Happy New Year!

When I was younger, New Year's Eve meant going out to a club. We all went out, partied, drank a lot, ate a lot and stood outside in the cold, waiting to get into the next club. By this point in the evening, someone usually lost their coat, their shoes, their boyfriend or their dignity ;)

Now, New Year's Eve means eating a lot (yup, that stayed the same), hanging out with the kids, wearing cosy pajamas and watching my husband fall asleep at 11: 25 ;) You know what? I prefer this... so... much!

Wishing you all the very best for 2016... may this coming year be filled with love, health, happiness and family. Thank you for visiting my blog... see you next year :) xox

Happy New Year!

For all of you who love snow....

..... here are some pictures for you.... and I am not so sure that we can stay friends ;)

We had, before midnight yesterday, 39cm of snow. Another 5cm fell today. I am dreaming of Costa Rica ;)

xox

It came our way :(

I know that it would be a dream to have a warm, green winter. I know better... after all, I AM Canadian. I grew up here... BUT, for a moment, I was hoping that our green winter would stay a green winter.

Flash forward to today.... we have at least 20cm of snow on the ground and more is coming. Snow on top of ice. Snow on top of ice with super strength winds... Snow on top of ice with super strength winds and helping neighbours out of their driveways... or into driveways.... getting out of the way of the snow ploughs.... IT IS FREAKING TERRIBLE! I guess that I shouldn't complain too much because, after all, this is the remnant of a storm that started in Texas. They got the full brunt and we got the leftovers....

As for now, I took the dogs for a walk and am now decidedly home-bound.... with a glass of wine.... Cheers xox

Fish, food and family

Happy Boxing Day!

I went out shopping today... for a new fish tank ;) Actually, we got a great one (it even came with fish) from my sister. Her new kitten was obsessed over the fish so, to preserve their sanity- and my sister's, we adopted Larry and Moe (Curly had already met the big toilet in the sky). She knows that, after 2 dogs and 2 cats, I am crazy and will take any new animal in ;) Thing is that the filter needed replacing and it actually cost more to replace it than to buy a whole new tank.... SO I bought a whole new tank... with another fish ;) Most people left the stores with clothes, shoes and electronics for Boxing Day. I left with a tank and a fish.... 'tis the season ;)

Yesterday (the 25th), the family brunch was at our house so we had lots of food and still have lots of food. I have to give credit to my friend, Catarina, for having posted a recipe on her blog for homemade Bounty Bites (English translation). I saw them ages ago and always kept them in the back of my mind. Finally, I had the chance (and the energy) to make them and they were a BIG hit!!!  To make up for all the eating, and to enjoy the weather, I went out for a nice run... It keeps my wine and chocolate relatively guilt free ;)

My in laws (Farmor and Farfar) will be arriving later this evening from Sweden so the boys are all excited. It will be a nice visit... maybe Andreas and I will even get a chance to go out on a date ;)

Wishing you all a nice evening xox

Part 1 of Christmas brunch ;)

Tak Catarina!!!

It is really hard to take pictures of fish. They don't stay still for very long ;)

Happy boys!

Enjoying the holidays in my new Christmas hoodie ;)

Merry Christmas!

On December 24, we celebrate our Christmas so we are heading off in a little while to go to my sister's for dinner. It is her turn to cook this year... and I am happy for it ;) Wishing you all a very merry Christmas eve! xox

PS: the temperature is 17C and sunny... THAT is my present ;)

After Santa's visit ;)

Merry Christmas to me!

Look what came out for the holidays ;)

Andreas walking the dogs.... Merry Christmas!

Happiness is.... 4th of Advent and holidays!!!

Yesterday evening, I had my last exam and am now off until the first week of January!!! I still have corrections to do and courses to prepare for but I can do that when and how I want to! If I feel like wearing pajamas while I do my work, I can :) If I want to have a glass of red wine while I do my work, I can :) If I want to eat way too many chocolates while I do my work, I can :) If I want to do my work at midnight because I wanted to slack off all day, I can do that too :)

Happy belated 4th of Advent and holidays to you all!! xox

This is how I started my holidays :)

Not to mention that we will not be having a white Christmas this year ;)

Even the dogs are taking it easy :)

Return of the owl family and happy Third of Advent :)

They are back! All the children in Oliver's kindergarten class get a chance to host "La Famille Hibou" (The Owl Family) for a night. I guess that they are on round 2 now because the famous, much anticipated Owl Transport Bag came home again yesterday :) Last time, they came with us to Tremblant so I hope that they weren't too disappointed this time...

