I might have to blog twice this week....lots going on!!!!

Dear Lerhol Family and Friends...

Well the lull in our schedule is already over...we are back to an action-packed week.  Last week was busy and exciting and this week is unfolding as a busy one too.

I will start with last week...

We had a wonderful time in Winona with all of the kids.  The most exciting part of the weekend was that Alex played most of the game as the Quarterback vs. UMD.  We were all enjoying the game and all of sudden Courtney said "Oh my goodness...Alex is putting on his helmet! He is putting on his helmet" and then she started to cry she was so happy that he was going into the game.  She is emotional anyway but since she is pregnant she takes emotional to a new level.  Anyway...we all started to cheer for him.  The Warriors did not win but Alex played really well in spite of the loss.  It was fun to watch the game with Sondre...he has become a very seasoned football expert...he uses all of the lingo and football terms just like he has played football all his life.  We just learned tonight that Alex will be starting this weekend vs. Augustana (Sioux Fall, South Dakota). Very excited for him!!!

Alex and Amelia after the big game!  CUTENESS!

After the game we went back to the house we rented and had a bonfire...the kids stayed up until 3am.  We old folks went to bed a little earlier than that...but not too much earlier.  :)  I think we will rent that same house in May when Alex graduates from college...it was perfect for a big family. 

Sondre was awarded the "Minnetonka Champion of the week" for Football.  He was recognized for his hard work and dedication and for how much he has improved since football started in August.  The coach told us that he has been making some pretty amazing catches during practice.  As usual he has football this weekend.   

Tonight Scott and I attended parent-teacher conferences at the high school...it has been a long time since we have had to do that...not sure but we may have been the oldest parents there.  We met with most of Sondre's teachers to see how he is doing and I am happy to report his grades are very good and all of the teachers were very complimentary of Sondre as a young man.  I just cannot imagine going to school in a different country and learning in a different language and getting As and Bs. 

Scott has finished editing Sondre's senior pictures and below is a link so you can see them all.  Take a look and let us know which ones you like the best and we can order some and send to Norway.

Sneak peek at one of his senior pictures...here is the link to the others. 

http://gallery.me.com/scolehour/101524 (username: sondre password: sondre)

So...on Sunday I will blog again and tell you about his busy weekend.  On Sunday we get to meet the King and Queen of Norway!  How exciting is that?  We get to go to church with them and also attend an invitation only reception afterwards.  If they are anything like the English royalty I will be ready to put a "birds-nest" on my head as a hat and rub elbows with them.  :) 

On Sunday afternoon we will be hosting all of the AFS families at our house and since we are the hosts, Sondre has to do a presentation.  He did a nice job with it...it is about Norway, the culture and traditions, his family and about him too.  We will take a video of it so we can show you all.  Also, we are supposed to serve some Norwegian fare and we found Lefsa and some of the wonderful Norwegian chocolate too.  We will also be displaying all of our beautifully hand-carved wooden pieces (by Tore Gloppen's grandfather) that the Gloppens have given us over the years.  We also have our Norwegian flag on the front of our house...so we should be all set.   

This was a really big week for the Lerhol's and especially for Torstein since the documentary about Torstein's life had its grand opening to rave reviews.  We are a little worried with all of this fame that he might be too cool to hang with us regular folk when he is in the US.  We will see.  :).  Congrats Torstein!

More to come on Sunday...have a great week all. 

Love, Scott and Alix

Life in Minnetonka is getting pretty normal....

Dear Lerhol Family and Friends:

Sorry I have not blogged in a few weeks but I think life is getting pretty normal.  Sondre has been busy with both school and football and he has not been feeling too well for the last 3 weeks.  He has had a nasty cold that just does not seem to want to go away.  He missed one day of school and the big football game vs. Wayzata last Friday.  They lost...their first loss of the year--must have been because Sondre was not there.

In a few weeks it is Senior Night at a football game and all of the players that are Seniors and their parents are introduced.  They are doing a catalog of the kids and wanted a picture of when Sondre was younger so we used this one (cut out of a picture that Synne set me before Sondre came)...look at what a little cutie he was. 

Sondre as a kid (not sure how old he is)

 Sondre (17)...his taste in suits certainly has not changed. :)

Tomorrow we are all going to Winona to watch Alex play UMD (University of Minnesota--Duluth)...we rented a house (way cheaper than a bunch of hotel rooms) that sleeps 12 so it will be perfect for us.  Courtney, Ryan, Amelia are coming with Scott, Sondre and me and then my nephew (Ben) and his girlfriend  (Ala) will join us there since they go to college in Winona.  Alex will join us after the game for a bonfire and Scott's famous roast beef sandwiches.  The adults may have a beer or glass of wine too. 

We have had unseasonably warm weather so it still feels like summer...which we love.  Sondre is getting ready for winter and ordered a new winter jacket from this great little Ski store in Wayzata.  He said it is so much cheaper here in the US so I guess it is a good deal.  Not sure when the cold weather will hit, but he will be ready. 

School seems to be going well...his grades are good and it does not seem to be too hard for him.  Once football is over I am sure there will be more time for social activities but the coaches keep these kids pretty busy with practice and games.  He is trying to decide if he wants to play a winter sport like Alpine skiing.  More to come on that.  Scott is going to strongly encourage that he join the ski team.  The coaches love Norwegians on the team...they think you all were born with skiis on our feet.  :)

Will blog again soon....hope you are all doing well!

Alix and Scott