I can’t get over how late the sun sets in Norway. For example, the sunset in Bergen is after 11:00 pm. It really throws you for a loop as it never gets darker than nautical twilight during July. Here are some pictures in Bergen on our way to meet family taken around 9:30 and on our walk back to our apartment taken around 11:30.
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After the long drive from Trondheim, we quickly settled into our AirBnB and headed out to meet our family. We spent time along the waterfront and picked up some dinner at the food trucks on near the Nobel Center. Jake, Goalielocks, Dad and I enjoyed a tasty fresh crepe while the Mayor had a spring roll.
We walked the waterfront heading up to Akershus Fortress to get a better viewpoint of the Oslofjord. The vistas from the fortress are absolutely amazing. If you ever make your way to Oslo, you must make a stop as the Akershus Fortress. The grounds of the fortress were equally impressive.
Most of the museum close by 18:00 and it was well after this, but the grounds of the fortress were still open or so we thought. Never low on drama or shenanigans, we (along with some other tourists) did have a run in with the military police, who informed us the grounds were now closed. The only problem was, of course, so too were all of the exits.
Thank god my older brother speaks Norwegians and was able to speak to the guards, who were willing to let us out their guarded entrance. The youngest kids made their way out of the turn-styles, which locked after each individual exited. The MPs seeing this and understanding the struggle, opened the main gate so we could quickly exit the grounds.
We ended our night at the magnificent Oslo Opera house where you can literally walk up and down the side and roof of the building. The kids had a blast skipping rocks and running around on the building’s roof and near the water line. We were crossing our fingers that they wouldn’t slip into Oslofjord, which at this point is shallow, but would have made for an incredibly chilly walk back to the hotel.
We spent our morning exploring Trondheim with my parents, my grandma, my brother and his family, my cousin and her family and my aunt and uncle. Trondheim is a great walking town, so we haven’t needed the car once since we got here. The weather is quite a bit colder than Florida, a refreshing and rainy 55 degrees.
One of the coolest sites in Trondheim is Nidarosdomen, Nidaros Cathedral, which is the northernmost cathedral in Europe. The cathedral was built on the burial site of St. Olav and work started in 1070 as a tribute to the King and was completed in 1300. The church’s denomination (as with the rest of Europe) was originally Roman Catholic Church, but post reformation it’s denomination is the Church of Norway. It is truly a saintly place.
We stayed for the organ meditation where many of us fell asleep courtesy of a long travel day and some jet lag. The kids were only hushed once, which was a complete miracle. My boys lit a candle to honor Debbie. Each of the kids lit a candle to say a prayer, threw coins into the wishing well, and left a note of gratitude with a stone on an alter. Only two of them burnt themselves on the candles, another small miracle.
After the brief nap, or the 1:00 pm organ meditation, we made our way down to the crypt. Its much different from the catacombs of Rome or Notre Dame in Paris. In Norway, the burial practices were much different. In medieval times, they did not embalm people and they reused graves. This means the headstone would change when they would bury someone else in the grave. These headstones, some of which were for knights and other dignitaries, were what was kept in the crypt.
In the Nidaros Complex there are several museums including the crown jewels, the Archbishops palace where you can see the actual excavation sites, and a military museum. We were able to go into all of them on our combined ticket. The boys favorite was the military museum while mine was the Archbishop’s Palace and the military museum.
Post cathedral, we took a nice nap. For those that know me that will come as quite a shock as I am not a napper. Tomorrow I’ll grab some pictures of the free breakfast, which is absolutely incredible.
One of my favorite songs growing up was the Scorpions Winds of Change, this power ballad by a rock band best known for heavy rock anthems became the soundtrack for the end of the Cold War and the reunification of East and West Germany. The song is inextricably linked to that seismic shift in our world, but I think of it often when a major change is coming down the pike. After all, the only constant in life is constant change.
Change is tough, even when it is a change for the better. In order to be effective at change management, you need to embrace that change is inevitable and change is good. One of the things that is toughest about change is that you cannot control it. You can, however, control your reaction to change. I love the Thomas Monson quote of controlling the wind. You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.
Ultimately, if the winds change course and you refuse to adjust your sails, you will be blown off your course. If, however, you adjust your sails to the changes in winds, you can maintain your course. Be flexible in your path and understand that change and obstacles are a part of the journey. Focus on your end game, set sail, adjust your sails when needed and you will find success.
I spent my childhood outside playing in the woods, riding my bike with the neighbor kids, playing sports year round in the neighborhood and spending quality time with my family. My childhood was fantastic and full of fond memories. These memories are more meaningful now that I have children of my own. I remember waking up early Christmas mornings with my brothers eagerly awaiting the opportunity to open our presents. I loved Christmas as a kid, but as a parent Christmas is a million times better.
The beauty of being a parent is the innocence we love when transitioning from child to adult is rediscovered through our children. The excitement of Christmas morning is now heard in their scampering about the house waiting for us to wake up. A sense of wonderment and discovery is shared when our child sees or experiences something for the first time. I’ll never forget their first trip to the zoo when they first saw a lion, tiger, giraffe and gorillas for the first time. The sense of wonderment and excitement as they moved from animal to animal was palpable.
