The trip home

We always plan to leave by 9, 10 at the latest. This never works then I get extremly stressed because we are always late.

Next time I will plan to leave at 3 or 4 in the afternoon then be pleased with myself when I get on the way at 11.

Inga made a huge breakfast of bacon and eggs, a big treat in Iceland. At least for us!

The boys had an Easter Egg Hunt, thanks to Rob's trip to England with cheap chocolate and duty free shopping.

Davíð filled up the car with fluids and we were on our way.

WE had subs and coffee with a friend and about 50 bathroom breaks so the trip took a little longer then usual - more then 11 hours, and this is a nightmare for everyone.

But we made it back, alive, reasonable healthy and to a town full of snow!

After enjoying a week of spring down south it was hard to go back to the snow and I kind of wanted to cry, but it has to melt soon doesn't it?

I really missed everyone down south and really wish that I could have seen more people. Therre was so much I wanted to do and I look forward to being closer :)

8 and 9

As with any vacation the last 2 days flew past far to quickly.

Looking back I am not so sure where the time went.

I know we went swimming in the pool at Rob and Inga's. The water was warm but my forehead was freezing cold. I had a really hard time leaving the pool and running practically naked across the yard to get my towel that had been trying to blow away. There is a chance these sniffles are not allergies, they could be a cold.

I also climbed a mountain. This seems impressive until you see the mountains around moso, this only takes half a day. I was tired.

Friday night we found a video rental that was open and rented some movies. The Happening was pretty crappy int he way of story but scary enough that I had nightmares. The kids got City of Ember. There movie was way better then ours and I enjoyed it.

Saturday was meant to be our Easter. The boys each got an egg from us and were reasonably happy. I am grateful that my boys can be happy with very little these days.

We went to Reykjavík, had coffee with a friend (Elena), had the car tires changed, did some serious groceries shopping, went on a boat rise to Víðy Island and had cake and coffee with another family (E.T., Mattew and Viktor).

By the time we got back to Inga's we were beat but still had a huge meal ahead of us. Helgi and his girlfriend came out, while forgetting out friend Jodanna :( in town, Stína and the kids were also there. And we brought Viktor.

So there was 7 adults and 5 kids for one of Inga's amazing lamb dinners.

We ate almost everything and the left overs could be fit into one small container.

Amazing.

Helgi fought for some time on the trampoline and won.

Kristína brought some real cheesecake she had made, New York style. It was super great.

Then we ate more chocolate.

I am not sure what happened for the rest of the night. I fell asleep will the kids started to watch Jurassic Park.

Another long day!

Day 7 The End

We are tired and hope these guys fall asleep soon

Day 7 part 2

Rob filled up the pool.
OK, the pool is under construction, but it mostly holds water and kids.
Warm water, which is good because the air was cold...

Day 7 Part 1

Inga took out the midwife tools today and did check ups on Stína and I.
Then the kids insisted on being next.
Because the have no babies in there bellies, we listened to there hearts.
Amma has the best toys!

Day 6

Wednesday was our last day of things being open before Easter. The list of things to do is still very long and we managed almost none of it, but I would like to think the most important is done.

Thanks to another late night we slept in again and did not gt out of the house until after lunch, but we did mean to get up early...

Davíð did make it to his work lunch while I visited with Kristína.

I managed to leave my wallet at home but we still finished up the banking.

I also got my immigration papers in and so far no one has noticed that my passport is expiring, I might be lucky this time!

We took the boys to Pizza Hut because they deserved a treat.

We missed the beach with Helgi and Jodanna but did manage to meet Hemmi for a walk. This was extra nice because he moves to Sweden in 2 weeks so it will be a while before we meet gain.

On the walk we saw a store closing so it was selling all clothing for 100kr. We bought the boys some new clothing.

Finally we got back out to Inga and Robs where Stína and the kids were waiting. 

Inga made a huge dinner, with chicken, a big treat.

Stefán did not want any chicken, he claims to be allergic but I think he does not ever remember eating chicken so he was just scared. Either way, he used his special skill of puking on demand to get out of dinner. 

I fell asleep about 8, I really am exhausted these days.

Day 5, swimming and shopping

Tuesday was action packed.

First thing on the list was swimming in mosfellbær in the outdoor pool with waterslides. Buckets of fun and I was so tired after just watching the boys run out of the pool, up a few flights of stairs then down the slide, repeat, for an hour and a half. I do not know how they do it. I stayed in a warm pool.

Then we caught the bus into Reykjavík and stopped to go to the pet store. I bought Rósa a chain and thing to put in the ground so we can chain her up outside now. My allergies will thank me even if she spends only a few hours a day out there.

Now the boys need to build her a house.

Then we went to the second hand store and I bought a dvd player, so excited, and the boys got some stuffed toys.

Then we went to Kristinas where I needed to drop off some of the stuff I bought because it was heavy to carry around.

Then Kasper went to play at Gunnars.

Stefán and I went for coffee and got my passport pictures taken. We also went to get my ´good citizen´statement for the immigration office.

