FL Day 1

We decided to spend the day at Universal Studios, and we split up. Johan and Geir did a lot of roller coasters, while Troy and I went over to the Dr. Seuss section. Troy loved it, and he really fell in love with the cat in the hat, and thing 1 and thing 2. Meeting the characters were both thrilling and scary. We swithced kids a little so that I got to try some of the roller coasters as well.

MS FL

Since the kids behaved very well in the car the day before we told them if they were just as good we would make it to Orlando that day and they could spend the next day in one of the parks. Though Troy complained a couple of times of being bored they were both good. We made it all the way to Orlando. Since the house was rented for the next day we found a hotel with a pool and the kids got to spend some of that pent up energy in the pool.

TX LA AL MS

Headed out early in the morning to start on our drive to Florida. We drove to New Orleans where we had a long break where I showed the crew a little bit of what New Orleans had to offer. After dinner we got back in the car and decided to just find somewhere cheap along the road to sleep for the night. We found a hotel in MS where smoking must have been allowed in not too distant a past. We got into the room and Troy said: this smells like dad.

TX Day 10

We had a quite day where the kids got to relax and just play at the house.

TX Day 9

Today we did some more damage to my credit card. We had to exchange the rental car since the one we rented had a few problems. Geir took care of that while I took the kids shopping. It is fun to be able to buy clothes for me at any store. I don't have to buy my clothes at Lane Bryant anymore.
I decided to buy a scale as soon as I got here and I did. I have been able to make sure that I am not gaining any weight, and I have lost 0.5lbs. Not a lot, but as long as I am not gaining I am happy.
Troy had an accident in the mall today. He gave me about a 2 second warning that he had to use the bath room. We manged to get someone to come clean it up, and this of course was a good excuse for me to buy him a new outfit.

Today I asked Troy where he would rather live. Norway or Texas, I was sure he would say Norway since it seems like he misses Norway a little. He looks at me and says: Texas, I really like Texas. I would like to live here.

TX Day 8

Yesterday we went to the Houston Zoo. Our crew really looks different with 4 more or less white haired boys. We did get a lot of comments. Some lady came up to me and wanted to take Troy on a behind the scene thing, she had a ticket he could use. I however just had to wait. Yeah right, like I am going to send my kid off with a complete stranger. She either looked really nice, or like she belonged to some cult. I wasn't able to make up my mind on that one, but either way, Troy stays with me.

The other day I gave Troy some Kool Aid and he said it tasted like medicine (he used to get KA when he was sick when we lived in TX). Yesterday he got a slushie with cherry flavor, a taste he has only tasted on medicine when he was really little, and again he goes; mom, this tastes like medicine.

He is really picking up on the English. He asks what everything is called, and he has attempted to speak in full sentences. I am really proud of him

TX Day 7

We checked out of the ranch and headed back to San Antonio where we went to Sea World. That is one expensive place, and even though it was nice it was not worth it. Troy did not enjoy it, he thought it was a bit boring. He truly wanted to go to visit his friend Brayden, so when we started to head for Houston he was all smiles.

TX Day 6

Waking up at the ranch was fantastic. Troy and I started the morning feeding the longhorns, and we saw some deer. We then went swimming in the pool, and Troy spotted a hummingbird. Early afternoon we headed for San Antonio and did all the touristy things there. Geir loved the city, and the kids loved the Ripley exhibit. The wax museum turned out to be too scary for Troy.
After a busy day in the city it was great to head back to the ranch to realx.

TX Day 5

On day 5 we headed for the hill country. We took the kids to Austin and the state capitol biulding where they had Mexican entertainment. The kids enjoyed it for a while, but then they wanted to leave. We just spent some time walking around Austin, before we headed for Geir's birthday surprise. I had made a reservation at a B&B, and he did not know where we were going. The B&B, Canyon Lake Ranch was a well hidden treasure, and when I say well hidden, I mean it. The place was between Austin and San Antonio. It had no address, so plotting it into the gps did not work. I drove around for an hour before I found the darn drive way, but when we found it it was worth the wait. We had the starview lodge, so we had a house to ourselves. We had our own pool and outside the fence there were longhorns that the kids got to feed. The owners had a flowers, a cake and champagne ready for Geir.

TX Day 4

This morning Troy and I went shoping. We went to Target, and since Troy loves dressing up this time of year in the US is perfect for him. There are Haloween costumes all over the place, and he found himself a pirate costume. As soon as I had paid for it, he wanted it on. He is a very cute pirate, and he got a lot of comments from the people in the store about how cute he was.

After the shoping all of us went sightseeing. We drove to the Williams tower, and Troy loved the water wall. We then headed to downtown where we went to the Wells Fargo Plaza and the 59th floor where they allow tourists. Heading up in the elevator one of the guys in there asked us where we were from, and he then decided to join us and pointed out all the landmarks to us. That is another thing I love about the US, people are so friendly, there is no chance that a random stranger in Norway would help you out like that.

