Autumn afternoon at the beach

Today was an amazingly warm autumn day- +21c So what better way to spend the afternoon, but out in nature.. at the beach. We grilled, played ball, relaxed.. had a good time.

Circus Merano

In Norway they don't have a circus building in town with regular shows (like in Ukraine)- they have 2 travelling circus that come to the different cities, set up camp & have shows for about a week. Often they give discount coupons out at school, so my sister bought up some tickets when school started & we went together.

Merano circus- Terskiy brothers Rech-acrobatics

Juggling act

Vanessa

Lisa

Sifolinis & the death wheel

My white sweater..

"Hjelpeaksjon" for Peru

Since the kids go to an Christian school, they have different different initiatives they do with them through out the school year. Once a year they have a set project they gather money for. Kids from 1st-4rth grade sing in shopping centers or in town, and kids from 5th- 10th grade go door to door. The school raises an average of 140,000 Nkr ( $23,300) during that school week. This year was towards a school in Peru.

Vanessa (far left), Victor (back middle) near the parlament building

Patrick starts mini-kindergarten group

The local kindergarten has a mini-group: 4 hours a day, 4 days a week- and then open kindergarten twice a week. This group is aimed at ages 4-6, the last 2 years before they start school, to teach them language, social skills, pre-school. It's for free too.

Patrick started & from the first day loved it. He went around using his few words in Norwegian, talking & interacting with the teachers & children. They recommend that parents stay for the first few days, gradually leaving their child alone for a few hours, so get them used to it. But the teacher that he knew from before said that there was no need, he could have a normal full day the next day, as he felt at ease with them.

Since he started in kindergarten, he's been much more social in the playground in our neighbourhood. He goes up to children he doesn't know, starts conversations in Norwegian & really enjoys himself. His best friend at the moment is a teenage boy who just moved here from Brasil & speaks very little Norwegian.

Tusenfryd amusement park

We used our 2nd day tickets to Tusenfryd right after school started. It was a warm & beautiful day.. My sister & her son came along, so I was challenged into taking some scarry rides. I took one, but chickened out of the other one.

The spin-spider ride-

The carousel is fastened to an enormous pendal that swings back & forth. You are thrown 44m up in the air on each side at a speed of up to 115km/h. When you reach the top on each side, you are half ways upside down. The wheel rotates at the same time.
I didn't dare take this ride.. but Heidi, Andrey & Victor did..

Lisa

Victor & cousin Tristan

Vanessa

Vanessa

Lisa