a new beginning

I don't know who follows this blog anymore, but I think there might be some family and friends out there, especially here in the US who'd appreciate just some daily life updates from Norway once in a while after we're there; Lilly and I and eventually Lilly and I and Elle. So I am re-committing to my writing and posting of pictures here. With my credit card points I was able to get a new digital camera that I can bring along to Norway so that Leighton/Elle can keep the one we have here and I can bring the new one to Norway to shoot pictures with and post here.

In case you didn't already see this on Facebook, I got tickets for Lilly and I to fly over to Oslo January 7th. We have a friend picking us up at the airport and can stay in her sister's apartment for the first two weeks while said sister is away. This apartment happens to be in the region of Oslo where it so happens that we have better chances of getting in to a good daycare/preschool, and I have applied for openings there. After our arrival I will have to find us an apartment to live in in that area. And a job. Unless I land one before that. I had a Skype-interview for a job there this morning and it went very well. Crossing fingers.

very brief update

Sorry we haven't posted in a while. It's been busy here. Actually my computer broke, and that kept me off the internet in the evenings. Anne's book launch has kept her occupied and even away for extended periods.

It sounds like some people still check this blog, so perhaps I'll try to post updates more often. Now that Anne got a new laptop and gave me her old laptop, I hope to be more active online again.

I've added a new photo album in the sidebar. Below is short video of Lilly jumping hurdles at a Halloween event hosted by the athletic department and sports teams at one of the local colleges.

spring-summer update

Sorry for not posting here for a while; we've just been too busy doing other good stuff! Leighton keeps getting praised at work (and given more and more work and responsibility); Lilly is thriving at her Montessori preschool (the school keeps a photo album of their activities here); and I'm looking forward to the fall publication of my book on feminist porn.

We had a lovely Memorial Day weekend, spent one day family birthday partying, another day at the beach, and a final one at our local Memorial Day service followed by a local afternoon baseball game. We barbequed on the sunny days, sipping margaritas, and felt quite lucky about our lives. (Beach day pictures here.)

Lilly got her first two-wheeler this spring (hand-me-down from good neighbors). Pictures from our first family bike ride outing are here (confession: Leighton and I had to bike really slowly... But it was so much fun to bike together! And we all enjoyed our lunch and ice creams afterwards at the cafe in Welch village.)

I've been teaching Lilly ballet since this past winter when she first expressed interest. Then it got boring for her with no other kids around. In March, she joined (as the youngest student in the entire school) a class that had been practicing for the spring performance since January. I'm proud to say Lilly did wonderfully at the final recital at the high school theater Friday a week and a half ago. Not afraid of being on the stage at all! Just so happy to have her mom and dad there watching her and cheering her on. More pictures here.

It's just wild to us that Lilly will be finishing her first year of preschool on Friday; in three days! Thank you family for your financial support with that. And to think she will turn FOUR two weeks after that (BTW Cheryl: ladybug-swimsuit still fits!). Lilly is writing and reading letters, excited about the pool opening on Friday (goggles are on her wishlist), and speaks enthusiastically about our vacation to look forward to this summer. She is grateful for her friends (and so looks up to her older ones), in love with her mom and dad, and totally into changing clothes every ten minutes, especially dresses. It's that stage. And it's very cute.

Oh, and we got new IKEA patio furniture last week! And we are so into barbequing and eating outside on the porch. Lilly is loving her (cold) hotdogs with ketchup (Leighton and I prefer both those and our chicken grilled). We got a big nice umbrella too for some shade when it gets too hot.

Here's to a good summer to us all!