Stefáns big moment

When he meet the mayor of Reykjanesbær fopr being in the top 10% in Iceland, in Math. We were proud parents before, but now we glow. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ha4m3qc5eftp8hf/MVI_1799.AVI

USN Housing: Iceland, a.k.a. HOME!

No longer militery housing, I live here now, as a student.
Seriously fun to watch this old add of my neighbourhood.

Davíð has a dream

He would love to move us into something like this. I only hope it has a dishwasher.

Leó the scout

So I actually posted this picture on facebook yesterday, but after realized that not everyone checked facebook, and I think its a great picture. Story behind it being that Stefán, being very proud to be a scout like his Afi, had his patch sewed on his scarf. Leópold sat patiently listening to Stefán talk about he was a scout and as soon as the scarf was ready Leó grabbed and decided he was the scout. He wore the scarf all day then we had to wash if because it was not very yellow anymore. He also could not seem to keep a straight face or smile. I dont know whats with that.

18 more days

18 more days of this constant stress head ache. Study study study. Learn learn learn. Laundry? No time for that! Comb hair? Maybe in the morning. Teeth? Always time, but cutting it close.
That means in 18 days I will be half way done my bachelors.
Tomorrow marks the first day of the last week of semester one, year 2.
That also means tomorrow is the last class in Beyingafræði 1.

Aside from the essay I wrote today, and the one I corrected and finished yesterday, and the beygingar exercises and the hjóðritun assignment that I just realized is 20% of my final mark, I am also thinking of:

Leó, Kasper and Stefán and how good it will be to hang out with them over Christmas, no stress allowed. No deadlines and no worries for a month! Just chillin and watching the Grinch who stole Christmas, together.

I have also been a terrible friend and look forward to doing something nice for the people that have made this semester possible for me to survive.

I am thinking of my sister, after talking to her on the phone for nearly an hour I am realizing how lucky I am to have her and how important she is. And how much I miss her little munchkins.

This always leads to me thinking about Tye.  I appreciate all the condolences messages I have receive and wish I could reply back. Tye was great, I wish more people had the chance to know him.

Thinking of my brother always makes my miss my overseas family more, as well as makes me hug the little guys I have right here. I have to stop and appreciated who we have, hug them and mess up there hair.

Even if I have a ton of homework to do, I need that break.

Tye the kid and best brother ever

Me, Kin, Shantell and our Tye

Always the coolest

and always the cutest

óveður

Translation of Icelandic text in the meteogram images:

• Skýjahula - Cloud cover
• Úrkoma - Precipitation
• Vindátt - Wind direction
• Hitistig - Temperature
• The days are:
  mán - monday, þri - tuesday, mið - wednesday, fim - thursday,
  fös - friday, lau - saturday, sun - sunday

Useful stuff to know if your checking out the weather or looking for northern lights info at http://www.vedur.is/ 

I should also mention we are in another storm - whats that 3 in 10 days? Seriously. 

In Flanders Fields

My little brother, Tye

Monday

In the last 7 days, I have read a few hundred pages and written two essays in Icelandic. Davíð has taken the car to get inspected, failed, and now in the shop to be fixed. Kasper went out on his first date with his first girlfriend, and set up his first website. http://thefilmmakers200.weebly.com/index.html Leópold fell, got 5 stitches, an infection, antibiotics and recovered. And Stefán is the only one with nothing big to report. Maybe next week. But I hope it does not include more time in the emergency room. Only five more weeks of classes to go. This semester.

Tye in the car

Davíð, Tye and little Kasper and Stefán went camping out in Jasper. Tye was learning to drive. It was a great trip full of good times and we are grateful to have memories of it. Tye was a great brother, brother-in-law and uncle.

pain

no reason to include a link here, you just have to google it, but tye's wife has been arrested in connection to his death. it just keeps on getting worse. I hope they are wrong.

Being positive

I´ve been having a hard time getting the push to blog lately. I often complain about time constraints, but seriously, most days I have to give myself a goal with keeping the crying down to an hour of less. The last couple weeks have been tough. There are good moments, even hours, then horrible nearly sleepless nights and endless tears. Tye was also my biggest blog fan. He checked in everyday and emailed me to tell me off when it had been too long between posts. I have been terrible about replying to all the kind messages I have received. Seriously, I have not replyed to anyone. I can not answer the question of how I am doing with out starting to cry, so I am avoiding it. I went to see someone, professional to talk too, and I am going back to do it again. I can not let life go one with out me. Leó turned 3 on Saturday and Stefán turned 9 on Monday. Kasper's birthday is next month. My beautiful boys, they really do make me so happy. And in case you are wondering, amazingly enough, I am not horrifically behind in school. Looks like its going to be OK. Just must keep going.

