Happy Birthday to me!!

21 today!! Can't believe it's one year since I celebrated my last birthday ;) It was so funny when I checked my mail and I had like over 100 from Facebook of people saying Happy Birthday. Facebook is good in that way, that U can see when every one's birthday is so I got messages from people I didn't speak to in a long time which is nice!
The day started as usual but only a bit later since the kids have spring break so no school today. We had decided to celebrate me in the evening together with my family so no singing in the morning this time.
Lotta and Jonas went to work and things went back too normal, well except that I had my family like 10 minutes away ;)
They came here and I packed a little bag and we went out to show them Kirkland. First we went to the waterfront where the kids fed the ducks and we just enjoyed the sun. It was a bit cold in the wind but the sun was still warm and nice.
We continued our walk through the little downtown and meanwhile the kids and me went to the park, the adults wanted to check out the stores a bit.
At the park, we all played basket ball and the kids really love my brothers. They all play and have a lot of fun together.
When the others came back, they had been at Starbucks so now they looked all American ;)
After maybe an hour there it was time for lunch and we wanted to eat out since it was my birthday and then we didn't have to go back home. But then it's the problem with Filip's braces. He can't chew anything. So while the others tried to find a place where we could eat, me and Filip went to QFC to but him some liquid food or sth. We ended up with some yogurt and a banana. It's so sad for Filip, and he's gonna have it like this for one month :(
We ate at Zeke's pizza place and it was really good and we were happy to be able to have a easy lunch again ;)
We drove to a park in Juanita where we wanted to see some turtles. I didn't knew there could be any if it's not a tropical environment, but I was wrong ;) There were a lot, sunbathing on the logs ;) It was really cool and my family was impressed and so was I.
Filip was so happy cause Eric and Robin played tag with him and for once he got someone who wanted to play with him and didn't give up (like I always do ;)) They were all sweaty afterwards and Robin didn't have to go out running later tonight cause he had got his exercise now ;)
We went to QFC and bought the ingredients for tonight's birthday dinner: Italian chicken gratin with pasta, I love it!
My family went back to their place to refresh and rest a bit but Eric stayed here and played with the kids. It was so good for me cause I needed some time alone. The day had been pretty tough cause I had put a pressure on myself that it was my job to make sure that every one have a good time since I was the one inviting them. So it was a bit hard having so many people around but after some alone time everything was good.
I had the mission to make the dinner for all 11 of us! I regret that I didn't ask for help ;) It was a lot to do and I was stressed from the clock but I'm glad that I had Eric here so I didn't have to worry too much for the kids.
Lotta and Jonas came home from work and they helped me with the last preparations and we actually manage to fit everyone around the table. It's a lot of work preparing dinner for 11 people and I can't imagine how people with like 8 kids manage! I'll have like covered-dish suppers where everyone brings sth if I'm gonna have a dinner party again ;)
When my family came they met Jonas for the first time since he was at work yesterday, and when Robin was going to introduce himself he said: "Hi, I'm Johan" hahaha that's his friend's name. Totally hilarious!
It was a really nice dinner and everyone said it was good so I'm proud ;) We talked and I think they all enjoyed the others company so I'm happy. I was never really worried about that but it felt good.
For dessert we had a strawberry/rhubarb pie with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. I hadn't made that but it was still delicious and my stomach was screaming afterwards cause I had eaten so much.
I opened my presents while we were seated at the table. I love presents ;) I got $205 all together from my family, my aunt and uncle and my grandma. It's going to my trips so it's super good! From my host family I got a needed new cell phone ;) It's a Nokia X3 and it looks really cool. It's black with red details and it's one where U have to shove up the display to get to the numbers. I don't really know how it works yet cause I need to charge it over the night but tomorrow I'm gonna take some time and go through it. I'm so happy!!
So today was the first whole day with my family here and I'm really happy right now. It's a bit awkward but I know that they are soon gone and I need to enjoy every moment of having them cause then I wont see them again in 6 months!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra.

Day 6 Goodbye New York Hello Seattle

Today the alarm went off at 5 am!! It was early, but I had had a nice night's sleep. It was too early for the breakfast at the hotel so we just packed our bags and went to the airport with the shuttle.
Cause our flight wasn't until 8:20, we had time to eat breakfast there. We took some sandwiches and fruits and also bought some to bring on the plane since there is no food serving on domestic flights.
The flight was rescheduled so we could border a bit earlier, but we still took off an hour later that planned. There were so much traffic and when we got out on the start track, there were like 15 planes ahead of us. And it was raining really bad but the staff was calm. I guess rain is nothing to worry about.
Finally we were in the air and I was just in the row in front of mum and dad so that was nice. We were still in the very end of the plain so the noise was awful but I had my earplugs so that was nice. I was mostly trying to sleep during the whole flight. Sometime I played a question game they had on the screen but it was a bit to hard.
It was nice to see the familiar surroundings and to land on home ground. On the airport it all went smooth and we all got our luggage. Lotta and the kids met us there and it was really nice to see them all again. The kids were really glad to see me again and Sofia told me that she had missed me so much. She had brought some gifts that she had made. A bookmark and a letter/drawing. So sweet! Filip had just got his braces and he's all colourful in the mouth now, but it hurts.
My family went to get their rental car and I went with Lotta and the kids to their car since we didn't really know how much luggage the car could take. We waited for them outside the garage but missed them so we had to catch them on the freeway but the we led the way to our house. The rental car is a blue dodge van and it's really new and cool ;)
Since it was already lunch, Lotta went to Noah's and got us some bagels while Sofia and Filip showed my family the house. The kids played some WII with my brothers and Robin accidentally hit Eric in the face with the remote, what a great start here ;)
I made some noodle soup for the kids and when Lotta came back, we all had some salmon bagels. Jummie!
I shoved my family the way to their house and pointed out where they could go and shop for food. I went back immediately cause Lotta needed to take Filip back to the dentist cause there was a thing that had come loose. Me and Sofia played beauty salon and unpacked my bags. The kids were glad for my gifts, the necklace for Sofia and Filip got a Sonic movie (the blue hedgehog)
It just feels nice to be back but a bit weird to have my family in MY kitchen. In New York we were on vacation but now it's my routines and work. I think it's gonna be a bit weird but at the same time I'm so glad that they also can see how my life is here.
We made dinner and Sofia took a bath and life was back to normal ;) After dinner I went to my family's house and checked how everything was going. They seemed to be fine and I went to Starbucks to see my friends again! OMG I've missed them so much so it was really nice to see them. Both Anna and Emilie had cut their hair and Emilie is now a brunette instead of blond! That was a real change but it suited her really good!
I went home just after an hour cause I needed to write here and I was also tired. I want to go to sleep as fast as possible so it can be my birthday quickly! Well, in Sweden it's already my birthday!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Day 5 Last day with shopping in Soho

