Things I Am Looking Forward To

We are in for a life changing experience...we think and hope for anyway. If I haven't said it before, this move is HUGE! Everyday I try to get my head around what is going on and what is going to happen in a matter of two months (actually less than two months). I started to think about all the things this move will bring about and all the things I am looking forward to, both in the very near future and in the little farther away future.

Here's the start of a long list of things I am looking forward to. This is in no particular order:

1. Enzo has 9 more days of preschool. This means having him all to ourselves again plus Mattias gets to spend 9 days alone with him, while I am working.

2. Mattias has 10 days of work left! Thank God! I will have my hot swede back without all the grumpiness and tiredness from working the night shift. Sidenote: Must say he is truly great for doing this. I hate to complain about the job since it has brought in some good money to help us on our way to the West.

3. I have 18 more days of work left! YES! This is a bit bitter-sweet. I will miss my colleagues, especially our go-to guy Stefan. He's my B.U.D.D.Y at work. Have a hunch he'll miss me too...he's only mentioned it a few times. The bright side of the matter is, I will be with my hot swede and my Enzo. Not to mention days closer to our trans-atlantic move.

4. Moving west and finding our niche there.

5. Mattias finding a great job thus allowing me to be a stay-at-home mom and to study a little on the side. This also allows us to try for baby nr.2. Yep, we're are baby-crazy and so wanting Enzo to have a sibling.
*Think this one was really 4 things I am looking forward too...oops!

6. Taking advantage of all the nature and outdoorsy activities the Great Northwest has to offer.

7. Seeing my family (parents, uncles, aunts, granparents, cousins etc) on a more regular basis.

8. Stepping into the somewhat "unknown" and finding our way and making our place in it all.

9. Throwing our computer out. It is old (4 years old) and slower than a snail on a good day. We are going to transfer over everything to an external hard drive and anticipate the day we get a new computer.

10. Purchasing bikes for the family. One thing we will miss when we move is biking EVERYWHERE. This is our number one source of transportation, even when we had a car. Now that we have sold our car we are serious bikers... rain or shine baby!

11. Exploring North Tacoma by form of foot and biking. We love to walk as well...it's the european way along with biking that is.

12. Finding great parks for Enzo and Daisy to run free.

13. Teaching Enzo how to ride a trike and then a bike. Or maybe we hop over the trike and go straight for the bike.

See, the list is long and I've only started. I'll stop here for now. More to come.

These Boots Are Made For Walking And Dancing

We bought Enzo some new rain boots with warm and furry lining for his cold days at preschool. Just in case you have forgotten; he is outside all day at preschool...rain or shine. Their motto is: "There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing." So we are equipped!

We tried on the boots last night and he started to bust some moves. Think he likes them! I realized that I have made the mistake of videotaping him sideways and can't figure out how to turn it right side up...so hope you can enjoy the video anyway. Oh yeah, it's a bit dark as well but I just HAD to share it with you. ENJOY!

Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

(photo is from flickr)

My husband is always showering me with comments of my beauty and sexiness. Lately, I tend to feel ugly, old and fat, and I just don't understand what he is seeing. Not sure if it has anything to do with me soon turning 30yrs old or my failure to stay discplined.

You are probably wondering, disciplined in what or for what? I have a tendency to OVER indulge in things that I really like, specifically candy and sweets. I can sometimes do this to the point where I feel nasty afterwards...such as my breakfast post, read the post below. This in turn makes me feel...yucky! Why haven't I learned my lesson?? I want to lose 5-10pounds, just like the next girl, but my eating like a horse puts my working out in vain...what a viscious cycle. Maybe writing this down instead of just thinking it to myself all the time, MIGHT just help me stick to my guns and say NO!

You would think it was drugs I was referring to. Well for me it is, sugar is my drug. But I do, I REALLY do, like food too. Love some good food, like the wonderful dish my brother in-law made this past weekend (fresh salmon with risotto and a creamy orange sauce...MMMM!!! I seem to have a easier time saying no to over indulging in "food" then I do the sweet stuff.

Ok, I am vowing today to stop going overboard! I am taking a step towards "normalcy" with my sugar levels that is. Would love to feel hot and sexy, like my husband always sees, when I hit the BIG 30! Wish me luck! I have a little more than two months left until I am 30. yikes!

Breakfast of Champions...

...oops, I mean my breakfast! Today, for breakfast I ate Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake. I indulged, bite for bite. How did this come to be? I must say this is not a usual thing for me. Last night I decided to bake a cake for my colleagues, just cause. Baked it, despite the fact that I was kind of tired and not really in the baking mood anymore. This is probably why I wasn't happy with the results. So, I ate the disappointing cake, yet delicious, this morning. No, not the whole thing but several bites. I did, however, make a new Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake, (a recipe which I found at Bakerella) for my colleagues this morning. Enzo gladly helped in this early morning baking. I am feeling rather disgusting now...it always finds a way to bite you back, right? Indulging like this is probably the reason why I am not skinny...so be it. That's another discussion for another day...

Declare Yourself

Watch and take action! What a GREAT video!



Go to www.declareyourself.com or google to find out the deadlines for registering in your state.

I've already voted and I'm in Sweden...don't drop the ball!

We Say Farewell!

We sold our beloved car. I know it's just a car. But this is the car we bought when we knew we were going to be three, and no longer just two. This was the first car we purchased together. This was the car we thought we would always have until it died on us. This was our car, a part of our life!

This move is starting to tear at me. Our life, the life we have had thus far is slowly disappearing! I can see it, soon we will be sitting on the floor with just the walls to comfort us. If this is my reality, imagine how "home" will feel for Enzo in a few weeks. Good thing children are resilient.I am sure he will find comfort in knowing we are still here, even if all the stuff is gone. I am starting to have a little anxiety, this move is becoming more and more a reality! Which is good but it is also downright scary!! I know we can do this, I know it feels right in our heart of hearts, but it will tear at my heart and I will shed many tears before it's all over and done with. Not only are we saying goodbye to all our stuff but we are also saying goodbye to our life here in Sweden. Going to cherish the next two months here as much as possible and look forward to what's in store with great anticipation.

Think this is enough blogging for one day...phew! Until we meet again...

Going Noah Crazy

We went to Karlskrona again. We are packing in as many trips as we can before we head out...we're heading there again this coming weekend. This time we spent the weekend at Mattias' brother Andreas' house. It was a fun weekend for Enzo with his cousin NOAH! Noah is almost 3 1/2yrs old. Enzo copied everything Noah did and loved it.

A little lunch outside on the steps.

Fika at Enzo's great-grandparent's house. Noah took it upon himself to dish out cookies to Enzo. Not to mention the day prior he had given Enzo three pieces of candy which Enzo stuffed into his mouth and spit out quickly when I saw what was going on.

Uncle Andreas and the boys. Åsa(Andreas' wife) taught Enzo to call Andreas, Andy-Pandy!

Two little monkey's jumping on the bed...one named Enzo and the other Noah!


And a little driving...


A little snack before bed time.

Cruising the neighborhood on a trike and a bobby car.

Kram(hug)