We're in Norway!

Hilsen fra Norge!  We have arrived here in Scandinavia and the trip over went very smoothly.  Kyle flew from Minneapolis to Oslo on Jan. 3rd to pick up the belongings he had stored there in December, took a night train to Bergen, checked in to student housing, put his stuff in our rooms, activated a cell phone for me, and then met Annika and me at the airport.  After Kyle left Minneapolis, Annika and I stayed with my mom's cousin Sally and her family.  They were very welcoming and we had a great time with them.  Usually our visits with family and friends in MN are short because we have so much to fit in.  It was wonderful to have a more extended visit this time around.  Sally brought us to the airport on Jan. 4th (after one last visit to the amazing Peapods store in St. Paul).  We arrived early and had plenty of time to check our bags, get through security, get coffee, and give Annika a chance to stretch out before the flights.

The first leg brought us to Chicago, where we had to exit security in one terminal, take the shuttle to another terminal, go to the check-in desk, and return through security.  I was only able to get Annika's first ticket in Minneapolis and needed to get her tickets from the SAS airline for the rest of the trip.  The ladies at the desk were very helpful and even moved people around on the flight so that I could sit in a seat with access to a bassinet.  Amazingly fortunate!  The bassinet attached to the bulkhead in front of me and Annika slept soundly in it for the majority of our 8 hour flight.  SAS airlines seems very family friendly and a stewardess came through to give a book to every child.  Annika received a picture book of animals.  Once in Copenhagen we weren't able to use our stroller but the airport had strollers and carts free for use by the gates.  We had a short layover there and then flew to Bergen, Norway.  In no time at all, we were through customs and meeting Kyle!  So glad to be here!  We then traveled by bus into the city center and then by train to where we'll be living.  Kyle had already purchased a month-long pass for me for public transportation.

We are so happy to be all together here and I feel very lucky to be able to spend 5 weeks of maternity leave in Norway.  I'll write more soon about where we live and what we've been doing so far.

 Stretching out before getting on our first flight.  I didn't get a picture of the bassinet and will have to remember to do that on our return trip.

 Settling into our room.  Yes, Annika is sleeping in a drawer :)