Christmas 2011

For the first time, Erik and I did a completely joint Christmas. It was a bit of a whirlwind, but we both agreed that it was a success. Here was our three day schedule, December 24-26.

Christmas Eve (December 24)

Church at Mt. Olivet in Minneapolis

My Christmas Eve gathering in Edina

Erik's Christmas Eve gathering in Vasa

Drive back to Minneapolis

Christmas Day (December 25)

Wake up to trumpet at my parent's house

Open presents with my immediate family

Brunch

Dinner with my extended family

Drive to White Bear Lake

December 26

Britta and I went to Banana Republic hoping for amazing deals...was disappointed

Torgerson Christmas gathering

Back to St. Paul at 10:00pm

It was definitely different, and on the morning of the 24th I started to feel a bit sad about having to change up some of my traditions. But, that sadness quickly faded as we began the events. In the end, it was exciting to start new traditions and I'm really glad we got to see so many people. It was a great Christmas.

Hope you all had a joyous season!

As we enter a new year, remember these words I heard in the movie, The Help, a few nights ago. 

Aibileen Clark: "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." 

Adopt A Family Holiday Party

Last night I went to a lovely holiday party, hosted by Amanda and Davey. Amanda went through Hennepin County Social Services and found a family for us to adopt for the holiday season. Our friends bought Christmas presents for a single mom and her two daughters. It was a wonderful time, with great potluck food. The best part was seeing the result of us coming together to provide Christmas for this family in need.

The afternoon started with some fun in the kitchen with Erik, Dan, Katie and Jared. We prepped for our contributions to the holiday potluck. Homemade pizza with Dan as the master chief, and Jared and Katie as the apprentices. I put together a green salad and Erik wowed everyone with his Suddenly Salad, and extra vegetable additions.

Lots of generous friends purchased gifts to help provide for the family's Christmas.

 

 Thanks for a wonderful holiday party, Amanda and Davey! As I said last night, see you in 12 months.

Fall Happenings

School is in full swing, and I'm developing my new school year routine. Life is good busy. The kind of busy where I feel like I'm using my brain, being active and having fun. Yes, I drive a lot. But I like my job and I have health insurance. Both good things.

Outside of school, weekends have been busy.  These next couple of pictures are from the Twin Cities Marathon. Erik and his dad ran the 10 Mile. I love the Twin Cities Marathon! I'm not about to run 26 miles personally, but I love the atmosphere. Strangers are cheering for strangers, the fall colors are out, and people are accomplishing goals. It almost made me want to run myself..maybe the 10 Mile next year? Eek.

Two weekends ago, Erik and I hit up the Kingfield Farmer's Market, my local neighborhood farmer's market. I always buy more than I can eat. This time I picked up some lettuce, potatoes and tomatoes. I like this market because they have food stands with ready to eat food. I had nachos, Erik had a curry falafel.

You can even buy a smoothie made on a bike!

In the afternoon we headed to an apple orchard. The apple doughnuts were wonderful, but I was disappointed that we couldn't pick our own apples. I rebelled and took an apple off a tree. I'm a rebel.

Today is the beginning of my MEA break. This is the first time in my life I am getting a paid vacation! We're headed to Madison to visit Britta and Sean, and conquer the corn maze.

Happy Fall!

First Ride on a Rollercoaster

Before Saturday I had never been on a rollercoaster. Yes, I had had many opportunities. I had resisted. I hate the feeling of my stomach dropping. When I was a kid, we always vacationed at a cabin in WI for a week each summer. We had a road we dubbed "rollercoaster road." All of the other kids begged for the adult driver to go fast down this strip of road.  I screamed and yelled to go slower. I know, lame.

When I went to Valleyfair as a kid, I would sit on a bench while others went on the rollercoasters. I did do the log chute a few times. I didn't like it when my stomach dropped. So, I refused to go on the rollercoasters.

Erik loves rollercoasters. He has always wished that I at least try going on a rollercoaster. He always said I couldn't say I didn't like something if I hadn't tried it.

So, this weekend I went on a rollercoaster.

Erik won four passes to Mt. Olympus in Wisconsin Dells. We invited Jenny and Dave to join us. I had never been to Wisconsin Dells. Wow...it is quite a place. I would compare the people watching to the Minnesota State Fair. There is tacky attraction after tacky attraction as you drive down the road. Yet, somehow it grabs you in. I want to go back and try out one of those Ducks that drives on land and in water!

Here's a picture of us enjoying our parking lot picnic. They don't allow food in the actual park.

After we enjoyed the waterslides and go-carts it came time for my rollercoaster debut. We chose Pegasus, the smallest "adult" rollercoaster at the park. I was scared. I know, lame. But everyone was very supportive. We all have our fears.

I buckled myself in, and we were off. It was jerky, and had one major hump early on. I screamed the entire time, and even put my hands up in the air since that's what I've seen people do.

I was thrilled when we reentered the loading area. I think Erik was even more excited because apparently I had gotten so scared, I had grabbed his arm the entire ride and left nail marks on his skin.

Did I enjoy it? Sort of.
Do I need to do it again anytime soon? No.
Did it feel like I expected? Yes.

I'm glad I accomplished this fear. But, it didn't completely change my opinions on rollercoasters. I think I'll stick to the waterslides.

Here's a picture of Pegasus as we left the park.

Here's some other pictures for your viewing pleasure. Erik also had free tickets to "Top Secret." Don't ever spend $12 on a ticket. Thankfully ours were free. We still don't really know what it was per se. Mystery tour, haunted house, commentary on the White House? Jenny was laughing so hard during the tour that she had to hide behind Dave.

We had a great Labor Day weekend in Wisconsin.  The clouds put on quite a show for our drive home.

