Well, there is actually several things to chat about this go round...
I guess the big news is that Spencer has accepted a new position - a promotion - and it means we will be staying in Norway longer then anticipated! We are now expected to remain here until the end of 2013! Spencer's new job is called Sub Seas Facility Manager and he is looking forward to the new challenges and opportunities the job offers. It was a difficult decision to leave his current job - he was enjoying the project, liked his boss and co-workers - but this was an opportunity he could not pass up. We now, of course, have a few things to reconsider such as the possibility of moving to a larger apartment and whether we will do an additional shipment to be sent here. Housing is very hard to find here, so we aren't in any big hurry, but have asked the relocation people to keep their eyes open for something in this same area (Madla) that is furnished. I have to say we are all spoiled to our current location with the easy access to shopping, the school, bus stops, etc.
In other news, the temperatures here are staying well under freezing (in the teens for the most part or -5 or lower in Celsius) and the lakes are freezing over. They have actually declared several lakes safe for ice skating and such! We have actually already seen people skating and I expect it will be busy out there this weekend. Luckily we have had sun every day this past week but there is still a heavy layer of ice on the ground that keeps getting thicker. The roads and sidewalks are in pretty good shape still, but definitely a new experience for us Texans!
Kyla had her school Christmas program this evening and it was really very cute. It was Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade and they did a little musical called Robin's Christmas Sing Along. Kyla was a "dancing star" and she did a great job. We actually saw her blowing kisses to all her "adoring fans" at the end...yes, I am serious! She was on the stage bowing and blowing kisses toward the parents in the audience...such a goof!!! Brendan's program (3rd, 4th, and 5th grades) is next Thursday.
Our "sardine party" last weekend was a great success - fun and sardines were had by all! We actually 11 folks (3 were kids) and were able to catch up with our new neighbor, Nola and another COP guy, Z.T. who just arrived here last Saturday. They were able to join us and meet some of the others.
Our Monday evening guests ended up coming on Thursday instead, but we had a great dinner with Steve, Cheri, and their girls. They are NATO folks who will be relocating back to the states (Kentucky) early next week. We will miss them - they are a super family and Spencer and Steve really hit it off as did Cheri and me.
My latest challenge...boot shopping...the kind you might wear with leggings or a skirt - tall, black, sleek...(the kind we would call "hooker boots" - tacky, I know, sorry! I only got the ones that go to just under the knee instead of your thigh.) Anyway, it is what everyone wears here and I quickly found out why when the only shoes I had to wear with my nicer black pants were open toe sandal style...in -5 degree C weather. You can imagine my toes were quite numb after the walk from the parking garage to lunch downtown. Plus, we have a semi-formal occasion coming up for Spencer's office party, so I was really getting desperate. Okay, getting to the point, my legs are NOT shaped for these kind of boots. I already knew that, but now it is truly official. I must have tried on 20 pairs and couldn't zip a single pair over my ankles or calves. Finally, I got a tip - ask for "wide-calf" boots. Yes, they make them and in all of Stavanger, there is one shoe store that has a selection...of about 6 pairs. I actually found a pair today and paid an outrageous sum of money for them (almost $200 USD) but desperate times call for desperate measures. I can honestly say that is the most I have EVER spent on a pair of shoes! Painful...! And the really bummer part, they are only okay...I don't LOVE them and they are not incredibly comfortable.
Just where did I go for a lunch downtown you ask? Ah, yes, the COP Spouses' Network Christmas luncheon and gift exchange was Wednesday. It was a very nice lunch and lots of fun!
Tomorrow (Saturday) we are planning to head over to a place called Egersund for a Christmas market. It looks pretty neat and we have heard about it from several people so we thought we would check it out.
I guess that about covers it - I am attaching a couple pictures from Kyla's program. I will get out soon and get some pictures of the frozen lakes too - just haven't yet.
Cheers!
