Instead of New Years Resolutions

Wow this year has passed so fast. It is hard to believe that exactly one year ago, I was sitting in piles of stuff, trying to make everything fit into our bags ,trying to get ready for our adventure to live in the States.
What can I say, we did it and we did it in a very positive way!!! 2010 will always be remembered as one of the most exciting ones so far. We had a lot on our plates. A lot of new things to learn, a lot of tears, a lot of money spent, a lot of fun times, a lot of new people and friends to get to know, a lot of change.......
But I have enough, enough of change. I know change is the only constant thing in my life but still..... It feels kind of good to be settled now.
I tought, instead of writing about New Years resolutions, that might be kept but more likely not, I write about things that possibly won´t ever change. Things about myself, things you might know already, things that might surprise you, things that are just plain simly me, myself and I.
Since I just recently turned 34, I tried to come up with 34 things about myself and let me tell you, this was quite a challenge and a lot of fun( Thanks to Katja and Ricky, who contributed to this personal reflection ;)) Bla bla bla ...... let´s start, I bet you are curious:

1. Lets start easy: My whole entire family has blue eyes
2. I have a serious addiction to the colours brown and green. Just peek in my closet if you get a chance
3. My favorite cities in the world are Stockholm( if it just would not be soooo cold) and Seattle( if it would just not be so rainy)
4. I have only owned 3 cars in my life
   
5. No clue about chemistry did not stop me from wanting to study Pharmacy! It was painful but well worth the torture; I love being a pharmacist
6. I usually read 3 books at the same time and it takes me forever to finish only one of them
7. I start dreaming in english
8. To fit in my wedding dress at the age of 50 is a must for me
9. My kids brought out the best in me; they are teaching me everyday what really matters; I love them more than I can ever put in words
10. While I was pregnant for Stella, I thought for sure she would be a little boy named Linus.
11. I would love to have a style expert to go shopping with and an unlimited creditcard,really, I would be ok if it would be just for one day
12. Calla lillies and blue hydrageaneas are by far my favorite flowers
13. Baking cakes brings a smile to my face and it´s such a fun thing to do with my lil girlie( she passed by me while I was washing dishes the other day , saying: Mami, I really like baking cakes with you)
14. I try to be up to date with technology but if it would not be for Ricky, there would be no I pod running or pictures uploading on this blog. There are just certain things I refuse to learn
15. On the other hand, there are tons of things I would love to learn , f.e. a new language, sewing ........and to be a little bit more patient
16. It is 12 o clock this minute,and I am welcoming 2011 with my babygirl in my arm (good stuff)
17. I had a crush on Morten Harket my whole entire life( yep, hubby knows it ; He knows he is the alpha male in my life and has no problem letting me go on a 5 day trip to Oslo to scream like a teenager for a 50 yeare old norwegian guy). Luv u Ricky I am glad you are so confident ;)
    
18. I can´t be without my Bebe Perlglanz lipstick.I get nervous if I don´t have at least 2 spares left at home. My mom just brought me 5 new ones, now I can sleep peaceful again.
19. Ears, ears , ears; my favorite part of the body
20. I do not leave my house without eye make-up. I feel naked without it; silly me.
21. I love to write lists; I do have a list for everything. Writing lists makes me believe that my life is organized. Writing lists makes me happy
22. I still have braces on my bottom teeth. The glue was just a bit strong I guess. I was told at the age of 16 that the braces will loosen and fall out soon. Well they did not specify `soon` very well, I guess.
23. In my opinion, Milka Noisette chocolate is to die for
24. I never even took a drag of a cigarette in my entire life
25. My husband KNOWS I am nuts( he added this to the list)
26. I was a softball player for the German national team and made last place at the European Championchips. Nevertheless it was a great experience
27. Stichwort: royale Grossereignisse; Ich liebe royale Hochzeiten, 2011 sollte also ein sehr gutes Jahr werden
28. I have a serious problem knowing left from right; I just can´t figure it out. I think I am a halfway intelligent person but some connections about left and right in my brain are just not wired the proper way
29. I wish I would have gotten my grandmothers salad dressing recipe( and many more) while she was still with us. I can still taste it on my tongue eventhough I have not had it in 20 years
30. I thought Ricky was hot way, I mean years, before we started dating
31. Pumuckl is my childhood hero
32. If I would have not become a pharmacist I would propably be a midwife or a florist or an air traffic controller ( I know that´s a pretty wide range but I have always been interessted in sooooo many things)
33. I love to get mail and I don´t mean bills or emails( which are fine, too). But I admire the good old fashioned way of a handwritten letter. Getting a nicely written word can make my day easily ( so if you would like to make MY day, you know the secret, now) I am trying to do so to others if there is any spare writing left after this lovely blog and the normal birthday card stuff
    
34. I am married happily for 6 years to the man who means the world to me. I feel safe, loved and home when we are together. He makes me complete

Wow this was a lot. Are you still reading????? You must be either really bored or really liking me and my blog. Feel free to add to this list, I might have ( intentionally) forgotten some important facts about myself, that YOU think might be worth sharing on the world wide web ;)
This was truly fun to write.
A warm welcome to the year 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May it be a good one

So this is Christmas......

