Thursday 30 October 2014

Carving Pumpkins



The annual pumpkin carving began this week. Historically, I help with the yucky emptying of the goo and Stig did the arty carving part.



I have now discovered I can do both - or at least assist while Tim and Tae design their pumpkins and help with the tricky cutting parts.



So we cleared the table, got the bowls ready and off we went!



Very serious stuff which needs total concentration!!







Tae thought it was very yucky but funny to get all the gunk out!!





Tim took a far more serious approach.





But, together, we all had good fun!


Sunday 19 October 2014

How We Celebrated!



Well, this weekend was not the event we had started to plan a couple of years ago.
By now, we should have been away somewhere exotic for the week with the lovely I & G. But I will add that you would never have got away with just going off the the Cook Islands with G on your own!! I think my and I's idea of the Maldives was much more sensible!!

But.... Just because you were not here to celebrate the big 5.0., it didn't mean the boys and I were going to let it quietly slip past.

You had an amzaing life and that is totally worth celebrating!


So yesterday we celebrated, for you and with you. The theme was to be happy (although that crashed a few times;)

When I explained to Tae that it was your birthday this weekend, he clearly told me the protocol. He totally remembered from last year - we buy sweeties and brus and go and have a picnic at Pappa's special place!

So that is where we began the day. We went to the shops, bought the required sweeties, brus and flowers. The boys took quite some time choosing the right colour. Although Tim liked the cream and pink ones, he decided that since you only bought me yellow and organge flowers, that the yellow roses with the orange tips were perfect.

When we arrived at your grave there was already a beautiful arrangement of flowers there. That would be when the tears started. It was from all your school friends - those born in 1964! I know we love and miss you so much, but that others remembered and took the time really hits home!

Tae announced he would sing happy birthday to you! He put his sweeties and brus on the headstone and stood there blasting out in his best voice the song, like it was the most normal thing in the world to do - this is when Tim and I totally lost it. It was a very sureal, yet beautiful moment and I know it would have made you smile.  I'm putting the picture I captured here as I really want it recorded forever - my little man, still loving on his Pappa!!



Being there hit Tim hard, but, it is better that he processes it out. Before we left, I placed our flowers in another vase and we lit the candle.

Next up was the fun part. We had agreed to each year spend some silly money on something we didnt need, but wanted - something you would do!

So since Tim has been researching, talking about and discussing options regarding the Bose blue tooth mini speaker, it was a great choice. It would also have been something I'd have bought for you anyway too:)

So off we went to the shop and bought it - Tim was really surprised and it made the day positive for him!


He is also starting to look more and more like you everyday at the moment (I know everyone else always have said he did, but, even I can see it now;)



He was a very happy boy - especially when linking it up to his ipad - I know it's a boy thing and why it was also a perfect gift! 



We spent the afternoon together listening to music through it,

The next part of our day was to make a cake - well, we voted for brownies instead.

I delegated to the boys. It was so fun watching them bake together - or Tim bossing Tae to hand him things!







We stopped a few times mid baking and did what we do best as a family - a little kitchen mini disco session. Normal? Us? Somethings don't change;)

We finished the day off with a take out delivery of pizza and chicken wings - I think you would have approved.

In the middle of the celebrations, Tae lost another tooth, lego and xbox were played, tea and coffee drank and a fire lit!

It was a good day Babe! Happy 50th birthday, I think we did a good one for you.




Forever yours
xox


Happy 50th Birthday Babe!


Cheers!!



Love you to the moon and back
Elsker deg
Sarang hae

Saturday 11 October 2014

I've Got it Covered!



Sometimes, you just have to just get on with it, have new experiences and learn new skills.

I have have mastered quite a lot recently.

Changing a light bulb that needed a ladder and very good balance, stacking wood, liasing with garages to fix cars and change tyres all the way to pulling teeth out and dealing with an abundance of boy issues. 

None of these I have had to do in the past, well certainly not alone, but they are now part of the norm. Initially new and unfamiliar things like that scared the pants off me. But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

A recent achievement I am proud of is my new oven!! 

A simple and tragic fact;)

My old oven has never been great. It cost a fortune, was a great make (Asko) and we did lots of research when we initially bought it. But, such is life.

It actaully stopped working a while back and my lovely friends G came over and managed to work his magic and got it going again (something about a loose button).

