birthday science

Eli opted for a science party this year.
I was thinking of something easier and quiet, like rock climbing with a few friends.
But, I kindly gave him his wish, after all, it was his birthday, not mine.
So,
Here's the birthday boy . . .

Here's the birthday party.

Have you ever had 10 rowdy 8-9 year old boys running through your home?
It was a lot of fun, but I must say it's a good thing I have a year to recover!
After the crowd collected at our house and ran crazy for a bit,
we organized ourselved and had some scientific fun.
First we dressed the part, mom was thinking "nice science"
but of course, this is what we ended up with.

Scary.

Fun.
Don't they look great?
After dressing the part, we got busy with experiments.
Balloons, water, baking soda, food coloring, vinegar, paper, string,
pins, tape, oil, toothpicks, soda bottles, sticks . . . lots of fun with lots of stuff.
We were busy trying things out while making noise & messes.
Most of us had a blast watching and learning while a few were upstairs
playing laser tag, spy, chase . . . just running crazy.
Thankfully there were no injuries and no injured things.

After the science fun, we ate dinner
then made icecream sundae "inventions" which we ate with cake.

I had fun making this cake and it wasn't really that hard!
And, I thought it turned out pretty great. WOw.
I love it when other people share their neat ideas on the web.

I daresay, it was a great party and . . . I could maybe do it again sometime.
Happy Birthday Eli! I love you!

Haven't we had a few birthdays lately?

I am soooooo sorry that we have not shared our birthdays with you this year.
We really like sharing them with you,
so I hope you don't mind getting the birthday fun all at once!!!
We started our birthdays this year with Daddy's!

We made him a big fancy card and lots of special pictures

warmed our hands over his candles

then helped him open his special presents.
Can you figure out who helped mommy wrap them?
We love this daddy very much!


Next:
ADAM's #7!

Adam wanted to have a rock party for his birthday this year . . .
as in those rocks your kids find all over this wonderful earth
while they are out and about, which collect in odd places around the house
(both inside and out - I must say they are often a part of my laundry).
SO, we had the most awesome rock party ever. What a great idea, Adam!

We made rock critters, searched for neat-o rocks in a box of sand,
learned about rocks (thank you Daddy - the kids really paid attention too!)
and looked for "fossilized" dinosaur eggs
which we had lots of fun making the week before the party.
Adam loved his rock climbing cake,
which was made from Great Grandma Brown's special
banana cake recipe which Adam loves!
I think Adam had the most perfect birthday ever.
After all the birthday fun, he lost another tooth! On his birthday!
Could things get any better for a 7 year old?
WE love you Adam!

Next: Eli's birthday . . . but, I've got to sleep so I'll post that one later.
Good night.

Funny things in Foreign places

Living in a foreign country is lots of fun,
especially when you find things like this that catch you off guard.

When we first moved here, the family thought these signs were pretty funny.
I hardly notice them any more because now I know what they really mean.

There are other funny things too, like the language.
I don't understand norsk (I know, Still?!!!), so, I usually tune out all conversations around me. It's funny when I realize that others around me are actually speaking English, not Norsk. SO, if I tune you out when I see you, just remind me that you are speaking English!
And no, I don't like being able to not understand what others are saying around me, but, I must say, it does have its benefits sometimes.

Here He Is.

We couldn't help but notice his little arm muscles!
As if he was showing us how strong he is already.

Sweet profile.

Skype

We're having a . . .?

Finally, after a little scare about two weeks ago, we were blessed to be able to see our little one by ultrasound and all looked well. We were so happy to see this little one. After I told a few people about our sudden visit for an ultrasound, the question was, "did you find out if the baby's a girl or boy?" My reply, "I didn't even think to ask or look, I was just so happy to see our little baby alive and well!"
SO, two week later we were back for another, or rather the official routine, check everything, ultrasound and we now officially know we are having . . . a boy. Oh and . . . I hope you all know we are expcecting?

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.