Andrey & Chris

It's already April

2010-04-18T07:28:00.008+02:00

I've had a problem logging in to my blog, so I haven't posted since Janurary... and now we're already in April. For a little recap of what we've been up to:
The kids had winter holidays where we went up to visit some new friends at the cabins where they live. Beautiful nature & fun times together. We also took a little boat trip with them. We also had our family dinner, always nice to catch up with siblings & spend some time together.

I also took my driving test.. didn't pass.. sob, sob.. Determined to try again & make it! You cannot make any mistakes here in Norway (well, tiny small ones are OK, but 1 bigger one & you flunk), so it's a challenge.

Here are some pix:

Lisa & Victor's school pix

Love is..

2010-01-20T17:31:00.000+01:00

Love is very patient. It is able to endure waiting or being delayed without becoming annoyed or upset. It can persevere calmly when faced with difficulties. It’s able to tolerate difficult circumstances. It can tolerate being hurt, provoked, or annoyed, without complaint or loss of temper.

Love is kind. It has a generous and warm nature. It shows compassion. It has sympathy for the suffering of others, and it shows a desire to help them. It shows courtesy and cares about others.

Love is never jealous. It doesn’t feel suspicious about a rival’s or competitor’s influence. It doesn’t get suspicious about others in regard to a loved one. It doesn’t demand excessive loyalty.

Love is never haughty. It doesn’t behave in a superior, condescending, or arrogant way.

Love is never selfish. It’s not concerned with your own interests, needs, and wishes, while ignoring those of others.

Love is never rude. It’s not ill-mannered. It’s not disagreeable or discourteous in manner or action.

Love does not demand its own way.

Love is not irritable or touchy. It isn’t easily annoyed or exasperated. It’s not likely to become, or to make someone else, angry or upset.

Love does not hold grudges; it doesn’t hold feelings of resentment or ill will.

Love is never glad about unfair treatment that others experience. It’s happy when the truth comes out and it solves such matters.

-Skin trans 1Cor 13:4-6

Good health

2010-01-20T17:16:00.002+01:00

Good health doesn’t start at the doctor’s office—it starts where we live, work, learn, and play. Here are five top tips that we’ve compiled on maintaining your health.

(Compiled from Internet resources)

1) Eat Healthy:

Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains every day.
Raw foods are generally more nutritious, and cooked foods are generally easier to digest. Find a good balance that provides the nutrition and energy your body needs.
Limit processed and commercialized foods and drinks. Foods and drinks that contain added sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, preservatives and flavor enhancers should be limited or avoided. Limit caffeine and alcohol.
Drink lots of fresh, pure water.
In some parts of the world, food—particularly produce—is not as nutritious as it used to be, due to the commercialization of the farming process. You may want to consider supplementing your healthy diet with a good quality multivitamin that provides the extra nutrients needed to maintain health.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight raises many health risks. Eat healthy foods and maintain an active lifestyle to keep your weight in check. [See the "Healthy Living" Letters for more details on eating right.]

2) Be active:
Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health.

Incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Include exercises and activities that raise your breathing and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles.
Help kids and teens exercise for at least one hour a day. Include activities that raise their breathing and heart rates and that strengthen their muscles and bones.

3) Protect yourself:
Wash hands frequently, habitually, consistently, with soap and water, to stop the spread of germs.
Wear helmets, seat belts, and insect repellent when appropriate.
Protect yourself from the sun. In addition to wearing appropriate clothing and hats, and sunscreen when necessary, don’t stay in the sun for too long.
Avoid smoking and breathing second-hand smoke.
Build healthy and loving relationships with family and friends.
Be ready for emergencies. Make a supply kit. Make a plan. Be informed.

4) Manage stress:
Balance work, home, spiritual life, and play.
Get support from family and friends.
Stay positive.
Take time to relax.
Make love. People who have sex at least twice a week get a protective boost in their immune systems.
Get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Make sure kids get more, based on their age.
Get help or counseling if needed.

5) Get medical checkups when needed:
Seek medical counsel if you have persistent pain, ongoing sickness, notice worrisome changes in your body, or have problems with medicine. Listen to your body; don’t just let things go.
Know your family’s medical histories.
Research or ask your doctor how you can lower your chances for health problems, based on your lifestyle and personal and family health histories.
Be informed of what exams and tests you need and when to get them. This includes regular dental, eye, and general physical checkups.

Happy New Year's!

2009-12-31T23:12:00.001+01:00

Happy New Year everyone!!

Christmas reading

2009-12-22T13:00:00.002+01:00

It was just a few days before Christmas, and a young priest in a small town on the eastern plains of Colorado was building a nativity scene for the church, up front near the altar.

He was busying himself with pine boughs late that afternoon and could not see the door, but heard the squeak as the door opened. As he peered over the branches, he could see a small boy enter, poorly dressed against the biting cold.

The young boy quickly moved to an old steam radiator to warm himself. After the sting of the cold had left his hands and face, he looked around the church, and his eyes came to rest on the nativity scene.

The young priest, fearful that he might frighten the lad, remained motionless behind the scene that housed the miniature child Jesus, and the rest of the familiar faces of the manger.

After satisfying himself that he was alone, the youngster approached the manger scene and stood before it, looking down on the babe in the crib. The priest, still hidden, was watching intently.

Finally the boy spoke: “You’re poor too. You don’t look like You will get any toys for Christmas either.”

A tear trickled down the face, reddened with the warmth of the church after the hurt of the cold. “You know what I want for Christmas, more than anything else in the world,” the boy told the infant Jesus. “A toy army Jeep, with a real driver in the seat. Any kind will do, but it has to have a soldier driving it or it won’t be any good.”

The priest’s heart was touched. His was a poor parish, but he didn’t recognize this young boy, and certainly by the looks of his clothes, there wouldn’t be any money for toys, and little for food, in his home.

“I’ll bet You can get me that toy Jeep with its soldier driver. I’ll come back tomorrow at the same time and see You again.” And with that the boy left the church and went out into the cold.

The priest finished his work on the manger, but his thoughts were on the boy and his request. A toy Jeep wouldn’t be hard to find, but one with a soldier driver—that would be a tough assignment! And the boy was firm. It had to have a soldier driver. “Well, it’s worth a try,” the priest thought. “I’ll look in all the toy departments in town.”

It was a small town, and the priest went into every store he could find, but found no toy Jeep with a soldier driver. He drove to a neighboring town, and after much searching, his heart was filled with relief; he found a toy Jeep with a soldier driver.

Early the next morning, the priest made his way from the rectory to the church, holding his coat tightly around him. His thoughts turned to the young boy. “What was his home like? Did it ever have heat?” The thoughts troubled him, but as he clutched the toy Jeep with its soldier driver in his gloved hand, he felt relieved. “At least the infant Jesus will have His gift for him.”

