First day of school, part 2

Today was Alexander's first day back. He already dislikes Spanish (again) and has gone back to grunting when I ask him how his day was. So nice to know that my kids all fall back into the routine so effortlessly ;)

It is almost Friday :)

xox

First day of school part 1

Today, Nicka and Oliver started school and I did my BIG happy dance ;) Alexander will be starting tomorrow (this is why this post is the first day of school part 1)... and I will be doing an even bigger happy dance ;)
As much as I am a bit sad to see summer go, I will be happy to get to a family routine again. I am tired of 1) boys fighting, 2) loud Youtube channels, 3) tablet addictions, 4) fighting them over tablet addictions and 5) the never ending driving from one activity to another. My attempt to work from home was ok but not as productive as I would have liked. Maybe the constant refereeing or food service had something to do with it ;)
This morning, I woke the boys up with a happy "Wake up. It is back to school" and I didn't even get a grunt in return. I am guessing that they are happy to see their friends again after the summer break. Let's see how the wake up routine goes again tomorrow ;) I didn't even mind making their lunches ;)

Happy first day of school (part 1)!

Lost tooth

Today, Oliver finally lost his tooth. Yes- finally. This thing has been loose since before we left for Sweden. It has been so loose that it actually moved over and made a gap before it even fell out. His loose tooth has been a convenient excuse for not finishing his not-so-appreciated dinners. It caused chaos during tooth brushing time (ie: the tooth didn't like mint). It resulted in Oliver always needing a darn straw for drinking his water. It kept him from smiling in pictures. It even kept him from a swimming lesson that he didn't really feel like attending (but my tooth hurts too much to swim). And, now, the day before school, it is finally gone... and Oliver is happily trading his convenient excuse for a visit from the Tooth Fairy ;)

xox to you all!

My progression with progressives

Last week, not only did I take the boys to get their eyes checked (see here), I also found out that my 47 year old eyes have change prescription again and I needed progressives (UGH! Yes, like in bifocals!). Since getting my new glasses last week, I no longer feel dizzy (but I did in the beginning). I no longer feel nauseous (but I did at the beginning). I can walk down a flight of stairs without feeling like I am going to fall (yups... that too!). I haven't actually fallen (a good sign). I have better vision for distance. I can actually read something in my hand. I am no longer doing "eye-gymnastics" every time I change from looking at something up close to far away (progess). I am no longer mortified that I actually had to get progressive lenses (resolving myself). Guess I am progressing ;)

Wishing you all a good week ahead xox

I can see you hiding back there ;)

In the bad books ;)

My boys are not big fans of reading. Actually, Nicklas is not bad. He has some favourite authors and, if I ask him to read, he does... and willingly. The other two are terrible! Alexander, when he was little, loved books. Suddenly, in grade 4, his love of reading was suddenly over :( Now, it is like pulling teeth to get him to read anything. Oliver is even worse: he has decided that he cannot read and, no matter what I do, he is not changing his mind. All summer, I have been trying to do little 10 minute manageable blocks of reading time and it has just ended up being a form of mother-torture ;) I took him to the library to choose his own books (because the 5 million books that I bought while trying to get the other 2 boys to read were just not enough) and- still- he is not into reading. I try to make it more fun by playing reading games while we trudge through the book. I also try to alternate between me reading a page and him reading a page, just so it isn't so tiring for him. I provide French books (he is in French immersion), English books, comic books, space books, fiction books, non-fiction books, reptile books, cheetah books, dog books, Pokemon books, karate books, adventure books and he is still not into them. I have borrowed reading technique books from friends who have children who are good readers (I guess I was hoping for osmosis?). I guess I just have to accept that Oliver will read when he is good and ready. Or, considering that he tells me that Ninjas don't need to read**, I might have to wait until he changes career choices ;)

**Yes, I do tell him that Ninjas have to be able to read the instructions that come from their Samurai Masters but Oliver tells me that they just know it all by magic. No reading required ;)

Happy Friday to you all xox

Back to school preparations

Buy school supplies: check.
Pay for Alexander's school fees: check.
Pick up Alexander's class schedule: check.
Buy new back packs for school: check.
Buy new school pants for all three boys: check.
Buy new shoes for Oliver: check.
Line up all three boys and cut hair in record time: check.
Take all three boys to the eye doctor and be totally relieved that no one needs new glasses yet: check.
Start to make bedtime and wake up times earlier: check.
Get frustrated because the boys seem to be fighting more than usual: check.
Remind boys that video games will soon be available only on weekends: check.
Invest in wine box that will help with the first few weeks of homework: check.
Do happy dance that they start again next week: check, check and check ;)

Happy Thursday! xox

School supplies :)

That is a lot of hair!

