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Nej, Katrine, vi har inga planer på att flytta, men jag blev ledsen och bedrövad, precis som du och M säkert också blev efter julgröten. En alternativ julgröt låter toppen nästa år!
Samtidigt blir jag jätteglad när Mattias och Moas familj lägger ner en massa tid och pengar på soppa på att pista pulkabacken och skidspåret.
Det finns många bra människor i vår by, och några sämre, som på de flesta ställen.
En sak som dock bekymrar mig är skolan; vilken kvalitet - både socialt och på undervisningen - kommer F att få med tre klasskamrater? Hoppas på en inflyttningsvåg av 07:or kanske är lite väl optimistiskt? Om elevunderlaget är för litet tycker jag det är bättre att skjutsa en bit så barnen får ett gäng kompisar att välja mellan, lite fräschare utrustning och utbildade pedagoger. Men det är ett par år tills dess...
Kitas- thanks for your sweet comment! We miss you guys very much and so wish we could live both in the valley and here, say 6 months in each place, or every other year or so...? Is that so much to ask? Do I have to rob a bank or write a best seller for it to become reality?
So how's Inea liking it over there? It must have been very precious to have the whole family home for the holidays. I am SO impressed by your big little girl, seems like it was yesterday she was a toddler when we were living together. Time has lost its shoes...
Therése - I so enjoy your blog pretty much every day, and hope that your days at work go smoothly and quickly. Working mama's unite- it's hard, and especially when your wee one is so little yet...
Nej, Katrine, vi har inga planer på att flytta, men jag blev ledsen och bedrövad, precis som du och M säkert också blev efter julgröten. En alternativ julgröt låter toppen nästa år!
Samtidigt blir jag jätteglad när Mattias och Moas familj lägger ner en massa tid och pengar på soppa på att pista pulkabacken och skidspåret.
Det finns många bra människor i vår by, och några sämre, som på de flesta ställen.
En sak som dock bekymrar mig är skolan; vilken kvalitet - både socialt och på undervisningen - kommer F att få med tre klasskamrater? Hoppas på en inflyttningsvåg av 07:or kanske är lite väl optimistiskt? Om elevunderlaget är för litet tycker jag det är bättre att skjutsa en bit så barnen får ett gäng kompisar att välja mellan, lite fräschare utrustning och utbildade pedagoger. Men det är ett par år tills dess...
Kitas- thanks for your sweet comment! We miss you guys very much and so wish we could live both in the valley and here, say 6 months in each place, or every other year or so...? Is that so much to ask? Do I have to rob a bank or write a best seller for it to become reality?
So how's Inea liking it over there? It must have been very precious to have the whole family home for the holidays. I am SO impressed by your big little girl, seems like it was yesterday she was a toddler when we were living together. Time has lost its shoes...
Therése - I so enjoy your blog pretty much every day, and hope that your days at work go smoothly and quickly. Working mama's unite- it's hard, and especially when your wee one is so little yet...
Gran Canaria January 2012
One week of lovely luxury!
Thursday the 12th of January we drove 2 hours to Sundsvall and hopped on a plane to Gran Canaria, Spain, for a one week charter all inclusive vacation at a very child friendly hotel.
Since I didn't have much time off during the holdays the best part by far was just to be together as a family for a whole week with no chores at all to do.
The weather was much like Swedish summer, but we were prepared for that.
Our family on our first real vacation all on our own.
The view from our room.
Ocean was cold but sooo fun to play by!
Sometimes they're this sweet and happy together..best friends those moments.
Snow suits were nice to shed for one week, even if fleece´s were needed.
Chocolate cake for breakfast.
mmmmm....
The beach had a little sand and many rocks. Great rock excursions when we wished grandma Lou was around.
Denali wanted to bring home the whole beach.
Happy happy girl.
Poor Denali was sick and nursing a fever most of the week. He lost a couple of pounds actually.
But still got a lot of play-time in the sand in...
....summer foot in mid winter.
Freya felt (and looked) like a princess in her Spanish dress and braids.
A couple of days were so windy and cold that we had to play with the pool toys inside.
But others were really nice and napping can be done outside even with a fever.
Circus school. Freya practised juggling...
...and so did daddy.
which quickly turned into baseball practise.
