A new day, a new week

Today started my more planned, and organized week. I went up at 7 and made the kids ready for school. Then I walked them to school, and was dressed for running so directly after I left the kids at school I did my first exercising since I came to this country (and it felt!) I went running for about 30 minutes and, I always say this, but it was the worst I ever done in my life. First there is only concrete, so no running in the forest, and second there are so many hills. Up and down, up and down. I think there is never a flat spot anywhere. So because I don't really know where the best running is, I met a lot of uphills!! So my legs feels really good now =) But I'll do the same tomorrow. I'm not the type of girl who gives up so easily!

Then I went home and took a nice shower and did some household work, like laundry, dishes etc.

After that I called home and talked with them. This time I didn't feel like crying so it was really good talking to them. I actually called because I needed help with the food =)...well maybe not just because of that. It feels great talk to them. You know when you leave somebody that always been there for you, someone who you might been taken for granted, you realise how much they means to you and how much you miss them. But it feels great to know that they will be home, waiting for me!!

I also went to QFC (a grosser store) and picked up some things we needed. I also bought thank you card that Filip is gonna write and handle out to everyone who gave him a present at his birthday. Apparently you have to do that here in the US. So I were in a beautiful store just with cards and gifts. They have these wooden angels that I love (we have them back home to) and they had some many different ones. I just wanted to grab everyone =) I think I will bye one later.

Today was also the first day I picked up Agnes (a friend to the family) at her school and drove her to her daycare. This first time her dad was with us and showed the way, but tomorrow it will be just me. I got the address so it won't be any problem. Just hope Agnes will like me, she is so cute but really shy. Well I guess I just have to put on my charm face!!

It's not so much time between picking up Agnes and picking up Filip and Sofia so I really want everything to go as planned. With my luck something will probably go wrong. =)

Filip had soccer practise today and it was my first time as an assisting coach. It was fun but kind of hard, I don't know how to instruct and so. The teem is called "Green Cobras" Today they practiced on to play game so I went between the goalkeepers and gave them some tips (as the pro-goalie I am =)) I think I did god. Next practice is on Thursday. Their first game is on this Saturday and unfortunately we are going camping so Filip misses it. But I'm really excited about the camping trip. We are going to some mountain and going to sleep in tents and have a fire and so on. I can't wait to come out in the nature and see all the mountains!

So now I just sits in my room and looking at my flower on the wall. They have fall down, almost everyone =(...I'll see if I can put them up with nails or something.
Lotta has every episode of the TV-show Friends and I started looking today. Oh I love it. It's so fun and I can't wait until I can watch the next episode.

Tomorrow I'm meeting Katharina again and also another German aupair that lives in Redmond. We'll see what we'll do. Probably some eating or maybe just a coffee. I'm looking forward to it!

Today I also got to know that another aupair that I got to known has been kicked out from his host family. So sad, because now he had to go back to Sweden and I really enjoyed being with him. Hopefully we'll have time to meet once more before he goes.

Now I'm really tired, you here from me tomorrow again!

Miss you all!

Love Sandra

What a Swedish day!!

Today it's been all about Sweden!! We went to IKEA!! My favourite place. It was me, Lotta and the kids who went to Renton where the huge department store where you can find anything, and off course it has the Swedish colours everywhere.

We left Filip and Sofia in the playroom ( it's more fun for them and we can shop in peace and quiet =)) Then we just walked around and looked at every kitchen table, sofa, chair, lamp you name it. And I enjoyed every minute, it felt like home =)

After an hour we picked up the kids and headed for the restaurant where they served Swedish meatballs!! With mashed potatoes, gravy and lingonberry jam! Oh, it was delicious =) And for dessert a Daim almond cake, can it be better? =)

Then we continued our walk along the revolutionary road and seek for more delicious things to buy.

My catch, for today, was: flower wall stickers to make my room more personally, curtains with birches (so nice!), a wire to put up my curtains on, cards with different cakes on, cards with ducks on, a glass for my make up brushes and a folder for all my papers and magazines. I'm so glad for all my things because now I can make my room more personally. The flower were in really bright colours so they'll be a great contrast to the all the white in the room. But it was kind of hard to put them up on the wall because they just fall down so I had to work with it for a while. Maybe they all fall down in the morning =)

The curtains I must have a screwdriver to put them up and I will ask Henrik (a friend to the family) if I can borrow one. But I think it will be really cool because the curtains where awesome and in between I will put up the card I bought. I will give you a picture when it's all done.