The priest carefully placed the toy Jeep with its soldier driver next to the crib where the infant Jesus lay, and arranged the candle display so that there would be light upon the olive drab toy.

The priest went about his day, and later in the afternoon again hid himself behind the manger to await the boy. Minutes passed into an hour, and the priest became discouraged. “Maybe the boy lost his faith,” he thought. The old radiator hissed out its sound of heat, and again the priest’s thoughts turned to the boy’s ragged unsuitable coat to hold out the biting Colorado cold.

Darkness began to spread throughout the church, and only the warm glow of the candles lit the pews. The priest thought of turning on the lights, but dispelled the idea, thinking any minute the boy would appear.

Suddenly, the hinges groaned and squeaked, and the young boy appeared at the back of the church. Once again he went to the radiator to warm himself, and as he held out his hands to its warmth he let his eyes become accustomed to the dark. Finally, satisfying himself that he was alone, he approached the manger scene.

The priest was breathless with anxiety, and as he came close, and the candle by the manger lit his face, the priest saw the magic of Christmas come alive in the boy’s eyes.

“I knew You could find it!” the boy exclaimed. “It’s just what I wanted, a toy Jeep with a real soldier driver!” A slight cloud appeared in his face. “But, I don’t have anything to give You.” He said, “Maybe I’ll find something for You at home.” He turned and walked down the aisle. Then suddenly he paused and then turned back, clutching the Jeep tightly in one hand but holding something hidden in the other. He walked back to the manger scene and placed an object in the crib with the Infant Jesus, and merely said, “I’ll share with You, Merry Christmas”—and left the church.

The dim light failed to let the priest see what the boy had shared with the Infant Jesus. But after the squeaky door closed behind the boy, he walked around to the front of the manger, and what he saw in the crib, put there by the boy, brought tears to his eyes.

The boy had placed in the crib with the Infant Jesus the part of his toy that made it so special—the soldier driver.

A true story? Yes, it was a homily I heard from a young priest at a Christmas midnight mass in Colorado two years ago. I’m sure he said it better than my attempt at writing it. You see, he authenticated the story. He ended the story by simply holding up the toy soldier. He had saved it since that cold December day.

It's a wonderful life

2009-12-18T21:22:00.003+01:00

One of my all-time favourite Christmas movies is "It's a wonderful life". Saw it growing up, then went about 12 years before I saw it again. Such a classic!

A Christmas post

2009-12-18T16:25:00.002+01:00

Before the ice is in the pools,
Before the skaters go,
Or any cheek at nightfall
Is tarnished by the snow,
Before the fields have finished,
Before the Christmas tree,
Wonder upon wonder
Will arrive to me!
—Emily Dickinson

Whatever else be lost among the years,
Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing;
Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears,
Let us hold close one day, remembering
Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men.
Let us get back our childlike faith again.
—Grace Noll Crowell

Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.
—Oren Arnold

Christmas snow

2009-12-15T21:14:00.005+01:00

Just when we thought we could forget about snow for Christmas.. it started snowing. We woke to a white blanket. This wasn't the first snow of the year, I looked back at my pictures, and we actually had some on the 5th of Nov, but it melted the same day as it fell. So this is a happy surprise, and makes it really feel like Christmas.

Pizza & Mr. & Mrs. Santa

2009-12-15T21:09:00.002+01:00

The kids & I were in town getting some things, and it got late, so we stopped for pizza at a little foreign place we've been to before. The pizza is good, and for a really nice price. Across the street Mr. & Mrs. Santa "stood" outside the shop.

Playstation zombie

2009-12-15T21:06:00.002+01:00

They have plastation 2 & 3 at the library, so when I take the kids there, the boys will often sit & play, after taking a short trip down the isles of books to choose something. Here's Patrick totally into the game.

Christmas decorating

2009-12-15T20:57:00.005+01:00

It's usually not long after Victor's birthday (22nd Nov) that we bring up the decorations, tree, manger scene & start decorating the house. Here are some pix of the kids and the decorations.

Lighting of the Christmas tree

2009-12-15T20:49:00.003+01:00

On the first Advent week-end, most neighbourhoods put up the lights on the neighbourhoods Christmas tree. Here they put on music, Santa came & gave out goodie bags to all the kids.. and then people stood around talking. It's a cozy little tradition.

Victor's 9th birthday!!

2009-12-15T20:47:00.001+01:00

Strawberry cream cake, just because

2009-12-15T20:40:00.003+01:00

Someone gave us some strawberries, so we had strawberry cream cake. It's easy to put together.. yes, put together. Here you can buy the cake already sliced into 3 layers, you put cream & strawberry jam between each layer, and strawberries on top. And, vuala.. done!

Vanessa at the hair dresser

2009-12-15T20:36:00.003+01:00

Here in the autumn and spring hairdressers need models for their students to practice on. Then the haircuts are for free, or for a big discount. Vanessa got a hair cut & some lighter stripes done. She loved all the pampering!

To Andrey- happy father's day

2009-11-08T13:29:00.004+01:00

To Dad From Mom on Father's Day
I'm sure, like me, you often feel
When all is said and done
The job of raising kids today
Is not an easy one.

I'm glad you're there beside me
To counsel and advise
And help me find the answers
To their never ending "whys?"

I'd be lost without your shoulders
So much broader than my own
To lean upon when problems
Seem to big to solve alone.
As long as we're together
We can weather storm and strife
And take in stride the ups and downs
That go with family life.

And someday when our little ones
Are old enough to stand
Straight and tall without the need
Of any helping hand -

We won't recall how hard it was
We'll just be proud and glad
We happened to be chosen
For the roles of Mom and Dad!

Happy Fathers day!

2009-11-08T12:32:00.003+01:00
Who's the Boss?
While having their evening dinner together, a little girl looked up at her father and asked, "Daddy, you're the boss in our family, right?" The father was very pleased to hear it and confidently replied, "Yes my little princess." The girl then continued, "That's because mommy put you in charge, right?"

The Drink Of Water
A small boy is sent to bed by his father.
Five minutes later...."Da-ad...."
"What?"
"I'm thirsty. Can you bring a drink of water?"
"No. You had your chance. Lights out."
Five minutes later:"Da-aaaad....."
"WHAT?"
"I'm THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??"
"I told you NO!" If you ask again, I'll have to spank you!!"
Five minutes later......"Daaaa-aaaad....."
"WHAT!"
"When you come in to spank me, can you bring a drink of water?"

Today nearly 100 years have elapsed since the first father's Day was celebrated. Fathers of 1900 didn't have it nearly as good as fathers of today; but they did have a few advantages:
In 1900, fathers prayed their children would learn English.
Today, fathers pray their children will speak English.

