Toby Keith, Oslo, Thanksgiving... SEASONS GREETINGS!

Arnt and I asked his parents to come down and watch Eirik, while we went on a weekend getaway to Oslo, meeting friends to see Toby Keith on his first European tour, ending in Norway. The first video shows Toby talking to the fans in Oslo, telling them that the European tour was all because of the norwegian fans! YEA! It was a great show... we also met up with friend who are living in Oslo, and ate dinner a couple of times at the local TGI Fridays! (No, they don't have them in all the cities in Norway, fyi) ;)

Toby was also on Norwegian tv, the night before the concert.
Check this link... Toby is on 44 minutes into the show.

Thanksgiving 2009, our last in our Prestmovegen house. Guest from Northern and Southern Norway congregated at our house to celebrate my favorite American tradition (Eirik and I were the only Americans there)... A full dinner with all the trimmings...


The view from our kitchen window Saturday morning, the day of our Thanksgiving celebration.


Christmas at the Stjørdal museum, horse carriage-rides, hot chocolate, sweet rolls, living museum actors, gingerbread cookie baking, Christmas card workshop, etc...


Choirs sang norwegian Christmas carols, while the Christmas tree was lit...

Upstairs in the barn, we visited the 'fjøsnisse', a type of elv that lives in barns all over Norway. He read us a Christmas story, while we lit the first candle of advent.

Eirik made a Christmas card at the workshop, fine-tuning his skills with the scissors...

Eirik enjoyed having visitors very much, but is definitely enjoying having the house to himself today... at home with Mamma, fire in the stove, and Chuggington on TV... Life is good... :)

Children live what they learn

I found a poem in Norwegian on the bathroom wall at my workplace (preschool) about a year ago, and I loved it so much, I made a copy and put it in my bathroom. I was telling my aunt Peggy about it, and she told me what it was called in English... so I was finally able to look it up. Thought I'd post it here for your inspiration...

Children Live What They Learn

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with fairness, they learn justice.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.

If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte

Home sweet home!

We're home, have been for a week now. We left Kansas City on Sunday morning last week, and got home Monday morning. We made a quick stop at the grocery store to buy some basic supplies, and headed home for a nap. Eirik slept the entire first flight, a couple of hours on the long flight, and the entire 3rd flight. On the flight from Neward to Copenhagen, I was restless... it was night time and we were supposed to sleep, but I had a cold and seriously chapped lips, and was so uncomfortable. Eirik was a bit restless too, so we let him walk around a bit. He's such a good boy. Even though he didn't want to sit in his seat, he sat there like a super good boy and watched cartoons... for 8 HOURS, with a little nap in there somewhere! He's just fantastic! Anyway, back home, naptime... slept from 1pm to 6pm, when I forced us to get up and make some dinner, and start unpacking.


Eirik didn't sleep much that night, nor the next 2 nights, due to jetlag, so I had to keep him home from daycare, thus I didn't go work either. That gave us time to get well, and unpack a bit, and try to get into our routine again. But every night this week, he's gotten up for a few hours, somewhere around midnight, wanting a snack.

Eirik started daycare again on Thursday, and has only been speaking English since we've been home. He spoke English in daycare too, to the kids, and the caregivers. All of the kids just kinda look at him a bit funny, except for one little American guy, who just answers and plays along, of course. :) I'm glad he's got him there. It's so much fun listening to Eirik speak English. It's gotten so good, he's making full sentences, and even correcting himself, when he hears himself saying something wrong. I'm telling you, that kid is a genius... :)



It's beautiful fall weather here, cold, but sunny most days. Fanastic, crisp fall air. We been on a hike, to Eirik's excitement, and got back out in nature, where he loves to be...

Yesterday was Halloween, so we carved a pumpkin, Eirik dressed up like Lightning McQueen's pitcrew, and was saying "Pitstop" and "Kachow!" all day. We went to an American Halloween party for kids in Trondheim, and had some fun there, with other English speakers. Then we headed to a local party with games and fun for the kids as well. Then home to give candy to our trick or treaters, before we called it a night. Halloween in Norway is very misunderstood, and adults/parents are pretty negative towards it, despite me trying to explain how to properly celebrate the day. They don't understand all the scary and the begging for candy. I can't do much about it, except try to explain how fun and friendly it can be, and make the best out of it for Eirik, since we're in Norway to celebrate it each year. I've seen that the trends are changing in the States, as well, with the new concept, Trunk or Treat.

