would like...but, better anyway! There is a book club and possibly a walking group, so I am going to see how that goes. I am also planning on volunteering with the Parent Association at the school - possibly helping in the school kiosk once a week for a couple hours.

This morning (Friday) we all had to trek back over to Skatt Vest (tax office.) The kids and I were approved for our residence permits, so we had to go in for the next step to get our Norwegian person numbers. I hated having to pull them out of school for that, but the business hours here are very short (9-3), so we went first thing this morning (8:30.) The doors opened at 9:00 and we got our number. We had to stop at the police desk first for our photos and passport stickers and then on over to the tax desk to turn in paperwork. The whole thing took about an hour. I think that is the last trip there unless we happen to still be here in 2012 and have to renew...

This evening, the school Parent Association is hosting a Welcome BBQ, so we will head over to that once Spencer is home from work.

Now for my observations...
Okay, I am all for health conscience people, etc., and for cycling, which is very popular here...but geez, had a near miss with a cyclist yesterday...yikes! He was riding on the road instead of one of the numerous bike paths, and I had an opportunity to go around so I was pulling around and about that time, cycle-dude decided to signal he was turning left in front of me...I crammed on the brakes and bailed off to the side...nice... and then he realized I was there and didn't turn, but too late because I had already killed the engine on my standard...had to restart the car and pulled back out to end up behind said cyclist again. You can be sure this time, I just rode slowly behind him...Oh, and to be so health conscious, there are a ton of smokers here. Apparently that is not considered unhealthy here...WHAT??? SERIOUSLY??? Spencer says he sees people jogging or biking to work or talking about the heart attack they had and standing outside smoking before they go into the office.

Next...I keep meaning to mention the "EXIT" signs here...they crack me up! It is a green sign with a little dude running and an arrow...attaching a picture. I find them quite amusing...:)

First Day of School

Yes, back to school today! Bottom line...kids had a good day, liked their teachers, and seem to have made a friend or two or three...! All in all a great start! Brendan wanted me to meet his new friend, John. Turns out his mom also works for CoP, and they have been here for a year. He seems like a good kid and I hope that turns into a strong friendship. Kyla came home talking about Hannah and two Abigails in her class. Little miss social will be friends with all of the class before long. Brendan's class is currently only 14 kids - that will be good for him. Kyla's is a little bit bigger, 19 kids.

The morning routine was a little rough and I can tell homework time is not going to be pleasant, but hopefully we will get back into routine sooner rather than later!

For those of you wondering what I did today on my first kid-free day...played a few games on the computer, did a light grocery shopping, went to the bank with Spencer at lunch time (yes, again...and no, still not all fixed,) picked up a bit around the apartment, and then it was time to get the kids from school. Tomorrow morning, I will be attending my first ConocoPhillips wives' coffee. It is a monthly thing and this is the first one gearing back up after the summer break. Spencer is heading back to Oslo for the day for work.

Otherwise, a quiet day! And I won't lie...I liked having the apartment to myself for a little bit and going to the store without my entourage!

Sunday Beach, Monday Meet the Teacher

So, my apologies...I took the night off last night! I will fill you all in on Sunday first though!

We decided to do some more sightseeing in the area on Sunday and because of the absolutely perfect weather, we decided the Solastranden Beach, along with a couple other places near Sola would be our destinations for the day. We first stopped at a place called Domsteinene which is a reconstructed stone circle from the Iron Age - long considered an archaeological enigma - that is a very powerful symbol. Although numerous theories exist, it is uncertain what it was actually used for. It is 24 stones arranged in a circle with smaller stones creating sections that lead to the center (like a wagonwheel.) Rituals, sacrifice, councils, seasonal and sun cycles...it is anyone's guess.

Next stop was the beach...yes, the beach! Only about 15-20 minutes away, right near the airport - we, along with many others, enjoyed the beautiful weather and wandered down the beach, watched the wind surfers in the distance, climbed around the dunes...under a perfect and cloudless blue sky! The only drawback...well two really, very cold water of the North Sea and jellyfish! The water is quite clear, but you really have to watch out for the jellyfish! Some are really big and some pretty small and you certainly would not want to step or swim into one of those! One funny thing to note...we saw several people with smaller children who didn't feel the need for them to wear swimsuits or even a diaper - huh, interesting...There were a lot of people out soaking up the sun and the people here don't seem to mind the cold water much!

After our walk up and down the beach, we went on the hunt for the stone crosses at Tjora. We found them...literally between two homes and backing up to a large farm! They date back to about 1150 AD and are believed to be a place where people gathered for religious services. Quite stunning really!