In 1900, a father's horsepower meant his horses.
Today, it's the size of his minivan.

In 1900, if a father put a roof over his family's head, he was a success. Today, it takes a roof, deck, pool, and 4-car garage. And that's just the vacation home.

In 1900, a father waited for the doctor to tell him when the baby arrived. Today, a father must wear a smock, know how to breathe, and make sure film is in the video camera.

In 1900, fathers passed on clothing to their sons. Today, kids wouldn't touch Dad's clothes if they were sliding naked down an icicle.

In 1900, fathers could count on children to join the family business. Today, fathers pray their kids will soon come home from college long enough to teach them how to work the computer and set the VCR.

In 1900, a father smoked a pipe.
If he tries that today, he gets sent outside after a lecture on throat cancer.

In 1900, fathers shook their children gently and whispered, "Wake up, it's time for school."
Today, kids shake their fathers violently at 4 a.m., shouting: "Wake up, it's time for baseball practice."

In 1900, a father came home from work to find his wife and children at the supper table.
Today, a father comes home to a note: "Jimmy's at baseball, Cindy's at gymnastics, I'm at adult-Ed, Pizza in fridge."

In 1900, fathers and sons would have heart-to-heart conversations

while fishing in a stream.
Today, fathers pluck the headphones off their sons' ears and shout, "WHEN YOU HAVE A

The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get. -Tim Russert

My borcht recipe

2009-11-03T12:32:00.004+01:00

I lived in Ukraine for 11 years, and so I learned to make borcht. The one I make now evolved from many different ones I was shown how to make, and from personal experimenting. I am happy to have had so many people show me their variation.

Ingredients:
Makes a medium size pot (6 liters)
1 kg of beef w/ bone (or 2 big chicken legs)
1/2 cup white beans (soak for 2-3 hours)
1 big beet root
5 medium potatoes
1 big carrot
1 big onion
1/2 medium head cabbage
1/2 big red bell pepper
2 bay leaves
3 peppercorns
3 spoons tomato paste
1 can crushed tomato (or equivalent is chopped fresh tomatoes)
5 heads garlic (you can use less)
100 grams salted salo (pig fat)
dill
1 cup sour cream

Cut the meat into pieces, put them in the pot & fill with water. Put it on high heat til it starts to boil, then lower the heat. Skim off any foam from the surface. Add beans & cover to cook for @ 30 min. Peel the beet, cut in half & put into the pot. Continue cooking.

Take the beets out after @ 30 min (the meat can just continue to cook on low heat). Put on a plate to cool off, while you peel & grate the carrot, chop onion, thinkly slice bell pepper, and 3 heards of garlic. Fry with sunflower or vegetable oil til the onions are done. Take the frying pan off the heat. Grate the beets & add to the frying pan. Put back on the heat & fry together, adding the tomato paste and crushed tomatoes (or fresh tomatoes). Put all of this into the pot.

Peel potatoes & add to pot, add bay leaves. Fill a little water in the pot if necessary (the soup level at this point should be about 5 cm from the top of the pot). Thinly slice the cabbage (thinly!), add in the pot. Slow cook about 7 min. Turn off the heat (check first that the potatoes are cooked).

Now the final finishing touch. Cut the salted salo into tiny cubes. Chop the remaining 2 heads of garlic and the dill. Grind together. Add to cooked borcht. Wait 10 min. Now it's ready to serve. Add a spoon of sour cream to your bowl of borcht. Serve bread along side.
Enjoy!

Trick or treat?

2009-10-31T18:41:00.001+01:00

Autumn colors

2009-10-31T18:04:00.003+01:00

GPS detour

2009-10-31T17:50:00.004+01:00
When going to visit my mom's aunt at her old folks home, we used he GPS. We were sent on a big detour on a small dirt road for 20 km.

Autumn afternoon at the beach

2009-09-10T10:22:00.004+02:00
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

2009-09-10T10:12:00.006+02:00
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

2009-09-10T10:04:00.003+02:00

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

2009-09-10T09:54:00.002+02:00

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

2009-09-10T09:36:00.004+02:00
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

Back to school

2009-08-18T13:00:00.002+02:00
1st day of school

Shopping for school things

Haircuts

Things I did this summer

2009-08-18T12:47:00.006+02:00

1. Learned to drive
2. Patrick learned to ride a bike without training wheels
3. Swam more this year than any other
4. Went to the beach every day for 4 weeks
5. Tried sushi
6. Had a visit from Peter (haven't seen him in 9 years)
7. Went to Bø & stayed at a summer house there
8. Stayed on the island of Oscarsborg
9. celebrated 6 birthdays (in my family)
10. went on a scarry ride at Tusenfryd amusement park

my 30th birthday- July 24th

2009-08-18T12:36:00.005+02:00
I tried Sushi for the 1st time on my birthday. We stayed in & had sushi & beer & movies. I loved it, especially the kimbap (the rolled ones).

Then on the week-end my siblings & mom came over to our place for cakes & coffe. I got some nice presants (products for hair & skin, dior mascara, perfume, & more).

My mom & sister Heidi's presant to me was a cut & highlights. I went for blond ones, as they're are the hardest to get when you do it yourself. I was very happy with the final product.

Mom's birthday- 15th July

2009-08-18T12:20:00.003+02:00
We celebrated my mom's birthday at our place.. all the adults came (my brothers & sisters, as well as Sherry of Santiago) for snacks, cakes & drinks. My sister Heidi & us put in for my mom to get a cut & highlights, & some of the others put in for a massage for her.

Paul M (soon 20), Esther (soon 33), Jamie (16), me (30), Rosita (21) & Heidi (29)

Sherry, me

Jamie, Paul M, Rosita & Heidi

Esther, Jonathan, Danny (24) & Andrey

Jonathan & Esther, mom, Rosita, me, Andrey, Heidi, Jamie & Paul M

me

Beach

2009-08-18T12:02:00.006+02:00
We had 3 very nice & hot weeks in mid/end June, so the fjord had a chance to warm up. Then later, when the weather was crappy & the temperature stayed about 18/20c.. the water was still warm enough to swim. So, rain or shine, we were at the beach enjoying the water.

Patrick surfing & playing with the waves

me

me, Lisa

Andrey

Victor

Patrick & Lisa

Father & son.. Patrick & Andrey

Lisa, Vanessa & Patrick

Patrick surfing

Hvervenbukta on a rainy day.. only us there

Patrick relaxing

Vanessa sunbathing

Ingerstrand beach

me on the raft

Bø i sommarland

2009-08-18T09:59:00.021+02:00
Another thing we did in during summer was a 3 day trip to Bø sommarland. We rented a summer house there & got 2 day passess to Bø sommarland (water world). Even though the weather was less than ideal, we had a lot of fun.

