Filip in tennis camp

Today Filip started his tennis camp that goes on the whole week. It starts already at 9 so we had to go up pretty early to eat breakfast and get ready. Luckily, it's here in Kirkland by the QFC park and the baseball field, so we can walk there.

We were a bit early so there were no leaders but we met a dad with two boys that also was going there so we weren't wrong. Soon the teachers came. Two siblings that were pretty young, maybe around my age or a bit older. I signed Filip in and then left. They seemed really good and Filip was excited so it was no problem.

The camp is until 3 so it was just Sofia and me the whole day. The weather was boring today, just grey and cloudy. I wasn't really in a mood to do anything so we were just home and watched TV, coloured and read some. Sofia and Filip are both in a summer reading program so they need to read 1000 minutes before school starts or sth, and Sofia is not even close to that. But I'm gonna read with her 20 minutes every day this week and then we'll see how it goes. Today we read "Lotta på Bråkmakargatan" and even though we sat for 20 min, she didn't get very far. She's not so comfortable with reading but that's also why we do this.

The cleaning lady came today so we stayed in my room until they were done and then we made lunch. Mac & Cheese again ;)

I got a mail today from a Swedish girl who wants to be an au pair in this area and she asked me about how it was. I don't know how she got my address but I told her that here is great and that she should totally do it. I have to ask her some more and see how she knows me...weird

At 2:45 we went to pick up Filip and then after that to his "R" practice. He was super excited when we were in the car and he told me all about the camp and how good it was. He's already sad that it's only four days and he wants me to organize a tennis camp on my own and invite all the cool kids he met today. Sure, why not? If I want to call me the Super Au Pair that's the least I can do ;)

Back home it was time to make dinner and Sofia made a board game on her own and Filip played video game. I helped them both as much as I could and when Jonas and Lotta came home we ate and that was good cause I was starving.

I didn't have any plans for tonight so I just spend the evening in front of my computer. Feels nice to be able to write on the right day ;)

Miss U all!

Love Sandra

Almost eaten by a bear

Today (Sunday) we woke up of the birds singing outside the tent and the sun breaking through the canvas...really cozy ;)

We had a nice breakfast with the leftovers form our dinner yesterday ;) It was jummy with a cold hot dogs, some grapes and juice.

The guy in the other tent had told us about a great hike that they made yesterday and he also showed us on the map where to go so we packed up and went on the road again, further in to the woods. We were going to a place called Phelps Creek and the way there was really bad with a lot of sharp rocks so we were afraid that we also would get a flat tire so I drove as slowly as I could and tried to go slalom between the holes. When we got there, my legs were hurting cause I had been tense all the way, on the edge ;)

We parked the car and got our backpacks and started our long walk in to the woods. It was really beautiful with the mountains behind the trees and the river floating by beneath, so peaceful.

After some walking, we heard sth in the woods next to us. Some growling!!! Anna thought that was me but it wasn't. We are pretty sure it was a bear but we didn't want to stay to check so we continued calm and not panicked ;)....just totally afraid!!! Our hearts were beating so loud and we were checking the surroundings all the time. We thought of going back but we didn't want to meet the bear. When we met more people on the trail we calmed down cause then we thought the bear would eat them so he would be full if he saw us again ;)

The trail was easy with a wide path and not so steep. Sometimes we had to walk on rocks and cross the river so it was a real hike. We like it!

After maybe 2 hours of walking we reached the Spider meadows and it was just stunning. There were mountains all around and the river was floating right through the pass with huge green fields covered by flowers around it. Like a picture from the movie Sound of Music!

We found a spot next to the river where we sat down and had our lunch and just enjoyed the nature. This is definitely one of my top hikes ever!!

