Halloween party I

Katie post-Art Club 

There was a Halloween party at the international school on Friday night.

Sam and his friend Adrian pose.  Adrian is a ninja and Sam is an army officer outfitted with paper guns and ammunition.

Katie and her classmate Eskil 

Belle and Darth

More face paint 

Grace had a good time at the craft table using scissors.   When we were contemplating coming to Norway for half a year, I was a bit apprehensive about the fact that Grace would have no supplemental therapy, such as she has had in her first three years (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy).  Turns out, she's getting all of it in a really natural way here.  In her barnehage, she is in a class with 13 other typically developing kids.  To top it off, she is the youngest in the class, so she has lots of good peer examples of typical 4-year old development.  She's held to the same standards as her classmates, and does all the same activities.  Her teachers are great, and she loves going to school each day.

The party was held in the gym, which is lined with these ladders.  Grace spend most of the evening climbing.  

Isaac tried to get in on the fun, but he wasn't so confident on the ladders.

Sam declared that Grace's costume was Chicken Pox Girl (because of the polka dots on her shirt) and Isaac's costume was a Cyborg (because he had robots on his shirt, so he was half man/half machine.)

Isaac handles an unmanned light saber.  There were at least three Darth Vaders at the party.

Cultural Day

Wednesday at Sam, Katie, and Grace's school they celebrated Cultural Day.  Instead of wearing their school uniform, they could wear clothes that represent their culture.  Sam wore jeans and his Butler Broncos t-shirt, Katie wore her red, white, and blue dress, and Grace wore her Texas Rangers World Series shirt.  (Alas, we wish this year's series had ended better for the Rangers.)

At the school assembly, each homeroom group led a different presentation.  Sam and Katie's group led the school in singing the school song, each line translated into a language that is represented by students at the school.  The barnehage kids (Grace's group) recited a funny Norwegian poem.  Another group did dances from the different cultures at the international school.  For the American dance, they line danced - that got the most cheers.

This group is doing a Norwegian hat dance - the Halling.  The fellow is kicking a hat off a stick. 

Grace and her friend Lily

Cultural exchange

Isaac the inveterate big-machine-spotter

Our die-hard rose bush.  This has had blossoms on it since we arrived in August and is still going strong at the end of October.

Our living room through the eyes of the iphone.

Dave is always deep in thought.

360 degree view

Atop Storheia

Jared took some great pictures from his hike with Dave on Saturday.

From the summit

That's the Trondheimsfjord in the background

Some panoramas taken by Jared's iphone 

Plenty of snow left 

But mostly mud

Saturday hiking

On Saturday, we set out to hike in Bymarka.  Our plan was to take the 11:50am bus, but it never showed.  The next scheduled bus wasn't until 1:20, but luckily, there was a farmers' market going on downtown, so we were able to score some fresh lefse for our hiking snacks.  The 1:20 bus actually showed, and we were off.

We all started out together, but then Dave and Jared hit the trail to Storheia, the highest point in Bymarka.  The kids and I went for a hike around a lake. 

Katie investigating the residual snow. 

Grace snuck in a nap at the beginning of the hike.  The trails we were on were gentle enough that I could push the stroller, though it wasn't always smooth. 

Sam with a smug marshmallow smile.

Playing by the lake

Having a conversation through the culvert 

Climbing off trail 

Isaac was proud to reach the top of the rocks.

We discovered a hole in Katie's boot on this hike.  This may have contributed to her sour look.  I learned a good lesson this year - you are better off buying quality rain boots than $15 rain boots from Target.  The three pairs I bought there before we came to Norway all blew out within two months.  Thank goodness for great neighbors who have shared many hand-me-downs with us.  All the kids now have good, water-worthy, warm boots.

Our beautiful boys 

And our glorious girls

Nice face, Sam 

What is this strange stuff?

Sam eats a real sno-cone.  After taking a few bites, this became ammunition to throw at Mom.  :)

When I look at this photo, I see how many ways in which I am blessed.

Lucky lady 

Isaac decided he didn't want to wear his rain pants but couldn't ditch them completely.  He didn't let that hold him up.

The emblem for the Trondheim Ski Klub.  Vikings on skis - what a picture. 

Enjoying a treat at Skistua after our hike

Playing legos while we wait for the bus back to the town center

Jared got lots of giggles out of Grace.

Father and son 

Isaac is a serious bus rider. 

Post-hike activities - the girls did some artwork. 

Isaac (in his woolens) played with a superball he has dubbed Mr. Happy.

Sam built a Bounty Hunter Assault Gunship.  Such a violent name for such a peaceful endeavor.