Norway Part 2: A Two week whirlwind

After we recovered from our long journey across the Atlantic, we quickly settled into the Nowegian way of life.

There are A LOT of pictures here, I didn't know how to narrow down all the events and fun people we saw! :)

Everything in Norway is cute;  even the airport.  

It's like in the movies where you get off the plane and you actually walk down the plane steps. 

When we got off, Noah kept saying "sno!" "sno!"   He loved it.

bonding with Farfar over a game of handball on TV

Noah helped build his first pepperkake hus (gingerbread house)

It was cold!

but since Noah is half Norwegian, he didn't seem to mind.

After all, "there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes" as the Norwegians always point out.

reason #53 Norway is awesome:

people hand knit bear outfits for kids to wear in the cold.

Our cousin Linda knitted this one.

Reason #54 Norway is awesome:

People walk everywhere and enjoy the fresh air

-notice the little ice skaters in the left of the picture.

they even had a little camp fire next to their homemade rink.

I mean, seriously.  how cute is this?

 these ice skaters were skating on the frozen lake just down the street from Preben's parents.

Noah enjoying his first "cakes and coffee" experience - with his Great -Grandma!

for those of you who don't remember: 'cakes and coffee' is a food group in Norway, and I'm almost certain it's on their food triangle; their value recommendation is about 1-2 servings daily.

He of course he loved the cakes

and surprisingly, he also loves coffee - he takes it black, like the Norwegians do.

Liam got to meet Oldemor. (Great Grandma)

enjoying the view.

Yes- I believe that is someone on a motorized scooter.

We enjoyed good times at Thor-Erling & Kjerstin's annual Christmas-soup party with our sweet friends.  

My Norwegian girls.

Love them!

of course our trip wouldn't be complete without a trip to the ER.

Noah was chasing a balloon and ran head first into a coffee table.

you may recall when we had to go there last year when Noah burned his hands.

On the positive side, we were already in their computer system, ready to go!

never a dull moment, friends.

In the waiting room.

Noah was so brave; they stitched him up without any pain meds.

Naturally, he got to eat as much candy as he wanted that night.

As much as he wanted.

and, speaking of candy, we had had a girl cousins night of making yummy Christmas candy and treats.

Norwegians are hardcore about their sweets.

I played it safe with some peppermint bark

Sweet cousins

We missed you, Elin!

Of course the boys got to spend lots of time with Farfar and Farmor

(Grandpa & Grandma)

and with their cousins

Reason #55

-Never a bad view.

Taken from our good friends, Roy Helge & Elise's place.

Beautiful.  

Both the view, and their family.

Emilie told me she really wants a little brother or sister...

Playing with Farmor out in the snow!!

We celebrated an early Christmas there with the fam, complete with Norwegian Christmas dinner, and, you guessed it! 

-Cakes and Coffee!

enjoy it now Bud, there is no snow in Texas!

We enjoyed a delicious dinner with our most favorite Italian-Norwegian couple in the world, Hilde & Marco.  Can you guess who's from where? ;)

And we got to meet little Jonas!!

Ingunn, the proud momma here, used to live in Georgia, which is where her hubby is from.

We missed seeing you, Coby!

Here's what Norwegian babies look like in the winter

Liam is almost as long as Noah now.  -no joke.

the Enger brothers watching home movies together on the iphone

Always good to see sweet Kirsti!

She hosts great playgroups. :)

Noah got to go with cousin, Oda, to Dyreparken (literaly translated that means animal park) 

which means Zoo!

Here's what a Norwegian Zoo looks like.

Too cold for the poor little giraffe-ies.  

This must have been what they felt like in the ark.

After a very fast two week trip, we got all packed up and headed home.
Noah drove us to the gate.
-We get special service at all airports now because of our last experience.

Liam was awesome on the flight, laughing with Pappa the whole time.

Noah was a different story.

Preben & Liam were all laughed out.

Big boy!

Noah didn't want to be in his car seat at all until he saw Liam sitting in it.

The trip home was much better than going.

It's hard for Noah to be stuck in the seat for such a long time though.

Plane traveling is not his favorite. 

We had such a nice time seeing all you Norwegians!!

We miss you and wish we could have spent more time with all of you!