Andrey & Vanessa near a lake on the way to Bø

Lisa, Victor & Vanessa burning some energy after the 3 hour drive

Andrey

me

view of the area we stayed

hotel gardens

Patrick

hotel property.. apple trees & summer house we rented (yellow)

Lisa & Vanessa

Patrick, happy with desserts

Vanessa.. can't get enough of desserts

Lisa & I at dinner

Lisa, me, Vanessa, Patrick & Victor.. pix taking on the porch of hotel restaurant

Vanessa & Lisa on the pier at the camping

Lisa, Andrey & Vanessa walking on the pier

Lisa at the pier at the camping

Patrick

Vanessa & Lisa at camping playground

Patrick on the digger at camping playground

kitchen

kids room

view from top floor

on the way to Bø

Victor on the dragon

Patrick in the dragon's mouth

Lisa & Patrick in kiddie pools

Vanessa swimming under water

Victor on the big water slides

Vanessa & Patrick in kiddie pools

view of some of Bø rides

Vanessa, Victor & Lisa on miniboats

playground at Bø sommarland

Patrick filling up gas

Lisa, Vanessa & Victor on the train

Andrey

Andrey & Victor near dinosaur forrest

Andrey, Patrick & Vanessa canooing

Lisa, Victor & me canooing

Lisa in the evening sun

camping playground

Lisa, Victor & Vanessa goofing

view of campground near where we stayed

Lisa, Vanessa & Victor

Lisa

summer house we rented

Patrick

Victor & Patrick waiting to slide

Victor & Patrick on water slides

Patrick on the water slide

Victor, Vanessa & Patrick in one of the kiddie pools

Victor, Vanessa, Lisa & Patrick near dinosaur

Lisa & Vanessa by ferryland

Patrick on minicars

Vanessa & Patrick on mini row boats

view from the train, super wave

me, on the train that went around Bø

Patrick climbing the volcano

Vanessa & I on ferris wheel

Vanessa on ferris wheel

Patrick on the carousel

Vanessa on carousel

Oscarsborg, Tusenfryd & Patrick's birthday

2009-06-22T13:09:00.014+02:00
We took a little week-end trip, staying overnight at Oscarsborg hotel (a little island in the fjord off of Drøbak) & then Tusenfryd amusement park the next day. It was a beginning of summer holidays & Patrick's birthday celebration.

First we took a little ferry from Drøbak over to the island. The hotel room had a gorgeous view of the fjord & mountains. On the island there's the Oscarsborg fort, and beautiful nature. The island was very quiet, as this isn't high season yet, there were no other kids, so that was more enjoyable for us.

Icecream in Drøbak- me, Lisa, Victor, Patrick & Vanessa

The view near the dock, bigger ferries that pass by

Victor, Lisa, Vanessa & Patrick

cute little streets in Drøbak near the dock

shop window

waiting for the ferry- Vanessa, Andrey, Lisa & Patrick

Vanessa, me & Lisa

Lisa & Victor

a couple of guys on the dock fishing caught a cod fish

on the ferry- Victor, Patrick, Lisa, Andrey & Vanessa

Patrick looking at the view from the hotel room with binoculars (each room had a pair)

Andrey & Patrick walking around the island

Lisa & Andrey- the view toward Drøbak

the famous canons that sunk the German ship in 1940- Lisa, Vanessa, Victor & Andrey

view towards Drøbak- Victor, Patrick, Andrey, Lisa & Vanessa
me
Oscarsborg fort- Patrick, Vanessa, Victor, Lisa & Andrey

more gorgeous views- Vanessa, Victor, me & Lisa
Andrey & I
me, Andrey & Patrick
Lisa
Lisa, Victor & Vanessa

Breakfast- more views: Lisa, Victor, Patrick, Andrey & Vanessa
Oscarsborg museum
Ferry ride back- Andrey & Patrick
Oscarsborg

Tusenfryd- one of the kiddie rides: Patrick

Patrick & Vanessa on the frog hop
Waterworld

Victor & view of the pools
Victor & Lisa
Vanessa & Victor
Vanessa & Lisa & water slides
Super splash- Andrey & kids in the front

Patrick on the merry-go-round
Vanessa

Patrick with his birthday cake of choice- strawberry cream cake

Patrick's birthday

2009-06-12T20:37:00.004+02:00

For Patrick's birthday next week we'll be overnighting at Oscarsborg Hotel & Spa on an island & then going to Tusenfryd the next day. It's a package deal they have, & we're using the travel gift card Andrey won. I'm looking forward to it, as it looks like a beautiful place. You park your car by the dock & take the ferry across. They have a fortress on the island, & Oscarborg fortress is best known for sinking of the German ship "Blucher" on the 9th of April, 1940.

Last day of "Pinse" holiday (pentacost)

2009-06-01T20:31:00.007+02:00
Today was the last day of Pinse holidays (pentacost).. another long week-end. And another hot, summer day. We went to a beach a little further away in Drøbak. Beautiful view, patches with nice sand in the water, and grassy areas. I ventured out for a dip (brrrr), but the kids stayed in the water most of the time. You can also see the big ferries coming in & out of the Oslo port.

Victor out on the float

Lisa & Victor out on floats

Vanessa

Victor

Lisa

Victor & Lisa

Lisa

Andrey relaxing

me

Victor with his find

Lisa & Vanessa

Sand play- Vanessa & Patrick

Patrick.. on the way to the parking lot

Lisa & Victor & the view

me & the view

the view

Summer holidays soon here

2009-06-01T11:33:00.003+02:00

With only 3 weeks left of school, we've been making plans for summer. We'll be taking 2 smaller trips using Andrey's travel gift card before our bigger trip to Ukraine at the end of summer (he was given holidays right when school starts).

There's a waterworld south in Norway (Bø i Telemark) http://www.sommarland.no/ which we've never been to. They have options for camping, renting cabins, or staying at a hotel. There are also other options in Denmark for zoo's, aquariums.. or in Sweden, Skara sommarland http://www.sommarland.se/ Then there's the usual trip to Tusenfryd http://www.tusenfryd.no/ Other than that we'll be going to be beach for as long as the weather permits.

The kids have also gotten into summer school, which lasts a week right after school ends, & then again in July. They have all kinds of courses, from football to swimming to nature & more.

Then we'll take our bigger trip for 3 weeks in August. School here starts already in the 3rd week of August, so the kids will miss the first 3 weeks. We'll be travelling to Ukraine: Dnepr, Crimea- visiting friends & family & relaxing by the sea & mountains.

Wish you all a great summer!

Week-end sun & fun

2009-05-30T22:04:00.004+02:00
We're having beautiful summer weather.. +26-+30c- very warm for Norway for this time of the year. So, what better way to spend that time than by going to the beach. The water is still freezing.. as it was still coat-weather 2 days ago.. but the kids didn't care.

