Bad Mood

Today (Wednesday) I haven't been in the best mood. Donno why really but maybe it has something to do with this is the last day I'll see Nicole.
Anyway, I went for some running this morning and that felt good, but when I ran along the water to find a tennis court that Lotta told me about, I didn't find it so I WALKED back home angry.
I took a shower and then I went to Crossroads in Bellevue to go to Michael's again ;) But this time I didn't find anything, just bought some stickers for Lotta and well I bought a new bath duck for my collection ;) A golden one!
I had lunch there and today has been a day where I've been eating a lot. Can't get it but I even took ice cream when it was cold and raining outside. I felt really bad afterwards but I couldn't help it. I have to be better with the self control ;)
Even though it was Wednesday today, I picked up Agnes cause Jennie and Henrik couldn't today. So I had to start earlier today than usual.
Sofia went to her art class so for one hour it was only me and Filip at home. We played his new computer game, well he played and I watched ;) Then I picked up Sofia, who had made a nice Valentine card, and we decided that we wanted to bake something. Yesterday me and my friends had talked about making Chocolate Chip Cookies and I'd never done that so I decided it was time. Cause I'm lazy I went to QFC and bought this mix that U just have to add butter and egg ;) I don't know how we messed it up cause the dough was so sticky that we couldn't get it out of the bowl. But we added some extra flour and that was good. We made 13 big cookies and they were pretty good. A bit burned but not that bad. My first Chocolate Chip Cookies ;)
We played some boxing on their WEE Sport and then I made dinner and Filip had to get ready for basketball.
Jonas came home alone cause Lotta was stuck at work cause there were a lot to do. Jonas took Filip to his practice and I was home with Sofia. We ate and then we had some cozy time reading. We went to my room and she watched TV while I worked on my present.
Lotta called and said that she would be a little bit more late but she would probably be home until I had to go. This meant that today I worked about 9 hours...pfew! It's exhausting since I'm not used to that. Tomorrow, Friday and Monday I'll work the whole day cause the kids have Winter break. I hope that will be fine.
When Lotta got home, I went to pick up Nicole, but then the SAAB didn't start! What's with everything that belongs to this house? It's like we are under a spell or sth. I hope it's nothing serious and that it will start tomorrow.
I took the Acura and picked up Nicole and we went to Redmond to meet up the rest of the gang at McDonald's to have a little goodbye party for Nicole. Well, it wasn't so much of a party but we talked and had a good time even though there were a sad feeling over all.
It was really sad to say goodbye to her and when we went home in my car she told me all this horrible stories about how she had been working in the family and how they'd spoiled the kid. There were once the kid had woke up in the middle of the night and screamed that he wanted a new toy. The parents then took him to the car and drove to target to show him that the store was closed. But the kid didn't surrender so they drove to 4 different stores to show him that they were closed. OMG I say! I would never done that with my kids. I can really see why she doesn't wanna stay there anymore.
So tomorrow she goes home and I can just think of that she now can see her family and friends again. But she's only been here for two months so I don't think she's that happy. I'm so sorry for her sake. I just hope that we can keep the contact though facebook, but I know that's hard. U always say that U will keep contact but then it almost always fades away. But I'll try!
I finished Eclipse yesterday so now I've started the Breaking Dawn!!! Oh, it's like magic! I LOVE it!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra/