Today (Monday) was Sirpa's birthday! Grattis Grattis! She didn't want us to celebrate her in some special way but a Happy Birthday hug was in order ;)
The weather was awful today, it was windy and raining. We didn't have much luck with the weather on this trip but I think today was the worst.
After our last breakfast at this hotel, we packed our bags and checked out. We hurried so that we could catch one bus before our tickets expired. We went of in Soho for some shopping. We had seen some nice shops on the tours and we hadn't really done any shopping. But the weather was so boring that we didn't spend so much time there. I think I went the wrong direction cause I didn't find that many nice stores. I went on my own cause I didn't want to wait for 6 other people and I guess that they didn't wanted to run with me everywhere ;)
I did buy a longer, striped shirt that was kind of thin so I think it will be nice for the summer. There were also one store that I fell in love with. It was a jewelery store that was all pink and the walls were covered with necklaces and bracelets. They had all jewellery U can imagine and I bought two rings and a necklace to Sofia. It was with a cat and some diamonds and I think she will be happy.
We had lunch at a Italian restaurant in Little Italy ;) It was very nice!
My parents think that we have only been eating on this trip. It has been a bit twisted cause we have always had a big lunch and than a small dinner cause everyone are so full. They are glad that they soon have their own kitchen they can cook in ;)
After lunch, we went back to the hotel by cab. That's an adventure I can tell U! They drive as they want, and it goes quickly. But it's effective and U get where U want without paying too much.
The hotel arrange a shuttle for us cause the last night we are staying at another hotel, much closer to the airport. A puerto rican (or sth) drove us and he looked just like Antonio Banderas, the guy who plays Zorro ;) He had a nice car, a black Escalade, and he talked Spanish or sth all the way in his phone. But the traffic there were awful. I think it took like an hour to get to the new hotel and everyone were totally exhausted after that trip.
When we had checked in, I went to sleep immediately while the others went to the bar ;) This trip has been so breathtaking and exhausting and I guess that I haven't really been sleeping.
When it was dinner time, we went to the restaurant in the hotel and had a nice dinner. No one was really hungry, except Robin, but everyone ate their whole plate. I guess we all have been American after this trip ;)
Robin, Eric and i went upstairs and watched a street magican that we had talked about, Chris Angel, before we all went to bed at 9! We had to get up at 5 tomorrow so we wanted to have some sleep.

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Day 4 Madison Square Garden & American Museum of Natural History

Today was the first day that we split up in the morning cause we wanted to do different things. Mum and Sirpa went to a church in Harlem to listen to gospel music while the rest of us (except Robin who was too tired) went on a tour in Madison Square Garden!! It's the world's most famous arena where they have a lot of different shows and sports. It's the home arena to the New York Rangers (ice hockey), the Knicks (Basket) and the Liberty (women basketball) Today, there was a circus so they really have a lot of different activities.
The tour started with a movie in one of the V.I.P restaurants where they told us a bit of the history. There have been 3 others Madison Square Gardens before this one and all of them on different locations. It's a really cool and big place!
When the movie was over, a girl from the Knicks' Cheerleaders came and we could ask her questions and take pictures with her. She looked like a doll and Janne was almost first up from his chair ;)
Then we continued through a big theater they had just below the big arena and it's possible to have both a show down there and at the same time have a ice hockey game above cause it's so good isolated that U never hear the 18 000 screaming fans above U. Below is also the busiest train station in the whole city, and it wasn't even noticeable.
Cause of the circus, we couldn't go in to the arena but instead we spend some time in the V.I.P loge so we could view the arena and get to see some of the circus. It was a bit dark buy we could still see how big it was. So sad that we couldn't get some tickets for a game.
The highlight of the tour was the locker rooms. First we entered the Knicks' where they have an extra high door so the players can come in without hitting their heads ;) I'm not a basketball fan so I don't know the players but it was cool anyways. The guide showed us a pair of shoes that had the European size 51!!! They were big ;)
But the best thing on the tour was the Rangers' locker room. Where Henrik Lundqvist sits!! AAHHH!! Unfortunately we couldn't go very far in and he had his spot around the corner, but the nice guide took pictures of his name for us! AAHHH...too bad they had a away game at the same time.
After a lot of pictures the tour was over and we went back to the hotel and picked up Robin before we went to Times Square to meet up with mum and Sirpa to go and have lunch somewhere. We ended up at Sbarro, a Italian pizza place. It's simple but good.
Then we split up again and Janne went to some music museum and Sirpa went shopping while me and my family went to the American museum of Natural History, the one from the movie: "A night at the museum" Outside was Roosevelt guarding and in the lobby was a huge skeleton from a dinosaur. So cool! Everything was big and so realistic. We started with African mammals where the big elephants and the lions were. The scenes with the animals where so great made with like a deeper feeling in the background painting. It really felt like U where there in a moment on the savanna or in the jungle.
There were also a lot about people and the living in different places of the earth. There were also a whole section with skeletons from dinosaurs and other extincted animals. They had so many great stuff and it was so big that we didn't go through it all. We were all really tired.
We walked to the museum and then we walked through Central Park. Even though it's not really spring yet here, U could understand the greatness of the park. Big green fields, trees, flowers and water for all people to just adore. I love it.
After all the walking, every one's legs were tired so we took one of the bus tours back. Fortunately for us we just cought the last one that went past the museum, and it was one with roof so we got great seats. We had already been on that once but it was nice to sit down.
We went off at Times Square and walked back to the hotel where Sirpa and Janne already were.
After a short rest we went out to have dinner and we found a nice steak house or sth like that. I had a soup, cause I was a bit cold, and it was really nice.
On our way back we stopped at a souvenir shop and I bought two t-shirts and some other souvenirs. Just realized that I've bough 4 t-shirts here, how fun is that? Tomorrow we are going shopping so I hope I can find sth more fun!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Day 3 Empire State building & Hard Rock

