Hunderfossen Familiepark

Here are a few pictures from our spur of the moment mini-vacation:
(more about the actual trip in a post below)

I love hotels!

Since our vacation to Lillehammer was last minute, we ended up staying at a hotel near Hunderfossen. There weren't many places with available rooms for a family of 4 so we figured we'd just take what we got. Well, the place we first booked a room at 'accidentally' gave away our room to another family. After a lot of frustration, I was on the phone with a really sweet girl at yet another hotel. She was extremely helpful and even gave me a discount on our room! :)

On top of it all, it turned out this hotel was way nicer than the one I had originally booked a room at. This one was gorgeous and very kid-friendly, plus it had a pool and free breakfast. You can't beat that! ;) They had a counter for kids to check-in when we arrived where they got a little bag filled with surprises, including a coupon for a free ice cream and fruit.

At the bar, they had a special drink menu for kids. Elliot ordered himself a blue drink with an umbrella in it, which was quite an exciting experience! ;) They had a stage where Aiden spent a lot of time dancing and singing for the guests. Then there was the game-room, which was a huge hit! They had pool, foos-ball, air-hockey, and your typical arcade games. Mike, Aiden, and Elliot could've spent all day in there!

I'm especially glad we ended up at this hotel instead of the first one because of the pool. We don't stay hotels very often so when you're first going to stay at one, a pool is a must! We had so much fun swimming and playing in the water!

Oh, then there was their complimentary breakfast - mmm delicious! They had so much variety of both cold and warm food. They even had a little area where the kids got to walk through a small door to choose from the more kid-friendly foods.

All in all, we had so much fun at this hotel that we're already planning on staying there again in the future!!!

Spur of the moment vacation

Mike and I have been looking at cars for a while and finally found one we thought would be perfect for our family. So on Sunday morning, Mike called the owner about his car to plan a day to go look at it. Because of the car owner's work schedule, we decided it'd be best for Mike to go that very same day. Plus we were really anxious to see the car and know if we should keep looking for one or not.

So, that very same day, Mike ordered a plane ticket and traveled down to Oslo to test out the car. It was everything he expected and it filled our demands for the price we were hoping to spend, so a few hours later, it was all ours. Since Mike would then have to drive 8+ hours back home, I decided to take the boys on a mini-vacation and meet Mike half way. Mike drove to Lillehammer Sunday night, while the boys and I packed our bags.

I woke up Aiden and Elliot bright and early Monday morning and headed to the train station. We had to bring their car seats on the train since we'd be driving our new car home. Luckily, my boys are really sweet and helpful - especially when I'm alone with them. Elliot carried his own carseat, while Aiden helped me carry his (aka. held the other side of it so I knew he would stay next to me). To make what-could-be-a-long-story short, the boys were amazing on the train!!!

I was quite impressed at how well a 4-hour train ride with two kids (at 8 months pregnant) could go. We had so much fun!

What started out as a spur of the moment trip, ended u as a fantastic family vacation!!!

Elliot's photo skillz

Elliot woke up tonight and said he couldn't fall back asleep. Then he looked outside the window and said, "Wow, that's pretty! We have to take a picture of that!" Seeing how this was probably an excuse for him not to go back to bed, I told him I've taken many pictures of sunsets from our house and that it was time to bed. He answered, "No but tonight it's REALLY pretty so we HAVE to take a picture of it." Instead of wasting time on arguing, I let him take a couple of pictures, then brought him back to bed...

He was right! The sunset WAS really pretty!!! And his pictures turned out beautiful!!!

Tante Anniken is back!!!

My little sister is finally back from studying abroad and I've never seen two boys so excited to see their aunt. Elliot and Aiden were counting down the days and couldn't stop talking about all of the fun things they were going to do together.

Anniken was nice enough to set aside lots of time for us when she got home (apparently she missed the boys just as much), so we've gotten to see her tons already! :) It's going to be so nice to have her close to us again!!!

Eight months pregnant

I am now 35 weeks and a few days pregnant. We went picnicing today and I finally got a picture of myself (which I never do since I'm always the one with the camera). I can't believe how big my belly has gotten, and it will only get bigger the next 4 weeks. Our baby girl is pushing a lot and kicking my ribs quite a bit so it's definitely getting tight in there for her. I can't wait to finally meet her! Only a few more weeks!!! :)

The perfect breakfast

We woke up to beautiful weather this morning so Elliot had a great idea: Let's make waffles and eat them outside. Perfect thought, if you ask me!

So onto our deck we went... Mike set up our outdoor cooking station, while Elliot helped me make the batter and Aiden helped make the waffles.

Norwegian waffles are delicious any time, but even better when you sit outside to enjoy them!

A day at our camper

Our camping home

Between time spent on fixing and selling our car and me dealing with the pain that comes along with a third pregnancy, we haven't had much time for camping yet this summer. Plus the weather hasn't exactly been ideal for camping this year. This weekend is suppose to be nice so we decided to make the drive with our camper to set it up at the camping site.

Our camper is the one on the right (with Mike standing in front of the tent doing the final adjustments).
The picture below is of the play area that's in front of us. It's simple but has plenty for the kids to do, along with a big open grass area for soccer, croquet, and volleyball! :) Behind our camper is a creek that goes out to the big lake. We're planning on bringing up our little boat but that'll have to be on our next trip.

A day at the Science Museum

I knew when I woke up that today would be an indoor-activity-kinda-day. It was cloudy and rainy when I looked outside, my body ached after a long night of pain and uncomfortableness, and the boys had energy. We needed to go somewhere so that Mike and the boys could have fun and I could take it easy and relax, yet still be a part of whatever they were doing.

