Last winter fun!

We had a week of winter-activity break from school. It was nice and probably the last real winter fun as the SUN started shining with warmth and the temperature stayed around 30F, 0C. The snow is melting and we are starting to see some of the paved road.

But the best thing was that Ben, (Bart´s oldest son) and his girlfriend Clara came to visit!

It was a short visit but so nice to spend some time with them!

The girls both had some sleepover marathons. Here is Julianna with friends.

Elena with friends.

Sebastian and I like to spend hours at the library across the street.

Elena and her pony Micko, on top of deep snow.

Sebastian on a trampoline. Now he can jump! And hoppa (jump) is something he loves to do and say! He talks a lot now, mainly Swedish but says a few English words too.

Tired and cozy.

Just hanging out... but Elena also took days to sort and clean up her room, see...

We took 4 boxes of toys up to the attic as she did not want to throw anything out.

Cabare show

I have put many hours into rehearsing for a cabare show that had its performance this weekend. It was fun! I did it cause I wanted the challenge of singing on stage and also cause I love playing theatre. Julianna was in it too. Here is some pictures and eventually I will post a video too.

Happy New Year 2010!

I am so excited about this year! I smell change in the air and feel trust and so much love, although the world seems to be in chaos. There will be stillness in the center of the chaos.

It was now a year ago we moved back to Sweden. I have been in the same country for a whole year for the first time since I was 17. I had the travel bug really bugging me for this holiday but I am so grateful we stayed home, we bonded, rested, played and just enjoyed each other´s company.

I am happy we are here, the girls feel great and they, like us, miss all of you reading this so know that you are loved. One day we´ll take a tour again and go visit everyone.

Best of New Year wishes to You!

With love and warmth and joyous wishes of dreams to be fulfilled in 2010!

Midnight GMT +1

Julianna and Elena with sparklers.

My mother Solveig, Elena, Sebastian, Julianna and Janne (my mom´s "cohabitant" as we call it here in Sweden).

We exchanged gifts that Santa (Janne) came with. It´s standard here that someone dresses up like Santa and delivers the presents himself (no chimney entry here, they knock on the door, loudly).

Sebastian was not afraid of Santa.

Elena with lots of baked goodies, most from the school´s holiday market where the girls sold candy and baked goods that they´ve made themselves at school.

Happy Holidays

It´s all been according to what the kids want this year. For the first time we got our own tree, well actually two, as Julianna got a baby one for free (that stands on the balcony). The larger one is an "american blue" the salesman said and it is darker green and firmer then the normal ones here. I like it and it smells wonderful. After the girls decorated it, it looks like this.

Here Christmas Eve is the day for celebrations. So today we had a nice relaxing day. We stayed inside as Julianna woke up with a fever and a toothache (I actually took her to the dentist and had it pulled, it was a loose one that wouldn´t let go by itself). Julianna is fine now. We had spaghetti and marinara sauce for dinner and lots of homemade holiday candy after that. The girls also got presents and they were both very happy with them. Tomorrow my mother and Janne comes!