Staycation Summer: The Plan (and a few memories from last summer!)

I've had this post in the drafts section of my brain for a while. My brain is full of blog post ideas that have never been written... the sad truth that writing has been forced onto the back burner of life for a season. I do miss the days of finishing up each evening with a daily post. Though at the time it resulted in a lot of late nights, I'm thankful for the record I have of my children's little years... and hope one day to be a little more regularly present here again!

Usually, you'd find us at this time of year fjordside... spending our days pottering round quaint Norwegian villages, and our evenings sitting on the veranda of the cottage, looking out at stunning mountain and fjord views and freaking out about the bat-birds (long story, but I will tell it to you one day!) 

Summer Memories // Space + Reconnection

It's hard to believe that October half term has almost been and gone... that I'm still playing catch up on my blog because above all else, this spot will always be my memory store, and I don't want to miss a moment.

And so 2 months after we returned home, I finally wanted to share some memories from our summer in Norway. This year was particularly wonderful - extended time there, beautiful weather, and the children at an age where they are really starting to appreciate the outdoor lifestyle...

So many happy memories...

Our Summer in Norway // 2017 Week Three

It's hard to believe we've been back five days already... The past few days have flown by in a flurry of birthday celebrations and BBQs, family time and dedications. It's been jam-packed and makes me feel like Norway was a lifetime ago, when in reality, this time last week, we were still fjord side.

Our last few days in Norway did not disappoint!

Our Summer in Norway // 2017 Week Two

Our second week in Norway ended with us bidding farewell to Dave's brother and his family, and these two little buddies had to part ways. Honestly, watching this little friendship was such a joy over the past 12 days. These two are such good little friends. At just turned two, there aren't really any other children that Jonas really plays with, but these two little cousins have been playing together non stop for the past couple of weeks - whether it be cats or Cowboys or just running around in circles giggling hysterically. He will miss his little friend!

Sun-Days, Fun-Days // Siblings in August

I've come to accept that we're significant years away from getting a siblings shot where everyone is smiling nicely, hair out of their face and looking at the camera, but I feel OK with that, because in all honesty? A picture like that wouldn't be faithful to real life right now. Life is a little crazy, and hairstyles are sometimes a little on the wild side!

Our Summer in Norway // 2017 Week One

The first few days of our trip to Norway have been a whirlwind ths year! Catching up with friends and family has been wonderful and the children have lived in a little sociable bubble these past few days. There have been different children to play with every day,  and hearing our girls chattering away with their little Norwegian friends makes me so thankful once again that we went down this multilingual route. Summers are always a reminder that it's worth it.

Jonas, it feels like, is experiencing Norway for the first time. Although this is actually his third trip, it's the first time he's actually old enough to appreciate the sights and the sounds and the people! Driving the tractor with his Great-Aunt Margrete has definitely been the highlight for him so far, and splashing around in the fjord comes in at a close second!

We spent the day with dear friends at one of our favourite little haunts on Thursday. Pretty coloured boathouses line the fjord, and worn paths meander up through the trees. Behind you lies the fjord, stretching out in deep blue to the foot of the mountains and lapping at the shore line merrily. It is one of the most beautiful little corners of the earth, and we make sure, without doubt, that we return there every year.

The children chattered away, gathering leaves and wildflowers, running ahead to see what they could discover...

And then they discovered the ice cave. A cave reaching down deep into the ground which was freezing cold. Our little adventurers were off to explore... clambering down, down, down cold rock, the tunnel getting ever narrower. Fearless. I'm not going to lie when I say I was a bit relieved when Ava climbed back out again. 

Here's one little person who I'm not going to be letting clamber down deep, dark icy tunnels any time soon...

Elias is thoroughly enjoying his first trip to Norway, and is eating, sleeping, smiling and giggling the days  away! He's such a little sweetie, and is chubbing up by the day. Our little bear is no longer such a tiny little button!

The children are having a wonderful time with cousins and second-cousins galore! Nearly all the family return back to the peninsula at some point over the summer, so there are visitors every week most years! Uncles, aunts, cousins, second cousins, great uncles and great aunts. It is wonderful!

And lovely Swedish family members who bring delicious cake are always popular! (Thank you Cecilia!)

The weather report has forewarned rain all day every day, and yet the joy of fjordlife, is that more often than not, the weather doesn't listen to the weather report! It has rained every night, but for the most part we've had dry and sunshine during the day!

Who knows what the weather will do this week, but either way, we're having a whale of a time!

And Off We Go...

Today's the day we head back to our home away from home... our fjordside summer residency with David's parents in Norway. I'm not oblivious to the fact that our children are getting the most idyllic childhood every summer... it is all that it appears to be. Freedom to roam, wide open spaces, fjords, mountains, wildflowers and precious time with family.

I thought I'd share a few of my favourite photos from over the years, and perhaps persuade you, that if you've never visited Norway, to put it on the top of your priority list!

In the meantime, as you read this, we will be on a plane, or a bus, or a boat, and somewhere in the midst of a 14 hour journey with four children and a lot of suitcases! Eeek!

Snapshot Norway // A Photo Diary Week 4

It's been almost a week now, since we returned from Norway, and it is amazing how quickly you adapt back to British life... our last few days in Norway were magnificent. The sunshine finally appeared for the last three days, and though it was late coming, it made us all the more thankful for it. We spent our final weekend with some of Dave's cousins and their families and it was so lovely to watch the kids have a blast together... I'm always so thankful we went down this multilingual route when I see the children playing carefree with their Norwegian cousins without any language barriers or confusion. It is such a gift.

We are home now with so many memories. Beautiful, invigorating, inspiring... I am so thankful to God for the gift of going back there every summer, and for the amazing wild and free childhood we are able to offer our children while we are there. It is idyllic... and I do realise how blessed we are to have family out there. We miss it already.

So here are few photos from our final week (and watch for the change in the weather as the photos go on...!)

 

 

 

And this... watching my boy, sitting in a tiny tide pool, covered in water and mud and having the time of his life...

This is what summers are for...