Lisa & Victor drawing on our balcony

Vanessa

Lisa

Victor

Vanessa, Victor & Patrick

Patrick "surfing"

Lisa

me sunning

More mobile pix & pizza

2009-05-27T22:18:00.004+02:00
My mom bought me a mobile a while back (Sony Ericsson w/ camera & mp3 player)- it wasn't expensive.. but it works so well! I'm loving the camera. It's very practical, cause I always have it with me, and it takes amazing photos (me thinks). Thanks Mom!

Here are some more from the beach.. we go there- rain or shine.

Patrick

Victor

Andrey & I

Vanessa

I took the kids to town today for a pizza tasting survey, and after decided to go & eat pizza. Victor loved it! Ate 7 pieces.

Lisa

Vanessa

Victor, Lisa & Vanessa

A happy day for Norway

2009-05-17T15:34:00.010+02:00
The 17th May is a happy day for Norway... Aleksander Rybak (representing Norway to the Eurovision Music contest- Europe) won!! His song "Fairytale" has been a hit & a favourite. He won with a record 387 points!

And the 17th May is Norway's national day. It is celebrated with a kids parade, where all (most) of the school in the Oslo area march in a parade with flags, down the main street & up to the castle, where the king, queen, crown prince, etc. stand & wave. We had beautiful weather, sunny, but not to hot. People wear "bunads", the national clothes of Norway. People eat ice-cream & hotdogs all day.. as many as you want.

Andrey, Vanessa, Victor & Lisa leaving in the morning for the parade
Victor, Jamie (uncle), William (school friend) in the front..

Østmarka skole preparing to march

Lisa
Vanessa

Østmarka skole preparing to march

Andrey has been marching with the kids' school the last few years

Patrick waiting for the kids to march by..

The parade end by the harbour- Patrick & Lisa

Victor

Lisa, Vanessa, Andrey, Patrick & Victor

Home after the parade
Games at the kids school after the parade- Patrick
Lisa

Weather

2009-05-07T09:37:00.002+02:00
Norwegian philosophy:
There's no such thing as bad weather.. only the wrong clothes..

Patrick "rain-proof"..

A lazy afternoon at the beach

2009-05-04T19:37:00.005+02:00

Raggae family boat

2009-05-04T09:40:00.008+02:00
The kids had the day off on Friday (1st May), so we met up with my sister in town & went to a family raggae boat. There was music, circus stuff they could play with (juggling, balancing), a kids show.. and lunch up on deck. The weather was gorgeous, so we also took a stroll in town after. Here are my mobile pix-

The bottom part where they played music, had play & the kids show

Patrick

Vanessa & Ami (cousin)

The view from deck: Opera house

Lunch on deck: Victor, Patrick, Vanessa & Lisa

Watching the kids show, Patrick & I

Watching the show, Vanessa & Lisa

Playing by the fountain park, Vanessa & Patrick

Lisa with Ami (cousin)

Vanessa, Lisa & Ami

Vanessa, the castle in the backround

Vanessa

Lisa the tourist

Full bloom in town

Lisa & Vanessa near the castle park

Andrey at work (we hitched a ride home with him on the airplane bus)

Vanessa's 7th birthday!!

2009-04-27T09:25:00.009+02:00
Yesterday was Vanessa's 7th birthday celebration. We had her party at the play house. Kids can run, hop, climb, scream (literally) & get all their energy out. She invited the girls from her class (1nd & 2nd graders) & the cake & presants & food was served in the castle theme room. Some of her presants included play hair dye (a favourite), Bratz kick-bike, a little chest with a lock to keep special things. She had lots of fun!
Here are some pix from my mobile..

Caroline

Amanda & Vanessa

Charlotte & Martine

Victor & William

Caroline, Vanessa & Martine

Lisa, Martine, Charlotte & Vanessa in the castle room

Charlotte, Vanessa & Amanda

Caroline, Lisa, Martine, Vanessa, Amanda & Vincent

Opening Amanda's gift: chest with lock

Opening Vincent's gift: play hair dye & ball game

Opening Caroline's gift: sweater

Patrick

Adrian (cousin- also birthday boy)

Vanessa & Amanda

Patrick

Lisa & Tony (cousin) playing football

William & Victor

Martine

Caroline

Charlotte

Vanessa

Adrian & Patrick

Victor & Patrick (on the way home from picking Lisa up at another bday)

Tiredness & foolishness setting in..

Spring buds & blossoms

2009-04-22T09:44:00.006+02:00

This morning when I walked by..

Noon today..

This morning..

Noon...

Patrick

2009-04-22T09:44:00.001+02:00

Week-end beach

2009-04-20T08:21:00.006+02:00

We had more beautiful spring weather... and one of our favourite places to go is to the beach. Here are some pix from my mobile.

Wii tournament at library

2009-04-20T08:16:00.003+02:00

Libraries here have different activities organized for kids.. from movie showings, to theater performances, to Wii tournaments- all for free. We happened upon one the other day, and Lisa & Victor were with. And I got 1 hour to stroll the library & find all kinds of interesting books (which I don't usually have a chance to do with 4 energy-filled kids).

Easter dinner with family- pt.2

2009-04-13T17:21:00.006+02:00

Paul Martin & I

Vanessa & Patrick

Heidi, Ami & Rosita

Andrey

Andrey & I

Lisa, me, Heidi, mom, Rosita & Vanessa

Vanessa, Victor & I

Victor & I

Kids at play: Vanessa, Patrick, Victor & Ami

Victor, Ami & Vanessa

Andrey & Lisa

The Light of Your Love

2009-04-12T23:38:00.001+02:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBLw3FJDbR8

Easter dinner with family

2009-04-12T21:15:00.005+02:00

We went over to my mom's for Easter dinner with my brothers & sisters & kids. It was a nice, relaxing & fun time together! Sometimes big family dinners can be stressful, but this was one of the most pleasant & cozy times.

Menu: Turkey & stuffing, my mom's famous brown sauce, "surkål" (sour cabbage), potatoes, peas & carrots with wine/beer/sider
Caramel & chocolate pudding, coffe, cakes, Bailey's.. mmm...
Here are some pix.. will post more tomorrow.

Andrey, Lisa & Victor enjoying the delicious food

Some of the treats..

Victor & I

Patrick feasting.. carrot cake & lemon role

Rosita & I

Heidi & Ami

Andrey, Lisa & my brownies

Patrick & Andrey.. Waiting to dig in..

Lisa

Victor, Ami & Danny- Heidi capturing the moment

Kids at play: Vanessa, Patrick, Victor & Ami

Mommy & daughter

Sunny Saturday beach fun..