Freya got her hair braided by this very skilled lady.
Great kids entertainment.
which was truly enjoyed.
Cute aren't they!? And look more and more alike. Here watching a p
parrot show.
And Freya impressed all of us by insisting on taking part in the talent show "Bamse stars" and dance all alone to a whole song (Amy Diamond's "What's in it for me"). The audience was more than 200 people and it took place at 8 pm, passed her normal bed time. She wasn't nervous at all and just did a smashing job.
...and Denali watched in awe.
My little man wanted to be in my arms all day and night...The fever kept coming and going.
But I got some play time with my little girl too!
And Denali had some energy to play ball with daddy on the last day.
Freya took this picture... <3
All in all we had a very lovely week.
Thursday the 12th of January we drove 2 hours to Sundsvall and hopped on a plane to Gran Canaria, Spain, for a one week charter all inclusive vacation at a very child friendly hotel.
Since I didn't have much time off during the holdays the best part by far was just to be together as a family for a whole week with no chores at all to do.
The weather was much like Swedish summer, but we were prepared for that.
Our family on our first real vacation all on our own.
The view from our room.
Ocean was cold but sooo fun to play by!
Sometimes they're this sweet and happy together..best friends those moments.
Snow suits were nice to shed for one week, even if fleece´s were needed.
Chocolate cake for breakfast.
mmmmm....
The beach had a little sand and many rocks. Great rock excursions when we wished grandma Lou was around.
Denali wanted to bring home the whole beach.
Happy happy girl.
Poor Denali was sick and nursing a fever most of the week. He lost a couple of pounds actually.
But still got a lot of play-time in the sand in...
....summer foot in mid winter.
Freya felt (and looked) like a princess in her Spanish dress and braids.
A couple of days were so windy and cold that we had to play with the pool toys inside.
But others were really nice and napping can be done outside even with a fever.
Circus school. Freya practised juggling...
...and so did daddy.
which quickly turned into baseball practise.
Freya got her hair braided by this very skilled lady.
Great kids entertainment.
which was truly enjoyed.
Cute aren't they!? And look more and more alike. Here watching a p
parrot show.
And Freya impressed all of us by insisting on taking part in the talent show "Bamse stars" and dance all alone to a whole song (Amy Diamond's "What's in it for me"). The audience was more than 200 people and it took place at 8 pm, passed her normal bed time. She wasn't nervous at all and just did a smashing job.
...and Denali watched in awe.
My little man wanted to be in my arms all day and night...The fever kept coming and going.
But I got some play time with my little girl too!
And Denali had some energy to play ball with daddy on the last day.
Freya took this picture... <3
All in all we had a very lovely week.
Santa and kids...
a little late but still wanted to share these pictures with you:
Denali was delighted that Santa resembled one of his all time favorite people in the world: POPPA!
Freya and her beautiful Christmas-presents from mormor and morfar; Skrållan in clothes knitted by mormor Alice and the other doll is her little sister.
Happy New 2012
We had a very mellow New Years eve and New Years Day at Ollebacken with uncle Lennart, mormor Alice, morfar Lennart and uncle Erik. And Ola the cockapoo and the cats Lizzy and Molly of course.
Good food and fika and mellow hang out times inside-Freya's practised her writing with mormor Alice and Denali enjoyed all the little figurines that lennart has- he found horses everywhere to his great delight.
Snowmobiling, walking and "sparktur" (kick-sledding). The kids did some skiing (Denali's second time ever, he did great) and they're both getting very good at it and enjoying themselves. Denali liked throwing himself in the snow most of all.
As I was putting the kids to bed on New Years eve, I explained the concept of New Years resolutions and asked if they had something they wanted to strive for during this next year.
Freya thought for a moment and answered: " Jag vill träna på att rita hästar." "I want to practise drawing horses".
Denali answered quickly. "Äta korv i bilen!" " Eat hot dogs in the car!!"
So for a wonderful new year, with more peace and harmony in the world and good health and happiness for us and you all our dear friends and family across this beautiful marble in the sky.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Freya taking her brother for a "sparktur" at Ollebacken.
Morbror Ette on the snowmobile.
Momma Alice and poppa Lennart. <3 Both free to do whatever they want now as Alice retired on December 21st.