...for the first time in our new home. With lots of people we love and lots of people we miss dearly on this special day of the year.
A lot of things have changed this year. But Christmas feels like nothing has changed at all. That warm cozy feeling, those familiar smells in the house, those wonderful lil blue eyes waiting in excitement, presents under the tree ,a beautiful decorated ( artificial ;) ) tree ,christmas music playing.
No, things have not changed at all( and that´s a good thing). No matter where we are and live, we will always treasure what Christmas really means to us in our hearts and we will never forget all the great memories we have made in the past with all of you who cannot celebrate Jesus´birthday with us today
We love you and Merry Christmas

Reality check

Is it already 20 years later or did I just know my little girl????

I´m 100% back in the Mami modus and wished Oslo would have lasted just a wheeee tiny bit longer. Everything over there seemed so much more natural to me, than things here, eventhough it was not even Europe. But I realized how much more familiar I am with this type of lifestyle and that I still have plenty of adjustment to accomplish here in Louisiana. Maybe I feel a lil lonely, maybe just a little homesick or maybe it is just time for my crew to fly in. I wish Rüdi and Franzi would be able to come.... But I´m super excited to spend a wonderful Christmas time with my Mama and Papa. Not much longer.

Diary of my Oslo Trip, December 7th 2010

Not much left to do today.
The bags were packed last night. Had to say goodbye to Oslo and my dear friend Katja( I had such a wonderful time with you, Schnecki)
I am on my plane to New York, thinking and wondering where my girltrip 2011 will take me!
Any suggestions???????????????????
I´m thrilled to see my babies and Ricky later on tonight. Eventhough I had a blast I think I could have not been without them too much longer. I love a-ha for their great music and the amazing times and memories they brought into my life, but I love Ricky, Stella and Lucien for everything they are!
Goodbye Oslo

Mami is back

Diary of my Oslo Trip, December 6th 2010

We woke up to a beautiful Monday morning. The sun was shining, the sky was clear and we had lovely minus 15 ° Celsius this Nikolaus morning in Oslo.The perfect weather for great views. We decided on going to the ski jump slope Holmenkollen, about 50km north of Oslo.

I have no idea how those skijumpers don´t pee in their pants when they jump off of that high thing. It is gigantic. And there was sooooo much snow, beautiful.

Hollmenkollen is going to host the worldskijump championchips in 2011. I hope I will get to see this awesome sight on american TV, again.

Being silly!!!!


Awesome views!

After that a-ha was waiting for us.

What a good choice we had we on Saturday. The a-ha exhibition at the National Library was not packed at all. We had time to really admire all the relicts from 25 years of a-ha.

Note book with the Take on me-lyrics


Funny, origianal 80s leather wrist bands

Yes, they even played in New Orleans, back in 86
Fun stuff. We even got to see their very first appearance on norwegian TV back in 84. Let me say, their interview skill had improved a lot since then;) and the 80 look just makes me crack up.

BY the way, I remember having a neon pink and black striped sweater , jeans rolled up almost to my knees and black/neon suspenders, back in the days. I guess my look was just as stylish as theirs ;)
( Sorry, no pics available)
Eventhough money seemed to dissappear magically on this trip, there was still some souvenir hunting to do. We left the Library, went to the christmas market one more time, checked out some shops around Aker Brygge, strolled down their main street Johans gate, passed the castle, stopped at some more shops until our money was gone and the hunting instinct satisfied.

Shopping!!!

Time to pack for tomorrow.
Can´t wait to kiss my babies!!!

Diary of my Oslo Trip: December 5th 2010; The day after

I cannot believe it is already over. I had purchased those tickets so long ago and now my time here in winter wonderland Oslo is already flying by.
I woke up with a big smile on my face influenced by the great time I had last night.
We started the day with a nice long breakfast,dwelling in memories of the concert.
Then it was time for reality and some serious sightseeing.

Katja chasing me with an icecicle
We set off to Oslo Aker Brygge which is the part of town that is located down at the harbor of Oslo.
There was so much to see:

The Fjord,

the townhall,

the Institute of Alfred Nobels Peace Prize( which gives away the Peace Prize each year on the 10th of December) All the other Nobelprizes are given away in Stockholm, Sweden, which I was fortunate enough to witness in Sweden, years ago.


We saw tons of snow and water aswell.

Lots of art all across town

and plenty of lil cafes and restaurants(this one is for my niece Olivia; Love you girlie!!)


Made a friend at the christmas market

Anyone Moose burgers????

Mini avalanche at the christmas market ;)
Last but not least the Christmasmarket was located down there,too.( Julemarket). This is were I found and bought the coolest hat, designed and handmade by a norwegian Designer( she was even present there).

What can I say, I love, love, love my hat and it will always remind me of all the fun I had with Katja and a-ha in Oslo.Quite expensive, once again but, oh well,this will be a memory forever. I´m already picturing Stella asking me in 20plus years: Mami, where did you get this cool hat, can I please borrow it, pleeeeeaaassssee. And I will tell her all over about this trip. YAY!!!
Waffle break for lunch. ( I did not spend any money on food,which was ridicioulus expensive,instead I spent it for memorable things) Good job, Verena
All warmed up, off we went to see the Opera house of Oslo, which was built in 2005. An amazing architectural sight.




We walked on the snowy rooftop and enjoyed the sunset and the great view over Oslo.
It was pretty tricky to get down without sliding down on your bottom ;)
A wonderful way to end the day!

PS This lil guy reminded me of my little Lucien, and not because he has such big ears ;)