Now, we're looking forward to a weekend in Oslo for the Toby Keith concert (on his first world tour) just me and Arnt, while Eirik stays home with his grandparents. Then the weekend after, we're having our world famous Thanksgiving dinner, our last in this house. We've got visitors coming in, and it should be a great weekend.

Happy Fall, everyone!

Hugs, Aimee

Leavin' on a jet plane...

Wow, the days have flown by... Eirik got a fever on Saturday, and was sick and cranky until Wednesday. Then has been just cranky since then... I think the little guy is just ready to go home and get some space. It will be good for AJ and Eirik both, to get some space, and back to their old routines. On Monday, we had another mini-reunion with some high school friends, and we met at Matt's... ate some good food. Here I am helping Felix (AFS Germany) to make Spætzel (I think). Had a good time.

We took a family outing and visited my parents' graves at the cemetery. It was Eirik's first visit. We cleaned the headstones and cut away the overgrown grass. Last night I took a little trip to Aunt Peggy's and admired her quilting projects and sewing room, and inherited some old patterns and a doll my grandma made many years ago.

Today, the boys got a quick haircut, and we played outside, either in the backyard, or at the park, since the weather got nice again. I think Eirik might have been a bit cranky the last few days because he was cramped up in the house, because of the rain.

Dennis and Joann Onka, long-time family friends, came to visit us today, as well as Gordon, a cousin, and his family. We ordered in Little Caesars pizza. Tonight, we picked up some Smokehouse BBQ for one last meal. Spending the last few hours trying to get Eirik to go to sleep... his routine is soooo out of whack, it will be good to get home. We leave in the morning, taking three flights, through Newark, then Copenhagen. We'll be home again on Monday morning.

Blast from the past...

Friday morning, Arnt headed out to Adrian with Joe to go to the shooting range for some male-bonding. I stayed home with the boys.

We had a GREAT time at the reunion friday night... wish that more people would have come, though... We had about 16 alumni at the tour and a few more came to the game. I passed out buttons to alumni, and we hung our banner in front of the bleachers where we sat, where I had 'roped' them off with balloons and blue and gold streamers. When we got there to sit down, after the tour, there were lots of people sitting there. Apparently they were family of the homecoming court (king and queen candidates) and were told to sit there. After I told them it was a mistake, and that I had payed for those balloons and stuff with my own money, they moved. I felt bad, but we needed a place to sit too... hehe

We visited and enjoyed ourselves, and then left at halftime and headed to O'Bryan's in Lee's Summit. We were a fun group, and I think everyone that came enjoyed themselves. I would guess we were about 35 alumni that came... we had 304 in our class... so it would have been fun if more had come, but I'm not complaining! It was fantastic, because the ones that did come were there, and we had a blast! Joe and Nicole came too. It was so fun to see old friends and reminisce about old times. :)

Saturday, however, only a few came to the picnic. It was a little cold, and Eirik wasn't feeling so well. Later that evening, he came down with a fever. We headed out to Alex's game (Andi's son) to be there for that, it was a game in honor of Aspen, their daughter with Leukemia. She was the honorary captain. I bawled my eyes out, as I watched her and her big brother go out for the coin toss, hand in hand. His team smeared the other team all up and down the field... it was a great game! Headed back to Andi's house for the evening, and ate chinese food and watched some tv shows. Eirik still had his fever, so we put him to bed. He wasn't much better in the morning, so we had to pack up and head back to Joe's, out of respect for Aspen and her compromised immune system. Eirik and I pretty much just stayed up in our room relaxing and watching tv, while his little body is healing itself. Not sure what he's got, a low grade fever, and coughing just a little bit. But he seems to be getting better. He's napping now.

Arnt went on a ride-a-long with Joe last night while he patrolled Adrian, Missouri on his night shift. I think they enjoyed it, the both of them. Tonight we're heading over to Matt's, to meet up in another little mini-reunion. Looking forward to that. Just hoping Eirik's feeling better by then. Right now, Arnt's out on a little shopping trip for clothes for himself. We split up and take a day for ourselves, since it's no fun for Eirik being drug around while we're trying on clothes...

