Santa Party

The Christmas finish line is coming up quick and there is tons left to do in this race to the big day, so not a very long post from me today- sorry!

Today I’m working and then this evening the parents are arranging a Christmas party which I will go too. Should be fun, it’s always fun to see kids outside of the daycare/preschool. As many know already a child acts COMPLETELY different when their parents aren’t around…so it’s always interesting when you work with kids to see how they are with parents around and without. I’m also looking forward to dressing my fur baby, Bently up in a Santa hat and taking him with me!! Hey- kids are allowed and he is a kid…even though he has fur and four legs!!

Tomorrow work again and then Julia’s school Christmas program. THEN…FRIDAY my honey and I are going to Charlottenberg Sweden to finish our Christmas shopping and spend some well deserved time together. Kids will be alone for the first time and have complete responsibility for the dogs…..oooooooo yes, I’m nervous but I also have confidence in them or I couldn’t leave…and I’m SO READY TO LEAVE!!! hahahahaha…..

Have a super day everyone….Until next time…

Greedy Greedy Grinches and A Tree Of Love…

Every Christmas the local brewery makes a Christmas soda pop called Hamar Julebrus (Hamar Christmas Soda) which is REALLY good. I’m trying to think how to describe the taste to you, there is vanilla in it and I almost want to say it’s kind of like a ginger ale maybe with vanilla ice cream…and that might be off, but it’s so good…just take my word for it…

In the local newspaper this morning there was an article about a grocery store which had Sunday open (Stores are normally closed her on Sundays) before the holidays and they marked their Julebrus half price. Apparently people went nuts and there were extremely long lines, people were filling up not one but two carts with this stuff, they were stealing bottles out of the hands of others and getting extremely angry when supplies emptied. 27,000 bottles were sold in 25 minutes! This depressed me beyond belief and was just another example of how greedy people are and how there is less and less Christmas spirit in mankind for every year that goes. When Christmas soda pop causes people to steal, be angry, and go crazy…..shouldn’t we stop up and say- whooooooaaaaa Nelly……???

Then on my morning rounds reading blogs I peeked at the Chronicles of a Country Girl’s post and found Christmas again…check this out: Chronicles Of A Country Girl This post made me cry…without using money, an act of love was performed and not only touched the heart of the lucky lady who recieved this gift but also those she has shared it with…it was a beautiful reminder that Christmas IS still there….and it’s these small acts of kindness and love that give me hope. They are what inspire me to want to pass the same kindness and love I read about, along to others…to contradict the negative Christmas (or lack of) spirit that is out there. I hope this post touches your heart as well and if you’re really inspired you might leave Kate a little holiday hello in her comments…

I’m off to speak in front of Thomas’s English class about Christmas in America. I’m so nervous, he’s begged me not to embarrass him- something that usually just comes naturally but I am going to try really hard to control….and Christmas in America- geez, I haven’t had one of those in 17 years…I spent much of last night looking up information on the internet so I don’t make a fool of myself..ugh..wish me luck! Public speaking isn’t my thing unless you’re wearing diapers or have recently worn them…ugh…

Until next time my friends….

Pussy Cat Pussy Cat Where Have You Been??

Smokey was looking at me like, would you please stop taking photos and let me inside please? It’s cold outside….

I’m afraid I don’t have ANYTHING exciting to write about, it’s been a slow yet hectic weekend- is that possible? We went to the shopping center yesterday to finish Christmas shopping for everyone but the kids…it was CRAZY! So many rude people, ugh…the worst part of the holiday season…

I baked a coca cola cake and we had taco pizza and BBQ chicken pizza…so that changing my lifestyle and getting things on track…yeah….well, now you know how that’s going!! But it’s not like that all the time around here but it was Saturday night!!

I forgot to mention what I got for my birthday from the gang….a camera tripod!!! Now hopefully I can have clear photos when I’m shooting…I’ve tried everything, holding my breath you name it and it’s blurry usually….so I’m glad to have the tripod- my family is the best!!!

Today we walked the dogs up in the woods and met a neighbour, thankfully the dogs didn’t bark and go nuts like they do when we meet people in the woods, so it was a great walk…very relaxing and peaceful….the snow crunched under our feet and it was cold in the air but so peaceful in the woods…

Hope you have a lovely third advent Sunday….

