Duties and chores = ka-ching

Both Michael and Natalie have been anxious to earn and save their own money. This summer we have come up with a system that works for us and is actually a good help for us keeping our home clean and tidy. Because we feel not everything should be paid for as running a household should be a joined effort, the kids have some basic chores they need to cover before they can start earning money. Natalie has really taken the challenge seriously and let me tell you - the bath tub has never been more shiny!

Sugar. Honey, honey. You are my candy girl....

This month we went across the border to Sweden to buy groceries and candy and to get supplies to our food storage. Our main purpose of the trip is to buy pancake mix and cans of Dr.Pepper which we can't get in Norway. Not to mention the candy we get for dirt cheap. Bring on the sugar rush.

Summer Read-a-thon

The best part of summer vacation? Definetely reading time.

(Notice the "nerdy-looking picture" of a true bookworm....wearing mom's glasses...)

Now the kids needed a little encouragement and Glenn sure knows how to find incentives.

This weeks challenge was to finish each their books within four days. If both of them finished a book, we would buy them a car DVD-player.

And did they make it? You betcha.

Michael says he hates to finish books because he doesn't like to let the characters go. He loves to read. Natalie hasn't really captured the world of literature yet. But I believe it's just around the corner.

Expressions of Melissa

Although she is quite a chatterbox these days, here is an update on Melissa. Words are not necessary...

Spotlight: Natalie

Name: Natalie Noelle

Age: 9

Best friend: Victoria, Marthe and Tuva

Favorite dinner: Taco pie

Favorite supper: American pancakes!!!!!

Favorite snack: Jelly beans, candy corn, chocolate

Favorite movie: Forrest Gump, The terminal, Twilight Eclipse.

Favorite drink: Water, Mer (fruit juice) and Dr. Pepper

Favorite subject at school: Arts and crafts and music

Favorite animal: Monkeys and gerbils

Favorite toy: Sylvanian families

What's your favorite plush animal: Palmito (owl)

Favorite book: James and the giant peach, Matilda.

What do you like to do: Play and read

What do you like to play outside: Ride my bike and hang out and talk with friends

Where would you like to travel: USA and Greece

What do you NOT like to eat: Prim (goat cheese spread), caviar and fat

Do you have a boyfriend: No

Do you like boys? Just my dad and brother - and future husband

Favorite pranks? None

Have you done any? No

What would you like for a profession: Hair dresser

What will you do when you are really old: Stay home and knit

Favorite color: Purple, green, pink and yellow

Favorite car: Ferrari, Toyota and Volkswagen

What do you like to draw: Hello Kitty

What do you like to watch on tv: Comedy shows

How long has your parents been together: 17 years

How old were you when you started walking: 9 months

What are your great grandparents name: Esther, LaMar, Ellen og Ragnvald. Jens, Bergliot, Hedvig, Carl Harald.

Shoe size: EU 33-37

How many cousins do you have: 5

How many countries have you visited: 6

How do you make bread: I have no idea

How do you catch a ghost: There aren't ghosts!

Favorite song? Don’t stop till you get enough

Most fun thing to do with mom? Bake and read

Favorite thing ever? Vacation in the USA

Most boring thing ever? Sit still

What would you buy if you had a lot of money? Mini PC, gifts for family and friends

Waz up, Michael?

Since it's been a while, I thought it would be nice to get caught up on the kids.

So here it goes....
An interview with Michael:

Name: Michael

Age: Turning 12 ( Not 11 - almost 12, big difference)

Best friend: Andreas

Favorite dinner: Taco

Favorite supper: Egg omelette

Favorite snack: Doritos

Favorite movie: Dumb and dumber

Favorite drink: Dr. Pepper and rootbeer

Favorite animal: Eagle

Favorite book: Fantasybooks like Fablehaven, Leven Thumps and Artemis Fowl

What do you like to do: Play with Andreas, computer games

What do you like to play outside: Baseball and football with my dad

Where would you like to travel: USA

What is your biggest fear: That my family will die

What do you NOT like to eat: Spaghetti and vegetables (Oh come on, you know spaghetti is moms favorite.......)

What do you NOT like to drink: Sparkly water

Do you have a girlfriend: No (actually, NO!!!! -Are you sure? Heck yeah!!!!!!)

Favorite pranks? Any Bart Simpson prank

Have you done any of them? No

What would you like for a profession: Game developer

Favorite color: Green

Favorite car: Muscle cars

What do you like to draw: Army dudes

What do you like to watch on tv: Comedy shows

How long has your parents been together: Almost 20 years

How old were you when you started walking: Little

What are your great grandparents name: I have no clue

Shoe size: EU 40

How many cousins do you have: 5

How many countries have you visited: 6

How do you make bread: You bake it.....duh

How do you catch a ghost: You catch it.....duh, again.

Favorite song? I have lots of favorites

Most fun thing to do with mom? Make cookies

Favorite thing ever? Play Starcraft

Most boring thing ever? Homework

Kip and Rico

Look at these HaPpY children. Finally! They have their own pets. Growing up in a household with allergic parents is NO FUN. Since we are doing a staycation-summer, it was time for an end to our endless planning and dreaming of getting gerbils and time to hit the pet store. Glenn had two gerbils on his mission (yeah, there is a story to that) and thought they would be fun little pets. I on the other hand cannot believe we volunteerly have rodents in the house.

Anyhow! As for naming the pets, they had to be out of some movie. And what better names than Kip and Rico from Napoleon Dynamite. Fun, fun, fun!