Lucia and Ice skating

Today I slept really long and I was still tired?! I hope I'm not getting sick or anything but I've been this tired all week.
At noon I went to the Nordic museum in Seattle, which is located like the most far away part of the city. The road there was so weird, and I thought I was wrong but after some crazy turns among the houses I was there. The reason was that they were celebrating a Swedish tradition called Lucia, and Filip was in this parade we have. All the kids, both boys and girls, wear white night dresses. On girl, the Lucia, is having a crown with candles in her hair and t]he rest of the girls have tinsel in their hair and a candle in their hands. The boys are either santas or "Starboys" that have a hat with stars and holding a star as well. Then they sing special Lucia/Christmas songs and it's really nice. The songs were in Swedish so it really felt like home, and I'm glad that I could join.
Directly after that I went to Bellevue and the park there to go Ice Skating with my au pair group. There is a artificial skate rink in a tent, so it's outside. It was nice but it was a bit small and there were too much people. The ice was also all used so it was so lumpy and it was hard to skate. I guess that U are a bit spoiled coming from Sweden where u have lakes to skate on. That's what my area director asked me and she wondered why I didn't so some pirouettes and jumps ;)
We skated only for like an hour cause it's pretty exhausting and when U only go round and round on that small space it gets boring quickly.
Me and Kadda went to Red Robin to have lunch/dinner (it was 3 pm) and then we went to Toysrus to find Christmas presents for our kids. I just bought a puzzle but I saw some more stuff. I'm planning to go Christmas shopping this week, but now I know what there is.
We also went to a cool store called Michaels. They have all sorts of arts and craft and it was awesome. Everything for Scrap booking, painting and other craft things. I could spend all my money in there but I didn't ;) I bought a birthday present for my friend, her birthday is not until June but then I have something to do until then ;)

Today's gift in my advent calender was gratitude!
Miss u all!
Love Sandra!

Christmas tree

Though it was late last night, there is no sleep in my life anymore ;) Today was the day we were going to get ourselves our Christmas tree!
We went to Issaqua, a town maybe 30 minutes from here, where we met Stendahls and another family. Together we went to a spruce farm where we got a saw and then we were out on our hunt. It's harder that u might think and it took maybe 1.5 hour until all finally had found their dream tree ;)
The weather was beautiful and it was really cozy to walk around, look at the trees and breathe the fresh air. The kids were excited and helped looking while eating Candy Canes.
They go here every year with these families and I was glad that I could join them.
We put the tree on the car and tied it hard before we all left for lunch at our house. We had bagels with salmon and Capri. It's so good and of course the bagels were from Noah's ;)
Today I've been so tired so I sneaked up for a nap until it was time for me to start working. Lotta and Jonas are at a Christmas party and I'm babysitting. Sure it sucks that it's a Saturday night but still it's not that bad. We had dinner, we watched "A night at the museum 2" which was really good. And now they are in bed and I'm watching "The wedding planner" with Jennifer Lopez. Oh, it's so sweet!
But still I feel , again, as the single mum with two kids and a big house sitting alone a Saturday night ;)
Filip was so sweet when we saw the movie. He has a perfect idea for a romantic date for his mum and dad. They can fly one of the old models of an airplane. They lay on the wings and just looking at the beutiful city ;) They did that in the movie and he was like "That would be a perfect date for mum and dad" He's really romatic, lucky girl hwo gets him ;)

Today's gift in the advent calender was time.

Miss U all!
love Sandra

Danish night!

Today, Friday, I was at the Yoga again. Was a long time since last time. Don't know why? But it was good doing it again.
I realized I lost my phone but I had a pretty good idea of where it was. I had it at Emilie's last night so it has to be there. I went there but of course she wasn't home.
Tonight I went to dinner with two Danish girls and one German. I've met the Danish ones at Elliott's parties. It was nice. We went to a Sushi restaurant called the Blue C or something in Bellevue. I'm not really in to sushi but they had other things and it was really cool cause the dishes came on like a production line and u just picked the ones u wanted.
There were so much people in Bellevue and I was driving there at the freeway at rush hour. Maybe not the best choice cause I was like half an hour late. The Americans are really crazy when it comes to Christmas. But I like it and the best part is that they never touch one and another. I mean when u go to a shopping mall in Sweden u have to fight to get forward. Here, everybody stays out of everybody's way. I like it. but not today when I was in a hurry and had a family with small kids in front of me. I mean please! There was no chance of passing cause of the people coming from the opposite directions. I had to throw my self through a narrow opening between two pillars ;)
After the dinner we went to the cinema and saw the movie "Everybody's fine" with Robert Dinero. It was good but really sad. It's about a dad that's trying to meet all his kids cause they couldn't come to him. He had recently lost his wife who were the one who kept the family together. I felt so sorry for him cause he was so lonely. I don't wanna be so lonely when I'm old. I think that's my worst nightmare.
The movie also made me miss my family and I couldn't help the tears from falling. I miss U guys, I really do!
When I drove home it was really icy and they don't have winter tire so I almost crawled home ;) I wonder when the snow is commin. Soon I hope!

Today's gift in the advent calender was comfort.