Until next time my friends….

A Working Birthday!

A quick little hello on MY birthday!!!!! :-)) I’m heading to work in a couple hours but first I’ll be icing a coca cola cake I made to share with my little buddies at work and I also have stuff to make dinner to share with my buddies also!! I know I know, I’m making everything for myself, well, it would be a bit much to expect that my little buddies would do this for me or my work collegues and yet I want to have a nice cozy day since I have to work until five tonight!! So I’m making everything and I’m sharing….

Just hope my little buddies are not as messy as this little guy!! :-))

Have a super duper day everyone!!

Until next time….

Red Trees and Christmas Spirit..

Hello my friends, it’s me again…I have to admit, when I wrote my humble opinion about Obama’s visit to Norway I didn’t realize I’d be linking my blog back to VG, the major newspaper here in Norway who ran the article in the first place! I must say I was a bit surprised by so many new people commenting but glad I could give them a platform to be heard…we should all be heard at one time or another…

But as I mentioned, politics is not where I want my blog to go, so in order to bring things back on track here I thought I’d post a photo of some red Christmas trees which I found in a store display window at a hospital in Dallas. I was there in December 2007 when we all thought the end was near for my mother…so we spent HOURS in the hospital and you became very familiar with the hospital gift shops. This was a hospital mom was moved too when there was a chance she could have gotten a liver transplant and when they found out she wasn’t a candidate she was moved back to the original hospital which also had a sweet little  gift shop but nothing like this..

While this is beautiful and magical I think there is just as much magic and Christmas spirit in the following photos as well…

There has been some discussion about the spirit of Christmas on other blogs recently. Perhaps it’s a question adults have because we aren’t as wrapped up in the magic of Christmas as much as children and therefore further away from the spirit? I don’t know?

As an adult you have so many other thoughts and worries and you know Santa is only as good as the credit limit on your credit card and that as soon as the kids go back to school they will compare who got what and you don’t want your kids to feel like they didn’t have as “good” a Santa as the rest of the gang….that is enough to kill the spirit of Christmas don’t you think? It’s easy for an adult to say they don’t want anything, they just want to be together or world peace or something like that but everyone knows that a child would be crushed if they went back to school with some new socks and underwear while their friends had new skiis, video games, etc. The great race to keep up with the “Jones” family has only increased with time and that is an enormous pressure for any parent who wants their child to be happy and fit in with their friends.

Perhaps this pressure is greater the older the child is and when they get to the age where they start comparing notes….perhaps that is where we are right now with our three future hopefuls and that is why I’m writing this? All I know is that any other time of the year my kids rarely ask for things, they are really good about that and when you get them things they are so greatful…it doesn’t have to be much, just anything and they are greatful…but at Christmas you feel like if you don’t spend thousands of Kroner (or dollars- depending where you are in the world) so your kids can have the skiis they want or video game consoles it will be a failed miserable holiday. I am fretting that if they got one big present under the tree it wouldn’t be as good as if they had several gifts under the tree.  It just seems wrong and yet I go with this thinking every single year…

I hate when I see a negative thing in my life and can’t figure out how to change it…or maybe I know how to change it but I don’t- that is even more irritating!

I’d love to teach my kids that you don’t need magical red Christmas trees and tons of bling bling in order to have a fantastic holiday(even if they are neat to look at)…that the holiday can be felt and enjoyed in simple things and thoughts. That giving of yourself and your precious time is just as valuable as any skiis or video game consoles or any other high dollar item on the kid’s wish list- if not more valuable. There is a commercial in Norway for a large grocery retail store whose big campaign is, “The simple things are often the best things.” This is so true…..so true…

Until next time my friends……

Embarrassed…..

First of all let me explain that I am NOT politically involved. I do not take sides, I do not have favourites, I really honestly often have no opinions (that I care to share with anyone publically) about politicians. I also in no way want my blog to become a political arena. I have NEVER voted and many would say that is not something to brag about and I’m not bragging…it’s just a simple truth. I could also be told that I have no right to complain since I never vote and to be honest I usually don’t complain openly so this has never really been an issue- BUT……I can not hold my tounge any longer…

Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize and left many scratching their head as to WHY HIM? In my opinion (and apparently many others) he really hasn’t done anything to deserve it. There are many other worthier candidates out there who devote their lives to world peace, working day in and day out without any promise of recogniztion to ensure world peace who would have deserved this prize more then Obama. For whatever reason though Obama won it and the Nobel Peace Prize committee stod by it’s decision despite the controversial response by the world community.

