Happy Mother's Day Mom!

I would not trade my mom for anything. While she lives in another country we are best friends. I can count on her love and suggestions even now that I am a mom myself. Now that I am in the shoes of such, I understand more of why she did what she did. It was out of an abundance of love.

A letter to my mother

Dearest Mom,

Having a mother like you while growing up was the greatest gift and biggest advantage anyone could ever have given me. It is because of the confidence and values that you instilled in me that made me who I am today. Thank you for shaping me into a person who I like and am proud to be. Thank you for letting us believe that we could be whoever we wanted to be, do whatever we wanted to do, there were no limitations except our drive, ambition and creativity.

Thank you for your unwavering support through out my journey.

Thank you for taking me to hospital and sitting with me through out my labor until I gave birth, remember how excited we were for our first one?

Thank you for always having hope for me when I didn’t have for myself.

Thank you for telling me not to give up when I said I couldn’t do it any more.

Thank you for never giving up on me when I went through that dark period, when I shut every one out of my life. When loving me must have been like trying to hold a cactus. Thank you for loving me through all of my rejections of help and love.

Thank you for staying with me when I was in hospital... until I gave birth with Zander. Thank you for washing my underwear, for bringing me all the things I need to make me feel comfortable, special treats. Thank you for bringing the nurses some cakes and snacks, I was their favourite patient.

Thank you for loving Zander so much while he was still inside.

Thank you for loving Zander so much while he was in the Philippines.

Thank you for loving him still. For never forgetting about him.

Thank you for having his picture in your bedroom and in your living room. For always talking about him and praying for his health.

The one we watched get bigger and bigger in my tummy, the one we loved so much... will be turning 3 in just few more months. Remember how proud we were of him when he used to roll around and kick on the scans. Remember how we laughed when we saw his bits, how you told Dad and Geir that our boy has big balls.

Thank you, for every thing you have done for me, thank you for every thing you have said, and for all the times when you said nothing and just listened.

Thank you for being my good luck charm, my muse, my hero, my savior, my cook, and my mentor.

Thank you for being such a wonderful mother. Thank you for being so wonderful to Geir.

Thank you thank you thank you. For a million things, for everything. I don’t know what I would do without you. There are so many many more things, small things, big things.

I love you very very much, if I could be half as good a mother to my children as you are to your children, I will have done exceptionally well.

Thank you mommy, I love you, more than words can ever express.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! =)

You're my Hero Dad!

Every year, your birthday reminds me how grateful I am that you are my father. With all that’s going on in the world today, I’m thankful I get to watch you, to look up to you, being an example of a good man. What a privilege it is to observe your strength, your competence, and your kindness. I am so blessed to be under your wing, your protection, your care, learning important life lessons from you. If all fathers were like you, the world would be a very different and much better place. Happy 60th Birthday Dad! We love you! CHEERS! ;)

Happy 60th Birthday Dad!

I would like to make my post a little different today. I want to wish someone a very happy birthday. He was my hero, the one man that made every other one look like less of a man, the one man who was always there for me no matter what, and the one who always loved me no matter how dumb I was or what mistake I made. This man is my dad.

My dad was a great man, a kind man and most of all a family man. His family always came first, and he taught us to always remember that. This is the reason why I am so close to my family. He was the glue that kept it all together and reminded us every time we were mad at each other that we were family and nothing could change that. Besides being a family man, he was a fair and funny man. Ask anyone, he could tell a joke before you could even say hi to him.

He is the most amazing man I know. He raised us to be wonderful children and I must thank him for that and everything he has done. He is amazing. Dad, Happy Birthday on this milestone. Thank you for everything, I'm so grateful to be your daughter. The father/daughter bond is something any man would want. I love you dad. Many wishes to you on this very special day!

Happy Birthday Lolo Daddy! We miss you so much! See you real soon.
WE LOVE YOU!

Depressed! =(

Is it better to let yourself be depressed every once in a while or force yourself to stay positive?

Lately I'm struggling to stay positive. Sometimes I feel like I'm about to break down but I just keep telling myself I can't. Lately, i'ts become just this in the middle numb zombie like state and I hate it. Sometimes, I think I should let myself be a little depressed just to feel again but I really don't want to go into a depression mode but I'm trying so hard to be happy and it isn't working. Its just going blank. I'm not depressed but I'm not happy either. I'm just here or rather not here. I'm afraid to let go and just feel anything because I don't know what emotion will come out. I just don't want to lose control over myself. I’ve lost control of everything in my life but myself and I'm wondering if that's a bad thing.

I know, life is what you yourself make it , good or bad it's all up to us to cry or laugh. Sometimes we suffer from depression but we have to choose to move forward because if we would just curl in a ball... at the end we'll realize what a waste of life.

I know I'll be fine... maybe I just miss my friends and family way back home.

Utstein Kloster - the Abbey beside Mosterøy

It's Maundy Thursday (Last Supper of Jesus) and how ironic because it fell on April 1, also known as April Fool's Day. My family should visit the Oil Museum today but since we arrived a little bit late, my husband just decided to go to Utstein Kloster, a charming 13th century monastery on the island of Mosterøy 30 minutes north of Stavanger.




We went there by car. We took the E39 north from Stavanger, through the first undersea tunnel (233 metres below sea level), past the toll booth, over the bridge, then turn right at the sign for Mosteroy. Turn left at the roundabout, then follow the road across Mosteroy to Klosteroy.


The abbey is at the end of the road. Utstein Kloster is on Klosterøy (or Abbey island) which is connected to Fjøløy and Mosterøy, and more islands beyond. Restored over the last 100 years, it is unique in Norway. It is the best-preserved monastery in the whole of Norway.



Visiting Utstein gives us an insight into the country’s religious make-up. It is the only monastery to have survived from pre-reformation days in a strongly Protestant culture.


It’s a bit like clothes shopping when we went and visited the place, we might find something special hidden, that’s why we always open every door.

Norsk Barnemuseum (The Norwegian Children's Museum)

Norsk Barnemuseum is a unique place for experiences and activities around childhood and children's culture. All members of the family enjoy themselves here.




Norwegian Children's Museum is the greatest playpen in Norway for children ages 5 to 12. In fact, it is one of the best children's museums in all of Europe. Exhibits center around almost anything related to children.



You get documentation and exhibitions, of course, but the museum also satisfies a kid's desire to play with toys -- it has the largest collection in the country. Storytelling and performances for children are also staged here.



A children's museum also evokes nostalgia and the recollection of one's own childhood. You will walk through the maze of growing up in a museum world of exhibitions, activities and theatre.





Activities include climbing up into the "Scary Attic" or visiting a secret treehouse, or kids can even embark on a journey in a toy box or whisper into "a bag of secrets."



You can paint or draw in the Workshop or embark on a Journey in the Toy Box. In the Labyrinth, you can discover new aspects of childhood, and old toys will take you back in time to your own childhood. Café and gift shop.




This is very much a hands-on museum for kids, who are allowed to play with toys as well as paint, sing, write, or whatever. The museum also has more serious exhibits dealing with children's rights around the world.




It is open Tuesday - Saturday all year round: 11.00-16.00. Sundays: 12.00-17.00. During school holidays the museum is open every day.