We are about to embark on the second part of our holiday. Nathan has left Brunei and is going to be on his way now for quite a few hours - enough time for us to make our way down to Copenhagen tomorrow and meet up with him.
We have a couple of busy weeks ahead of us, meeting up with a lot of different friends and doing a lot of exciting things.
It's always very nice being at Mormor and Morfar's and the time the kids spend here in Sweden is very important for them; enjoying the family, hearing and speaking Swedish all the time.
But it comes with a price of course, being apart is not so much fun. Rasing a family is a combined effort, and it's going to be nice to be Mum and Dad again - call the shots, experience things together, all four of us.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Moving house, literally
One of Mormor's work colleagues is experiencing something really exciting at the moment. She and her family are getting their house moved (yes, that's as all in one piece)!
The thing is, there is a motorway getting built, just next to their house. So they didn't want to stay put, but didn't want to leave the area. Unfortunately they weren't allowed to build a new house on the ground they bought - so they decided to bring the house with them instead!
It's something that has been planned for ever and ever, and yesterday the work started. They lifted the whole house up from the foundation, and moved it about 10 m. The family didn't have to move anything out of the house, and are allowed to stay in it as well during the move! The house is getting shifted over 0,5 km across the fields, to a new ground.
We were there today to see how it went, and they were about to turn it around to start moving it:
The kids were watching the big machine intensely:
Here you can see where the front porch went up to the front door previously, and parts of the foundation:
Lucas wanted to stay longer, but it wasn't happening with any great speed, so we couldn't stay. Maybe we'll go back tomorrow to see where the house is now:
The thing is, there is a motorway getting built, just next to their house. So they didn't want to stay put, but didn't want to leave the area. Unfortunately they weren't allowed to build a new house on the ground they bought - so they decided to bring the house with them instead!
It's something that has been planned for ever and ever, and yesterday the work started. They lifted the whole house up from the foundation, and moved it about 10 m. The family didn't have to move anything out of the house, and are allowed to stay in it as well during the move! The house is getting shifted over 0,5 km across the fields, to a new ground.
We were there today to see how it went, and they were about to turn it around to start moving it:
The kids were watching the big machine intensely:
Here you can see where the front porch went up to the front door previously, and parts of the foundation:
Lucas wanted to stay longer, but it wasn't happening with any great speed, so we couldn't stay. Maybe we'll go back tomorrow to see where the house is now:
Outside play
Finally the weather does seem to pick up a little bit. Today we managed to be outside several times. First we played in the yard:
Then we went to the playground for a couple of hours play in the afternoon, with 'fikapaus' (=snack break) just before the rain came again:
Then we went to the playground for a couple of hours play in the afternoon, with 'fikapaus' (=snack break) just before the rain came again:
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Close encounter with the Swedish wildlife
I have just been out running in the lovely sunshine. Today I decided to go into the woods rather than along the road, and almost straight away I had a close encounter with a deer! It just stood there in the middle of my path grazing calmly, I wish I'd had my camera!
It just hit me that the hash was on in the jungle in Brunei at the same time as I was running my 5k (!) in my lovely Swedish forest.
I miss the hash and my hashing buddies, but it's such a nice contrast to the hot and humid jungle to be running here - and I love it!! (That's of course because it's summertime, I wouldn't want to be out in the woods in November, haha!)
It just hit me that the hash was on in the jungle in Brunei at the same time as I was running my 5k (!) in my lovely Swedish forest.
I miss the hash and my hashing buddies, but it's such a nice contrast to the hot and humid jungle to be running here - and I love it!! (That's of course because it's summertime, I wouldn't want to be out in the woods in November, haha!)
Inside play
Playing with Lego is always a good way to pass time when it's raining. Some never get tired of it:
Or you can do some painting, which is nice, as long as it is actually in the colouring book (or at least on some paper)...
Or you can do some painting, which is nice, as long as it is actually in the colouring book (or at least on some paper)...
Monday, 20 July 2009
Ms Fix-it
Linnea has inherited a pair of slim jeans from Lucas. They fit her nicely now, but unfortunately they had a little hole on one of the knees.
Easily fixed though, with a Hello Kitty patch and the help of Mormor!
Step 1, place the patch.
Step 2, hello 'Hello Kitty'!
Step 3, iron for one minute.
Step 4, check how it fastened.
Step 5, and also do the back side.
Easily fixed though, with a Hello Kitty patch and the help of Mormor!
Step 1, place the patch.
Step 2, hello 'Hello Kitty'!
Step 3, iron for one minute.
Step 4, check how it fastened.
Step 5, and also do the back side.