There were still snow on the tops and we had heard about some snow fields U could walk to so we started to go there but when we got closer we realized it was really steep and that it would take too long time. Anna was just wearing flip flops also (crazy) so we turned back to the car instead. In the valley, U could find tents wherever and it looked really cool just camping in the wild but they seemed to be a bit more serious hikers than we ;) With all the right equipment and definitely not flip flops ;)

It was a long walk back and since we didn't go hiking in a while, and we are not really working out so much now, my legs were hurting. My knees where screaming cause I pushed them too hard so it was nice when we saw the car. Sadly we had got a parking ticket cause U have to pay when U are in a National Park and we hadn't really understand the instructions so we just skipped that. We thought no one would drive out in the middle of nowhere on a Sunday, but we were wrong ;) Now we need to pay $75 instead which kind of sucks but we were positive and said that that was a pretty good price to pay cause we didn't got eaten by a bear, we didn't pay the campground and we were together and had a great weather. We also has a story to tell now ;)

There were not much traffic on the way home so it went fine. We were both just so tired and not fresh so it was nice to come home and take a shower. I had to hang up the tent cause it was a bit wet.

The family wasn't home so I had the house for myself in the evening which was nice cause then I could walk around in my pyjamas and just relax.

I had a great weekend with my very best Anna Gabriel and I think it was good for me to get out in the nature, maybe I'll not be so tired this week.

I'm glad we did it together since it's not long before we leave this relationship :(

Miss U all!

Love Sandra

Hiking with my Anna!!

Today (Saturday) I thought I could wake up on my own, that no one would wake me up, but no! Anna texted me at 10 cause she thought that I had to be awake at that time. On a Saturday when I don't have to work or have anything planned in the morning? Is she crazy? I also had a nice dream that she woke me from so thank U!!

The morning was really nice cause I was alone at home and I could update my blog and work on other stuff that needed to be done. I also called back home, the second time this week! I think I miss them ;)

At 3:30 I went to Anna's place with the car full of hiking and camping equipment, we were going out in the woods! Anna wanted to do that this weekend cause she hasn't really been out as much as I have, like with the family, and there is not so many weekends left. And since she's my other half and I don't think anything is fun without her, I came ;)

From the beginning we had planned to go to the Olympic mountains, where Forks is, but the weather was not supposed to be good there so we headed east instead, towards Leavenworth. It took about two hours to get there and the gas was down on red so we were glad when we saw a Shell station ;)

We had called and talked with a lot of campgrounds but most of them were full but one gave us a good tip and also a great map where we could find several once so after driving on a non pavement road for about 30 minutes, we found one that was good for us. It was the first time I've driven on a non pavement road since I got here and it so reminded me on the way down to my grandma!

The campground was really in the middle of nowhere and we were in a National Forest so it was all very calm and quite. The area is called Wenatchee National Forest and it's a bit north of Leavenworth. We camped right next to a river called Chiwawa River and it was surrounded by mountains so it was beautiful!

We started with putting up the tent, which was big but not very complicated. It was just the top that we didn't really got right but we made it how we thought it would be and I think it's better that the original ;)

There were so many mosquitoes and other biting bugs that I was almost panicking!! I made a bandanna out of a shirt so that I could cover my ears under my cap. This made me look like my brother Robin so that was what Anna called me all night ;)

So we quickly made a fire to get rid of all the bugs. We had to collect some branches, cause we didn't bring any wood, and it was kind of hard starting a fire cause they were all wet. But after a while, Anna got it going and we kept it alive the whole evening. I'm really proud of us how we can survive in the wild. We know how to put up a tent, how to start a fire and Anna could open a bottle of beer with a stick ;)

There were one more tent at the campground and it was a couple from Spokane who lived there. When we came, it was just the man cause his wife were driving some people in to the city cause they had got a flat tire and didn't have a extra. Bummer! He was nice and when the wife came back, the others were with her and they had to put up their tent also to spend the night.

Me and Anna grilled hot dogs over the fire and then marshmallows. We had also potato salad, chips, chocolate raisins, grapes and bread. It was a feast!!! The best thing was to put chocolate raisins in the warm marshmallows, a kind of smores! Sticky but so good!

