friends and family

So we had a little garden party last Sunday, with my brother + family and my mom and dad. It was so nice to fire the BBQ grill again and be together on one of the few nice, warm and sunny days of August (so far). And MT was so happy, after being a bit sad over missing out on our last gathering in the garden (my birthday, also see below).

The nice thing about Sunday was that it took little to no planning. We just brought with us whatever we had on hand. I didn’t even have time to clean the house before this or set the table outside, we just didn’t care about the mess. It was more important for us to enjoy the afternoon and evening together. And to be honest they are family and know about my quirks and messes anyway.

My brother was nice enough to be the grill chef and barbecue the food for us. Thanks again We enjoyed being together, the food and the weather.

And we had some fun too.

Both kids and grown ups.

Later we spent some time talking about this and that, so great to be together and catch up on life. And the I got some help from all the guys to move a closet into my bed room too. Yay, it was a really good day. Now I have room for more clothes upstairs. Note to self: The closet needs some washing… and you need to fill it with clothes too.

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Anyhow, here is a scrapbook layout I made from the last barbecue in the garden, the birthday one (the one MT missed and felt a little left out of when he realized that his cousins where there and he was on vacation in western Norway).

Credits:
Template by Scrapping with Liz
Papers and element from Finley by Sweet Tomato designs (the red paper and banner is recolored)
Click the image and jump over to Flickr for journaling…

Today have been a mix max of feelings and time spent with family and friends. We’ve both laughed and cried while we celebrated a woman that was very dear to us and that we got to spend so much quality time with.

It was the day of our Grandma’s funeral and we all had planned and gotten different things to do, say or sing. Even a couple of her great grand children placed roses on her coffin to say their thanks.

It’s been a good day, and I’m glad to know that my mummy feels that way to. It was of course sad as well and we all wanted her to be there with us like she’s been for so many years. It felt so good to be together with so many that had loved her and to know that she knew how many of us felt – we are a family of talkers (more or less) and my Grandma was good with reading people.

I’m just leaving you with a few photos from the day. I took a lot of people photos, not many of them any great since I didn’t use flash and people moved around…. Anyhow above and below are a few of those I took today, ending with a beautiful full moon taken outside our house when we got back home.

I’m going to go to sleep now; this day have been far to long already. I didn’t sleep much last night (4-5 hours) worrying about the speech I was going to hold about my Grandma at the funeral (it went well, thankfully) – so I’m really tired to put it mildly.

Below is my favorite, recent, photo of Grandma (or Mormor as I call her in Norwegian = mothers mother). There will be more later in the week about her and about this day. But for now: Good Night!

My Grandma died last night.

She was old, 98.5 years old, so it didn’t come as a BIG surprise – but it happened so fast – one day she was bright alert and on the go – the next one she is no more.

Me and Grandma have a lot of history that is very dear to me, I’ve spent a great part of my childhood visiting her and Grandpa in their yellow house (that was sold when after Grandpa died 17 years ago). My Grandma was a woman with a strong opinion about just about everything, we spent a lot of time discussing issues of all kinds. Sometimes we disagreed greatly, usually we both got a lot to think about after debating. Most often we found some common ground in the end, and there was little or no hard feelings afterward. I think that was because we both loved each other deeply; no disagreement could change that!! After I started working as a pastor and moved away from home we haven’t had time to discuss all kinds of topics, but we have (off course) talked about church and theological issues, as she grew older she got a  bit milder and it was more a conversation than a discussion. I’m going to miss talking with her!!!

My Grandma had a great sense of humor and she laughed often.

Over the next week or so I’ll be using this blog to help me remember stuff about my Grandmother. It’s a nice way to gather my thoughts and find what  I think should be said in her funeral (I promised to help my mom with that). I guess I’ll be showing off a few photos as well as I have already.

We went to a family party yesterday afternoon. It was nice to be with them and sort of a tradition each summer. We ate barbecue outside and then cakes and coffee inside (since it started raining). In the late evening the rain stopped and the temperature wasn’t that bad so we all (not all come to think of it, but me, kiddo, my brother and his wife and kids) went to have a night swim in a nearby lake. The water was so warm and we had a great time together. Swimming, laughing, splashing and talking. Love you guys!!

Hoping to return to this lake another time this summer.

Bea is one of our good friends from back where we used to live 1.5 years ago, she is also one of MT’s godparents. We don’t see her as often as we wish, but this weekend we spend a few days together. And, off course, I had to take a few photos of her and MT together. The favorite got scrapped:

Credits: elements from shine on and unscripted no.3 by TaylorMade; papers and elements from bloom+grow by Ali Edwards, Amy Wolf and Meredith Fenwich; papers and element from de*lovely by Paislee Press and The Queen of Quirk; template by me

Journal: This weekend our good friend Bea came to stay with us. It was so nice to catch up, celebrate birthdays, drink coffee and just hang out together. I shot a few photos of Bea and MT, this one is my favorite. I love MT’s half smile and the way Bea looks at him. So much humor and love there!

