Cupcake decorating class...

I'm trying new things while the kids are in barnehage.  There is a group here in Stavanger that plans activities to do during the week days…its name currently is - People Who Connect, formally called the Petroleum Wives Club.  Last monday, they offered a cupcake decorating class and I signed up.  I have attempted cupcakes before but only doing the swirl, which I usually have issues with getting it even on all sides.  We went to a bakery called Slikkepotten Kakebutikk (translated: Spatula Cake Shop).  There were ten ladies who were attending the class.

The cake shop had pre-made the chocolate cupcakes and the chocolate icing.  Katrine was our instructor and she demonstrated several ways to apply icing to the cupcake.  She made it look super easy, then she demonstrated how to make the pretty little flowers using marzipan (fondant in the USA) with food coloring and other decorations.  Then they gave us a very valuable tip on how to flour the table/cooking surface without making a HUGE mess, by filling a "knee high hosiery" with flour and patting the surface.  Its brilliant and so worth the cost of the class.

Then it was our turn to do the work.  The bags of icing were already on the table ready for us to use… I liked making the swirls and for once in my life I made decent cupcake topping.

The closest one I'm pleased with but the one in the background not so much...

My friend, Becky, decorating her cupcakes. 

They aren't the best looking cupcakes but better than I could do before the class.  The lower left was rushed because we ran out of time.

It was a good class, its always fun learning something new.  The best part was eating these cupcakes and not having to clean the kitchen. :-)

The hunt for Aurora Borealis (aka Northern Lights) April 20, 2014

Another item I wanted to see/do while on our assignment in Norway was to view the Aurora Borealis.  Most of the time you need to be north of the Arctic Circle.  I have signed up to receive notifications when there is a good chance to see the lights.  It can happen here in Stavanger but its very rare.  So yesterday I received an email.  I thought about it for while then I sent a message to my friend, Maria to see if she wanted to join me on my search.  Lucky for me she was up for the hunt for most likely nothing.  

We decided we would start our adventure around 9:30p because it should be dark by then.  Nope, at 9:15 while I was waiting for the kids to go to sleep it was still too light outside.  The sunset must have been beautiful.  From our house we can see down to the ocean over the countryside…it was beautiful with all the different colors in the sky.  

This is the view on our upper floor at 9:30p on April 21, 2014

We agreed to postpone the start of our adventure until 10:00p.  I loaded up my camera stuff and drove away there was still a tiny bit of light but we were driving about 30 minutes away so we would be good.   We have to get out of the city and avoid as much light pollution as possible.

I picked her up and we had decided to drive over to Rennesøy an island north of Stavanger.  We needed to drive through two tunnels to get to the island.  We got to the place we thought was our destination but couldn't find a good place to park or the road.  We kept driving…this area was PITCH black we really had no clue where we were and what was around us.  We had our iPhones and GPS but we needed something to tell us the trails etc.  
We ended up driving through another tunnel to Finnøy.  While we were driving into the tunnel and I read the fee sign…holy cow 150kr one way. ($25USD) Oh well, its too late now and we are on a mission.  As we are going through the tunnel there is a place where there we could make a right or continue on straight.  This was first for me, a turn in a tunnel.   

We get to Finnøy, its a small island. Which we would later drive around 1 1/2 times ;-)  While we are looking for a great place to spot the Northern Lights.  We pass tractors, couples walking on their midnight stroll.  One man wasn't even wearing his reflective vest he was carrying it.  I guess he didn't think any crazy people (Maria & myself) would be driving around the island looking for the Northern Lights ;-)
We drive around once, nothing then we decide to take a different turn...yippee, we find something promising a "park" area.  We take a left turn and drive down the road, which then turns into a grassy road, hmmm.  We drove about 200 meters more then decided to get out on foot…  The grass road was damp and neither one of us had been there before…grass, wet, car, not a good combination especially after midnight.  But being a Texas girl, I knew what I would need to do to if we got stuck in the mud but thankfully we didn't.  We walk a few meters and came to a fence, there is a small stream running beside the road, we couldn't see anything without a flashlight and nothing remotely close to the Northern Lights.  We get back in the car, I will remind you its pitch black, no street lights around anywhere.  Let’s just state for the record, not easy backing down a grassy road with one reverse light (normal for Jan's car).  So Maria gets out of the car, I handed her my flash light (Thanks to a special lady who made sure I had one to find my way back home) and she guides me down the road.  A couple times I had to pull forward and start back again just to keep from driving off the "road" into the field.  UGHHHhhh finally we made it back to the gravel road then the paved road.  

