Tricycle Season

Great Parking

No more Hotel

I quit my job at the hotel yesterday, so today was probably my last day. I had next weekend off anyways.

I told them they just did not pay enough. But I am still a little sad, it was my first job in Iceland.

The good news is the boys think it is great. I will be home with them on weekends.

Pictures from Agata

My friend Agata is always taking pictures of the boys. So she sent me some...

She works at Kasper's school so she has the opportunity to get pictures of him during the day, it is great.

Kasper playing soccer

Soccer is really big here, but they call it football, and there is no football. If that makes any sense.

This is Kasper getting ready for next season.

Ash Wenesday Costumes

Here are the boys all ready to go!

I missed it

This has been a really interesting and busy week in Iceland.

Unfortunately with the kids sick we missed out on most of it. But here are some highlights.

Monday was Buns Day. Everyone makes these cake like things that are filled with whip cream ? The kids eat them all day and are all crazy hyper when it is time to go home.

Tuesday was Salty meat and bean soup day. I do not know what kind of day that is but everyone eats salty meat with bean soup and potatoes. Employers also have it served to the staff.

Wednesday is some other day that is kin of like Halloween. But it is not. There is no spider web decorations or bats. The kids do get all dressed up and go out for candy. There is no school so the kids get started around 9 a.m. They do not go to any houses but go to businesses and stores to sing for candy.

I have been told that the significance is that now you are not supposed to eat any meat until Easter.

But like I said before I did not see much of this first hand because of the flu, but next year I promise to have a more detailed description.

Too much laundry

This is why one washer and one dryer for six apartments is a bad idea:



This is some clothing that just came out of the dryer.



These ones are dry too, but are still waiting to be picked up.



These ones are waiting to get into the washer



But as you can see, the washer is full.



The clothes lines are full



And there is a line up for the dryer



But the dryer is full




And more for the washer......

It is never ending, and this is the problem.

Peanut Butter Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

* 1 1/4 cups flour, sift or stir before measuring
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 cup butter
* 1/2 cup peanut butter
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 egg

PREPARATION:
Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder; set aside. Cream shortening, peanut butter, and sugars; beat in vanilla and egg. Stir in flour mixture, blending well. Shape mixture into 3/4-inch balls; place on greased baking sheets. Flatten each cookie with the tines of a fork; dip fork in flour periodically to keep it from sticking to the peanut butter cookie dough.
Bake peanut butter cookies at 375° for about 10 to 12 minutes.

I am trying out tonight...
mmmm... peanut butter cookies!

Feeding the ducks

The Greedy Caterpillar

Some books are classics everywhere. But sometimes they do not translate so well. This one was The Hungry Caterpillar, but is now The Greedy Caterpillar. I guess when you see all the things he eats, you might think he is a little greedy too.

Valentines Day

It is near the end of the day now and I have not seen any sign of Valentines Day.

Although it is not a traditional Icelandic holiday I was told that the government has recently recognized it, but I do not think that most people get it.

No one was eating chocolate, or had roses on there desk. No one was giving out treats.

I was a little disappointed.

I talked to people about it. They thought it was only between couples.

I told stories about when I was a kid. How we gave out cards to everyone in our class and got chocolate from our parents.

In junior high you could buy roses and chocolates though the school and have them delivered anonymously.

We used to buy them for our friends, it was great.

There was nothing like that today.

Ívar

This is Davið´s best childhood friend, I think. At least they are still great friends now. Ívar is also one of the friendliest people I have met.

On the way

3 parcels are now on there way.

To Gail, Tye and Michal.

They should be there within two weeks. Or in as little as one week.

Enjoy!

Mega Week

Finally Mega week, from Domino's, is with us again. Pizza that is still expensive but not so much as to bankrupt you.

All the pizzas are only 1090kr, just over 16.00. This is cheap compared to the usual 2300kr to 2600kr a pizza, 33.50 to 39.00...... each pizza!

I admit there is many other places to get pizza that sometimes cost less. But I do not like most of those places.

You can tell pizza is not a very typical Icelandic dish because most places do not do a very good job of it.

So I prefer to stick with something I know, and is consistent, Domino's.

I was raised on franchises. I feel better eating at them.

Anyways....

Because is was 'cheap?' I bought pizza for dinner.

It was great.

* a note: no one actually gets the pizza delivered here. I guess that costs much more, although I do not know how much. I go to pick it up on the bus. The possibility of spending more frightens me.

a little strange

but it me me laugh

Really Late...

I rushed and rushed to finish work early today. Kasper had an appointment with the specialist at three, so I needed to be done before 2 and I missed the bus this morning, so I did not have a lot of time.

So I was busy. Running around, finished my job then ran to catch the bus at 2:45.

For once the bus was right one time. We travelled along and then we stopped. And we stayed there.

We were surrounded by traffic.

After 20 minutes I asked the bus river what was going on. He said there was a car crash. We waited longer.

Finally the bus continued on its way, at a snails pace. Two lanes were still blocked by police cars and the police appeared to be on coffee break. You know, hanging out, chatting.

There was no sign of a car crash.

I arrived down town at 3:10. Almost an hour and a half after I caught the bus. The ride usually takes between 30-40 minutes, depending on the driver.

I ran to the school, got Kasper and arrived for his appointment half an hour late.

I admit, I am not very happy with this. Why was nothing done to clear the traffic to keep people going? In Edmonton everything would have been rerouted to minimize the disruption to the bus schedule.

I have never been so late or been so bored on a bus.

He thinks he is so grown up

Stefan was very upset today.

I picked him up from school and he wanted to walk home alone. I told him that he did not have to go in the stroller, but he did have to walk with us.

He told me to go away. He was walking by himself.

He then started running away. I just walked quickly behind him until he was running for the road, then I caught up.

He screamed and cried. He wanted to walk home alone.

He said I was not his mom, and he was going to walk alone.

It got ugly. I ended up carrying him, kicking and screaming, while dragging the stroller behind me the last few blocks.

When we got to the house, he would not come in. He said he was walking back to the school, alone.

I brought him in the house.

He would not take off his coat or boots and tried to run out the door every time I turned my back.

I end up sitting in front of the door while he yelled and screamed for over an hour.

It was exhausting for me, I can not imagine how he feels.

I guess he does not know that he has to stop throwing uncontrollable tantrums to be able to walk anywhere alone.

He forgets that he is only 3.

Snowing again.

It has been raining all week. Every day we all come home soaking wet. But today it started snowing again. Like the temperature dropped one degree to turn all the rain into snow.
It still does not feel really cold out, but I hate the wind.
The boys are really enjoying the snow. They took all the cooking spoons and spatulas out today.