Somewhere along our journey, we lose the wonderment and joy of childhood as we get lost in the minutia of everyday life. We stop rolling down the hills and being silly instead opting to take ourselves too seriously. We stop being curious. There is a lot we can learn from our children as we guide them through life. We can learn to enjoy the small things in life, to not take ourselves too seriously and to approach life with a sense of wonderment and curiosity.
My boys love exploring the outdoor and enjoy a healthy sense of adventure. They’re minds are going a million times a minute. When they see something they love, you can guarantee that they’ve already started scheming about how they’re going to get a boat, a chicken, a goat, a plane, etc. Their mind and their dreams have no bounds. Their joie de vivre is contagious and drives me a better mom, a better wife and a better person. Inspiration doesn’t always come from big things or famous people sometimes it comes from our minis.
When we go somewhere as a family, my hubby drives the car and the kids and I get to relax. I really don’t like driving, especially in S. Florida, so being a passenger is usually always okay with me. Until it wasn’t…. My oldest got his learner’s permit at 15, which was mind boggling. In a previous life, I worked auto claims, which makes me a nervous rider. Couple that with my child driving me around and it was a recipe for an ulcer.
We agreed early on that hubby would teach the boys to drive and I would watch from afar. Frankly, I don’t have the nerves or the stomach for it and they need a calm teacher. A nervous teacher would do nothing, but make them anxious. I decided one night to let him try driving my car. It was a short distance, less than .5 mile, from just inside our gate to our house, so I thought I could handle it. I was wrong.
Jake did great, but I was a wreck. When we got to the road where he needed to make a right turn, I instructed him to slow down causing him to get a bit frazzled. Consequently, he hit the gas instead of the brake causing a panic. He asked frantically what he should do and my eloquent response was “hit the other pedal!” He hit the brake and made the turn safely and the subsequent turns safely getting us home in one piece albeit with frayed nerves.
Flash forward to March of 2016, Jake had his license for over 6 months and hubby was out of town with Goalielocks for hockey. I was sick and had been horribly sick for several days. I couldn’t keep any fluid or food down and knew that the only way to stop it would be to get some IV fluids. The only way for me to get to the ER was Jake. Jake drove me to the ER and he did a great job.
After several hours of IV fluids, they released me from the ER and Jake picked me up. He drove us to Target to fill my prescription and pick up Gingerale and saltine crackers. This time I was feeling better, but I was still comfortable with his driving. The Mayor meanwhile felt compelled to criticize every move Jacob made on the road, he was relentless. Now almost two years after he got his license, I’m perfectly comfortable being a passenger in his car.
Now when he drives, it’s all about the music.
When I go to my favorite restaurant, I am a creature of habit. I always order the same dish the same way. I always look at the other menu items, but ultimately I decide to stick with what I know. My coffee is no different, which is why Selena or Adam always have it ready for me when I walk into Dunkin in the morning. I wish I could be more adventurous when it comes to dining out, but I hate spending money on food and then being disappointed.
There’s one exception to this rule and that is when I travel. If I’m travelling abroad, aside from my coffee habit, my creature of habit and safe food choices go out the window. To truly experience another culture, you have to delve into their cuisine and local dishes even if it is a bit scary. One rule we have in our house is when travelling abroad, you only get one McDonald’s trip so you can experience the different menus across the globe. All other meals should be eaten in local restaurants.
Most places are known for a specialty dish or two. In the Brittany region of France, they’re known for the delectable Kouign-amannn cake. This wonderful pastry is a round, crusty cake that comprises of layers of butter and sugar between layers of pastry. I know – it sounds awful right? I have craved this dessert since leaving Saint Malo in 2011.
Saint Malo is an incredible seaside city, where my husband’s grandfather happened to have landed in 1944 as part of the allied forces. Despite coming into the city under heavy Nazi fire, he was enthralled with its beauty and brought back two paintings of Saint Malo with him to the states when the war had ended. Saint Malo is also the city that Jacques Cartier departed from when he discovered Quebec. I never knew how much I would grow to love Jacques Cartier.
In 2016, we had the opportunity to travel to Quebec City for Peewee Quebec, which was one of the most incredible trips I’ve ever taken. Thank god for Jacques Cartier discovering Canada because les petit pains au chocolats and other pastries in Quebec City tasted like they had been baked in France. The food in Quebec City. The cuisine of Quebec City is heavily influenced by Breton cuisine and what a tasty treat.
One night two of the moms, a hockey sister and I walked off the beaten path looking for a local bistro. We found the cutest little place that would seat us at their bar, so we wouldn’t have to wait too long. My friend Inga and I let the waitress order us her favorite dishes. I ended up with veal sweet bread dish and Inga ended up with a seafood dish. The food was incredible, though the sweet bread was a bit rich for my tummy. Quite frankly if I had known what it was, I probably wouldn’t have ordered it, but then I would have missed out on the experience.