Now I will go upstairs and try to read all my papers I've got and maybe do some planning about tomorrow. and I'm planning to start my exercising tomorrow, we'll see how that goes =)

Miss you all!

Love Sandra

Cupcake day and more shopping

Today it has been raining, and I mean really raining. It has also been Sunday so Lotta decided that it was a cupcake day! She and Sofia made chocolate cupcakes with some chocolate crisps. They got a bit burned but otherwise they were really good. Me and Filip build a house of paper and he has a really good imagination, I could never come up with anything like that.

We also had a very special thing for lunch today, crayfishes!!! Oh, they were so good. I didn't thought they had crayfishes here but I was wrong. Actually they also have IKEA, so when I get homesick again I will make a visit and have some Swedish meatballs!

After lunch we all went in to Seattle. Jonas and the kids went to the cinema to watch the 3D adventure "Up" and me and Lotta were shopping instead. She showed me all her favourite stores and now I also got a new favourite. It's called Urban outfits. So cool store. They got really cool clothes and stuff for the home. I bought an alarm clock so I don't always have to use my cellphone. That was all I got but I'm definitely going back there soon!

When the movie was over we went to a cafe where they had donuts. We bought five different ones and then everybody got a piece of everyone. They were so good, but I guess not so good to you =)

Today Lotta and Jonas wanted to go out in the evening because they are free tomorrow, so am I!, and that's why I'm now home alone with the kids. They're already in bed (and I hope they are sleeping) so I get some time alone. One problem is that I don't know how to turn on the TV!

I also tried to make dinner for us, and it was going to be omelet. But me and Sofia manage to have to much milk in it and I also put some kind of tomato sauce that was no good so we couldn't eat it. But I tried again and then it was better, but I almost used every egg! Sorry ;)...there is also something wrong with the sink and I don't know what to do!!! I hope I haven't broke anything!!

Tomorrow we are going to IKEA!! It's gonna be fun and good to see something you know. I will look for some curtains for my room and some other stuff to make it more personally. Can't wait!!

Miss you all!

Love Sandra

Bumbershoot and shopping!

Today is Saturday, that means weekend and that means no work! First of all that brings a long sleep in the morning, or it could have been but the kids woke up early and it was raining so I got up at nine. (Probably a long sleep for many of you =))
I took a shower and got ready for going to Seattle and the Bumbershoot festival that began today. Katharina came to my place because she had been to the bank this morning and then Abbid dropped her off. We were supposed to go with Maurice who had promised me, yesterday, that he was going to take the car. But like when we were ready to leave I got a text message where he says that the car was on service and that France vs. Romania was on TV, and evidently it was more important. Right Maurice? =)...

But that was all right because that meant that me and Kadda had to make our first bus ride on our own!

We took a bus that took us to downtown Seattle, and then we had to get out to the Seattle center where the space needle is and also where the festival were. And to get there we took the Monorail, which is kind of a train that goes on rail up in the air. It was really cool and it didn't take long either.

The Space needle is really awesome and someday I'm gonna get up there and maybe eat at the restaurant that's on the top. There is also like a amusement park, lots of museums and other cool things to see at the center. But today we were there for the festival which is going until Monday and contains music, litterateur, humor and art. And off course a lot of food, markets and shows.

We had one big thing we knew we wanted to do, and that was to see Katy Perry. Unfortunately she was a disappointment. She was no good live but it was OK to watch. We finally met Sofia, the girl that Erik knew when he was here. She was nice and we also met her friends. We saw the concert together and it was good to get to meet someone that you only talked with on the phone and the Internet.

After Katy Perry was a band that I've never heard about, but Kadda had. They were called All American Reject and played like punk/pop or something. They were awesome, I have to get their songs. This concert was much, much better than Katy's.

Then we just walked round at the festival arena and watched some shows and at the markets but then we decided to go back in to downtown and shop instead. I bought a sweater at GAP, a shirt at H&M ( Kadda is crazy about that store, I don't know why ) and I bought some butterflies to decorate my room with. It was fun to see Seattle by your own but I think I have a lot to learn before I don't need a map. =)

Dumb as I am I forgot my camera back home so I couldn't get a photo of anything. Fortunately Kadda did so she is going to share her pictures with me and also should Sofia.

