hot hot hot

It's been hot this week! It's been over 30 degrees this whole week - hot! So the days have been a bit long and tiresome - with the nights being even longer and more tiresome. To top it all off, Aksel has been sick with a cough and fever.. thankfully the weather has been slightly cooler today. We have had some fun in the midst of it all though! Yesterday we went to an "ice-cream farm" and enjoyed a cold ice-cream in the heat.

17.mai

Our first 17.mai in Canada was quite nice! We went to the Skandinavia house in Vancouver to join other norwegians celebrate their national day! It was quite bizarre to sing the national anthem and see other norwegians parade around in a "tog", some in bunad's, others in shorts..it was nice but it really made me miss the real thing. Especially the part where you can eat as much icecream as you want! But fun to be a part of it all.

Gramma and Aksel looking quite similar!


Aunty Doreen getting the smiles

Håkon is still in shock

Well, we have survived our first Easter without a week and a half off!! It was a bit of a shock, but it was still nice to have a long weekend. We probably should have spent it working on the house, but we spent it having fun with friends and family instead! So there still are no pictures of our room, which is still the only room in the house that we've redone..hopefully soon! Håkon is actually outside right now getting the base for the new fireplace ready.

We have started to try to do something with the lawn/garden as well..it's no joke having a house! My parents have actually bought a condo now, so they will be moving during the course of the summer. It will be strange (and nice!) to not have them in the house. I have just been so grateful for their help - opportunities for naps, babysitting and just having other adults in the house to talk to on those insane days.

We have bought a new old car! Ok, a new old minivan! Even as I write that I cringe, but they are so practical. And we got a great deal through Håkon's work so I really can't complain. The van is fully loaded, leather seats, built in DVD player, automatic doors, tinted windows...so even though it's a van, we're quite happy with it!

The weather has turned quite nice. It's even been in the low 20's! So we have been enjoying being outside a lot enjoying the yard, as well as getting to know our neighbors even more! And fun to be able to have Aksel outside a bit more without worrying that he'll get sick!

The boys are starting to have a bit of fun together. Elias is such a wonderful big brother - so gentle and loving. And Aksel just lights up when Elias looks at him! Aksel is spending the majority of his days hanging onto my pant legs. He's not really happy unless he is standing or crawling up the stairs, so I fear that he will walk sooner rather than later. He is about 3 months earlier with this all than Elias was, so it's a bit of a shock!

nothing like tulip trees in the spring!


straight hair, how weird is that?!

our minivan!!!

the outside of the house

crawling

Aksel has started to crawl! Life as we know it is about to change :-) he really is quite sweet as he tries and tries to go forward..he has been rocking on his hands and knees now for about a month and a half and suddenly on sunday he made the magical step of moving his arms and legs. So fun!

We have been busy these last few weeks redoing the family room. Painting, setting up our new couch, chairs, and tv stand. It is soon finished - so pictures will follow in a while! It is very nice to have our own space that is truly "ours".

Crawling

with Elias's comments


going for a walk


at a lake with some friends


an attempt at a family photo!


Elias really enjoying Grandpa's cookies

a wee update

This month has been pretty uneventful - but I thought it was time to give a little update anyhow. The biggest happening has definitely been Elias's 3rd birthday. It was very fun this year with him knowing what was going on and getting excited about everything! He's been very concerned about cakes (chocolate in particular), candles and of course presents! We had a family birthday on his actual birthday and a kids party on the Saturday - lots of fun! I am already enjoying 3's - his language development is quite amazing, he really picks up on things quickly and uses words very appropriately. Sure is interesting to find out what goes through their heads. The other day we were outside and he has busy wrecking a birdhouse. I told him that it wasn't allowed and that he should stop - he looked at me and said "but Jesus will fix it"! Hard to not laugh at that one!

Aksel is getting to be a big boy, which I think is fabulous! He now sits pretty sturdy, I can actually leave him a bit (with some well placed pillows around him), he has a tooth and his sleeping is getting better! There is still definite room for improvement, but things are better then they were. If only he would stop waking up for 1.5 hours every night! Oh well, it will get better as well. The biggest "yay" is that he has finally starting taking a soother. Such a relief.

Håkon is now finished his probation period and is now officially a part of the company and loving every moment. His boss took him to a Canucks game the other night, much to his delight! Hockey is certainly becoming an interest!

On the home front, things are slowly starting to change. My parents are now on the move downstairs, which gives us some mores space during the evenings. Very nice! Which means we get to start to renovate a bit upstairs and make our own space. It's nice to start to make a "home" and helps me feel a bit more settled. So things are going quite well all in all. Now it's just to get some nice weather and experience the warmth of southern BC!

Bath time!

Elias helping me make his birthday cake

The birthday cake

Happy New Year!

As I am sitting here at 6.15 a.m. and have already been up for 1.5 hours, I am truly wondering what this next year will bring. Will I get any more sleep? When will we get a place of our own? Will Elias enjoy his soccer class today? Will Aksel ever take a bottle? How many dress shirts will we have to buy Håkon? Or more importantly, how many pants??! The reality of being here is starting to sink in a bit and it is taking some adjusting. At least for me. Håkon is loving his new job and is experiencing lots of new and exciting things. I think it will take longer for me, but hopefully I'll get there eventually. The reflections of an overtired mamma are not that deep :-)

Christmas was lots of fun this year with Elias understanding more and getting excited about it all. I was completely overwhelmed and blessed by the amount of packages and thoughtfullness from our norwegian friends and family - thank you all so much! I think the mailman was wondering what was going on with all the special trips he had to make to deliver them. One thing that was unusual about the holidays was the fact that it snowed and snowed and snowed some more. Something that is quite unusual here - at least the the snow stayed around. So Hakon spent a lot of time shoveling the driveway and getting to know the neighbors! We almost couldn't get out to eat Christmas dinner with the rest of my extended family! All the snow made for a nice, slow-paced holiday. Håkon had the week off so it was lovely to have him around as well. The basement is slowly starting to resemble proper rooms now as well, thanks to Håkon's time off.

Aksel is starting to roll over now, although it mostly happens when he's naked! Fun to see the development. Elias just started his first football (soccer) class last night. Håkon said he promptly ran into another kid and banged heads really hard and then later got into a fight...hmmm...I think he enjoyed it though! A few days ago my mother tried to get Elias to sing "O Canada", to which he refused and said "I'm norwegian!" - I have no idea how much he really understood what he said, but funny nontheless :-)

A few people have been wondering what our contact info is. Our norwegian mobile phones are still up and running as well as our norwegian home phone number (fast telefon).

Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve - a tradition in my family

Big smiles!!

Having a long conversation with onkel Eirik and tante Lina

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

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.