Hurray! Much earned freedom after a great career as an outstanding teacher.
Good food and fika and mellow hang out times inside-Freya's practised her writing with mormor Alice and Denali enjoyed all the little figurines that lennart has- he found horses everywhere to his great delight.
Snowmobiling, walking and "sparktur" (kick-sledding). The kids did some skiing (Denali's second time ever, he did great) and they're both getting very good at it and enjoying themselves. Denali liked throwing himself in the snow most of all.
As I was putting the kids to bed on New Years eve, I explained the concept of New Years resolutions and asked if they had something they wanted to strive for during this next year.
Freya thought for a moment and answered: " Jag vill träna på att rita hästar." "I want to practise drawing horses".
Denali answered quickly. "Äta korv i bilen!" " Eat hot dogs in the car!!"
So for a wonderful new year, with more peace and harmony in the world and good health and happiness for us and you all our dear friends and family across this beautiful marble in the sky.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Freya taking her brother for a "sparktur" at Ollebacken.
Morbror Ette on the snowmobile.
Momma Alice and poppa Lennart. <3 Both free to do whatever they want now as Alice retired on December 21st.
Hurray! Much earned freedom after a great career as an outstanding teacher.
Den här bloggposten innehåller nötkräm
Visserligen är det lite efter jul men jag hakar på med denna viktiga post ändå.
The following post is from UNICEF Christmas blog-campaign. If you post this entry Unicef will give 6 bags of nutella-type nutrition cream to starving children. Three bags of this a day is the difference between life and death for a child on the edge.
In the midst of the consumtion, and the honest joy of being able to to give our healthy children toys and beautiful things for Christmas, it's even more important to remember the context of how fortunate we are in the rich part of the world. To give our children this context and try to pitch in, no matter how little.
To share.
Det pågår en tyst katastrof. En katastrof som varje dag dödar 21 000 barn under fem års ålder. De flesta barnen dör av näringsbrist, diarré eller andra sjukdomar. De dör av orsaker som med enkla medel skulle kunna förebyggas. Det som saknas är vaccin, medicin, rent vatten och näringsriktig mat. Saker som UNICEF kan leverera. Saker som vi tillsammans kan leverera. Den här bloggposten är mitt sätt bidra. För i och med att jag publicerar den här bloggposten blir inte bara fler uppmärksammade på den tysta katastrofen utan dessutom innebär det att re:member skänker sex påsar av den nötkräm som UNICEF använder vid behandling av undernärda barn. Tre påsar nötkräm om dagen är allt som krävs för att ett barn som lider av undernäring ska kunna överleva. Har du också en blogg och vill göra något viktigt i jul? Hämta bloggmaterial här: http://unicef.se/sprid-budskapet/blogga-och-radda-barns-liv-i-jul
Tillsammans räddar vi barns liv. Ps. Vill du köpa fältprodukterna som räddar barns liv, besök UNICEFs gåvoshop. Du kan välja ett snyggt gåvobevis designat av bland annat Tove Styrke eller Elsa Billgren att ge bort i julklapp.
Sjulsmäss
Day before julafton, Christmas eve. Been trying to update this blog from my phone for a couple of weeks w/out success. See if it works now.
Kids had a very cute Lucia celebration at dagis on Dec 13th. They're both very excited for Christmas.
We have lots of snow and perfect winter weather. I've been working too much and got sick last night but feel better now. So hoping no one else gets sick and we can celebrate a mellow and nice Christmas on Frösön.
Poor sick boy and funny blog: Ketchupmamman
To cheer you up in the darkest of times - a recommendation for all of you who can read Swedish, or, the rest of you can see if google translate works on it, because I have no idea how and when you can use that tool.
Here's a link to a very funny blog from the Swedish mom who calls herself "the ketchup mom"
http://www.ketchupmamman.se/
Otherwise we're taking turns being home with a sick little Denali.
I'm at work to rest today, my highest wish is to be able to stay home alone in bed and cure my bad cold, but no such luck for a mama.
At first we thought it was the stomach flu because it started with him throwing up last nite. Which means both kids stay home from pre school for two days. But we're relieved to see Denali's illness developing into a fever and general need to just lay flat on his mama/daddy while he sometimes opens his eyes to watch some Pippi Longstocking-episodes from the 1960´s. pitiful sweet boy. He and I were totally in sync yesterday.