It broke again while I was away in London. This time I decided action was needed. I checked out a few online, had a budget and went out to buy a new one.

The lady in the shop was really good and answered all my dumb questions (Are you sure all ovens are a standard size? Are all the connections to electricity the same? etc.).

 I totally agreed with her recommendation.  
It was the same brand my MIL has, a good model with all the extras I ideally wanted and most importantly it matched my kitchen. 

But, it was a little more than I wanted to spend. So I uummed and ahhhed a little and explained that maybe I should look at cheaper models. Then the lady offered me a deal:))

She took 1000kr (100 British pounds) off the price. 
Result. 
I negotiated myself a lovely fancy oven - I am usually rubbish at this kind of thing. I did not even know that the electrical chain stores in Norway did this. - See I am learning all the time (skill number 1).


So off I go home, investiage and learn to unscrew and take out my old oven (skills number 2).


Then when my new oven was delivered I unpacked and put it in by myself - with the delightful Tim as my extra muscle power (skill number 3).



I then read the manual to figure out how it actually worked - yes it is a fancy digital thingy one! (skill number 4).



I must add that the oven is Ahmazing!! It heats up to 225c in 3 minutes and cooks food evenly. 

Please do not judge my messy kitchen or splattered hobb - I can now do domestic goddess and handyman - but obviously not on the same day;)



So this independant women lark is not too bad - I have a few more projects planned and some will need reinforcement, but others I will try to accomplish by myself :)






Friday 10 October 2014

Games with Grandad



Since my paretns were here, Tae used the chance to have new people to play his favourite game with. 



My mum played quite a few rounds too, but I didnt have my camera around!



The boy seriously loves his Tumblin' Monkeys!!



Thursday 9 October 2014

Enjoying Autumn in the City



My parents are visiting for our Autumn break. The start of the week brought wonderful weather.

Clear blue skies, sun and 20c.

On Monday we headed downtown to have a look around.

Tae enjoyed looking at all the boats in the harbour. Closely supervised by Nana;)






We then headed off to explore Bryggen.





Tim and my dad walked just ahead of us. I think Tim now has evidence that he is about to overtake Grandad in height!



We then went through the back alleyways to look at all the old buildings.






Another quick rest and we headed home:)


Wednesday 8 October 2014

Lost Tooth!!



Big -HUGE - Massive event in my house this week!!

Mr Tae lost his first tooth.



I do not remember so much drama surrounding Tim loosing his, but I am getting old and it was quite a few years ago;)

Seriously, we have been discussing the 'loose' tooth for quite a while. My gorgeous, cautious child was very skeptical about the whole teeth falling out business. We discussed it and moved past his fear and he was reassured everyone lost their 'baby' teeth and grew new ones.

Then we got to the hanging on a thread phase - I sucked it up, called Tim in for reinforcements and calmly explained mummy would do her magic and get the tooth, mummy had this, she would make it ok, trust mummy - or in other words, Tim would pin him down and I'd yank it out!

Oh bless him, he agreed and it was over quickly. 
However, then it started to bleed (as it does).....Oh no.. the trauma, the sobs, the tissue stuffed in his mouth (I am not joking). 'IT'S BLEEDING!'

So what does any respctful mummy do..... bribe:)

'Will ice cream make it better?'

'sniff, sniff, yeeeesss'

Tim quickly departs and returns with requested bowl of ice cream.

Trauma over - proud big boy 'I've lost a tooth and the tooth fairy will come' arrives.

So at bed time, we place the tooth in the special box I bought him (yes it does make it easier to find the tooth under the pillow;)



placed it under the pillow







and pretended to sleep!



At 11pm I went in to check. He was lying there completely still, looking straight at me with his big brown eyes.

I had to explain the tooth fairy knew when he was sleeping and would not come until he was actually asleep.
So tooth fairy watch finally over, he fell asleep and I could switch the tooth for gold coins.

In the morning the squeals of excitement were priceless.



He was a very happy boy




FYI - he recived 2 coins because Tae only wanted 'gold coins' and his big brother said that a first tooth is 50kr, but if I put in 2 x 10kr it would do;) 
Yes - Tomato ketchup and vinegar were used to get those coins that shiny, can I get some extra mama points for that!!

Wordless Wednesday - Sporty Boys