I always miss my family extra much over the holidays. Today my Dad sent me a few holiday pictures of the gang.
Left to Right - Cory, Dad, Travis, Ray sitting on him, Shantell and David.
Added this time are Matthew and Caleb.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The world of a 7 year old
We bought Kasper a digital camera for Christmas. The kid kind that can fall down stair, but not the highest quality pictures.
He loves it.
My plan is to upload them all for him, and you too. Now everyone can see what is important and worth documenting, to a 7 year old boy.
As you will see, most of us are a little blurry. This lead to him yelling at us to hold still a lot.
We hope you enjoy!
Christmas 2007
He loves it.
My plan is to upload them all for him, and you too. Now everyone can see what is important and worth documenting, to a 7 year old boy.
As you will see, most of us are a little blurry. This lead to him yelling at us to hold still a lot.
We hope you enjoy!
Christmas 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
No news
Actually there is news, but I am far too tired to tell it all now.
All I can say is I have convinced my boss to give me a day off on Wednesday - and you would not believe how much I am looking forward to it.
Until then - I am thinking of all of you!
All I can say is I have convinced my boss to give me a day off on Wednesday - and you would not believe how much I am looking forward to it.
Until then - I am thinking of all of you!
Monday, December 03, 2007
A new member of our family
So the news is that we got a dog! Not just any dog but an Icelandic Sheep Dog puppy. She is so cute, will not grow very big, never barks and is so calm.
Basically, our little Rósa is the perfect pet.
Here are my boys and there cousin playing soccer.
Stefán is showing off his little monkey.
Davíð's uncle Jói and Rósa. Jói gave her to us.
Basically, our little Rósa is the perfect pet.
Here is Kasper taking her for a walk.
A little tired?
Stefán worked hard to prepare this bed for her and tuck her in. Kasper actually petted her until she fell asleep.
You would not believe all the stuffed animals that were under this blanket with Rósa. Stefán gave her a bunch of toys.
Here are my boys and there cousin playing soccer.
Holding some bear trophy's.
Garpur at the playground.
Stefán is showing off his little monkey.
Davíð's uncle Jói and Rósa. Jói gave her to us.
And here is a little something made by Kasper.
Reminds me of Dad
The old days, eating breakfast or sitting in the truck, we always listened to the radio, The Prairie Farm report brings back memories.
Maybe I should see if I can get it online? Might be useful is Iceland?
We also listened to Paul Harvey. Actually I should say that my Dad called in everyday and everyone else listened.
Paul Harvey hates my Dad, but I think he is the coolest.
Maybe I should see if I can get it online? Might be useful is Iceland?
We also listened to Paul Harvey. Actually I should say that my Dad called in everyday and everyone else listened.
Paul Harvey hates my Dad, but I think he is the coolest.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
In case you did not know...
I am a genius, at least according to these guys
Maybe you would like to try it yourself? And thanks to Anthony, some stranger who read my blog, leading me to read his blog, and showing me this.
I know it is a long story!
Get a Cash Advance
Maybe you would like to try it yourself? And thanks to Anthony, some stranger who read my blog, leading me to read his blog, and showing me this.
I know it is a long story!
The best place to live?
I am now completely convinced that these studies are done wrongly. I am sure they only look at the lifestyle of natives to a country.
In fact I wonder where this study . Did they look at the education system? The difference in living standards between Icelanders and immigrants? It is terrible. I do not think that any country has the right be to 'the best place to live' when the reason it is so great (to them) is because they are in the top class here.
There are two kinds of people in Iceland. The Icelanders who live out there dreams and everyone else who cleans up after them. Or stocks the shelves so they can shop shop shop
I admit this is a huge generalization, but it is something I see everyday.
When you go to Bonus, the grocery store, you hear5 different languages as you walk down the isles. Everyone is buying food.
When you go to Toys R Us, or any other 'extra's' store, you only hear Icelandic. This is because, more often then not, only the Icelanders are a situation where they can go out and buy a bunch of new toys.
If you listen to the staff at any of these stores, they are all foreign. They probably do not have the money to shop there, they just stock the shelves and clean.
When you look at Kasper's school, I think he is the only kid there that was not born in Iceland. It is an expensive school. The parents all drop off the children in SUVs and own large houses. The children are dressed in nice clothing and are reasonable behaved.
When you go to a public school you see groups of kids talking. The Icelandic kids, the Polish kids, the kids that can speak English. The odd one from Norway or Portugal roams around alone. The Icelandic children often bring new toys to school everyday and wear designer clothing. The others are provided for with what the parents can manage, then go to school to be bullied, beaten, dragged through the mud, then neglected by teachers.
Health care is not free, we pay per visit. The fee is small for a regular doctors visit, but if you need a specialist, it is very expensive. How many health issues go untreated because of the cost? I know that my eyes bother me, I went to one doctor, she sent me to another. The Eye surgeon told me, after testing my eyes: Well this is so strange, I have never seen anything like this before, why don't you come back in a few months and we will have another look at it. Come back? I just spent 3 days wages to have you tell me to come back because you do not know what it is? I never went back. It is to expensive. Maybe someday when I am rich, I will get my eyes fixed. For now, we spend all our money on our kids healthcare.
