Getting Caught Up...

So maybe you have noticed and maybe you have NOT noticed but I've been MIA the last few days and I apologize to the few of you who follow this humble blog that I've not given you anything more exciting to read the last few days, I've had tons of ideas and I've thought about getting on here in the evenings and posting amazing entries...with pictures galore, but to be very honest I've had NO energy to anything other then work this week and barely that. We've had several women sick at work this week and so the schedule has been a little mixed and a lot of the kids have been under the weather so that makes for cranky and difficult little angels to deal with and days that feel like you've been hit by a mack truck even though you haven't PHYSCIALLY done a lot. However, on that point I will say, I have sweat profusely several times this past week dancing and entertaining crying or cranky children. Nothing like a "fluffy" American in desperate need of a touch up on her hair roots to entertain the kiddos. I was asked by one of my co-workers if I had ever considered the theater...I laughed and said, OH NO...not me, I'm too shy, this is my audience here, 2 years and under...they are just too easy to entertain. She told me I should consider children's theater and again I just scoffed at the idea and continued to do my jig with the kiddos...I've been trying to sing more with the kiddos even though I will be the first to admit I CAN NOT sing...but they can't sing either so to them I sound like a Godess I'm sure...at least I think that is what they think when I start singing and they stop and stare....or is that fright I see on their faces??? Hmmm, well, I choose to believe they are in awe....makes me feel better. I love how anytime I put music on at work or I start singing their little bodies start moving...it's amazing to me that without being taught to dance...these little people have the ability to get jiggy with it all on their own and they have so much fun doing it....their little shoulders start shaking, their heads nob back and forth...their waists start doing the twist and before we know it we are all doing the hokey pokey...

I took one little girl's pink fleece pants and put it on my head and pretended it was ears...I had one leg on either side of my face and I started panting like a dog and down on all four (my bad knees were crying out in pain- but all in the name of entertainment right?) and I scampered around the room after the kids. Several of them thought that was hillarious but then I met a little guy who apparently felt my impression of a dog was way to life-like and instantly gained a look of fear in his face when I approached him....I immediately took off the "ears" to show him it was just good ol' Amy and he calmed down and smiled again with a tiny look of uncertainty as to what had just happened before his very eyes.....one minute pink eared creature, next good ol' Amy.....things can happen too quickly for these little ones- I must make a note of that!!!

When I am singing I must admit I don't know all the Norwegian children's songs so I am learning along with the children and thankfully have the ability to remember quicker then they do...so I can begin singing like I've known these songs all along but occassionally I want to sing something in English and I rack my brain trying to remember children's songs from when I grew up. The other day, in my best Texas accent I could muster after 13 years here, I began slapping my hands together against my leg and singing, "She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes....she'll be coming round the mountain when she comes...YEEHAW! And let me tell ya....those kids were entranced...maybe it was the fancy dancing I was doing in conjunction with the song or the Texas twang or the big ol' YEEHAWS they liked but they were totally with me on that song...very funny!!! I even heard a couple little foreign "EEHAW" while I sang which delighted me to no end...Ahhh the simple joys in life!!!!

My baby turns 16 tomorrow, it's really hard to believe. I feel like I should be doing something big and fancy for her on her sweet sixteenth birthday but she got her present a couple weeks ago when we thought the Captain was leaving and she didn't want a big party, just a couple girlfriends going to the movie tonight and then pizza and overnighting in the apartment. When I see those MTV Sweet Sixteen shows I am grateful I don't have a spoiled ass brat like those kids...where everything they get is never enough. Sarah got exercise clothing for her 16th birthday....most American kids would be squawking for a new car or something...thankfully no one can drive in Norway until they are 18 and pay an enormous amount to get their liscence but I am sure there is luxury items here that kids wish for...Sarah told us she felt pretty spoiled, she had her IPOD, her computer, a stereo, tv, she didn't NEED anything else. I have said it before and I'll say it again, I have NO earthly idea what I'm doing with these precious lives I've been so entrusted with but I must be doing something right because they are great people. Even though they occasionally drive me nuts, overall I think they are super. Really not looking forward to the day they leave home and move out on their own. Not that I feel I'll miss doing all the motherly stuff....I hate cleaning up after them and telling them constantly do this or do that...but I'm going to miss their company. Miss our talks at night when I'm making dinner or we are sitting exhausted on the sofa...miss taking walks with them and the dogs...uff...but no sense in crying about all that yet...still have 10 years or so before I'm totally alone....I HOPE....but I now know that 10 years go quickly. When I first became a mom I thought they would never grow up....that time would go so slowly, but then before I knew it they weren't needing me like they use too...and I've now understood that as an adult time goes way too fast...it's only children who are lucky enough to experience really having time for things. I wish kids understood how lucky they are with that.

