Vi er tilbake i Kina

Da blir jo bloggen på norsk igjen, så det er litt deilig, og så sover barna til over 9 og det er litt deilig (at de er våkne rundt midnatt i stedet sier vi ikke noe om). Vi er alene bare vi fire for første gang på 6 uker og det er litt deilig, vi har aircondition (ikke det at det trengs i Norge), men det er litt deilig. Vi kan få mat levert på døra til under 100 lappen og det er litt deilig + at vi får treffe igjen mange gode venner.

Kebab date i Norge.

Det var tøft å reise fra Norge den gangen her, ikke bare fordi vi reiste klokken 03.30, men fordi vi virkelig merker hvor mye vi går glipp av i Norge og hvor mye vi savner dere alle. Da er det viktig å kunne telle sine velsignelser å se at vi har to land fulle med folk og steder vi er glade i.

Snø og fjelltur.

Rebekka savner fortsatt Deborah, for hun reiste på ferie i går tidlig, så det var ikke så greit, men hun kommer igjen på lørdag. Barna våre er flinke å leke selv og har hatt det moro med å "oppdage" sine gamle leker. Marianne har pakket frem og ned tøy som vi har hatt med til barna og funnet ut at nå må vi ha et klesskap! De tre skuffene de har på deling er proppfulle, og tre skuffer på klær til to barn er jo ikke mye.

Og så har vi kjøpt oss tredemølle for etter å ha gått på vekta vel tilbake i Kina, fant vi ut at vi trengte lett tilgang på trening. Når i tillegg noen fraflyttere solgte sin supre på billigsalg, så var det bare å slå til:)
Bildene ble bare et lite tilbakeblikk:)

Norway and the amazing sky!

In less than a week we are heading back to China. So this will be the last post in English in a while. We realize that we will miss a lot more this time than we did a year and a half a go, so it is bitter sweet to leave. The kids has all gotten bigger, and it is so nice to play with all of Rebekka and Tobias's cousins. Mariannes sister is expecting and so we are missing out on another baby.

Fun at a good friends house.

But, and there is a big but, we are so lucky to be able to try to live in a different country. Our kids are getting bigger and it is easier to live there, so we are optimistic that this period (before we go back again) will be better in a lot of ways.

The last week we left the south of Norway and drove back to the east, it took two days first a 5 hour drive and then a two hour drive. It is nice to be with Mariannes parents, and all of her family is here, so five toddlers is a lot of work, and a lot of joy.

Tobias is enjoying a "litle brother".

To day we traveled in to the capital to see some more friends, it was really nice to catch up with all of them, and we even bumped in to a lot of extra people. Fun for the grownups and not so fun for the kids, but they coped well.

Our friend is capturing our kids.

On the drive back Rebekka chose not to sleep, and who can blame her with a skyline like that! The parents in this family loves to look at the sky while driving, very safe, we know. It has been raining all day, but now the sky had cleared a lot, and the clouds was only in the horizon. In Norway the sunsets lasts for a few hours, so the clouds were white, blue and pink. Close to the sun the clouds were gold and burning. Close to the ground it was misty and the lakes and rivers were completely covered by fogs. It was only about three meters high, so when we were driving a bit higher we could see the mist in the creeks and valleys. So pretty, impossible to catch everything in a photo, especially while driving, but here is a small try.

No comment needed.

I am so sorry!

In three years we haven't missed a single week of blogging, but this week we were without internet, and Marianne just could not bother doing it from the phone. This does not mean that we are dead it just mean that we are really relaxing, enjoying Norway and feel busy in the relaxation, or something like that.

An "ola car", very fun for the kids.

Aunty is reading books for three curious cuties.

Since last time we have been relaxing some more days in Førde with Steinars mum, and sisters. We have traveled to the south of Norway through Bergen and Karmøy (this is just names for most people, but you can google).

Tobias and his 4 week younger cousin.

My sisters son woke up and announced: "ice-cream in the sun"

Then we came to Kristiansand, witch is a biggish city (population of  84 476 people) here we have been to a big amusement park/zoo, it has both animals and other activities, and we have really had a good time, and even bumped in to some friends that we didn't expect to meet.

You can see a girafe in the back and an antilope in the front.

This old guy is called "Tobias in the tower".

We are currently with some friends here in the south. Marianne has known these girls longer than she has known Steinar, so it is really fun to see them with husbands and kids. And even though a lot has changed, we still feel like really good friends, so that is good to know. Just to bad they live at least a five hour drive from our apartment in Oslo.

Mum, don't eat my pink sugar.

Friends are fun, they have new toys.

It is good to rest

We are still in Førde. Our kids have some trouble falling asleep, but they do sleep longer in the mornings, so it is not to bad, we are talking 7, sometimes 7.30, amazing:) They also really enjoy playing with cousins. So it is a battle to leave everyday. It makes me dread Sunday, when we are leaving Førde for the next year and a half, but we are going to some other cousins, so it might not be so bad.

The swings outside gradma's house (the big white wall).

