More Christmas pictures..

All the boys: L2R- Tony (9- cousin), Tristan (8- cousin), Patrick (3), Victor (8), Vincent (5- cousin) & Adrian (3- cousin)

Christmas dinner: L2R- Paul M (brother), mom, Rosita (sister) & Andrey

Lisa & Sonja finishing dessert

Lisa

Patrick (3) with Ami (10 months- cousin)

Me, filling the cookie tray


Andrey with Ami (10 months- my sister Heidi's youngest)

My brother Danny

Andrey & Chris in HSmusical 3

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Big family Christmas dinner

All the kids..

back, L2R: Lisa (9), Sonja (soon 11- cousin), Vanessa (6), Tony (9- cousin), Tristan (soon 9) front,

L2R: Patrick (3), Adrian (3), Victor (8) with Ami (10 months- cousin), Vincent (5)

Opening presants: Vanessa (6), Tony (9- cousin), Lisa (9), Sonja (soon 11- cousin), Vincent (5)

Victor opening his presant

Opening presants: Victor (8), Tony (9- cousin), Lisa (9), Sonja (soon 11- cousin) with Adrian (3- cousin), Vincent (5- cousin)

Heidi (28, sister), Moses (Heidi's partner), Paul Martin (19, brother), mom, Jonathan (Esther's husband), Victor, Rosita (21, sister), Esther (sister), Adrian & Patrick

Rosita (21, sister), Moses (Heidi's partner), Paul M (19, brother), Mom, Jonathan (Esther's husband), Danny (brother), Esther (sister)

Our family Christmas dinner was on the 24th. After cooking & cleaning, everyone arrived at 5pm. We have a small place, but managed OK. We set up a big table for the adults in the living room, and the kids all sat in the kitchen. We had turkey, lamb, ribs, kotlets, salads, potatoes, rice, brown sauce, cranberry jam..

Then for dessert we had caramel & chocolate pudding. There were cookies, dates, figs, cakes, & drinks.

All in all it was a nice time together..

After dinner we opened the presants, & the kids played with them while the adults kept talking & enjoying the evening.

The night before Christmas..

It's the night before Christmas, in Norway known as "little Christmas eve".. I find myself in the kitchen after a long & happy day performing with the kids, house cleaning.. I'm marianating the lamb for tomorrow, making the chocolate & caramel pudding. We're having Christmas at our place, even though it's small, seemed the best. And it turned out to be a good decision, as my mom got sick last night & wouldn't have been able to cook & clean.
Doing last minute de-clutering & cleaning to prepare for the big day. My mom, brothers & sisters will come (6 of them, plus husbands & kids).. We'll be 11 adults & 10 kids (my mom's grandkids).
Busy, noisy, but nice!

Another Christmas performance

"Jingle bells"


"CHristmas praises"


"He's got the whole world"

"We wish you a Merry Christmas"

Today was our 3rd performance. It went very well, they nurses working there praised the kids so much & asked us to please come back again. We've had a chance to practice more in between, so this was the best show so far. After they were done, Victor & Vanessa went around saying "Merry Christmas" & goodbye to each & every person there. So sweet! After the performances the nurses have been giving the kids a little envelope & telling to get themselves something nice.. it's a nice little shinner prize for them after doing something nice for others. We don't take any payments for the show, just tell them that this is something the kids wanted to do at Christmas for others.

"Bjelleklang".. Jinglebells in Norwegian

Last day of school..

Today was the kids' last day of school til the 7th of Jan (because of some planning days the teachers have).
In the morning they cleaned their classrooms & had a movie & sweets (they're not allowed to have soda drinks, candy or sweets at school, except for certain days).. cozy time, as they say in Norwegian.

Then in the later afternoon there was the official "avslutning".. finishing. Singing, bells chour playing, cakes & snacks.. The 3rd grader's parents were in charge of setting up the snacks & cleaning after. It turned out to be OK, even though there were just 4 families there helping (there are only six 3rd graders in the school). Fun, as one of the fathers if really goofy & foolish.. acts like an overgrown teenager. The kids also behaved amazingly well.. We prepared gifts for all the teachers the kids have, this time I did it in advance so it wouldn't be a last minute rush.. wrapped them all up 2. The teachers all came & thanked us 4 them.

Now I'm looking forward to some slower days with the kids, Christmas, the performances we still have, and New Year's.

Memories

Micky & I- Christmas 1997


Me, Micky & Maria- Christmas 1997


Micky, me & Maria at the circus in Dnepr, Ukraine Feb.1999

Pix of me

My siter said that I don't post photos of myself,
so here's one that she took about a week ago..
on my way home after dropping the kids at school.

Andrey, Lisa & Victor off to Ukraine

So, Andrey, Lisa & Victor are off to Ukraine. They'll be landing in an hour. Since Andrey works driving the airplane bus with SAS (skandinavian airlines) he gets an 80-90% discount on flights, & their hotels. Cool thing! What would've costed 26,000kr for him & kids to fly to Dnepr, costs 3,000kr ($428 there & back). It's more expensive to fly all the way to there, instead of to the capital & then by train to Dnepr, but then he has more time there.

Lisa was last there 2 years ago, & Victor hasn't visited since we moved here (2,5 years ago). It'll be fun for them to visit their grandparents, aunt & uncle, & friends in the home. Lisa was so excited that she couldn't get off to sleep last night.

Andrey & I were up til he left at 3 am packing. So, I'm home with Vanessa & Patrick. It's quieter in the house, & will be a more peaceful couple of days. Vanessa woke up with pink eye, so no school. A long week-end.

This year's Christmas card

My Christmas elf!

Patrick (3)

Second performance at Langerud old folks home

Lisa (9), Victor (8) & Vanessa (6)

First Christmas peformance!

The kids had their first performance today at Kantarell old folks home. It went very well, they liked it & they were so appreciative of the kids coming to sing for them.

Kids singing

Lisa (9)

Lost of snow!

It's snowing, and this time it stayed for the 2nd day.. so pretty! Finally getting winter weather. The kids have been going out sliding- a blast!