Slug Poker

Slugs are very abundant here, especially after rain . . . kind of like earthworms most places. You see them very abundantly all over the walkways (and on other things) after a good rain. Adam thinks slugs are pretty fun. He likes to poke their "antenna". When he does that, they retreat into a sort of fat wrinkly ball, starting with their antenna. It's kind of fun to watch . . . first the antenna pull inside the head, then the head inside the body or something. Next time you see a slug, poke the antenna and watch what happens. Then next time we come to visit, you and Adam can share slug stories. He'll love it. I love my Adam and the views he gives me of nature. I didn't know slugs could be so entertaining. Poke, poke . . . retreat!

Caught in the Rain

Yesterday we hiked to a waterfall called Monafassen. It's a steep climb there and the trail can go on forever after in the mountaintops. It's very pretty. Above us in the sky, we could see the rain clounds gathering and asked the kids if they wanted to go on or head back after we got to the view of the falls. Onward was the request, so on we went a bit further then decided it was definitely getting cloudier and darker and began heading back. About a quarter of the way down, if that, big drops of rain began to fall. Just a few you could see clearly that left 2 inch splats on the ground. Only for a bit, then it was pouring rain and we were wet and dripping in a matter of minutes. Luckily it was warm and rainy. It was a great hike down with little streams running along with us and rain dripping off us. When we got to the car, Adam and Mary Alice stripped down to their undies and sat under a blanket and jacket while Dave and Eli headed off to see the lower view of the falls in the drenching rain. It was Norway all the way. I'm ready to do it again!

Puddles

Trailguide

Here is our guide, scouting out the path.

Where will she be taking us? What will we see?

It's easy to follow that smile!

Let's go . . .

We see lots o' rocks and grassy pasture,

stop for a picture and a view of our Hytta accross the water.


Sheep are along the trail (we can here their clanky bells)

and pretty heather too.

Finally we come to one of Norway's many lighthouses
and a spectacular ocean view!

Thank you Mary Alice.

Ever been here?

Dave has! He loved it. I'm just glad I didn't need to go and see my kids
standing, running or jumping next to the edge.
We had fun doing something else. What a mom! Sorry Dave.

These guys were there too. Recognize any of them? (Uncle Ben will.)
If you can get here, we'll get you there!

summer

STRAWBERRIES . . . AND warmth
and a wading pool, popcycles, water guns, suscreen (lots) the beach and hot! Amazing. Today we had a summer day. (24 degrees celcius - hasn't been above 20 all year, hardly, if ever, above 15.) It was so nice. We've had sun. Lots of it. But it's still been cold. Really cold and mostly windy. TOday, It was warm all day, even in the morning and in the evening. Not just kind of between the hours of 1 and 5, but all day, all evening. This is a rarity here to be enjoyed, soaked up and taken advantage of. This is the first week I have ventured outside all week long without a fleece jacket on, since last summer. To venture outside at 6 in the morning, 10, 11, noon without a fleece or jacket is . . . nice. To top off a perfect summer day, our strawberries seem to be ripening right before our eyes. YUM. Yum. yum. And again, Yum. I was very happy to pick about 20 of them today. What a yummy treat. Only about 2 had slug bites, 2 ant bites and one bird bitten. NOt bad. I was and am very worried about the slugs finding my berries before I do . . . Thankfully, they aren't as abundant as I thought they might be, yet.

Here we are together . . .

Almost . . . are we all there? Getting everyone in one picture is a miracle,
when and if it ever happens. Mom tries very hard to snap one
whenever we are together . . .

I read my sister in law's recent blog, how they traveled 7 hours in the car
"to do this". Well, I think we've got her beat, try 20 hours . . . for BOMBERMAN!
Best computer game ever. It was an amazing hit at Grandma's house.

Ok, so we didn't just play bomberman. We . . .

Tried to get a picture of all the grandkids with Grandma.
(I should really show all 20 pictures we took .
It's amazing how hard getting a picture with Grandma can be.

Grandma, of course performed well. But the kids . . . ?)

Played with Legos!!!

Went to the Draper Temple open house.

And . . .

The highlight of our last visit was being there for
Jason & Kelly's marriage.

It was a very beautiful and perfect day. Thank you for sharing it with us!

Sweet!

We were so very happy Great Grandma could make it for this special day!
Our happiness was complete when she was able to be with us.
She is amazing!
(Thank you Aunt Becky! Becky is amazing too.)

Thank you for spending good time with us during our last visit. We love you!