Happy 1st Advent!

Just when I thought that things couldn't become crazier, they did.... but I'll save that story/stories for another time...

For now, I just want to wish everyone a very happy 1st advent! This year, we decided to follow a more Swedish tradition where small gifts are given every day (from December 1 - 24) and on Christmas (ie: December 24), a "special" gift is given. The gifts can be a new book, small toy, gift card for small amount, fun school supplies, candy.... I thought that it could be fun to do something new and introduce the boys to a bit more of their family traditions and culture. Anyway, flash forward to last night when I was up to 1:30 in the morning, wrapping 24 small gifts for each boy. Just to save you the math: THAT WAS 72 FREAKING GIFTS TO WRAP!!! I started off wrapping each gift with a bow, tag and careful/thoughtful presentation. By the time I hit December 18, the wrapping consisted mostly of tape and tissue paper ;) Andreas deserted me somewhere around, hmmmm, maybe DECEMBER 2???!!!! The rest of the evening was me, the cats trying to undo any sort of wrapping that I did, a bottle of beer (OK... multiple bottles of beer) and 72 small packets.

Would I do it again? Actually, yes :) The boys, hesitant at first because they weren't sure if this "new" tradition was a rip off or a good thing, really appreciated seeing all the small gifts. It makes the house a bit more festive. Andreas bought the boys a small tree for their room so we will be decorating it this afternoon. The big tree is next weekend...

Hope you all have a great day xox

That was a lot of wrapping!!!

Nicka's part of the table top

I didn't notice it before but there is even a little Alexander peaking out :)

The plant is left over from our usual home decor and not a really crappy kid present ;)

Dark and light

Now that the days are getting shorter, I am finding it so important to appreciate the little bit of light that we have (both outside and inside). Even leaving work fairly early yesterday (at 2:30pm), I could already feel the darkness on its way. At home, after taking a summer's break, our lamps are on more often and our candles are living very short lives ;) Our poor plants are suffering light withdrawal and I am sympathizing :) Good day to you all xox

A little break....

Today started off with lots of rain..... and 14 degree C temperatures :) Take that snow! We're getting a little bit of a break before cold weather and snow is back again. That is fine! I'll take it :)

Action man

When he is tired (but not wanting to admit it), Oliver asks to watch TV- especially Mickey Mouse- in our bedroom. Although he started off quiet, his natural state of being kicked in (very energetic). Forget TV... jumping on the bed is much more fun! He knows that he is not allowed to do it and I caught him in action. That explains the kind of guilty look ;)
Happy end of the weekend to all xox

What me? Jumping on the bed? ;)

Light at the end of the tunnel... I mean, semester :)

Over the past week, I have been hearing a lot of the students wishing for the end of the semester. Sometimes, I think that they don't realize that their profs are REAL PEOPLE TOO!!!! ;) WE ALSO WANT THE SEMESTER TO BE OVER SOON! Seriously!
Speaking of semesters, the boys did well on their report cards and we were made to be very proud of them at the parent/teacher interviews. We were told how quiet, well behaved our boys were. Apparently, they work hard and listen well. I am convinced that they were talking about someone else's boys ;) Or the school version is different from the home version ;) Who cares? I am proud!
The remainder of the week (from my last post... poor, neglected blog) consisted of work, homework, my mother and father in law visiting from Sweden, basketball (Alexander and Nicka), soccer (me) and a superfun birthday party (Oliver). Oh yeah, we also had some millefeuille pie to celebrate the boys' report cards :) YUM!
Tonight will be some wine and pulled pork.... MORE YUM!
Happy weekend to you all xox

Isn't all science useful?

Showing his artwork

More artwork...

A hand drawn poster by the illustrator, Bruno St. Aubin, who had visited Nicka's class...

Alexander showing his school portfolio

Oliver just being Oliver... ;)

I feel the complaining coming on..... ;)

All day yesterday, it snowed. It snowed again today. It never ceases to amaze me how we (read: others) forget how to drive in the winter time. Total chaos! The boys are amazed at how dark it is already. Oliver even asked me why I picked him up from daycare at bedtime (it was only 4pm).
YUPS... winter time is coming on full force.... blah!

WTH!

When we woke up this morning, the ground was covered with terrible white stuff. It is getting worse and worse today, leaving me with a sinking feeling that winter is on its way in! All I can say is that I am VERY glad that we put winter tires on our cars last week! Andreas told me that not all drivers were in the same situation ;)
Beware! Winter complaining will be commencing shortly ;) Wishing you all a great day... despite our snow!

BOO!

10 years!

Last night, Alexander was celebrated with lots of presents, his favourite food and tons of cake :) It was a good day for a 10 year old!

Birthday boy

Today is Alexander's 10th birthday! I can't believe it..... 10 years old! Last night I made some cupcakes for his school class and then we will celebrate him this evening. My mother and father-in law are in town from Sweden so it will be a fun celebration! Happy birthday, sweetheart... we love you xox

November

Walking around today, it really started to feel like November! I guess that we have been really lucky so far... yesterday it was 12 degrees and sunny :) Too bad that this is not our regular winter weather!

Hope you all had a great day xox

Hibernation time

Today we had the winter tires put on our cars.... I am officially depressed ;)

The only thing that cheered me up were these cool murals on a wall, near the mechanic, and that we had a bit of sun... Hibernation time is coming up!

Sentimental

Sometimes I get sentimental when I think back and remember the boys when they were so small... and realize how fast time flies! I also forget what it is like to look at Alexander and not see long bangs ;) I could still pick up Nicka when he was this age.... and Oliver... well, he couldn't talk yet and now he doesn't stop ;) Haha!

Wishing you all a good week! xox

Feeling better and the school picture situation

Oliver is feeling better. His attitude and full blast personality is back again! Just in time for school picture retakes...
A few weeks back, all three boys had their school pictures done. Alexander's and Nicklas' photos were really nice. They looked great and the pictures came out really well. Then we got Oliver's from his daycare.... hmmmm..... he seriously looked like a cross between PacMan, an old man and a troll. I am not joking. I love that kid but that was definitely not a great photo (insert diplomacy here). The pictures were technically well taken but I know what happened... they told him to smile. When he feels like he HAS to smile, he does this weird smile... kind of like he just bit into a lemon.Needless to say, I took the photography company up on their offers to do a retake so I made an appointment to take Oliver in today. While everyone else was at basketball, I took Oliver downtown to the studio. Amazingly, he totally loved the whole experience!!!! He loved looking at all the cars, he loved the building construction across the street from the studio, he loved the noise of downtown and he especially loved the funky elevator in the building!
Success! The new pictures are really lovely and, bonus, we had a pretty good outing...

We're having guests over for dinner this evening. Yes, real food, adult conversation and a bit of wine. They have boys the same age as Alexander and Nicklas so that is awesome! More awesome is that their boys love Oliver, so it keeps him busy as well ;) Adult conversation... wow- I am looking forward to that!

Before I forget, I have to thank a blogger friend of mine, Ageeth, for her bread pudding recipe! LOVE it! xox

Good evening to all!!!

Oliver, ready for his photo!

A view of Montreal, taken from the studio.

More Montreal.... towards the Old Port.

This was part of the building that was under construction. Not sure what they were up to but I loved the sign ;)

Bread pudding with apples.... yum!