Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Christmas 2015



The summer of 2015 was all about Norway.  Nick worked at the US Embassy in Oslo from May through August.  Nancy and her sister, Carol along with Carol’s granddaughters, Sarah 12, and Jessica 8 traveled to Norway to visit Nick and to reconnect with friends and family there.  Nick’s Oslo apartment above the Ambassador’s garage was home base for us.
Our second cousin Inger Berit Kjørrefjord Ramstad. and her family showed us a wonderful time both at their home in Oslo and at their vacation home in Fjällbacka, Sweden.  (Kjørrefjord was our grandfather’s family name before immigrating to the US.)
                     




 
                  

 
"cousins" Sarah, Jessica, Peter & Annetta
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Carol, Nancy and the girls made a trip to Tromsø, where Nick, Nancy, Courtney and Morgan lived for two years from 84-86.  Our son Darcy was born there. The view from the hotel room is pictured on our Christmas card. We were lucky to get together with Nancy's friends. We have kept in touch over the years, but had not seen each other in 30 years! We were also invited to tour the house we had lived in. Memories of the time there and the beautiful daily views came back to Nancy.

Back in Oslo, we met with another second cousin, Christian Sømme and his family of four sons. (pictured on the card.) Nick and Nancy first met Christian in 1972 when we went to Norway on our honeymoon.   Christian was a young child then and doesn’t remember.  Three of Christian's sons have visited us in our home here in Virginia, and the fourth son plans to come here in June 2016.
All of our children are now adults and on their own. Courtney, and her husband Ben continue to live in Portland, Oregon where Courtney (37) is a freelance journalist and Ben is a data engineer. Morgan (34) lives across the Columbia River in Vancouver, Washington where he supports himself as a programmer. Darcy (31) is living in Cary, North Carolina and is a computer guy, too.  Austin (28) is living in Richmond, Virginia working as a courier. Chance (25) is also living in Richmond, about 3 blocks from Austin. He has been attending VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) and is working as a "fry chef" in a Richmond restaurant.

Nick is endeavoring to re-claim all of the boy's bedrooms by painting and laying hardwood flooring. Nancy continues to be active with La Leche League as a volunteer. She also continues helping new mothers as an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant).

Nick and Nancy spent Thanksgiving with Nick's mother, who celebrated her 98th birthday this year. The only dependents in residence with us these days are our 16 ½ year old cat, Tigger and our 3 ½ year old dog, Buddy.
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2016,
 Nick & Nancy Sherwood

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