End of the Academic Year Party

Tuck had a final, end-of-the-year party at a camp in rural New Hampshire today. Everything from a pig bake to a bounce house. Great opportunity to connect with folks before everyone goes their seperate way for the summer. Below is a picture of Sarah and Ethan on the shore of the lake near the camp where the party was held.

Gratulerer med dagen!

Ever since Paul and I got married (and probably before then), I have kind of "adopted" Norway as my second country, if you will. Paul spent a good deal of his childhood in Stavanger, Norway and then returned as a missionary in his early 20's. I cheer for the Norwegians in the Olympics (the winter ones; do they even send anyone to the summer Olympics?). I have some beautiful Norwegian earrings that Paul sent me while on his mission. I can't speak Norwegian yet but would love to learn (mainly so he and I can talk about people behind their backs without their knowledge). When we lived in DC we went to the annual Norwegian Christmas bazaar in Union Station every year and bought as much Norwegian chocolate and strawberry jam as we could carry. We have tons of Norwegian Christmas decorations (as well as non-Christmas decorations and trinkets), and still keep up with a few Norwegian traditions. Such as today.

Today is Syttende Mai, or Norway's Constitution Day. It is a huge deal in Norway, as every school-age child marches in a parade, waving the Norwegian flag, people line up to watch, men and women wearing their best traditional clothing, called bunads. It is quite the spectacle. Paul and I went to Norway in 2005 and were there for Syttende Mai in Oslo- so fun! People everywhere, the royal family out waving to the crowd. We have a video of it somewhere if you really care... ah, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGNRFou9EuA The quality is kind of not so hot but you get the general idea.

So we are having our own little celebration today. Nothing super exciting but it's fun anyway. I made Norwegian waffles for breakfast (YUM) and yesterday I took my first stab at making a Kransekake, which is a traditional Norwegian wedding cake. I was sooooo excited when I found the pans at a local bakery shop so of course I just had to have them. It's not every day you find something like that! The recipe was fairly simple, required a few odd ingredients (almond paste, anyone?), but it was still fun to make. The dough is extremely dense and I about broke my arm trying to squeeze it out of my cookie press. I was also unable to locate the tiny little Norwegian flags that I *know* we have somewhere in this house (it is traditional to decorate the cake with Norwegian flags and little wrapped candies). So, I improvised. It's a little unconventional but I still think it turned out pretty well! Hey, cut me some slack- it was my first attempt, okay?

And all that really matters is how it tastes, right??

Now go out and wave a Norwegian flag or down some Norwegian chocolate if you can find it. Gratulerer med dagen!!!

Oh brother...

...or sister?

That's right, folks- the Snow family is growing by two feet (get it? two feet? Buh dum CHH!). Believe me, no one was more shocked than we were when we saw those two pink lines on St. Patrick's Day, five years to the day from when we found out Ethan was on his way. Weird. Even weirder? This baby is due on November 23rd, the day after Ethan's fifth birthday. So, even though we weren't exactly planning it that way, you've gotta give us mad props for our sweet accuracy skills. But don't worry- they won't share a birthday. The c-section will be scheduled for some time the week before.

Now I'm praying the barfy-ness goes away. Any time now. Please.

Grrrr

Well, apparently the Ethan video I posted isn't working. Grrrr. So here is the link instead. Trust me, you should watch it. In addition to the striking resemblance between Ethan and Sadie, it's just cute. Sweet little baby Ethan! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3_gS5hG7EI

And here's a short little video of Sadie's newest trick- spinning in circles until she's dizzy. Goofball.

Decide for yourselves

I have never thought my kids look alike. Ethan is clearly a carbon copy of Paul, and everyone tells me that Sadie looks just like me. But then I saw this video of Ethan and about fell over when I saw the close-ups of Ethan's face. WOW!!! It's Sadie! So, see what you think. Do they look alike to you?