Tye, Stefán and Davíð

Davíð says we will have to get this one enlarged, framed and on the wall. You never realize how big of a part of your like someone is until they are taken away.

An example of Tyes super helpfulness

No mater the favor, big or small, Tye was there to lend a hand - or 'give his two cents worth'
Here he is helping out with the big move.

young and old Tye

A few more pictures, totally unorganized, several that were taken by Kim, and thanks to her for that. And some form the super cute little Tye.

Guest Book for Tye

Guest Book for Tye KAYE – Online Guest Book by Edmonton Journal and Legacy.com.

2001

While diggin through the memories I found this gem - a younger Tye.

Obit

After editing by many, this is the final construction. 
I am going to put it in the paper, but first here, because Tye read my blog everyday, and really it is for him.

Tye Kaye died tragically in Edmonton at the age of 27. He was born in Saskatchewan but grew up in Alberta. He graduated from LY Cairns and against all odds was able to follow his interest in cars and was pursuing his apprenticeship as a mechanic. Tye valued his family and friends. He was the very definition of a good person who touched the lives of many. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.Lovingly remembered,Koleen, David, Shantell, Robert, Inga and 5 nephews

My dearest little brother

Austin, Amanda, Tye and Jordyn

My brother, I have so much to say.
And so much that will have to wait.
My only wish is that you knew how AMAZING you were.

hosting

It is the age old question - at least in couchsurfing circles
Is it better to only host people when you have tons of time to show them around, help out and or offer meals?
or
Is it better to host more often and offer more of a minimum, at least a place to rest your head?
Admittedly I have done both. I tend to lean towards the offering nothing extra, just a place to sleep and if we get along super well, then more. But this does not always work either. Seriously, sometimes I feel annoyed when I have to many surfers in a row who, I feel, expect to much out of me.  Then I get cranky and thats never good. But I so enjoy the good ones, it is really so much fun.
Davíð is the opposite.
Even if he does not get along with someone he will go out of his way to be a good host.  I can not really understand this, but I guess he is just a better host then me. Funny, because I am the one who does most of the couchsurfing stuff.
Maybe no way is better. But if there is one right way then someone should tell me because if I am right I have to get teasing Davíð.

tell me about it

Family Friends

We had the please of hosting this awesome group of students who were travelling together. They all study in Germany but are from India, Indonesia and Ukraine. Glenn Mohammad, Vyshantha, Zuhra, Ardi, Nataliia, Davíð, Leó and me in the back.

There was some seriously full couches

Missing David

My husband came back from the fishing trip only to leave right away to pick up our newest couch for the collection. It is from Grindavik. The plan was to tie it to the top of the car. Its been an hour so I am starting to get worried. Maybe the car rolled, and my new couch is dirty.

Yesterday was crazy. School started, and you know what that means - time to sign up for everything in one day.

Heres a bit of the craziness-

• Meet with the teachers
• Listen to assemblies
• Try to find school nurse, failed.
• Left a message for nurse with allergies list
• Signed the boys up for school lunches. 
• Called skolamatur to make sure they received the doctors note, they had not
• Sent note again
• Waited and received conformation 
• Enrolled Stefan in Scouts
• Enrolled Kasper in gymnastics after talking to the instructor about what level would be best for him.
• Enrolled Stefan in advanced gymnastics
• Enrolled Leopold in toddler gymnastics

 And after all that we still hosted three couchsurfers.

Today was only slightly better after heading to Reykjavik for the day. I was on my way to treat myself to a galazy tablet - only to have David talk me out of it as I stood outside the store. Picked up my retainer, paid a small fortune and vowed to never go back to that dentist again, Bought some super healthy food from health food stores. Tried to go visit my sister in law, she was not home. Bought Stefan new shoes and went grocery shopping. Then I dragged all this crap home on the bus. After walking from Hlemmur, to the pond then to BSI in the rain. With lots of stuff.
Actually this part of the day sucked.

