…My biggest fear when I make albums is that I will get the facts wrong. I don`t have a good memory and there is no one to ask. My older brother has a better memory but I can not force him to get his stories down on paper. The good thing is that he takes an interest in what I am doing here, and for that I am thankful.

So – maybe I was a little pissed last night when he called to tell me that I got the story all wrong? How could I know where my father found the stones he build “the wall” in the garden at our childhood home? I was about five. My brother knew, and the fact that my father built the wall with the foundation from the old house is important information. I might have sound pissed last night but mostly I am grateful that my brother took the time to read and correct my information. (And it is difficult not to sound pissed when you have a toothbrush in your mouth).

You got to love digital layouts – it is so easy to correct wrongs…

 It`s a good thing he called before I hit print:)

Today we are most happy about our youngest family member who finally had a go with his first home this weekend. We have been waiting for a few weeks now to be sure that he and his fiance would be allowed to buy this apartment. Friday the happy couple could sign the contract and pick up the keys.

Template – Cathy Zielske. Paper – Fei-fei. 

And Saturday the parents hit the road for a visit. It is difficult not to interfere when your youngest son is buying  his first home. Even if you wanted to – you have to allow him to make his own decision.

A nervous mother – waiting to see the apartment.

I might have to agree with my brother that a new kitchen is needed.

Me? I have always been in a need for a new kitchen. Did I ever get a new kitchen? No. So when my brother mentioned that the young ones needed a new kitchen I was thinking; okay, then they have to keep wanting it and in the meantime they have to save the money for it…

So – maybe I have to rethink that thought? I mean – I would like this to be a great place to raise children. Since the apartment have a lot of bedrooms I trust them to have a lot of kids? I might be willing to sponsor a child? So – how is the baby planning going?

… My family has had a few of those – like most families. In the 60`s my father and his brother had a good idea. They wanted to build a cabin together. They were brothers, colleges and best friends. Thankfully their wifes put their foot down, so  in the end they built two cabins. My father would leave early Sunday morning and come home late in the evening. Building this cabin was his way of therapy from a stressful job. It was finished in 1969.

In return for the land my uncle  built on, my father was to receive the same from my uncle, who had settled in their family home. Only – this never happened. They both died without either of them getting any papers on land.

It has been an ongoing talk for 40 years. And finally – we are so close.

Mostly this story comes out of Ali Edwards class at BPS, and the photo my brother gave me of the pin – marking the land he now receive on behalf of our father. The pins were put down a few days ago and  after 40 years – issue solved. I also found my father’s word, written in the cabin journal from September 14 1983. It is a statement where he direct us on how he wants things settled.

 It is settled, and crazy as I am – I can see these to sitting up there, raising their glasses…

Childhood memories from the happy days – at the cabin…

1971 – 72.  Me – dragged out of bed. My mum with a bottle of beer. My mother that never touched any kind of alcohol – ever:) You can see how uncomfortable she is just holding the bottle. And my dad with the accordion. Always with an accordion. Almost every photo I have of my father – there is an accordion. This photo bring up so many memories and I can see a long line of scrapbooking layouts coming out of this. Good thing Ali E is showing us how to do layouts with words – a lot of words.

…back in 1983 – you reach out to your grandfather and called him mother. You were the sweetest baby boy I have ever met and you and your grandfather was the best of friends.

 Before you could walk you came downstairs early in the morning. Hours before the rest of the family was up – you two had breakfast together, and together you were building boats.

In 1986 my boat was finished and already you made plans for how you could make it yours…

Now – you are still sweet…but the real reason I am walking down the memory lane is because you bought your first home yesterday and I just want to tell you that I am proud of you – as your grandfather would have been. The best of luck with your new home.

Since it is October and the Load challenge is still going strong I  had to make a layout. Digital today. Free download from Shimelle.com.

I am easy to entertain so I was tempted to do a test at Ophra.com.

“When you feel threatened, or others refuse to go along with your agenda, you can become confrontational and domineering, sometimes to the point of being dictatorial.”