After all that, we met up with Dan, Sheila, and Ella to take a walk to feed the ducks at the lake and then on a whim, decided to head over to Dolly Dimple's for pizza. One thing to note about restaurants here...service is not so great and generally very slow (except at the "fast food" type places.) We were there for over an hour and a half...just for pizza! No incentive, I guess...tips aren't the norm here and some places/people won't accept them at all anyway...feels very odd not to tip in restaurants and barber shops, for example.

Well, on to today! Today was "meet the teacher" day at ISS. We were assigned at time to meet each of the kids' teachers and had a chance to see the school again and get a little better acquainted with it all. Kyla has Ms. Janiak - cute, young, personable...liked her right away and Kyla did as well! After chatting and hearing a bit about the "routine," we found her class will be run much like classes at Katy Elementary and won't be that different than what she is accustomed to! YEA!!! This is her 4th year teaching at ISS and I think Kyla will have a great year with her!

Brendan was lucky enough to get Mrs. Jones, whom we met initially when we went for our tour soon after arriving here. He was very excited to be in her class. I think things will go well for him, although, it is going to require a bit more independence than he is probably accustomed to. She seems very organized and I think it will be a great class for him. It appears at this point, there are only about 14 kids in his class which will also be a plus for him!

The kids will both go to music, art, computer lab, PE (twice a week,) 3 recesses each day, and Norsk class where they will learn Norwegian! All that in addition to math, science, language arts, social studies...I am amazed at how they fit it all in!

After meet the teacher, we hung around the apartment (weather rainy today) until Spencer got home. We then made a quick trip over to the mall to grab some last minute supplies, another pair of shoes for each kid...(more on that in a minute,) and finally, yes...a Norwegian cell phone for me. I got the absolute cheapest phone they had (and I do mean total crap phone,) paid for a number, and will just buy minutes to add as needed. It is mainly for the school to be able to contact me and for calls when I am away from the apartment. Truly an emergency-type phone!

Okay, the shoes...the kids are not allowed to wear their outside shoes in the classroom...so, they need an outside pair (plus rain boots,) an inside pair, and a pair for PE, which could double as your inside pair...but you have to basically leave them at school, which means you have to have shoes for home and weekends separate from that. Geez...I have a feeling shoes are going to be the bane of my existence this year...!

Five Hour Tour

The day started out with Spencer heading into Stavanger with his buddy, Dan, to hit the meat market - BIG score there! He came home with pork chops (which we ate for dinner tonight,) bacon, rib-eyes...yea!!!

Today we planned a little road trip with several stops in mind. The weather was, once again, amazing! Beautiful, bright sun, blue skies, and temperature in the 70's! The scenery on the drive was just gorgeous! We drove by beaches along the Jaeren Coast and pristine farms, some with animals and some with crops. I just love the walls made of boulders and rocks that line drives, divide land parcels and farms, and line the landscape. Some look hundreds of years old and don't have a single space or gap in them...obviously been there for a long time and others are much newer. Spencer had basically mapped out about a 3 hour drive, but we were going to make several stops along the way.

Our first stop was a spur of the moment - so pretty! You have to close your eyes and imagine...huge fjords on either side, lakes as smooth as glass, farms dotting the landscape, boulders, and this beautiful running river...a place called Hegelstad. We just had to get out of the car and get a closer look. It turns out that river ran along a good portion of our drive depositing in various lakes and ponds along the way.

Our next stop was a place called Gloppedalsura - listed as Northern Europe's largest rock scree, it didn't disappoint! Boulders literally as big and bigger than houses lined both sides of the narrow road. Certainly worth a closer look and a bit of climbing around!

From there, we headed over to a place called Byrkjedal, more specifically Byrkjedalstunet, which is known for its candle-making and souvenir shop and an award winning roadside diner. We wandered around the huge store admiring the beautiful gifts and candles - wax so smooth and in all kinds of shapes and sizes. The kids even got to get taper candles and dip them in colored candle wax to make their own design! There is also B&B rooms available and an area with animals. Also, we have seen several, but noted the super cool buildings, some being houses and stores, with grass roofs. We also stopped for a snack in the diner, of course!

As we were leaving Byrkjedal, we discovered we were on the same path as a major cycling race being held today...yes, in the midst of probably hundreds of cyclists grouped up in bunches on narrow roads, off we went toward our next stop...Gjestal, where there is a "spinneri" (spinning mill) and a store where you can purchase woolen goods and knitwear. The kids each picked out a winter cap. Kyla, of course, picked out a pink hat with a heart and a little "bling"...Brendan went with a wool cap with the Norwegian flag! No surprise there!

Our last stop was a porcelain factory in Figgjo. We made it there 10 minutes before closing, so we made a quick run through the store - LOVE the dishes and things there! What I also notice about the goods here - perfection...not a "blemish" on any piece I looked at! I really liked several things which means a return trip will be in my future! It is really very close - maybe a 30 minute drive, if that!

