A bucket of dogs, among other things

My first day unemployed! Three cheers for me.

We started renovating the living room last night, starting with the radiators (old heating systems), they had to go.
I am so proud of Davíð for unhooking them himself - we don't need no stinking plumber! But I must admit the place is a mess, water, carbon and holes in the walls.
It is hard to believe now but it will get better!

Kasper got an ear infection, just in time for me to not have to take a sick day from work, selfish I know.

I emptied out the storage room and now have half of it reorganized, the other half I will do later tonight or tomorrow, I have not decided yet.

Kasper's friends, Gunnar's mom, Magga (got that) came over today with Gunnar to play. She showed my her pictures online. I like them, so I piked my favorites.

I like it.

This giant puppet was from last year.

similar to the view out on new years

I just do not know what has happened here...

How could I have gotten so far behind?

So many pictures - so little time

This poor goat is the king of morning hair.

I had to go off the path in the zoo to get this picture, the guy just kept running away.

In the science room

it looked so close

már in a bubble

Stefán in a bubble

Stefán....

Spotted Cow

up close

this must be my favorite thing about the zoo here, it only has farm animals.

we petted them

Inga's new hair do - an great summer style

Kasper is always working on his soccer, even at Ammas

It is so bright - hard to believe after a winter here

some brunch at Ammas

Excellent Kasper

The dead rat (it is real), up close and personal

Kasper

Stefán

and Davíð
I think this covers everyone for now.

We are off to Kristína's 30th birthday party.

A school year in reveiw.

Time to go through the family one by one:

Davíð started at the University of Iceland in the Department of Engineering. September was a nightmare - tons of work and no time to eat or sleep. The semester did not go so well. After Christmas - try again - same problems.
Now Davíð is working as an electrician for Rafís, working 730 - 330 and having a great a great time. He really enjoys his new job and is working on perfecting his Polish. This will take some time but it going well.
This fall he is planning on attending evening courses to finally get his ticket.

Kasper attended Íssak Skóli again this year, and grade one again. In September his Icelandic was almost nonexistent and no one could understand him.
The year went very well - with special thanks to his teacher Sissý, who really took the time for him.
Now his Icelandic is actually better then his English and he will be move forward a grade next year - so he will be back with the kids his own age.
I am sure next year will go well, a teachers aid is already in place, he will continue his occupational therapy and life will go one, as an Icelandic child.

Stefán is getting very big now. Like he says - soon he can walk to school alone. Well, maybe not that soon.
In September he started in the 4 year old class in play school. I have to admit I was very disappointed in this class, but this might just be because the three year old class was so great.
He learned how to make real friends, Joven and Mikæal, and has practiced his sharing.
He recognizes and writes most letter and can count in Icelandic.
Stefáns speaks more and more Icelandic everyday, and less and less English. It is a little sad talking to him when he can not get through a sentence without substituting for Icelandic words.
This fall Stefán will be moving u in the world - up to Kindergarten in Kasper's school. This is an whole new world that he can not wait to join.

Rósa, our dog and newest addition to our family. I had always wanted a little girls, but a dog really is just as good. I get to comb her all the time and am considering experimenting with hair cuts.
She is now completely trained and only eats our shoes when we are not looking.

Myself, well you know how it is. The year started out rough - working more then 70 hours a week. Yuck. it has been busy.
I worked in reception in a hotel - worked up to reservations manager, then quit.
I worked in a nursing home, took care of old people, was devastated, then quit.
I started at toys r us.
I was promoted to section manager
I was promoted to assistant store manager.
I was promised more,
then I quit.
I probably sound a little flaky, but these actions all have reasons.
I have applied for University to take some economics - interesting I know. Exciting? Yes! Who would not be excited to go to school in a language the only half understood, never mind spoke. Lucky for me the books are in English and the tests can be translated for me.
One week from today I will finish work and will be taking the summer off AGAIN!! This is becoming a habit.
So I will be writing much more, lounging at the beach more, chasing animals at the Zoo and enjoying the best two months of the year with my boys.

If this year has helped us with anything, it is that we have to learn to enjoy more of what we have - admit this is life. Far too much time is spent waiting for things to get better. Now we know, things are better, we only need to open our eyes.

We can see clearly now.