When they arrived at our house, Oliver carefully took them out of their bag and made a nest on the couch. They must be pretty important because they took over my place on the couch ;)

I wanted to send out a happy Third of Advent last weekend but, as the holidays get closer, the weekends get crazier! Last weekend was a combination of birthday parties for the boys, Christmas Concerts, grocery shopping, soccer games, house cleaning and trying to clear my work plate (not very successfully, may I add...). By the time I sat down to blog, it was 2am on Monday morning so it didn't happen! Oops! It really looks like we will be having a green Christmas this year. We are still regularly in the +6C range (still not complaining) and the grass is greener now than it was in July ;)

Wishing you all a great week xox

Oliver and his buds

Happy Third of Advent!

Christmas tree, Second of Advent and Man Cold #2

On Sunday, we put up our tree... well... actually, Andreas put it up while I was at Alexander's soccer game. Apparently, Oliver and Nicklas just watched, commented and "supervised". The house looks very cosy now... and even cosier after some chocolate/wine. Happy Second Advent! Best part is that our grass is still as green as the tree ;)
We had plans on Saturday evening to go out for an adult party but Andreas came down with another Man Cold... :P To make up for it, I got in 2 episodes of Broen... On to Season 3.....

Wishing you all a great week!

By the way, did I mention that I finished teaching today? BIG smile :)

2 candles lit

New TV addiction

Last year, I started to watch Broen/Bron. After having successfully avoiding the series for another year (I was proud of my "kicked" habit), I fell off the wagon and we started back on season 2. All I can say is.... Broen, you're killing me! Ugh! What an ending to season 2!! Now I have to watch season 3!!! Argh!!! ;)

Happy 2nd Advent to you all! xox

Eleven years

Today, Andreas and I have been married for 11 years. I feel that time has gone by so fast... although, my husband feels like we have been married for 50 years ;) I choose to take that as a positive comment ;)

XOXO till min älskling... may there be many, many more happy years ahead......

Happy 1st Advent!

I am not sure if it is a Northern European thing but we celebrate the Advents (every Sunday before Christmas). Both Andreas' and my family celebrated the Advents when we were growing up so now we are passing it to our boys. Last year, I had this idea to do a full advent calendar for the boys but, maybe having grown one year wiser (haha! Or lazier? ;)), I gave up on that one! Now, I am doing one gift per Advent instead... Only 12 gifts to wrap instead of 72... sounds WAY more sane to me ;)

Next weekend, we get our tree but, at least, our house looks a bit more festive. It is still green out so, if I am lucky, maybe we'll do our Christmas turkey on the BBQ ;) I am STILL NOT complaining ;)

Wishing you all a great week ahead! xox

Flashback Friday

While working today (on a well deserved break, of course ;) ), I looked through a picture folder and took a little trip down memory lane. These pictures are from 2010/early 2011. They made me laugh... and feel a little sentimental at the same time.

Happy Friday! Wishing you all a great weekend xox

Thankful Thursday

The temperatures have taken a turn in the positive direction again and the snow has been melting very quickly. It really feels like we were given an extra month of non-winter. What a bonus!! Sorry to my skiing friends... may you have white mountains... but just the mountains ;)

On this Thursday, I think about how I am thankful for my family, for the warm-for-Canada-end-of-November weather, my friends, my beautiful city, my daily walk, that my husband is making dinner this evening and that it almost the end of the semester!

I am also thankful to my blog world and those in it... xox

Role reversal

Usually, I am the friend who is posting scary photos of snowstorms. I am usually the person who is complaining about being shut in at home, unable to escape the snowdrifts surrounding my house. This is my identity as a Canadian and, frankly, as much as I dislike winter, it is a sort of badge of honour. SO WHAT IS GOING ON THIS YEAR???? It is November 22 and I have green grass in my backyard. I even have some flowers that are still blooming in our flowerpots out front. Today, Alexander was out playing soccer in shorts. Yes, outside. No, I am not the worst mother in the world. Our temperature hovered around 10 degrees C. It doesn't even look like Christmas yet... not even close. ** I AM NOT COMPLAINING**
Last night, some of my friends in Scandinavia were attacked by up to 50 cm of snow. I have to say that it was not all my friends because dear Ola only saw a few flakes and then rain in Oesterbro. My other friends and family got snow... and lots of it...
I don't know what happened this year but what a role reversal! This year, they get the badge of snow honour and I will, happily, lend it to them because I am sure... no, am more than certain, that we will get it back again. Unfortunately..... ;)

Happy week to you all :)

This is us.....

This is them.... Roskilde, DK

Argh... I am getting flashbacks!

I don't mind sharing the honour of having lots of crappy snow ;)

Then and now

Andreas recreated (or tried to recreate) a photo that we took of Oliver, shortly after he was born. Bigger kid, bigger bathtub, more bubbles and, definitely, nore attitude ;)

Guess what? It is almost Friday :) xox

So quiet and sleepy

Not anymore ;)