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Awful morning - Wonderful weather

This morning (Thursday) was awful. I was so tired and the kids felt like behaving in the worst possible way. They were yelling at each other and didn't listen. I guess together with my already bad mood, it was a awful morning.
When I finally had left them at school I went to the gym and had a full body work-out on my own. Proud!
Here, the weather really can cheer U up. When I walked back home it was so beautiful. It was cold and clear and the sun was shining. U could see the mountains behind Seattle with the snow covered tips. And the air was so fresh and it was a real winter morning, without the snow ;) After a walk with that view and that air, my bad mood was gone and I felt good.
I went to Starbucks and had a coffee and red my book for like an hour before I went home for lunch. I had the left over pasta for the third time this week ;)
I picked up the kids and they had not changed during the day so the afternoon was a bit hard with a lot of argumentation about homework etc. But we did a Christmas decoration together so there were some good moments too ;)
At 7:30 I picked up Kadda and we went to Target (a supermarket) to buy some sweets for our traditional TV night at Emilie's. We bought cookies, Riesen and a giant bag of Swedish Fish ;) Jummie!
When we turned on the TV to watch Grey's we got the horrible news, it's on season break!! AAHHHH! How will we manage? Instead there were three episodes of Private Practice. We only watched two cause the time got too much.
I payed the car window today and my host parents are paying a part of it as well so we don't have to pay all! Jippie! But still, it sucks!

I still haven't got used to when Americans park their cars and lock them, the horn sounds. I always think that someone is honking on me ;) We'll see when I'm used to that.

Today's gift in my advent calender was Friendship!
Miss U all!
love Sandra

Wednesday

Today was my free day off from the work out. It was great and I went back to sleep as soon as I left the kids at school. When I woke up, at 11:30, I called my family and talked with Eric fro like an hour. I was amazed about how grown up he sounded. we discussed how it was back home, movies and other things. I found out that he got facebook. My 11 year old little brother! When did he got so old? ;) Or is it I'm who getting old? ;)
We didn't do much today. Sofia had a play date, only for an hour but still. Today Filip's basketball started so we walked with him there. It's in the school's gym so it's not that far. It look kind of cute with those small and short guys playing basketball. Can't wait until the first game.
In my advent calender I everyday is giving one of the true gifts of Christmas. Yesterday I got LOVE and today I got JOY. I hope I can feel some of that during this Christmas cause of not be able to bee with my family. But luckily there is a lot of Chocolate that maybe can help me ;)

Miss U all.
Love Sandra

100 days!

I took a new road for my running this morning. It was great with not so many up hills and the view over the mountains and Seattle was awesome. And the weather today was nice. It was cold but sunny and so clear. Like a winter morning without snow ;)
Today I've been in the US for 100 days! OMG I can't believe it. It's gone so fast and I keep on thinking what I've done so far but it not that much. There are still so many things I wanna do and so many things I wanna see. And I only got 265 days to go!!! Well maybe I've got time ;)
It's time to rent skiing equipment also cause u never know when we are going. It's pretty close to the mountains and the snow is already on the tops. My friend Anna was away with her kid and I can't wait until we go. I really love skiing.
Me and the kids went to the school's "Book Fair" where they sell a lot of books, games and other paper stuff to benefit the school. I bought a book about Michael Phelps, u know the swimmer, and about his achievements and how to reach your goal. It's called "No limits - The will to succeed" I think it's good and I felt that I needed to buy something ;)
We met up with Lotta and Jonas and went back home for dinner.
Now I'm in my room and are soon gonna go to Starbucks. Will also take a look in Bellevue Square Mall cause they've decorated the whole place for Christmas and apparently it's gonna be great!
We just watched the first episode of the Swedish television advent calender "Superhjaltejul" and it seems to be good. I'm glad that I can follow it from over here as well!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas

The last of November. Tomorrow is Christmas countdown starting and it really shows in the city. There are lights everywhere and two huge Christmas trees.
This week is my new hardcore work-out week ;) I have to get routines with my work-out cause I've been really lazy ;) So after I walked the kids to school I went for a run. It was good and it was nice to get going again.
The kids where really tired this morning and I had to wake them up for the first time. They were really exhausted after the weekend. Actually I had a lot of energy and was all sunshiny!
After my power run I went to the bank and got help with a paper that I didn't understand. It was kind of easy but the bank mans have to have something to do ;)
Then I went to Starbucks and sat there for like an hour and wrote my Christmas cards, watched people and just enjoyed myself. I also bought a advent calender for myself and I can't wait until I get to open the first number ;)
I picked up the kids and we had a quite afternoon with games, story reading and watching the house cleaner ;) She was a bit late but it was OK. She was so sweet, she left a Christmas card and a gift for the family. And when I got upstairs there was one for me too! Oh, and she noticed that I've coloured my hair...maybe kind of scary? ;)
I didn't have dinner with the family cause I wanted to try a new class at the gym. well it's not new but I have never been to it before. It's called ZUMBA and it's so much fun!! It's like Latino dancing mixed with aerobic. Shake it baby! Oh, it was crazy and I love it. The instructor was awesome but sadly she is off the whole December, but I'll keep going cause I want to be better on my hip rolling ;)

Miss U all!
Love Sandra