New Shoes

Carpooling around Iceland? What a brilliant idea. http://www.samferda.net/

I bought new shoes for work. They are really good walking sandles. They cost a lot of money. I kindly suggested that Toys R Us should pay for these shoes or at least subsidize them. They kindly replied that my shoes were not there problem.

Even though I have destroyed 3 pairs since working there? Even though I send 8-11 hours a day walking around at work? I would have thought they would like to see me take care of these feet that carry me around and help me work.

Cheap bastards!

My next pair of shoes will be the ugliest flashiest shoes around. I might even glue some plastic diamonds to them and spray paint them pink. I mean flouresent pink.
Then they might consider buying me some shoes.

As long as I am responsible for my own foot wear I will wear what I want.

Eurovison - I am a victim

How could I have lived all these years and never heard of this? A yearly contest to see who has the best of the worst songs.
There are rules, like not voting for your won country. I do not understand enough of the rest to explain it.
I voted for France, but I really liked the Greek song.
Like everyone else in Iceland, and Europe, I spent the evening watching this on television and can not help but feel like I have lost valuable hours from my life.
But this is part of the assimilation process - watching eurovision every year. Now I just need to learn to enjoy it more - next year!
watching the results now

Conratulations

Since Agata moved out and took her blender with her I have been dreaming of milkshakes. Today we finally went out and bought ourselves a blender, it was a good day. I can now look forward to a summer full of smoothies and shakes, if it ever gets hot out.

We also fixed the laundry problem. For 2 years we have been living here and using the building laundry facilities. This included one washing machine for 6 apartments. I should also mention that one of these apartments has 5 families living in it.
And the washer takes more then 2 hours for a load of laundry.
So I do not have to tell you how hard it was to get any washing done. I was setting alarms fir 2 a.m. to start the washer, and even then it was rare I could get in there.

Today we bought a new washing machine. A nice new shiny electrolux with a super extended warranty that will last 5 years and include every possible problem - including toys and tools going through the wash.

Am I feeling rich - no, I am poor as dirt, but since we have stopped driving the car we are poor dirt that can afford a washing machine. It is a good life.

Rósa has been a little more naughty then usual lately and has eaten every wire within her reach. And Davíð's sandals.

I bought new sandals. On Thursday. They are are amazing and more then double what I would have spent on foot wear before, but this is OK because I plan on getting Toys R Us to pay me back for them.

Stefán is behaving more demon like all the time, I think it is the age. Davíð said that when Kasper was younger he was sure he had no soul, but this changed and now it is Stefáns turn.

I have an actual weekend off this weekend. It is a good feeling, but there is a catch. They are going to work me to death next week. Here is the plan.
Monday: Take in and empty 4 huge 40 ft containers. This might take most of the night.
Tuesday: Everyone starts at 8 for the inventory counting, the store is closed and no one leaves until it is done. Again a very long day.
Wednesday - work work work because the big guy, the head of toys r us, will be at our store on Thursday. Friday, Saturday Sunday, payday weekend with a new catalog. I feel a little bad for myself and think you should too.

Davíð is home now, so I will go.

The Friday Singing

Every Friday the children sing in Kasper's school. This week the teacher recorded it and put a video on YOUTUBE.

And here it is:

And so on.....

For weeks I have been neglecting my blog.

I have actually been neglecting a few things - a look at my toe nails brought something to light. I need to prioritize things. I need to make time for myself. How could I ever get so busy that I forgot about my toe nails? I guess it is hard to see them under the socks and boots.

I need to call my Dad, my brother, my friends. Dear Canadians: I think of you daily and miss you so much. It is hard to believe I have been gone for almost 2 years now.

I still consider myself completely Canadian, but I have been away so long now I wonder how well I would even fit in if I suddenly moved back. Certainly more culture shock would await me.

I saw a rat for the first time about a month ago. It died in my neighbors back yard. It was huge! I told some people that lived there. For some reason I thought they would do something about it. The rat is still there, slowly decomposing. If a rat, or anything else dies in my yard, I promise to do something about it.

I went tpo a BBQ on Saturday night, it was great and I am sure included the friendliest people in Iceland. Imagine 10 people living in one house, no one related and everyone getting along perfectly? It was beautiful.

Summer is coming and Kasper is old enough for sleep over camps - this is so exciting! A possible date with my husband? This would be nice, I hardly know the guy anymore.
I also loved summer camp as a child and have the most amazing memories of my time in Camp Alexo. I hope Kasper can gain similar experiences as I did.

