American in Norway

Feb 24,2013 The AMAZING thing about living in Norway is the weather.. One day.. the sun is setting at 3pm.. and the sky is filled with heavy dark clouds..screaming the winter is here..to stay.. probably FOREVER... and the next (week) .. you realize the days are long-er, we are headed to the best time of the year. I am so blessed my daughter still thinks it is fun to wonder around our area.. looking for pretty things & fantastic sunsets.. and that is exactly what we did on Sunday..

Feb.23,2013 I had LOADS & LOADS of things to do on Sat. morning... while Bjørn took the kiddos skiing.. I was going to be SO PRODUCTIVE! - SO much to do.. before my next BIG:TRIP. (2 days y'all!) I was going to get to it as soon as I was finished looking for a photo my baby sis wanted. ahem.. .  & that is how my entire day ended up being spent. As much as I love taking pictures... my parents did not. Never had a baby book.. & the pictures that mom would snap on the odd occasion would end up in a box in their basement.. I didn't really think I had pictures from my childhood.. well, before I was old enough to start taking them myself.. but I was surprised.. there were a few.. But what makes me sad.. is the lack of photos of my parents.. and even more so ... my parents with us kids. I LOVE THIS of my MOM... I don't remember ever seeing this of my mom... with me.. when I was just 2 days.. I know I have that part down p

Feb 22,2013 Driving around our little town.. when I realize I hadn't taken my daily photo.. Thank goodness I always have some sort of camera with me.. I am so happy I decided to give the 365 another try.. I find myself always looking for things which I think beautiful. I never fully appreciated our tiny little town and the beauty which is all around. even on a dark winter night.

I have finally hit a breaking point.. a 15 year.. with all the SAME stuff.. kind of breaking point.. & need a change.  FAST I look around & see the SAME artwork which has blessed our walls in 4 different homes.. the same furniture we bought when I was pregnant with DANE 14 years ago.. SO my finally wanting a change isn't TOO demanding is it? You should have seen the horror in Bjørn's eyes.. when I mentioned I NEED A CHANGE. He has NO IDEA how lucky he has had it with me :-) So my plan is to start out SLOW.. as not to panic my husband.. just a little wall color.. & lots & lots of pictures on the wall MY PICTURES.. the pictures I LOVE to take.. but never do anything with. I think I am afraid of doing it WRONG.. I had pictures allover the walls in our house in the US.. but looking back, I am afraide it was a HOT MESS... with no plan.. So now I am planning.. I would like to MIX the black & white

My friend wrote this poem...  love it..  thank you! Why I wake at 1:00 a.m. [Hopeless, decay, sullen Tired, lost, and regret Soulless shadow cast Today, tomorrow shall threat] Awake at 1:00 a.m. Nearly frost-bitten by the loneliness of night Only to be saved by the warmth Of a Norwegian light You can link up for SKYWATCH over at http://skyley.blogspot.no/   Hope y'all hve a fantastic weekend.

The FANTASTIC thing about the 365 is.. trying to come up with ideas for new pictures.. after realizing I hadn't taken a picture today.. I grabbed my camera.. the tripod (still in box) & my big lens and went out on the deck.. OK.. I know this isn't the best MOON photo.. but I was really impressed about the detail I was able to get. can not WAIT until the next full moon..

I awoke to the pitter patter of my kids running around.. trying to get everything ready before I came downstairs... What more can a girl ask for on her BIG day? In the bloggy world... I have been stuck at 398 followers for E V E R.. just saying.. hmmmm

Not very exciting when you have to stay home for the break. But I will do my best to try to come up with a little something everyday. Today- Frankenweenie in 3D

23:30 & no picture Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I love taking pictures... something about walking around with a camera in hand gives me peace. & ONE of these days.. I will invest in a nice LENS, a photo editing program, & a course on how to take  REALLY GOOD PICTURES. But in the meantime, I am happy that people like my photos.. you should see the smile on my face when people like my pictures on Facebook & share them.. Means even more when I can help inspire others with their creative talent. A dear friend of mine wrote this poem the other night after I posted these pictures on Facebook & I just wanted to share..  No matter where Be it gloom or glee Goals afar or fears a’near Alone you will never be. Thank you friend! 

I had forgotten how nice Fredrikstad was at night time.. I don't go out in the evening very often during the winter.. and getting a "night shot" in the summer is pretty close to impossible. it just doesn't get dark enough. I decided to grab my camera & see if I could get a couple of shots. .. I thought I could use this as a learning opportunity. Lesson one.. Hard to take photos when it is MISTY..  - next time I venture out.. I think I will wait until the sky is clear,, Lesson two. - fantastic time to take out the tripod sill in it's box

Feb.16 Despite having her face smashed in just a few days earlier in a sledding accident, baby girl was ready to go again...  (THIS she gets from her daddy) I can not even watch...ugh. crossing fingers we make it through Winter Break  without breaking anything..

I arrived home late on Valentines day.. no Valentines for me. :-( Hubby called  me early in the morning on the 15th and asked me to dinner.. for a late Valentines celebration.. better late then never ..right? I can't remember the last time Bjørn and I were out.. I have forgotten how lovely our little city, Fredrikstad  can be .. We had a nice dinner at a new restaurant .. and took a walk around the promenade. It feels as if we have been passing each other in airports for the past few months.. so it was nice to have a quiet dinner.. just to catch up. Hope y'all had a lovely Valentines with your sweetie.

I wish this would be a lovey post.. & what was received in the kisser.. was a kiss. Sadly.. it was not..   :-( Baby girl had a sledding accident.. fell off her sled & right into a rock.  (yes while mommy was in Stockholm no doubt.) HELLO ROCKY! Bjørn sent me this photo during my meeting.. pretty much everything I could do not to fall apart.. She is doing fine,, but this girl of mine.. sigh.. not sure what I am going to do with her!

Feb. 12, 2013

Monday morning .. bright & early.. I should really think about getting an apartment there! I LOVE Stockholm & sure I would love it even more if I had the chance to get out & see more of it..  After a long day at the office.. we headed to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants Belgobaren Belgian restaurant  with 300 draught beers and Belgian cuisine.

  What a way to wake up! 

Feb. 9th Beautiful morning.. & perfect weather for a walk with my FAVORITE guy.. We live in a really beautiful area... so beautiful in fact.. there is no reason for me not to walk along here EVERYDAY.. ahem... this is from the back of my neighborhood.. lovely, no? this is the place that many people have built their summer cabins.. sometimes I need to remind myself that people come to my neighborhood for their vacation..

Hopeful that the sun would finally breakthrough... and give us some much need winter light...

My darling babies... One day... not so long from now... You will be all grown up... (but still my babies) And one day you will start thinking back to time you spent with me. Like I do now... about my mom. When you start thinking back to your childhood.. I hope you will remember days like this.. Running off to the beach this afternoon... not worrying about homework..or work.. or dinner... just the two of us..  watching the AMAZING sunset. talking about the colors & the best place to get the shot.. Playing in the snow.. Watching YOU play in the snow.. all the while snap.snap.snapping away.. trying to store every moment with you today... moments like these .. with you and your brother.. are what makes my life worth while... I hope one of these days... when you are   OLD ..   like me... you will remember this day.. the day we had a really nice time together. having a frozen picnic on the beach.. while your " cra