09 August 2007

Fjord Norway

Day 1
We drove down to Kiel from where we would catch the overnight ferry to Oslo. HM is happy in the car, as long as she isn't strapped into the car seat...


HM in the play room on the ferry. There was 2 playrooms for the kids to play in, they both loved it. HM didn't even notice when I left the room.
A bridge we passed under on the ferry.

Day 2
We drove from Oslo to Lom, Garmo just near the Jotunheim area of mountainous Norway. We stopped on the way for lunch:
Just some of the scenery we passed on the way. We started to worry that we had made a mistake going all the way to the fjords, when you have this:
HM did not enjoy the drive... We made a lot of stops on the way, so it took us practically all day to get to Lom, although it was only a 4-5 hour drive.
Just one of the places we stopped at, not the snow capped mountains in the backround and the lake. We went for a little walk and we... (of course I mean Dovid) had fun throwing stones in the water.

We finally arrived at our cabin in Lom. Now we understood why they call them cabins... because they look like cabins!! Dovid slept on the top bunk... and enjoyed it from the looks of it.

Day 3

Onwards to Geiranger.
We passed the toll road to Dalsnibba - the highest mountain road in Europe. (This is the view from the bottom of it.) We went on it, umm... we attempted to get to the top, but 3 km from the top, the clutch had other ideas... It smelt terribly of burning and the car wouldn't move. A kind bus driver from the bus stuck behind us helped us move the car to the side of the road, where we got out and waited for about 20 minutes, but after that the clutch still smelt really badly, so we drove back down and headed on to Geiranger.

The view from our porch - note the fjord in the background. Sure beats watching the big trucks outside our home (well, depends who you ask :) )

Day 4
We took a trip to the Atlantic Road, about a 4 hour drive from Geiranger... well, the estimate was given by someone who presumably wasn't travelling with HM. We passed some amazing scenery on the way.
Driving around the corner from our cabin, overlooking the Geiranger Fjord.


Trollsteigen. Huge beautiful waterfall and winding mountain roads.

Isfjordern, just a little fjord that doesn't even make it onto the map.
And finally... the Atlantic Road, the architechture is quite amazing and has won some award. The drive is dramatic, as the road is over the ocean, with small islets on the side of the road.
Isfjorden on the way back, we stopped off for supper.

Day 5
A quiet day. We hung around Geiranger - which is on UNESCO's list of world treasures. The website asks if it is the most beautiful place in the world? Look at the pics and you decide!
The fjord as it bends around the mountain.
Classic picture of Geiranger.

Day 7
We moved on to Stryn, Nordfjord. First day of bad weather.

Day 8
We went to Briksdal, very touristic glacier. A classic view of Nordfjord that we passed on the way to the glacier.
The waterfall we passed on the way up to the glacier. We got soaking wet passing on the bridge.
The sun reflected in the water. Note the people rushing on the bridge, as they get soaked from the force of the waterfall.

And the glacier:

Sweet kiddies.

On the way home we stoped off at the Kjendall glacier. Unfortunately it was late and we didn't have much time to spend there.

Day 9
We drove along a couple of panoramic routes along Nordfjord.

Day 10
We left Nordfjord before 5:00am for the long (6 and a half hour) drive to Oslo for the ferry back to Kiel. B'H the kids were amazing on the drive. HM slept for most of it, the roads were empty and we made excellent time. We got to Oslo with two hours to spare and we spent some time driving/walking around the city.

The Nobel Peace Center in Oslo.

10 July 2007

The Past Couple of Months...

Bath time is fun time! Actually every time is fun time with Dovid.

In Prague, where there's room in the heart there's room on the lap.

What a sweet smile!

My handsome prince! All dressed for Pesach. The barber was a bit too enthusiastic. We got it done in SH and he probably assumed that any Jewish boy wanting a hair cut, wants it all cut. It will grow!

The t-shirt says it all!

Don't mess with me!

Falling asleep is busy work.


Hinei mah tov umah naim sheves achim gam yachad! Behold, how good and how pleasant are siblings united! After the first few months of adjusting I can really appreciate this!

At the Tiergarten


HM loves the ball tent.

Nope, it's not trick photography, he is actually standing in the sink.

Umm, the size doesn't aeem right.

Happiness is a toy in each hand.

19 June 2007

16 June 2007

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Where's Baby?

On Friday dovid was helping me bring in the silver candlesticks tray. He noticed that there was a reflection of himself in the tray, so he said, 'oh Dovid, where's baby?' while looking for HM in the tray.

HM has started to stand up (holding on) and sit up.

12 June 2007

The Zoo




S had the day off on Sunday so we went to the zoo. D had a great time looking at all the animals. In fact he still talks about the elephants splashing in the water.

Stand Up and Be Counted!


Look who's standing! She loves playing with balls. When she sees one she squeals in delight and crawls over to it. She gets lots of attention in the playground, until she pulls the childrens hair...

29 May 2007

Neglected!

This blog has been so badly neglected... meanwhile the kids are growing up... HM is seven months and she just started crawling. She's been moving backwards for a month and she is just now getting the hang of crawling forwards. She slowly and deliberately puts one hand in front of the over and crawls over to grab Dovid's toys. It's so cute to watch!

She says Mama, although Samuel disagrees with me on that one! She's rolling over both ways and is a real grabber. She pulls at Dovid's hair (which he likes) and anything else for that matter. At mealtimes, she is a real grabber, she goes for any food that is within her reach (or out of her reach for that matter) often putting her hand in the bowl of food and stuffing the food in her mouth!

Dovid is a child, he's no baby anymore. He knows his colours (Mommy, what colour are the shabbos guests? what colour is mommy's friend?) He knows some of the numbers - 4 5 6 7. He's got a great sense of humor. He makes me laugh every day.

Here are a sample of some pictures over the past few months:




22 April 2007

Chatterbox


Just a few months ago, I was so worried about Dovid not talking that I discussed it with the doctor, who told me to wait until he was two and a half. Well, he's now 2 and a half and doesn't stop talking. He talks to Brocha on the phone...
'Hello Bocha!
I in Savta house.
Baby crying. Baby need feeding.
Bye bye Bocha.'

He tells HM, 'Baby you gorgeous!'

27 March 2007

Long Overdue: an Update

Wow! we are long overdue for an update of this blog. Let's start with Dovid. He has developed into even more of a personality with an adorable sense of humor! He says the funniest things sometimes. And because I don't update this blog often enough I can't remember them!

B'H he is now good friends with HM again. He loves making her laugh, and she loves watching him and laughing at him. She finds him very funny! He runs to bring her toys and even 'helps' change her nappy.

HM is at an adorable stage, she is past all the newborn colic and crying and is smiley and sociable. She grabs at everything!

06 March 2007

Purim

Dovid dressed up as a frog on Purim:

28 January 2007

Good peace?

On Friday night, Dovid was helping me in the kitchen while HM was sleeping in my bedroom. After a while we heard HM make some noises, so Dovid ran into the bedroom and said 'good morning baby, had a good peace (read: sleep)?

17 January 2007

Reading and Painting


Looks like someone is having fun finger-painting!

16 January 2007

And Some More...

Can you tell I like pictures of HM yawning?

So snug and comfy!

Dovid brushing ducky's teeth.

Story-time, HM looks bored, try another one Daddy.

Did you forget to put away the shopping Mummy? Never mind, I'll help and I'll even share the booty with Brocha.

More Beautiful Pics!

No comment necessary, just beautiful!

You gotta hand it to Dovid, he's nothing if not self-sufficient.

You can't really see it from this angle, but he is sleeping sitting up, leaning on his monkey.


Awww! Sleeping beauty.