OMG, today we all were really tired. It's a hard deal being a tourist in New York ;) My mum had also got migraine during the night so she stayed in bed this morning. We all had a great breakfast today as well, with the chocolate donut ;)
We took another bus tour today, the one who goes through uptown Manhattan where we saw a lot of museums, churches, Central Park among others. It was soooo cold, OMG! We tried to wait for a bus with a roof but it never came one so we took one without roof but we still wanted to sit upstairs to get good pictures. I don't think I've ever been so cold. And now I'm not used to the cold either but the others were also freezing.
The tour was really nice with a lot of nice buildings and the guide was all in to architecture so we got some good details from all the creations. We saw the National Museum of History and I so wanna go there. It's the museum from the movie: "A night at the museum" and I think it's pretty cool!
Central Park was really big and I think it's fascinating that they have such a big area in the middle of the city. Great for the people!
We decided to walk to the Times Square instead of taking the bus all the way, cause we were too cold. And I was so cold that I couldn't stop rattle my teeth or relax so my back was hurting so bad. It was really weird, I thought I would be used from the cold of Sweden but no viking at all ;)
It was lunch time and I wanted to go to Hard Rock Cafe and convinced everyone that it was really good. We called mum and she was feeling better so she should meet us there. I'm so glad that she could join us and not be in bed all day.
The restaurant, which I think is the coolest and best every where ;), was at Times Square and we could walk there. Our hotel is located really great, we can walk to almost everything. Well almost ;)
Anyway, the Hard Rock was awesome! Huge and this cool, rocky atmosphere that they are famous for. I love it! we got a table and ordered our food, which of course was delicious. The others thanked me for suggesting this and I said that U are never disappointed at Hard Rock! We went to the shop, when we were done, and I bought my first Hard Rock t-shirt! It's a plain, black one with their logo on and then it says New York. I'm gonna buy the same in Seattle as well!
We walked back to the hotel and looked in shops on our way back. We decided to go up the Empire state building that's just around the corner from the hotel. On our way there, a lot of tourist guides tried to stop us to buy tickets but we just said: "Already got one" It's crazy how many people there is trying to sell U their tourist package. But that's their living so.
In the building there were of course a security gate and then we had to wait in line maybe 30 minutes or so before we could go in a elevator that took us 86 floor up ;) It was high! The view was amazing and U could see all over Manhattan and over the rivers to Brooklyn and New Jersey. U could also see the Statue of Liberty, really small but still. We took some grate pictures and the yellow taxi cabs looked like ants ;) I'm so amazed of how they can build so high, around 400 m I think it was. It's just so cool!
After like half an hour we were done and we took the elevators down again. I wonder how long it would take to walk down the stairs. Apparently there is a world record in running up the stairs. Robin said it was about 18 minutes! OMG!
When we got out, we didn't really know what to do so we walked back to the hotel, me and Sirpa went another way so we came to the biggest Macy's in the world! We didn't went in, just checked the open hours.
I was so tired when we got back to the hotel, but the time was only about 8:30 so we went out again cause we needed sth to eat and the grown ups wanted a beer or sth. They found a nice place where they could get sth to drink but us kids went to Wendy's (a burger restaurant) and brought some food to the hotel room. There we watched Terminator 2 and just ate candy after dinner ;) It was nice, hanging out with my brothers again. Just wrestling and goofying around as usual ;)
Now I'm so tired that I almost can't hold my eyes open, I need some sleep cause tomorrow's gonna be a long day again!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Day 2 Statue of Liberty

