A new year...and new adventures

Hilsen fra Norge! Greetings from Norway!

No, we haven't dropped off the face of the earth...just wrapped up in our busy lives :)  I know, I know...2 months away from blogging and you were starting to wonder!

So, looking back, my last blog was our annual Christmas letter.  I guess I should take a minute and run through the highlights since my last ramblings.

Shortly after the Christmas letter was written, Brendan was given an amazing opportunity...as many of you know, he is quite into airplanes lately, especially commercial airplanes.  He googles them, reads about them, memorizes facts, points out the type of plane flying over (including the airline,) and his new favorite program is "Air Crash Investigation" where he has learned all kinds of interesting facts about various airline disasters.  As it turns out, we have a friend at church who is a pilot for Norwegian Air.  Would you believe (and this never would be an option anywhere else!) Kurt offered to take Brendan with him IN THE COCKPIT to fly to Oslo and back with him!!!  So, Spencer was able to get it set up and off Brendan went for an adventure!  Needless to say, we had one very happy (and tired) boy after his trip!

Now that was truly a once in a lifetime experience!  (I wonder how many times I have said that since I started blogging...?)  Oh, and I was instructed to tell you it was a Boeing 737-200... :)

In mid-December the kids and I headed to the states with Spencer following a few days after.  We made a brief stop in Katy to visit family and friends and celebrate Christmas before we headed over to Mississippi to spend some time with Spencer's family.  

All the cousins in Katy, including the little one that will arrive in the spring (thank you Aunt Vicki!!!)

We had a good visit with his parents and also his sister and our nephews.  

MawMaw, Pop, Spencer, Kyla, and Brendan

It is so fun to see Brendan and Kyla interact with Shelby and Cody since they don't see each other very often.  

All the 'Beard' cousins - (lf to rt) Kyla, Cody, Brendan, and Shelby

We made it back to Stavanger just in time for New Year's Eve.  Despite our long travel day and jet lag, we made it over to our friend, Celine's place for a NYE celebration!  The bonus...she has the MOST amazing view of the Stavanger harbor - panoramic!  And, I can say without a doubt, the Norwegians spare no expense purchasing and setting off fireworks and we had a 180 degree view of the non-stop show!  We ended up staying very late enjoying the visit with friends! 

School started back up and we set about catching up with friends and getting back into the swing of things.  Before we knew it, it was time for our next celebration!  Kyla's 9th birthday!!!  

After much consideration on her part, she decided on a party at home with 7 of her friends.  We had an evening of t-shirt decorating, foam frame crafting, movie watching, pizza eating, cupcake and cookie decorating...whew!  The girls had a great time and Kyla was one happy 9-year-old!!!  I, of course, was lamenting the fact that my baby was 9!!!  I remember so clearly the day she was born and her brother coming to meet her in the hospital!  Ahhh...

The girls..back row: Olivia, Abigail, Madeleine
front row: Anouk, Alexis, Kyla, Clare, Avery

We have also had our first snow falls of the year in Stavanger!  On Jan. 19, we had a little bit, but we found that was nothing compared to what we woke up to this past Friday!  WOW!!!  It started snowing during the night and continued for the better part of day.  All told, it was over 10 inches and probably closer to a foot!  I must say, getting to school Friday morning...well, that alone could fill a blog update!  I will give you the short version...we left early, knowing it would be slow going because the roads were not fully cleared.  But, as it turned out, we never made it out of the garage.  We park in an underground garage and the drive out is a one lane, steep climb.  After 3 failed attempts and a couple near collisions with the cement wall and the garage door, nevermind the fall on my behind...we gave up, parked the car and went for Plan B - the bus.  

So, we tromped through the snow to the bus stop and waited...and waited...and waited some more.  I expected it to be a bit late, but after 40 minutes and Kyla's face turning a bit blue, we gave up on Plan B, trudged back through the snow, and came in for some hot chocolate and to get warmed up while I considered our options...an unplanned day off OR Plan C...walk.  The guilt got the best of me, so we set off to school down the non-cleared path.  Despite the snow, the walk wasn't too bad and we probably should have just done that in the first place.  It took us less time then we spent waiting for the bus!  I certainly got my exercise, because I then had to walk all the way back home! 

Thank goodness for good friends because my friend, Stephanie S. called and offered to bring the kids home after school which saved me another trip there and back by foot!  I think I owe her... ;)  

Despite the crazy morning, the snow fall and everything in a blanket of white was absolutely gorgeous!   

The view from our balcony

Once Spencer and the kids were home, we decided it was worth donning the gear one more time to take a walk over to Three Swords - just stunning.  I love that place in the sun, but it is so beautiful in the snow too!

LOVE this picture!

Today (Saturday) was all about sledding, though!  We pulled the sled over to Stokka for a better hill and we all took turns in our little sled!  What a blast!  

Love the intent look of focus on her face!  

Daddy had a couple good runs!

And so did mom...

And...the winning photo of the day goes to...

And the sad thing is, they (my lovely family) let me walk all the way home with snow plastered to my hat.  No wonder everyone we passed sort of smiled and laughed.  I have a feeling I had something to do with that...

But, SO worth it!  :)

Whew!  You are now up-to-date again!  I will try to be better and drop in for a chat a little more often :)  

Hugs and love to all!