Valentine Party

Today (Tuesday) I stayed in Sofia's class to attend and help with the Valentine Party that they had. There were a lot of parents (mums ;)) that helped when the kids played.
There were four different stations: One where they decorated cookies, one where they made Valentine cards and tissue flowers, one where they made candy ornaments and the last was "Shrinky Dinky"
I was at the "Shrinky Dinky" station. This was really cool, I've never seen this before. It's a certain paper that U colour on and today the shape was as a heart. When U are done, you bake the paper in the oven. It shrinks and gets hard so U can make a necklace out of the little charm if U want to. Like magic! I did one too and it was really nice ;)
Sofia was happy that I came and I'm happy too. Filip is having his party tomorrow, but I can't go then.
I needed to stay home today cause some guy was coming to look at our fridge that is broken. It's not so cold any more so everything is melting.
When he took a look at it he established that it was cheaper to buy a new one than to fix it. It had broken because of age he told me, so now we need a new one. Quick! I feel so sorry for Carolina, the owner, cause now has almost everything that can break have broken. First the heater, then the dryer and now the fridge. It's expensive to have a house ;) The visit of the fridge man took like 10 minutes or so, $95!!! That's just crazy! And all he did was to open a hatch in the back and look. I don't get it.
I called my mum today since I'd promised. It was nice but we didn't talk that long cause she was going to the sauna and heat up ;)
I red some in my book, I almost finished it, and then I did some arts and crafts again before I picked up the kids.
It was such a good weather that I decided that we should go to the park. It was nice and Filip brought a cool ball that can be a Frisbee as well ;) There were a man who had lived in Stockholm and he recognised the language we were talking. There are a lot of people who has a connection to Sweden, in one way or another. It's often that people come and ask about the language and where we are from. But not as much as with the Germans. Everyone we meet has some kind of relationship to Germany ;)
Back home Filip did his homework and then he went to the computer again ;) Me and Sofia goofed around and then she helped me with the dinner. Finally I got to do the broccoli gratin again but it didn't turn out so well. I donno if there were a lot of water in the ham or what it was cause when we took it out of the oven, it was like broccoli soup ;) Jonas was like: "Isn't this suppose to stiffen?" Hahahah...I think it was too long ago I did it so I messed up ;) But we ate it with some bread so it was fine.
I didn't have any German class today so I didn't have to stress, which was nice. I had dinner with the family and then I did some stuff in my room with Sofia.
I went to Starbucks to chat with my homies, and I had to pick up Nicole before cause she is now living with our area director who lives pretty close to me.
One week ago or so, she started to be in the rematch cause she doesn't like her host family. But now this week her host mum was really mean to her and told her that she had wasted her family's two months she's been here and that she would never find another family etc. Real mean and unneccecary things. So she didn't wanna rematch any more, she just wanted to go home. So she booked a flight fort this THURSDAY!!! And is living with Cathrine until she leaves. She didn't wanna stay in the house, which I understand. But this is really sad cause she's so nice and we almost just got to know her and now she's going back :( Poor her. She must be really disappointed cause she planned to stay one year and has to go back after two months. I can't put myself in that situation since I have such a great host family. I have a hard time understanding when someone complains about their family. Cause I'm really happy with mine ;)
At Starbucks Anna and Gregor were back!! Jippie! And they had brought pictures from their trip to LA which was great. I need to go there too!
Hanna was also there and she told us that she doesn't have to go home now! She will stay with the family until June or July which was exactly what she wanted! I'm really glad. She invited me to come with her and her host family to their cabin in Crystal mountain to ski this weekend. I really want to go but I'm working on Saturday evening and on Sunday I have a soccer game plus it's Gregor's last day here and I wanna say goodbye in a good way. I hope there will be more times to go.
Nicole had brought a bag with stuff she didn't wanna take with her home. She said that we could take whatever we wanted and me, Kadda and Emile were like coyotes over that bag. I manage to get two hair colorings and hairspray! Nicole was like: "I'm glad that I can make someone happy with me going!" Thank U Nicole!
I drove her home and we decided to meet each other tomorrow again and have a last goodbye. Oh, it's gonna be sad :(
When I got home I watched the last of the Swedish Sport Chronicle from 2009. It was nice and I decided that this year I will follow the soccer some more, both on the man side and the women side. I just have to look up when and if it's possible that I can watch it here. Good thing there is always Internet!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra.