2009-04-11T16:25:00.002+02:00

Patrick (3)

Lisa (9)

Vanessa (soon 7)

Happy Easter!!

2009-04-10T20:39:00.005+02:00

Ukrainian Easter breads

Spring grill at the beach

2009-04-01T19:08:00.006+02:00
Andrey had free today, and with the beautiful +9c spring weather, we went to the beach (after school). We live @ 15km from the beach. It was quiet, peaceful & we were almost the only ones there. We grilled hotdogs and the kids had fun goofing off.. finding shells, throwing rocks in the water, playing ball in the.. snow.

Lisa

Lisa & Victor

Patrick

Vanessa collecting shells

Vanessa & Victor

Lisa with "pølse og lompe".. hotdogs in lompe (Norwegian potato "chapatis")

Victor & Vanessa

Patrick

Easter cards

2009-04-01T09:36:00.005+02:00

Last year Lisa & Vanessa enjoyed making & selling Easter cards. It's fun, and they get a little extra pocket money, or save up for some kind of trip (pool, circus, etc.)- Here are some of the ones we made so far..

Earth Hour

2009-03-28T21:33:00.000+01:00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CRs-7lRlPo

Children's school party

2009-03-27T13:58:00.002+01:00
Last week-end the kids' school organized a children's party. They do this every year- the teacher's cook for the kids, organize games & competitions, puppet theater for the youngest. This time they made pizza, cakes, buns. At the end they have a little treasure hunt for a sweets bag.

Victor & Patrick drawing on the table cloth while they wait for food.. that was a cute idea to keep them busy.

Lisa & Vanessa

Blanket of snow & blizard

2009-03-27T13:46:00.003+01:00

Woke up this morning to a blanket of snow & a blizard.. I guess winter just doesn't want to let go yet. There's only 1 week til Easter, and that is a favorite time for skiing.

Happy birthday baby!!

2009-03-26T10:03:00.013+01:00
To Andrey-
Cogratulations on your 30th birthday!!
I'm so happy to be part of your life! On this, your day, I wish you your hearts desires fulfilled this coming year. That it will be a year of goals reached, dreams fulfilled, and happiness!

You're the best husband,
father,
protector,
supplier,
caregiver,
lover,
man
& friend!

I love you!

One of the first times we met- July 1996

Engaged- Sept. 1998

First time in Norway- June 1999

1st baby- Lisa, July 1999

26th March 2001- your 22nd birthday

With Victor & Lisa, Christmas 2002
Father & son, Norway 2005
Grilling with Vanessa, July 2005

On the way back to Ukriane.. Sweden 2005
With baby Patrick, Sevastopol 2005
Family day near Yalta with kids, 2005

Day at the museum

2009-03-15T10:43:00.014+01:00
The Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo is Norway’s most comprehensible natural history collection. For almost 200 years preserved plant specimens, animal specimens, rocks, minerals and fossils have been collected, studied and preserved here.

The Zoological Museum presents animals from all over Norway and the rest of the world.

Bird mountain from north Norway

Woodpecker- Norway

Fox

Squirrel

Lynx- mainly in southern & western Norway
Victor, Vanessa, Patrick & Lisa

Brown bear- can grown to be 2,5m tall & weight up to 350kg

Wolves- live in the mountain & forrest regions of Norway, especially close to the Swedish border. There are only belived to be between 10-20 wolves that roam between Sweden & Norway today.

Reindeer- live in mountain regions of southern Norway

Owl

Arctic regions
Lisa, Patrick, Vanessa & Victor

Lisa, Vanessa & Victor with bear

North-American regions

North-American regions

Central American regions

Oriental regions

Tyrannosaurus rex – Stan
Found in south Dakota, USA in 1987
One of the worlds best preserved tyrannosaurus' (70% of his skeleton was preserved)

Tyrannosaurus rex – Stan
Geological museum- one of the worlds best collections

Dinosaur Iguanodon-
Found in Belgium

Amber

Fossil of a turtle

Skull of a Tyrannosaurus rex- meat-eater
Found in Alberta, Canada

Gallimimus sp. reconstruction

Mammoth- there have been over 20 finds in Norway raning from teeth to skeleton remains & more

Pix from Andrey's mobile

2009-02-27T20:57:00.006+01:00
I finally got a chance to check out the pix on Andrey's phone. I'm posting some of them.. so they're a mix from Dec.2008- Feb.2009

Patrick (3)- sweet slumber
Victor (8) & Lisa (9) on a trip to Ukraine with Andrey in the middle of Dec.

Friends: Julie (8), Vlada (10), Lisa (9) & Ola (11)- visiting Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine

Childhood friends: Lisa (9) & Vlada (10) - Dnepr. Ukraine
At Globa park: Lisa & Ola
Me on New Year's Eve- my 3 year old son took this pix
Sliding fun: Patrick, Victor, Vanessa
Patrick, Victor, Vanessa & Lisa on the best sliding hill around

Valentine's day eating out at Curry House: me, Victor & Vanessa

Waiting for the subway on a winter morning

2009-02-26T12:42:00.000+01:00

Happy Feast 2009!

2009-02-22T23:54:00.002+01:00

Ending of our feast: Lisa, me with cake, Vanessa & Victor

Wedding memories

2009-02-19T11:47:00.006+01:00
Tomorrow is our 10-year aniversary! Here are some pix of the big day.

We got married in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine- Andrey's home town. We were both 19. We had family & friends there. My mom was able to come from Norway to be there during our wedding.

We first got married at the marriage office, then went around town to parks & monuments for pix, & then for the wedding celebration at a "turbaza" (rest place) out of town. We had a traditional Ukrainian wedding, with a "tamadan" (wedding organizers who conduct the activities & traditions).. all our family & friends stayed overnight at the "turbaza" & left around noon the next day.

Exchanging of rings

Ukrainian wedding tradition

Pix at the culture senter

Closest friends & family shot at the wedding office
Paying our respects at a war monument, a wedding tradition in Ukraine

Outside of the culture senter

Lover's tree
Andrey's mom made the first toast
Wedding dance
Cutting the cake

How we celebrated Valentine's

2009-02-16T21:18:00.003+01:00
Since our anniversary is coming up & Andrey & I will be going it, we wanted to celebrate Valentine's with the kids.. so we all went out for dinner.
A little restaurant: Curry House
Nice food, good prices, perfect!!
Chicken curry, Lamb Tika Masala, Lamb curry... mmmm...

Valentine's day love

2009-02-13T19:46:00.011+01:00
Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
- Aristotle

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Young love is a flame; very pretty, often very hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart is as coals, deep-burning, unquenchable.
- Henry Ward Beecher

Love has no desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires; To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
- Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Love is life. All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything is, everything exists, only because I love.
- Leo Tolstoy

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride; so I love you because I know no other waythan this: where I does not exist nor you, so close that your hand on my chest is my hand, so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.
- Pablo Neruda, "Love Sonnet XVII"

To Tim & Joan- happy 10th Anniversary!!! Wishing you many more

2009-02-13T18:28:00.001+01:00

Send this eCard !

