Dizzy days off

My sister Astri and my very own tradition, is for me to help her wrap gifts in her store the day before Christmas. We´ve been doing this for a decade now. This is the last time however, as she will close down her store. (She´ll still have the web-shop). So now we are busy thinking about a new tradition to start next year. Maybe make our own Christmas-sweaters? Design and sew… that could be fun 😀

Our Christmas-tree this year had such soft branches, I didn´t dare hang the ornaments I treasured the most, in fear of breaking them. All the light glitter-bulbs are at the bottom, as the kids were very eager to help! It´s looking kind of sad here, next year will be better!

Edvard, almost 4, has learned that sharing is a good thing. And at Christmas, when the gifts are so many you can hardly see the floor, it is a specially welcome notion. But I smiled when his little sister got a new baby-doll with clothes, and he very understandingly and warmly expressed “We can share!”. Such a gift to share their Christmas, and all their “first-times”.

A bunch of little “nisse” (traditional Norwegian santa) visiting on New Years eve. Traditionally, Norway dosn´t celebrate Halloween, but “å gå julebukk” (literary: to walk Christmas-goat) was done some time between December 26th and January 6th. The kids, dressed up (not in fancy costumes, but in homemade gear) knock on doors, sing a Christmas song or two, and are rewarded with candy. This year we had a big group of 12 kids come to sing for us 🙂

New years we spent with dear friends. The whole day went into making dinner and fireworks (Yes, it´s illegal, but no, we´re not breaking the law, because my man is a certified pyro-man).

Isn´t it typical, when you´ve been very busy: the minute you take time off, you get the flu?! Two weeks of quiet and relaxing days, with movie-watching, knitting, eating and did I mention relaxing?

But, now it is time to start up again, and even though I still have the flu, my battery is fully charged. A week ago, I couldn´t go to sleep for hours, because there were so many ideas running through my head! I planned what to do for my one of my exams this summer, and how to celebrate my birthday in 3 years time…

My blogging this fall has been slow, I know. I don´t do new-year resolutions, but maybe I´ll have to try to be more consistent with the posting.

In any case: I do wish you a wonderful and peace-filled new year!