The most important part of dinner, however, was dessert. After 5 years of waiting and searching high and low in North America, I found a restaurant that served Kouign-amann. It was absolutely amazing. As I ate it, it instantly took me back to Saint Malo and the gite in Normandy. The taste of the cake, combined with the memories of France and the new memories being created that night in Quebec City made for an incredible culinary experience. If we hadn’t gone off the beaten path, we would have missed out.
I look forward to exploring Norway and its foods with my boys this summer. The food, much like the land and the cities we will visit, is a connection to our Norwegian heritage. While my boys are pretty picky eaters at home, I’m hoping this trip abroad will broaden their taste buds.
Today my oldest turned 18!!! As I sit here and try to figure out where time has gone, I can’t help but think of how proud I am of the man he has become. I am also amazed that well he is now 18 years old, I don’t look a day older than the day I delivered him. Amazing, I know!
The fact that he’s now an adult has thrown me for quite a loop. Although the benefits are many, I no longer have to pay the unaccompanied minor fee when the boys travel to Minnesota without us. There’s $150 saved! He can finally buy a lottery ticket, however, he informed me today he felt his money would be better spent on stocks. I’ll be referring him to Garth’s new book for some great pointers as he starts his investment journey.
This evening he brought Alexis to figure skating and she had some great gems for him including this nugget of gold. He needs to get a better job, so he can drive her in the limo she deserves. She definitely takes after her dad John. She also shared her plan to go to college and then get a good job, so she can buy a limo to be driven around in. I have to say I love her style!
Jake and his brothers enjoyed a nice dinner Sushi Yama and some Arrested Development. We had an awesome cake from Menchies with a hodgepodge of number candles after the Mayor failed to deliver his ear wax candle he had promised Jacob earlier. I’m sure Jacob more than a bit relieved that the Mayor failed to deliver the candle he promised would smell both like a fart and his ear.
In a little over two weeks, Jacob and I will head down to Miami to see Paul McCartney. I’m thrilled that my son’s dream gift was tickets to see one of my idols. As a Beatles fan since childhood, this concert is a dream for both Jake and I. Happy birthday Jake!!!!
When the question is whether or not to be a helicopter parent, the answer is always not to be. Helicopter parents aren’t something I remember from my youth. I cannot recall a time where numerous parent volunteers populated the halls and the classroom my elementary school, but it is the case at my children’s school.
While there’s nothing wrong with volunteering in our kids classroom, it isn’t healthy when you’re child goes off to kindergarten and you go too. I remember when Goalielocks was in kindergarten he had a classmate whose mom was literally in class as a volunteer every single day. While it was awesome that she was able to help the teacher every day, it wasn’t healthy for her child to have her in class every day.
While my brothers and I were in middle school and high school, my parents were always there to support us, but they allowed us to make decisions and make mistakes. My parents were never involved in any of our relationships and certainly never orchestrated any of them. Present day, we parents like to meddle in our kids relationships, in our kids’ grades and all aspects of their lives.
The problem is if we handle every issue, every bump in the road our kids face, they will never learn to overcome obstacles on their own. This leaves them ill prepared for the obstacles they’ll face in their adult lives. As hard as it is to watch the stumble, we have to let them stumble and make mistakes. It is through these mistakes that they’ll learn critical thinking skills, that failure is okay and that we all make mistakes. Life lessons they’ll take forward into their adult life that are invaluable. The alternative of course is that we smother them as a helicopter parent and they turnout like Buster from Arrested Development.
“One father is more than a one hundred schoolmasters.” This quote from George Herbert, 17th century English poet and orator perfectly sums up the role and the importance of fathers in our children’s lives. In modern society, we place (with good reason) a lot of emphasis on the importance of motherhood while not always paying much attention to the role a strong father plays.
My brothers and I were fortunate to have grown up with a father who was always here for us and instrumental in our lives. He shared with us his love of music, military history, aviation and Dr. Who. Give my parents a call today and you may hear his music blaring in the background.
When my mom was working second shift, I learned to cook by helping him make dinner on those days. I cherish those memories. My dad has always treated my mom as an equal and has always supported her, her goals and her career. My dad’s love for my mom and for us kids was always on display. To this day, my dad still carries the pink comb I gave him when I was in preschool.
Now that we are older and have kids of our own, our kids get to call him Grandpa. My oldest brother and I both have kids, who absolutely adore him. What’s even better is that my kids have a father, who is exceptional. My hubby is an amazing dad, who is devoted to me and our kids. He’s volunteered as a coach on their hockey teams since they started in 2010. Some seasons he’s been on the roster of all three of their travel teams, which is a huge investment of time.
He’s taken the time to show them how to fish, how to build and how to be men. When I work late, he cooks amazing dinners, helps with the homework and takes them to hockey practice. Our life runs at a crazy pace and without a true partnership, we’d never be able to manage our life successfully. My boys are blessed to call him dad and blessed to have three grandpas, who love them unconditionally. They are lucky to have so many positive male role models in their lives.
Time to pop a bottle and celebrate all of the dads in our lives. To all the fathers out gthere, who day in and day out work tirelessly to support their family, happy father’s day!