By this time it’s after midnight, we decide its time to head home.  We drive back into the tunnel, another $25usd…crazy, but we didn't have a choice.   Jan's car isn't half boat so we couldn't float home.  Those of you in the Houston area complaining about the $1.50usd tolls for Beltway 8…you're getting off cheap, this was just over 5K long for $25.  Anyway we get out of the tunnel and chatting away, who knows where we are and then Maria said slow down…I think I see it.  We quickly find a little section to pull off, turn off the lights (except for the parking lights, safety).  There were other crazy people out on the road too.  She said look over there…it looks very light neon green and in the shape of a rainbow.  We sit there watching…and then we start seeing movement in the light.  It’s very faint…but by this time I'm getting very excited.  We get out of the car and stand beside it watching the sky.  Maria sees a shooting star and then notices a satellite among ALL the stars.  We continue watching the sky and I start to see the "lights" get a little brighter. Then out of the "rainbow" we see some rays of light shooting upwards, it was starting to dance.  The “rainbow” would dim and then get brighter, it would become thin and then very wide, constantly changing.  OMG I was super excited, this was amazing.  It was almost like my eyes were playing tricks on me.  Finally, I got my camera out and set up the tripod trying to watch the lights at the same time. Thank goodness I didn’t drop my camera.  But I hadn't preset anything on my camera so none of my photos turned out.  I was a little bummed but I was so excited I was able to see the "northern lights." We stayed there for about 40 minutes looking into the sky waiting to see if it would start up again…I did see a shooting star, which was icing on the cake.  I still can’t believe we found it,   Mission Accomplished!!

This is a not a common thing for the lights to be viewable this far south.  And for this to happen on a clear night well, that's even more rare here in Stavanger.  From what I understand its also rare for the lights to show the late in the year.  I still want to see them again and hopefully I will get a trip above the Arctic Circle before this assignment is up. 

Learning to Knit...

Ok so one of my Norway bucket list items was to learn how to knit.  Yes, the thing you only hear about grandmas doing.  Guess what I found a group of ladies who knit, can you imagine where…you guessed it Facebook.  Someone posted on the expat page that they wanted to purchase some Selbu socks.  Then someone replied to the post, I can teach you how.  Let’s just say that opened up a can of worms, the thread had 50+ comments.  The lady who said she could teach, Tracy, I had already met through Little Stars.  She also heads up a sewing group on facebook, she offered to start us slow with a hat, then socks and eventually selbu socks.  She offered to purchase everyone a “starter kit” who was planning to attend the meeting.

Its the design…not the type.

So we had our first meeting, there were about 15 people, give or take a few.  She had a couple other EXPERIENCED knitter join us so she wouldn’t be swamped with all of us newbies. 

I can sew, but knit it was going to be a struggle.  I could crochet a single “rope” when I was a child but nothing since, we are talking 30+ years ago.  Tracy included in our kit a 7mm & 8mm round knitting  needles, and 2 packs ( I still don’t know the proper name)wool.  I picked red…this hat was suppose to be for Jan. 

So I gave it whirl, and that’s about all I did.  I went home tried it some more.  Then my brilliant husband decides he will show me how to knit too.  Yes, he knows how to knit.  Everyone in Norway learns how to knit in grade school, it doesn’t mean they retain it but they learn.  So my hot shot husband ends up doing something with my wool and makes a huge knot!!  It takes me forever to get it out.  Then I continue trying to knit.  He looks at me and said…umm that’s not how the ladies on the ferry do it, you are making it look so difficult. 

