10 K & a Norwegian Thanksgiving

I'm BAAAACK.... Sorry, I really do have the best intentions of writing every..(almost) day..but sometimes LIFE gets in the way....

We had a lovely NORWEGIAN THANKSGIVING
it was ALMOST American... except for the fact we all had to work on Thursday & Friday... so it made for some tired kiddos...

Our friends Leanna & Thomas invited us over to their home where Leanna made it feel just like home... Turkey, Stuffing, & the BEST Pumpkin Pie! (I never eat pumpkin pie, but this was FAB!) I made the mashed potatoes & green bean casserole (You can't even imagine how hard it is to find Green Beans here in Norway...how weird is that?) i also made my famous "Fat Girl Fantasy" a chocolate trifle... Yum...

So what was I most thankful this year? Having a wonderful American girlfriend who made it feel like we were home... hard to get into Thanksgiving without your family...but Thomas & Leanna are like are extended family here... Thanks again for an awesome Holiday!

My famous trifle... Thomas was LOVING it!

being away from "Home" on the holidays we have to cope as best we can!

You Know they are going to LOVE me.... Muah...

OK so about the 10 K. YES... I walked 10 kilometers today! YEA ME.... (that breaks down to 6.25 miles...) Umm hmmm...feeling pretty good right about now.....

I have to get my tail in Bed... as a new week FULL is about to start... I am going to have to fill y¨'all in on the MONTH of Christmas here.... Christmas isn't really a month but it sure feels like it here... The Christmas Parties start in Nov. & won't end until Jan. We have something EVERY week.... sigh... I need to start taking pictures of the Christmas decorations...nothing like the states but Norwegians go all out inside the home... Christmas Curtains/drapes...changing the lamp shades...we are talking ALL OUT....

And finally some more worthless Norwegian Trivia... Did you know that Diana Ross has 2 Norwegian sons? Mmm hmmm.. I was thinking about that today while singing along to "Upside down your turning me...." (I know you are thinking...THANKS for sharing that!)

Hope you all have a great week!

Winter Family Fun

I know y'all THINK we haven't been doing any fun family things because I haven't been posting pictures... but we have really...

On Sunday we decided to take a family walk & then the rest of the family talked me into taking a little boat ride on Dane's boat...
My being the only NON NORWEGIAN in the bunch, was not real crazy about being on the water in the dark, in FREEZING weather, the mommy in me kept playing the "what if" seeing how far it was to shore...

But I sucked it up & went along with the gang... (Funny, I LIVED on the sea for several years, but I still have this fear...)
Dane & I had a good time shooting all of the lights as we drove by, looks pretty cool doesn't it?

After the walk home from the dock, we all snuggled up & had hot chocolate.... Fun, & yum...

Can you believe these pictures are taken at 5:00 in the afternoon?

Welcome to the DARK Norwegian Winter

This boy can move! My new work out

I stole this off of my little sisters blog today... it made me smile... Think I will have to learn this routine & do it in front of my kids friends.... (hee hee...)

Friday Foto Fiesta..those were the days...

It's Friday, It's Friday, Thank Goodness it's Friday!!!YIPPEE!I'm playing Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Fiesta Finish again (& I have a 3 day weekend!) .

So after you're done here, go over there and check out who's playing this week!!!

So you all know about my addiction to FACE BOOK... one of the best parts of facebook are all of the OLD pictures everyone posts... the good, the bad, the ugly....

then there are the pictures that make you sigh & think

"THOSE WERE THE DAYS.... "


This picture is from when I was 19...
camping out on a ferry from Greece to Italy...

laying out under the stars (freezing our butts off) meeting people backpacking from all over the world.

This was one of the best summers I have ever had... being young, backpacking through Europe with my sister & our friends....

SIGH.... Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Wii Fit....Anyone?

I was shopping this afternoon when I came across THIS.... it was either Fit or Fitness.. (whats the difference?)

I know I sound like a small child when I say

I REALLY REALLY want this... for the kids (of course...)

The kids would F R E A K O U T... because we are pretty much against video games... They would NEVER in a million years think we would get one...

How fun to wake up Christmas morning & watch mommy do pilates? I mean, open THEIR new WII... (its even fun to say the name.... WIIIII isn't it?)

Now comes the fun part...trying to talk Bjørn into it. He has his heart set on skiis for the family this year...