We talked and had a really nice time and didn't notice how dark it had been until our fire was out. It was so dark it looked like U stared at a black wall or sth. Good thing we had flashlights so that we could brush our teeth and get in to our warm and cozy sleeping bags.

It took a while for me to sleep cause I was listening to all the sounds and afraid that a beer would come and eat us. Here the big Brown bear and the Grizzly lives so U have to be careful not to leave any food out or spread a odour ;) Anna said that I needed to go and wash ;)

Finally the sound from the river made me go to sleep and I slept good the whole night with my wife next to me ;)

Miss U all!

Love Sandra

Mc Donald's and soccer

Today (Friday) I was SUPER tired and after being at the dentist with Filip, to fix the braces that was broken, I put the kids in front of the TV and laid down on my bed and took a little nap. It didn't really help cause I thought of all the stuff I need to to with the insurance, the blog, my travel and other stuff so I couldn't relax.

I took Sofia and we went out to see if I could find a scanner to borrow somewhere so that I could mail my medical report to the insurance company. We went to the library first but they didn't have one but she told me that the Fed Ex Office would have one so we went there. They had one and she scanned my papers and sent them to my mail so I could pass it on to Gouda. Now that thing is out of the way, I just hope everything is right and that they got everything they need now.

The medical report was kind of funny. There were sentences like: "...she's nearing the end of her 1 year employment as an opera", "She's a very pleasant non-toxic female in no distress" Don't sound like a medical report so I hope they wont think I wrote it myself ;)

I decided that since it's Friday, me and the kids would have lunch at Mc Donald's. This made me popular with the kids and we drove to the one in Kirkland and the kids got chicken nuggets in a Happy Meal and I took a burger. I had to bye extra nuggets cause they eat so much and I think Filip ate 14 pieces!!! He's crazy ;) We also took a ice cream as dessert. A vanilla sundae dipped in chocolate. This is sth I wish they had in Sweden cause it's so good, but messy! The kids had ice cream all over the face and I also got some in my lap ;) But it was worth it and U can always wash yourself and the clothes ;)

We were all very full when we left and back home we watched TV until I decided that we needed to get out of the house. The weather today was not that good, cloudy and grey, so we went to a park first and played. Then the sun came out and it was really warm so we went home and got our swim suits and went to the beach. There were not many people and NO LIFEGUARDS. The kids were so happy cause now they could jump immediately from the docks. I also went with them out and watched them while they tried to get some rocks from the bottom. Filip tried to push me in the water but I threw him in instead ;)

The family was invited to Stendahls but I had a soccer game so I just drove them there and then to Arena Sport where I play indoor with a coed team. I couldn't play last week cause of my wound so now I was extra excited and they said that they had missed me ;)

It was better this time cause we were4 girls which meant that we had a sub and didn't have to play all the time. We played pretty good but the others were more synchronized so we lost with 7-3 but I scored 2 times ;) It's fun but so much harder that outdoor.

Afterwards, I went to Kadda's place cause we needed to plan and book our California trip. we booked our flight from San Francisco to Seattle cause we have a date when we need to be back in Seattle. We also have the hotel in Las Vegas, we are staying at the pyramid Luxor ;) It's shaped as a pyramid so the roof in the room is a bit angled..so cool!We also booked the Greyhound bus tour between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. We felt like we needed to be on a Greyhound bus cause it's American ;)

So that's what we booked today but we still have some other stuff to book: the flight to Las Vegas, the staying in Los Angeles and San Fransisco, the rental car, the tickets for Grand Canyon, Six Flags and Universal Studios....hmm still a lot of work. And we need to see where we want to stop on our way to San Fransisco...can't someone plan this for us? ;) I'm so excited!! And it's not many days left!!!

Me and Anna decided to go east instead towards Leavenwort and Lake Chelan cause there the weather is always good. Just hope we'll find a campground!

Miss U all!