I try again the next day and continue but it just looks like a mess.  Probably more like a rat’s nest than anything.  So I contact Tracy, she agrees to meet with me to help me out of my mess.  I told her I was fine starting over from scratch, she said oh no, we can salvage this.  I laughed…she tries…guess what??! Nope she can’t help it and suggests we start again.  I did the cast on and then I let her do the ribbed part, I wasn’t getting the purl stitch at all.  So I finally completed my hat.  Poor thing I don’t think it will ever be worn on any persons head.  It might be worn on a doll or stuffed animal but never in public.  It has holes throughout the hat, I just laugh everytime I see it.  But I think there is a learning curve, right???

I was good at the knitting part.  So I while I was out alone on Mommy time, I went into a yarn shop…I asked the lady if one of the sample hats was easy to knit…she said yes, its just a knit stitch.  So I bought some yarn…no I haven’t made this hat yet.  Then while Rebecca and I were exploring on or own I found a neighborhood yarn store.  She had told me she wanted me to knit her a hat so I let her pick out the colors.  Then another day exploring she picked out the two flowers that completed the hat.  I might have a fashionista on my hands ;-)  It turned out so pretty. 

The beginning of Rebecca's hat

The finished product 

yes, the photo is blurry

But in the meantime we started learning how knit socks.  Let me state, my purl stitch has improved dramatically.  I’m so excited.  But I’ve since given up on the sock for now, but I will come back to it later.  I want to get better at knitting first.  I have a ton of projects on my to do list, now.  I hope I can get to them. 

I have met quite a few friends through this knitting group.  We have gone a road trip to the yarn outlet about 30 minutes away.  Its a fun group of ladies.  I'm looking forward to learning new stitches and building friendships, there have been a lot of laughs so far...

Low Battery in car (sometime in January)

What a way to start a morning…  I go outside to turn on the "heater" on for the car before we drive Marcus to Barnehage.  You know these temperatures at 1C-3C are a bit cold for these Texans, but luckily my car has a diesel engine and has a programable warmer.  It will start warming the car without starting the engine…Oh how I love this feature.  But the night before I forgot to set the program, so I had to go outside to turn on the manual warmer.  This morning, the message board said…LOW BATTERY, what?!?!?!!  Marcus, Rebecca & I get dressed and I'm hoping the car will at least start when we leave to take Marcus to Barnehage.  Luckily it does, or I would have been knocking on neighbors doors.

After dropping Marcus at Barnehage, my little sidekick, Rebecca and I drive to the Volvo dealership.  We walk in, go the reception desk and I ask where I need to go for a low battery issue.  She pointed me out into the "shop" area.  So we walk outside, but there isn't a desk anywhere I can see.  So we walk towards the front of the building, nope.  Just two guys pulling into the garage/shop area, and nearly scaring me to death.  So we walk back inside the main building.  I look into an office and I asked the men where I need to go to have a battery checked out.  They pointed back out into the shop so we go back out in the shop, so we walk towards some offices.  And then we keep walking, looking for something that looks remotely like an information desk or someone signing people in for service on their cars.  Nope nothing, but finally a man starts speaking to us… I look at him and ask him if he speaks English, he nodes.  You look like you are lost, I'm thinking to myself… (Really what would give you that idea.  I'm walking with a 4yr girl in a "shop" area; cars being worked on and half of them are on lifts.)  I then told him I had a low battery light come on this morning.  He said, I will get someone to help you.  Finally, so we walked back to one of the offices we passed, he explains my problem to I'm guessing its a supervisor.  The supervisor asked where the car was I told him in the parking lot.  He says something to another guy and asks for my keys.   He asks me, do you need the battery to be charged or a new battery.  I looked at him and said I'm not sure, but I do know its under warranty.  He said we will take care of the car.

So Rebecca and I go back into the showroom.  They have a small Lego table for kids to play and I had my phone charged up.  My car salesperson recognizes me and asks if everything was ok…I said not really but they are working on it.  About 45minutes to an hour later, the guy who took my keys comes back looking for us… here are your keys you have a new battery.  I then ask where I pay, thinking there is some sort of fee even though it is under warranty.  Nope, nothing..just have a nice day.  Wait WHAT?!?!?  I have a new battery, it was a reasonable amount of time being I didn't have an appointment.  And we can have a warm car to get into in the mornings.  I love this feature, but I still miss my heated steering wheel in my old car.