Then, on to the apartment...home for the day. I am including several pictures, but just remember, pictures just don't do justice to the phenomenal beauty all around us here in Norway!

Bonus for me...going to see a movie with a friend tonight - so my first official "Girls' Night Out!"

Flyhistorisk and Lake Mosvatnet

Oh my, our last Friday before school starts! It started off rainy today and I thought that might put a damper on our lake walk, but by the time we headed out to the Aviation Museum it was starting to clear and by the time we finished there, it was all out sunny!

We first headed over to Sola which is where the airport is to see the collection of planes and helicopters on display at the Museum of Aviation History. Kyla was less than thrilled, but alas, we went anyway! They had planes dating back to WWII through present day and also had numerous photographs, uniforms, and models to see. It was cool also because it is right beside where the seaplanes land in the water and we saw one landing right when we arrived!

After that, we came back by the apartment to regroup and then go over to Lake Mosvatnet. My friend Creal told me about a tree here in the area that is a place where little ones can go and leave their passies when they are ready to give them up. I did a quick google and found out that it is on a walking trail that goes around a smaller lake here in Stavanger. As it turns out, it is less than 10 minutes away from our apartment and is about a 3km walk...perfect for me and the kids! So, off we went and sure enough, there was the pacifier tree. Hundreds of pacifiers were hanging from the tree with a little sign - La Tuttane Fa Henga - I tried to do a Google Translate, but it didn't quite work. The only word that translated had to do with "indulged"... It was really very sweet and we took several pictures. Kyla again complained the whole walk, but Brendan and I enjoyed it very much. The kids stopped to play at a couple different areas along the way as well. It is certainly a walk we will do again and maybe next time, we can take the kids' bikes!

On tap for the weekend...possibly a fjord cruise or a trip over to Byrkjedal where there is a candlemaker shop and a roadside diner. This little excursion has been recommended by a couple different people, so definitely on our "to-do" list! It all kind of depends on the weather... We are trying to save some of the indoor things (like the Petroleum Museum) for when the weather isn't as nice as it has been lately!

Other observations...we can definitely tell that school is about to start here - after a very quiet July and early August, folks are back from holiday and traffic has really picked up! We are seeing lots of kids on bikes, walking around town, in the mall, just generally getting back into routine, I guess. It makes up appreciate our apartment location that much more, because it seems that it is right about here that traffic starts to really get bad heading into Stavanger City Center. Luckily, Spencer's work and the school is the opposite direction!

And one other side note...I have started compiling a list of foods and things I have yet to see here that we (ok, mostly me...) are missing...I may need a care package of all food stuff soon! Not really, but I am starting a list anyway...hahaha!

Skjønnhet er alt rundt oss
Beauty is all around us!

Burgers and Fries, Oh My

So it was another perfect sunny day here - the kids and I ran by the school to try to get some help with the supply list and ended up meeting the Primary School Principal and chatted with him for a few minutes. Basically, it seems to be no big deal if the kids don't have all the supplies for the first day of school. He said to check the school store kiosk on Monday at "meet the teacher" and just ask their teachers...apparently not like Katy where you better have everything when you walk in!

We then went on the hunt for a hiking trail in Sandnes called Ragnhildsnuten...supposedly a "easily accessible" site...that I could not locate! I had checked several websites and maps before we left the house and the only thing I could find was a church that was supposed to be close by called Hoyland Church. Well, we found the church and drove off in every direction trying to locate the trail...not a sign anywhere with the name and not shown on any map or website. We were disappointed, but got out and walked around the church grounds and cemetery. It was beautiful and had headstones and crosses from way back in the early and mid 1800's. I am attaching a couple pictures.

Since we could not find the hiking trail, we stopped at IKEA and also Toys R Us to check them out. I know, not even close to a lovely hike around "prehistoric sites," but what do you do? Anyway, It was kind of entertaining to check out the stores anyway. IKEA is much like the US version as is Toys R Us...just imagine everything in Norwegian...hahaha! I was turned around in the IKEA and my super smart son pointed out the arrows on the floor that was the path to follow...go figure. No wonder I couldn't find the trail...

For dinner, we decided it was time to check out the next burger place we had on our list...this one is just a stone's throw away from us and almost right across the street from "Three Swords." It is called Surfin Inn and they have everything from hamburgers to Chinese to baguette sandwiches...and let us tell you - YUM! It was definitely a close substitute for home. We got take-out and headed over to picnic at Three Swords so the kids could play for a bit. Spencer and the kids had burgers and fries and I ordered fried rice with chicken and shrimp. Not bad at all! We had to crack up - this place is also run by a Chinese family like the first burger place we tried, it is also very small (slightly larger than the other one) and the people obviously have their home over the restaurant. Needless to say, we will be return customers!