Moday

Today it's Monday again, donno if I'm happy or if I just wanna go back in my bed and sleep until it's Saturday again.
We all know that I went up so I guess I was a bit happy, or I was just forced cause it's my job ;) Maybe if U tell yourself that U are happy every day when U go up, the day gets easier. I think I'll try that. Ok, enough with this nonsense.
I took the kids to school and then I went to the gym since I didn't play soccer yesterday, I didn't have pain in my legs. I attended the power sculpt class, where I almost fainted once ;) This time it was better and I manage through the whole class ;)
The instructor told us that chocolate milk was a very good thing to drink after a work out. So when I got home I took one banana and to that chocolate milk ;) It was good and I think I'll stick to that ;)
I called back home and had a nice talk with daddy. I told him about my weekend with skiing, Superbowl and almost crashing on the freeway ;) He told me about their weekend and we talked about the trip here and almost everything. Sadly I had just missed my mum who had gone to work, but I promised to call tomorrow again so we could talk as well.
I did my Spanish homework which was not that hard and then I did, for my first time, homemade meatballs! I'm really proud and I have to thank dad cause he said how I should do ;) They were for the dinner tonight but since I don't have so much time on Mondays to cook, I thought it would be best to prepare them.
The cleaners came and I sneaked out of the house a bit early, but that's OK cause I brought my book Eclipse so I had some extra time to read in the car ;)
I picked up the kids and they were really good today as well. Maybe they're starting to listen to me? No, they were maybe just in a good mood ;)
Filip has found a computer game on the Internet that he really likes. It's some kind of math/logical game and he plays it almost every day.
While he did that, me and Sofia coloured a bit. We draw pictures to each other that had the same theme. One of us choose a theme, for example butterflies, and then we both draw a picture to the other and we weren't allowed to look at each others until we were done ;)
Today was really nice weather, but I didn't wanna go outside with the kids since I have to be ready to go when Lotta and Jonas come home. I hope it's the same tomorrow so we can go out then.
I had my Spanish class today so I left as soon as Lotta and Jonas came home. They were a bit late so I didn't make it till 6. Maybe 5 minutes late but that's OK. It was fun but still it doesn't feel useful.
I was a bit sad when I got home cause there weren't any meatballs left for me. So I never got to taste them. But I guess they were good since they ate them all ;)
Now Jonas and Lotta are away getting some groceries since we don't have any food here! That's kind of cool, the time is 9:45 PM and they are shopping ;) But I guess that's a good thing as well.
I wonder how many chapters I'll read tonight in Eclipse, when I start it's so hard to stop. I've red them before but I think I could read them over and over again. I love!!!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Superbowl!!!

Today was the biggest day for all football fans! Today was the big final and it was down to Indianapolis Colt and New Orleans Saints.
I slept until 11 and then Jonas came and asked me if I could look after the kids while they were going somewhere (I hadn't really woken up yet when he asked me ;)) So from 12-3 me and the kids were just at home, relaxing. Filip played on the computer and then we all watched some TV. I did some of my Spanish home work so I don't have so much tomorrow. It was OK, but Sofia was a bit rude which not always is nice.
We went to Stendahl's to watch the game and this was actually the first time I was at their house since I'm here. That's kind of weird cause we are hanging out with them all the time.
Before we went there I thought of which team I should be on, U have to have one to cheer at. I choose the Saints cause their colours were gold and white which I though was nicer than blue. That's the only reason ;) So I draw their symbol on my hand and felt like a real supporter ;)
The house was really nice and they actually lives in the same neighbourhood as Ramona.
We had some nachos during the game and we also had tacos. The game was really cool. I've never seen one game and I don't know the rules and so but it was awesome. I really could see why the Americans love this. There was the national anthem, sung by Carrie Underwood, there were confetti and big drums ;) All America have!
The game was exciting and my team struggled in the beginning but then, after braking a pass of the Colts, there were not that exciting anymore. They won with 31-17 and what can I say, our practices have giving results ;)
There were another couple there as well and they have a 4 months old baby. Soo cute and her name is Linnea. A little Angel.
The other kids were nice too and Axel and Ebba were really funny.
I think I'll go to bed early today cause I'm still a bit tired since yesterday, and tomorrow I'm going to the gym since I didn't play soccer today. Didn't wanna miss Superbowl so I skipped it. I hope they won but of course, I wasn't there ;)

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

Skiing and Party

Today (Saturday) me, Kadda, M and Ramona went to Snoqualmie to spend the day in the snowy mountains ;) I picked everyone up, except Ramona who went with her host family, and then we did the usual ride there.
The weather was not that good and the snow was not funny. It was cloudy, warm and heavy wet snow. It was hard to turn in the slopes cause there were a lot of piles with snow after a lot of people had been there.
When we arrived, Kadda started to feel bad. She stayed in the car to rest and didn't get better so poor her just went once down the slope.
Even though the slopes were bad, it was fun and we had a nice lunch outdoor and got some fresh air ;)
When we went home, we stopped at the donut place and it was soo good ;)
When I got home, I didn't do so much. I took a great shower, did some laundry and red some. I also took a power nap before I got ready for the monthly party at Eliott's. The theme of the night was Sport, which was perfect since tomorrow is Superbowl.
I took my running outfit and it was so nice to go to a party in sneakers in stead of high heels ;)
Emilie picked me up and in the car was also Nicole and a new au pair that I don't remember the name of ;) Kadda was worse so she didn't come. Poor her!
There were not that much people when we came there so it was not that fun in the beginning. But then more people came and the party get better. But people were kind ofr soft on the sport theme. I mean me and Emilie had really gone in to it while most of the people only had a team shirt or nothing sporty at all. That's kind of boring but I had a great time with my friends anyway.
Before we went home, we stopped at McDonald's to get some junk food. It's soooo good to have sth flotty after being out ;)
I miss real partying and I can't wait until I get back to Sweden and can have a real "lösgång" with my friends ;)

Miss U all!
Love Sandra.

