Challenge ?

Kjellaug is a pro…, originally uploaded by elinjanne.

My gifts were easy to wrap, but how do grandma Kjellaug plan to wrap this one? And where does she hide the monster until Christmas?

To do – lists…

This boy don’t worry much about “to do – lists”. All he cares about is that he gets his bath at his grandma. Good for him…

 

Sometimes my lists are long and sometimes I have many of them. Not this year. The one thing I have on my list is to clean out my workspace. My mother would not have approved that list. Since I am spending Christmas Eve at my brothers, there really isn’t that much I need to do. I don’t need lists for gifts, they will all find envelops under the three this Christmas.  Bottom line is; I am so thankful that I don’t need to clean out the whole house like my mother used to do.

Looks like I finished today. No…I did not. I gave up half way, the rest of the room looks like a bomb has been dropped. Or – I could say that I saved the rest for tomorrow…

What makes Christmas perfect?

Well, I am easy…but a perfect Christmas needs kids.

Christmas traditions are important, but they change over the years. They change as the children gets older. I have one clear memory from my childhood. I followed my mother to the barn, bringing Christmas food for Santa. My grandfather and my mother were great storytellers. I believed every word they told me…I did believe that Santa lived on the barn during Christmas. (And so did my mother, I think…) After having dinner Christmas Eve my mother took care of the animals in the barn. While she was out,  Santa came bringing gifts. I felt so sorry for my mother that didn’t get to meet with Santa.

After a few years of celebrating as an adult it was a big thing when Jan was born in 1979. A grandchild had the pleasure of meeting Santa. Grandma told her grandson the same stories, and he was a believer like us. Tor on the other hand…I don’t think he ever believed in Santa.

They grow up and suddenly there are only adults sitting down at the table Christmas Eve. That is nice, but there is no Santa and no magic. We are so grateful that once again the magic is back. He might not now about Christmas, but he knows all about presents…

Yepp..Kristian knows good things is coming his way…

Journal your Christmas…

 

I am still cleaning…and the only room left is my workplace. Yes…that`s me, leaving the worst for last. But, I better start getting this room ready because I did join Shimelles online class; Journal your Christmas. Starting on December 1 – ending January 6. This is the third year she do this, and for many it is an ongoing project. I have not decided on what format  or how I will do this yet. With Stacy Julian`s; 30 days Hath September still fresh in my memory, I know it is hard to make one page every day. And this  goes on for 37 days. …12×12 ? I don`t think so…

But, I am really exited about this and I am ready to make time for it. Take a look and join us:

And I want to share this little cutie: He dressed himself to visit his grandma…

Krisitian dressed himself - ready to visit his grandma....

 

Not so happy being stopped in the door....

The good old days…

 

 

 

Lyngstad – May 17 ..early 60`s…

I was browsing Face book earlier this evening and I found this photo posted by an old friend of the family. Gunnar and my brother are seven years older than me and from my perspective Gunnar was always there when I grew up. The boys were always hanging out together.

The last time the family had Sunday dinner together we talked about this. I was trying to convince my brother and his wife how important it is, writing down their stories. Coming straight from Jessica Sprague’s class; Stories in hand, I was really burning about this. I know I am fighting a losing battle to get them to write anything, but that is not stopping me from trying.

We got to talk about the good old days. We talked about my brothers first job and how Gunnar’s father became his first boss. My brother started out as a TV repairman.  We all have clear memories about the first television, and we remember when my father came home with the color TV.

But, we had all forgotten those crazy years my brother worked in the TV business. The dishwasher, the car stereos, the video, the satellite, the video camera, the hairdryer….Man, there was an ongoing stream of newbie’s and we were right in the middle of it. And…we had forgotten all about how big this was for us. My dad had the best time in his life and I think Gunnar’s dad also had exiting days being responsible for getting this new fashion things into people’s home.

About the photo and the importance of it…I don’t have a photo of “the old road”. Nowadays the road is on the other side of the river.

Family….

…I spent som time with my family this weekend. It was nice to meet the kids.

What is it about boys and cars?

 

                                             

                                            Okay…I was more like thinking about this kids….

 

Elin Marie and Kristian knows how to "play grandpa"...

 

                                                           

                ELIN JANNE

The Make up queen…

The Make up queen…, originally uploaded by elinjanne.

She likes looking good…..and she is having a hard time with her “super-aunt”. “You need some lip gloss”. Do I have a choice? NO….maybe I should be happy avoiding the rest of the stash?

Almost October….

…and that means 30 days of Hath September finish in two days. A little sad, but it feels good to see the end of this project. It is time to move to the next project. We did learn something in this class: to be present in our life, and to value the everyday life.

Since this is the last weekend and because this is the first Sunday we haven’t been able to have dinner together as a whole family I did some special pages today. I asked for a photo of everyone, taken today wherever they were.

Elin Janne - Bud - 28.09.08

Tor and Marita - Heimdal - 28.09.08

Jan and Linda - Lyngstad - 28.09.08

Of course…not everyone is able to do what they are told…It was supposed to be photos of Tormod and Kjellaug here too…Well, I can be good with revenge.

Tormod has been busy today. The weather is wet and nasty so there in no hikes in the mountain today, but he did learn some new actions in photo shop. From now on I am going to send my tired old face to him. He might be able to make me young and beautiful…..

Elin Marie

Our “Baby boy” left the nest….

Baby Tor - Christmas 1983

 …and as his favourite aunt I am feeling the”empty nest syndrome”.  We have lived together, worked together and for the last six years I have depended on this boy. I wish him the best of luck with his new home and his new employer.  (But honestly I hope he will be back home soon).

Thank you and the best of luck with a great future.

 Now…who is going to fix my computer, my printer, my camera, look after my car, fill my tank, help out at work, keep me company, listen to my rambling…….hm, I am in trouble….

Visiting Ona….

…Karen and Ansgar spent the day visiting Ona. This tiny little island at the northwest coast of Norway where Karen was born and raised. There is no roads and no cars on this island, but people still have their home out here. A few years ago you could buy a house for less then nothing, today you need a lot of hard cash. It is a beautiful place in still weather, but I am sure you can feel the storm out here.

Karen watch her childhood home coming into view.

 On the highest point on the island you can see the lighthouse that still make sure the ships are sailing safely through the storms.

The lighthouse at Ona.

 The seabirds is not the minority on this island…

Walking the beach, happy memories?

 

The streets are so cute…while walking between the houses you can find out what everyone have for dinner. i can not imagine how it was growing up out here. And Karen, being the silent type of person, do not talk so much about that.

Karen and Ansgar walking the -streets- of Ona.