Love Sandra

Just a Thursday

Today (Thursday) Filip had R practice in the morning so we went there and at home we didn't do so much before lunch. We were all kind of tired so we watched TV and I was on my computer.

After lunch we went to the beach and stayed there all afternoon. Anna joined us with Slater and then M came with Julie and Alex. The kids got ice cream, Filip took a shaved ice and Sofia got a Spongebob ice cream from the ice cream truck that came. They were happy ;) And I was happy. I played with Julie and Alex and Anna played with my kids, it's really nice to change some time and I like when they are younger and can't argue with U ;)

Now the t-shirts are here also, the Fancy Nannies and they are really cool. Mine is a bit big but it's OK cause I want to have it to sleep in or play soccer. It's gonna be a memory forever!!

We had dinner at home when Lotta and Jonas came and then they went out with the kids and I went to Anna's place...what else? ;) we took Ace to the dog park where he could play with another boxer and they were a bit aggressive cause they were so excited. Anna talked with the other owner but I went to a bench and observed from a distance...dogs are not my favourite animal and they looked kind of violent.

We walked around the little pound with Ace and one time he just jumped in the water, and he can't swim ;) He's kind of stupid but so sweet ;)

Back at Anna's place I was dying from sleep but we had to plan our weekend. Anna wants to go camping in the Olympics cause she hasn't been there jet but it's gonna be bad weather but we said that we are Europeans - "There is no bad weather, just bad clothing" so we looked up some campgrounds that looked good and then we'll see on Saturday when Anna is off how it looks like.

We also checked the invite to our goodbye party next week! We are having a party at Jason's and Rob's ( American friends) place and it's gonna be so much fun, just hope there will be a lot of people.

I drove home really tired and Anna told me to go to bed and I better do what the boss says ;)

Miss U all!

Love Sandra

Mariners

Today (Wednesday) was a sad day, specially for Sofia. Helena was going back to Sweden. Sofia was really sad and cried all morning. It was heartbreaking to see and now they won't meet in one year! But then the family is moving home to Sweden and they'll be neighbours, but one year is long time for a little girl.

Filip had his R practice again so we went there, all three of us and me and Sofia looked in a magazine while Filip was in. This time he got a home work but I don't really know how to do that. It's hard since we don't know the sounds and stuff but hopefully Filip know by himself.

Back home, me and Sofia made chocolate balls. It's really messy but they are so good ;)

Patrizia called and said that the kids could have a play date if they wanted. Both of them could go to their place and I was like: YES!!! Cause I had a appointment at the doctor for my final check up on the wound so that would be perfect for me. We just had lunch at home and then I drove them there. I knew that they had a pool so I brought the kids their swim suits so that they could jump in if they felt like it.

It went fine at the doctor and he just changed my dressing and said that I should keep that a couple of days and then just change to a band aid and let the wound close up. I'm glad that the medication helps and that it's getting better so I can start living again!!! I mean, to be able to swim, play soccer and tan properly ;)

I called Patrizia to see how it was going and it was fine so the kids could stay there for a bit longer. I took the opportunity to rest which was really nice cause I was so tired, again.

The kids had had a great time at their friends house. They had been in the pool most of the time and didn't want to leave when I came, which is funny cause they didn't really want to go there in the first place ;)

Back home me and Filip played Monopoly again for the first time in a while but we didn't have time to finish cause I was going to watch the Mariners play tonight as the monthly activity with my au pair agency.

I had told Lotta that I needed to go at 5:30 cause the game was at 7 and I had to go to M's place first but Jonas didn't show up until 5:45 so me and Anna had to rush to Kadda's instead where M picked us up. With us was also Goska so we were a full car which is great when U split the parking fee ;)

We came there just in time and parked in the garage next to the Safeco Field which was perfect. We had seats pretty high up and we could see the whole field really good. There were already a lot of au pairs and this time were also the Seattle au pairs there so a lot of people. I met Jacob, the Swedish guy I flew here with, and Patric, the German guy that's friend with Anna.