Not so sure I liked the conclusion…

This album can be what ever we want. I want it to be the story of my life today. Just little glimpses of what my life is about this summer of 2009. I could have made it about my life, but I am not. I could have used a lot of words, but I am not. And the main reason for my choice is that I am absolutely sure that no one will ever want to read more than two lines about my life. But if someone is to stumble over this album in the future, they will see the essence of me and I believe this will trigger  their own memories. That is a good thing.

The theme this week is Family. Funny theme for a single girl at 48. I could go with my brothers simple statement; “We are family, and that is the most important thing in the world”. But I had to look for the Norwegian state`s definition of family.

With family we mean all the modern relationships that exists. Including; Parents, foster parents, step parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings and cousins. It may also include other networks that people are depending  on and learning from through their life.

I made a first page and I have a plan for how I will approach this theme. All I need now is …more hours in the day or more days in the week. That would be a good thing in July!

I have spent the day at work from 7 am to 7 pm. Just work and no play. I am so ready for bed. We have had a good Sunday with snow and cold weather. The young ones in the family have enjoyed their fun in the snow.

It is fun to be kids in the snow...

We have had our share of bad weather this winter so I hope we are blessed with some cold nice weather for a few days. And yes – I would love to have some “playing in the snow photos” to scrap. If there is time left after cleaning and organizing…

Kristian is enjoying the moment.

There is a lot to be thankful for these days.

• family
• good health
• a new familily member coming
• everyone in the family have work
• a home
• and money to pay for heating
• this hobby that gives me so much
• …and in a few days there is elleven months until next December…

But most of all I am thankful for “the babies” in the family.

Making gingerbread house with grandma.

Kjellaug and Elin Marie

"Maybe I want the red one..."

My mother loved to tell stories about the Christmas parties she attended as child and young girl. Family and neighbors met for good food and good company. I always had this “Fanny and Alexander” picture in my head listening to her stories. There were no parties when I grew up. Well…I do remember parties, but I was put to bed, fighting and screaming.

But there were always a lot of visitors in my home. Really, every day an ongoing stream of people coming and going. My mum would feed everyone, and my dad was “holding court”. I have no idea how my mum was able to feed all these guests.

These days there are very little guests during Christmas. Working in a grocery store there is a lot of work in December. We close on the25 and 26, and then there is work again as usual. December can be challenging – fun – but challenging.

I have had the pleasure of being a house guest in my childhood home my whole life. After my parents past away, my brother and his family welcomes me at Christmas Eve. Later I will tell you about Christmas dinner. It took me 20 years to really enjoy it…

Jan and Santa (grandma) in 1984

My mum was Santa for her grandchildren for many years. They knew it was her, but that was okay. It was still exiting when Santa came to the house.

The joy of Christmas...

Kristian seems to think there is more then one way of enjoying the ornaments, and who can blame him…

Looking tasty...

He just has to take a "bite"...

He is a cutie. Last Christmas he was to young to help decorating the tree at grandma and grandpa. Now he is ready to go – after having a little nap. And with help from a bossy big sister everything works out fine.

She is the boss...

Today the whole family met here in Bud to have dinner at “Bryggja i Bud”. The restaurant is located in a seahouse in the harbour and they have mostly dishes made of fish. It was very tasty, and we were happy that Helga and Marthe joined us for this delicious meal.

I also made one more layout for my Design your Life class. I am a little behind in that class, but nothing to worry about. There is only one week left and it`s like I need to make it last for as long as possible. Now there is only one week left before the big shopping race starts. That means I have one week left to prepare for Christmas. This might be a busy week. ( Busy is good)

Elin Marie - helping grandma in the garden. Sketch - Cathy Zielske.

It was Elin Marie’s day. She followed grandma and grandpa into the woods to get the Christmas tree today. She got to do the picking.

Not easy to have short legs in the snow...

Is this big enough grandpa?

Lets get home grandma.

Were do I put the gifts?

Now, I think this tree need some stash, but that have to wait for another story.

…house – harvesting the Advent calander…

Elin Marie and Kristian.