Rebekka is still talking about Deborah, and want her to come and play too, I am not totally sure if that is so that Rebekka wont be the youngest or if it is because she really wants Deborah there. I am guessing a little bit of both.

And we have eaten strawberry's, like, a lot!

The week hasn't been too eventful, thankfully. We have been out playing some, gone to visit Steinars sisters in Førde (1 hour walk, and 2 min walk from Steinars mum). We went shopping yesterday, and Marianne could not resist buying a green (really green) sweater. It is very appropriate for China! Few events means few pictures, sorry. Hopefully we will remember to bring the camera out more in the next week.

Norway is good in winter, but..

Sorry, I'm late by one day, because we have been traveling. We have been to see Steinars aunt, she lives on a farm, so there was time to ride a tractor, and see some cows.

Dad is introducing some cows.

The tractor is fun, inside and out.

The nature here in the west is magnificent "de bu de liao". So you who knows Chinese knows it must be good. We often think about our friends in China and wonder how you are doing, and wishing you could join us on this trip.

First the kids played, and then they got to ride with Steinar and Steinars uncle.

Just one of them waterfalls.

To day it has been 15-16 degrees and the farmers worked outside without a shirt in the lovely Norwegian summer, it is really a strange comparison to 36 degrees and wearing a long sleeved shirt.

The view out the car window today, see the green glacier water.

We have now made our way to the west, to Steinars mum, and it is good to be here too. We had some lovely days with Mariannes parents, we even got to go out for dinner without kids, we had a kebab, and then a soft-ice, it was sooo much better than the KFC one.

The back yard of Mariannes parents, Tobias is cutting the grass and Rebekka has a wheelbarrow.

This weekend we went to the mountain looking for trolls, and the only things we could see was some fences and some old rock fighting. So I guess they keep hidden during the daytime, witch they should.

Fencing in the trolls.

We also went sledge-riding in the snow on the mountains and swimming outside (in a non heated pool), it was maybe 20 degrees outside, so plenty warm for an outside swim. Steinars extended family on his mums side were there, so it was a lot of fun.

We needed a lot of sledges.

Steinar and Rebekka, is winning.

Mum and Tobias is having fun.

Our kids are enjoying Norway, but Rebekka has started talking about Deborah, witch is nice.

I got to wear flowers on my head.

Norway beautiful Norway.

We have arrived safely, and are enjoying jet lag, lovely weather and Norwegian food. We have spent some time with Mariannes sister, and her family and we have had some good times together. We have also had time to barbecue, take some shots, go to the dentist and to play a lot.

Kids that love to play.

Before we left China Rebekka had the good sense to cut her hear. So the hairdresser had to help her make it more even. It turned out fine, so Mum is happy.

Rebekka with her self cut hair.

The plain ride over went smoothly, we thought it would go fine, and besides from the ride from Yinchuan to Beijing it was not to bad. The plane from Beijing to Berlin was full, so that wasn't to great of a start, especially when Steinar and Tobias had to share a seat and Marianne and Rebekka was placed a different place at the airplane. But then people swapped places and Tobias and Steinar sat behind Rebekka and Marianne, so that was not to bad (they still had to share a seat).

Tobias is not used to eat ice cream with a spoon.

The planes was on time, and we didn't loose any luggage. They didn't find all the luggage in Berlin, but then they looked at our numbers again and found them, so that was nice.

Marianne enjoying ice cream outside in the rain and beautiful 18 degrees outside:)

When we landed in Norway it was 11 at night, but we could still see the sunset, and the dim light over our beautiful country, even though it probably will rain more than we are used to:)

Jeg vil ha mormor og morfar min!

Hver gang Rebekka får "Nei" til svar, eller vi må i rette sette henne sier hun: "Jeg vil ha Mormor og Morfar min!". Så det er ei som gleder seg noe veldig til å reise i alle fall. Hver dag teller vi ned: I dag er det tirsdag, i morgen skal vi på iPlay og da er det onsdag, så er det torsdag og fredag morgen reiser vi. Tre dager igjen før vi tar fly.

Lesestund på iPlay, på engelsk og kinesisk.

Når vi spør hva Rebekka gleder seg til i Norge er det en liste med navn som kommer. Håka Angel, Benamin, Miliam, Embla, Avla og så videre. Veldig kjekt det også. Hun gleder seg også til å grille pølser, spise is, bade ute og alt annet vi foreslår, men jeg tror det må bli grilling ganske tidlig i ferien!

Rebekka har lagd seg et belte av en lang magnetstrimmel.

Tobias han klarer ikke helt å uttrykke sin entusiasme like sterkt, men han gleder seg sikkert over is og bading han også. Dere må glede dere, han er en ordentlig artig go gutt. Som elsker å sitte på fanget eller å springe rundt å være arti/slitsom, men han er litt mamma-gutt altså.

To gutter travelt opptatt med å åpne glidelåsen.

Sist uke har vært ganske normal. Marianne har passet barn og Steinar har jobbet litt. Marianne har litt liten forståelse for hvor lang tid det kan ta å skrive et dokument. Marianne bruker jo ca 10-15 min på et blogginnlegg hver uke, mens for Steinar ville den jobben tatt en time. Så det er ikke så greit. Gleder oss til å se dere. Fredag kveld (seint) lander vi på Gardermoen, så da ser vi i alle fall Okke Sinne.

