Sleeping Outside

STEP ONE

STEP TWO

STEP THREE

My friends in the US never really believe me when I tell them that in Norway the babies take their naps outside in their strollers, even in the winter. Here is Tiago sleeping on the back deck. Even in the daycares the strollers are lined up outside during nap time.

STEP ONE- EVERYONE in Norway knits! So when your baby is born they usually receive an adorable hand-knit outfit. Tiago´s is a hand-me-down but you can see much cuter outfits herefor example.

STEP TWO- Put the baby in the sleeping bag (usually made of warm lambswool or down) in the stroller.

STEP THREE- Place netting over the stroller to keep out the snow and wild animals and then a rain cover. Roll the stroller outside, double-check that the baby monitor is on and let your little one enjoy a nap out in the fresh air!

Officially Christmas???

Being his father was Jehovah's Witness, my Norwegian husband has never celebrated Christmas nor have I experienced it here in Norway. Thus I don't completely have a hold on the season's traditions but here are some observations nonetheless.

Christmas is not just 1 day here. It is AT LEAST a month long.

- it starts the first Sunday in December when the first advent candle is lit

- there is a lot to get done- cleaning every nook and cranny of the house, changing the curtains and other decor because everything must be RED, baking the 7 types of cookies for Christmas dinner, building a gingerbread house, making an advent calendar for each child with a gift for each day (fun!!!), homemade pork and ham rolls, gløgg and so much more!!!

December 13

- Santa Lucia Day, only some Norwegians celebrate this while it is a must in Sweden...hey, any excuse to add light to this dark period is worth it!

December 23

- the fun begins

- this day actually has a name- Little Christmas Eve

- today many families decorate the tree (a real tree usually), they often have little Norwegian flags strung around it, and eat rice porridge (one lucky eater will get the almond and have a year of good luck), saving the leftovers for the following day

December 24

- other families decorate the tree on this day

- families gather for a big meal together consisting of steamed dried lamb ribs (pinnekjøtt), roasted fresh ham (ribbe) and rutabaga or lutefisk, dessert being the left over rice porridge whipped with cream and topped with a raspberry sauce

- in the evening gifts will be open

Dec 25 thru New Year's Eve

- Christmas continues...many people have off work so there are still Christmas dinners, parties, kid's activities, etc.

- Dec 25 is called the FIRST day of Christmas

- Dec 26 the SECOND day of Christmas

Jan 13

- you better have your lights and tree down by this day because Christmas is officially over!

Better than Vigeland

"Angry boy"

Phoenix is much more interesting to these Japanese tourist than the sculptures!

Yes, they all wanted individual pictures with the boys!

Phoenix had another idea! A Wiggles dance instead!

Taken in the park by Daddy.

Oslo is home to an amazing sculpture park. Vigeland Park is the largest park of its kind made by one single artist in the world. Covering over 80 acres, Vigeland's lifework contains more than 200 works in bronze, granite and wrought iron.

All that is to say that while surrounded by this spectacular artwork, a group of Japanese tourists stopped to take a ton of pictures of OUR KIDS!!! I guess they thought it was cute that they were walking around the park in their matching rubber boots with a blue guitar in hand. I am especially proud that even though Phoenix looks different they still wanted to take pictures of him. I laughed so hard at the spectacle that I cried!!!

Here are more images from the park:

The Monolith

The Bridge

Google images