Today we woke up from the heating thingi in our room. It's a big black box and it sounded that someone lived there and wanted to come out. :)
We went down and had breakfast and it was really good. There were cereals, eggs, toasts, fruit and of course some muffins and donuts ;)
Full of energy we went outside to have a look and decide what to do. We didn't come far until a tour guide grabbed the adults and started to talk about a bus tour through the city. Me and my brothers went in to a store and didn't really pay attention to them cause I felt like it wasn't anything serious. But when we got out there it looked like they were thinking of taking it. We got some brochures and we walked some and thought of it. There was one package where U got bus tickets for three days and also three admissions for different attractions here. We decided ti take it cause then U can use buses when ever U want and U can go on and off where ever U want during the tours which is really good.
We bought the tickets and went on a bus. The buses are double-Decker with either an open roof or a glass roof. Today was really windy and cold so we didn't wanted to sit upstairs if there were no roof.
We decided to take the ferry to the Liberty Island where the Statue of Liberty is so we went off at Battery Park and exchange one of our three tickets and went on the ferry. The weirdest thing was that there were a safety control the same as at the airport ;) I guess the Statue of Liberty is a pretty high priory target or sth.
Before we went on, Robin and Eric made each a caricature of themselves and they were really good! He draw them as a skier and a snowboarder. But the worst was that it stood that they cost $5, which is really good, but then if U took the frame (that U NEEDED cause otherwise the drawing charcoal would be messy) it was $25! A really expensive frame, that was just out of paper. They know how to make money!
If we thought that it was cold in the city, whit the wind, it was freezing on the ferry! We sat on the top deck cause we wanted good pictures but it was so cold and I didn't have any gloves!
Anyway, it was really cool to see the statue and from the boat we got really nice pictures. We went off the boat on the island so that we came closer and it was so cool. I can't believe that we actually were just bellow the Statue of Liberty! I mean, people like us just see that in movies ;)
Me and Eric played tag ( I think he and Filip will get along well ;)) and we took some nice pictures. There were also a gift shop and Eric bought a miniature of the lady and Janne bought a cap and mum bought of course a magnet for the fridge ;)
We went back to Manhattan, via Ellis Island, and we all were really hungry so we searched for a place to eat. On our way, Robin bought a purple "I love New York" sweater ;)
We found a nice, little place that had all sort of stuff to eat but we all took Cheeseburgers and they were so good. Big and not that greasy as burgers can be.
Now when we all had filled up on energy we continued our day in the city. We went to a wine and liquor store where they adults bought whisky and wine ;) The kids (me and my brothers...well maybe just me ;)) looked at the weird goldfishes they had in a aquarium. It looked like they had swallowed a golf ball and there were on that was without eyes and one with a big "super" brain on his forehead ;) Really fascinating!
We continued one Broadway and passed Wall street on our way to Ground Zero. U can't really see so much there since everything is a construction place now, but I was really amazed over the size of the place. It covers like three blocks or sth. Another cool thing is that there was a statue between the two towers, like a globe or sth, and when the horrible disaster was, the globe survived and stands now in Battery park where we took the ferry. On the year day of the 9/11 they lightened an eternal flame there as well, and it was still burning. I can't believe that it's 9 years ago!
After ground zero, we jumped backed on the bus and took it all the way to Time Square. This time, it was a bus with a glass roof so we sat up front and it was perfect. U saw so much and the guide was really good!
At Time Square the kids went in to the mm&m's store while the adults took a beer at a pub close by. I really like that store, they have so much cool things. Almost everything U can think of, with a m&m symbol of any kind ;) There were also some people dressed out as the m&m's ;) I bought a t-shirt and some candy.
When we met up with the other, we went on another bus that was a evening tour. This time we also got the seats in the upper front, which was great. And now everything looked so different cause of the dark and all the lights. The tour took us over the bridge and out to Brooklyn. It was really beautiful but it's so sad that it's hard to take pictures when it's dark and U're in movement.
The bus dropped us off only one block from the hotel so we didn't have to walk that far. We all were tired and it was nice to come to the hotel again. Mum and dad went out again and bought sth to drink before we went down to the restaurant again and had a nice meal.
I went upstairs early and took a nice shower and now I'm just update U all here!
I'm just so happy that I'm here together with the people I love the most and I feel really blessed being able to see all these fabulous things! And it's so cute to see my dad and brothers trying to talk English ;)

Miss U all1
Love Sandra

My Family New York Day 1

Today (Thursday) I walked with the kids to school with a sad feeling inside. I know that I'm only gonna be away for 5 days but I couldn't help feeling that I'll miss them. If I feel this when I'm only away this short, how will I feel when I'll go home? I don't even wanna think of that now.
When I came home again I went over my packing and I looked through every part of my room to see if I had missed anything. I don't like to pack cause I never know what to bring and I'm always afraid to forget anything. But then, I'm going to New York so I guess I can buy it there ;)
At 10:30 Anna, my dear, came and drove me to the airport. I was sad leaving her too! But it was nice to finally be at the airport. OMG! After so many months of talking and planning, the day was finally here when I was gonna meet my family, after 7 months!
The check-in went smooth and I got through the security without any problem. I needed to go to the bathroom and I had one hour left before my flight was. But of course they were cleaning the women's bathrooms so there were only two family restrooms for us to use and the line was loooong! I was a bit stressed but then they opened the bathrooms and I didn't miss my flight ;)
The flight was good, long but that I knew ;) My seat was pretty in the back and I was next to a Jewish guy from Israel and he had his book and sang some songs from time to time ;) I couldn't really sleep but I was resting with my music in my ears and the time wasn't that slow as I though and before I knew it, I was in New York!!
When I went in to JFK I had a lot of butterflies in my stomach and I searched from mum and dad who I knew were already here. When I peeked out of a door, I saw toe familiar faces! I ran to them and crying I fell in to their arms. Oh what a wonderful moment. I couldn't say anything, I just cried. Eric was also there and he had really grown! Robin, my aunt and uncle where at the other terminal, guarding the luggage.
This feels so unreal, my family here! OMG I'm so happy and I feel now that I've really missed them. But this is also so unlike our family. I mean, we are the type that stays in Sweden with our caravan. And now we all are in New York, together!! OMG!
After we got my luggage we went to the others and it was really nice to meet them as well. We took a car that took us to our hotel and it was a bit far. All the others were really tired of the long flight and with the time difference. But I had energy since I'm only three hours behind. I guess I'll be tired in the morning.
Our hotel is called Comfort Inn and it's just behind Empire State building so on Manhattan. It's pretty close to everywhere and it looks good. There were almost an disaster just when we arrived at the hotel. I couldn't find my laptop bag anywhere, and no one had taken it. I was totally freaked out but then I called the driver, a good thing that we got his number! And he was already on his way back cause he had seen it. Thank God the driver was a honest man!
I'm staying with Sirpa and Janne (my aunt and uncle) and the room is a bit small and smells like someone has been smoking a lot there but I mean, we are just sleeping there so it's OK.
It was like 10:30 or sth when we arrived and me and Eric were hungry. I didn't have a real lunch on the plane cause I thought it was included but it wasn't. So we went to the bar/restaurant in the hotel and we had a good pizza. We sat there for a while and the adults had a beer (only 6 days left ;))
I wasn't tired when we went to bed so I listened to some music and Janne is snoring really much so I used some earplugs but they were so good that I couldn't hear anything. It was kind of creepy, just hearing some hiss inside my head ;) I almost wanted the snoring more but then I fell asleep.