Freya was very full of energy though and needed more stimulation. When Denali finally fell asleep in the stroller outside and I wanted to sleep I got her to pick up all toys and straighten up their play room. Incentive? Take a nap with mama or clean up your play room (which by the way is always made a mess by the little brother, very unfair division of labor)
Poor sick boy
Happy big sister
The grinch x 2 of Pilis
In our village, on our street, there's a very nice family that moved here not too long ago.
Kind, funny and good values.
Last Sunday their family, our family and another family got thrown out of the village Christmas meal event.
We had payed 200 crowns to sit among the other villagers in the school gymnasium and eat tasty ham sandwiches and rice porridge (Swedish traditional Christmas food).
All the kids were having fun, running around in the big room and dancing and lauging. Good Christmas athmosphere, joyful kids and all. And we were after all in their gymnasium where they always run around.
Then one lady takes the microphone and declares that
"Now all kids have to sit down and be nice quiet kids, otherwise Santa won't come to your house! Because now the older kids are going to sing for us"
The grinch showed her ugly green face.
Scared and confused little kids stop lauging and go sit in their parents laps.
A group of talented school kids start singing some songs while their teacher play the piano.
Soon our 2-4 year olds find their happines again and start dancing to the music.
They laugh. They play with eachother. They dance and giggle.
We tell them to try and play and dance quietly so as not to disturb the 10-year old singers. They oblige. They are kids. So they dance and giggle and play.
Then, another grinch-woman (I suspect it was one of her kids singing oh so sweetly) come up to above mentioned mom, who's nursing her baby, and tell us in a stern voice:
"Now you take your disturbing children and leave this room!"
She didn't ask. She didn't suggest. She mandates.
I should have told her to sit the fuck down and eat a cookie, but instead I am about to explode, and react on instinct.
So 3 moms (among them me) gather our "rowdy, hopeless, terrible" (laughing, dancing) children who stop laughing and dancing and leave. I say loudly "If we're not wanted here we'll leave. This is the last time this family will come to a village event like this!"
The other two moms leave with their kids too. The room is quiet. No one says a word. The kids are still singing. Oh so sweetly.
Denali throws a tantrum. Freya is confused and quiet. Both wonder why the fun is over.
We go home and Freya sit in a snow pile until it gets dark. Cory takes Denali for a walk until his tantrum is over and he falls asleep. Freya asks her dad if Santa won't come unless she is quiet. She is almost always too quiet anyway. Freya is a kid who needs to be more rowdy, loud and careless. Not less.
He tells her of course not.
This is the village we live in.
The former political chairman of the county comes to our door at night when I put the kids to bed, He gives Freya and Denali a chocolate calendar each. He apologizes. He knows that rural struggling towns like ours can't afford to make people feel like shit. To throw kids out of a family event. To threaten them that Santa won't come.
But the harm is still done. If someone knows of a cheap and nice rural home closer to Östersund, let us know, please! We'll move as soon as our house is sold!
Kind, funny and good values.
Last Sunday their family, our family and another family got thrown out of the village Christmas meal event.
We had payed 200 crowns to sit among the other villagers in the school gymnasium and eat tasty ham sandwiches and rice porridge (Swedish traditional Christmas food).
All the kids were having fun, running around in the big room and dancing and lauging. Good Christmas athmosphere, joyful kids and all. And we were after all in their gymnasium where they always run around.
Then one lady takes the microphone and declares that
"Now all kids have to sit down and be nice quiet kids, otherwise Santa won't come to your house! Because now the older kids are going to sing for us"
The grinch showed her ugly green face.
Scared and confused little kids stop lauging and go sit in their parents laps.
A group of talented school kids start singing some songs while their teacher play the piano.
Soon our 2-4 year olds find their happines again and start dancing to the music.
They laugh. They play with eachother. They dance and giggle.
We tell them to try and play and dance quietly so as not to disturb the 10-year old singers. They oblige. They are kids. So they dance and giggle and play.
Then, another grinch-woman (I suspect it was one of her kids singing oh so sweetly) come up to above mentioned mom, who's nursing her baby, and tell us in a stern voice:
"Now you take your disturbing children and leave this room!"
She didn't ask. She didn't suggest. She mandates.
I should have told her to sit the fuck down and eat a cookie, but instead I am about to explode, and react on instinct.
So 3 moms (among them me) gather our "rowdy, hopeless, terrible" (laughing, dancing) children who stop laughing and dancing and leave. I say loudly "If we're not wanted here we'll leave. This is the last time this family will come to a village event like this!"
The other two moms leave with their kids too. The room is quiet. No one says a word. The kids are still singing. Oh so sweetly.
Denali throws a tantrum. Freya is confused and quiet. Both wonder why the fun is over.
We go home and Freya sit in a snow pile until it gets dark. Cory takes Denali for a walk until his tantrum is over and he falls asleep. Freya asks her dad if Santa won't come unless she is quiet. She is almost always too quiet anyway. Freya is a kid who needs to be more rowdy, loud and careless. Not less.
He tells her of course not.
This is the village we live in.
The former political chairman of the county comes to our door at night when I put the kids to bed, He gives Freya and Denali a chocolate calendar each. He apologizes. He knows that rural struggling towns like ours can't afford to make people feel like shit. To throw kids out of a family event. To threaten them that Santa won't come.
But the harm is still done. If someone knows of a cheap and nice rural home closer to Östersund, let us know, please! We'll move as soon as our house is sold!
Denali bakar huvet
Vi andra bakar pepparkakor men Denali bakar huvet istället.
Vera 6 months
Just had to share this picture of our dear little friend in the UK; Vera!
Isn't she adorable?
She's turning 6 months today and just happened that this little doll (that we got her at Jamtli the museum last Saturday) arrived today. Have to say my timing of gifts is usually not this good, and this was pure luck, but still.
Today's event in our family life was Denali's first dentist visit. And guess what. He refused to open his mouth!
I woke him up from his nap in his pram at pre school and put him right in the car, so he was a bit mushy.
When we arrived at the dentist's office I told him, and now you have to open your mouth and show the dentist your teeth Denali! He looked at me startled and said. "Öppna munnen här? Konstigt, mamma!" (Open my mouth here? That's weird mama!)
I can see his point of view.
The dentist was very kind and patient though and managed to count his teeth and get a quick look anyway. She said it's mostly just to get them used to it, see so they don't need any attention and get them a little toy on the way out. Big sister Freya tried to coach him and got a little top to spin for a toy as well.
First time on a horse!
Freya, Denali and I went to Gällö X-masmarket (while Cory cleaned the house) to ride the fjord horse Fröja. Denali, who absolutely adores horses big and small, has tried before but been too scared. Today he sat like a jockey, w/ a very serious look and had a big smile on his face when I lifted him off.
Freya was happy as always to be on a horse, though Fröja (a Norweigan fjord-horse) is the biggest horse she's been on.
One Piece Traditional
One Piece Pink
One Piece
well, folks, this is NOT a fashion blog, but, this post is about clothing. One Piece of clothing. A Norweigan fad.
A garment that some think is terribly ugly and some hail as super comfortable, but no matter what you think it's very popular with the teens right now. And I, who love comfort and am a couch potato at heart (yes, though I do love the outdoors just as much) have only one reason that I haven't bought one of them yet: they're prizey.
Howevere right now there's a competition, and I'm aiming to win one, and not for the kids, but for myself! Just through this post, I have a chance of winning.
Here the web page for the US. If you're living in sweden or another country you can easily change the language at the top right:
http://onepiece.com/us/shop
Father's Day -november 13th
In June in the USA. In darkest november here in Sweden.
I have been very lucky in life. My dad is an outstanding man; gentle, wise, super smart, generous and incredibly kindhearted. Always there to help out, to comfort, to laugh with. Now he's the best grandfather imaginable; he has the patience and ability to appreciate the world from Freya's and Denali's viewpoints.
And then I was lucky enough to find Cory -the best dad in the whole wide world to our kids. Picks them up from daycare every day and has the dinner om the table when I come home 1,5 hrs later. Creative and kind. Funloving and always prioritizing them. He was taught by the best. We miss Grandpa Sim today and every day.
We're lucky to have eachother!
As long as it lasts.
This is the most important lesson!
