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.

These posters are now hanging in the boot room at Grace's barnehage.  One of my favorite Norwegian sayings is there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.  And these folks worship their wool.  If it isn't made of wool, it isn't worth wearing.  We are totally converted - I dress Grace and Isaac in their woolens everyday.  They spend the most time outside. 

Cross-section of a Norwegian child in -10 degree Celsius weather 

I needed to go to the courthouse (Tinghus) on Friday to get a document notarized.  These bas-reliefs are in the entryway.  Though most of our experiences with things bureaucratic in Norway have been painful, this went smooth as silk. 

Indoctrinating Jared into the grøt tradition at the university cafeteria at Friday lunch 

The kids loved playing on Jared every evening.

It's coming!

Dave's student Jared has been staying with us the past week.  Today he gave his seminar at NTNU.  He was a great representative of UT Arlington.

Jared in action talking about monomial ideals

Hanging out after school.  At the NTNU bookstore I found a Calvin and Hobbes book in English, so Sam was buried in it all evening. 

There it is.  Those are the hills across the fjord from Trondheim.  Yesterday, there was no snow on them.  Today, snow.  Moreover, Isaac's class went on a fieldtrip up to the city forest today.  It snowed on them.  Isaac is the first Jorgensen to experience Norwegian snow this year.

The vestiges of autumn along to the path to Isaac's barnehage

I have decided that Norway is the land of rainbows.  Since the weather changes so frequently, it is really common that it is raining when half of the sky is bathed in sunshine, thus we are treated to oodles of rainbows. 

Isaac is my digger-spotter.  He has a super keen eye for an construction equipment, and it is all over Trondheim.  

Here comes the tram!  Isaac's class took the tram again today on their fieldtrip.  

Katie - author/illustrator

On Wednesday, when I was picking up Isaac, I got a call from home.  It is always Katie, and her call usually means one of two things:  1)  Katie wants permission to eat something sweet, or 2) Sam is using the laptop and hasn't given Katie a turn.  This time, Katie said, "Mom, how do you spell fairy?"  I sure love that girl.

Note the motion lines under the wings

Table of contents - a bit misplaced, but very informative

We might need to have a heart-to-heart about the virtues of depending on oneself, rather than a prince.