So close

If you've been watching our ticker at the top of this blog you know how close we are to meeting our miracle. We are four days out and it is obvious baby girl is on her own timeline. She is showing no signs of coming soon so I think I've done too good of a job creating an environment she likes. :) I go to the doctor tomorrow so hopefully we will get some kind of indication about when her grand entrance will be. Until then, feel free to hop over to the other blog and read some of my latest thoughts as the time winds down to her birthday.

Special Events Part 2

As promised here are the remaining pictures from Special Events. Enjoy!

Here is the second hallway.


The office was turned into a Scandinavian village.



Some of the companies and products based in Scandinavia.



The following are scene from the mythology from the region. Here is the "Great Tree" believed to give life to all the universe.






The Ice hotel in Sweden. I learned it costs $700 a night to stay there and they have to rebuild it each year after the spring thaw.


The Northern lights and the Sumi people of northern Scandinavia. They raise reindeer and live in the brutal cold.


No trip would be complete without the Vikings.



The Swedish Christmas celebration, St. Lucia. It is a beautiful combination of singing and candlelight.

Special Events Part 1

Yes, it's that time of year again. The celebration at my school known as Special events. This year's focus was Scandinavia (specifically the countries of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark). We had a great week learning about the cultures, listening to speakers and seeing dancers. It was a lot of work and I'm glad it's over. Now for some pictures (the other half will post later in the week). Enjoy!!

Here is the first hallway:

A traditional house in Sweden:

The maypole for Mid-Summer's Eve located by the main entrance to the school.

One of the familiar stories from Scandinavia, "The Three Billy Goats Gruff".

On to the forests where trolls, ogres, fairies and gnomes are thought to live.







Now for the stories of Denmark's own Hans Christian Anderson. Can you spot "The Ugly Ducking", "The Nightingale", and "Thumbelina"? This section sported my favorite quote, "Each man's life is a fairy tale touched by the hand of God."

Not to mention "The Little Mermaid"....

and "The Princess and the Pea". Note the "pea" at the bottom.

Here are the Easter witches from Sweden. Such a unique and fascinating tradition.

And finally, the most famous storybook character Pippi Longstocking.