More tomorrow...
Hugs, Aimee

Reunion countdown...

I've been busy getting some loose ends tied for the reunion tomorrow, and haven't had any spare time to update the blog, sorry about that. Here's the most recent update:

Sunday in Branson, we went to the Imax and watched Under the Sea, the kids loved it. :) We raced go-carts before that, and the boys got two ridealongs, and were grinning from ear to ear! Did some shopping at Branson Landing. Here, we made our own custom remote control car at Ride Makerz, that Eirik will get for Christmas. That evening, we ate at Montana Mikes, and went back to the hotel to the outdoor hottub. It was the perfect ending to a hectic weekend. Got up Monday morning, ate an Ihop breakfast, and headed to Springfield. Stopped at Bass Pro headquarters and played around there for a while, until the boys were ready for their naps... then we headed back to KC.

Tuesday, we relaxed, and I took the evening and did some shopping and got my hair done. Wednesday, Arnt and Joe took off to look at some mustangs that Joe is interested in maybe buying, and I took the boys, along with a friend named Mikey, to Tunnel Voyage in Lee's Summit, where they played and played, and had a blast.

After a long nap while I did some shopping, Arnt, Eirik and I met up with some friends and had dinner, and talked about old times... it was a very enjoyable evening.

Today we got the boys ready and drove out to Overland Park and thought we'd eat lunch at the Rainforest Cafe, however they had closed without updating their website, so we went to Chick-fil-a instead, yummy! Back home now for a nap, before heading over to my cousin Lori's for a bonfire tonight. The reunion is tomorrow - I sure hope we have a good turnout. But I will be happy with whatever happens, just because it happens. :) Another AFS student (Germany) from 94 is in town for a few days, and we're hoping to get a chance to meet up with him too.

Only one more week left... NOT ENOUGH TIME! We're exhausted and irritable, but need more time! Sorry Kristin, I'm still not longing for Norway... yet... :)

Hugs, Aimee

Fire in the hole!!!

We're back at the hotel, after an eventful day at Silver Dollar City. We started the day however, with a scare... we were all on our way to the lobby restaurant for breakfast. Joe and family headed down first, and we followed a few minutes later. AJ looked back and saw Eirik, and came running with his arms up, and gave him a big hug. It was so cute, we tried to get him to do it again so we could film it... but the second time, he knocked Eirik backwards, and right into the parking lot pavement, and we heard a loud CRACK! as Eirik's little head hit... he started crying immediately, as I imagine it hurt quite a bit. We were quite worried to begin with, but he calmed down after a bit, and ate some breakfast, and acted normal after that. We kept an eye on him, as we headed out to Silver Dollar City, and made sure to keep him awake. He seems just fine... so I'll go on with the story... :)

Saturday at SDC, and it was full of Fall Harvest Festival-goers. The sun came out and warmed us up, and that made for a beautiful fall day in Branson. There were harvest decorations everywhere, and Eirik decided he would count all the pumpkins... until he got distracted by something else. :) I grabbed the SLR camera to take some really great pictures, when I realized the memory card was lying back in the hotel room - so we made due with cell phone pictures today. We started the day on a boat ride through some tunnels where we shot lasers at targets. Then we rode the Silver Line Train. We took the kids to the kiddie rides, and had a ball... Joe, AJ, Eirik and I rode the teacups, and it was just the cutest thing to hear those boys laugh - the kind that sounds hysterical, where they giggle, then suck in air, then giggle again. We rode rides, ate fattening food, listened to music, and enjoyed the weather. Arnt and I even braved the Giant Swing ride, even though I kept my face covered the entire time!

Finally, it was time to leave, and after winding through the exit pathway that took us through store after store after store (nice sales technique) we made our way back to our car, on the tram.

Dinner time... ate at the Plantation Restaurant - 'ok' diner food, but hoping for something a little better tomorrow night. Maybe Dixie Stampede? :) We'll see what we're up for. Vacationing in Branson is one thing, but vacationing in Branson with 4 adults and two 2-year-olds, is another...

Back in the hotel, getting the kids to bed after their bath... I think we're all calling it a night here shortly. More fun tomorrow, so we need our rest. Just hope I'll be able to fall asleep... my brother is sawing some serious logs... ;P

Hugs, Aimee