However, I have to wonder if they aren’t just the slightest bit embarrassed by their choice now that they see what an arrogant winner they’ve chosen. In an article by one of Norway’s leading newspapers, VG, they are announcing all the traditional events that Obama will be missing during the peace prize trip. Things that have been a tradition with past winners, Obama will not be attending the following events; lunch with the King of Norway and the exhibition held at the Nobel Peace Prize center which has been made in HONOR of Obama himself, the traditional concert, and the children’s parade, and an interview with CNN’s Jonathan Mann who has interviewed the last 14 winners.

I am not sure if this link will direct you to the translated version of this article that I have read or if it will be in Norwegian, but if you have google translator use it to translate this article (if it’s not already) and read this..Obama cancels peace prize activities...

I was living in Norway when Clinton visited while still being in office and I do not remember nearly the fuss over his arrival as I do over Obama’s. It’s estimated that over 100 million Norwegian crowns will be used for security for Obama vs. the 69 million (88 million in today’s equivalency) that was used for Clinton’s visit in 99’. This is money the Norwegian people pay out of their taxes….as if they aren’t paying enough already!

I’m extremely embarrassed by Obama’s visit and arrogance over such a prestigous award that he basically could care less about- at least his actions lead us to think he could care less about it- I think the quicker this year’s Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies are over and forgotten the better for everyone…but I doubt they will ever be forgotten, more like remembered for the giant embarrassment it was. I just hope the Nobel Peace Prize committee learns their lesson and chooses a worthy winner next year so they can restore the honor this award deserves.

And as the great Forest Gump said, “ and that’s all I have to say about that!”

Until next time my friends….

Tis The Season To Be Jolly…Fa La La La La….

Yesterday we cleaned house and decorated…first of all, I love a clean house…just hate cleaning it…..hahahaha, second of all, I love a house decorated for Christmas! It’s colourful, magical, and warm…I’ve tried to take some photos of Eventyrhus decorated for the holidays and attempted my first collage with the help of my ever so talented Sarah beara….I hope you enjoy the photos, with a couple weeks left until Christmas I’m sure I’ll post more photos of our decorations, especially outside after we get the rest of the lights up. I’m pleading with Santa Claus to please bring me a camera stand and a macro lens for Christmas…then someone to show me how to use everything would be nice too, though I don’t think you can get people for Christmas? Can you? So I’ll just have to rely on finding a course or something after the new year…but I’ve pleaded my case with Santa and sure hope he’s listening…I have been a good girl this year….well…most of it….

 So far the dogs are leaving the decorations alone, tomorrow though we’re getting Redman back here for about a week. His owner has various things happening this coming week and we’ve offered to babysit…I can’t really say no, if you’re a responsible breeder you can’t say no…but sometimes I wish I could…just because as I’ve said so many times before I have enough with six dogs here, but I’d do anything for my pups, so Redman will have a place with us anytime…just glad Stig is here to help out this time…

Our snow is melting, which IS NOT a good thing with six dogs- soon seven- the snow is wet, yes, but at least it’s clean….when it melts, the mud under is  NOT clean and not fun to have in the house…wish my winter wonderland would come back…there is a dance you can do for rain, wonder if there is a dance you can do for snow and minus temperatures???

Note the adorable nisse couple with the candle in the top of this photo….Kelli at Mads and Kelli sent this to me for my birthday!! It’s still a few days until my birthday but I opened it anyways and I have to be very honest, while the present itself was adorable, the card with her extremely kind words meant most to me. I’m really not a present person, kindnesses throughout the year mean more to me then anything bought…but of course it’s fun to get presents…can’t deny that, just was so touched by her words…thank you so much Kelli, you are one in a million!! The stocking with my name on it was made for me by my mom and will forever be a treasured memory of her. Another thing I learned from my mom was hanging Christmas cards from years gone by, they are decorative and bring back many wonderful memories of people who have shared times in our life. I think that is something that is special to me about the holidays, it’s a time of memory, of reflection on people and things in our life, a time of gratitude for things and people in our life, and a time of togetherness….

Until next time my friends….