Thanksgiving
While we lived in California, we met quite a few Icelanders, many of whom became good friends of ours. As it happens, many of the Icelanders we got to know in California moved back to Iceland before we did. Needless to say, it’s been a lot of fun re-connecting with our old CA-friends. 🙂
Back in California, there was a ‘core’ group of Icelandic families that often met up, and, for example, went camping together. This group has stayed in touch in Iceland, and we were thrilled to be invited to a thanksgiving potluck this past weekend at Lára’s and Halldór’s place the Saturday after the official US Thanksgiving.
We took on bringing the gravy (“brown sauce”, Finnur’s speciality) and waldorf (apple/walnut/celery/grape) salad (Hrefna likes chopping things!). Unfortunately, Finnur apparently got some random energy-zapping bug that Saturday, so by noon-time he barely had energy to get the gravy going before collapsing into bed for an hour. He did manage to finish the huge pot of gravy, but stayed behind while I took the kids to the party.
A salad in the pre-tossing stage next to an aperitif.
Bjarki and Anna in a white leather chair.
Sif as seen by Bjarki.
Halldór the Host chatting to Snorri and Sif.
The kids quickly disappeared into the office where a video was playing on a laptop. I hardly knew they were there from that point on... Also, note the nice view out the window!
Elsa, Snorri, Guðrún (due in late January) and Soffía chat in the kitchen.
Soffía!
Snorri getting ready to carve turkey #1.
Soffía, Lára the Hostess, and a carving Snorry.
Eggert opens cans of yellow corn. Fresh corn is hard to find in Iceland, and very expensive when it pops up.
Mmmmm... tuuuuurkey!
Jónína, Guðrún and Elsa chat in the formal living room.
Time for dinner!! Soffía and Lára model by the food, while Lára is still busy hosting and coordinating.
People in line for the food.
Jolly people in a food line.
Jónína.
The kids got to eat first, before heading back to laptop-land, and thus making way for the rest of the adults.
The adults slowly moving in.
Soffía and Ágúst's twins, Atli Freyr and Breki Freyr, talk to Jónína and Eggert's Unnur. The twins were born a couple of weeks before Bjarki Freyr.
Anna and Lára and Halldór's Nökkvi Fannar in front of yet another laptop while the adults chat in the background.
The kids have grown so much! Here are Kristbjörg (Elsa & Þráinn), Sif (Guðrún & Snorri), Jakob (Jónína & Eggert) and Ágúst Bjarki (Soffía & Ágúst).
Sometimes it's hard being three. I waaaaaaant!!
Post-dinner pre-dessert chatting. Next to Soffía are two of her eight children: Gunnar and Alma Hildur.
More post-dinner pre-dessert chatting.
Elsa, the brothers Egill Almar and Stefán (Soffía & Ágúst's), Snorri and Ágúst in the middle of a thought... and yes, Bjarki coming over to complain of ill treatment. Did I mention he's three?
Elsa & Þráinn's Þórdís.
Elsa and Þórdís.
Elsa and Guðrún chatting while Þórdís peeks.
Lára gives herself a moment to sit down.
Elsa.
Dessert! The siblings Sigtryggur & Þórdís, and Anna & Bjarki.
Post-dessert the kids migrated into the tv-lounge. We left soon thereafter since it was getting late, and we needed to get leftovers to poor sick Finnur.
Last image of the evening, after a very successful Thanksgiving feast. Thank you all! 🙂
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