Sea Shipment Arrived!

So it turned out to be a very busy week this time around! Monday was a holiday for you in the US, but not here in Norway. It was a regular school and work day for us. I got the kids off to school and headed over to meet up with a some COP wives to walk Stokka Lake. It ended up only being 3 of us, but is was a nice walk - much more fun to do while chatting - and a bonus, one of the ladies named Rhonda is a wealth of information and insight!

Tuesday morning I went to the first yoga class I had signed up for at the Leisure Fair. I really enjoyed it and despite the fact it is a bit pricey, I am going to continue to do that through the fall. I got home from yoga and was planning to go have a quick lunch with Spencer and bring him home as we were expecting our sea shipment delivery mid-afternoon, however, they called a couple hours earlier then expected and could be here in 30 minutes...I, of course, said "Come On!" Spencer was a little irritated that I couldn't put them off long enough to go pick him up. It ended up they were here within 15 minutes and had all the boxes brought up and unpacked within an hour and a half! Now, I just had to find a place for it all!

I quickly realized we are woefully lacking in closet space, so after some creative arranging and storing (and a purchase on Wednesday of a rolling wardrobe thing from IKEA and more storage containers) we have most everything in a place. Kyla was so thrilled to have all her stuff here and Spencer has already been playing Guitar Hero on the Wii! Brendan now has all his legos too! I had to pack up and put away many of the pictures we brought also because we simply don't have a place to set them or hang them...I did put out as many as I could though! It makes is feel so much more like home!

Still on Tuesday...we had Open House Tuesday evening at the school. It was a chance to hear about all the "specials" classes the kids take (art, music, PE, Norsk, etc.) and hear a presentation about each of their grade levels. I think 4th grade is definitely going to more challenging for Brendan and Kyla will move through 2nd grade without too much trouble.

I was so tired after Tuesday, but Wednesday morning I managed to talk myself into attending the "People Who Connect" Coffee meeting. This group was originally called the Petroleum Wives Club, but after many years, they changed the name and opened it up to anyone who was interested in joining. Many of the members are expats, but there are Norwegians that also participate. I am actually glad I went - there was quite a crowd there and I saw many familiar faces both from the COP group and from the school. If you join, you have the option of participating in numerous activities and special events that they are sponsoring for much less money. I signed up for a movie day later this month where they have arranged to rent out the theater to show the movie "Letters from Juliet" and it will only cost me 50 NOK (less than $10) which is a great price! I also met a few new people and exchanged phone numbers and emails with a couple ladies.

From there, I headed over to pick up a few more storage containers and that rolling hanging deal I mentioned earlier. Then, I headed home and went over to do some grocery shopping. I finished that just in time to run up to the school to sign Kyla up for a little after school Girl Scout group (I know...not a huge fan, BUT, most every little girl in her 2nd grade class is doing it and it is a little more casual here. Plus, I like the two ladies heading it up!) They will do craft projects, take short hikes, work toward certain patches...but basically all of it will take place at their once a week meetings after school on Wednesdays. Then, back home to assemble the IKEA purchase and continue to organize...we tackled Kyla's room too...

Thursday was my volunteer morning at the school kiosk and then I worked on Brendan's room a little bit. I rearranged the furniture, but I am not sure I like it...the rooms are so small so it is certainly a challenge! Kyla went home with her friend, Anouk, to play for a little bit after school. Brendan and I spent most of the afternoon dealing with homework...desperately trying to get him to be organized and responsible...and also letting him "fail" (forgot agenda one day, homework another) with the hope he will step it up a little bit. After a rough go of it, I turned homework over to Daddy...I need a break to keep my sanity!

On today's agenda...Kyla has her first dance class after school today - this is a neat deal, by the way! It is led by a couple of the teachers and the primary school girls are taught fun dance stuff by several of the 12th grade girls as part of their community volunteering stuff. It is a free class and many of the girls do the class, including most of her new friends! Brendan has soccer practice after that with his two games in the morning. Hopefully the weather will hold out for tomorrow's games! It has been a beautiful week here!

Needless to say, it has been a busy week here and we have had several nights that the kids' bedtime got pushed a bit...certainly feeling it today! I think I need to take advantage of the great weather and head out for a walk! Sorry, no pics today. Will try to take a few at soccer tomorrow morning to post!