Is Iceland the BEST place in the world to live?
If it is, then the world is a sad sad place and we should be embarrassed.
In fact I wonder where this study . Did they look at the education system? The difference in living standards between Icelanders and immigrants? It is terrible. I do not think that any country has the right be to 'the best place to live' when the reason it is so great (to them) is because they are in the top class here.
There are two kinds of people in Iceland. The Icelanders who live out there dreams and everyone else who cleans up after them. Or stocks the shelves so they can shop shop shop
I admit this is a huge generalization, but it is something I see everyday.
When you go to Bonus, the grocery store, you hear5 different languages as you walk down the isles. Everyone is buying food.
When you go to Toys R Us, or any other 'extra's' store, you only hear Icelandic. This is because, more often then not, only the Icelanders are a situation where they can go out and buy a bunch of new toys.
If you listen to the staff at any of these stores, they are all foreign. They probably do not have the money to shop there, they just stock the shelves and clean.
When you look at Kasper's school, I think he is the only kid there that was not born in Iceland. It is an expensive school. The parents all drop off the children in SUVs and own large houses. The children are dressed in nice clothing and are reasonable behaved.
When you go to a public school you see groups of kids talking. The Icelandic kids, the Polish kids, the kids that can speak English. The odd one from Norway or Portugal roams around alone. The Icelandic children often bring new toys to school everyday and wear designer clothing. The others are provided for with what the parents can manage, then go to school to be bullied, beaten, dragged through the mud, then neglected by teachers.
Health care is not free, we pay per visit. The fee is small for a regular doctors visit, but if you need a specialist, it is very expensive. How many health issues go untreated because of the cost? I know that my eyes bother me, I went to one doctor, she sent me to another. The Eye surgeon told me, after testing my eyes: Well this is so strange, I have never seen anything like this before, why don't you come back in a few months and we will have another look at it. Come back? I just spent 3 days wages to have you tell me to come back because you do not know what it is? I never went back. It is to expensive. Maybe someday when I am rich, I will get my eyes fixed. For now, we spend all our money on our kids healthcare.
Is Iceland the BEST place in the world to live?
If it is, then the world is a sad sad place and we should be embarrassed.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Disorganization at Toys R Us
I was scheduled to work today, 9-7. So, I showed up for work at 10 minutes to 9.
I waited, and waited and waited outside in the freezing (-6) and windy cold until 9:15. Then I call the manager, because no one was there.
NO ONE WAS IN THE STORE.
How can I work if I am locked out?
Anyways, she said this was all a big mistake, she meant to schedule me for 10. She was sorry and I should go to the bakery and have a coffee and breakfast while I wait, she would pay for the food.
OK, so I went to the bakery. My manager said she would call me when someone got to the store to let me in.
It was 10:30 when I went looking for someone. No one had called and the store was supposed to open in half an hour.
Waiting, outside the door, was the rest of the staff for today. They had been waiting since 10.
They were cold too.
At 10:45, the assistant manger comes and lets us in.
I hope they plan to pay people for all the waiting time.
I am glad he got there before the customers, because that would have been awkward!
This is just craziness, only in Iceland.
I waited, and waited and waited outside in the freezing (-6) and windy cold until 9:15. Then I call the manager, because no one was there.
NO ONE WAS IN THE STORE.
How can I work if I am locked out?
Anyways, she said this was all a big mistake, she meant to schedule me for 10. She was sorry and I should go to the bakery and have a coffee and breakfast while I wait, she would pay for the food.
OK, so I went to the bakery. My manager said she would call me when someone got to the store to let me in.
It was 10:30 when I went looking for someone. No one had called and the store was supposed to open in half an hour.
Waiting, outside the door, was the rest of the staff for today. They had been waiting since 10.
They were cold too.
At 10:45, the assistant manger comes and lets us in.
I hope they plan to pay people for all the waiting time.
I am glad he got there before the customers, because that would have been awkward!
This is just craziness, only in Iceland.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Couch Surfers, right this way!
I signed us up on couchsurfering.com , not because I will be taking the kids around like that, but because of two other very good reasons.
1. I like meeting new people and I think it is good for the kids to meet people from other countries, talk with them and maybe learn something from them. I hope it will help them grow up better with tolerance and the knowledge that there is life outside Iceland.
2. I would like to help out people who are traveling around here. It is so expensive that it detours people from coming to see Iceland. If I can offer my couch, that even folds into a very uncomfortable bed, to someone, it makes someones life much easier.
This does not mean there will always be a stranger sleeping on my couch, it just means that sometimes, we might have a guest.
1. I like meeting new people and I think it is good for the kids to meet people from other countries, talk with them and maybe learn something from them. I hope it will help them grow up better with tolerance and the knowledge that there is life outside Iceland.
2. I would like to help out people who are traveling around here. It is so expensive that it detours people from coming to see Iceland. If I can offer my couch, that even folds into a very uncomfortable bed, to someone, it makes someones life much easier.
This does not mean there will always be a stranger sleeping on my couch, it just means that sometimes, we might have a guest.
