Pool

I don't believe I ever have done so little. In two consecutive days we have just been marinating in the pool. It must be those teenage vibes rubbing off.

No liquids on the plane

The kids didn't seem to mind their last morning in Rhodes feasting on leftover watermelon and sodas for breakfast.

Old town Rhodes

Typical tourists touring. We had a lot of fun with the shopkeepers inviting us to their stores to dell us "stories" and sell their goods. One was really impressed since I travelled with 4 children and left the wife at home. Another was certain he had seen Rita in a movie. The Greeks love a bargain nowhere is the price what it seems.

Warm day

A magnificent start on a hot day. Breakfast on our balcony with a view of the mountains on the Turkish coast. All day at the beach and red and sore shoulders despite plenty of suntan lotion. There is a lesson to be learned.

Butterfly valley

A canyon vits through the landscape in the center of Rhodes. It was a great experience walking upstream witnessing the thousands of butterflies resting on branches, rocks and what not oe just whirling around to find a new place of rest. We made it a sport to spot the crabs in the creek.
Magnificent traditional Greek lunch at a gaverne in a small village. I'll never tire of that tomato salad!

Thirteen

Another teenager in the house. Morning was broken with a full English Breakfast. The day spent at the pool - a who knows an evening swim in the Sea?

Wonderful

Up at 3 AM and an afternoon in the Mediterranean - ah life is wonderful and vacation even so!

Last day of school

In Denmark it is a custom to celebrate the last day of school which is the last day before the study break before final exams. The 9 graders will dress up and go to school. At school they usually have made some comical scetches about their teachers. They will throw around caramels to the younger pupils and fight with water. It is a lot of fun and something they all look forward to.

Erik and his best friend Alex really got into the dressing up part. Each being bodypainted in red and blue. Who said Avatar? They had really planned this and went through it even though it was very cold and a rainy day. We all had a really good time.

Final exams

Erik has his final written exams next week. And he is prepared. There's no risk of running low on sugar or calories with this package.

Skatergirl

Rita was at her first rollerskating contest yesterday. She did a really good show.

Danish baker

Erik has started practising his cooking skills so he can treat his host family to Danish delicacies. First thing down was how to make danishes. He is good so they have something to look forward to.

Sweet sixteen

We celebrated Erik's birthday today with a traditional Easter lunch. Erik had asked for strawberry cheese cake. He had a lot of fun. Erik and his friend Alex found song book with lullabyes and other childrens song which they bellowed out to the entertainment of Rita and their cousins.

Preparing for easter

Who in the world thought of blowing out eggs. I'm all sore in my jaws. But Rita enjoyed and put a great effort into painting and decorating the eggs.

Just what she wished for

Rita is so happy. Farmor came by with one of her old sewing machines. And they went right to work. We now have cazillions of small pillows. I can't wait for the pair of pants she's promised me.

Oh, and Axel is in to it too....

Stevns

The boys was on band weekend last week. My dad and I went to listen to their concert and pick them up. We also had to time to take a small walk out to the brink near Stevns. It was cold but we enjoyed it. It was a fine day.

Funnel cake

We are really getting in to the care package we got from Rick and Jennifer for Christmas. Last night we made funnel cake. It was a first for all of us but Ellen. Boy did it turn out good. It was not for the calorie counters but crunchy smunchy and sweet! Thank you for that treat.

Hip hip hurray

We celebrated Rita all the weekend. A great birthday bash with her classmates on Friday and the various family activities Sunday and Monday. Erik made the birthday cake - brownies - and found it had to have an extra touch with the decorations.

Yodleaihihi

Then it became time for Erik's class to celebrate fastelavn. I believe it was is the first time in 3 years they did it. And everybody was dressed up. It was Erik's own idea to dress up in Tyroler outfit. We had fun making it.

The rest of his class can be seen here.

Grandmaster Erik

 

DJ HERO is the successor to Guitar Hero. I must admit sometimes the game developers imagination overwhelm me. The game was an immediate hit with Erik. I think I'll stick with guitar hero - there's only 6 buttons to control.

Rita the Queen

 

Rita knocked down the Fastelavns barrel at roller skating training today. She was so proud. It must be pretty difficult to stand still on skates and swing a bat.

Fastelavn

 

 

Tomorrow is Fastelavn. Rita and Axel really got into it this year. Erik has been wanting to dress up too but not until his class has a carnival in a couple of weeks.

Recorder day

Rita, Edith and Felicia spent the whole day practicing on their recorders for the big concert. It was so cool when they played one the themes from Once upon a time in the west.



And Rita played a solo.



We all went to watch the concert even my father. It was very special.

Snowfun

We may not have got as much snow as the US in the last few days but last weeks heavy snow fall gave us plenty of snow to build igloos and snow men in the back yard. Rita and Erik had fun. It ended up being a true FCK snow man with scarf and all.

Happy birthday

42 years old! So now we are the same age. We woke up Ellen with birthday song and the tasty peanutbutter and jelly pancakes we got from Rick and Jennifer for Christmas. Then a lazy day where the hardest work was to check out a house for sale in the neighbourhood. Supper was a very nice roast with good Italian red wine. Dessert was a Russian cheese cake. I don't know what made it Russian, but it was good. Axel helped cook the roast and accompaniments and Rita the cake.

My heart will go on

Rita has also become quite excellent with her flute. Her teacher keeps giving her more and more challenging musical pieces. Rita is excited about the challenge.

Do re mi

Axel is really improving his trumpet.

Resting bedouins

Bedouins have taken over the living room. Tonight they are tenting here where will they be tomorrow? We hope the camels are dung free.

New years eve II

And fireworks...

New years eve I

Silly hats and good spirits. We all love New Years Eve. It has been a tradition to celebrate it with our good friends David & Nadya and Kirsten & Jens for the last 4 years. I cook, Jens buys the drinks and David champagne.

This years menu ended on 5 courses all involving or including beer somehow.

1. Cured cod marinated in a Belgian blonde.
2. Fresh oysters and Stout
3. Cured duck with a sauce of apricot, chili and English brown ale.
4. Roast veal, artichokes with a chorizo marinade and sauce made of Belgian ale. ( I forgot the zucchini - Ellen teased me afterwards: a real meal for men - lots of meat and little vegetables).
5. Pistachio and beer ice cream with baked rhubarbs.

It was fun to make. I have never had raw oysters before. It's not the last time.

AfterChristmas

Not afterski but after Christmas. When we got home from Norway we had the traditional cold cuts and lobster soup. Opened gifts from the US and Mom and Far. I had found a pumpkin ale. It was better than the one I remember Tom serving me many years ago.

Trysil III

Fixing the car. Tire chains was a must. The first night, we just stopped on the way up the mountain the wheels on the Fiat spinning around and car not moving. Read the manual and mount the chains...easier said than done but we were 3 good heads so there were plenty a warm hands to take over when the other got cold.

Trysil II

On the way up we drove behind a German car with a Christmas tree on the roof top. We laughed about it. Imagine driving all the way from Germany to Norway with a tree - you would think they had trees enough. Well, Ellen could stand Christmas without a tree but almost had a conniption fit when she heard the price: 400 NKR for a tree! Luckily we only wanted a tiny tree although we could have needed one with more space for the gifts :-)

Trysil I

Christmas was spent in Trysil, Norway. We had a great week of skiing and enjoying company and Christamas with my parents, Merete and her daughters. The weather was cold, snowy - at times windy and at times foggy. The kids and I went to the top of the mountain one day. It was a bit extreme. Visibility was 3-4 meters and it was cold cold cold but also kind of fun.