As you can see, I’m testing my own block/boxy templates. Head over to my lime scrapped if you want a template freebie (available in a couple of days…).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG BOY!!

I love you and I am seriously proud of you!! Keep smiling and loving to learn about the world!

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Can you believe it?! My kid is 6 years old today! Come fall he’s starting school for real. He’s a big boy now. Don’t think for a minute he lets me forget that

He was so happy this morning, jumping around, opening a few gifts with much joy and thankfulness. When we got to preschool/kindergarten the whole building smelled of waffles. They made it for him Later today he’s going to get a crown to wear and they are going to sing for him. I smile by the thought of how big his smile must be by then! He’ll also get fun tasks at the table and else during the day.

In the afternoon we are going to have a party at home with his friends. 5 boys and 3 or 4 girls. It’s going to be wild and chaotic, but also fun and memorable. I think I need to charge my camera My mom is coming over to help me a little (but mostly to keep me sane company).

Now I’m going to make me a cup of coffee and get started on the many tasks around the house. And I have to start making the gello or else it’ll be too liquid to eat (and we can’t have that!).

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And HAPPY EARTH DAY to everyone!!

I’ll get back to that part of the day later…..

Every Easter Day since MT got baptized we have been celebrating the day with family and friends. This year was no exception and we invited our closest family to join us.

Photo from the baptism Easter Day 2006.

But first I had a little work to do, an Easter service up in the mountain. In a small, cozy church. I didn’t bring my camera, so I have sadly no photos to show. The service didn’t start before 3 pm so we had plenty of time to enjoy the morning and early day.

MT was happy to find some candy for him in the living room and thought it was a nice breakfast (ahem).

(more…)

Happy birthday!

I’m just in time to congratulate you on your day. Hope it was nice! Above is my current favorite photo of you

Enjoy life, be your self and be proud! Love you lill brother

We spent the last part of our weekend with family at my parents farm. My mom was feeling a bit under the weather on Saturday, but the rest of us had some fun together. By Sunday morning my mom felt a lot better (looked better as well) and made us all some delicious Sunday dinner.

We spent a good part of the Sunday outside and I took some photos (off course). It was a bit cold, so I was afraid for my camera – but it seemed to go okay and it still works as normal.

I look forward to live here at the farm some day, but I really do wonder how I’m going to make a living of it. As it is now my dad barely breakes even and my he has worked as a full-time teacher as well as being a farmer. I’m not sure if I have the energy to do that (having a full-time job AND doing the farm work) – I only know that I need some money to pay for things…. Hm…

Haven’t I got the best boy ever

Credits: Template Pressed Petals by Alamama; papers, elements and alpha from Oh. happy day by Dorothy’s Creations; Overlay by Vera Lim.

He loves lime LOL

The very first time MT tasted lemons – he hated it. It was too sour he told me! But recently he have developed a love for the LIME taste. And his mother couldn’t be happier

Journal:
He used to find sour fruits something to avoid, he loves sweets. But then he got a second taste, of LIME, and he changed his mind. Now sour is GOOD!!

The kid next door (more or less) visited us tonight. And we had fun playing in the snow in the evening I had to join them because of the darkness (it was scary tigers in the forest!) – and ended up with a nearly shoveled drive way and a big smile on my face from spending 1.5 hours OUTside. I loved it; that kind of took me by surprise and I look forward to other nights like this with some of MT’s friends over. It so great to have the snow here, it’s a whole lot – but manageable (at least after a few days of getting it out of the road….)

Anyhow. It’s late. Better find my bed. Good Night!

I’m not loving the blitz at these photos, but I had to shot them quickly because the boy moved fast AND it was snowing on my camera(!) Next time I hope to get more photos of them too!

Late last year we got a new neighbor, a boy at age 5. Could it be any more perfect? MT have missed going outside to find someone to play with – now he can almost do that (since he has to cross a heavy trafficked road he still has to bring his mummy along, but they have plenty of places to play both in the fields and forest that have no cars….).

The kid came to see us today. He brought his mother with him for security, since it was his first time visiting us, that was nice for me to get to know her a tiny bit more as well. But after a while her son told her to go home, he was okay being at our house on his own. It was so nice chatting with his mum, but I was also happy with him being comfertable being here on his own. I hope he’ll become a regular guest and play pal for MT; by summer I guess they will be hanging out, more or less, every day possible.