Let it snow!

The temperatures here in Oslo have been unexpectedly high.  The other day it obliged us and dipped below freezing so that we could enjoy a brief and picturesque snowfall.  Maddie was at school and Eliot and James were at Barnepark.  We had kept Peter and Lucy at home for the day because they had both been in need of rest.  They both wanted a little jaunt in the snow so we bundled them up and went out into the backyard.

 

 

 

 

Picking up Eliot and James, we found them enthusiastic as ever about their day of outdoor adventure.

 

Running toward a favourite patch of ice.

 

Uncle Cameron rounding up the boys.

 

At home again the children had fun giving each other rides in a cardboard box.

 

Today Maddie was at her last day of school before the Christmas break and all the other children were at Barnepark, so Janet and Cameron showed us a bit of the city.  We started out at Frogner Park.  They have a gallery of statues that celebrate the life cycle.

 

Some of the statues were a little odd, but many were quite tender.  The Norwegians really emphasize the nurturing role of both mothers and fathers in the lives of their children. 

 

 

Next we were off for a tour of the US Ambassador's Residency which is currently vacant preparing for the arrival of the new ambassador.  Cameron is the facilities manager for the US Embassy and this Residency, so this was a bit of an unofficial tour.

 

We walked in through the backdoor, past the kitchen and cupboard full of the special ambassador china.

 

Apparently only ambassadors and former ambassadors are permitted to entertain with this china.  It was really beautiful.

 

 

Then we headed back out into the city.

 

We stumbled upon a cute little Christmas market.

 

And look who else we ran into!

 

 

 

When we picked up the children they were rosy and smiling and splattered with mud.  In this picture, Eliot is showing me that he doesn't have any mud on his hands.  He had enjoyed playing with James and pushing Lucy in the swing.

 

Peter had had a wonderful time and was ready and willing to smile for the camera.