Came home to send Stefan off to Scouts, pick up Leopold and greet an American family who will be staying with us the next couple of days. They have a 12 year old son who also plays minecraft, could be Kaspers long lost  twin brother, if I didnt know better.

And after all this, my husband is still missing. I do hope he gets home soon. Dinner is ready.

Kanada + Ísland

If you happen to be hanging around tomorrow and Friday and wondering what on earth you are going to do with your self, heres an idea:

Origins in a Canadian and Icelandic context


Promises to be good fun. I am even heading down for part of the day tomorrow.  Maybe I'll see you there. 

pictures by aidan

These are some pictures, taken by Aidan, a very recent Canadian guest of ours. Seems he takes some good pictures, or at least I think so.

from the shooting thing to the base

The view out my window, late in the evening

Rósa

Rósa in her natural habitat, lava fields 

Rice Pudding

I made rice dinner for dinner tonight, despite the fact that my oldest son hates it. The dinner choices are limited these days. So rice pudding it is, although I added the raisins last, after I had removed Kasper's share = making the meal more bearable for him.
I got the recipe online here  and am very happy with it. After a few small modifications like using rice cream in place of milk we had an amazingly healthy for everyone meal. And it only actually took 40 min, start to finish. I don't know why these other recipes make it sound so long to cook.
It was even considerably cheap at less then a thousand kronor to feed all 5 of us.
At this success rate - I would give it 4,5 out of 5 stars, I think this will be a weekly meal.

it's almost over

I have to say, this has been one of the most amazing summers.

Leópold has grown so much, sometimes I can hardly recognize him. His English is coming along beautifully and he is becoming so much fun. Even his big brothers like playing with him. A sure sign of how much he has grown up this summer is that now he is actually excited to go to school. Last year he dreaded school and even over most of the summer was telling me how he was not going back, but now he loves it. At night we can even use the fact he has school in the morning as something to make him want to go to sleep.

Stefán has really enjoyed the summer but is looking forward to starting school again. Bad news is that he has seen better days. We went in for a check up and to ask about this chicken allergy he seems to have - I mean seriously he coughs when he eats and sometimes, like when he has chicken, his throat swells up. So they tested him and say he is allergic to all grains (wheat ect) all fish (everything except mussels, they are ok), all dairy, chicken, eggs, cows, dogs, sesame seeds, SOY - basically everything. In fact we got the test results and he tested positive in everything except horse and mussel allergy's. Everything else was positive. So we have an immunologist appointment on Friday. Until then we eat rice and drink rice milk.

Kasper is nervous about school. I think he will be happy to go back but the past week he has been bouncing off the walls. We are also on a waiting list for him to get a doctor. I hate the health care system.
Kasper has spent a lot of time this sumar drawing anime. Its a new hobby of his and we are happy for him.

Davíð is doing great at work. They are evening going on a fishing trip this week, I am excited for them. Not that I like fishing, but I do like the odd get away. I hear there will be good food.
So no husband here means party at my house?

I have been keeping so busy its crazy. I am back into the couchsurfing and stuffing my living room with families from all over the world. I have nearly all my school books and am considering buying a tablet for dictionary purposes. May also be used for farmville on the bus, but I would never admit to buying a tablet for that. I am exploding in excitement to start school.

Peter. Davíð's cousin whom is currently staying with us is driving me a little crazy - but isnt that what family's for?

Rósa is doing great except they broke her spare claw. Its a little sad but I am waiting for her to chew it off herself. Dogs are good doctors.

Gerbils are all still around and having a great time chewing up the cardboard of the house.

The fish as living a little safer now that we found a new home for the killer angel fish. Although the aquarium looks very very empty......

I hope my friends are all doing well, but I have to admit I wouldn't know for sure seeing as I have not kept in contact with anyone. Its getting to the point that I would feel bad calling.

The apartment reno's are going great! I am so excited to have it emptied out and get to redesigning!

I hope one of these days some of my Canadian family makes it out to see the life I have here.

fun in sunland

Things to do in Iceland, with great weather and family:
camping, fishing, walks by the beach and visiting the grandparents
as an extra see a movie set (seems there is a movie filming in our neighbourhood)

Leó picking his nose, again

one of 2 huge camp out for a movie set - looks important

who says you can not tan in Iceland?

Having some Icecream outside the old apartment

Davíð, my handyman

Stefán sleeping at Amma's