On to Trondheim

On arrival to Oslo we were greated by Eric's family.  We had a wondeful dinner at his parents house and then headed to our home base at his sister's house.  Everyone slept well Saturday night and felt little jet lag.  Sunday the 3 of us took a short walk to a nearby lake and then returned for a Birthday lunch for our host, Michael.  Sean was very entertained by Erics's sister, our hostess Sara, and her and kids Jacob and Leo.

Sunday afternoon the traveling party, minus Daniel, walked to downtown Oslo and then to Vigeland park and Eric's parents house, about 7 miles total, and did not get back to home base until midnight.

This morning we borrowed Eric's dad's car and headed for the airport. Right now we are waiting for a flight to Trondheim.  Sean is in his special seat belt - attached to Barb's seat belt - first time we have seen that.

Off we go!

Oslo!

We finally made it with all hands and luggage accounted for.

Saturday night we were treated to a nice dinner at Eric's parents' house. Sunday was Eric's Sister's husband's (Michael) birthday. Sara and Michael were very generous in hosting the Pasta's for several nights.

Sean and Rachel get to know each other

Sean exhibits his sitting skills by sitting on Dad's trachea

The hikers pose

Cute Rachel and Anida

Sean trying to order a drink, "The scar makes me look older!" The sore and scab from traveling in the back pack asleep.

The city of Oslo at night (ish) Actually Vigeland Park - otherwise known as the "Naked Statue Park".

Iceland!

We made it to Iceland, went through security and customs and are now back in line to get back on the same plane - the only reason we have a plane at all!

12:11a and we are on a plane!

12:11a and we are on a plane!

We also have news from Oslo that there is a plane being arranged in Iceland to move us on to Oslo when we get there.

The kids almost did not sleep at all until about 10:30p - it appears we got them all on board w/o waking them. We are in row 13, the Wheatley's in 7. We do have a seatmate :-(

*******************************
Update: It, of course, turned out that our luck in having a plane to get from Iceland to Oslo was not so serendipitous. The plane from Minneapolis to Iceland WAS the plane going from Iceland to Oslo. Other travelers on the three delayed flights from the US to Iceland did not fare so well and got an unplanned overnight there.

Camp Pasta-Wheatley I with Anida, Rachel, Eric, Daniel, Sean and David

Daniel drives the baggage tractor pulling Camp Pasta-Wheatley II

Camp Pasta-Wheatley II

The babies finally sleep!

Trapped in Minnesoooooota

We arrived on time and hooked up with the Wheatleys. We schlepped over to Icelandair only to find our 7:30p flight delayed until 11:30p and then until 12:30a!

That means we get to Iceland about 11am, after all flights to Europe have left for the day. So we will be spending the night in Iceland and taking off to Oslo Sunday at 7:50am (best case) - a day late (and probably several Icelandic Kroner short...)

Camp Pasta-Wheatley set up at Granddaddy's Bar and then to the awesome children's play area. 3 hours down, 5 to go.

And we're off!

The 3 of us made it to the airport, through security and onto a plane! Surrounding passengers are very worried.  Packed flight.

July Beach Holiday

Click HERE for album and short video

Sean models a windbreaker we borrowed from the Johnson's

Dave poses with the latest baby Gator- Morgan Maria - born just before one Saturday. Mom, baby and family are doing great!

Sean discovers the ocean! Cool! It works just like the bathtub!

Mom and Sean hanging out in Galveston. Sunglasses aren't just for breakfast anymore!

There Once was a Puffin

Thanks to Keri!

There Once Was a Puffin

Oh, there once was a Puffin
Just the shape of a muffin,
And he lived on an island
In the bright blue sea!

He ate little fishes,
That were most delicious,
And he had them for supper
And he had them for tea.

But this poor little Puffin,
He couldn't play nothin',
For he hadn't anybody
To play with at all.

So he sat on his island,
And he cried for awhile, and
He felt very lonely,
And he felt very small.

Then along came the fishes,
And they said, "If you wishes,
You can have us for playmates,
Instead of for tea!"

So they now play together,
In all sorts of weather,
And the Puffin eats pancakes,
Like you and like me.

by Florence Page Jaques

Church Directory Photo

Puffin - the other white meat

TAKE THE PUFFIN POLL! ------>

Now the liberal hordes attack puffin connoisseurs! Daniel, a scion of the left wing media, has posted a diatribe against puffin lovers! It is absolutely natural for one to love a living puffing in nature and to also enjoy its fishy, succulent, flesh off the grill! Next "they" will come out against seal clubbing or whaling! What is this politically correct world coming too?

