Today, in lieu of walking, I used public transportation to fetch Isaac from his barnehage.  I gave him the choice of whether he wanted to walk home (our usual system) or ride the bus.  You can guess which option he selected.

Waiting for the number 63

Watching the town whiz by 

After supper, we were treated to an outstanding rainbow display.  The colors on the main arc were more vivid than on any rainbow Dave or I had ever seen.  You could actually distinguish the violet.

Isaac asked, "Who made that rainbow?"  Answer, "Well, God."  Isaac's response, "I like God."

We are really noticing the shortening days.  The day length changes fast here.  We lose over 6 minutes of daylight each day.  That doesn't sound like much until you add it up and realize that in one week, we will have 45 fewer minutes of daylight.  That is a fast transition.

Isaac's Thursday field trip with his barnehage

This week for their field trip, the older kids at the barnehage took the tram up to the city forest.  By older kids, I mean they are the two-year olds.  All the "babies" stayed back at school.  These pictures are all taken by Isaac's teacher.

I am so impressed by this entire phenomenon of weekly fieldtrips with toddlers.  I never see anything like this back in the States.  Every day here I see troops of kids out on trips with their teachers.  

Here are the kids waiting for the tram.  Isaac is second from the right.  The tram stop is a half a block from their school.  Note all the reflective vests. 

These are the four musketeers from Isaac's class. 

Isaac had a great view of the tram driver's controls from his seat.

Bye-bye tram! 

Surveying their surroundings - they were there to study birds, but they found all sorts of interesting things in the forest.

Hunting for mushrooms 

Blueberry tongue 

Searching for more blueberries 

Hugs from Chantal 

All sorts of great discoveries were made.  Isaac is an expert in identifying poop.  Apparently he pointed it out all over on the hike - bird poop, horse poop, you name it, he saw it.

Picnic lunch

They always come to picnics 

What a view 

Isaac is eating a snake. 

Norwegian lunches consist of all sorts of stuff that come in toothpaste-like tubes.  Kaviar (fish paste), edelost (blue cheese spread), etc.  

This little girl has Isaac's favorite name to say: Hedvig Ingebørg.  

Isaac was pointing out poop in the flagpole. 

Heading back to school 

Happy boy

Ah, the magical box.  If only they paid attention to me like that. 

Had a wonderful visit with Marit and David, friends of my friend Rachel.   Great coffee,  blueberry cake and ice cream, and conversation. 

The view over Trondheim on my walk home

On Fridays at the university cafeteria, it's grøt day.  Dave invited me for lunch.

For 29 kroner, you get a huge bowl of grøt (kind of like really rich rice pudding) and a cup of juice.   From Øyvind I learned that the tradition when he was growing up was 1) on Saturdays, it was always grøt for lunch and 2) on Tuesdays, it was pancakes.  For dinner.  Wrapped around jam and bacon.  

As you can tell, Dave is looking forward to his grøt.

The view from the front of university

The oldest building on campus 

Katie joined me to pick up Isaac at his barnehage.  As we were heading out of our neighborhood, we spotted a beautiful rainbow.

Scooting in the rain along the Nidelva

My colorful super scooter.  Thanks to good neighbors (who lent the scooter) and fellow Americans in Trondheim (who lent the helmet).

Almost to Isaac's school 

Best accessory for a stroller in Trondheim - a rain cover

After we picked up Isaac, Katie took a tumble on the scooter.  A curb was obscured by a big puddle, and Katie's knee took a big shot to the concrete. 

No broken bones - back to scooting

On the way home, we watched some university students test their homemade bathtub boat in the river.  On Saturday, Dave saw the big event going down.  All bathtub boats, relay racing in the river. 

It was the first day of autumn.  You can start to see the autumn colors showing. 

Dave made a toasty fire in the wood stove, and then popped some corn in the side heater.

It was the best popcorn ever!  

Dancing to Simon and Garfunkel

Our newest Uno player 

Isaac's two favorite Norwegian phrases: takk for mat (thanks for the food) and komme og spise (come and eat). 

Sam has become quite the expert at creating things with paper.  Last night, he created a Clone Trooper uniform.  This morning, he made helmets for all the kids, so they could join him as Clone Troopers.