Future Neuroscientists Cuddling their Experiments?

Here is a crowd of 10 year old neuro scientists at the Brain research center here in Trondheim. The best part of the trip - subject petting. In this case, friendly rats. This one is named Rodey.

We're studing the brain and how people learn during this unit in our grade five class. We went to the cetner to learn about brain mapping and generally show kids how very cool science is.

There is a huge demand for scientists in all areas in Norway right now. So much that the government not only pays for the schooling of graduate students in the sciences, but funds their living expenses at a salary higher than I make teaching. (Not that that says much...)

Anyhow, we saw rats, and microscopes, and brain drills, and held rat brains, and watched a brain slicer, and touched some super-cold-bain-freezing liquid. And, this sign on one of the freezers in the surgery room. It was sweet.

I don't think the kids quite made the connections between their cuddly little buddies downstairs and the brains that they put in the slicer.

Happy Birthday to Nan! The big 05!

Little Nan had her big bithday the day after we returned fom Barcelona. Our little senorita was giddy with excitement that morning, waking to fancy waffles and colorful streamers. After her chose spaghetti dinner she opened her two gifties - a set of Barbie princess sisters and a baby doll.

After helping her unwrap, her brother and sister couldn't keep their hands off the dolls. Peter had to play with the Island Princess Barbie, because Maggie and Anna had to be the "real sisters because they are sisters in real life. " It was a rare 15 minutes of peace between the siblings, as Anna was getting all of the attention and had no need to fuss get more.

Anna cuddled and fed her new baby with the attention of a new mother. Until it needed its diaper changed. Then, Anna tenderly carried her baby over to Daddy and asked, "Daddy, will you please take care of this part. Because you know how. And you must be really good at it." Sly little minx.

On those dark days our imaginations grow...

Amazing giants - Norwegian trolls, even - roam our house most days. Luckily, the bottom half of the troll has a very strong back!

Spaghetti Fest!

Maggie and Frøy made spaghetti at Frøys house last week. Happy, happy girls. Yummy, yummy spaghetti.

Solstice Walk Success?

Our solstice walk this year yeilded quite different results from our past experiences - namely a large chunk of ice and a cat.

This shining December day we had sun for almost two hours! Our happy little procession left home as soon as the yellow orb peeked over the horizon line and slid down the walk to the little forest near our apartment. Normally, we walk around Tennant Lake on solstice, picking up cat tails, ferns, interesting mushrooms, and pebbles with which to honor mother earth.

Pickin's were slim this year, but we all teetered home with something. Maggie found an amazing and surprising tiny blue flower. Peter found an enormous chunk of ice. Anna found a cat.

The path was absolutely treacherous and the grass was frozen too. So, Mike and I carried our bruised tooshies home along with a handful of fragile baby ferns and an interesting red leaf. Ahhhhh, Norway.

Our Sweet Princesse

Little Nan has been quite the performing pincess for the past few months. Whenever visitors join us, Anna gets herself ready for quite a while, augmenting her sparkling outfits with whatever makeup of mine she can find. Its crazy how well she can put on brown eye shadow - better than Momma, that's for sure!

Daddy turned 40 on Saturday. We had mango cake and smoothies to celebrate. We were going to go bowling, but it cost $10 a game, per person, and Mike couldn't make himself spend so much on something none of us are sure we like to do. On the up side, my dad and I bought Mike an itouch and Maggie made him a card that read, "Happy Birthday Old Man" Totally classic.

AND GUESS WHAT? Mike has come to they gym for thee days in a row! Amazing!