Had they been downhill skiis I would be all for it... but he want's to do the

cross (YAWN) country skiis... OK I have never been cross crountry skiiing, but it seems like an awful lot of hard work... for what?

I thought I had read on someone's blog that they had dropped a lot of weight & got into really good shape with the Wii... anyone? ..... Hello?

Little things mean a lot....

I have been throwing around a title for this post all day....

I thought about.... "it all adds up".... "SHUT UP, getoutta here..."
"don't hate me because I am SKINNY"

OK people get THIS.... I stepped on my new scale today to .....ready?...ready?

A SIX (6) pound loss in one week!

(this is where you are supposed to say..."SHUT UP...Getouttahere!" are you serious?

Yes I AM! this is where I say... "don't hate me cause I am SKINNY..." (OK I have a LONG way to go... but I am off to a rocking start!

I am going to try to refrain from making this a "diet blog" (2 people stopped following after last weeks post...Hmmm...maybe they are only interested in my jet set lifestyle? (jet setting across the border to get groceries in Sweden) So I will not bore all of you skinny minis with my new "lifestyle" but if there are any of you interested in kicking it in & working with each other...supporting each other & getting in shape...leave me a comment & I will send you over to my "diet blog".. (yes I did start one...)

I am afraid to say this out loud... I don't want to jinx myself...

but i think I may have found MY answer to weight loss..... this coming from a girl who has tried EVERYTHING & been on a diet since I was 5... ( i kid you not...)

Oh believe me, I have said this about many a diet----atkins, weight watchers etc.... but this time...I think REALLY I may have found it....

This is the time for all of you "little" girls to leave a nice little comment & go about your blog reading because this will probably BORE you...

I downloaded a hypnosis tape last week & people... IT IS WORKING... of course Bjørn thinks I am CRAZY... but it worked after the first time I listened to it.....

This past week I have quit drinking diet soda... (I had a 1.5 lt a day habit...) & seriously not eaten an ounce of crap... & have not WANTED an ounce of crap this week.

I have walked EVERYDAY this week...because i wanted to...not because i felt like I had to... Sat. I did a 2 hour hike up the Mt. & today i walked 5 miles while listening to my ipod.... I know... I no longer know myself.....

I am EXCITED...

For the past few months I have whined about how I just didn't know how I was gaining so much weight.... I don't eat fast food, I go on walks (which is a total change from when we lived in the states...) How could I possible be getting so big?

ALL OF THE LITTLE THINGS add up!... all of the snacking at work...cookie here, candy there, too much of the good stuff.... they were all little things but they made up a great big thing...(my ass....) just these little changes have made such a big difference this week....

Thanks for letting me brag a little... I feel like a million bucks today...(funny how 6 lbs can do that!)

Am I ready for this?

OK, first off... HI...I've missed y'all!
What a week.... I feel like I have been working 24/7... it has been a hectic few days at work... then with the kids... & the house... heck, I don't need to tell y'all... I am sure you know how it is...

So for the big news... in our house anyway... my BABY BOY came home tonight & announced he HAS A GIRLFRIEND...? he's 9....

he was sooo stinken cute when I picked him up from Scouts tonight... (the boys & girls do Scouts together) he was so excited to tell me all about her.... Awww, how cute... love it...

then he told me that she wanted him to kiss her.... (not so much loving it.... am I an old fart or what?)

He already wanted to know if he could invite her to his birthday party... (in May...) I suggested we wait a little closer to May to see how it was going with the two of them....
"But mom, shes the ONE... " I have a little drama king on my hands.... (it is my payback for all of the drama I had during my teen days...)

it is so exciting to watch your little ones grow up... but kissing & breaking up & crushes... I don't think I am ready for this....

Promise a better/longer post tomorrow... cause I am OFF! Yippee...

Friday Foto Fiesta..Winter on the way

It's Friday, It's Friday, Thank Goodness it's Friday!!!
(Oh darn... just remembered I will be working ALL weekend)

YIPPEE!I'm playing Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Fiesta Finish again .So after you're done here, go over there and check out who's playing this week!!!

As the dark Norwegian WINTER is fast approaching... I give thanks for morning's & sunrises like the one pictured...

(today was rainy, & crapy & cold & DARK...but I walked anyway.... : ) )

I seem to take a lot of pictures of the sky... I don't remember ever doing thatwhen I lived in the states... maybe I never caught these kind of sunrises. Or maybe I never took the time to look?

