Advent calendar

Look at our wonderful advent calendar! The Norwegian tradition is to have an advent calender and do the count down to Christmas eve, 24 days. Christmas eve is the day we open our presents and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Our calendar is for the whole family, the children have there own in addition to this.

The calendar hearts was made by Zack and me. It was so much fun doing this together! On the backside of the hearts it is an activity for the whole family to do this day. December is a busy time for our family and the activity is to get a little fun time together. Doing things with people you love is our favourite thing to do in the whole world.

Here is what the hearts says:

1 - Give the family a hug and play your favourite Christmas song.

2 - Play a game of UNO.

3-

4 - Call someone you love.

5 - Writhe and send postcards

6 - Make a list of at least 10 things you are grateful of.

7 - Make Christmas cozy for Boris, our cat.

8 - Make dessert for tomorrow.

9 - Make one big Christmas picture.

10 - Play a game of "ticket to ride" - Nordic addition

11 - Learn a new Christmas song and sing all the ones youknow, sing all that your heart
desire.

12 - Bake "lussekatter"- translates to Lucia’s Cats, sweet-buns.

13 - Give the neighbours "lussekatter" and sing the song of St.Lucia

14 - Hang titmouse-buns, made of fat and seeds AND the "julenek" Christmas sheaf, of oats, hung out for the birds to feed on.

15 - Read the book: "Carpenter Andersen and Santa" also known as "Christmas Eve at Santa's" by Alf Prøysen

16 - Find at least 10 things/toys to give away to the jumble marked.

17 - Watch a Christmas film.

18 - The children tell and show pictures from Tallin

19 - Time to get the Christmas tree, shower it and decorate it.

20 - Read about the birth of Jesus.

21 - Try a new recipe for dinner.

22 - Take a drive in the neighbourhood and look at the Christmas decorations.

23 - Read the book about "the district that forgot that it was Christmas".

24 - Make a family Christmas breakfast.

Sick child

One of the biggest fears you have as a parent is when your child becomes sick or ill. I know that my child must meet some hardship as a child, or it will brake him as an adult. That he need the experience too learn that he will pull through, and become stronger. There is still that little voice in my head that fears the worst.

Even though I know this to be the case, I do get the irrational feelings and fears the worst; what if it is not all goes well? I know that people, children included, is put in anaesthesia every day. But as a parent I have that feeling what if... This occupies most of your thoughts until you know your child is safe.

The illo of my youngest son Zack, how I saw him when we was waiting for him to wake from anaesthesia. He is doing fine now.

Medium used: charcoal, pastel and pencil.