Happy Valentine's friend!!

2009-02-13T18:07:00.001+01:00

Send this eCard !

Winter mobile pix

2009-02-11T14:42:00.006+01:00

View from the hill by the kids school

Kids school

Adventist church on the hill by the kids school

Patrick & Vanessa eating what's left of her lunch pack
Vanessa

Patrick

Cars burried in snow

Postcard snowy weather

2009-02-10T10:28:00.001+01:00

Patrick on the way to open kindergarten

Wishing fellow mothers "Happy Mother's Day!"

2009-02-08T12:07:00.001+01:00

Send this eCard !

Thoughts on Forgiveness

2009-02-05T09:45:00.006+01:00
Forgiveness is such a big subject. There are so many questions that come with it.. does forgiving mean that you are saying that what the person did to you was not hurtful? Or that you don't feel they should apoligize to you first & take resonsibility for the hurt they caused you? I read some quotes today on the subject, and wanted to post them. Some that stood out to me, but that can maybe help you if you're in this situation.

I have been on both sides: been hurt feeling the other person should take the first step to make amends; and been forgiven for what I've done. But the times that I have chosen not to hold onto the hurt & have forgiven in my heart, those are the times when I haven't had turmoil & sleepless nights, when the hurt others inflicted through lies or gossip hasn't caused me to be wounded beyond repair. And, as I read in one of the quotes, you're only doing yourself a favour, ridding yourself of that hold that the wrong that was done has on you. You're taking back your life.

"You don't have to feel that the person deserves forgiveness. They don't even have to be sorry or acknowledge that they've done anything wrong. Forgiveness is something you do for yourself.."

"Forgiveness, at its core, is not about what someone did to you; neither do the issues of why, how, when or where need to have any bearing on it.. Forgiveness if for you."

"Love lets the past die. It moves people to a new beginning without settling the past. Love does not have to clear up all past misunderstandings. The details of the past become irrelevant; only its new beginning matter. Accounts may go unsettled; differences remain unsolved; ledgers stay unbalanced. Conflicts between people's memories of how things happened are not cleared up; the past stays muddled. Only the future matters. Love's power does not make fussy historians. Lover prefers to tuck the loose ends of past rights and wrongs in the bosom of forgiveness- and puskes us into a new start." -Lewis B. Smedes

"Forgiveness brings healing."

"The ability to forgive is a sign of strength of character."

"My idea of forgiveness is letting go of resentment.. ridding yourself of negative thoughts. All they do is make you miserable Believe me, you can fret and fume all you want, but whoever it was that wronged you is not suffering from your anguish whatsoever." -Della Reese

"One of the secrets to a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody, everything, every night before you go to bed." -Bernard M. Baruch

"To forgive the unforgivable, forgive right away. Forgiveness becomes harder once you have let yourself become hardened or resentful toward a person or a situation."

"The more you resent someone, the more what they did to you will hurt you and damage your spirit. This wound will never close, and its poison will someday ruin your life.. Take back your life and reclaim your happiness."

"Resentment comes from two Latin words meaning "to feel again". When we resent, we allow the negative emotions we feel at the time of hurt- a disappointment, a betrayal- to recur long after the event is over, flooding our systems with their poisons over and over again. Because of its effect on the human mind and body, it does not matter how "justified" the resentment is. In my 27 years as a practicing psychiatrist- and in the 15 years before that when I was a medical doctor- I have come to regard resentment as a cancer of the personality that is as deadly as any physical growth." -James A Stringham MD

"..To offer forgiveness even to those who have purposely and knowingly hurt you.. is to save your own life and heart and sanity and happiness.."

"A person who has an unforgiving spirit is always the real loser, much more so than the one against whom the grudge is held.." -Charles Stanley

"By refusing to forgive and by waiting for restitution to be made, individuals allow their personal growth and development to hinge on the decision of others they dislike to begin with. They allow themselves to be held hostage. They say, "If he apoligizes." "If she comes back to me." "If he rehires me." "If they invite me." They play the game of waiting for others to make the first move. In the meantime they allow an unforgiving spirit to weave its way into the total fabric of their lives." -Charles Stanley

Trip to Ukraine 23-29 Jan.

2009-01-30T11:27:00.015+01:00

At the airport- Gardemon, Norway
Vanessa, Lisa, Victor, Patrick & me
At the airport- Gardemon, Norway
Vanessa & Lisa

At the airport- Gardemon, Norway
Patrick & I

At the airport- Gardemon, Norway
Andrey
Vanessa waiting eagerly to board the plane

Lisa going to board the plane

Victor & Vanessa on the plane from Oslo to Vienna

Lisa on the way to Vienna

View from the plane near Vienna

View from the plane near Vienna

View from the plane near Vienna

Victor & Patrick on the plane to Dnepr
Andrey & Vanessa on the plane from Vienna to Dnepr
At Babushka's & Djedushka's place
Lisa, Victor, Vanessa & Patrick on uncle Igor's bed watching cartoons
At Globa park
Lisa, Domi (5), Julie (8) & Vanessa
At Globa park
Jan & Michal
Patrick at the 4d movie & game machine senter
Patrick with Julie (8), Victor & Danny (8)
Dnepr home

Vanessa & Vlada (10)
Dnepr home
Patrick, Julie (8), Victor & Danny (8)
Dnepr home
Vanessa, Vlada (10), Lisa with Domi (5), Christoffer (8), Timy (12), Ella (12), Ola (11), me & Mira
Dnepr home
Vanessa, Vlada (10), Lisa with Domi (5), Christoffer (8), Timy (12), Ella (12), Ola (11), me & Mira
Dnepr home
Domi (5), Victor (5), Vlada (10) & Vanessa
Dnepr home
Lisa, aspiring ping pong champion
Dnepr home

We left at 4:30 am on the 23rd (Thursday) to the airport. My brother Danny drove us, through snow & slippery roads. We'd taken all our personal luggage as hand luggage so that we could bring clothes to the home in Dnepr. There were no big lines, so we were able to check in easily. Each of us, kids included, had a small suitcase on the plane, so they pulled those around through the airport.

Because of the snow & ice, after boarding, they drove the plane to an area where it was spayed down with some cheminals to take away ice & prevent freezing. They had a whole train of snow plows on the runways continually clearing them. Vanessa & Patrick have never been on a plane, so they were naturally excited about it! We got food on the plane: eggs with ham & buns, vanilla pudding, drinks (as much as you want.. which the kids made good use of by pushing the button for the stewardess to come & give them more juice).

