Winter is still here

This is our third winter here . . . but really our first.
We hadn't really seen what we call winter here. We were certain that Stavanger didn't really get winter at all. It does! This winter, we haven't been without snow since it fell heavily the week before Christmas and we haven't seen many days with the temperature above freezing, rather it has been on average, -5 degrees (celcius). It feels and looks like winter in Anchorage, just a bit warmer. The neighborhood roads are still snow packed ice roads. I've been ice picking and graveling my driveway to keep from falling down when I walk outside. We've seen ice on the fjord before, just haven't seen it on the fjord sooooo long. There are cross country ski trails through the farm fields and the sledding hills are all ice from the ongoing sledding. It's been nice to have winter for a change. Though Dave is ready for it to go . . .already. I don't think he misses winter. It would be nice to go walking again without worrying about falling down. But, it has been nice. And, it looks like winter is going to stay with us a bit longer . . . new snow fell today, adding at least a few inches to the snow we already had. I hope you are all enjoying some good winter too!

Christmas at the Hytta .

Since being here in Norway, a tradition seems to have been established that we MUST go to the Hytta for christmas. I suppose that's a good thing, though this year I asked the family if we could please be here for christmas . . . with our tree and comfy beds and just be here to share with other people we know too and I had this feeling that we would have snow this year and wouldn't need to go to the Hytta just for the snow. . . but, it was not to be. The family wanted to go, so go we did. This is how our Christmas began. Saturday, the 17th, it snowed. LOts and lots of SNOW! WOw. SUnday, church was cancelled due to the SNOW. Monday, we packed as fast as we could (food, clothing, sheets, snow stuff, cleaning bucket, games, presents . . . ) and were finally on the road by 3:00.

Following are a few highlights from our trip.


Getting Ready to GO

This year, the boys were assigned to get the snow gear ready. This is what we saw when we walked downstairs a while later. What a fun job! As you can see, they were very organized
and they had a little fun getting things ready.

The Hytta

The Hytta's we go to are usually a few hours away in the mountains, so we have snow!!! Two super reasons to go: the snow and time with just our family without all the things to keep us busy and occupied elsewhere at home (the phone, neighbors, laundry, the missionaries, etc). This year, the hytta was freezing when we got there! It seemed to take forever to get it warm. Once it was finally warm, we were cozy for the rest of our stay. The wood stove keeps things cozy warm,
and it's cozy hanging out and having fun with our family.

Here's a view of what I call a "Hyttaville". Norwegians own Hytta's, Americans own condos.
I think I like the Hytta idea best. All of these little cabins in this picture are hyttas.
I was surprised the first time we drove to Sirdal to see these little hyttas. We passed farmlands and small towns and began to climb and see snow. It looked like we were going to a quiet mountain place, when suddenly there were all of these hyttas dotting the mountainsides. Some of them are a bit rustic with no running water, an outhouse, and a hike to get to. But the ones we've been to have running water and you can pretty much drive up to them and unload all the gear.

This was our Christmas Hytta this year. It was pretty large and rather new. The only rustic part was warming the Hytta when we got there and washing our own dishes because the dishwasher was broken.

The kids room. They love the bunk beds.

Mary Alice trying out skis, Adam's "log cabin" built from the firewood, and a snowy Eli.

The boys romping behind the hytta.

A pieced together view of the valley we stayed in.

Finding A Tree

This year, we all took a little trek around the hytta,
with Eli in the lead, to find the perfect hytta Christmas Tree.
We wandered here and there in fresh fallen snow.
Along the way, mommy managed to sink into a little swamp stream,
which got her boot and leg all mucky and wet . . .
after all that trekking, we found our tree right behind the cabin.

Our saw this year was a bent up butcher knife (we forgot to bring the real saw).

Adam helped Dave find a bucket and rocks to put around the tree to hold it in place.

The boys enjoying the finished view.

Christmas at the Hytta . .

Decorating for Christmas

When the tree was ready and in place, it was time to decorate it.

Everyone got busy making christmas ornaments.
This year, we made them out of an empty hot chocolate box, plain white paper
and christmas illustrations cut from the milk carton.
(The norwegian mild cartons usually have a christmas theme for the season.)

Adam and Eli were the most creative with their ornaments this year.
Adam made cool spirals and snowflake/star like shapes out of the mostly red hot chocolate box
and Eli cut out neat angels and stars with the white part of the milk carton.

Mary Alice helped daddy cut all the string for the ornaments.

When the kids had all finished, Daddy kept working hard on the final ornaments - Snowflakes!

Thank you Daddy.

The final ornaments hung were the foil wrapped chocolate ornaments
Dave had found at the small local grocery store.

The kids drew then cut out the nativity. I love their artwork.

Mary Alice had been busy earlier in the day making snowflakes all by herself
to hang in the hytta! She got her daddy to help her hang them all up.

Thank you Mary Alice. They made our cabin winterly and fesitve.