tis the season

Well, we have survived the first two weeks of Håkon working! It certainly has been an adjustment for him to go from comfy clothes to wearing dressy clothes (even suits and ties!) and for me getting used to not having him around during the day. Thank goodness for my parents is all I can say! He is really enjoying it though and is excited about the opportunities and all the new things for him to learn. The weather has finally turned cold here and we have even seen some snow! We just got back from Vancouver Island where we visited my sister Trish and her family. There is was snowing all day - perfect for decorating the Christmas tree and for Elias to get to know his cousins. Elias is very excited about Christmas - every time he sees lights on the houses or a tree, his whole face lights up and he says "christmas!" in a very sweet voice. It will be fun this year! I have been baking some and trying to get in the Christmas spirit. It all seems to be creeping up a bit too quickly this year...I'm a bit late with the Christmas cards, etc. this year and will be sending them off tomorrow so they will come eventually! Aksel is finally starting to settle into a bit more of a reasonable rythm at night to my relief! Hopefully it lasts. I have been so very tired. Elias finally has started to go on the potty every once in a while! He was very proud and tries to go even when he doesn't have to so that he can get a treat! We actually had a friend from Trondheim stop by the other day! Granted that he now lives in the States, but it was wonderful to see someone from the "homeland" and speak some Norwegian.

ah brothers!

brrr, it's cold out there!

Elias finally got a trike to ride - with a dumper on the back!

Decorating the Christmas tree.

Håkon has got a job!

Yes, Håkon has a job! It is truly amazing and way beyond our wildest dreams - he has landed a job within the first month of being here, the job is in Abbotsford which means no commuting (yay!!)and it is a job that is super interesting, challenging and a unique opportunity. The company is called Mana Corporation. According to their website, "MANA seeks to provide venture capital and management solutions to innovative business opportunities from around the world. We provide sufficient capital, resources and management expertise to break down barriers realizing the long-term growth potential of each opportunity."

Håkon will be involved in managing a company called Manalite. The actual details of it all are still fuzzy as this is all so new, but we'll let you know! Check out the link below to find out more. There is of course a probation period of a month to see if it's the right fit, for both Håkon and the company. Needless to say, this is all very exciting!

http://www.manacorp.com/?action=d7_article_viewer_view_article&Join_ID=189695&template=/templates/news_article.htm7

fall

It's starting to get cold now! Well, cold as in 7 or so degrees. We have had a good week. I have been getting to know some of the other mom's from Vineyard - and we've been invited for dinner/lunch a few times, so that's very nice! Håkon has been talking to some companies, so we will see if it will lead to something. Elias hasn't been enrolled in anything (the soccer class was all full with quite a waiting list) but we have bought him a hockey stick! He was very excited about that! We are trying to be culturally sensitive :-) Aksel is almost at the magic 3 months so I'm happy about that. Now if only he would start sleeping a bit better at night...he is still waking up 4 times a night so I am seriously tired. But he's all smiles and happy during the day, so that's good. Right now most of my evenings are going to searching craigslist (same as finn.no) for used couches, etc. Looking forward to having a home of our own!

Our first day with cloth diapers!! They work surprisingly well!

Håkon the lawbreaker

Håkon got his first ticket!!! Nothing too serious, he made a u-turn when he wasn't supposed to :-) but still quite funny! This last week has gone mostly to renovating and keeping the kids occupied. The bathroom downstairs is soon finished, which will help to alleviate the guilt of us kicking my parents out of their room! We have now checked out the Vineyard church here - our first stop in trying to find a church to call home. I found that I suddenly got very homesick sitting in the service, it's strange to be the new ones in town. I was invited to their womens biblestudy on Wednesday - childcare included! I think I like this idea! So it will be interesting to try to get to know some people and see if we will feel at home. I'm certainly looking forward to getting out a bit. Aksel has started to giggle now, much to the delight of anybody who changes him. It only happens when we take off or put on his clothes for some reason. It's so very cute! I have found a whole list of possible things to enroll Elias in - from soccer to dance to art to gymnastics. So I think we will try to do something like that soon so that he can get out and interact with some kids.

we have wheels!