Spis å leve, leve å spise
Eat to live, live to eat

Air Shipment Arrived

Ahhhh, feeling a little more at home today after our air shipment was delivered and unpacked! The best news, I found a home for everything with room to spare for when the sea shipment arrives! YEA!!!

The kids have already been out to ride their scooters and we even went for a short bike ride - me on foot, since I have not purchased a bike here yet. Then at dinner, I used my favorite pizza pan and my own pizza cutter (way better than the one that was here!) Definitely nice to have my own stuff!

The only big glitch - a nice sized scratch on the flat screen tv we shipped. And yes, it shows...total bummer! We are going to file a report and will hopefully receive compensation, but I didn't catch it right away when the guy unpacked it - don't know for sure when it happened...packing in Katy, when customs unwrapped and re-wrapped, or at unpacking today...kind feel like it happened at customs, but can't prove it, of course. It will still be fine for what we mainly will be using it for, which is playing the Wii, but still really stinks!

Otherwise, it was a beautiful day here! Spencer was in Oslo today for business, so he had a very long day - early flight out this morning and late flight back home this evening. He is so happy to have his guitar here now though! He could hardly wait to get his hands on it and tune her up!

Livet er bra
Life is good!

The Science Factory

Vitenfabrikken in Sandnes was today's outing. Otherwise known as The Science Factory, it is a hands-on "museum" with all kinds of science activities and programs. We really lucked out again - it wasn't very crowded and we had the chance to go to 2 programs. One was a chemistry demonstration, but this one was presented in Norwegian...despite the fact we could not understand, it was fun to watch the little experiments and based on watching, I had a pretty good idea about what was being said and described. The second one was a planetarium program. This one was in English and was called, "The Heart of the Sun." It was fun to watch and the kids enjoyed the planetarium screen!

Okay and I have to share...I was absolutely cracking up! There was a section that was about water usage and waste management...and one of the presentations was called...are you ready? "HOW MUCH POO?" Yep, I about died...there was a toilet with a plunger in it and when you pulled the rope, up came a huge brown (I apologize...) turd and it represented how much "poo" a person produces in one year...it also had demonstration of how much pee a person makes (for those that are curious...about 1 litre a day, so 365 litres a year) and then went on to tell you where it goes for waste water treatment, etc. I had to include the picture...too funny!

One other little tidbit...I looked the museum up on the web, figured out the map, and drove us there with only a little circling around! Yea me!

Otherwise, it was an uneventful day. Kyla was in quite a mood (and I don't mean that in a good way.) So, as it usually goes, Brendan was in a very good mood today to make up for his sister's bad one...

We are all looking forward to the delivery of our air shipment tomorrow morning! Unfortunately, Spencer will be in Oslo for the the day for work and will miss the delivery. But, no worries...I was there for the packing so surely I can handle the delivery, right? Now the question will be...will I be able to hook up the Wii without assistance? Doubtful...hopefully all the other stuff will keep Brendan and Kyla entertained for a while!

Depending on how long the delivery takes, we may also run by the school and see if the Parent Association kiosk is open yet. I need a few more school supplies and they apparently sell some of them there and Brendan also needs a school t-shirt for PE class. He has to "dress out" this year for the first time. That should be interesting...

Anyway, that's all for today...

lever le kjærlighet - live, laugh, love

Boys Get Haircuts!

Happy Monday!

Today wasn't anything amazing, but it did mean a trip to the Obs for a BIG grocery shopping - yep, 1800+ NOK (translates to about a $300) shopping trip! I am trying to get better about stocking up as I learn more about the foods here and what is available. Meal planning...thinking ahead...and for those who know me well, you know cooking is not my forte, nor my favorite thing to do, but the cost here dictates that we won't be going out nearly as much! Today, I purchased a few new things for us to try - fiskesuppe (fish soup) being one of them. I also picked up the usual stuff, spaghetti, frozen pizzas, hot dogs...I know, gourmet! We also managed to pick up a few more of the school supplies we need. It is strange here - hit and miss. You can't find everything at any one store, so you end up bopping around picking up one item here and another there. Very tedious...and we still don't have everything yet!

After Obs, it was time to get Spencer from work and head over for him and Brendan to get haircuts. The guy we made appointments with came highly recommended and he was great! Probably some of the best haircuts the boys have ever had! Leon definitely earned our future business! Now, I just have to get brave and find someone for me...I have a couple recommendations, but I am scared my hair is going to get screwed up - I wish I could teleport Don Nell over! It is getting close to time and I am seriously a little panicked...at least my hair grows pretty fast if it doesn't turn out well...

I guess the other news...our air shipment ended up in Oslo...ummm, hello? We didn't have the city name Oslo on ANY of our stuff...at least they realized the mistake pretty quickly. It looks like it will only delay delivery until Wednesday. Oh, and wouldn't you know, Wednesday is Spencer's first business trip...to Oslo! Looks like I will be handling the delivery of goods as I did the packing since duty calls for Spencer.

