Today I avoided studying German and did this....

Nothing like a clean and organized closet....now that I'm done, I was going to study but.... now I have created a huge ironing pile. Tomorrow is another day!!

Vacay recap

Oslo, Norway was so beautiful and picturesque. I recommend going there at least once in your life time. Oslo is the most expensive city I have ever visited, more than Paris and London. They still use the Norwegian Kroner instead of Euro, it was too depressing to keep converting. The people were very friendly and everybody speaks English. The food was very good, but some what disappointing that American chains have made it to Norway, like TGI Fridays and Hard Rock Cafe and of course Mc Donald's and Burger King. Though I was bummed one chain restaurant was not there, "Starbucks". I have to say I was dying for a good coffee or latte. We did an all day tour and boat tour, it was very good and easy on the feet. 6 Museum's, The Vigeland Sculptor Park and many sites from the boat and bus. It was a partly rainy day but other than that the weather was amazing, even came home with some color on my face. On the other days we visited the Art museum and saw the painting "The Scream" and many others. We went to the Palace and saw the changing of guards, no royalty in the house. Saw the largest Fresco at the Oslo City Hall and did some shopping. Had 24 hour daylight, sunshine, laughter and great quality family time. Much needed Daddy/Hubby time and a great Father's Day weekend.

Bad tourist part deux!

Kon Tiki Museum

Katelyn and I are probably the worst tourist, or at least a tour guides worst nightmare. We follow behind listening, but lose interest and start silly photo sessions. In our defense this was our third Museum so far that day and two more to go....plus we were hungry and not really interested in Tiki's. Katelyn was in a photo sabotage mood and pretty much every picture from this point on was borderline trash bin. We had fun and laughed too much. Craig on the other hand is the complete opposite...listens, looks at every picture, reads the facts etc... We're more meet ya at the gift shop kinds girls.

Oslo Street Fashion

I could have spent my whole trip sitting on a park bench, people watching. I think Oslo by far is the best people watching "street fashion" I have witness yet. Pictures never do justice and I could have posted hundreds of pictures if I was brave enough to take them. Here is a few of my favs!

Vigeland Sculpture Park

The park covers 80 acres and features 212 bronze and granite sculptures created by Gustav Vigeland. This by far was my favorite part of the trip, pictures do not do justice. It was quite a sight.

Angry Baby

Angry Mommy and Girl - rain,rain go away!

Crazy girl?

Bronze baby

Jon Gosselin?

Amazing fountain

Ah!!

Seriously women where are my pants?

More Oslo.....

Wordless Wednesday - Oslo

Happy Father's Day to all the Pops!

This is my father..Harry, Dad aka Pop Pop! Happy Father's Day Dad! Thanks for being the best Dad, Pop Pop and friend. I love you with all my heart and am very lucky to have you in my life. My Dad will always have his nose in a good book, glass of Red wine nearby and a tee time set. Besides his family those are his loves. Happy Father's Day Dad I hope the sun shines where ever you are.

This is my Hubby the father of my baby!! Not only is he the best Husband, he is a pretty darn good Daddy too. Happy Father's Day sweetie! Our daughter is very lucky to have you as her Dad, you are so smart and silly and tough but gentle. I love sitting back and watching you two in action, your like two peas in a pod. I hope you have a wonderful Father's Day and know you are loved and appreciated. Love you with all my heart.

Sophie is off to the farm......

Sophie is off to her vacay at the farm......we believe it's a farm! Makes us feel better to not think of a kennel atmosphere but a farm with horses, cows, chickens and other Sophie's of coarse. All I know is she loves going, jumps right in the van not even a kiss goodbye or nuzzle nothing, just I'm outta here! She comes back tired and dirty, from chasing horses and cows and chicken I guess. I travel and sleep better knowing that she is happy with Frau Rita and the animals.

I'm packed and I'm ready to head out of dodge! See ya next week and have a wonderful weekend!!

Wordless Wednesday

Searching for Summer

On Friday we are heading to Oslo, Norway for the Summer Solstice. We are hoping to officially start summer in Norway, hopefully there will be more signs of summer there than in Germany. I would like to see and feel the sun and perhaps not have rain, I'm willing to wear a sweater that's my compromise!

I'm excited to see many things but the one place I'm most excited is Vigeland Sculpture Park. The park covers 80 acres and features 212 bronze and granite sculptures created by Gustav Vigeland. Vigeland personally sculpted every figure out of clay and individual craftsmen were contracted to fabricate the pieces into what they are today. These works of art reside along an 850 meter-long axis divided into six sections: The Main Gate, The Bridge, The Children’s Playground, The Fountain, The Monolith Plateau and the Wheel of Life.

I'm looking forward to a mini vacay, and spend some quality time with the family. Summer is officially starting for the West Family Friday do I hear a woo hoo!!

Weekend Ramblings

My rambling weekend......

I told my German teacher my daughter was having a surprise birthday party at our house this weekend, she wanted to know if I was serving alcohol?
WTH I said NEIN!! She ask if it was because I didn't want them to have alcohol? Ja mostly because they are 14 and 15 years old and they don't drink!! She was shocked!!

