Little Lydi turns 4

Lydia has been counting down to her birthday since Joseph had his in October.  She would often tell us, "First it will be Christmas, then I will start Primary and THEN it will be my birthday!".  To say that she was excited would be an understatement.

She woke up early that day, snuggled into bed with us and when we wished her a Happy Birthday, she responded with a lisp-filled "Thank you!". 

We hurried downstairs to see if there were any presents waiting and, luckily for that birthday girl, there were a few fun things to open! 

A Minnie Mouse nightgown and a new cash register toy to play store with.  The Thank You's kept coming and soon she really got into the birthday spirit.  "This birthday girl would like...", "The birthday girl is going to...!, "Could you help the birthday girl do...?"  I tried to stifle my giggles but it was too cute to see her bask in the fun of having a birthday.  

I asked her if she wanted to stay home of the day but she answered quickly and firmly, "NO!"  This was my first time away from my child on their actual birthday and I felt slightly sad about it but she was so excited for all the neat things planned for her at barnehage.  Like the sign on the door, the crown she'd get to make for herself, the smoothies and her turn in the Love Chair.  Even the mention of smoothies made her lick her lips!  

The kids each get a turn in the Love Chair on their respective birthdays.  While the birthday child sits in the chair, everyone goes around saying something kind about or to the child.  All the kind things are written on a heart and hung on the wall for all to see.  

*Nice dress, good at making sand castles

*Kind and good at cleaning up

*Beautiful hair

*Good at swinging on swings and making food

*Helpful and good at playing

*Good at playing with water and helping others

*Gives good hugs

Right after barnehage was over for the day, we hurried home to get things ready for her first birthday party with friends.  Nathan spent the afternoon with his best friend Lea (who also had her birthday on the 19th) and the two youngest went over to Farmor and Farfar's so that Lydia could have her party with just her friends.  We got the crown situated and then it was time for smiles!

She requested a princess party (the night before the party was planned!) so I did the best I could with what I had.  Each of the girls got a crown and were thrilled to see the pink table.  

Lydia requested plain macaroni and ketchup for dinner.  I was a little hesitant and had spaghetti made up as well but the girls all screamed "YEEEEES!!" when I asked if they liked macaroni and ketchup. Add little garlic bread and you have a princess dinner... ;)

Throwing a party with little girls was quite different than our last friend party with little boys.  The girls played contently, stuck together and were slightly cautious.  The boys were dripping sweat and yelling like cavemen!  It was fun to see Lydia interact with her new friends from barnehage.  She has struggled to find her spot at barnehage and that has lead to making friends more slowly.  I think it made her feel more confident having them over to her house.  Like she was finally accepted into the group.  They eagerly helped Lydia open her new gifts and squealed with delight every time she opened a new one.

She requested a strawberry cake with strawberry ice cream.  After singing the English and Norwegian birthday song, she blew out her candles and we dug in!

After removing the candles, of course!

She ended the day with a smile on her face and told me she had 4 favorite parts of her day -

1. Having her friends over

2. Strawberry cake for her birthday

3. Wearing her crown and drinking smoothies at barnehage

4. Opening presents

Sounds like birthday number 4 was a success!

Indian Tasting Menu

A few months back, I entered a contest being held by a local Indian Restaurant on Facebook.  I usually skip things like that but I had eaten at the restaurant and the food was divine!  So, I threw my name into the virtual pot and didn't think much about it after that.  Then, suddenly, a couple months later, I got an email telling me that I had won the contest!  

The prize - a tasting menu for 2 (value - 1,000kr!)

Say what?!?

I was floored!  I was so excited to win and I was even more excited about a FREE and FANCY date night with Kjetil.  Our dear friends, the Hills, are expecting their 2nd child this month.  They had been planning to go out on a proper date before the arrival of their little baby and so we decided to make it a "Hilsen" date night (The Hills and The Olsens = Hilsens).  Which is pretty much the only way the free night out could get better!

The owner of the restaurant complies a new tasting menu every month.  He has been doing this for almost 5 years and he has NEVER repeated a dish.  It is a 3 course dinner and the flavors are all planned to perfection.  He tells you which dish to eat first, he tells you a little about the dishes and he tells you to enjoy!  Which is pretty easy considering the food is impossibly delicious!

The food was like perfection!  We all nibbled our way through, tasted the sauces multiple times, licked our plates were acceptable and then dreamed of bigger servings!  

It was such a fun night out.  

Great food, better company and all for free!

Sisters

These little cuties got matching dresses for Christmas.  Since we were absent from church for the first few weeks of January, we finally got to give them a try last week and they were perfect!

Lydia LOVES her little sister.  She loves her fiercely and is constantly showering her with hugs, kisses and love.

Emily is equally amazed with her big sister.  She loves when Lydia sings to her and she loves when Lydia plays "titt-tei" (peek-a-boo) with her. 

Sometimes the love that comes pouring out of Lydia can be a little too much.  It looks more like wrestling than hugs since Lydia won't let Emily get away before she is done hugging her.  

But having a sister is a special gift and matching dresses are only the beginning of the fun to be had between these two girls.

Sick, sick, sick

January started out with another bout of sickness.  Nathan came down with a horrible fever and his cough just got worse.  Nathan is a child that rarely stops.  His energy never runs out and he rarely sits still.  Once the fever hit, he was down for the count.

Three days in a row Nathan asked me if he could take a nap.  Three days in a row he cuddled up under blankets and peacefully fell asleep.  Not for 10-15 minutes but for hours.  He slept and he rested.

He asked for comfort and he snuggled in.

It was probably the first time in his 5 years of life that sickness has stopped him.  He was sick and it knocked him flat.  It spread to Joseph and Emily a few days later and we all suffered through the yucky-yucks of the sicky-sicks.   

11 months old

I always love taking pictures each month during the first year of a child's life but we reach a certain place where it requires a LOT more work.  

We have reached that point.

 "Ahhhhhh, mom!  No more pictures, I just can't do it anymore!"

 "Hahaha, just kidding!"

 "But really, do we have to do this again?!?"

 "I will give you one smile and you better catch it!"

Emily is absolutely delightful.  She is silly, she is cuddly, she is smart and quick.  She is curious and she is vocal.  She loves food, she takes great naps and she loves to be held.  

Her teeth are coming in at an alarming rate which leads to sucking on her thumb and a lot of crying as well.  She has been fighting a horrible virus since before Christmas and still carries a hacking cough.

 The cold combined with sleeping like this = pink eye (THREE times)!

Emily loves the laundry pile and luckily for her, I am usually a few days behind on folding the clean clothes.  I can almost always find her snuggled up in the pile.  She lays her head flat down into the pile and then smiles contently.  

 Her favorite facial expressions are developing but this is, by far, her most favorite expression.  Squished up nose, puckered mouth and half closed eyes.  She is constantly doing it and it always makes me laugh.

Emily and Joseph are becoming fast friends.  Although, Joseph does let her know when he doesn't like something by saying "ugh, Em-ly".  They make each other laugh and they play well together throughout the day.

 Their antics include dumping out every puzzle we own, emptying our tupperware cupboard and keeping each other company in the car while I drop off or pick up Lydia and Nathan at barnehage.

 We call them "tull og tøys" - 

 something similar to tweedle dee and tweddle dum.

These two are delightful to be around and I am sure it will only get better (and more chaotic) as we proceed toward Emily's second year.