We got off to a slow start today because Kaleb and I slept in until ten this morning. I didn’t go to bed until one, so I’m glad I got some rest. It was a good day to sleep in because it was one of those days that never got light and it rained hard all day. Normally, I would just like to stay home and be cozy warm inside on those days, but I had a few errands to run so we were forced out into the wet. (I guess I better get used to that because days like today are the norm for this area and life goes on – rain or shine.) Kaleb didn’t want to sit in the car while we ran errands so he braved the weather, donned his rain suit and reflective gear and went for a bike ride down the street to see who was around he could play with. I gave him my phone so he could keep in touch, but I could tell by the way he acted as he was riding out the driveway that he was pretty full of himself. He’s getting more freedom and the leash is getting longer. He was so pleased that he could go out and about on his own and we weren’t even going to be home. He landed over at Tobias’ house and played there for a few hours. While we were out I saw that the new Madagascar movie was opening today and Kaleb knows enough Norwegian now that I thought it would be fun for him to go. I called him up and asked if he and Tobias and his other friend in the neighborhood, William, wanted to go. They were all available so we picked them up, dropped them off at the cinema and let Kaleb have an even bigger bite of freedom – going to the movies without his parents.
Kory and I went and visited the aunts while the boys were at the movies (they live just a stone’s throw from the movie theatre.) We wanted to hear all about Tante Kari’s trip to Israel and Egypt, and sure enough, she had the time of her life. She felt terrible that Turid and her mom missed everything as she said except for that, the trip was perfect in every way and she should have done it years ago. Tante Aslaug came over and we all went to our condo to visit Tante Ruth, who is still doing quite well and was glad to see us. I felt so accomplished that I could track the conversation 100% and even throw in my two cents in Norwegian (including correcting Kory’s version of things). In the past, I’d just sit like a mute while Kory did all the talking with them, but now I’m in full swing – able to set the record straight if he doesn’t tell something properly. It’s one of those mixed blessing things for Kory. He’s glad I can speak his language, but not so glad I speak for him when I do. (Kory thinks that’s my main motivation in learning Norwegian – so I can correct him when he’s speaking.)
After the movie we brought all the boys back to our place and made pizza and played games until bedtime. As Kory was leaving to take them home, Kaleb asked them, “Hasn’t this been just a great day?” He was so excited to have friends here and to feel so much autonomy. I’m so thankful we are here so we can let him have that kind of freedom – the kind we both had growing up, but has now been stolen from America’s children because of rampant fears they will be kidnapped. Such a shame.
This week in class we were told to write a paragraph about where we came from and to bring in photos of our hometown so we can decorate the walls of our classroom. I didn’t get any help in writing this, and my teacher only had to make a few corrections, so I was pretty proud of this effort – especially when I think that three months ago I couldn’t even have written a single sentence or spelled a single word properly in Norwegian. Now look at me! (OK, so if you can’t read Norwegian you can just skip this part, but if you can “leser Norsk” I hope you are impressed!)
Jeg kommer fra vestkysten av USA. Staten jeg bode i ligger nordvesten i America. Huset mitt ligger en time sør for Canada og en time (100 kilometers) nord for Seattle. Seattle er den største byen i staten Washington, og der bor det over en halv million mennesker. Washington er vakker, og har den samme naturen som Norge med mange fjell og skog med høye trær, og staten ligger ved Stillehavet. Huset mitt ligger på en haug og vi har fin utsikt hver dag. Jeg kan se dyrket mark, fjell, en vulkan og mye skog fra vinduet mitt. Jeg hører bare fugler. Det er stille og fredelig hvor jeg bodde. “Skagit Valley” er ekjent for å dyrke tulipaner og narsisser. Om våren kommer mange turister for å se blomstene. Byen nærest huset mitt heter LaConner, men den er bare en liten turistby. Jeg må handle i Mount Vernon, 18 kilometers fra huset mitt og kjøpe mat der, men jeg kjøper også fra bønder. Bøndene dyrker mange bær, poteter, gulrot, kål, agurk, mais, og annen mat, og mange har økologiske gårder. Jeg liker det best!
I read it to Kory and he said, “Så flink du er!” (You are very good!) And he didn’t even try to correct me. Imagine that.
Kory and I went and visited the aunts while the boys were at the movies (they live just a stone’s throw from the movie theatre.) We wanted to hear all about Tante Kari’s trip to Israel and Egypt, and sure enough, she had the time of her life. She felt terrible that Turid and her mom missed everything as she said except for that, the trip was perfect in every way and she should have done it years ago. Tante Aslaug came over and we all went to our condo to visit Tante Ruth, who is still doing quite well and was glad to see us. I felt so accomplished that I could track the conversation 100% and even throw in my two cents in Norwegian (including correcting Kory’s version of things). In the past, I’d just sit like a mute while Kory did all the talking with them, but now I’m in full swing – able to set the record straight if he doesn’t tell something properly. It’s one of those mixed blessing things for Kory. He’s glad I can speak his language, but not so glad I speak for him when I do. (Kory thinks that’s my main motivation in learning Norwegian – so I can correct him when he’s speaking.)
After the movie we brought all the boys back to our place and made pizza and played games until bedtime. As Kory was leaving to take them home, Kaleb asked them, “Hasn’t this been just a great day?” He was so excited to have friends here and to feel so much autonomy. I’m so thankful we are here so we can let him have that kind of freedom – the kind we both had growing up, but has now been stolen from America’s children because of rampant fears they will be kidnapped. Such a shame.
This week in class we were told to write a paragraph about where we came from and to bring in photos of our hometown so we can decorate the walls of our classroom. I didn’t get any help in writing this, and my teacher only had to make a few corrections, so I was pretty proud of this effort – especially when I think that three months ago I couldn’t even have written a single sentence or spelled a single word properly in Norwegian. Now look at me! (OK, so if you can’t read Norwegian you can just skip this part, but if you can “leser Norsk” I hope you are impressed!)
Jeg kommer fra vestkysten av USA. Staten jeg bode i ligger nordvesten i America. Huset mitt ligger en time sør for Canada og en time (100 kilometers) nord for Seattle. Seattle er den største byen i staten Washington, og der bor det over en halv million mennesker. Washington er vakker, og har den samme naturen som Norge med mange fjell og skog med høye trær, og staten ligger ved Stillehavet. Huset mitt ligger på en haug og vi har fin utsikt hver dag. Jeg kan se dyrket mark, fjell, en vulkan og mye skog fra vinduet mitt. Jeg hører bare fugler. Det er stille og fredelig hvor jeg bodde. “Skagit Valley” er ekjent for å dyrke tulipaner og narsisser. Om våren kommer mange turister for å se blomstene. Byen nærest huset mitt heter LaConner, men den er bare en liten turistby. Jeg må handle i Mount Vernon, 18 kilometers fra huset mitt og kjøpe mat der, men jeg kjøper også fra bønder. Bøndene dyrker mange bær, poteter, gulrot, kål, agurk, mais, og annen mat, og mange har økologiske gårder. Jeg liker det best!
I read it to Kory and he said, “Så flink du er!” (You are very good!) And he didn’t even try to correct me. Imagine that.