Hope y'all have a super duper weekend! : )

FAT GIRL.... the post...

OK... I really didn't want to have to go there...
The FAT GIRL post... but here we are... the truth is hard & horrible & UGH... But I said it out loud... I am fat... (hey Mr. ex boyfriend who occasionally pops by to read my blog... I'm Not really THAT fat...
actually I am a smoking hot domestic goddess...)
OK, yes i am REALLY THAT FAT...
I would like to say that I don't know how I have gotten this big... I no longer eat fast food... We are out walking & hiking... WTH? But to be honest.. I make poor choices...

I have been doing a lot of self reflection the past few days... I have been letting myself go... my marriage /kids have never been better... but I have put myself on the back burner & it is time to get a grip...

I went out today to buy a scale.... We haven't had on in the house since we moved to Norway...
ladies....it is bad.... but not really a surprise.

I guess I should tell you now that i am depressed & miserable & feeling hopeless... but I'm not.

I had an A-HA moment over the weekend... everything I WANT for myself... is within my reach... Being fit, being healthy, being active.... being organized, making my life easier... these are all things I can do, if I begin to focus more on ME... ME... ME... ME

This week I have been out walking... I mean really walking... through the woods...up & down hills... between 45 -60 min. per day... I threw away all of the crap /junk food... every little thing helps right?

I will try to refrain from writing too much about the battle of the bulge on here.... however I will be more than happy to BRAG about myself every week... (so if I don't mention it again, it means I have fallen off of the wagon...so PLEASE ask... )

OK...off to walk & start cleaning closets out... Hope you all have a super Wednesday..

I'm S O R R Y...

I would like to take this moment to publicly apologize for the past few days....

For leaving your 4 -9 year old out on the side of the road to hitch hike home after I could no longer take the bickering & teasing....

For smashing your birthday cake in the your brothers face...& after 3 bottles of wine, walking out on your birthday dinner... Geeze...SORRY... we all have those kind of days right?...

OK I jest.... but i THOUGHT about this... oh ya... & the running away to Greece fantasy...sigh...

the SNL "Annuale" Skit would fit PERFECTLY ...r.i.g.h.t h.e.r.e....

but of course, I am unable to find it on YOUTUBE... cause that is how the week has been rolling...

I managed to make it through the birthday party with a smile on my face & only 1 bottle of wine.

But on the BRIGHT side...I have started walking again.... I walked for an HOUR yesterday...in the RAIN... yea for me...

Sorry people...Got NOTHING for ya today.....

Happy Birthday Blue Eyes...

Happy Birthday Blue Eyes....
After all of these years you still make my heart go pitter patter..


Wish your gift this year could be a trip to Ireland or somewhere fun...(Florence hint hint..) but instead, you will be getting a driveway : ) & if you are lucky... a Garage.... Oh, & lots of pretty pictures from your babies....


I am so blessed to be growing OLD with you....

much love.... your lucky wife....

Post Election Bash...

I agreed to host my own little post Election Bash for Martinis For Two
Let's Party! The Virtual Post Election Bash Kick-off

To say I am BEAMING with pride is an understatement.... Today I feel like one of those CRAZY European Soccer Fans... You know the ones, who drive around with flags waving from their cars...honking their horns demanding everyone to notice them & the pride they have for their team...today THAT IS ME.... If I could have figured out a way to attach my American Flag to my car to drive around town honking I would have....

I am THAT PROUD.... Instead, I dressed my daughter like this....

With the big old Texas Pony Tail & Bow to boot.... dang it... I want EVERYONE to know

my babies are American too....

I awoke this morning to several text messages from Norwegian friends CONGRATULATING me... Flowers from my MIL..... well wishes from everyone at Eva's preschool.... Just talking about the election with them gave me goosebumps... I ALMOST even started crying... (OK, I have a SERIOUS case of PMS right now but still...)

So y'all wonder if the world is watching & really care about this election... THEY DO...

I snapped this at the grocery store in Sweden today...Here we have OBAMA in both Swedish & Norwegian.... (yes, I am SOO international...)

I have ALWAYS been PROUD to be an AMERICAN.. ALWAYS... but there have been alot of times that I would rather not advertise the fact that we are American because of concern for our safety...

Today i felt like I could shout it from the roof tops & be greeted with well wishes & hugs as opposed to dirty looks & snide remarks....