Wei, er det Andreas, ja vi kommer snart på besøk!

Snart til Norge

Det nærmer seg ferie og tur her for oss. Vi gleder oss og ser veldig frem til noen avslappende dager i Norge med barnevakt på kjøpet... Eller det kan vi jo ikke regne med og sannheten er at Marianne koser seg mer enn ho hadde trodd med å passe sine to små denne mnd. Rebekka og Tobias er ganske flinke til å leke selvstendig og de krangler ikke så alt for mye og når de gjør det er det stort sett: Mamma, Tobias tar på meg! Og akkurat den krangelen husker Mamma så alt for godt fra de mange bilturene hun var med på som barn (en god grunn til å stoppe på to barn, slik at når vi får oss bil en gang blir det ikke så fult i baksetet).

Vannlek (playing with water)

I dag overrasket Marianne seg selv med å ta med to små barn i svømmehallen, med seg hadde hun ei venninne som egentlig har "sengepåbud?" og hennes svigermor, samt sønnen (Wes). Så jeg passet to barn i svømmebassenget og det gikk som smurt. Rebekka var så godt som selvpasset og Tobias ville holde i hånda eller være på meg, men det var jo i grunnen helt ok.

The only time Rebekka has insisted on wearing socks. To gode venner.

Strike a pose.

Ellers har Mamma og Tobias hatt en ettermiddag ute på tur, hvor Tobias fikk kjærlighet på pinne og Mamma fikk kaffe, så koselig å ha litt tid bare Tobias og Mamma.

Strike a pose 2.

Våre venner i etasjen over er jo foreldre til Rebekkas beste venninne Deborah, og å passe de jentene sammen er nesten lettere enn å passe de hver for seg for tiden, så ofte passer jeg ett eller tre barn, begge deler er faktisk ganske kjekt. Så Marianne og barna har det rimelig bra.

To hushelper/barnevakter og hvite barn (househelpers and white kids)

Og hva så med han far sjøl i huset. Han har det litt slitsomt og litt travelt med en del som skal leses og ordnes før vi reiser til Norge. Vi har fortsatt en god porsjon familie-tid, men Steinar føler nok litt at han burde lekt mer med barna. Det får han helt sikkert tid til i Norge.

Strike a pose 3

This week we have playd a lot with Deborah, we have been to the pool and we have played like usual. Marianne is enjoying kids a lot more than she thought she would and xiao yu's neighbour comes over to cleen twise a week, so nice. Enjoy the pictures, Ruth:)

Tiden går visst fort:)

Vi har vært flinke å blogge en gang i uka siden vi kom hit, men denne uka ble det visst glemt litt. Bra jeg har en mor som kan minne meg om hva jeg har glemt:)

Fetter + Tobias februar -12

Vi har ikke hatt en spesielt travel uke, sånn bortsett fra at vi fortsatt ikke har barnevakt, men har ei som kommer to dager i uka for å vaske litt. På tirsdagen hadde vi også en kompis som passet barna våre en ettermiddag, det var veldig koselig.

Rebekka februar -12

Vi har ikke tatt noen bilder fra sist uke, men i kveld var Mamma'n ute på grilling, mens Pappa'n var hjemme med to små og la de selv. Det var veldig deilig.

Grilling med venner.

Vi har det bra og gleder oss til Norgestur. Særlig Rebekka er klar for å dra til Flyplassen når som helst.

Vi savner deg, farmor (og dere andre i Norge også)

Takk Gud for appelsinjuice

Rebekka vil ikke alltid synge bordvers, så i går sa ho: Ikke takk for maten, bare takke Gud for appelsinjuice.   Hun er en ganske bestemt dame, men så søt. I dag var vi for å hente noen arve-klær til Rebekka, Rebekka har maaaaange kjoler, så Mamma ville hente bukser og gensere til høsten/vinteren. Deborah trengte kjoler, så hun skulle hente noen av de. Da Rebekka så at Deborah fikk kjoler så ble det helt krise, så Rebekka fant frem en kjole hun også... Ja ja, neste gang skal jeg gå uten barn.

Rebekka synger og spiller

Det har blitt veldig varmt her nå godt over 30 grader om dagen, så vi er ute litt om formiddagen og så prøver vi å gå på besøk, eller få besøk på ettermiddagen. Vi har jo ikke hushjelp lenger, så Marianne er hjemme å passer barn mens Steinar skal prøve å gå på skole som normalt.

Rebekka bader i sprinklene.

Så varmt og deilig med vann-lek

Ellers har vi det kjekt som vanlig og prøver å kose oss mens vi gleder oss til ferie og norgestur. Vi har en del besøk og prøver å slappe av mellom slagene. Og jeg tror vi voksne sier: Takk Gud for aircondition.

Guttene jobber.

Rebekka håper å lære litt mer ballett av kusinene sine i sommer