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Tomorrow it's it!!!

I can't wait until tomorrow!!!!! I love U all!!

Free pastry on Starbucks!

Today, after I went with the kids to school, I met up with Ramona and Anna at my place and we walked together down to Starbucks. If U bought a drink there today before 10:30 U got a free pastry. Of course we didn't wanna miss that opportunity ;)
We brought our coffee and cookies to the waterfront and enjoyed the nice morning. It's good now when it's spring and almost summer cause U can do so much more together and in the evenings it's bright a longer time!
I followed Anna home cause I wanted to print my receipt for the trip! OMG it's on the day after tomorrow!
I also let Anna have some of my pictures and I got some that I was missing. Slater (her kid) was sick today but he had such a smile on his face. He's so cute! They have a dog as well, Ace. He's not so cute and pretty dumb ;) U can always be amused by Acie Boy...hahah!
I went home and talked some with my friend Elin and with my brother Robin before I had lunch and watched two more episodes of Desperate Housewives. I've started on season one since I didn't see any before I came here.
I went to the kids school but we didn't go home until an hour after they were off school cause they played at the schoolyard. I had brought a ball and some snack and it was so good weather so it was nice. It's good when I don't need to pick them up by car, like when I pick up Agnes before. So we are gonna change the day that I don't pick up Agnes so that we can stay a bit more often.
When we got home, Filip did his homework after a lot of discussions. He's in that phase where he doesn't like school or homework. Every morning there is discussion and every afternoon. I don't really know what to say cause just: " U have to go to school to learn" is not helping!
I did dinner and when Lotta and Jonas got home, I had to go. Not because of college this time, but I had a soccer game. Jen picked me up as usual and it's good that it wasn't as late as last time.
This team was also really good but this time we had Allison back and we had a real goalie. Sadly, we lost this one too but only with 2-1. This ref allowed some more ruff play and I was so mad at the girl I had in the middle cause she always had an arm in my chest and I never really got the chance of taking her down ;) But it was a fun game to play, more like back home so I'm happy! I actually I got open with the goalie but blew it, as usual, so that was the least happy part of the game.
All around the field there were like a swamp or sth so we had some nice music during our game from the thousands of frogs who lived there! A bit early we thought!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Kind of a boring day

Today I was a bit tired, but I guess it's just cause it's Monday. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to the gym cause my knee was still a bit sore since the weekend. Finally the yes part was heavier so I went and did some work out on my own and tried not to strain my knee. After one hour I was sweaty enough and took a nice shower.
The rest of the day was really slow and boring. I updated the blog, I was on my computer and I watched the latest Desperate Housewives, that's it. Sounds exciting right? ;)
I was glad when I could pick up the kids and finally do sth. We stayed at school and played at the playground.
The kids got a new toy to have outside. It's a ball on a rope that is on a high stick and U are supposed to get it around the whole pole before your opponent. I called it Smash ball in school. Anyway, we put it together today and the kids love it.
After dinner I went to Bellevue and the Build a Bear store. It's so cool, U make your own teddy bear and then U can buy almost anything to them. Clothes, accessories, shoes, pets etc. It so much fun!
Now it's only 3 days left!!!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Birthday movie and dinner

Today (Sunday) I first woke up by the family, as usual, but when they had left for the Swedish school I manage to fall back to sleep. But then there was some stupid construction work outside my window! Hallo, it's Sunday and I didn't go to bed until 5am!!!
Laura and me went down and had breakfast and she left pretty soon cause she had some stuff that needed to be done.
I did some laundry and wrapped Anna's present that she was gonna get today. I also made a birthday card!
At 3, Anna picked me up and we went to Bellevue to see the movie: Shutter Island with Leonardo DiCaprio in the leading role. It was a horror movie about a mental hospital and I thought it was really good. It was a bit weird sometimes but not as scary as I thought. And the end was really unpredicted.
It was me, Ramona, Hanna and Anna who saw the movie and afterwards, Ramona went home but instead Kadda join us. We all went to Cheesecake Factory to have a little birthday dinner for Anna.
This time I tried a burger, but never more. Well, at least not that one cause it was dry and boring. A bit disappointed there but I took a Carrot cake for dessert and that was perfect. I even got some leftovers I'll have tomorrow ;)
The waiters came and sang for Anna and she was a bit embarrassed but it was fun ;)
She got some presents as well. From me she got a protection shell for her Ipod and a blue headband as a start on her tennis outfit ;) From Kadda she got German chocolate and pudding :)
We were all a bit tired so everyone went home to their place and I sat in the sofa with the computer in my lap and tried to do sth useful, but I didn't :)
Tomorrow is a new week and only 3 days until New York and I can hug my family again for the first time in 7 months!! OMG I'm so excited!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Snoqualmie and Party

