Bon Voyage again, next stop....Netherlands!

 

At the airport!

First dinner on U.S. soil in 7 months.

Scott and Laura's wedding was wonderful. I had such an amazing time in Salem. I was so happy to see mommy, Ryan, aunt Rose, and Scott, and to finally meet Laura in person. She is such an great girl and I am so happy for the two of them.

Family Breakfast

The week before the wedding was full meeting everyone and getting ready for the wedding. There wasn't really any free time, but it was great. We landed on Sunday and right away had dinner with just Scott, Laura, and our family; then went to Laura's shower and met many of the sister's from Salem. I really enjoyed it.

Even when we leave Hus 33 kitchen we can't stop cooking!

Together again!

Wedding rehearsal. Lovely flower girls :-)

Later that week we had breakfast with Scott and Laura and an evening at Laura's family's house where we met all of her family. Her nieces and nephews were so adorable. It was so nice staying with Anna and I can't wait to go back and visit soon after I return to the U.S.

Day with Laura's Family = Lots of fun!!

Evening with the family!

Nature walk anyone?

 Cut to me...biting my nails hoping no one falls in the stream. It was moving pretty swiftly!

Mommy, doing something creative...as usual

Laura and her niece Claire

A swing inside? Definitely a good idea!

Wedding Day! At last!

Then it was time to say goodbye to old friends again and head back to Brunstad. It went by too fast. I have to say, that while I am loving my time on Alag, I am also excited to go back home in December and be with my family again.

Meanwhile....back at the ranch.

So now we've been back at Brunstad for a few weeks. We missed most of the hockey tourney and volleyball tourney, but we did get to experience the Easter conference. There were many from North America here and some to them ate at house 33. It was wonderful to see the Connecticut girls, Susan and Esther from Salem, and a couple of Canadian girls.

Now we are getting ready to leave for Pagedal...5 am tomorrow morning. We have to pack breakfast and lunch for 130 people tonight. Ohhhh! Fun, right? I don't anticipate much sleep, but I can do that on the bus. Luckily we pre-baked the muffins and the dough for the cookies is already made. All we have to do is pop them in the oven! Well, I should really be getting back to work now. But I had to update. If I wait until I "have free time" it will never get updated. I hope to update soon and let you know how the trip goes!

 FIVE MONTH CATCH-UP

My Birthday hike
November 13

First snow of the year! December

Bomb fire on the peninsula that juts out into the fjord - Fall 2011

I desperately need to update this blog. Has it really been five months?  As usual, epic fail on staying current with my journal.  I haven't updated since Meredith arrived. That's hard to believe. The time more than flies here, it zooms past you at the speed of light! So I am just going to do a quick update and them share some pictures from the last few months.

Fun times on the office sofa

Tabea, before she left for Finland

So much has happened since I last wrote. Mere came, I had my birthday, Mere had her birthday (the same day as the Christmas concert which was amazing!), Eileen crashed her car into a high voltage electric hub, a couple of months later a boy crashed a van into the same shed, we had the Alags Christmas/Avsluttningsfest, the South African girls left (Naomi, Alison, Leigh and Donne), there was the New Year’s Conference (AMAZING!), where I played with the BCC orchestra (so fun!!), we got several (6 to be exact) new girls, and Miro and Stephanie left. We had a green Alag's Start-up Feast. 

My view everyday!

                       England....London to Taunton, to Didcot

 In addition…I HAVE FINALLY BEEN TO ENGLAND. A dream of a lifetime came true! I am so happy. It was thoroughly exciting. We went to London and saw Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the Tower, the Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Parliament Square, Baker Street, Twinings and had fish and chips at a real little English Pub. It was fantastic. Then we visited the friends in Taunton. They were so kind and welcoming and warm. We had a lovely walk in an English wood. Then we spent Christmas with Verity’s family in Didcot which was really wonderful and fun, and relaxing at the same time. Yeah for reading time, word games, and 

At the Indian restaurant

Out for Indian in Didcot

train ticket

According to Verity, a real English breakfast

My new best friend!...She's English and adorable

Amy and I

We got our own stockings with the fam ;-)

Reading and chillaxing

On a red double-decker London bus

Calling the woodland fairies of the wood

                                   

                       ...Back at Brunstad. Random Alag Moments

Goodbye message from Leigh and Alison on the kitchen whiteboard

Waffle party at the Health Office. Thanks Eileen, Linda and Johanna!

Ultimate Ninja Destruction!

Made Indian food with Rebecca Correa!

Slapping av on a break during AEG

Cleaning apartements

AEG was awesome. Its the largest horse show in Norway. There were some GORGEOUS horses here. I want a horse one day (digression). My friends from Alag Finland and Olso were on Brunstad, so I got to spend time with them. 

One of many lunches at the water.

Wow! It has been an eventful 5 months since last I wrote! Then came the sister's conference!! Amazing weekend. It was TRULY fantastic. I could not even sleep most of the time, even though I really needed to do so. I saw SO MANY of my friends. Lydia Floor. AHHHH!!!! Gesine, finally, after FOREVER!! Elizabeth. AHHH!! Verba, Marty, Angela...a face from home :-) Svetlana, my English friends Amy and Liz!! Oh my goodness, Sister's Conference really was the BEST!! I know, I am using a lot of caps, but I can't help it. It was so great! 

Friends from home

                                                        Brunch in the Kitchen

And now I am headed home for, wait for it....................MY BROTHER'S WEDDING!!!!!!!! I can't believe he is getting married! I keep thinking of this picture when we were toddlers and we are both wearing red, white and blue. He has on this baseball outfit, and I have on a sailor dress. I just think about how fun its been growing up all these years with him as a brother. I am so happy for him I can't even say. Well,that's all for now. Mere and I are leaving for the airport soon. Will try to update again soon.