Early Friday

4:30! I haven't been up so early since I came here. But what don't U do for your friends :) Anna and Gregor needed a ride to the airport cause they were going to LA on a romantic weekend! It was raining a lot so it was kind of hard to drive but it went OK. Well, when I was on my way home I was really close to crash in to another car. We were on the freeway and when we were on a exit, the driver in front of me just hit the brakes cause he realized he took the wrong exit. We were driving in 50 mph and it was raining so when I hit my brakes, there were no bite. I made a quick decision and turned to the other lane. There were another car but they had already stopped. I was totally freaked and the worst thing ever, when I looked back in the mirror, the stupid car turned around! On the freeway! What kind of people are on these roads?
After that, the ride was calm and nice ;) I got home at 6 so I had one hour to get some more sleep before I had to start the day with the kids. I was really tired when I walked down the stairs, but then it's good that you can turn on the robot ;) I just did my job and then I went back to bed. That's how U need to work over here...hahahah ;)
After some more sleep, I had lunch, did some stuff and of course I red some chapters in Eclipse ;)
The family went skiing tonight but since I'm going tomorrow, so I decided to have a calm evening back home.
So far, I've been reading, watched like a hundred ICarly episodes (I know a bit immature, but I like it. And I'm proud ;))
I also saw a commercial of the new, fast growing hobby here in America: Metal Detector ;) U can get one easy and you never know what treasure the grounds hold ;) I need to get one of those.
I think I'll read some more before I go to bed and maybe I'll go crazy with some more teen shows at TV ;) U never know!

Miss U all!
Love Sandra

A evening with Hanna

Yesterday (Wednesday) my evening didn't ended like I told U ;) After I had wrote in my blog, Anna called and asked if I wanted to join her and Gregor on a movie. Of course I said yes, so I met them at Lincoln Square and we got tickets to "Sherlock Holmes" It was really good but a bit long and sometimes it was hard to understand the old British accent.
There were not so many people in the cinema so I laid down on three seats, really cozy ;) We also had strawberries to munch on.
Today (Thursday) I went to the gym in the morning cause it was a while ago now ;) My knee wasn't really fit for it, I think it's overstained from the soccer last weekend. I did some muscle work out and focused on my knee. I really have to be better in taking care of it, cause when I don't have soccer practices but only games, the risk that something might happen in kind of big. So more "knee-focused-muscle-work-out" from now on.
Then I went home and did some arts and crafts for my gift. At the same time I first wrote with my best friends but then we realized that we all could talk together over Skype. Oh, it was the best thing ever cause now we could all talk together, even though we are all spread over the world. Well, I'm the only one who isn't in Sweden but still. It was really nice and I can't wait until the next time.
I picked up the kids and today was really good weather so we went to a park. We played on the swing and with Filip's ball. They turned on this funny carousel and we played some soccer. After a while it started to blow a lot so we went home and I made dinner and the kids played some video game.
When Lotta and Jonas came home, I took the bus to Bellevue to meet up Hanna. She was off early today and wanted to do something. Cause we haven't have dinner we went to the fabulous CheeseCakeFactory! M,m,m delicious ;) I tried something new, a Chicken dish with rice, broccoli and a buttery white wine sauce. It was superb ;)
It's nice hanging out with Hanna and we talked about everything. Mostly about how it's going to go with her staying or if she needs to go home. She told her family that she wants to go home earlier, but still not until May or so. And now the family has already found a new au pair who can start right away. Hopefully they don't like her (mean to say but still) or Hanna might be able to stay with another family that only needs an au pair until May. I hope it turns out well cause I don't want her to leave now :(
We also went to the mall but we just got sad cause there were so much we needed (wanted ;)) but we didn't have money to shop.
I had promised Anna that I would drive her and Gregor to the airport tomorrow morning at around 5 am! So we said goodbye kind of early and I went home to get some sleep.
Today is also my other grandma's birthday so I say:
"Grattis mormor! Saknar dig och hoppas att din dag blev kanon!"
(I don't think they read this but maybe my mum will tell them ;)

Miss U all!
Love Sandra.