Goodbye 2013 ~ Hello 2014

Wow, what a year 2013 was for our family.  For some reason odd numbered years are always big for our family…Jan & I met in 2001, moved into together in 2003, we were married in 2005, I finished my degree finally in 2007, Rebecca was born in 2009, Marcus in 2011, and now we moved to Norway in 2013.  Don't get me wrong, our even years aren't boring but there is something about the odd numbered years.

We had a quiet New Year's eve day.  I had a little time to myself, so I went into the city center and walked around.  I had asked the question to my Facebook expat group if anyone knew where I could get some black eyed peas.  For those of you, who aren't from the Southern United States, its a tradition to eat black eye peas, cabbage, and pork, I'm sure I am missing something.  I was told to try an Asian market in town, thanks to the trusty google maps for getting me to the street I needed to find.  Then when I walk into a store, I found cornmeal, I was one happy person.  I did find the black eyed peas as well, but I was super excited about the cornmeal.

I made it to a fireworks stand and picked up some sparklers for the kids to twirl around.  I would love to set off some of the big ones but Rebecca is sensitive to the loud noises the fireworks make.  So we have fun with the sparklers.

We had a quiet evening just the four of us at our new home.  As soon as the sun set, we started hearing fireworks around the neighborhood.  Then we went out about 8:30, typically the kids bedtime but tonight was special so we put on our warm clothes and headed out the door.  we walked up to a hill behind our neighborhood but we couldn't see very much.  Then lit our sparklers.  Rebecca was a little reserved but Marcus as soon as he knew what to do he wanted to twirl them around in big circles.  The three packs of sparklers were finished pretty quick but they had fun.  One safety note, the fireworks stand worker asked if I wanted any safety glasses I said sure, he asked how many children and adults.  I said two of each, yes they have child size safety glasses.  Do you really think anyone wore them?  Yes, our safety child, wore hers but no-one else did.  She kept them on until we asked her to take them off so we could take a family photo.  The best one was with her safety glasses on ;-)

sorry for the blur but it was raining. 

Jan showing Marcus how to do the sparker...

our safety girl…she loved wearing the safety glasses ;-)

We headed back towards the house but took a little detour.  Someone was lighting some fireworks, we stopped and waited then…they started shooting in the air. BANG BANG, not good, Rebecca didn't like it at all and was holding her little ears.  The kids were in the double BOB strollers so Jan took off running, he said if that box tips over this way we will be right in the blasting zone, not a good thing.  We get back home, Rebecca is determined to stay up later and later.  I think she was scared of all the fireworks going off.  Marcus finally passed out around 10pm and Rebecca was running from window to window looking at the fireworks.  Poor girl, she fell asleep about 15minutes before 2014 and missed the midnight fireworks.

About a few minutes before midnight, bang bang bang bang, the sky was lit up everywhere.  We are close to the top of a hill in the neighborhood so we could see all the way down to the fjord and the North Sea.  It was amazing, here in Norway private citizens can purchase and set off the type of fireworks typically only allowed by "professionals" in the USA… I stood up on a concrete wall on the patio and could see for miles, fireworks all over the area.  I went up to the balcony on the upper floor and it was absolutely amazing and beautiful.  This went on for about 20 minutes.  We were worried it would wake up the kids…but for some reason tonight they slept through all the fireworks.   I'm glad they didn't wake, maybe next year they can see the midnight fireworks.  Sorry none of the photos turned out to share…cloudy and raining don't mix well with cameras.

New Year's Day 2014.  We took the kids out for a short walk to the neighborhood playground to play for a while.   The playground looked like it was a base camp for fireworks…they were everywhere on the ground.   Later, we had our black eyed peas, cabbage, pork chops and cornbread for lunch.  Then we go over to Bestemor's house for a light dinner.  It was a great start to 2014.

Boxing Day 26th of December

No, it isn't a shopping day like it is in the USA.  Actually the stores are not open :-(  So we piled on our layers of clothes to go on a mini adventure during the day.  We drove to Ølberg beach to enjoy the fresh air and a tiny bit of sunshine its about 15 minutes away from our house. We have had rain everyday except one 24hr period since we arrived. (not now we've had several days with sunshine since 2014).  When we pulled up there were these crazy people undressing down to their swimsuits.  YES, its freezing outside and people with santa hats are ditching their clothes.  I guess its their annual tradition to go swimming in the North Sea on Boxing Day.  Before we left for the beach, we told the kids were were going to the beach, Rebecca responded with...oh I need to find my swim suit.  We told her it was too cold for swimming at the beach.

