Another day spent lakeside, this time with the boys: Halvor, Lars and Sondre.
A little soccer, a little juggling, a little catch, a lot of fun.
Lars took the plunge:
and Sondre brought along his bucket grill.
There were kites, bikes, and boats galore.
Sure we had to battle the clouds off and on for a bit of sunshine--
but dang this whole summer in Norway idea is really growing on me.
I'm not gonna lie, I haven't been much of a reader lately.
It's funny too, because I remember laying in my room for hours and hours on end when I was younger reading and rereading books that I loved, books that were boring, books that I didn't understand or books that were way too easy for me--absolutely anything and everything I could get my hands on I read.
I loved the escape into another time or place, the feeling of being in another person's shoes. I loved getting to know the characters and giving my brain a workout. I plain 'ol loved reading.
Nothing has really changed. I get sucked into books and don't really come back to reality until I can finish the story. But lately I just haven't picked up anything that's clicked. And I haven't really tried that hard either.
I started The Island, by Victoria Hislop in Norwegian (Øya). It didn't do much for me. I think the book is actually pretty good, but the combination of having reader's block, the book including lots of terms and names in Greek and of course the entire story being written in Norwegian did not pan out well for me. So I stopped reading it. Yes fellow readers, I quit a book.
And moved on to a book the lit me on fire: The Help, by Kathryn Stockett.
Set in the 1960's in Mississippi, this story explored themes I love reading about: injustice, ignorance, racism, unwritten rules, bravery, cowardice. I absolutely devoured and LOVED this book. I don't even really want to tell you much more about it, but that it's good and it will touch your heart. Read it.
And there. Just like that, reader's block was no longer. Guess The Help really did help.
Like holidays for example.
Last weekend Lars, Martin and I took a trip to Tynset for the weekend. We took it fairly easy, wandered around town, went to a concert Saturday night and did our best to celebrate the 4th of July in Norway.
Lars grilled some homemade burgers, Stine made a pasta salad and we had strawberry shortcake for dessert. Good company, good food, good times...
Most of the puzzle pieces were in place (just missing some fireworks and of course the American friends+family) but for whatever reason it just didn't satisfy my July 4th appetite. Maybe it was because we were a bit worn out from the party the night before, or that we didn't really have much time since we had to travel back to Hamar that day--I'm not really sure.
Maybe some things are best celebrated in their county of origin. I'm not certain 17. mai would translate too well to life in the US either. I mean...ugh, I dunno...it's just not the same.
What I am sure of, however, is that it made me more homesick than ever! It's been too long; I NEED to visit home.
The end.
I turn 24 today.
It's always weird to get a year older.
It's my first birthday out of the US!
And my first birthday actually being physically with Lars since we started dating (almost three years ago!).
I don't really have any exciting plans besides starting work at 6pm (ugh).
Oh but wait--we are signing the contract on our new apartment today!
That's exciting.
And I'm not really sure I can think of a better present?
I'm also going to make a birthday cake!
That's pretty common in Norway by the way--if it's your birthday you bring a cake to work and share with your coworkers.
That wouldn't really go over the same in the US, right?
You're not allowed to make your own cake?!
I think it's pretty rad actually; now I get to choose what kind.
Mmm Oreo cake...
My favorite birthday greeting thus far is an email from one of my sisters:
- Happy Early Birthday! First birthday as a homeowner. Even if you are not chronologically old, you should feel it. :-)
- Ha!
- ~Christina
It's Friday, I've been hanging around at the lake a lot and I am participating in Meredith's photo challenge. Put it together dear readers...yes, that means bathing suit pictures will see the light of day!
This week I was scheduled to work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights and I have the opening shift this morning (after that we are heading to Tynset for the weekend!!). Working nights is pretty lame\kjedelig as far as life at home goes. I see Lars for about an hour when he comes home work and before I go to work. But it wasn't as horrible as I had expected, and that's mostly thanks to weather. Having all day free gives me time to have lessons in the morning and to enjoy sunny days lakeside. Funnily enough Iselin and I took the plunge on the coldest day (least sunny, but no days this week have been "cold") of the week:
Anna was also hanging at the beach with us but didn't have as much of an urge to hop in (it's cold). And also difficult to get in and out of the lake and some places because the rocks are SO slippery. But holy moly was it refreshing to hop in and swim around in the lake! I love it! LOVE!
Next week my schedule is even worse. Working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights again (what did I do to deserve this?) and doubles starting at 10 am on both Friday and Saturday. Hopefully the weather is just as nice next week...otherwise I am not sure what I am going to do with myself...And since I am really feeling in the challenge spirit I am posting this picture of myself, which I would have just deleted otherwise. I don't like it.
SO awkward.
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