Missing in action

Sorry for being so neglectful of my blog space ;) It is now the frantic end of the summer period where all the sports have playoffs ALL AT THE SAME TIME! Today was a marathon of soccer and swimming for the 2 bigger boys and I found myself repeatedly whispering thanks for Oliver not being old enough to be involved in the playoff period ;) This coming week, we will be going to pick up Alexander's school schedule and school supplies for Nicklas and Oliver. The following week is... tah!dah!... back to school! :) Yes- I am smiling! Big time! But that will be for another blog post ;)
Here are a few glimpses of the last few days... I even managed to find a few minutes to buy some "end of the summer flowers". Andreas picked up a "tree face"... which he didn't tell me about... and it scared the crap out of me when I finally noticed it on our tree ;)

Tomorrow is more soccer (for the boys, me and Andreas). A late evening glass of wine is also pencilled in... Wish me luck and sanity for the day ;)

xox

Yes- it scared the crap out of me when I finally noticed it... OK- I am slow ;)

This will be the majority of my weekend....

Can't fight it anymore ;)

Yesterday, I had to go to the eye doctor to have my prescription re-evaluated. Admittedly, the big point was to get some new glass frames (mine are now perma-warped) so I was kind of looking forward to the appointment (Looking forward to new glasses- yes. Looking forward to paying for them- no). Anyway, the inevitable happened: I needed progressives. Yes- bifocals. Me. Ugh!
I knew that my current glasses had a prescription that was a bit weak- it was done on purpose on my last appointment so I didn't have to get progressives and I also knew that I do a lot more taking-my-glasses-off-to-look-at-things-close-up but, now, I can't fight it anymore. The optometrist gave me some basic "lessons" on how to use the lenses (ie: to help me not fall down flights of stairs as I get used to them), how to subtly look down so that I can read (without moving my head- that will be tough- it takes way too much co-ordination) and how to not totally feel nauseous for the first few days :P I am sure that it will all work out but it kind of felt overwhelming... and so darn complicated ;) Much too complicated for someone who is still 27? ;) What the heck happened? ;)

Success stories from people who wear progressives will be greatly appreciated ;)

Happy Tuesday xox

Thanks to the internet for this random picture ;)

Marbles

Whenever I am losing my patience with the boys, I give them fair warning that I am about to lose my marbles. Yesterday, Oliver came up from the basement with a bag. He dumped the contents on the kitchen table and told me "Look what I found, Mamma. Your lost marbles were downstairs".

Haha! I will keep them with me... for the next time ;)

Wishing you all a great day xox

Boys' night out ;)

Last night, Alexander and Nicklas had their best friends over for a sleep over party. Andreas put up our tent in the backyard so it could be a camping experience... without the actual camping, which was fine by me ;) After snacks, video game time and loud laughter, they finally fell asleep. Nicklas likes to think that it was at 2:15am but, actually, it was more around 1am. How do I know? The tent was located right outside our bedroom window. Lucky for them that they weren't sharing secrets ;)
They woke up to a big breakfast (made by Andreas), trampoline time and sunshine. Not a bad way to start a Wednesday ;)

Hope you all had a great day xox

Before the monkeys woke up...

Back to full action!

What superheroes choose to do ;)

Today, in the car, Oliver tells me that he wants to be an engineer when he grows up. Good choice, I answer. He gets quiet and then adds "An engineer who is a superhero". I ask him why that combination and he says that he wants to be a superhero but also the guy who builds the superhero houses. Makes perfect sense ;) I take advantage of the conversation: "But, Oliver, superheroes have amazing hearing. If you become a superhero, will you do better listening?" His answer to me: "Superheroes get to choose what they are amazing at listening to... and sometimes I choose not to listen to you". OK- you got me, kid ;)

Happy day to you all xox

Happy birthday, Andreas!

Today, it is Andreas' birthday. I am happy because he is no longer 4 years younger than me but, now, only 3 ;) Hey! That year counts ;)

We went to celebrate at a local pizza restaurant... that has awesome antipasto... nutella deserts.. good coffee... and bring your own wine ;) It was awesome ;)

Happy birthday to my better half ;) xox

Right now

I just finished a deadline for work and the boys are all out of the house. Andreas is at work... Alexander and Nicklas are in the front of our house, playing basketball... Oliver is out with a friend. I am sitting at my kitchen table, writing this, with a shot of espresso (maybe more to come) and a treasured souvenir of Sweden. You know what... I didn't feel like sharing so this is a perfect moment ;) Ha! I have a soccer game this evening so I don't even feel guilty ;)

Wishing you all a great day! It has been a bit busy here lately. I have been back to work and we (Andreas and I) have been juggling our schedules to allow the boys to have pool time this summer. Hope you are all well xox