Hei fra Oslo!

We have been in Norway for over a week now, and are having a great time! We´ve been in Trysil, Oslo, and just got back from a weekend in Ålesund. We are back in Oslo for the night and will head to Flåm and Aurland by train in the morning. 

Stay tuned for lots of pictures . . . we´ll add some when we get home this weekend!

Ha det bra!

Shana, Erik og Anja

Hugs for "Family!"

Antonio gets a "family" hug from Anja.

Anja drove me to tears the other day, hugging me and saying, "family." Sigh. Of course since Antonio is here, he has been a recipient of a few of those "family hugs" as well.

Tono zooms around as Anja watched intently!

On Monday, Tono, Anja, Grandpa and I went to the Science Museum of Minnesota. Everyone found something to enjoy--we could have spent all day there!

Anja learns the word "slippery" (well kind of, she was on ice you know) and stands alongside a dinosaur bone.

Anja explores on "Preschool Mondays" at the Science Museum (free! activities for young children every Monday morning). This was a homemade wind tunnel, where she would watch paper fly up to the sky.

After lunch, we explored a little more!

We're off to Norway tonight--let's hope our flights are on time! We hope to post some photos while we're there! Ha det bra!

Mama! Papa! . . . TONO!

Antonio . . . Anja's favorite new playmate!

We've had the pleasure of spending a lot of time this week with our nephew from Colorado, Antonio. He turns 10! tomorrow and decided to come to Minnesota for his birthday. We're so glad he did! Anja is even more excited that he is here, shouting, "TONO!" whenever she thinks he might be around, or even when he's sitting right next to her. He's her favorite new playmate, favorite person to hug, and favorite person to chase. Here are some pictures from the first night he arrived.

Tono brought some books for Anja . . . here she is opening them.

Tono doing a great job reading to Anja, despite the fact she was a very active participant!

Babies, Babies, Everywhere!

The last couple of weeks have picked up rather abruptly, but we're all for it! We've seen a lot of friends and many babies as well. Here are some pictures and recap.

We visited nearly-4 month old Calder and his mom Carly, a couple of weeks ago. He was born on the same day as Anja, only a year later. He's one handsome guy!

We visited newborn Harper and his parents, Erin and Ben last weekend. He's beautiful and so tiny! Anja learned more about what the word "gentle" meant on our visit. (Let's just say she's been poking people's eyes out saying, "Eye!" lately!)

Ironman Wisconsin training officially began last week. Though it was 10 degrees, I opted for a run outdoors rather than succumbing to the awfulness of running on a treadmill or short indoor track. Layers, people, layers!

Anja has a ton of spunk . . . and gets funnier by the day. Check these photos out!

She likes to wear these flannel socks of mine. "On!" she says and we practically pull them up to her butt!

We were at the Walker Art Museum and found this great foam elephant made by a Danish company. She can sit on it, rock on it, sit in it, whatever. She loves it (and her Papa does too)!

Our little lady in her Papa's favorite t-shirt. She found it in the laundry and wanted to wear it. Okay, okay!

We head to Norway in 10 days! So in preparation, Erik has been speaking some Norwegian to Anja lately. Now every time she picks up one of my bras, she says, "Kjempe bra!" which means, "Very good!" in Norwegian. She's a hoot!