We were late landing in Vienna, so we had to run to catch our connecting flight to Dnepr.. Andrey left me at the customs control while he ran to our gate to get them to hold the plane. We made it! And it was funny to see, as soon as we got on the bus that would take us out to the plane you could see the change of styles. The women, all with high heel boots, fur coats, tons of makeup & their hair all done up.

The plane from Oslo to Vienna was very full, but this one to Dnepr was half empty, so it was more relaxing. The kids could sit where they wanted to, and they didn't need to wait as long for food & drinks.. this time we got a special box with food, as they didn't have us registered on this flight til the last minute. There were olive breadsticks, salami sticks, cream cheese, chocolate & dark bread.

I haven't visited Ukraine the whole time since we moved to Norway in May 2006, & I expected that things had probably changed for the better, as when we left there were lots of new building sites & roads being fixed. But I found it to be exactly the same. Starting with the runway.. bumpy.. holly.. You really get a culture shock right away. It took me a couple of days to get used to things again.

At the airport the customs guys saw all our suitcases & pulled me over, maybe thinking to get something from us "rich foreigners", but another guard came up & told them to leave us alone as we have 4 kids. Waiting for at the arrivals gate was Andrey's brother- Igor, & Micha, Dana & Jan from the Dnepr home. It was good to see them!
The guys from the home picked up the suitcases for them & then we went with Andrey's brother to their parent's place where they were all waiting for us: Babushka, Djedushka, Zenia, Babushka Lida.. They got to see Lisa & Victor in December when Andrey travelled to Dnepr, but they hadn't seen Vanessa since she was 3, & Patrick since he was a baby. It was a happy family reunion!

We spent the rest of our time there visiting with Andrey's family & the home in Dnepr. I enjoyed the trip very much, & the so did the kids. They had tons of fun with the kids in the home! They were already planning our next trip when we left.

We had a smooth trip, & felt that it went better than expected!

All set

2009-01-22T16:05:00.003+01:00
We're all set. I've been cleaning, sorting, de-clutering, washing clothes, putting them away & getting everything in order for our trip. And noe the time has come. Can't believe we're actually all gonna go on this trip. Again, so glad for Andrey's huge discount, otherwise we wouldn't even consider taking a week trip & spending what our tickets would cost full price.

The kids have been so patient these last days. They've had to work, work, work on the homework & trying to do some school work ahead, as they're expected to keep up with what their class covers while they're gone. But now they can relax & take it easy. They're all so excited. This will be the first time Patrick & Vanessa are on a plane.

I'm not really nervous, except for the part of actually flying. Otherwise I figure that if we forget anything, we'll do without for that week, or get it while there.

On the way home from school

2009-01-19T18:21:00.003+01:00

Patrick (3), Victor (8), Vanessa (6) & Lisa (9)

Lisa (9) & Vanessa (6)

Vanessa (6)

Lisa (9)

Victor (8) & Patrick (3)

Lisa (9) & Vanessa (6)

Patrick (3)

Real winter weather

2009-01-19T10:01:00.003+01:00

Weather, world situation

2009-01-14T19:47:00.002+01:00
It's been plus 5-7c the last few days, with sunshine, birds singing & a real feel of spring- even though it's the middle of January. Global warming affects! I started wishing for spring, but then caught myself realizing there's still another 1,5 of winter.

With the fighting in Gaza, there have been several demostrations here that became violent, with young people just using it as a chance to vandalise town. So sad, instead of focussing on getting the people in power to work on helping to resolve things there, they're talking about the violence here. And when did violence ever bring peace?

I am praying for resolution there to stop the pointless loss of life. It's not the people fighting who're suffering, but the poor civilians, who have no choice.

This & that..

2009-01-09T20:50:00.003+01:00
I took down the remainder of the Christmas decorations today. The place looks so empty.. I guess the contrast. But today we picked up a wall picture that I ordered online. Japan Photo has a site where you can make photo albums (hard & soft cover), gifts & wall pictures on canvas from a photo. So that helps to decorate the wall.

The kids will be starting ski school from next week. Once a week they go to a ski hill (if there's no snow, they have snow-making machines.. or whatever you call them) & have an instructors who teach the kids to ski. They do this almost every year, so if they learn the basics one year, they can continue to get better. This year we'll be having 3 kids up on the slopes.

I've started doing Tae bo again. My attempts to loose those extra kilos. "Haven't had the time til now".. standard excuse, but now I do it, whether I am dead tired. Andrey got the boot camp set for Christmas. Tried the first part & found it easier & slower than the other advanced one we would do.. where you feel like dying while you do it.

Other than that.. I am looking forward to the week-end with the kids. I have decided to get some games & puzzles up from storage & set aside some of the girls' toys that they've grown out of to give away. We always manage to find someone who is thrilled to get their "grown out of" toys.

Have a good week-end!

Russian proverbs

2009-01-06T22:42:00.002+01:00
A fly cannot enter a closed mouth.

A kind word is like a Spring day.

A word of kindness is better than a fat pie.

Absentmindedness is searching for the horse you are riding.

An egg is dear on Easter day.

Beat your own and others will fear you.

Eat what is cooked; listen to what is said.

Fear has big eyes.

Fear the goat from the front, the horse from the rear, and man from all sides.

Having a good wife and rich cabbage soup, seek not other things.

If the pocket is empty, the judge is deaf.

Let everyone pick his own nose.

Pray to God but continue to row to the shore.

Small children give you headache; big children heartache.

Tell God the truth, but give the judge money.

There's no harm in wine; it's drunkenness that is at fault.

You cannot ride two horses with one ass.

You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother.

Quotes..

2009-01-06T20:30:00.003+01:00
The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins. ~Bob Moawad

You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage - pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically - to say 'no' to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside. The enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.' ~Stephen Covey

He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts. ~Samuel Johnson

When you feel dog tired at night, it may be because you've growled all day long. ~Author Unknown

There's a saying among prospectors: "Go out looking for one thing, and that's all you'll ever find." ~Robert Flaherty

It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in an argument. Author: William Gibbs McAdoo

Plans..

2009-01-06T11:24:00.003+01:00
We're hoping to all visit Dnepr (UA) towards the end of the month. Our plan is to take all our personal lugage as carry on, so that we can bring as much as possible to the home there. It'll be the first time for me to visit since moving here, so I'm looking forward to it! Andrey's family haven't seen Patrick (3) since he was a baby.. so it'll be his first real meeting with them. Vanessa (6) doesn't remember much either, apart from pix she has seen of them. It's nice to have the option of travelling like this with Andrey's "job perks", otherwise we wouldn't bother with the huge expense it would be to just spend a week there. So we're making plans & pr that everything falls into place.