No new pictures to post, so I am sticking in a couple for fun today :) One is of Spencer's office and the other is a picture of the kids' school, ISS.

Relaxing Sunday

After yesterday's adventures, we took it easy today! My prediction about being sore is certainly a reality today! I think the kids were even a little sore - but mostly me! Definitely moving a little slower and inwardly groaning every time I get up from a comfy spot...

We did make it to church and enjoyed seeing some familiar faces from the last couple weeks and meeting some new people too. I will say we missed the sermon of the guest pastor that had been there the last couple weeks. Today's was okay, but not so inspiring as Rev. Howard's had been. SIC is in the process of finding a new permanent pastor, so it isn't always the same person delivering the sermon. I was approached today about possibly helping with Sunday School once a month on a rotation and Spencer is feeling the calling to do some music - his guitar should be here Tuesday with our air shipment!

After church, we ate some lunch and mommy and daddy took a nap...then, it was off to the swimming pool at the CoP offices. The kids had a great time swimming and played a little bit with a little boy and his mom who were also swimming.

We also hit the park with Dan, Sheila, and Ella for some playtime. We have really been enjoying their company! Now for the most awesome thing...a little boy came riding by on his bicycle and spotted Brendan and before I knew it, they were over there chatting away. So after a few minutes, I go over and say, "Hi, I am Brendan's mom..." only to realize at that point that the boy speaks virtually no English and I am baffled at what he and Brendan could have possibly been saying all that time. At any rate, we continued to try to talk to him and eventually I kind of wandered back and left them. Moments later I look up as the little boy is riding away and Brendan is holding up the boy's cell phone...I say, "Brendan, you can't have his cell, go after him and give it back..." Brendan is totally confused as to why the boy handed it to him in the first place. I trot after them to make sure Brendan caught up to him and find them around the corner in front of the building next to ours. The boy is with some adults, so I go over and come to find out, the boy wanted Brendan's phone number and I guess he was going to get his family to help him since he didn't speak English. It turns out he lives maybe a five minute drive away, but his aunt lives in the next building over and the boy (now we know his name is Tommy) likes to come visit his aunt. So, the boys exchanged phone numbers...maybe we will hear from him and be able to get the boys together - it was such a sweet scene to watch and from afar. You would have never known they couldn't understand a word the other was saying! The one thing they could agree on and the one word that Tommy surely knew was "friends" and he wanted to be friends with Brendan. Truly a touching moment to watch.

I am attaching a couple more pictures from yesterday.

We Came, We Saw, We Conquered!

Preikestolen, otherwise known as Pulpit Rock, was our destination today and words cannot describe, nor pictures do justice to it's amazing beauty! We left the apartment about 10:00 am this morning and drove over to the bottom of the hiking trail. The drive included a short ferry ride on a huge ferry! We started our hike about 11:15, knowing it would be about a 2 hour hike. Just how challenging the hike would be was a bit of a surprise! But, we soldiered on taking a few breaks along the way and stopping to eat the peanut butter sandwiches we had packed. Kyla was like a mountain goat and all but ran up (and later, back down) the trail. Brendan and I were definitely the slowpokes on this hike - we apparently aren't quite as coordinated! The trail was very narrow at times and it required lots of climbing and careful stepping. Along the way there were several beautiful views and lakes in the mountain. Brendan was starting to wear out at one point, but we kept pushing - we were soooo very close! And sure enough, there it was! The wind was pretty cold up there but it didn't matter - fjords as far as the eye could see in one direction and waterfalls and green areas in the other direction! Absolutely a spectacular, majestic, awe-inspiring view - truly one of God's masterpieces! I would say it ranks way up there with the Grand Canyon!

We stayed up there for a little bit taking in the views and even laid on our tummies on the edge for the ultimate of experiences - see picture of Spencer and the kids! Absolutely breath-taking! Before long, it was time to start our trek back down...so, about 2:00, we began to pick our way back down. After the climb up, we knew the climb down would be equally, if not more, difficult. The kids did great! Kyla took off and led the way, followed by Spencer, and then me and Brendan bringing up the rear. Spencer spent half the time trying to get Kyla to slow down a bit so Brendan and I could catch up! HA! Sure enough about 2 hours later, we made it back to the car! Whew, were we tired! Legs were like jello (and still are!) But, WE DID IT! WE DID IT! It was amazing and we are all so glad we pushed ourselves a bit - the reward was so great! Success is sweet and the sights fantastic! I am even more anxious to see the fjords from a boat in the near future on a fjord cruise for a totally different perspective!

A couple funny things...we ran into Mrs. Jones, Brendan's teacher, on the trail. We were headed up and she was on her way back down. Apparently, the primary school principal had taken all the teachers up today to do the hike up - how weird is that?