The Science Museum was our answer! It's been a while since the last time we were there so the kids had a blast. Here are a few of the many pictures I took today. Enjoy!

Goodbye dear Audi of mine

We sold our Audi this weekend!!! I am so extremely happy. Although I will miss my 'baby' a lot, it is such a relief to know it's officially sold. I loved that car and wasn't too excited about having to sell it at first, but the truth was that we needed something bigger and there was no way around that. With our 3rd child soon being born, we need enough space for all of us, plus a stroller and everything else I like to bring along. We need space in the winter for skis and our "pulk" (the thing Norwegian babies lay in on our ski trips until they're old enough to stand on their own two feet).

Ahhh! It is such a good feeling. I will miss my Audi, but look forward to car shopping for something bigger now. G'bye Audi! You've been great! ;)

Brotherly love

Elliot and Aiden are usually pretty good about finding stuff to do, but this evening - while I was making dinner - the house suddenly got really quiet. I couldn't help but to check on them, to see what they could possibly be doing to be THAT quiet.

I walked into the livingroom and my heart melted. They were simply relaxing after a warm day outside!

The camera was near by so I had to sneak in a picture of this brotherly love. They both gave me a cute smile and Aiden squished his big brother even more! Precious!!!

SUMMER!!!!!

We're finally getting a taste of summer! The weather is gorgeous. It's hot and sunny! FINALLY!
There was only one thing to do: Set up the pool and jump in!!!
Off to enjoy the sun! Happy Summer :)

A love story

"An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow."  ~Author Unknown




Five years ago, I woke up thinking it was just a day like any other.  Our morning started out as usual with breakfast around the kitchen table.  Mike seemed especially happy but I didn't think too much of it since it was 4th of July the next day and we were planning a picnic with good food and volleyball with family and friends, which always makes for a fun day.


That afternoon, Mike had talked to Marianne and apparently she wanted to have Elliot over for a visit, so we brought him there to see his auntie.   Mike decided we should get dressed up and go enjoy a nice dinner together, which sounded nice so I was all for it!  Anniken and her friend, Elizabeth, were going downtown and since they had so much to carry, we ended up giving them a ride.  Without thinking twice, we drove them downtown and walked to find a restaurant for the two of us.


Mike led me to Jonathan Mat og Vinkjeller and over to a beautiful table set for two (I still didn't realize it had all been set up!).  We enjoyed the best dinner I had ever been served at a restaurant, followed with a delicious dessert.  After a long meal and great conversation, Mike thought it'd be nice to go on a short walk.


As we were approaching Gamle Bybroa, Mike took a walk down memory lane and started talking about his first visit to Norway.  He remembered me taking him sightseeing around Trondheim and stopping at Gamle Bybroa.  Then his romantic side took over and he started reminiscing about how we met and how he knew from day one that I was the one he wanted to marry.  We were just stepping onto the bridge when Mike started to walk slower.  Gamle Bybroa was crowded with tourists, who all of a sudden seemed to be starring at us.  Mike kneeled down on one knee, put his hand in his pocket, and told me that he will never stop loving me.  In his hand, he opened a pretty little box with a beautiful ring!  I was in shock!!! I couldn't stop smiling and my eyes started getting cloudy.  He asked me if I wanted to marry him and let him continue to love me forever!  I jumped into his arms and said "yes, of course!"  After drying out the tears, I opened my eyes to see a circle of tourists surrounding us with cameras while they were clapping and saying Congrats.


It took me a few minutes to understand that this wasn't just a dream.  The man of my dreams had just proposed to me!  I looked down at the beautiful diamond ring my fiancé had just put on my finger.  It was the ring I had pointed at once in a jewelry store when we lived in the States.  The ring I had told him was simply a dream and more than I would ever expect!  A year and a half later, he bought that ring and had it shipped to Norway!  He's simply amazing!


Happily in love, we decided to head back so we could get in some more comfortable clothes and shoes.  Mike insisted on walking the long route back towards our car.  I was on cloud nine so I didn't really notice or mind whatever he wanted to do.  He wanted to stop in at the Royal Garden hotel, where my parents got engaged many years ealier, just to take a look around.  He even walked up to the receptionist, which I thought was strange but being newly engaged, I didn't really spend too much time questioning things.  We walked around the hotel and up a few floors.  I was looking at the pool and smiling at all of the hotel guests, not noticing once that Mike was glued to his phone text messaging.  All of a sudden, we're standing in front one of the hotel rooms and Mike takes the room key out of his pocket.  I looked at him, smiled, and said, "no???  really???"


We entered the hotel room.  It was a beautiful 2-story suite!  Our suite!!!  There were rose petals on the floor.  Candles were lit.  On the table stood a bottle of champagne, roses, and a frame with a picture of Mike and I standing on Gamle Bybroa from his first trip to Norway.  The path of rose petals continued upstairs, where there was a beautiful bed covered with rose petals and a bath tub decorated with pink tea candles in the shape of a heart.  Simply amazing!  


I was speechless!  Once I finally dried the tears and was done giving him a huge hug and many kisses, I had to know how he pulled this off.  He takes out his phone, calls Anniken to tell her and Elizabeth thank you for decorating the hotel room, and then calls Elliot to say good night, because apparently he was sleeping over at Marianne's.  I was still in shock because I never thought I could be surprised like this.  I can't believe he was able to plan everything without me suspecting a thing.  He even packed bags for both of us and Elliot without me noticing!  He's incredible!!!


Mike has always been a romantic but this topped it off.  He is so wonderful and I am so lucky to have him in my life, now and forever more!!!