I felt like being a real American so I bought a beer and me and M shared the traditional garlic fries ;) They were good but and they gave U a slice of apple so that U would feel fresh in the mouth afterwards, it didn't help ;)

Baseball is more of a social thing than fanatic watching. I mean, we talked, ate and walked around while they were playing but it's just because a game can be really long since the innings are not time limited. We left before the game was over, I think around the 5th inning and a full game is 9. When we left, Texas was in the lead and I think they won also.

Cause we also got a $5 gift card, me and Anna bought a cap with the Mariner's sign on it which was really cool ;) Now we look even more the same ;)

This weekend is the big Sea Fair in Seattle and today was when all the sailors came back from the sea so there were a lot of white dressed hotties walking on the streets when we drove home. We cheered on them and at a red light, M pulls up her camera and takes a picture on a gang of officers :) They were posing for her and it was just hilarious ;) Anna didn't know that the window was down so she made a LOUD "Excuse me" sound and everyone on the sidewalk looked in to our car...hahahah we laughed long for that.

A great night with the girls but I wish we could have stayed in Seattle to get to know some sailors ;)

Miss U all!

Love Sandra

Goodbye Ramona :(

Today (Tuesday) me and the kids went to the movies again in the morning for the free summer shows. This time it was Coraline and I think it's a really creepy movie. We've seen it before and Sofia was still afraid and had to hold my hand all the time and I'm glad she did cause I was also afraid ;)

We went home and had lunch before we went back to the bowling place we were yesterday and now they had the power back so we could play. We played for one hour and we had time to almost finish two series. The kids are so funny when they play cause they can't throw the ball as U are supposed to throw it, they more toss it away with force. That makes a horrible sound on the track and I'm afraid it will break every time. The first round Helena won and the second I won. The kids had this fence so it was much easier for them, that's why I didn't won the first time ;)

It was really hot today so when we came home we packed our beach stuff and went to the Waverly Beach Park as always. Anna joined us later with Slater and Jay and it was really nice. The kids got a ice cream and they all played together in the sand, digging and building. Sofia tried to wash gold but was not that lucky ;) Anna had showed Jay my blog yesterday and now he was excited cause he was on it and he asked if I would post a picture of today and write about him. I got a new reader!! ;)

The family had a BBQ back home but I was going to Starbucks to say goodbye to Ramona and then to Bellevue Downtown park for a movie.

I picked up Anna and we went to QFC to buy some dinner/goodies for the movie. We bought: chocolate raisins, Ritz chips, BBQ Oahu rings and tropical juice ;)

At Starbucks we got to meet Goska, the new au pair after Ramona, and she was really nice. She's from Poland I think.

M had made a frame with a photo of all five of us and we all signed it before Ramona got it. It was really nice and she was happy. We actually have another gift but it didn't make it with the mail for today so she'll get it when Kadda goes home. It's a t-shirt with the text "Friendship over borders" on the heart and on the back it says "Fancy Nannies" under is the Seattle skyline, then 2009/2010 and then it's the American, German, French and Swedish flag. It's so cool and perfect for us to have as a memory. I hope it'll come soon cause I wanna see it, I wasn't there when they made it.

Me, Anna and M had to leave pretty early cause we wanted to see "Percy Jackson & the Olympians. The Lightning thief" and we wanted to have good seats. We found pretty decent ones and put on the sweatpants and sweatshirt and wrapped the sleeping bag around us. M had brought these cool chairs that was very low and perfect when U lay down on a blanket. Anna called us old ladies but I think she was just jealous cause she didn't get one ;)

The movie was really good cause I like when it's about history and Greek mythology. It was a bit like Narnia with all the centaurs and satyrs.

This day was good but I'm so tired lately, donno if it's the medication that does that or if I'm just working too much....probably the last thing ;)

Miss U all!

Love Sandra