She looks in amazement… these people are going swimming and I'm stuck in my winter suit. 

They looked CRAZY and cold.  

Most of these people had, what we in Texas call coveralls or thick robes to throw on after they came out of the water.  But I don't recall anyone going completely into the water.  Most of the people came out of the water pretty quick and grabbed their towels/warm clothes except for one crazy guy.  I guess he was trying to skimboard.  He did a few times but gave up fairly quick.  And just for the record, they weren't all speaking Norwegian a couple were speaking English.

Marcus playing in the sand while crazy man tries to use his skimboard

After the crazies left the beach, the kids had a great time playing in the sand.  Yes, no gloves but their little hands were warm.  Mine were freezing, with gloves on.  They were starting to get a little brave running out towards the water almost getting caught a couple times.

The wave almost caught her.

After playing in the sand for a while, we went on another expedition.  There is a small harbor just to the left of the beach area.  

Marcus is walking up towards a German WWII bunker

Photo was taking from on top of the bunker

Rebecca taking a stroll

We have been back since the 26th of December.  The kids found a great trail through the bunker and under some rocks, its perfect for the kids but not so great when Mommy & Daddy are both tall.  

After the beach trip we went back home to get dressed for desserts at Besetmor's house.  Its very nice visiting with family.

Rebecca & Marcus had already been given their desserts 

Celebrating Christmas in Norway

I have spent two Christmas' here in Norway over the past 12 years Jan & I have been together and this one makes three.  There are some similarities but definitely differences.  Norwegians celebrate Christmas on the 24th where as Americans celebrate more on the 25th with a little extra on the 24th ;-).  We were invited to celebrate Christmas at Jørgen, Grete & Pia's house.  At home we are always very casual, but here in Norway we get to dress up

I wore heels but needed to keep my toes warm ;-) I love my ugg slippers

Jan's entire family was here this evening along with Grete's parents.  We had a very nice dinner of Pinnekjøtt Salted and dried, sometimes smoked, lamb ribs. These were traditionally steamed over birch branches – hence the name ("Pinnekjøtt" translates loosely to "stick meat").  In the eyes of an American, it doesn't look very appealing but it is yummy.  For the first course of dessert it was rice cream which is whipping cream, sugar, vanilla and rice porridge..its pretty tasty.  After everyone finished eating, it was time for some singing around the Christmas tree.

Even Julenisse joined everyone singing around the Christmas tree

An explanation of  Julenisse from http://www.stavanger-web.com/jul/christma.htm  Christmas Nisse (julenissen) which in most homes is more or less identical to Santa Claus. The "Julenisse" brings presents to all the nice children on Christmas Eve. He is not as shy as Santa though, since the "julenisse" delivers the presents himself. He does not come down the chimney in the middle of the night.

Next is the kids favorite time!!! These kids were super excited and couldn't wait to open their gifts.  

Little brother watching  

Big sister helping little brother

Pia & Rebecca having a tea party.  They are such sweet cousins.

Then is was time fore the main dessert course.  YUMMY!!!

It was a great time celebrating Christmas at Grete & Jørgen's house.  I think everyone was exhausted and then time for us to go home.  Santa Claus needed to visit our house and there was lots to do ;-)  

We spend some time playing with the new toys after we made it home but then it was time for the kids to get to sleep, remember the American Santa doesn't like children to see him or her ;-).  I think Santa finally finished his her  duties around 3am. but it was so worth it.  I actually think the kids slept until around 7, thank goodness.  It was full speed down the stairs to see if Santa had come down the chimney, of course he did.  They had so much fun opening their gifts.  Then it was nap time before the turkey & dressing went into the oven.  

After a busy morning

Here in Norway, the 25th of December isn't a big deal.  So it was a pretty relaxed day after the morning rush.  

I know its late but late is better than not at all.  More post to come soon...