We also ate very much today. First we had a Crepe with Nutella (was a bit too sweet for me), than we had a small pizza, then we had some kind of cookie with creme and strawberries and last we had dinner at the shopping mall. I really need to start exercising if I shall continuing try every food I see =)

Unfortunately Kadda was lost when she had to take the bus back to Redmond alone but she called me (after an hour!!) and I directed her by phone and computer so now she's home and safe.

Miss you all!

Love Sandra

More homesick and more friends

Today was perhaps even worse than yesterday. It was really hard during the day and I actually called home. Perhaps not a very smart move when you barely can talk without feeling to start crying, but it helped. After the call I went to bed and I decided when I got up I wouldn't feel sad anymore, and it worked. Now I'm much better and ready to face the new life again =)

I went to the store to get some milk and stuff and I felt really good walking between the fruit and the milk, listening to music and just enjoying life. I bought some raspberries for me and a bouquet of sunflowers for my room. I love those flowers, makes me happy. And I could really need some extra of that ;)

It was also really good weather today so I sat outside eating my raspberries and organized among my papers, it was lovely.

Today I had to make dinner before I picked up the kids because directly after school they were going wall climbinging Redmond.

Today I made chicken with bacon and rice. It was good and this time I didn't burn anything ;)

So after school, we went with Lindsey (a friend to the family) and her two kids to Redmond were the children had joined a climbing group. This was their first visit and I think they enjoyed it. So there is were I will be the next coming Fridays =)

When we got home we had dinner, the children were really hungry. And then I met Maurice down at a Starbucks. We had talked earlier and wanted to meet each other. He's a other aupair who has been here for about two months. We grabbed a cup of coffee ( I've been longing to say that ;)) and just walked through Kirkland and talked. He was really nice and it was nice to get to know someone more. Tomorrow we are going to the festival together, it's gonna be fun.

I also finally talked with Sofia, another aupair that have been here a while, and we are also going to meet at the festival tomorrow. Katy Perry is coming so I think it will be great. Now I'm gonna watch Ali G with my host parents.

Miss you all!

Love Sandra.

Homesick and new friends

This is yesterdays contribution:

This day was the first day I was really off during the day, when both kids were in school. And I guess when I started relaxing, this strange feelings started inside me. I didn't think I would get homesick this soon, but I must say that I am. After almost a week with the family, everything is new, not knowing exactly how to be with the children, wondering if I'm really good at this, not knowing the town, been lost with the car and all other stuff that have happened during this intense week. Maybe it's just time for those feelings to come around. But they are no pleasant feelings, but I knew they were coming at some point.

Well, I manage to shape up when I picked up the kids from school, and it's easier when you have something to do. There is no time to think.

Filip had a play date with Christopher, a boy in his class. They were at our place and mostly played video game which was good, because then I could focus on Sofia. She and I made collage with paper, magazines, pearls and what ever we could find. They turned out really nice.

Today was also a BBQ at the school, like a welcome back party. I took all the kids there and then Jonas and Lotta came there. But Lotta and I left pretty soon because she was going to the gym and I was finally to meet Katharina again (my friend from New York) I went with Lotta to Redmond, where both the gym are and Katharina's family lives. But dumb as I can be, I didn't brought the GPS so I had to guess a little bit. But I called her and Abbid, her host dad, guided me to their house. He was very nice and his family was lovely.

Our plan was to go and eat somewhere but then we decided to go shopping first. We went to Redmond city mall, and it was nice. A lot of good stores and fine restaurant. We went to Macy's and it was cool. A great store where you can find almost everything, mostly famous brands so it was kind of expensive, but I got myself a dress.

Because of my little detour on my way to Kadda (Katharina) we didn't got so much time to shop. And when the stores were closed, also the restaurant was. So we went back in to Redmond and looked for a place to eat, but instead of a fancy restaurant we ended up in the drive through at McDonald's =) and we sat in a parking lot and had a nice meal!