Next we met up with Davíð who had fixed the door bell on our apartment.

Our tenants cooked us some food from the Philipines. It tasted good but the shrimp kept looking at me and it was starting to bother me.

So we went to Kristína next and ate some pancakes while the boys played.

Then we went to my friend Tinna's for coffee and cake.

Then we picked up Kasper and his friend Gunnar and went back out to Inga and Robs.

At 10 we put our kids to bed then drove Gunnar back to town and went out for Ice Cream with Helgi and Jodanna.

Got hom after 1.

This holiday stuff is so exhausting.

Kasper and Stefán.

Gunnar and Kasper.

Kasper.

Stefán at Tinna's.

Stefán playing at Tinna's.

Stefán playing with Jói, Tinn'a son.

Tinna with one of her two cats.

The boys cousin, Garpur..

Garpur is Stefáns hero.

Davíð, very full of pancakes.

Stefán playing of the stairs of death. These stairs have always scared me....

Kristína is explaining something really important.

Kasper inspecting the end of his icecream cone.

Stefán is posing for the camera.

Kasper with his icecream, eating normal.

Stefán with his icecream, eating normal.

Stefán forcing a smile.

Here is Kasper after swimming.

Robert on the computer, not unlike myself now .

Davíð is doing his share to eat all Inga and Rob's food. We all do our part .

Day 4, Eating the whales

With every trip to the city comes a list of things to do that is about 300 items more then you could possible finish.

One of these things was for me to renew my residence permit, but because we were out so late the night before we did not leave the house until after lunch and then did not get so much done...

But I did pick up the forms from immigration and tried to get my papers together.

Then I realized my passport is about to expire and I need one that is valid for at least another year and a half for my permit.

So I got the papers to renew my papers to get a new Canadian passport, then I saw what a huge hassle that is to do from Iceland.

Blegh .... I hate this stuff.

So the afternoon was fun.

In the evening we dropped the boys off at a friends for pizza while we went to meet some fellow Canadians. Helgi, actually a Western Icelander (of Icelandic descent) and Jodanna and old friend and actually Helgis ex girlfriend from Canada. 4 Canadians is always a recipe for good times.

Jodanna brought me goodies from Canada, including Childrens Tylonol, because no one like what you hve to do to sick kids here. Reese Peices and granola bars. Good Stuff.

Because she is only visiting we had to go out for whale. Normally I like whale. A good whale steak is far better then beef, but guess pregnacy is a little hard on the taste buds and I could not swallow it. I do not know whats wrong with me...

But here are the pictures. The girl is Jodanna, there is Davíð and the dark haired guy is Helgi. And the stuffed bear is called monster., he loves whale.

Day 3, dinner at Lizzy´s

For a nice Sunday dinner we went out to Reykjanesbær. A friend of mine Lizzy lives on the old American army base.

I love these houses, they remind me of Canada so much. Three bathrooms, this is what everyone needs.

Cassie, from Australia was there, with her baby Tómas.

Kasper and Stefán practiced the big brother skills and Stefán promises to play with our baby and take good care of it.

Lizzy made a huge super tasty meal and we stayed full even when we left at 11 to get Rob from the airport. 

Because we did not get home until 1 in the morning, everyone was so tired the next day and slept in, a lot. 

Wish I could go into more detail, but this is a kind of mass blogging, so many posts so little time!

Day 2

So so so tired

But we managed a trip out to Ikea where we had some cheap food and I bought a 300 kr kitchen clock that I am so happy with.

Now, at least while I am in one room, my knowledge of the time will not be dependant on if I know where the cell phone is.

Easter Holidays 2009, Part 1

We planned our trip to Reykjavík for the Easter holidays to start on Friday the third and to last until the twelfth. 

So part one will be day one, and I am a little behind but do plan to catch up today....

Anyways, we caught a flight in Þórshöfn on Friday morning. Rósa was coming along so she got her own box.

The flight to Akurlari went great, well as great as it can in a plane that holds about 8 people. Those things give me the creeps.

So we got to town where Inga was meeting us to drive the last 5 hours of the trip.

Inga was an hour and a bit late, no big deal, we just went out to eat.

And they lost the boys suitcase. Lucky for us we grabbed the dog  from the luggage compartent, so we did not lose her.

How do you lose a bag on such a tiny plan on a 40 min. flight ? Well there was a connecting flight that left about 5 min. after we landed.

So we went to town to eat at Bautinn, I guess this is where anyone would eat or everyone does eat.

The rest of the day sailed past and was spent mostly sleeping in the car, so there is not much to say there!

Davíð locking the house, very seriously

Rósa in her box, she actually really likes it.

Davíð was calming Rósa down before the flight. Another dog was going to be in with her in the luggage area and they were both getting a little excited

Stefán being a little silly at the airport. I do not know how he does these faces.

Kasper all ready to go in his Amma's car.

Here is Stefán trying on hats after we arrived.

Davíð looking a little tired.

Stefán calling around to let people know he is in town to play. He had big plans.