Please Mr. Postman

After (not-so-patiently) waiting 22 days for a package from my mom, I finally got it! There was a hold up in Norwegian Customs. I guess that a bottle of (much-needed) vitamin D was questionable enough that I needed to pick the package up in person from the customs office. After a ride/escort into the office with my landlord, I finally had that box in my hands!

I have been without winter boots until yesterday. I planned on buying boots here, but once I figured out what they cost in US dollars and picked my jaw up off the ground, I made a new plan. The new plan was to have my mom send my old ones. I couldn't justify spending $250 on boots in Norway that only cost $100 at home! I am not joking, people. I told you everything is expensive here!

Yesterday, Travis talked to his BFF Donny on Skype. He logged into iChat and waited and waited until Donny called. He had a perma-grin on his face for a while afterwards, so I know he was happy to have talked to him. I also enjoyed hearing the dirt news from back home. We really miss all of our friends!

Grinning ear to ear!

I don't really know how to describe today's weather. Was it hazy? Cloudy? Foggy? It is hard to say. All I know is it was dark enough that the streetlights turned on at 3:10 pm! I don't think it snowed overnight, but something caused frost and snow to cling to everything in sight. Everything looked perfectly frosted!

If only it was covered with white chocolate... sigh... 

Today was the first time I noticed this shed with trees growing on the roof! 

Homemade mac and cheese for dinner tonight... Jealous? Well, you should be!

A Shot of Rhythm and Blues

Sunday night's game versus the Storhamar Dragons was a doozie. Yes, I said it was a doozie! The first period was dull, but picked up in the second when Travis scored. It was a great goal, and much needed. Storhamar came back with a goal shortly after. They continued to fight throughout the game and into overtime. Then came the shootout. The last one didn't go so well, so I was nervous. I didn't need to be, though! Travis scored in the shootout (the only player to do so) and won the game!

Earlier in the season, the team had a serious problem playing for all three periods. They would play alright for the first period or two, then give up completely by the third. Lately, they have played all three periods, and it is showing. I'm so happy that they're doing better and working harder, and Travis is too.

How Do You Do It?

That is the question I have for Norwegians. It is SO COLD here! Holy crap! When I woke up on Saturday morning it was zero degrees outside! I woke up at 8:45 (which is much earlier than normal) and when I went into the living room, I asked Travis if it was storming out, because it was so dark. Upon further investigation, I learned that sunrise was at 8:57 am. Again, holy crap! The sun set at 3:17 pm. The length of the day on December 4? 6 hours and 20 minutes. YIKES!

Why was I up so "early" on Saturday? I went to the Christmas Market at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History with Kari and Nina! The museum is open-air (aka: cold) and has rural traditional buildings from many regions throughout the country. There were booths set up with knitwear, decorations, and traditional Christmas foods. I bought a pair of wool socks that I'll use as boot liners. They are really warm!

The Stave Church

The Christmas Market

Later in the afternoon, Travis and I went downtown to do some window shopping. We stayed on the tram a little too long and saw the Christmas Market at Oslo City Hall. We hopped off the tram, and took a look around. Compared to the market at the museum, it was pretty unauthentic. We enjoyed looking around anyway.

Julemarked

Enjoying the teepee at the Julemarked

I enjoyed the Christmas Market at the Cultural History Museum so much, I think I'll take Travis there next weekend! I'll be sure to dress extra, extra, extra warm, though!

For You Blue

I'm sure you're all dying to know what Travis was given for being player of the game on Thursday. He was given a set of large plates and pasta and salad recipe books. It seems kind of odd, but each team receives gifts from various sponsors.

Trav also came home from the game with something else... A swollen hand courtesy of a blocked shot. The swelling has gotten much better since then. I suppose when comparing this to all the injuries that one could sustain while playing hockey, this is close to nothing! Lets keep our fingers crossed that this is his most extensive "injury" of the season!

It Won't Be Long

This morning, we booked our trip to London! Unfortunately, Travis wasn't given as many days off as we had hoped for. He only has the 23rd to the 26th off. We are flying into London early the  morning of the 23rd and we leave the morning of the 27th. Last night, I was panicking because I was unsure that four days in London would be enough, especially when three of the four days are holidays! Thanks to some research and encouragement from my mom and Travis' mom, we decided to go anyway.

This will be the first Christmas away from home for the both of us, so we wanted to be on vacation if we couldn't be with our families. Our first day will be jam packed. We will try to get to any sites that you cannot see from the outside only. It will be crazy! Hopefully some things will be open on Christmas Eve. That is the day that I actually haven't given as much thought to as other days. There is a sightseeing tour we will take on Christmas morning that will pick us up right at our hotel! I've read that plenty of restaurants will be open, also. Boxing Day will be our day of shopping. I would love to catch some of the after Christmas sales, but no matter what it will be less expensive than Oslo! I can't wait!!!

Oslo is definitely more beautiful leading up to Christmas. Lights are strung, trees are scattered throughout the mall, and "God Jul" is plastered everywhere! Speaking of decorations, I'd like to introduce you to our Christmas tree...

Fancy, isn't it? Well it will have to do for decorations, because we won't be here for Christmas (yeeeesssss!!!) and it would be ridiculous to spend money on!

A little hockey update for you all: Travis had a game tonight and scored a short-handed goal! He was also awarded player of the game for his team. I'm pretty excited to find out what he was given! I hope it isn't a year's supply of car washes and fresh brewed coffee from a gas station like he was given before...