Oh, and the drive to the ferry and back...the tiniest road I think we have ever seen and certainly ever been on - some places were only wide enough for one car, literally! It was a twisty, turning road and so narrow! I am glad Spencer was driving today! But, when you think of Norway or see pictures, this is the road and the views they put in books - the quaint little houses, small fishing towns, a beautiful white church...

Anyway, we have two exhausted kids and none of us may be able to walk tomorrow, but it was a great day! Enjoy the pictures and remember, they don't even compare to the real thing! God is great!

Mexican Food Success

So...I skipped a day, Thursday, and I know some of you were disappointed - HA! Let me take a minute and fill you in on yesterday. It was not too eventful a day with the exception of the unexpected fire drill at the apartments...There is some work still going on in the building and apparently something set off the alarms. At first, I thought it was just our apartment and was looking for smoke - maybe the dryer or dishwasher that were both running, but quickly realized it was the whole building. The kids were still in pj's (for Brendan, that means underwear...) so I was rushing them to get clothes and shoes on because we needed to run down 7 flights of stairs. The elevators were locked down of course. So, we came running out the door and found out it was indeed a false alarm. Despite scaring the crap out of the kids, it was a good practice run in case there ever is an emergency.

The only other thing going yesterday...yep, you guessed it, a trip to the bank. They have supposedly figured out the problem, so with any luck, it will all be in working order by next week. Let me just say...it better be fixed, because Spencer is losing his patience and it takes quite a bit for that to happen, generally speaking...

Today, a slow morning turned into a busier afternoon. We were waiting to hear from the computer repair people because they were due to come today. The kids and I headed over to have lunch with Spencer as guests at the office cafeteria only to get there and find out the technician was coming shortly. So, after a quick lunch, we came back to the apartment just in time to meet the techie here - and...applause...he replaced my screen so there is no longer a line running down it! WooHoo!!!

It is another gorgeous day here, so once the computer was fixed, the kids and I started our walk over to 3 Swords for a while. It really isn't too far - maybe 15-20 minutes. I laid out a blanket and read my Kindle while the kids dipped their feet in the water, collected shells, and climbed around. It was an absolutely beautiful day - the sun warm enough to keep the cool breeze from being too cold. We saw a woman working with her horse across the way in the water and a couple tour buses full of tourists stopped to see the swords. We headed back to the apartment in time for Spencer's arrival home from work because we had plans...

Skip to dinner...after a little research, Spencer found a Mexican restaurant nearby and tonight was the night we were going to try it. Turns out, it is in the mall called Kvadrat, which advertises as the largest mall in Norway. We found it very quickly and we were so thrilled with the food - certainly success as it is the closest to Tex-Mex we could possibly get!!! I can guarantee we will be going there again in the near future! We then walked around the mall a bit and treated ourselves to ice cream before heading back home. The best part - we discovered the mall is only 15-20 minutes away and easy to get to! I feel a shopping trip coming on once school starts for the kids...just need a friend to go with to do some window shopping!

In other news...we received the package from Katy with the Nintendo DS chargers for the outlets here and the kids are in heaven...they were having serious withdrawals especially since we are very limited on toys until our shipments arrive...AND speaking of shipments - OUR AIR SHIPMENT IS HERE and will be delivered TUESDAY!!!

Also, we received the kids' teacher assignments today - Brendan is very excited because he has the teacher we met the day we toured the school, Mrs. Jones! We are anxious to meet Kyla's teacher as well. School will be starting here very soon! Only one more week of summer and it is back to the daily routine.

I am attaching a picture of the view from 3 Swords today - truly beautiful here! I still look outside my windows each day and think, "...Oh my gosh, I LIVE in Norway!" Who would have thought...!

Wednesday, August 4

Not much to report today...

I took the kids by the school playground in hopes that there would be some other kids out playing, but no luck today. Right by the school is a store I have been wanting to go in called Europris. It is sort of like a mini-Walmart (and I do mean mini!) and has a little of everything. I actually came across several items I have been keeping an eye out for, like an alarm clock and a paper towel holder, and before I could finish, the kids started their little bickering...it just got better when I walked over to pay and low and behold, the debit card wouldn't work...the clerk tried several times, but it was just like at the two gas stations and would not go through - never mind the fact it works at every store we have been in at the mall, plus Obs, several restaurants, and the ATM...so, I gave her my American credit card, but no, they didn't take that either and of course, I didn't have quite enough NOK to cover the purchase. So, Brendan was mad...chunked the bag back on the counter with a loud thunk (ok, totally embarrassed even more then before, because he wasn't being nice about it despite the fact I was...) and we abandoned our stuff and left. Needless to say, I was mortified between their bickering and Brendan's reaction, not to mention the fact that my card would not work and by then there were several other people lined up behind me...fabulous... Needless to say, Spencer called the bank and we should be getting a new debit card...