On Thursday I begin work with my kindergartners. Labor Day brings about new schedules and new routines. Good luck everyone!

New Job!

Hello Friends,
I've been busy lately with my new job as a Kindergarten Title 1 teacher. Kids haven't arrived yet, though tonight I got to meet some of the little kiddos at Open House. I have lots to learn, but I'm excited to get started! I'm hoping to see lots of progress in these kindergartners from now to the end of the year. This is my first year-long job as a teacher and I couldn't be more excited to be in one place for an entire school year.

The drive is long, and its not quite full-time, but its a new adventure. Wish me luck!

I took this dorky picture of myself for a poster introducing myself to the families.

Here's a before and after of my desk. I had to add a little color!

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I'm off to the Wisconsin Dells for the weekend. One last hurrah before the school year starts. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

P.S. I took these pictures on my phone, then uploaded them to Picasa. Does anyone know why there is a gray line on the bottom? I'd prefer it wasn't there!

Global Five Year Reunion

This summer marks our five year anniversary of leaving for Global. Global Semester is a program I did in college where we traveled to 7 different countries, with 28 students and our professors. It's a fabulous program that teaches you about other parts of the world, but also provides an opportunity to make wonderful friendships with a "forced" group of people.

Our reunion was held the last weekend of July, at Jess's beautiful cabin! This cabin has a loft room where 9 of the 14 of us slept. We had great food, enjoyed the lake, boated and jet skied, and enjoyed a bonfire. However, the best part was simply catching up with each other.

Happy Five Years, Globies!

Miss Linnea's Birthday!

On Saturday we had a wonderful adventure in Minneapolis to celebrate Linnea's birthday. We started out at the Mill City Museum, a museum that is very interactive with beautiful views. You even get to sample sugar cookies!

Then we headed back to Pleasant for some ice cream cake.

Happy 25th Birthday Linnea!

(PS- Today I'm trying out Picasa and putting pictures up that I took on my phone. There's definitely some experimenting going on.)

Twins Stadium

Visitors from Norway

Tyler and Janne arrived on Monday night from Oslo. We enjoyed a nice dinner on the patio. They will soon be celebrating their one year anniversary of marriage. Congrats!

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Happy Birthday Kara!

Yesterday was Kara's birthday and we celebrated by going to dinner a Loring Pasta Bar. A super fun place with a fabulous atmosphere.

Also, I got a big girl phone. So now I can take pictures where ever I go!  I also have to learn how to use the thing, so bear with me through this learning process, which might mean disjointed blog posts.

Happy Birthday Kara!

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I'm back!

I'm back. I did it again. I started working full-time and then I neglected my blog. Oh well, that's life. I see this blog as a journal of my life. I was busy. I thought I would give you a few photo snipits of what I've been up to. Unfortunately, I don't feel like I can put pictures up of my kids; so you'll just have to use your imagination of all the cute second graders I've been hanging out with on a daily basis.

Erik was a "bridesman" at his childhood friend's wedding. Katie and Willie won a wedding! Can you believe it? People actually win those contests!  This is a picture with Erik, me, and his sister Britta.

http://twincitieslive.com/article/stories/S2103060.shtml?cat=11215

The family at our annual Syttende Mai party. That's me in the traditional Norwegian attire, a bunad.

This is where I have spent my past few months.

We had Pet Week at school. My mom and Arne came to visit.

Report Cards....to show real life, not just the exciting stuff.

It is spring time now! This means time on the balcony at the boys' apartment. Davey's cleaning up after a game of Settlers of Catan.

I visited Olaf yesterday. I miss this place.

Keep visiting the blog! I hope to be updating more often.

Black Bean, Corn and Zucchini Tacos

I might have made the same thing for dinner two nights in a row. They just tasted so good and I can justify it because they are healthy. Plus, I had all of the ingredients and it is so much more economical to use everything that I buy. Sometimes I feel like I throw a lot of partial things away.

Anyways, back to the tacos. There are no measurements here, all estimates.

Ingredients
Canned black beans
Canned corn
Fresh zucchini
Tomatoes
Salsa
Lettuce
Sour Cream
Taco Seasoning
Soft Shell Tacos

I sauteed the chopped up zucchini in olive oil and seasoned with garlic powder, salt and pepper.

I heated up the corn and beans and let it simmer in taco seasoning combined with water. (The second time I made this meal, I did all of this in the same pan as the zucchini. I have no dishwasher, so I'm all about saving dishes.)

Then, add toppings to your desire.  Enjoy!

New York City Surprise Trip

A year ago I asked Erik what he wanted to do for his birthday. He jokingly told me he wanted to go to New York City. He had never been before. I stashed that comment into the back of my head.

After discussing the idea with some people, I decided that though it was kind of a crazy idea, it was a fun idea, and sometimes you just have to do big, fun things in life. So, I contacted his boss so that he could get vacation days, booked a flight and made hotel reservations. He knew nothing! I told everyone, because I have a big mouth, and if I couldn't tell Erik, then I had to tell everyone else. Thankfully he never found out.

With less than two weeks before we left, I told Erik about the big trip. It wasn't the type of surprise with a big scream of excitement and hugging. Instead, it was the surprise that shows real, actual, surprise. He was confused...he had to work, how would we get there, where would we stay? About an hour later, he became excited.

Because Erik had never been to NYC, he decided we needed to do EVERYTHING. We had a great time exploring the city, seeing new neighborhoods, and visiting the sites.  Here are some highlights.

 Excited to leave!

 Looking at Monet paintings at the MOMA. (I might have told Erik to take a picture of me looking at the painting.)

 Times Square after seeing a Broadway show!

 The Metropolitan Museum of Art

At the top of the Empire State Building. 

Central Park

Look for an upcoming post about the different food we ate in NYC. There are so many food choices!

Happy spring in MN!