Diet Coke in restaurants cost 3.50 Euro for a small, that's around $4.55! Why? Beer is a Euro more for a large? Crazy!

My ass hurts from riding my bike to kingdom come and back!

I hate grocery shopping here .....the meat is a mystery.

I lady at the cheese counter yelled at me for trying to come within a foot of the cheese that was wrapped in plastic, so I could communicate how much I needed. Need to stop eating cheese!!

We have a strawberry field a half a block away... same strawberries are sold on other end of block a quart cost 2.65 Euro =$3.45. Why were the strawberries cheaper in Utah and they came from Chile?

Why don't girls sleep at sleepovers?
Why didn't I take a sleeping pill and wear ear plugs?
Why is my husband snoring?
I hate sleepovers!!

Happy Friday!!

Happy Friday everyone.....been one of those weeks were cocktail hour can't start early enough! Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

Today was our annual visit from the Chimney Sweeper. We were told when we moved here the inspector will come to your house and you can not refuse the service and you must let him in it is German law! You must have your chimney inspected and cleaned once a year. I've read it the job was created back during the Nazi era and the cities are divided into "sweep" Districts. The cleaners are well trained 12 years before getting there own district and often volunteer for the fire dept. Our is very nice and knows perfect English which is a huge plus in my book.

We never use our fireplace, doesn't matter, it's the law. They also inspect your heating system, ours is brand new, doesn't matter it's the law. I'm told the cost range from 50 Euros to 100 Euros per visit but a law is a law. And I have fire issues so it is a piece of mind.

I'm a bit of a clean freak so when our soot covered sweeper came today, he had me a little worried of the mess he would leave behind. Other than the smell, not a speck of soot in my house. But I wondered about his car, his house, his washing machine, his nails etc... does he really ever come clean? Does he always smell like soot...seriously could you imagine being married to that smell forever?

Tagged

Crazy 8 Tag!

I was tagged by Tami

at http://ttmillersandboys.blogspot.com/

8 Things I'm looking forward to-

1.School ending summer starting

2. Trip to Oslo, Norway

3. My parents and Niece visiting

4. Trip to the States

5. Loosing weight

6. Going home

7. My Sisters visit this fall

8. A good night's sleep

8 Things I did yesterday-

1. Woke up too early

2. Rode to our town's Strawberry Day

3. Rode to the Grocery Store

4. Rode to another Grocery Store

5. Relaxed

6. Drank lots of Coffee

7. Went to dinner with friends

8. Drank too much wine

8 Things I wish I could do-

1. Be content

2. Be adventurous

3. Speak German

4. Find joy in every day

5. Commit to working out

6. Go home

7. Love Germany

8. Go home

8 TV shows I watch-

1. BBC

2. Boston Legal (DVD)

3. Rock of Love

4. My super sweet sixteen

5. Hogan knows best

6. Pimp my ride

7. The Hills

8. Rev's House

(Hey we only get two channels here BBC and MTV)

I'm bad at tagging people so join the fun if you want and list your Crazy 8's

Today I was told the best way to learn a language is to take a LOVER . So I asked my Hubby if I could do that, you know to learn the language, assimilate better in Germany. It's not that I want to by all means it's just part of language training, kinda like a tutor! He said Nein!

Today when having my German lesson we were covering colors and she ask me what color my coffee cup was. I said Burgundy, I don't even know if I walk around saying that color or why I said it. My coffee cup is really Maroon but I couldn't recall the color. She was like what is this Burgundy I don't know this color, all excited like she learned something new. Writing it down she wanted to know was this English , American or Oxford? All I could think was it's Crayola 64 pack I think.

See why taking a LOVER is a better learning tool!

Making a house a home one step at a time.....

Today I anxiously waited between 7am - 2pm for my Ikea delivery. When we moved here we shipped a lot of our favorites but not everything. You can only fit so much in a shipping container. Now that we are slowing approaching our first year here and I'm done sulking, we are trying to make this feel more like home. Our office is the first to get the much needed attention. My husband has to work with German time zone and California time zone so he spends most evenings in the office and we wave to him through the window. Our office has his desk and a built shelves, and that's was it until today.

Sophie checking out the chair and peaking out the window

Sophie helping.......

Bare bones couch

Finished product minus the legs and maybe some pillows? Is it too busy for pillows?

Finished product comfy chair

Now I've been scouring the Internet for pictures to cover the bare white walls. But I'm so happy that now I can sit in there and read or play free cell while my hubby works. Plus we don't have to hide in our bedroom when the teen has her friends over. Yay for Ikea and Yay that they deliver.

Banana Splits at my Gym!

What the hell! My gym during the month of June is having Banana Splits for 2 Euros !! I think they are major saboteurs of the worse kind. I guess it's good business keeping your clients fat.

So lets recap what I can get at my German Gym:

1. Banana Splits ( Made with Ice Cream not Yogurt)

2. Cappuccino and Lattes

3. Smokes