We promptly returned home and the kids spent some time in their rooms...Mommy needed a time out ;) And, that little event ended the possibility of me taking them out again today, so we stayed here until it was time to get Spencer in the hopes we could get haircuts for him and Brendan...which also included a quick walk over to the ATM for cash lest the card wouldn't work at the barber. So, we drove over to the barber who advertises that he takes walk-ins and was recommended to us by some people only to find out he is booked until Monday. So much for walk-ins... Now the boys have appointments for Monday...assuming Spencer won't already be headed out of town for his first trip to Oslo. I guess I will take Brendan regardless - his hair is longer than it has been in a while and school starts soon!

I was still a little edgy from the morning, so I sent myself to my room when we got home and stayed there and let Spencer handle the kids for the evening...I read my Kindle and fell asleep - a nap will do wonders :) I re-entered the family scene and soon after, the kids went to bed. I did a couple digital scrapbook pages and now we are watching Mythbusters - have to laugh, the myth is about breaking a beer bottle over someone's head...

As promised, I am attaching pictures of the kids' new bedding :)

Grocery Success!

So today was not eventful in terms of our outings, but we did accomplish a few things! The kids and I did our first big shopping trip without Spencer over at the Obs Coop. Since we had the car, I was able to do a bigger shopping to hopefully avoid the almost daily trips to the store across the street (where I can only buy as much as I can carry at one time.) I also found several things I have been looking for, although not all at Obs...we also did hit the mall for a few things. Bottom line is, I don't think I will have to get groceries or go to the shopping center across the street for a few days!

The highlight for Kyla - we found Hellmann's Mayonnaise! For Brendan, I finally bought him a can of Pringles ;) I also bought some candy with the hopes that it was like M&Ms, and they are, sort-of...a little bigger and a little flatter, but still candy-coated chocolate, so I can live with that!

And, as promised, we finally figured out the dimensions of the bed close enough that we could go into a store and know what size bedding we needed. The apartment came with bedding, of course, but I had promised from the very beginning that I would let the kids each pick out their own stuff no matter where we went. So...Kyla chose a red fitted sheet with a cute flower pattered duvet cover and Brendan chose a navy fitted sheet with a blue and white plaid duvet cover. I spent the rest of the evening getting them all washed so I could put them on tonight. They turned out to very cute - kids are asleep already, but I will snap a picture tomorrow and post it. I didn't see anything I just loved, so Spencer and I will have to go another time to pick out something for us. Speaking of the beds here...LOVE them! Very comfortable and we each have our own duvet, so no worries with cover-hogging! They are so soft and fluffy and cozy! I could just stay in bed some days...not that I do or that it is even an option...

It was another gorgeous day here and we took advantage of that by going for a family walk by the lake after dinner. We fed the ducks and walked the other direction from which we normally do and saw some different areas around the lake. We also found the golf course that backs up to the walking trail that goes around the lake. It is amazing how many bikers and joggers are on those trails...you really have to be aware and stay to one side as to not get taken out by a cyclist or get "dinged" at with the bicycle bells they ring if you are in their way! I always chuckle to myself...picture us in a single file line, or maybe two pairs, walking down a trail - Spencer in flip-flops and jeans (an me too sometimes,) one kid in jeans, long-sleeves and Crocs, and the other in shorts and a tee-shirt...talking in English as people are jogging or whizzing by on bicycles...I am sure they are thinking "...silly Americans..." Oh, well.

People here are generally nice and happy to help, but you just have to ask. We do have a new neighbor in the apartment beside us. He is also a CoP person. I ran into him on the landing outside the elevator and gave him directions to the store and offered to show him the appliances and stuff...poor guy came from Alaska and was exhausted. His family will be joining him next month I think. Anyway, least I could do - Dan and Sheila helped out Spencer when he first arrived - and it is nice to meet a fellow American that can at least get you started on the basics. It sounds like he and Spencer may be working together some.

Anyway, that is all for now!

A Visit to the Iron Age...

Ahhh, another BEAUTIFUL day in Norway! Full out sun and blue sky all around! LOVE that!

I tried to keep the kids busy today and totally lucked out - we started out the day with a walk over to the school. This served a dual purpose really. First, I wanted to see just how long it would take us to walk over, and second, we just had to get out because it was too pretty to be inside. It turned out to be about a 20 minute walk and once we were there, we decided to play on the school playground a while. We were thrilled to find two of the little girls they played with last week were there again, Anuk (sp?) and Caitlin! I also struck up a conversation with another lady there with her children. She has recently moved here as well, but from much closer - Denmark. She was lovely to chat with and her kids will be new students at ISS also. It is thanks to her that the rest of our day went the way it did...