Stefán will be finishing up and graduating from Playschool - he is so excited. Next year he will go to school with Kasper.

My birthday is coming so soon and I can hardly believe I am turning 28 - where have the years gone? I can no longer think of 30 as old because it is sneaking up on me rather quickly.

Next month is our 5 year wedding anniversary. This too seems amazing to me and seems so unreal. Most people that I meet my age are single, or may have a boyfriend but so few are married and I have been for almost 5 years. How time flies.

Stefán has started trying to walk everywhere alone, after all he almost 5 and he says when he is 5 he will be able to walk anywhere, alone, go to the store and buy himself food and be home alone. I think he will be a little disappointed when he does actually turn the big FIVE.

I have started using a laptop. Davíð gave me his that he bought last summer. This is funny because it is less then a year old and is already missing 2 keys on the keyboard. Is this normal?

Kasper has a cell phone now. It is true, I bought my 7 year old a cell phone and now he stalks me while I work. I get several calls a day from him. If he has school he calls before class, at recess, lunch, end of class, before soccer and after. If he does not have school he calls at least twice every hour for everything, do you think I should put cheese on my sandwich? I should be happy he talks to me so much.

My apartment is almost always full of kids these days. The boys have made friends with some neighborhood kids and our home has become the local hangout. At the moment there are 4 little screamers, and only 2 are mine.

We have stopped driving our car. We uninsured it and are now looking to sell it cheap, spread the word. The price of gas is just to insane for us and we can admit it. I was already taking the bus so this is only really a change for Davíð, but we are much more happy already. This takes a huge financial burden off our shoulders and leaves us money for the odd cup of coffee instead. Everyone has a choice and we have made ours.

I would write more, in fact I should write more - but my head hurts and I must convince these children to go home, it is, after all, 10:45 at night.

One more thing

to distract and keep me up at night.


Play Games at AddictingGames

I really like these simple strategy games, although I admit I do not seem to be very good at them.

Illegal!

While getting all the papers and filling out the forms for my permit to stay I noticed something terrible.
It expired yesterday! So I really have to get moving now. I will hand it in tomorrow. And until they finish processing it, I am again an illegal immigrant.
Funny how these things happen, time is going by so fast I can hardly believe that I have been here almost 2 years.

Supper on Toys R Us

Last Friday I went for dinner with my co-workers. We were given a lot of money to go for supper from head office, to treat us for our amazing hard work that has been done. As one of the highest selling stores, and being constantly short staffed, we have worked an insane amount. This meal was well earned.
We went to Caruso, a very nice place down town.

From left to right we Albert, Einar and Tina. Albert will be store manager soon, Einar is the funniest guy in the store and Tina is engaged to Albert. She also works at the information desk.

Here is Elsa, a part time Cashier.

Einar was drunk, it actually got worse as the night went on because he had a bottle in his coat that we was topping up his Coke with.

Elsa did not want this picture.

She said this one was OK.

This is the funniest looking salad I have ever seen. It is called a Tomato Salad, but it looks like it is missing something to be called a salad.

Einar at his worst.

This is a good one!

I was hoping to avoid having my picture taken, it did not work as well as I would have liked.

Here is Ingi, he only works part time on Information.

Jón Thor, Section Leader of small toys. He gets offended when people ask him about girls toys. He wants to know of he looks like the kind of guy who would know about girls toys.

And a cranky looking Albert.

I would saty the night was a huge success, even if only half the staff turned up. How could you miss out on a meal like that? It is a once a year, at the most, opportunity.

Whats New?

Well, it is really just life as usual. These are some pictures, in no particular order.

Ah Rósa, never too many pictures of her.

Sleeping Rósa.

A protest by truck drivers over gas prices left me stuck on the bus in one spot for an hour one morning. It was a long day.

Most people waited outside to see if they could catch a glimpse of what was going on.

Rósa

Rósa

Kasper graduated from this seasons Occupational Therapy lessons and they had a tea party celebration. The kids made us chocolate cupcakes. It was great.

Stefán got his wish for some McDonalds.

Davíð, our spokesman on the importance of eating a good breakfast.

Here is some more traffic from that protest.

I was going crazy. If I would have know, I would have brought a book.

An eye on Reykjavík

This is kinda neat, you can watch a camera that is downtown.

So if you have extra time, you can always look for me here!