Christmas is coming
And we are getting ready. I know some might say November is a little early, but when it gets dark like this you really need something festive. NOW.
We have the super tacky fiber optic tree that changes colors and is small enough we can fit it in the shelves. Our apartment is tiny, we save space everywhere we can.
And the Jewish candle lights, no Icelandic home is complete without them. The bast part is it seems to be an ICELANDIC tradition, and no one seems to know they are really Jewish. I guess someone imported them once, everyone bought them and have been buying them ever since. Marcia gave us ours for Christmas last year, so now we can fit in.
As an extra, we like to add the gigantic Star Wars machine, just to add a little character!
We have the super tacky fiber optic tree that changes colors and is small enough we can fit it in the shelves. Our apartment is tiny, we save space everywhere we can.
And the Jewish candle lights, no Icelandic home is complete without them. The bast part is it seems to be an ICELANDIC tradition, and no one seems to know they are really Jewish. I guess someone imported them once, everyone bought them and have been buying them ever since. Marcia gave us ours for Christmas last year, so now we can fit in.As an extra, we like to add the gigantic Star Wars machine, just to add a little character!
Movie Night
Good old movie night, still a family tradition.
And Star Wars, who could get enough of that?
And Star Wars, who could get enough of that?
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
It is coming - more and more
The darkness is coming!
The darkness is coming!
Quick, quick, get out something bright!
Something cheery!
Anything to make this more bearable!
Tomorrow I am putting up the Christmas tree. I need something to look forward to.
As you can see, the sun is not coming up until after 10 now, and is going down at 4. 6 hours daylight is enough to make anyone want to go back to bed.
It is also enough to make everyone sleep in. We have all been late all week. They boys have not been waking up until after 9, so we are setting alarms, and still lucky to get up for 8.
On the weekend they slept until almost 11. It has been a long time since I was last woken up by the boys and felt well rested.
There is one other problem, besides being late every morning. Just like when it is light all the time, the kids do not know when to stay in bed. A few times Stefán has woken up in the middle of the night, played toys for a while then fell asleep on the couch. I guess his reasoning is that if he plays all day in the dark, why not play all night in the dark?
The darkness is coming!
Quick, quick, get out something bright!
Something cheery!
Anything to make this more bearable!
Tomorrow I am putting up the Christmas tree. I need something to look forward to.
As you can see, the sun is not coming up until after 10 now, and is going down at 4. 6 hours daylight is enough to make anyone want to go back to bed.
It is also enough to make everyone sleep in. We have all been late all week. They boys have not been waking up until after 9, so we are setting alarms, and still lucky to get up for 8.
On the weekend they slept until almost 11. It has been a long time since I was last woken up by the boys and felt well rested.
There is one other problem, besides being late every morning. Just like when it is light all the time, the kids do not know when to stay in bed. A few times Stefán has woken up in the middle of the night, played toys for a while then fell asleep on the couch. I guess his reasoning is that if he plays all day in the dark, why not play all night in the dark?
Party Madness
Today Kasper turned 7! He had his friends over from school as well as some family. As you can see from the pictures - it was crazy for a while.
The first mix up happed when Kasper invited more kids then he had invitations for, causing us to leave one kid at the school.
Nest Stefán had to come home early from school because he got an ear infection.
I could not cancel the party only a few hours before....
Everything that could have went wrong, did go wrong, but Kasper had a great time, and really that is what matters.
I bought Kasper a Spiderman closet for his birthday. Good Old Toys R Us discount.
One very very dirty sock
The oldest kids had there own area, one of them really likes Sims 2. I like Sims 2....
Sick Stefán. with a balloon.
The first mix up happed when Kasper invited more kids then he had invitations for, causing us to leave one kid at the school.
Nest Stefán had to come home early from school because he got an ear infection.
I could not cancel the party only a few hours before....
Everything that could have went wrong, did go wrong, but Kasper had a great time, and really that is what matters.
Lining up for ice cream!
Kids Everywhere!
I bought Kasper a Spiderman closet for his birthday. Good Old Toys R Us discount.
Shoes everywhere, I bet my neighbors hate me.
Sundae Madness!
Sundae toppings!
Stefán up to something
This kid is half Canadian, but does not know where in Canada is mom is from. It was nice he drew a card with maple leafs on it.
One very very dirty sock
Kids in costumes
That Stefán...
Agata comes out of hiding only to say goodbye.
Kasper with no front teeth, can you say Swiss Mist?
Spidermans
The oldest kids had there own area, one of them really likes Sims 2. I like Sims 2....
Sick Stefán. with a balloon.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Does this count as art?
Just when I thought my neighborhood could not get any better.
Just when I thought it was truly oozing with class.
Someone spray painted the no entry sign, that is practically in my back yard.
Now it is labeled Penis.
Absolutely Fabulous.
Well this saves me the trouble.
Now everyone knows the true meaning of the sign.
I am so excited for the next genius to roam by armed with a can of spray paint.
Now honestly, like the red glow coming from our building was not enough?
Next time someone needs directions to my house:
Do you know where the penis sign is?
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