Happy early 4th of July

We are in Tronheim visiting my grandmother this week and are without a computer. Not a thing we are used to, the kids or I.

We are over at my great aunt and her son has a lab top we are able to use, so here we go

Happy Independance Day-

Happy Independence Day from GoDaddy.com!

Our anual hiking trip

One important thing I learned on this trip was the tripod does not have to come whereever I go. I  carried most of the kids stuff, Diet Coke (can't live without it) tripod as well as my own things on this hike, my backpack became very heavy at times.... 

The start of the trip. 

The landscape is beautiful

As you can see the youngest did not want to carry her own backpack, so guess who had to carry that as well

The trees grows almos sideways, not sure if it is because the wind or the heavy snow that lay on on top during the winter months.

We finally reach our goal, Lakkenstova. 

This cabin is the smaller one, and was build as a security cabin, in case the main cabin would burn down and strand visitors in the winter time. 

The kids enjoyed playing in the ponds and small streams surrounding the cabins. I used them to keep my DC  cold, so you can imagine how cold the water was. 

The new cabin is beautiful. It has two bedrooms, kitchen and living area as well as a few extra storage areas.

The thing it does not have is electricity or running water.  I made my daugther think twice when I asked if she flushed after sh went to the bathroom..  

What will become cloudberry in a few months

These marks are found along the trials 

A short break on the way down the mountain

Sankthansaften

As you may be able to tell from the title, we have now arrived in Norway. The girls and I arrived just in time for the midsummer night or as we call it Sankthansaften .

Sankthansaften is celebrated on June 23.

A little history: The celebration of Midsummer's Eve was from ancient times linked to the summer solstice. People believed that mid-summer plants, especially Marigold had miraculous healing powers and they therefore picked them on this night.

Bonfires were lit to protect against evil spirits which were believed to roam freely when the sun was turning southwards again. In later years, witches were also thought to be on their way to meetings with other evil powerful beings, though this is not the case today.

The kids enjoyed playing in the sand and in the river.

Horse shoe competition

As well as a nature quiz, before the bonfire, where our family came in on 2nd place.

The fire is finally burning and we are all pulling away from the heat..

A volleyball net was put up, where the ball ended up in the tree quite a few times.

My niece came from Oslo for the week to visit.

The Kris Twins Turn One

The Kris family survived the twins first year.

With twice the laundry, feedings, diaper changes and doctor appointment; as well as twice the love.


She is just cute as a button


My daughter was very impressed that they can spell ONE


He was on the move as soon as he hit the floor, time to explore


Playtime


The Love between siblings

Long time since last post

It has been too long since my last post on the blog, life has been crazy. So now I will try to do a little catch up.

Longwood Gardens

Earlier this month my father came for a visit. I had heard lots of great things about Longwood Gardens and we decided to make the trip to check it out. We were not disapointed.

In 1906, Pierre S. du Pont purchased the Peirce Arboretum to save its trees from being cut for lumber. Over the next nearly half century, Mr. du Pont developed Longwood Gardens into what it is today, a magnificent horticultural showplace. Longwood Gardens, 1,050 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows.

The canopy Cathedral

The sky’s the limit for this spectacular display of treehouses. Three large-scale treehouses created by the country’s best designers take center stage in picturesque settings around the Gardens. The Canopy Cathedral, an ornate two-story house inspired by a Norwegian church overlooking the Italian Water Garden.

Peirce-duPont House

Joshua Peirce, a Quaker farmer, built the section of the brick house with the covered porch in 1730 (the porch dates from 1824). Successive generations of the Peirce family enlarged the modest farmhouse during the nearly two centuries it remained in their possession.

It was 1906 when Pierre S. du Pont purchased the property to save the amazing trees that were about to be harvested for timber. He expanded the dwelling in 1909, and again in 1914, to serve as his country home and first conservatory. The house was opened to the public in 1976 and now contains the Longwood Heritage Exhibit, a comprehensive collection of historic photos, artifacts, home movies, and video that tells the story of the stewards of the land who preserved and developed the property.





Chimes Tower



Stone unearthed during the Main Fountain Garden construction was used to partially build the Chimes Tower and Waterfall in 1929. Water for the 50-foot man-made waterfall comes from a reservoir under the Eye of Water.

The 61-foot-tall Chimes Tower houses a 62-bell Carillon. The lower portion of the Tower is open daily and the upper portion and carillon are open after scheduled bell concerts.

Caryopteris Allee


This long, narrow allée between the Topiary and Rose Gardens and the Main Fountain Garden features white hibiscus standards blooming in late summer set amid a soothing border of bluebeard (Caryopteris). The Love Temple at the south end, one of three at Longwood, provides an eye-catching terminus to the vista.

The Conservatory

Longwood's Conservatory is one of the world's great greenhouse structures. It shelters 20 indoor gardens and 5,500 types of plants. The Conservatory was built in 1919 and has been periodically expanded and renovated. At present, there are 195,668 square feet—or 4.5 acres—of covered display, production, and research greenhouses.

Baby and Child Portrait Contest

Cash prizes for these winners include $2,000 for First, $1,000 for Second, $750 for Third, and $500 for each Honorable Mention. One portrait from the Final Round will also receive the highest of accolades -- Grand Prize Winner. The cash prize will be $5,000 for this lucky winner! All cash prizes will be given to the families of the winning portraits.

Miller’s 2009 Baby & Child Contest Rules

• All portraits taken January 1- June 21, 2009 are eligible for entry into the 2009 Baby & Child Contest.
• Miller’s will not use any participants’ images without prior consent.
• Children age 12 and under can be entered into the contest.