Our week and Friend

Another week has gone by and we are getting into a schedule.  Well at least I hope we are.  The T and N are getting in the swing of going to school each day.  I think it has been hard on them at times.  They are really enjoying the school and are looking forward to receiving their iPads for school.  Yes, the school is providing each student I grades 7-12 an iPad for doing their work etc.  AY and AN are getting their work done and it is nice to have that time with them.

I am sure you are wondering about the picture and that is a picture of our dog, Bear.  We left our dogs with family in the states and three weeks ago they had do put Bear down.  He had cancer and we did not know it.  It was a hard week and we still have some tears every now and then.  

The girls are really enjoying gymnastics and it is very different than in the states.  We are hoping that they will just keep improving and getting skills.

C will be I the states again in October.  I wish I could go sometimes.  Friends are not easy to come by here.  Yu are spread out I the community and everyone has all there kids in school.  I have met some very nice Norwegians, but it seems that most mothers work.  I think they almost have to with the cost of living here.

I guess those who know me might wonder about the use of coupons.  The Norwegians do not have coupons as far as I can tell, but I have been able to use them at the shopette.  That is our very small grocery store.  It is not much bigger than a convenience store.  I have been able to use coupons and save 30-70 dollars a time.  There are no sales, but the do have percent off shelf and that is where you get the best savings.  The other thing is that I can use coupons up to 6 months after the expiration date.  So that being said send me your expired coupons.  I will use them and pass them on.

Melanie

 

Our view and update

Hello to everyone. It has taken a while to figure out how to post from my iPad, but I think I have it figured out.  We have had an interesting move.  It was hard and I really wanted to come back to the states.  I think we are settled, just a few more things to organize and put away.  

I had looked up some things before we got here and one of those things was snakes.  Norway has three, and one is poisonous.  I asked about them when we got here and no one had ever seen one.  Well we went on a hike and the girls were running around this lake.  AN stopped and screamed SNAKE.  She moved back and we ran to her and sure enough there was a snake.  It was not aggressive and just kind of slithered away.  Before it could get away all the Norwegians came running to "see" the snake.  I asked one of them why and they said they never see snakes.  It was of course the European viper.  They are not bad like the snakes in the states.  It is not aggressive and will bite if picked up or stepped on.  Anyway I have decided that we are the 1%.

T and N have started school and they seem to like it.  AY and AN are continuing to be homeschooled. We are trying to catch up from having to miss so much from the move.  

AY and AN have started gymnastics and seem to like it.  We found the atypical coach here.  She really pushes the girls and expects them to do things.  That is not normal for here.  They do not push their kids.  It is a much more laid back attitude.  

We have found a church.  It is not what we are use to and at times is hard to take.  The songs are really hard after coming from such a good church.  

The picture with this post is the view from my kitchen.  You can see the city and the mountains the fjord.

Enjoy your day.

Melanie