After lunch we went to the park downtown, to look at the old biuldings. When we were there the park keepers came over to us and asked if the kids wanted to feed the ducks and the turtles. The kids loved feeding the birds, and then got to see the turtles being hand fed by the park keepers.

Back at the hotel we joined the hotels BBQ party, and ate some good burgers. I then decided to take the kids swimming in the pool. Troy kept showing off how he can swim under water, and all of a sudden he looked at me with horror in his eyes. He had a bug on his finger, and he tried shaking it off. He managed to shake it off, but it landed on his neck, and it bit him. The bite site looked just awful and he was screaming in pain (and from being scared). I asked the people at the party if anyone new if it could be poisenous and they said that it wasn't. He is sleeping now but I am keeping an eye on him, just in case.

TX Day 3

Yesterday we went to the beach, and on the way there I got to show Geir how Houston traffic can be. There had been an accident and traffic was at a standstill for forever. Even though I am just a tourist myself this time around, it is fun to see Houston through the eyes of someone seeing it for the first time. Even when stuck in traffic, Geir used the opportunity to take pictures of cars and trucks we passed. He found the roads facinating, and he thinks the city looks really clean and neat (I have only taken him to the good neighborhoods as of yet).

Galveston was great, the temperature was just right, and the water was fantastic. Even I can get in the water when it is 30c. We ended up staying for 3+ hours, and I can feel it today. I managed to get sunburned on my shoulders and back.

Love, love, love TX

Pix 2

Geir

I hope this one is the one that chased Troy and I in the pool the night before. Karma

Petting Zoo. Better safe than sorry. Troy wanted to feed the animals, but he did not want them to get anywhere near him.

Pix

Heading to TX

Kemah

Troy did not like the speedboat too much.

TX Day 2

Yesterday we went to Katy Mills Mall for some serious shopping. It ended up being expensive but it was so much fun. I love American malls and how they are made to make everyone in the family to at least partially enjoy them. The kids lasted the entire day, and only when we were two stores away from the exit did they start asking if we were done. It was so much stuff to see and do, and they of course got to do some shopping for things they wanted. Troy wanted to spend some of his vacation money on a dinosaur.

After we went shopping we drove by the old house. I was not sure if I was ready to see it yet. I miss the place, but at the same time I was not sure if I wanted to see it changed and with other people in it. Reluctantly I drove by it, and it was hard to see other people smiling and having fun in my house. They were sitting in the garage where we used to sit, but I have to say the place has really not changed much. I knew they liked our style a lot, and they truly must have because they still have my curtains hanging in the windows. Some of the things we brought to Norway they've even bought and replaced. Flattering but a little bit odd too.

TX Day 1

Troy woke up at 4 am yesterday. There was no going back to sleep, so we got up and had a quite morning. As soon as the pool opened we went down to go swimming. I did not join the others in the pool, since I woke up with green hair from spending some time in the pool the night before. No matter how many times I have washed my hair since, it is still green. Today I'll try with baking soda to see if that will work (green is really not a good color on me).
We went to the children's festival down in Kemah yesterday. The boardwalk is a fantastic place, and we all had a fantastic day. At 4pm. we decided to call it a day, after Troy fell asleep on the train ride. Troy fell back asleep in the car, and there was no waking him up. We went back to the hotel to get ready to meet some friends at a rastaurant for dinner. Troy slept while we got ready, he slept in the car, woke up for about a second in the restaurant, and then went back to sleep. He slept until 4 am this morning. I managed to keep him in bed until 5.30, and then we got up and I took the kids shopping at wal mart

We are in TX

We are in TX and it is good to be back home. Getting out of the airport, feeling the heat, and the smell of TX was fantastic. It did not take Troy long to let us all know that he does not even remember how Norway looks like. He was jumping around so happy, letting everyone know that this was just perfect, he loved the heat.
The kids have played in the pool, and are now both sleeping. I'll be joining them soon.
I am not going to say much about the plane trip other than it felt like it lasted forever. A 3 year old who wanted to challenge me on everything and a 10 year old with some other issues. Not cool!
However all that is almost forgotten now that we are here.

BMI

I have been on a diet for a long time, and have changed my lifestyle dramatically. My goal has been to get my BMI to the normal range, and I am finally there!! The magical number is 24!! I am a little scared that going back to TX may push it back up a little, so the first thing I am going to buy when I get there is a scale. Luckily the hotel we are staying at has a gym.

The Countdown has started

It is less than a week until we are getting on a plane heading for TX. I can't wait to get there. Everything seems to be falling into place. The car is confirmed, the hotel rooms are confirmed. The only thing I am waiting for is the confirmation for the house in Florida.
Speaking of Florida, I told Troy that we are going to Disney World, and told him that the is going to get to meet Mickey Mouse and I have never seen a bigger smile. He was so happy he did not know what to do with himself.