Today (Saturday) I went with the family to the slopes in Snoqualmie. The weather was so nice, today as well ;) The sun was shining and it was really warm. The snow was heavy and sticky so it wasn't the best for skiing but still OK.
We went up and down a couple of times before we had lunch out in the sun shine ;) We did some more runs and at around 3 we went back home. But we made a quick stop at the Donut place in Issaquah and bought some with us ;)
I took a really nice shower cause I didn't shower yesterday after the soccer and it has started to itch ;)
I did some organisation for the evening before I went out for a walk, in my t-shirt!, and stopped at Ben and Jerry's that had reopened after some reconstruction. They are so good!! I walked down to the water with my ice cream and sat there for a while and just watched all the people!
On my way home I went to QFC and bought a soda for the party tonight.
It was so nice weather and when I got home, the kids were outside playing with some other kids and Jonas had just started the grill!! It really felt like summer and not in the middle of March.
I needed to clean my room and carry up the extra bed cause Laura was spending the night here since she lives in Issaquah and didn't want to drive that far in the middle of the night.
We had a really good BBQ dinner with Crab as a start and then Lamb ;) I never had crab before but it was good.
I started to get ready for the party, I curled my hair and put on make up and then Laura was here. She taught my host parents were some friends of mine that were also coming to the party. Totally hilarious! She was like asking Lotta what she was doing here and how long they were here. She was throwing her stuff at the sofa and talked with Jonas about the movie that was on. First I wondered why she was so nice and weir to them but then I understood ;) When I told her that they were my host parents, she was so embarrassed and went down to apologise ;)
She's really funny Laura and a bit fuzzy but I like her. She told me the most incredible story about what had happened to her today. She had bumped in to another car and there she had met a really handsome guy who asked for her number. But she was so confused and all hyper from the "car crash" that she said: "There's no need for that cause there weren't anything wrong with the cars so why should we exchange numbers?" Later she realized that he wanted to go out with her but now it was too late. OMG, she had just missed a great opportunity and she was really pissed when she got home. But after some thinking she decided to try to find him cause he was a pizza delivery so she knew where he worked. On her way to my place she went to the pizza place and just when she arrives, he comes out. So she told him that she had been a idiot earlier and they exchanged number and are now gonna meet again. This is so cool! I hope everything will go well for her.
We finished our outfits, which were green of course since this was a St Patrick's theme party. I had a green dress, and black tights with green clovers on the side. I had a necklace with a horse shoe and clovers on and I had painted my nails green ;) So nice!
I was the driver for the evening since I'd promised Emilie that. She was "sick" so she couldn't come anyway but we went and picked up Hanna, Anna and Kadda. After I left them at the party, me and Hanna went to Seattle and picked up another gang that had asked for a ride. Kind as I am I couldn't say no and I know how hard it is to get a ride and I could make some extra money.
Finally I also came to the party, and it was only half an hour left until 12 and Anna's birthday. Good thing I didn't miss that!
She had a Champangebottle and at 12 we sang and popped that and she got a pink banderol with the text: Birthday princess that she wore together with her crown ;) It was a really great party with fun people and it wasn't too much which is good cause his place is really small.
Well, sadly I wasn't so much at the party cause I also drove the Seattle gang back home, that only stayed for 1,5 h! And they were living so far away that I spend most of the time in the car. But I always had company in the car so it was OK but it was sad that I couldn't be at the party with Anna more.
Of course we stopped at Mac Donald's before we went home and me and Laura wasn't in bed until 5 am!
Next party will be a Mexican theme and then it's TEQUILA for everyone! And I'll be 21 so it's perfect!!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

A whole day with the kids

Today (Friday) the kids were off school cause there was a leap day. The weather was so nice so we decided to go to a park. Me and Sofia first went to QFC and bought some good stuff to bring as a picnic. There were jummy sandwiches, kiwis, strawberries and cookies!
We also brought like every kind of sport that we have here: soccer, baseball, Frisbee. We wanted to have a long and nice day out in the sun ;)
We went to a park called Idlewood park and is in Redmond. It's a really big green area right at the water and there is a beach, a playground and a volley ball field! It's so beautiful and such a great place to spend a day at.
We started with some sports and then we went on the playground before we ate our picnic. The sun was rising higher on the sky and it also got warmer. The kids felt sorry for the lonely duck couple, that had decided to try their luck at our table, and threw some pieces of the sandwiches to them. Then we were attacked by several of their bird friends! So we had to watch our food the rest of the day ;)
There was a whole school class there at one time and then, me and Filip went to the volley ball field to be alone and it was so nice in the sand. We took our shoes off and Filip actually took his t-shirt of.
Sofia had found a friend to play with and we were at the water playing in the sand and the kids got all dirty but it didn't matter. I think that kids need to get dirty, that's when it's most fun!
Filip asked if he could go in to the water but it's not that warm yet. I was forced to go in to it cause Filip kicked the ball in the water. It was cold!!
After maybe 4 hours we all were exhausted and the kids were wet and dirty so we went home where Sofia took a bath and Filip a shower. I did some laundry and other stuff before we went outside again. We did some soccer but then we went to the sun wall and red some stories. I made a rosehip soup, a Swedish cold soup to drink when it's warm. Filip really liked it but Sofia didn't. We had a really cozy afternoon and we played some four square when Lotta and Jonas got home.
We all went downtown to have dinner. We went to a Greek restaurant and brought the food to the waterfront and had it there. It was so nice! There were some really cute puppies and Sofia got really upset when she was told that she couldn't have one. She said that we could take her money and she really didn't understand that it's not a money issue. She was crying all the way home, poor little girl.
Today I had signed up for soccer again, at the Arena Sport in Redmond. This time it was me, Hanna and Katrine and we were all at the same team. This time it wasn't as fun as the other times cause we just met teams that were unbelievable good. There were one Asian team and they were all so quick and technical with the ball.
One in our team, who was the goalie, was kicked in the face so the lip cut open and they had to call 911 cause he also was dizzy. And in like 5 minutes two hot fire fighters were there and looked after.
We lost all the games but I scored once and it's still a really fun way to meet new people but I think we have to play in the next session between 11-01 instead cause there were all the young people!
I was really sore in my knee when I got home and today I said yes to playing a game on Sunday in the morning but I think I'll have to say no cause I don't think my knee will make it.

