Update

I'd like to start writing my blog again, but I can't do that without an update about what I've been up to these past five months. 

My parents, Bryan and I spent a few weeks together in Barbados over Christmas. First my parents and I spent a week together, then Bryan joined us for a week. I left with Bryan while my parents stayed for another week. It was tons of fun, especially after learning some history about the Caribbean from my history teacher Jim. Most days were spent lazing by the pool/beach and visiting places on the island. We visited a history museum, George Washington museum, Harrison's Cave, and the Flower Forest (where we saw wild monkeys!). It was a wonderful two weeks. 

Harrison's Cave

George Washington's house

Flower Forest

New Year's Eve

Watching the Sunset

The Sunset

Then I went back to school. A pretty boring last semester with a lot of work. I took an interest in cross stitching and am currently attempting to master the art of crocheting. It's much more difficult than you think! 

The most exciting that happened last semester was going to Dallas with Bryan for a weekend trip. Even with all the traffic queues, it was a lot of fun! We saw where JFK was shot, went to the Zoo and to IKEA!! 

Entertaining ourselves in the traffic

Where JFK was shot

I touched this giraffe!

At IKEA

9 - 15

An update on my Christmas Calendar.

Day 9 - Folder and Quick Stick Dots

Day 10: Electronic Card Shuffler

Day 11: National Park Quarters 2010 Collector Folder
(with the California quarter)

Day 11: Turtles Chocolate

Day 12: Pencils

Day 13: The Bridges of Madison County Book

Day 14: Caramel Popcorn

Day 15: Mascara

Festival of Lights & My First Diamond

Bryan and I went to the Festival of Lights in Chickasha this weekend. It was so lovely :) First we ate dinner at Olive Garden. We listened to Baby, It's Cold Outside by Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone the whole way there and the whole way back. Before went out to look at the lights we got some hot chocolate drinks. They helped keep us warm a while longer.

The Festival has millions of lights in all shapes and sizes. It was beautiful but cold.

Merry Christmas in Norwegian

Spinning under a tower of lights

Under a tunnel of lights

Later in the weekend Bryan and I decided to exchange a few Christmas gifts (one each). I gave him a personalized Clint Eastwood autographed picture:

"Best to Bryan 

Clint Eastwood"

I, on the other hand, received a gorgeous white gold diamond necklace!! Ahhh! My first diamond! It's utterly perfect!

Christmas Decorations

'Tis the Season! And people in my neighbourhood have decorated A LOT for it. Yesterday Mum and I took a walk to look at all the lights and other decorations. In England there's usually one house on a street that has an obscene amount of decor (including my dad's Uncle Bob and Aunt Brenda) whereas the rest are pretty dull. In Norway some people put some lights on a tree. But here almost every house has been decorated with something. It's beautiful!

Large Santa outside our neighbour's house - it lights up in the dark

Gingerbread House

Mickey and Minni Mouse coming out of a Christmas present

The best house is coming up next. We spoke to the woman of the house and she kept insisting that it would be so much better the next day. Can you believe that she still had things to put up? She was extremely nice and even invited us to see the back of the house.

Best House Part 1

Best House Part 2

Best House Part 3

Best House Part 4 - The back of the house

My favourite decoration

Snowman Family

Our contribution

To conclude, we should all be thankful for the invention of LED lights.

2 - 8

When my parents came home after their trip to Norway they got a Chocolate Calendar for Bryan and me. So now Bryan gets to experience the joys of eating a chocolate every day :)

My Pondus Christmas Calendar

Other than getting a chocolate every day I have also been opening a present a day. Here's what I've got so far:

Day 2: Glue Sticks

Day 3: Snake Charm

Day 4: Lucy in the Afternoon

Day 5: Danish Butter Cookies

Day 6: Snowman Decoration

Day 7: Knee High Tights

Day 8: Beef Jerkey

So far my favourite has been either the cup I got on day 1 or the snowman decoration. 

Christmas Calendar

Most Norwegian parents give their children a Chistmas Calendar. There are many different types. The most common is a chocolate calendar which is basically a box with 24 slots than you can open. Behind each one there is a chocolate. The biggest one you get on the 24th. The chocolate is not usually very good, but chocolate is chocolate - as long as it's not Hershey's blah! Sometimes there is also a quote or a picture inside. You can get all different kinds. Here's one:

These are difficult to find in Oklahoma (basically impossible), so I did not get one this year. 

Another thing that most Norwegian parents make for their children is a present calendar where their children get a present each day until Christmas Eve, when Norwegians celebrate Christmas. Usually this ends when the children are in their teens, but my mother has said that she'll make one for me till I move out of the house, so I got one this year too (Lancaster didn't count). WOHO!! I guess Bryan will have to take over when I move out hehe. 

Here it is

The things don't usually cost much, though the price of each item seems to have increased as I've grown older.  Apparantly it's easier to find things for a child than a grown-up. Today this is what I got: