Merry Christmas!

So here it came again, Christmas. I found this text to sum up the Swedish experience;

The Swedes are wholly into Christmas traditions but less so the holy origins of them. Yet, Saint Lucia, the star of Bethlehem, Advent candles and even the church remain sacred to the secular Swedes in December.

The perennial traditions of the Christmas season in Sweden, like in many other countries, are deeply rooted in Christianity. And despite the Swedes' famously secular self-image, these rituals remain close to their hearts.

The symbol of light is particularly pertinent because the country is at its darkest time of the year. The sales of Advent stars rocket; what is a reminder of the star of Bethlehem can also act as a universal window adornment when the night sky closes in early afternoon.

Elena playing charades at a Christmas party for the english home language group. We had great fun and I loved these pictures as Sebastian jumped in to copy Elena.

I caved in and got a tree for the kids. Sebastian had it all down from seeing the tree at the library and immediately started decorating it.

In Sweden the kids gets presents on Christmas eve and Santa comes knocking on the door and delivers them. If you do not have a Santa you can hire one, but most often it is the dad in the family, he goes out to buy the paper just when Santa comes and delivers the presents.
When my mother was a child Santa was accompanied by someone, I think it was Nicholas, and scared the children so my mom would run and hide under the bed, but that tradition luckily ended.

We had a great day and today is Christmas day so Ho Ho Ho all Americans!

Julianna got a figure skating dress, and isn´t this picture cool as the star of the tree is giving her a crown!

Sebastian got a necklace of his own and he was mighty proud, and a cape I sewed him.

Lots of love and hugs to you from us!
Take it easy & enjoy each other this holiday!

Lucia and art

Sebastian (with his camera face, and trust me I never asked him to smile for the camera) ready for a lucia performance.

Lucia gymnastics show. Julianna is on the right.

Here is Lucia with candles in her hair, some santas and ginger cookies.

This one is from the school´s Lucia performance in church. Both Elena and Julianna sang solo!

Art exhibition by Julianna. Elena was not in the class this fall.

Come on mom, get this over with so I can go and "fika"!
Fika is a Swedish phenomena that occurs daily (not in my home, but...) where adults drink coffee and eat a cinnamon roll ("bulle") or some other baked sweet goods and children drink saft (a diluted sweetened fruit juice) and eat bulle or a cookie.

A new record?

We have a TV show in Sweden (rekordbyrån) that kids can send in videos of potential "world records" of anything they can think of.
Julianna and her friend Embla wanted to join and made this video.
After the video was done and lots of fun were had they found out that the show was on re-run this fall and new videos could not be sent in. But maybe next year?

New old pictures, and proof of winter!

This is what it looks like outside my building. It´s -4 Fahrenheit.



I I changed the old memory pictures on the side, continuing 2005 to when we first met the LifeLearner group in the spring (I think it was March) of 2006.

More pictures of the kids...

Iwish I knew a good title but it is really same old, same old; more pictures of my wonderful kids and what they do. but that is why I made this blog, so here you have them.
I have yet not been able to get the pictures off my cellphone so I am not able to post the beautiful fall pictures I have on there. Now I am using the camera on our video recorder. It works well but is not so handy to bring.
I want a new nice camera for Christmas, oh Santa please...

A cozy moment with our teddy bear cat.

The girls spent Halloween with friends so I have no pictures...
No pumpkins, only citrus this year....

We spent a few days in Falkenberg, visiting my mother and Janne. The girls also got the chance to ride and visit their friends from this summer.

Elena on Rapido.

Sebastian and Grandma Solveig.

Julianna moved to Elena´s room, and got her bunk bed. And a cozy armchair from across the street where we have a department second hand store that I frequently visit.
Elena wanted Bart´s office room with the balcony and Bart got Julianna´s old room. That was fun! I love reorganizing and decorating and moving stuff....

I gave Sebastian a haircut as the thin strands were sticking out everywhere, look how handsome he is!


He is talking to dad on Skype, a great tool that we all enjoy.

He has really grown lately, getting taller and learning lots. He is speaking some words and copying lots of sounds. He now has 14 teeth as well.
Oh, and by the way, Elena is as tall as me now!

Dress up.
Mommy I want this dress on...


And the hat...

Look at me now!

Some fall photos

Fall went by fast for us. Gorgeous, lilluminating and magnificent nature prepared for winter and now winter is here. But first some pictures from fall. We had lots of activities and nice weather to be out with the horses in.

Here is Sebastian playing in the cats play tower.

Bart traveled and worked a lot this fall,as usual. Here pictured in the northern Sweden by a nice lake.

We had a nice outing one weekend when Julianna competed out of town. Here at the hotell room. Julianna cleared the first level in AG (artistic gymnastics) and is now on the second.

Sebastian makes faces for the camera.

Cool photo of Sebastian and his new play corner.

We enjoyed a helicopter flight over the lake by our town.
I loved it, definately want to learn to fly one of these one day!

Another visit at the viking village. It´s so nice and cozy there!