Following our playground time, we headed back to the apartment for some lunch. And then, I decided to take the lady's suggestion and take the kids to see the Iron Age Farm called Jernaldergarden. And yes, I looked it up online, found a map, and realized it is literally a 7 minute drive from us! We arrived just in time for a tour in English. The guide was a young lady in period dress and she told us about how the people of Norway lived 1500 years ago in a reconstucted Iron Age Farm. It was a very interesting lesson that included the opportunity to make flat bread from dough and cook it over an open fire. I am attaching a picture - I took so many, but the view was absolutely breathtaking! AND, there was a definite reason for this view - it allowed the people of the farm to see the ocean and have warning if someone was coming to attack them! The kids and I really enjoyed it on this wonderful weather day!

Another cool thing, the family ticket we paid for Jernaldergarden was good for the Archaeological Museum in downtown. So, Spencer gave me hand on the directions and off we went again to take advantage of the tickets! What a treat! The museum was not large, but full of exhibits of the Viking Age. The best part was the interactive children's area complete with dress up clothes, replica shields, helmets, and even a replica sword they could hold. They also had the opportunity to try to make sparks with flint and iron, make wool thread, and hear a story about a famous Viking God, Olin, I think...and even better, Brendan and Kyla had the whole area to themselves and had the undivided attention of two young ladies that directed that area of the museum! We ended up staying for about an hour just letting them play and have fun with the girls showing them stuff. Brendan was very interested in the letter symbols from various ancient Viking languages and Kyla enjoyed trying to make sparks with the flint, which she of course stuck with until she succeeded.

We made it home in time to make a yummy dinner for daddy - fiskekakes, zucchini and carrots, and potato salad. After dinner, Spencer and Brendan took off to locate the barber shop that was recommended and Kyla and I headed to the mall for shoes for her and another run through the grocery store. After that, we headed down to Dan's apartment for the conclusion of our trip to the cannery Sunday - a sardine tasting party! Dan had purchased several cans of sardines in various flavors - chipotle, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and dijon mustard - and we supplied the crackers (we have found some here we are in love with and will have to figure a way to ship some back to Texas!) Who knew sardines could be so yummy! Everyone agreed the favorite was the chipotle, followed by the dijon - a close second. The kids enjoyed some cookies... :)

Tomorrow, we will possibly look at one more house for rent, but we are still strongly leaning toward staying put...

Sardines and a Not Quite American Burger...

Happy Sunday Everyone!

We attended Stavanger International Church (SIC) again this week and were again made to feel very welcome and were greeted by several families. This week we met another family who has been here for several years - and he is an Aggie too! The sermon was very good and put a new twist on the parable of The Good Samaritan. We also shared in Communion. One of Spencer's co-workers, Jack and his family also attended this morning. I did tell Spencer that I believe his calling is to possibly help out with the music occasionally and Spencer is anxious for his guitar to arrive!

Following church, we headed out with Dan and little Ella (Sheila had to work a bit) to the Cannery Museum which was an actual sardine cannery for many years. The first Sunday of each month they light the wood-fired oven and smoke sardines for sampling. It was very interesting to check out the equipment and learn about the process of canning. The kids really enjoyed a hands-on area where they had sardines made of rubber and cans so the kids could "hand-pack" the sardines just like in the old days! I am attaching a picture. They were so cute over there and fussed about leaving - "...just one more can..."

This evening, we ventured out for a burger and fries. Spencer had been doing some "googling" and found a couple potentials, so we checked one of them out - it is literally just a little shack in downtown that you walk up to and order. I have attached a picture. It had a 4 out of 5 star rating so we figured it was worth a try. It was good, but different. Mayonnaise is hard to come by here and instead they had a "hamburger sauce" so we tried it. Also the "salad" that come on the burger consisted of lettuce and corn. Yes, I said corn...and it was actually not bad. The kids enjoyed having a burger too. But, we are still on the hunt for a true burger joint!

This evening, we again had the pleasure of Skyping with family! The kids absolutely love it. I keep thinking it is going to lose it's appeal, but they literally push and shove to get more camera time - especially Miss Priss, Kyla! If they see someone is "green" they will place a call all on their own and then sit front and center to talk. I have to make them leave the room to even have a chance at talking!

Weather Report here - cloudy with a few showers this morning and early afternoon, but the sun came out to make for a beautiful evening with lots of blue sky!

Other observations (and hopefully I won't jinx myself...) - I have not even had a twinge of a headache since arriving here! AMAZING! All of our allergies are better, especially me and Brendan, and we have not had to take any allergy medicine! Oh and my skin apparently likes it here too (not my heels so much, but my face.) And finally, the air is so much cleaner and fresher here! Certainly these are ALL wonderful things!

More soon!