Ski trip and other interesting stuff

We have less than two weeks left in Norway now. Steinar and Rebekka went to the Chinese embassy to apply for visas today. And the tickets are booked for our China trip, we are really looking forward to seeing all of our friends out there, but it is bitter sweet as it means saying goodbye to our family and friends here. 

Rebekka loves her brother so much.

It has been snowing a little bit almost every day this last week. Marianne has had a few days alone with Rebekka and Tobias because Steinar has been to Oslo and he has been to Hafjell, skiing. Steinar is really good at Telemark skiing (according to Marianne who is a bit behind). Marianne would have loved to ski as well, but with two kids under the age of two. Steinar had a great time though. He is the one in the middle (red helmet) he and two friends are demonstrating three different styles of skiing.

Rebekka also got her hair cut this weekend. We have talked about it for a while and finally mumsmum was allowed. 

My first haircut.

We will have a busy two weeks a head. It will be interesting to see if we get to do all the things we want, but I guess we would always have had to little time when it all came down to it. The thing Marianne will miss the most (except for family) are the snow, but I think you would too. 

Steinars brother.

Graphiti

The last week has had it's ups and downs as usual. Marianne and Steinar went out to eat Thursday night leaving the kids with Mumsmum and Mumsdad. We had a great time to ourselves. A few nights later Rebekka had a hard time sleeping, probably due to nausea, and the next morning she threw up. A couple of hours later she was pretty much well again. We've also had some nice visitors, both Aunt Kristine (Steinar's sister) and Aunt Kristine (Marianne's sister) came to bless us with their company. Steinar has also been out traveling, taking a day trip to the capital to sort our visas, but had to return empty handed because the embassy personnel were all on Spring Festival vacation. Luckily Rebekka made a beautiful work of art on Mumsmums wooden floor, although Tobias didn't care much for it.

Rebekka's Work of Art

The Little Prince

A lovely day

We have all been really tired lately, because Tobias preferes to sleep in maximum two hour stretches and then eat for an hour and so on. So the nights have been badly interrupted. Steinar then thought "what if I sleep in another room for one night". So he did, that resulted in him having the energy to take Tobias and Rebekka from about 8 o'clock and Marianne got to sleep a litlebit longer alone.On top of that Mumsmum watched Tobias when Rebekka was sleeping so that Marianne and Steinar could lay down for an hour. Wonderful. AND... At 2 Marianne went to get a massage, so this day has been lovely. The best thing about this day is actually none of the above: Rebekka and Tobias got a baby cousin to day, we rejoice with the family!

Tobias is growing and he is mostely content. If it weren't for his tummy acing some times he would maybe sleep longer and hardly cry. He is often awake and happy, so this is a new baby experience for us.
Rebekka is fantastic, although she sometimes wants to scratch Tobias in the face, but most of the time she just looks at him, and wants to hug and kiss him.
If Tobias is crying she sometimes interrupts her games (especially if she and mum are playing) and insists that we go and comfort Tobias.

Our two wonderfuls.

I tend to forget what we have done the last week, then it helps to have photos. Mariannes sister is very good at visiting, she brings her son and even though Rebekka occasionally bites him they get along fine.

We have the same style.

The process of going back to China has started as we applied for passports for our children on Friday. It feels good and a bit scary to know that it is getting closer.

But I want to smile:) (passport photo)

We don't have time to take that many pictures theese days, but we try. Rebekka is doing so many interesting things so we really want to share that. She and Mumsdad has this thing where they dance with their hands along to the music on the radio. She still likes to play outside and this Saturday a friend came with us for a walk. Rebekka was on the back on the sledge and Tobias was in the stroller. It was a nice walk. Rebekka saw some swings and did not want to leave. We had quite a job getting her indoors again. This happens all the time every day.

Juletrefest/ Christmastreeparty

This week we have all tried to get in to a rhythm of eating, playing and sleeping. It is getting better every day, I think... Rebekka is just wonderful with Tobias. She is happy to sit on mums lap during Tobias' feeding time and softly pat him on the head or bum or wherever. It is also very hard to just let him lay in his bag and sleep, because he is so cute and of course she wants to pat him just a little bit. Another favorite is that Rebekka likes to walk around barefoot so of course we all should like that. If Rebekka has the chance she will try to take off all of our socks. Luckily Rebekka has feet on her tights so they don't come off, I just picture the struggle with forcing socks on her. Getting clothes on her is bad enough, she loves to be either naked or in her pajamas.

Rebekka loves shoes, she often goes out to find our shoes.

Tobias is struggling some with his tummy, not as bad as Rebekka but enough so we know that he is clearly in pain. We will try to do something about that, but we have yet to see what.

I don't know if you can see it, but it is below 15, and a beautiful sunrise at about 9 a.m.

And on Sunday we had a Christmas tree party. That is a gathering where we eat the rest of the Christmas cookies, we hear some last Christmas story's and we sing some Christmas songs and walk around the Christmas tree. (A year ago we had some friends over who had to walk around the Christmas tree with us, they are now eager to see it beeing done right.)

Rebekka is doing her first turn around the Christmas tree, and she loved it.

Happy new year!

Boom!

Well a new year is upon us, we have two kids now and boy is it different. We would love to spend a lot more time with Rebekka, but with two kids who don't sleep as much as we would like, we are tired. Tobias needs to bee fed, and held, and Rebekka really wants to help. This week we will try out our new life without all of the family around us. It will be hard, but I think it will be nice as well.

Tobias being cared for by his sister.

The last week Rebekka has played a lot with her cousin (who will turn 1 tomorrow). When he left on Sunday he took with him his new car (in Norwegian bil). Rebekka has been pointing to the door where he left every time she hears a noise from there saying bi (Witch can mean car or be the name of her cousin).

Rebekka is trying the car.

Together we turn 30, so if you have math skills you can guess how old I am tomorrow!

It will be harder to blog from now on. I thought about doing it while Rebekka had her nap, but I needed to sleep too, and then it was a lot to do untill bed time and now Rebekka is crying not ready to sleep just yet. Well hopefully we will all adjust soon.