Zelia under the table

Even more snow

Hi, SO I know I need to get better and figure out a way to display the photographs better. This program does not display the pictures very neatly and there MUST be a way to do it better. Next time I have pictures I'll see what I can do. For now there are no new ones so will not worry about it.

We have slowly been eating our leftover fish as fish cakes and pulling out all the rutabaga from the soup for Zelia to eat. We ended up pureeing the rest of it so she enjoyed that as well. We had somewhat of a rough night last night, which means Zelia and I didn't sleep particularity well, not to worry Jacob slept like a baby (ever wonder where that saying comes from...). I had to skip the gym and we both slept until 8:40. I made some very goopey oatmeal, it's sort of weird, at least the oats we bought are, and put in raisins and vanilla (yes from Panama) which Zelia really enjoyed. After playing some and wiping a runny nose often we headed back to sleep. She work up cooing and playing which is perfect. Jacob returned for lunch, we all ate and then really bundled up for our walk to the pool. Why you ask??? Because much more snow than the first snow was falling and it was blowing. When I looked outside there were no mountains to be seen. Poor Zelia looked like a stuffed pillow before I put her in the stroller. Boy, am I glad for those felted wool boots - so warm. The walk over was fine and I wondered if the sidewalks get plowed in the winter or will I be wrapping her to go everywhere. Then I looked across the water, usually I can see Bonus (the cheaper market) across the way and everything across the way was gone as well.

One we got to the pool to swim (sinta in Icelandic) Zelia was all smiles until we dunked, oh well, one good day and one not so good day. Every time we dunked she cried but a little less the last time. Today she even did a little dive. She sits on the end of the pool and the teacher came over, counted to 3, blew in her face and under she went into my arms. Very cool. We always blow in the babies' faces before dunking since they automatically hold their breath. there was a lot of talk about the economy, Sunna told me. They were joking about who was poorer and what they were going to be able to get people for Christmas...I really wish I could understand.

Both Sunna and Heidi were there and we walked back into town together. We walked out into a pretty slushy ground, some blue sky and sun. The mountains were in clear sight and it was very pretty out. Sunna and I went to the bakery where I enjoyed a sukkulidbitakaka (chocolate chip cookie) and hot chocolate, yumm. Zelia,as always, fell fast asleep (well, she was screaming from being tired and Sunna gave me a pacifier to try, called a duta, and she took it!!!!).

Zelia is in her carriage sleeping inside, Jacob is working and I am here writing. As I look outside again the mountains are gone and it is snowing a bit again. We decided not to go to Betty's farm for the night but we will go for the day tomorrow.

Shabbat Shalom

Walking in town and a library visit

Zelia and I had a very nice walk through town and about to the library. I thought I would take some pictures to give you an idea of the place. The pictures range from what I think is a typical apartment building, one of my favorite houses. the mountains across full of snow with cod pens in the water (look carefully). There are still flowers in some gardens and 3 churches. The big one has a cemetery and one you can see will not let us forget we are from Salem. The funnier thing is that there is a witch craft store in town as well. There is a picture of a typical street and one from the opposite side of town from us overlooking the center. Let's not forget the fire station, Zelia hanging out and the snow covered mountains across from the water. Lastly, Zelia is sleeping in front of our apartment and that is the window that I can watch her from.

The building with the large lawn and green roof is the library. It is very sweet and we went into the little children's room, which as you can see, Zelia enjoyed. There is also a video here with her playing. We will start spending more time there. The librarian was very sweet, but let us know that there is no story time at the moment. We talked a bit about the weather. She said it was cold out now, but when I remarked that others had said the snow was late, she agreed, but said that the snow looked just like powder when you are baking. On our way home Zelia fell fast asleep and enjoyed an hour nap out in the cold air.

I brought Zelia over to Jacob at school where she joined him and classmates for a happy hour while I went and had a massage - fabulous! Afterward it was bath time and we got 2 good shots:)

Tomorrow we swim again and hopefully head to Betty's farm to help gather more sheep, this time to spend the night!

Quiet day

Well this has been a very quiet day so far, in a nice way. The air was clear this morning and the frost reached down into the valley. The puddles were frozen on my walk to the gym and it was noticeably colder. I didn't check the thermometer so cannot report on it. We have fallen into a really sweet morning routine; I get up and head to the gym and Jacob gets up with Zelia, dresses her, feeds her and sometimes reads a story. I come home shower, eat, play and then both Z and I take a nap. Today, I thought to head out shortly after her nap but by the time I actually got things together and dressed her is was 1pm and as we were walking out the door Jacob returned from his field trip.