We also had to fill the car with gas, and I had never done that before so I went in to the station and asked for help. I was like: "Hi, I'm not from here and I have never done this before" Lucky, it was a nice lady and she helped me. But I had to go in once again, because the card didn't work, and she had to come out once because I was doing wrong =) But we ended up with more gas and that was the purpose.

Then we headed back to Kaddas house and I got directions back to Kirkland. Off course I went lost again. I think it took me about an hour to get home, it's suppose to take like minutes =) But no I think I know how to drive in Redmond.

So I was home late and I was tired, that's why you get this today!

Miss you all!

Love Sandra

Busy days!!

Yesterday was a bit hectic! I was near to have my first mental breakdown and it involves a car =)....let me start from the beginning. Yesterday was Filip's and Sofia's first day at school and both were pretty excited about it. We all went together because Lotta and Jonas wanted to be there the first day in school and also because I didn't know the way =)
It takes about 10 minutes to get to the school and me and Lotta went to leave Sofia at her new class, and I think it's a great class with a very good teacher. Jonas left Filip at his class. One thing, that's different from Sweden is that the students have to bring all their materials by themselves. Like paper, pencils, notebooks etc. and unfortunately we had missed Filip's stuff so I had to go shopping on my own for my first time....excited!! I was dropped off by the store "Bartell Drugs" (Really a suspicious name but it was a great store. Something like coop in Sweden, they have about everything) And I got everything on Filip's list and dropped it off at school. He was really happy about that.
When I got home, me and Olle went to a mall because he had to bye a sweater for his wife. And I drove for the first time!!! It wasn't that bad that I first thought but it was different.
I bought a magazine and became a member at a bookstore. Don't ask me how but now I have 10% off every time I shop there...will be useful hmm.
At 3:30 it was time to pick up the kids to immediately go to the dentist who has her office in Woodinville that is outside Kirkland. I didn't know where but I got the GPS so it wouldn't be any problem. Oh, my dear GPS stopped working after a while and I didn't know where we were or how to fix it. I felt the stress rise in me and if being lost wasn't enough my sweet kids had decided that not let us have a quite nice ride to the dentist =)...but as Judith said in New York: take a deep breath and say to you self: "I can do this, I can do this" Thank you Judith!
I took a turn in to a gas station, called Lotta who said it was just to log in on the GPS again, turned the car around and went to the dentist. Maybe we got there a little late, but so what? We made it, and the children got their teeth examined.
But the stress wasn't over. When we were done we had to hurry to get to Filip's soccer practice back in Kirkland. This time it went much better even though we were little late to soccer, but the children were nice and I didn't felt so bad either. Over all, an OK first drive with the children =)
The soccer practise was held in a park and I've been signed to help the coach, apparently I know something about soccer =). It's being held every Tuesdays and Thursdays and it's for boys in Filip's age (8) I'm looking forward to help but it's gonna be exhausting I think. I mean 10-12 eight year olds? They have a lot of energy =)
One more thing happened yesterday, Lotta and Jonas were in a car accident. But no one was seriously hurt, just the car. It's on reparations for this week so now we only got one car, the SAAB.
Today, Sofia was free from school because they split the class and took one half yesterday and the other half today. So after we went with Filip to school, it was just her and me. First we were in the house, colouring and waited for Olle to get home. Today was his last day here and we wanted to say goodbye before he went.
Then we packed our bag, Sofia took here own and a great eagle got the privilege to come with us ;) We went to the park and there we bought something to eat and drink at Starbucks (where else ;) and sat down on the grass and red a book. We also kicked some ball and Sofia climbed at the playground. Before we went back home we went to QFC ( a grossier store) and bought some milk and butter. Back home we painted some more and just hanged until it was time to pick up Filip who ended at 2 today. They do that every Wednesdays.
I made Noodle soup for them, it's their favourite, and then me and Filip build one of his LEGO models he got for his birthday, and Sofia made my hair pretty. Today I cooked pasta carbonara and manage not to ruin anything =)...maybe I was just lucky...haha
To day Catherine, my area director, was here and we just went through some papers and she wanted to know that everything was alright...so now I have more paper to read!! i don't know when to...I also have to apply for school but I find it a bit hard. Maybe I'll go to the collage tomorrow and see if they can help me.
Well I guess this was it for now.

I miss you all.
Love Sandra