Someone asked me what breed cat Smokey (our grey cat) was and well, he's not any particular breed, he's a mix. We got him for free from some friends who have Leonbergers. I've never had a purebred cat before...although I once paid for a Maine Coon, but when it came to getting her the breeder started coming up with excuses and changing things we had agreed upon, then the kitten was supposedly sick and it was just so much back and forth that I said, forget it...and she gave me my money back and we didn't get the cat. But I'm very happy with the "bastards" we have....bunch a great guys here...as I said, all of our animals have such a strange and whimsical humour and these guys are no exception. I also am starting to think they might have magical powers. Often I let them out one door and when I turn around they are back in the house....I have no idea how that happens but then they go to the door acting like they want out again and I let them out and scratch my head....I'll let you know if I ever figure that one out and no we don't have a cat door...

While I'm on the subject of animals...as some of you might know, we will be having our first litter of leonberger puppies this summer. So prepare yourselves for tons of baby pictures when the little guys get here...but my point with writing this is, if anyone is looking for or knows of anyone looking for a large but loveable family pet and would like to hear more about a Leonberger puppy please feel free to get in contact with me. I have a website for the dogs: http://www.seapride.piczo.com/ and information about the planned litter is on there. Yes, Leonberger is a big dog...but with proper training you don't notice them as much as you would think...and they are not big barkers like your little dogs which in my opinion is fantastic. If anyone from Norway is reading this, I'm also looking for fòrverts to a female and a male puppy whom I hope to keep from the litter and I'll have fantastic benefits for whoever wants a puppy that way. So let me know!!! I have a reservation from Japan, Sweden, and Finland for a puppy so far and just the other day got one from Poland for a puppy from Birdy who we plan to breed either the end of the year or beginning of the next year...but it's still not too late to get on the list for a sweet little lion or lioness!!!

The Captain will be here until at least Monday- still no word about his visa...weird really but I'm not complaining getting to keep him with us. The hardest part is knowing he is leaving and it could be whenever...I like it much better when we have dates where we know he will leave and that is just how it is. I don't like this, it could be today...it might be tomorrow...everything is put in a way on hold and saying goodbye several times is harder then saying it once... But this is how it is married to a sailor...you get use too it and I must admit, this is the first time we've ever experienced this, usually he's gone when he's suppose to be...so this is rather unusual for all of us. He's restless also and wants to get going...so hopefully he'll get his wish next week. Then it will only be four weeks until he is to come home again as the rest of the crew have been out soon two weeks already!!!

It's snowing again, finally! I hope it snows all weekend and gives us 20cm or more...it's so much better then the icy crap we've been having. I couldn't get up the road to the house one of the days last week and thankfully the Captain was home to rescue me and the Nissan from impending ditch dwelling.... We have been dreaming a bit about a newer car to replace the Nissan, we don't dream too loudly in front of her though....don't want her to give up just yet but she is old and she doesn't have many years left so we are looking around for a replacement. Since we have the Chryser Grand Voyager for dog shows and such, we don't have to look for a huge car which would be financial ruin here in Norway but we do need something practical. We've been looking at Audi A6 stationwagons with the famous QUATTRO (4 wheel drive)....I love that word...Quattro... Also been peeking at Volvo stationwagons and yesterday I peeked at Mercedes and BMW but was surprised to find that their stationwagons didn't have 4 wheel drive, only back wheel drive...which thank you but NO, won't have that in Norway. Had an old Toyota Hiclass once upon a time which was a great old car....plenty of room for Amy and her menagerie of animals and children but you couldn't have a normal conversation when you passed 100km an hour driving on the road..because the engine sounded like it was working at full throttle...and going up a hill in the winter was impossible. I slid backwards I don't know how many times! We had an Audi A4 stationwagon once upon a time...the most expensive car we've ever owned- cost us around 200,000 Norwegian kroner and was a 2000 model. VERY fun car...felt so sporty and she handled beautifuly but she was too expensive for us in the long run and we had to sell her....heartbreak day...but she came to a good home and the Nissan came into our lives and has served us well since then but I'd have no problem going back to an Audi (only a bigger model) next time and financially it's better now so she could actually stay with us for the long haul!!! But....we wait....no sense taking on more loans right now then absolutely neccessary. My only request is new hubcaps for the Nissan, she's lost three of them....makes her look like she has a toothless grin...like she is ready to run for the border and cross it.....need to spiff her up a bit...

Well, enjoy your weekend folks...will do my best to update a little more often but life just feels a bit hectic right now...so hang in there with me....Today's photo is from good ol' Texas....their wildflowers are undescribeably beautiful!!!