I had made soup yesterday (there will be a lot of soup eating here) and we had it for lunch along with some extra fish cakes from the other night. One of the guests for Rosh Hashanah brought us rutabagas and they went into the soup. Good thing, because Zelia could not get enough of them. Then after a short meltdown she was out, fast asleep on the bed.

So now Jacob has left for a massage, I finished some laundry and am washing her diapers. There is a lot of laundry doing here - smaller machine, hanging to dry. I think putting vinegar into the "fabric softener" dish worked. So if anyone is looking for a non-toxic, non-chemical way to soften your clothes, some white vinegar does the trick. And no, it does not make your clothes smell and now the clothes are not crunchy - fabulous!

When she wakes we will go out to buy an English-Icelandic dictionary and I will begin working on the words for body parts. I want to e able to use them when I begin teaching pilates. Also, we would like to check out the library. It opens at 1pm and has a children's section, so time to explore.

Jacob's class went to a beach to learn about beach assessment methods. He explained that there is a survey used by a man in the US that they all agreed is quite flawed and then there is their Professor's method. He is a professor from Whales. Anyway, they assess the beach through several lenses, for development, tourism, they look at the sand, garbage, surrounding scenery, etc and then give the beach a grade. They found only 3 pieces of trash on the entire beach! yes! I was thinking, as he was explaining this, that this would be great for Panama. He said out in the ocean they saw a whale and a seal came pretty close to shore, nothing close enough to photograph unfortunately. It was VERY cold and all were thankful for the hot chocolate, tea and cake Jacob brought:) The program has been going very well and he is enjoying all that he is learning. It is opening up so many new fields of interest and job possibilities - very cool.

We are heading out for a walk finally, will report back later if something worthy happens:)

A great day

On a beautiful snowy morning, Zelia and I went to the church for the mommy and me group. All wrapped up in the wrap we headed out and actually bumped into Sunna and Hedi who are two moms in the swimming group. Their sons Stefan and Alexander are a month old and younger than Z. We walked together to the church, which is a good thing becuase I had understood it to be somewhere else. Some of the babies stayed outside sleeping in their buggies in the snow. I asked, all these buggies come from Sweden and they have wireless monitors they take inside with them. Taking off our shoes before heading in, I had a chance to speak with Hedi a little more. Keep in mind I do not know how to spell any names and am not always sure I am hearing them correctly...

Anyway, in we went to a hall in the church. Some kids were on the floor on a mat, most were in their mother's arms. I got settled on the floor with Zelia and saw the swimming teacher, Gubny. No one introduced themselves and no introduced me, we sat on the floor with some others and eventually, slowly, conversation with different moms began. I spent most of my time with Hedi and learning about her and then with Sunna. Sunna was interested in the Hoppediz wrap and then called another mom over when I was putting it on. We decided that next Wednesday I will bring both it and the Moby for people to try. The moms have all sorts of backgrounds just like in the US, one is a single mom, another trying to complete her high school (not high school aged, but going back), others changing careers. (School here is mandatory until 16, but otherwise continues until you are 20.) The woman most interested in the wrap, I cannot remember her name, said, oh you are the one I have seen with the Phil and Teds (the double stroller we have) and she said she had one to and that they just began selling them here this summer. By the time I left I felt very welcomed and excited at potential new friends. Unfortunately for me Sunna heads to Denmark to continue her studies Jan 1.

We came home, had grilled sandwiches for lunch (it;s now a regular thing) and headed for a nice 2 hour nap together - Jacob returned from studying and we went for a walk and to get fresh bread. I love that! Every other day or so we head out to the bakery and choose from a wide selection of great, hearty, nutty breads.

Zelia has had quite a day herself. Earlier today she decided she could begin letting go so check out her standing balance. So far she has grabbed back on in time and now, as I am writing this she began picking up cheerios and getting them into her mouth on her own. It's amazing, something there seem to be no baby steps, one day she can't do it and then all of a sudden she can - genetic development is amazing! Here's another video...

Zelia laughing with her daddy

First Snow!!!

We awoke to the first snow that is down in the valley! It keeps flurrying every once in a while and looks pretty. Just gently falling flakes. The thermometer said 0* Celsius this morning and as I walked to the gym the streets were icy and slippery. The snow was crunchy, I think more ice than snow, but maybe it changes. The kids on the way to school were more bundled up, wearing one-piece snow suits and hats that were falling over their eyes - one girl was so cute trying to see where she was going. There were still plenty riding their bikes as they do all day. I love that. The kids spend a lot of time outside running between the buildings and riding bikes. One day I passed by school during recess and they were everywhere! The street in front of the school was closed, they were in the playground, on the grass, in the street, looked wonderful.

Well here are a few morning photos...