I encourage you to call your senators and congressmen to protest this demonization of puffin consumption. Even if Trent Lott comes out against talk radio saying it "needs to be dealt with" please continue your vitriolic calls until the rights of puffin consumers are secured!

RECIPE: Bacon larded puffin in milk sauce
RECIPE: Puffin in milk sauce

Puffin preparation poetry from Theoretical Pet Cookery:

Last night I cooked a puffin
But I buggered up the stuffin'.

New Buddy and Crib Remodel

On Tuesday my newest buddy, Isaac Heider, was born to proud parents Carol and Clinton. He may rival me for cuteness (I know his mother threw down the challenge yesterday!) We went to visit the newest Heider last night at Hermann Hospital - he was a cutie.

Sean in play saucer

What is this cup thing? It looks like fun!

Uh-oh. It looks like Sean is getting a little big for his crib - must be time for a re-model.

Sean in his new tricked out lowered crib. Click HERE to see video and a picture sequence of Sean taking his first victim in the re-done crib

Sean is 1/2 A Year Old!

Sean turned 6-months old yesterday! He went for his 6-month check-up and everything is fine. His stats are:

Length 90%
Weight 20%
Head Circumference 20%

Sean is doing well and has been very active. He finds clever ways to get himself around but has demonstrated no real crawling skills yet. He has been eating tons of rice cereal and this week will move on to food number two - pureed carrots! Some of our numerous books insist on veggies first, others on fruits first - so, we picked a sweetish veggie. (maybe we should have settled on a Swedish veggie, like rutabagas?) He is more or less tracking the skills he should have, however his new fascination with dropping things is getting old after two days!

The Wheatley/Pastalaniec annual vacation is starting to come together. We will be in Scandinavia for two weeks with stops in Norway, Sweden and Iceland (a new country for all of us! Watch out puffins!) By the end of the trip Sean will have 4 countries and 2 states on his traveling credentials. We will all be staying with Eric's gracious family in Oslo and Sweden. The Pasta's will be taking a side trip to Trondheim and Bergen to ride the Hurtigruten ferry and see some fjords.

Friday we took Dziadziu out for his birthday at On The Border - not a bad chain tex-mex place. Except - no changing station in the men's restroom. In a restaurant in Pearland? That opened this year?

This week Dave tried out www.tirerack.com to get new tires - it worked out well. The last time I needed tires for my sport edition G35 (what? It has the word "sport" in the name and is a discounted program car? sold!), Discount Tires only had 2 that fit on the Gulf Coast and they were very poor tires. Only took 2 days for tirerack to deliver 2 Bridgstone Potenzas. I went to NTB to have them installed today and have the brakes checked. Current status? My brakes are specific to my edition of the G35 and they are still looking (something about double-piston v. single-piston? over my head.) I walked home.

Ok, now for the long awaited picture update!

Barley wants to go for a run! I don't think she would like being strapped in.

Sean has always enjoyed bath time - meaning he found it interesting and not scary. He is now finally relaxing enough to really have a good time.

Putting Sean in bed after he wakes up on the weekends is good for 1-2 hours more sleep for mom and dad. (Somebody needs to tell dad that short hair may be good for preventing hardhat-head, but not for bed-head!)

Barbara's birthday and Sean still steals the focus of the cameras

Sean gets time with Grandpa before he heads to Russia

Same for Nana. Check out my new sleep duds!

Bye Nana!

Quick Patriotic Post

We have definitely hit a weight plateau.

Maybe pictures tomorrow? It has been a busy couple of weeks. Sean now has teeth! One and then another appeared in the bottom front about 2 weeks ago. Relatively painless, compared with Monday night. Sunday Grandpa and Nana came to spend some time before leaving for vacation today. Monday night Barbara and I went on a date for her birthday - dinner at Ouisie's Table and then wine at the Wine Rack. That night Sean had approximately 1.5 million teeth begin to come in. Being a normal human he reacted by screaming and crying most of the night. at 3:30am I gave up and called in "baby derailment" to work via email. So far "only" some back bottom teeth can be found.

Last night Nick, Heather and Elissa came over for the 4th and steak grilling.

Today Grandpa and Nana headed out for Russia!