Miss U all!
Love Sandra.

The only regular day this week

Today was the first, and last, regular day this week. I went up at 7 and made breakfast to the kids and then at 8:30 we went to school.
I couldn't go to the gym this morning cause I needed to be home and wait for a guy who would exchange our Comcast TV box. Yes, this as well had broke. So instead of the gym I did a couple of exercises at home and I'm really proud of myself cause I got tired ;)
Then I Skyped with my best friends and we talked for like an hour and it was so nice cause now I really miss them and I could easily flight back home right now! We talked about everything and we decided to go to Kos when I come back. Another friend is working there as a bartender so it would be really fun to visit her!
I went to Bellevue and got the final present for Anna, who's birthday is on Sunday. I won't tell U what I got her cause she might be reading this. ;)
It was so nice weather and when I got back home, I still had like 2 hours before I should pick up the kids so I laid on our sofa outside in the sun wall and I fell asleep ;) It was nice but a bit cold when the wind blew in, but I was actually bare legged (donno if that's a word) and it felt like summer!
When I picked up the kids we stayed at the schoolyard and I let them play with their friends. It's good that they can socialize a bit and play with others cause I'm not a play lady!
We walked back home after half an hour maybe and they got a snack and Filip did his homework. His grasshopper project got great words and on Monday he is going to read about the life cycle to the rest of the class. He's a bit nervous but we'll practice back home.
Sofia has these small Barbie-likely Disney princesses that U can dress and play with. We played with them but did it a bit crazy, we put the dresses on the animals and so on. It was fun and we laughed a lot about Mrs Teapot ;)
After dinner, I went to Bellevue again to meet Hanna who needed sth for the St Patricks party on Saturday. Soon Linn joined us, another Swedish aupair, but it was hard finding sth. I'm glad I'm already done ;) It was nice to walk around, talking and looking and I actually didn't buy anything so I'm proud ;)
Me and Hanna went to Starbucks and sat there for like an hour while I waited for my bus and we talked about our kids and families and everything back home etc. I had a really nice evening but now I need to sleep so that I have energy for a whole day with the kids tomorrow! I hope it's good weather so that we can go to a park.

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

ps. One week to go before New York! ds.

Happy St Patrick's day

Today (Wednesday) it was St Patrick's day and here they are all in to this! Everyone where wearing green and all over there were clover and horseshoes everywhere.
The kids had a dentist appointment today at 10 so we could sleep a little longer in the morning before we left. Their teeth looked great except of Filip's front tooth that is coming out from a wrong angle. But he's going to a specialist next week and Dr Rama sent an email to him about the tooth.
They got each a toothbrush that's twinkle for two minutes so they now how long they have to brush. So cool ;)
When the kids were at school, I went to the post office and mailed my taxes and then I went to Mc Donald's and brought home lunch ;) I ate it in front of FRIENDS and I didn't leave the sofa until it was time to pick up Filip and Christopher who were gonna play together
Sofia had art class and today it last for two hours cause they missed another time. So it was a really calm afternoon and after I also picked up Sofia, I did homework with Filip but the they went outside and continued the building of their tree house they have in the garden. Well, it's not really a tree house more like a fence they have put in the corner ;) But they were really hard-working and cooperated really good.
Meanwhile, I was inside and made dinner, a curry chicken with rice and wooked vegetables. It was so good!! I'm good ;)
After dinner I looked through some programs that I can imagine to study. I ended up with 10! There were so many things that sounded good, but how will I be able to chose? I put the paper with all the programs over my bed so I can see it everyday and then think of it. One thing that I have decided is that I wanna study in Gothenborg. I also mailed my friend and asked for her opinion so we'll See what she says ;)
Later I finally met Anna!! It was so nice to see her after her two weeks of vacation. She came here and we went out for a walk but sadly there were no game on the baseball field so we just walked around in downtown and watched all the people who were out partying. U know that St Patrick's day is only one more excuse for partying for the Americans. We so badly wanted to go in to a bar cause it was so good music and we so wanted a beer! Only a few more weeks!
We walked around just talking for maybe an hour and it was so nice to update on our lives. It's so nice that everything is back to normal, and now I can play tennis again ;)