Oh y'all i could go on..& on...& on.... but just a quick little story...

We awoke this morning with Bjørn rolling over & checking his cell phone for the latest news... "Obama won" he yawned... Yea! but Damn it Bjørn, thanks for ruining the surprise... I wanted to watch the news with a nice cup of coffee. We roll into the family room & click on the news... out comes Dane... my 9 year old.... "Who won?" he asks.... "Obama" i gleefully reply ... I look over at him & his eyes are brimming with tears.... (I seriously think he is ready to start crying...) But I don't WANT CHANGE.... He's going to raise taxes...

Umm... I am just wondering who dropped this kid off on my doorstep.... (maybe he is channeling my dad?)

let me just remind you that the CHILD is 9. On the bright side, at least I know he is thinking for himself...

I try not to be political on my blog... Everyone is entitled to their opinion... But I am sure we can all agree the US needs a break...we need to flip this thing around

I had several comments on my last post in regards to whether or not we "deserve" Obama...

OF COURSE we DESERVE OBAMA... We are a land of GOOD PEOPLE.. we are... PEACE....

***the article above this is ME & some American Buddies from Town.. we did an interview last week which basically says we have Voters Fever, after 8 hard years, we are ready for a change & that we as Americans living in Norway feel like we are sometimes blamed for the Bush admin.***

The World is Watching.....

Wow! Today has been almost surreal... from the moment i left my house today, people have been stopping me... those who know I am American..& those who overheard me talking...

Everyone wanting to know what I think about the election today... ( 7 of us Americans were interviewed for the paper this weekend... kindda cool people actually value my opinion TODAY....I realize that this is a one shot deal.)

I don't know if most Americans realize that the ENTIRE WORLD is watching
THIS election... I know here in Norway they will be broadcasting the election all night long... BBC as well.... this is BIG TIME folks!

Can you imagine ABC CBS or NBC broadcasting the French or German or British elections ALL NIGHT LONG? Or even more.. EVERYONE I have talked to today has an opinion in regards to today's election....

Now granted, Eva's pre-school teacher went a little far this morning when she suggested

that the "rest" of the world should be allowed to vote in the US election...----crickets----. What do you say to something so STUPID... except "lady, could you be a BIGGER &%#"?" but alas, I was late for work & just shook my head at her...

Today's vote is going to felt around the world... amazing isn't it?

They can't both be winners... but here is hoping for good things to come in the US... with whatever the outcome... (my gosh, i am sitting on the edge of my seat....)

Just wanted to let y'all know... I couldn't be prouder to call myself an American....

Halloween Hangover..the neverending POST

I was torn, should I call this just Halloween Hangover post... or the post that lasts forever....cause seems like my weekend went on F O R E V E R .... (we had LOTS of things to do this weekend... ) So grab a POT of coffee & relax cause this could take a while....


So the Halloween "get together" went great... the kids DID get to go trick or treating.. (although it is no where near the same as in the US... not really a bad thing after reading all of your candy dilemmas)

My American girlfriends brought over their stash of American Candy... Reese's & candy corn... YUM...(my already huge ass THANKS YOU!)

& we had a great night of playing TABOO..(LOVE this game) & wine.. (LARS is a cheater...anyways...)


All of the cute little American Trick or Treaters...going out to show the Norwegians how it is done.....

We made it through Friday.... with the rest of the weekend LOOMING.... Dane had an all day outing in Oslo on Saturday.... & we had tickets to an ABBA show the same night.... 2 overly tired children... I knew it was going to be a BLAST.....

During my free time i like to play STAGE MOTHER... here is Eva up on stage during the ABBA (TRIBUTE) show.... Unlike her mother,... she was speechless & in utter AWE... very cool experience for her... & she was beaming the rest of the weekend...

As if we hadn't had enough excitement throughout the weekend... the Kids & Bjørn voted to take the boat out one last time before the winter... (I was out voted....)

So I packed a picnic, & we took the boat out to the islands.... (May I remind you that it is NOVEMBER in NORWAY... & I FROZE My tail off...)

Where my darling children decided they would help mommy drop a few pounds while I ran between one hanging off of the cliffs...& the other hanging off of the old lighthouse..... (as hubby sat on his big caboose..taking pictures.....)

I am READY to go back to work today just so I can get a BREAK!

How was your weekend?