We have bought a car! Rightly enough, it is not that new car that Håkon was dreaming about, but it is perfect for now. It's a 2000 Nissan Altima with lots of kms on it, but a good, safe and cheap car (Håkon was very good using his bargaining skills!) that we can use for a while. The strangest thing about the purchase is that as soon as we paid for the car, the shop called the car insurance people up and they arrived at the shop a few minutes later to sort the insurance out! So the car was insured, licsenced and ready to drive off the parking lot. Talk about the land of convenience! The hope is that it will become the commuter car and that we will get that newer car a bit later on! It's great to be able to get around on our own now. This last week has flown by. I'm not too sure why it goes by so quickly when we do seemingly nothing :-) Håkon has been helping my parents make a bedroom and bathroom in the basement so that has kept him busy in between taking Elias out to the park in the pouring rain (no other children were out, just the dog walkers!). Elias is starting to adjust to a life without daycare and is becoming more content being at home. It has of course, been a huge adjustment for him and I think he's finally starting to settle. Aksel is growing quickly - now he's starting to play with some toys. Fun to watch his development! Håkon and I are looking forward to start looking for a church to go to. It will be nice to hopefully make some friends and to establish a network outside of family. Next purchase - mobile phones! Hard to live without them once your used to them! By the way, our norwegian phone number still works (fast tlf), so if you want to give us a call, just use that. It costs the same as it would if you called us in norway. The joys of technology! Just remember the time difference!

The Car!!!

Elias getting in some reading before falling asleep!

Play time and helping pappa build a play fort.

Entertainment!

jetlag

We have had our first "proper" night! Elias slept through the night until 7 and Aksel fell asleep on his own after feedings - so we are a much happier family today! This week has basically gone to getting into a routine again, getting to know Gramma and Grandpa and making lists of all the things we need to do and buy. A car is definitely on top of the priority list. Haakon (writing on my parents computer!) is dreaming of a brand new car - something tells me the reality will be a bit different! Exciting times regardless. Elias has had his first taste of Starbucks! He was very excited to have some hot chocolate while we had some coffee!

Making waffles with Grandpa - almost like making waffles with pappa! Very happy either way!

7 bags @ 23kilos each..

161 kilos of luggage later, we have arrived!! Our trip went as good as to be expected with two small children - it had it's ups and downs and me almost in tears at some points, but it all in all it went surprisingly well. Maybe the last four hours on the plane when Elias slept has numbed some of the pain :-) We almost missed our plane in Frankfurt because the plane from Oslo was delayed - it was a huge relief that we made it, even though we were the last ones on the plane! And now we have survived our first night here. Elias woke up at 01.30 and was more or less up until 04.30 and Aksel, well, he was also up a lot..wonder how tonight will be... I of course was too exhausted during the trip to take any charming pictures of us during our travels, so these one's will have to suffice.. 

The boys sleeping "outside" in the sunroom - everybody thinks we're crazy!

My boys

My beautiful boys! A seldom moment of peace...

Sykkylven

Now we are half way through our stay in Sykkylven before heading to Canada on October 20th. Time goes by quickly! It has been really good to be here and have some time to settle before leaving for Canada after a hectic last two weeks in Trondheim saying  goodbye to all our wonderful friends and packing up our apartment.

There is nothing better in Elias's life than boats and the moment so a fishing trip with oldefar and pappa were definitely a highlight of the week. He's also been down the the dock to watch the ferries on countless trips with farmor, as well as a fun trip with Håkon's cousin and his family.

Aksel is growing bigger and bigger every day! He's starting to get into a resemblance of a routine and smiling more and more. He still has a period every evening where he cries for a good hour but if there's one thing I've learned as a parent, it's "This too shall pass!"