Luxury
One of the things I appreciate most being home in Sweden in the summer, is all the lovely berries.
I love fresh berries! In Brunei we can very rarely get (imported) strawberries and blueberries, which are super expensive and doesn't taste of much. Apart from that, we don't have many berries.
At the moment here, I can just go out in the garden and pick lovely redcurrants, blackcurrants and gooseberries - and at a friends place today, I could pick cherries of the tree and my favourite... raspberries, mmm!
We can also buy (or self pick at the farms) locally grown strawberries in the shops, which are yummiest eaten just with milk, cream or au naturel.
I love berries!
I love fresh berries! In Brunei we can very rarely get (imported) strawberries and blueberries, which are super expensive and doesn't taste of much. Apart from that, we don't have many berries.
At the moment here, I can just go out in the garden and pick lovely redcurrants, blackcurrants and gooseberries - and at a friends place today, I could pick cherries of the tree and my favourite... raspberries, mmm!
We can also buy (or self pick at the farms) locally grown strawberries in the shops, which are yummiest eaten just with milk, cream or au naturel.
I love berries!
Sunday, 19 July 2009
A rare sight
She is almost 4 years old, our little girl, but her hair is still not growing with any great speed. I try and try in vain to put it up with hair clips and elastics, because I think it makes her look so cute - but she doesn't like having things in her hair, at all.
This, is a very rare sight:
Of course this hair do only lasted until the photo session was over...
This, is a very rare sight:
Of course this hair do only lasted until the photo session was over...
Kladbullal
It's yet another rainy day here in western Sweden, so this morning the kids and Mormor made some yummy chocolate balls (or 'kladbullal' as Linnea says) for 'fika':
Saturday, 18 July 2009
Last day in Stockholm
My last day in Stockholm we decided not to go in to city again, but just stay in the little suburb where Erika lives.
We took a long walk in the absolutely fantastic weather, had a yummy lunch and did a bit of the last shopping (yes, couldn't help myself..!).
Summer is so short here in Sweden, that everybody really enjoys it to the fullest while it's happening. It's so nice to see!
In the afternoon/evening we went for another jog AND I managed to keep running for a whopping 4 km this time! New record for me, yay! It was so nice, and such a nice run - I really, really enjoyed it!
We decided to do a picnic down by the water, and went to get some easy food from the store - grilled chicken, potato salad and fresh strawberries - mmm!
Food just tastes better outside!
We took a long walk in the absolutely fantastic weather, had a yummy lunch and did a bit of the last shopping (yes, couldn't help myself..!).
Summer is so short here in Sweden, that everybody really enjoys it to the fullest while it's happening. It's so nice to see!
In the afternoon/evening we went for another jog AND I managed to keep running for a whopping 4 km this time! New record for me, yay! It was so nice, and such a nice run - I really, really enjoyed it!
We decided to do a picnic down by the water, and went to get some easy food from the store - grilled chicken, potato salad and fresh strawberries - mmm!
Food just tastes better outside!
Thursday in Stockholm
After another power shopping day in central Stockholm (it's impressive how efficient you can be, when you don't have two little ones to look after and consider at the same time!) we met up with an old (we're talking known-each-other-since-7th-grade-old) friend of mine, Jenny.
We figured, we hadn't seen each other since my wedding - seven years ago!! But, it's amazing, with friends like that, time is of no importance. It was just... normal, and same as always.
We took a long walk from the Central Station, passing the Opera House...
...and the Royal Castle:
We walked all the way up to the 'Moderna Muséet' (=Modern Museum) where they had cool live jazz musicians performing in their garden.
We had a lovely, healthy dinner there and had planned to stay on for a while; meet up with some of Erika's friends, have some wine, and enjoy the music. But I felt really rotten all of a sudden, and we had to cut our evening short, and just go back home.
A shame, but at least we got to meet!
We figured, we hadn't seen each other since my wedding - seven years ago!! But, it's amazing, with friends like that, time is of no importance. It was just... normal, and same as always.
We took a long walk from the Central Station, passing the Opera House...
...and the Royal Castle:
We walked all the way up to the 'Moderna Muséet' (=Modern Museum) where they had cool live jazz musicians performing in their garden.
We had a lovely, healthy dinner there and had planned to stay on for a while; meet up with some of Erika's friends, have some wine, and enjoy the music. But I felt really rotten all of a sudden, and we had to cut our evening short, and just go back home.
A shame, but at least we got to meet!
Friday, 17 July 2009
First time is always easy
Last Friday I went for a jog, as you know, along the road by my parents place. I managed to actually run non stop for over 3 km, and I was so pleased with myself that the first time went so well.
The next day when I met my friend Katarina, she was happy for me, but also said "Well, the first time is always easy..." And my god, was she right..!
Yesterday Erika and I went running along her route up here in Stockholm (yes, kudos to me for bringing my running clothes even here!!) and I thought it would be really easy since it was a route I didn't know.
It was beautiful (...) along water all the way, but easy? No. I found it really hard to find some sort of rhythm with my breathing, and had to walk a lot more than I wanted to.
Ah well, we will do it again tonight - and if nothing else, I'm proud of myself for sticking with it, even during vacation!
The next day when I met my friend Katarina, she was happy for me, but also said "Well, the first time is always easy..." And my god, was she right..!
Yesterday Erika and I went running along her route up here in Stockholm (yes, kudos to me for bringing my running clothes even here!!) and I thought it would be really easy since it was a route I didn't know.
It was beautiful (...) along water all the way, but easy? No. I found it really hard to find some sort of rhythm with my breathing, and had to walk a lot more than I wanted to.
Ah well, we will do it again tonight - and if nothing else, I'm proud of myself for sticking with it, even during vacation!
Meanwhile, at Mormor & Morfar's house
While I'm in Stockholm living it out with my friends in the absolutely awesome weather, the kids are having a ball too with Mormor and Morfar.
They go to the playground every day, Lucas has learned how to play badminton and yesterday they went for a trip on the old museum steam train. Lucas told me over the phone that it had been really fun, and they got ice cream!
Lucas loves playing badminton!
Washing dirty feet, from running around barefoot:
They go to the playground every day, Lucas has learned how to play badminton and yesterday they went for a trip on the old museum steam train. Lucas told me over the phone that it had been really fun, and they got ice cream!
Lucas loves playing badminton!
Washing dirty feet, from running around barefoot:
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Estocolmo!
I am in beautiful Stockholm!
Visiting my best friend!
Shopping, jogging (!), fika (=coffee breaks) - and chatting all night!
Without kids!
Yay!
Visiting my best friend!
Shopping, jogging (!), fika (=coffee breaks) - and chatting all night!
Without kids!
Yay!
Beautified
Being 35 years old, it's been about time for quite a while I learned how to apply make up properly. My usual beauty routine have forever only consisted of mascara, and on festive occasions maybe lip gloss!
My friend Erika and I have talked about for years, to do a make up class - and today we had booked in for a session at Make Up Store here in Stockholm.
We had an hour each with a make up artist, and we got to try all their different products, and I was shown (on request) how to do gorgeous party eyes.
We forgot to take a before-photo of me, but here I am during the transformation:
And this is how I looked all done:
Erika wanted to be shown a make up to apply for a wedding she will attend, here is before...
... and after - super babe!
Of course we purchased some of the products too, so now we are going to look this good every day! :)
My friend Erika and I have talked about for years, to do a make up class - and today we had booked in for a session at Make Up Store here in Stockholm.
We had an hour each with a make up artist, and we got to try all their different products, and I was shown (on request) how to do gorgeous party eyes.
We forgot to take a before-photo of me, but here I am during the transformation:
And this is how I looked all done:
Erika wanted to be shown a make up to apply for a wedding she will attend, here is before...
... and after - super babe!
Of course we purchased some of the products too, so now we are going to look this good every day! :)
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Hide-and-go-seek
One of the kids' absolute favourite things to do, here, home and everywhere - is to play hide-and-go-seek. Neither one of them is really good at it but nevertheless, they love it!
Today they played with Mormor outside, and I caught Lucas counting - and cheating..!
Today they played with Mormor outside, and I caught Lucas counting - and cheating..!
Spidergirl returns
We spent quite a few hours in town this afternoon, in the central playground. It was sunshine, yay! For the first time since I've taken my kids there, it was actually full of kids! Fantastic!
There was even a few teenagers hired to entertain the kids, as their summer job. So whilst Lucas found a friend, and played some pole tennis...
... Linnea eyed up the face painting.
There was a catalogue with inspiration, and even though I tried hard to get her interested in a pretty flower, butterfly or a fairy face - she ended up with this:
"Hm... how is it again..?"
"Like this!! Swwooscchh!"
There was even a few teenagers hired to entertain the kids, as their summer job. So whilst Lucas found a friend, and played some pole tennis...
... Linnea eyed up the face painting.
There was a catalogue with inspiration, and even though I tried hard to get her interested in a pretty flower, butterfly or a fairy face - she ended up with this:
"Hm... how is it again..?"
"Like this!! Swwooscchh!"
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