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

One of those bad days

Today (Tuesday) wasn't the best day ever. I was so tired when I woke up and just in a bad mood all day. It didn't help that the kids were only in school until 12 today as well and now the weather wasn't so good so we couldn't go outside.
Since I was so tired, I went back to sleep when I got back home, but I had to go up at 11:30 again cause I needed to go and get the kids :(
We had lunch and then we actually saw a movie, The journey to the center of the earth. Good and really nice for me who was tired ;)
After, we finished Filip's grasshopper. Now we did the 3D model out of sth called Bendaroos. It's sticky sticks that U can put together and create really cool stuff ;) It turned out really well and I'm proud of OUR project ;) I hope he (we) gets an A!
We also had some clay that we could use but we ended up baking cookies with it instead ;) Me and Sofia made some nice dinosaurs, well she made a crocodile but still.
The time went bye so slow and since I was still in a bad mood, I guess I wasn't so fun to hang out with. But finally the sun came out and we went on our street and played. It was nice but then I had to go inside and make dinner.
Tonight was my last German lesson and it was nice. We got some chocolate from Switzerland that was very good ;)
Instead of going to Starbucks afterward, I had my first Tuesday game with my new team. It was perhaps not the ultimate time or weather for a soccer game. At 9:15 PM and in rain. But that don't stop a true spirit and I drove all the way to Seattle to play. This season is gonna be much better that the previous once cause we are playing in a higher division so the competition is stronger and the teams are better. The team we played were really good and they were young which made me think of how much I miss my team back in Sweden. OMG, I wanna go back and start practice with them again and just hang out as we used too. We did everything together! I miss you my green and white sisters!! And brothers too ;)
Well, I started the game as a keeper cause we don't really have one so everyone is sharing. But then I was a forward which was kind of awkward cause they play with three up top so I'm not really sure of how to play. And I don't like waiting for the ball. I'm more comfortable on the midfield but it was fun and a lot more tougher that usual.
I didn't score but I laid a pretty nice free kick, if I might say so ;) that ended up in goal bye Jen! It was nice.
Well, we lost the game with like 7-2 but some of the goals were unnecessary but they were a really good team. But I like the level on the game and they told me that every game is gonna be like this. I'm so excited!
It was really late when I drove home and I started to think of my family that is soon coming. I'm so excited but also nervous cause I think it's gonna hurt so bad when they leave again. When I left them six months ago, it wasn't so bad cause then everything was so exciting. But now I know what I had back home and how much I miss them. It's just gonna be so hard letting them go once more. But I know that we are gonna have a great 2 weeks together and then it's only about 6 months left which will be full of great adventures here so I guess (and hope) that it'll go quickly.
When I got home I went straight to bed, without showering! Cause the shower is next to the kids room and it would have woken them up. ;)
Oh, that's right: Kadda also is going to San Fran with me and Emilie! Jippie!!!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Sun Sun Sun

Today the kids were only in school until 12 cause the teachers have conference in the afternoon, and it's gonna be the same tomorrow.
So during the three hours they were in school, I went to Target to exchange one thing and I went to QFC and NOAH's Bagels and bought tonight's dinner.
The hours went really fast and soon it was time to pick p the kids again. Since I don't have to pick up Agnes before I always walk which is much nicer. And today it was so nice outside. It was sunny and warm. I bet around 20 degrees.
Filip walked with our neighbours back home and they invited him and Sofia to their house later to play. But first we had lunch and then we worked on Filip's grasshopper model. We decorated a shoebox today so it looks like the habitat of a grasshopper. It turned out really well and tomorrow we are going to make the grasshopper.
The kids went off to the neighbours and stayed there for two hours or sth. I first enjoyed the sun in our backyard and then I finished my German home work.
when the kids come back home, we all were out in our back yard and sat on the sofa ad I red to them. It was so nice and cozy.
Then we played some card before we went out to play on the street. It was a really nice day with the kids and when Jonas and Lotta got home, we had dinner out on our terrace thingi and it was still warm. Well, some more degrees wouldn't hurt but I could be there in a t-shirt so it wasn't too cold. ;) How was it back home?
I started to sort out stuff that my family can take back home to Sweden so that I don't have too much when I'm leaving. That's very good cause I'm gonna have a lot! ;)
I walked down to the baseball field here in Kirkland to see if there were any game and it was just starting one. But it was just some young boys so nothing to see ;) And I don't really get the game anyway. I'll go when the seniors are out ;)

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Soccer and Remember me

I started the day with a walk in Kirkland to wake up. I stopped by at the baseball field and watched some small guys playing for a while. I don't really get baseball. It's really slow and it's not often there is any action. Well I haven't been to a senior game so maybe there is a different.
I called Hanna to see that she was on the right time now after setting the clocks tonight, cause she was gonna play with us today as well. She was and one hour later she was at my place where Jen picked us up and we went to Seattle to play our game. This time it was early, at 1 pm, which was nice cause then U had some time to do stuff afterwards.
At the beginning the other team had only 6 players so we were pretty much at there side all the time. But then, they got to borrow our subs and finally they got some more people and then it was more of a game. Or, it wasn't really a game cause we won with 6-0 and I scored once and did a nice free kick that Jen headed in ;) It was so nice to play. The weather was perfect, it was warm and the sun was shining through the clouds and it smelled like spring. I love that!
When I got home I had to quickly jump in to the shower cause I was meeting Laura at 3:30 at Bellevue college cause she doesn't find the way to the cinema where we were gonna see the movie: Remember me, with Robert Pattinson. But when I got there she called me and said that she was in Bellevue downtown cause she didn't wanted me to drive so far. OK! But she didn't knew where she was. I drove back and after a couple of phone calls we met. She had parked in a parking garage that was kind of far away so she wanted to move the car. When we walked back to where she had parked, we couldn't find it! She was all freaked out and didn't really remember where she had parked it. She was sure of one place but it wasn't there. We walked around in the parking garage for maybe 15 minutes and just before we were gonna call the cops, we found it. It just stood there ;) Laura was so relieved and we drove to the parking garage of the mall instead.
Hanna was also coming and since we were a bit late, she had bought her ticket and went inside when we arrived. But I got our tickets this Tuesday and now they had apparently switched the theaters. So when we got to number 4, there was another movie! Common, what is this for a crap afternoon? The movie had already started but we had to fix so we got some new tickets before we could take a seat. Finally we met Hanna and we got our seats in the front cause we didn't want to disturb everyone at the top.
The movie was great and I love Robert Pattinson, if U didn't knew that ;) But the ending was so sad, U really didn't see that coming.
Afterwards, we went to the mall and checked out the stores but they were closing at 7 so we just went home after that.
Now I'm waiting for Desperate Housewives and listening to Robert Pattinson ;)
Tomorrow comes Anna home!! Jippie!!!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra