Christmas 2011

This Christmas we spent alone in Malmö. It was planned that way but it became that way. At first we were really nervous that it was just going to feel like a "regular" day but it actually turned out quite nice. It was nice to do our own thing and not think about what other people might want to do or when they may want to do it. We had our own schedule. I went most of the day in pjs and didn't get dressed until around 2pm or so.

However, I did, of course, wish I was with my family and celebrating like everyone else. Going to family. The boys playing with my/their cousins and such. Nothing beats that really. We'll see what we'll do next year.

Enzo left cookies, milk and a note to Santa. Santa came while they were sleeping this year instead of delivering them while they were awake.

Our sad Christmas tree. I couldn't wait for Christmas to be over so I could toss it out...it's droopy limbs were driving me nuts!

Aleksander had no idea what was going on and wasn't too interested in opening presents. I think this is the only one he opened and then Enzo opened the rest.

Enzo was Santa and handed out the gifts to each person. He was quite eager to get through his gifts. At first we didn't really know why and then we figured out that he was looking for a specific gift, that he late in the month decided he wanted. He was hoping to get Finn McMissile from the Cars 2 movie. He didn't get that gift so he was quite disappointed. But we reminded him of all the wonderful gifts he did get and that he also has a birthday coming shortly. He quickly got over it and began to play with one of his toys.

Christmas Dinner...

Tivoli Copenhagen

This post is coming late, but like they say it's better late than never.

Mid December Enzo and I went out on a couple of "dates". The first weekend we went to see a movie, Arthurs Christmas. It was soo cute! I l iked it and I think he did too.

The following weekend, I think it was like Dec. 12th Enzo and I went to Tivoli in Copenhagen. The whole family was supposed to go but then we concluded that it would probably be more enjoyable and save us money if just Enzo and I went. That sounded wrong, but the thing is, Aleksander would more than likely want to walk around and play and stuff and there is a lot of people there and not really the place for him to be running around free. Plus Mattias is not a big fan of amusement time parks and such.

I think we made the right choice by just having the two of us go.

This year they had a Russian Christmas theme. We got there with a couple of light hours before darkness struck and the park was lit up. It was so pretty. Enzo and I had a blast. We arrived there around 1pm and stayed until around 9pm. We did anything and everything he wanted to do. All focus was on him which was nice for him for a change. He surprised me by riding all sorts of rides and a big rollercoaster being his favorite. It wasn't the biggest rollercoaster in the park but definitely not the rollercoaster meant for 4yr olds to ride. But since I rode with him he could ride on almost everything. It was awesome. He had a blast and he went to school that following week eager to tell his friends all about it.

Playing at Rasmus the Bears play area.

Driving our boat. This was a fav for him since he got to feel like he was totally in charge of where we were going.

Christmas Prep...Sankta Lucia...School Pictures

Farmor and Lasse came on Wednesday to do an early Christmas celebration with the boys. I was in school all day so I missed them but when I came home I had some happy boys. Enzo was thrilled over his gifts. Aleksander doesn't really know what was going on but I am quite sure he was thankful nonetheless.

Enzo got a lightsaber! He was thrilled. This was something he was hoping to buy himself once he collected enough stars on his rewards chart. Mattias he could barely control himself when he saw what it was. Wish we would have gotten that on video.

Aleksander got a really cool, Paul Frank/Bell bike helmet...just want his parents wanted for him!

Enzo giving some love. He was so thankful!

I was told that when Enzo was opening this present he had said, "oh, an iron. Thank you Farmor." Mattias said, "Enzo, it's not an iron." E: "Yes it is Pappa." And he was sincerely happy to be getting an iron...but of course it wasn't an iron. It was a Yoda tin box.

It made me really happy to hear how thankful and appreciative he was over his gifts no matter what he may have been. Not many soon-to-be 5 yr olds would have been thrilled if they thought they were getting an iron.

Lucia celebration at Äppelunden Preschool.

Enzo and his buddy Melwin.

Enzo singing with his classmates.

Santa and the gingerbread man who is picking his nose...that's our Aleksander for ya!

Mattias took some funny pics of some lego characters.

Looks like the Evil Dr. Porkchop is up to no good again...now he has put the Christmas village on fire.

Chewbacca meets Santa.

Cuddle time with Pappa.

Aleksander showing interest for trains. Will he be the next train crazy one now that Enzo has left that phase behind him.

Mattias took some pics of our favorite decorations.

This one we received from Auntie Carmen when we were expecting Enzo.

Enzo meeting Santa for the first time at Grandma's old job...BN West CU.

Another fav from Auntie Carmen.

And Mattias favorite...the Seahawks ornament. My mom bought one of these for Mattias and one for my Grandpa. Two diehard fans...Mattias love for the Seahawks started in 2005 when he was first introduced to football and his rules etc and my Grandpas love for the Seahawks runs back as long as I can remember.

Enzo made a gingerbread house with help of his papa. The house was far from success. First off, the gingerbread packages are nothing like the ones you buy in the states. The cookie is rather thin, fragile, you make the frosting/glue yourself and buy the candy separately. The candy I bought was either too heavy or Enzo was pressing a little too hard because the house ended up being called the "The gingerbread ruins". Enzo didn't seem to mind, which was a good thing. We put it out on display for a couple of weeks before retiring it to the trash.

The boys school pictures. They take just group photos, no individuals. I was really happy with the results. Enzo was smiling and Aleksander was at least looking at the camera. I was one happy mama when I saw these pics.

Another Birthday...

...to be had.
I don't know what happened. Yes I do, I turned 30 and ever since I don't enjoy my birthdays nearly as much as I used to. Getting older now is just plain depressing. Getting older totally and utterly freaks me out! Not sure what to do about it. Mattias says I just need to accept it and understand that we will continue to get older, older and wrinkly and frail etc etc etc. and then we'll die. That 's the part that I just can't swallow, the dying part. But this post isn't going to be about dying because I am sure I will just freak myself out and make myself cry so I will stick to the matter at hand...my 32nd birthday!

My birthday was what you can call a mini disaster. The day started out relatively ok but then it spiraled out of control, slightly, and then ended fairly ok. First of all, I usually love birthdays! I love it when it's other people's birthday, like my kids and MHS (my hot swede) and it calls for me to plan and surprise with gifts and such. I used to love my own birthday. Every year I always waited with such anticipation and the month of December would always be a countdown month for me, but not anymore.

Well, my Mattias is not a big birthday person, let alone holiday person for that matter. Well, if the World Cup, Olympics or European Championship or anything Zlatan participates in was a holiday he would be all over it. Point is, he is pretty lousy at planning such days. However, to his defense he did plan a rockin' 30th birthday...totally surprised me, which is good since it was a surprise party. And I am glad he got that one right since it was the Big Cahuna thus far for birthdays...I mean turning 30 was a big freakin deal. However, I do remember my 30th birthday, that I was limbering between totally blue/sad and it's opposite, happy/excited.

Well, this birthday I woke up to my kids. Had anticipated sleeping in but when I woke up I felt pretty well rested. Outside it was a total snowstorm . Mattias was feeling bad and stressing because there were last minute things he needs to do and time was ticking by and the day wasn't turning out as he had planned. He made me breakfast. Then he had to leave to get my birthday present, which was the total highlight of the day! I got a brand new camera. An SLR. I love it! Then we had to go to town but because of the crazy weather, we didn't take the car nor the bus, we decided to foot it. It was the stupidest thing ever. It was nearly impossible to get where we were going as the snow was so thick. Once we were there we were both sweaty from our workout. Enzo whined the entire walk there...because snow was flying in his face. And Mattias and I were thinking shut up kid, we are pushing you in this stroller, you need to just enjoy the ride... Needless to say, Enzo's days was filled with meltdowns... I think this is what ultimately put a damper on my day.

We were at the mall doing last minute shopping like the rest of the nuts/last-minute people. Lines were outrageous. But we were efficient. It was just toys we were getting for Mattias' nephews. When we finally made it back home, I went on a supermarket sweep...not really. But it felt like it. Picked up pizza on the way home from the grocery store. Once the kids were in bed it was last minute preps for Christmas Eve, which is the day they celebrate Christmas here. And then it was bed time. Phew! That day was over and I don't think I relaxed for one minute...well, when I got in the bed for the night. Maybe this is just how birthdays are when you have kids. I don't know but I hope next year isn't the same.

Here's my shopping cart.

Lucia Train/Celebration

December 13th is St. Lucia Day. You can read about it here.
Last year Enzo was a gingerbread man, this year he wanted to be Santa like Aleksander.

Here we are on our way to Enzo's Lucia celebration at school. It looks like night time but it was 7:40am. Enzo has his suit ontop of his overall...it's cold here and they were doing the celebration outside.

Here's Enzo and some of his classmates.

Here are two video clips. One of the beginning of the Lucia train and then one just watching my boy. Enzo had been practicing his songs all week long only to not even open his mouth during the celebration. Typical.

The Elf On The Shelf

We have a started a new tradition in our family for the Christmas holiday. It's the Elf on the Shelf. It's a story about an Elf who is sent to us from Santa to watch the kids during the day. When you get the book and Elf, you have to name him right away. Enzo first wanted to name him Elf...I aksed him again, then he decided his name would be Alex...I think he chose this name because of his brother Aleksander. Anyway, Alex the Elf is here all day long and watches the boys. The boys are not allowed to touch him as this can make his magic disappear thus not allowing Alex to be able to fly to the North Pole every evening to report to Santa how the boys were...if they were naughty or nice. They are encouraged to talk to the Elf...Mattias and I find ourselves talking to Alex more than Enzo. After the boys have gone to bed Alex the Elf flies to the North Pole and reports to Santa. In the morning when the boys wake up Alex has placed himself in a new spot which Enzo is eager to find where. There he sits all day watching. After Dec.25th the Elf is put away/returns to Santa where he stays until next December.

I must say he is the cutest Elf ever and we are glad to have him join our family.

Gingerbread Train

Enzo got this Gingerbread Train in one of our packages from Auntie Carmen. We couldn't wait to make it. I know it doesn't look so great but that part doesn't matter. What matters was that Enzo enjoyed making and mostly enjoyed eating it. We (Enzo and I) did such a horrible putting it together that the locomotive kept tipping over...no joke. It tipped over probably 10times. Enzo wanted to just eat it but I was determined for it to stay up.

Christmas Baking

We had sóme friends come over on a Friday night when Mattias was away at a work Christmas party. We baked sugar cookies and made pizza.

Enzo, Emil and Nina

The work in progress

Enzo and Emil