summer at the mountain cabin, 2015 version

We are very happy to be so much closer to the mountain cabin now that we live in Stavanger compared to when we lived in Bergen (a 1,5 hour drive instead of a 6,5 hours drive). Unfortunately we haven't had the chance to benefit from it yet due to a certain house renovation. And now with baby boy coming soon, I honestly don't think the mountain cabin will be our first choice of weekend hang-out. So, a weekend at the cabin has been high priority on our summer agenda. 

We have hiked quite a bit with Sara before - with good help of the trusty carrier (we have this one which we are very happy with). This time we decided to skip it. Because of my rather big belly (week 32), I only carried a tiny backpack, so Sølve had to carry the rest of our stuff. Hence no free back for a carrier and Sara. The hike to the cabin - on poor paths in uneven terrain - is about 45 minutes for adults. Needless to say, we were quite excited to see how Sara would do. It turns out we had nothing to worry about. Our girl has become a clever little hiker - happy as a clam to be outdoors, just like her parents. We did have to bribe her with chocolate from time to time though, plus stories of moose and fox and other wild animals. 

By the way, the rain on Saturday was epic. And of course we made a campfire and grilled hotdogs, as you do when you're an ex-scout.

life, week 30

Borgund stavkyrkje // a little detour enroute to Hvaler



We have passed several stave churches on our road trips around Norway, but this was the first time we stopped to have a closer look, partly inspired by an article in a recent D2. Such fascinating and beautiful structures!

This place! (Our friend N's mother's cabin at Kirkøy, Hvaler.)

And here is the morning view



We all got seriously hooked on this mango juice! Hopefully we'll find it in a store in Stavanger too (our friends bought it in Sweden).

Brushing teeth on the teeth brushing rock.



So happy to play with the boogie board, but the temperature made sure they didn't play for long. I didn't go in at all. Pregnant wimp.

We sure love summer vacation!

Look mamma, I made an octopus pine cone!



So happy to see them play so well together.



This is what happens whilst the parents wait for the kids to fall asleep so they can start cooking the adult dinner.

Sunsets never...

...never get old. Right?

After an hour of trying to make the tired toddler dress herself, this 11 am first cup of coffee is very much needed.

I wish I knew the name of all of them.

Brushing my teeth under this sky. The best kind of summer bed time ritual.

Summer cabin kitchen 

Another morning of drinking my morning coffee under a blue sky with this view - such a luxury! 

Lunch and dinner are grilled. Every day. 

Such idyll! // PS: Hvaler on film in 2009 and 2012



Eager little helper



The parrot on pappa pirate's arm is finally ready for bed. Or is she? Summer bed time is quite unpredictable.

Trøndelag bound // Så. Mye. Skog. I. Østerdalen.

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Week 30: July 20-26

life, week 29

already 30 weeks

Water play is always a winner. Even when she insists it's winter and wears a wool hat and scarf.

When your grandfather comes visiting on his motorcycle, you finally get a chance to play astronaut.

Current favorite pastime: coloring. She prefers to not to do it alone though.

I try to not get too attached to things yet some things are harder to say good bye to than others. This bowl used to belong to my late grandmother, my namesake.

We still have a sunset view, but it is nothing compared to what we used to have. I do cherish it though.

The house painting is officially done and we are finally off for our little summer vacation roadtrip.

First stop of the roadtrip: our family holiday home at Voss, Åsly

Norwegian strawberries = the essence of summer. I always make sure to eat tons of them.

Norwegian summer, part I // So good to be here again. It has been a whole year since the last time.

Norwegian summer, part II // there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing // family hike to Moastølen



She does not mind the bad weather at all, she just loves being outdoors. Such a happy camper!

This one also loves being outdoors, but wishes her pregnant body was better equipped for the bad weather. Yet the long rain coat and lack of rain pants served her rather well. 

family hike in Oppheimsdalen - with bikes for the little ones

Again with the rain! It has been much more inviting the last couple of times we were there. 

A family of ex-scouts will make a campfire for hotdogs and coffee in all weather conditions. Because a campfire makes any hike complete.

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Week 29: July 13-19