Happy 4th advent

 Happy 4th advent... I mean, Happy Sunday Football 😉 Nicka is mad because his team lost... Alexander seems to think that NFL players are deliberately trying to sabotage his Fantasy Football chances... Andreas is disappointed in his team's efforts... and Oliver is not happy with his bedtime... Good thing for chocolate and wine 😉

Can't believe there are only a few days left until Christmas xox

Glimpses from the weekend (happy belated 3rd advent)

Yes, I know. I am slow 😉 Sunday suddenly became Monday and then it became Tuesday. Anyway, happy belated 3rd advent!

We spent the weekend trying to tie up the semester and get work done before the holidays. The boys have their last week of school so lots of last minute homework and studying 😉 Andreas and I are finishing up the semester so we were busy with grading and doing all the other things that we never managed to get to since September 😉 On Sunday, we celebrated the advent (and Sunday football 😉). For their present, the boys each got a gingerbread cookie decorating kit. I had assumed that, especially for Alexander and Nicklas, that they would just go for eating everything but they all actually decorated their cookies. For me, that was the best part of the advent... they may all be getting bigger but they can still find some fun and magic in the holiday season.

Wishing you all a good week xox

Happy 2nd Advent!

The boys are all finishing off their homework, still happy from a Toblerone sugar high. Wishing you all a happy 2nd Advent and a good week ahead xox

Happy 1st Advent

Even though the main focus of today is football, football and football, we are still trying to keep the advent tradition going. Maybe the present and cookies help draw some attention ;) 

Just wanted to wish you all a very Happy 1st Advent and a good week ahead xox

Happy day after the 4th of Advent

Hello there! I know that yesterday was the 4th of Advent but, by the time I had a few minutes to get here, it was already past my bedtime. I love you all but I also love my bed 😉 I knew that you would understand 😉
Today, the temperature reached 7 degrees C. Please note that I did not write minus 7. It was actually really nice and warm. Sorry for all you white Christmas types but I was loving it... Andreas and I went for a walk because, honestly, who knows the next time we will actually have sun and warm temperatures on the same day!
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve already. Guess Santa has to get organized and start wrapping 😉
Wishing you all a very relaxing evening... see you tomorrow! xox

Happy 3rd Advent!

This coming week will be the last before the Christmas break. Needless to say, I cannot wait! The thought of being able to spend the day in my pajamas is so appealing right now ;)

Wishing you all a Happy 3rd Advent! May this week fly by xox

A little bit of Sunday cosiness

Happy 3rd Avent!

Happy 2nd Advent... the teenager edition ;)

Sometimes I feel guilty that most of my blog pictures are now of Oliver. Truth is that the other 2 are just not interested... I either get a funny face or a hand. Anyway, I appreciate that they still keep the tradition of decorating gingerbread houses, even if it is for the sole purpose of putting more sugar on their "cookie" that they eat in milliseconds after finishing their creation 😉 They will also happily consume (more like inhale) their advent treats... getting pictures of them is another challenge. To make sure that my children are all represented here, you will now get the photos of Alexander and Nicklas that I usually end up with... hands, funny faces and all 😉

Hope you had a good 2nd Advent! xox

The famous hand....

... and the face of gratitude... I mean attitude ;)

It looks like the big, bad wolf got a hold of this house ;) It did not have a chance ;)

Nicka's only lasted a few minutes more ;)

Oliver just strategically ate the candies from the roof ;)

Happy First Advent!

Hello! Yes, it is me again ;)

Happy First Advent to you all! We did a little celebrating this morning (= opening their Advent presents). I know the bags look a bit big but we bought the older boys NFL bedding, which is probably as much for me as it is for them ;) Their rooms needed a refresh so... new bedding! Oliver got a toy that he has been bugging me for and some clothes that he needed. The presents today came with a warning that all other Advent presents will be small... and probably sugar filled ;)

I am really looking forward to the holidays this year. Maybe because it has been an especially busy fall... or because winter seemed to arrive really early this year... or because I am really looking forward to a few days of doing nothing... or because my social life has been particularly ignored... In any case, I am looking forward to Christmas music, a warm blanket, new pajamas and a glass of red wine ;) Ahhhhh..... To my friends, I will resurface soon ;)

Hope you are all having a good Sunday. We are now rushing off to take Alexander for a football testing session... it really never ends ;) xox

They only got to open presents AFTER I took a picture so that is why they are so co-operative ;)

Happy 4th Advent!

Happy 4th Advent!

I have to say that I have been fantasizing about today... the day where holidays really start (actually, I still have grading to do but am conveniently denying it for the next few days 😉). This past semester has been a hard one- I felt exhausted before it even started- so I am happy to just try to relax for a little while. Pajamas and wine sound really good! This morning, the boys opened their advent presents as we enjoyed a cup of coffee (or two). After a slow start, both Andreas and I had to go to our respective work to pick up some last minute stuff (this is why I consider today the day where the holidays really start) and then run some errands. I think that we bought enough groceries to feed an army (= in our house, that means that we will run out in about 2 days 😉). I started to wrap Christmas presents but, unfortunately, Oliver unexpectedly walked in while I was doing it so I had to think up something quick to keep the Santa thing going. He has been asking whether Santa exists for a few weeks now so I think he is onto something... I better come up with something good to keep the believing vibes going 😉
Tomorrow, my family is coming over. I actually enjoy cooking for people so it should be fun. I cleaned off my counter tops to make a bit of space but they will be looking like "food hoarder" before company even arrives.
Anyway, just wanted to wish you all a very happy 4th Advent... and a fantastic holiday season. I will stop in again tomorrow to say Merry Christmas.

Glad you stopped by xox

Oliver, frustrated that he has to wait for his brothers to open his present 😉

Third of Advent.... already?!?

Wow! It is the Third of Advent already! Just a little over a week until Christmas.... and, still, a lot of getting organized to do. Christmas Eve will be at our house this year but I am actually looking forward to it. Yes, I am a sucker for punishment but I enjoy having a house full of chaos (obviously)  ;) Over this week, Santa will start to wrap the boys' presents ;) so she he doesn't get stuck doing them at the last minute like every other year ;) How do I know? I can hear the swearing all the way from the North Pole ;) This year, I bought a long-wanted Christmas present to myself... stay tuned for another post about that soon.

Wishing you all a happy Advent.... and a calm week ahead <3

Happy 2nd Advent!

Today, after a cosy morning, Andreas and I started the Christmas shopping process. Doing it all at one time is not really fun at all but getting it done gradually is much more reasonable ;) I won't say what we bought because I don't want some people who may be reading this to know what they are getting ;) After we got home, he even put up the tree. For someone who is not big on Christmas, I am proud of him!
The boys are now finishing up their last minute homework and dinner is on its way. I am looking forward to a quiet remainder of the weekend.

Happy 2nd Advent! xox

Advent presents for the boys...

Our holly bush

Our tree <3

Happy 1st Advent

Wow! December already!

Today, the boys opened their advent presents. Coffee is made. The cupboard is stocked with gingerbread cookies. The candle is lit. It is freezing rain outside. We have nothing on the agenda today. Great way to start the holiday season..... said completely non sarcastically ;)

Happy 1st Advent.... xox

Happy Third of Advent!

It has been busy... but good :) I promise to write a better blog post soon.

Wishing you all a Happy Third of Advent and a good week ahead! xox

Happy Second Advent!

We spent the day organizing and decorating the house for the holidays. My plan was to bring some old books and toys to the Goodwill centre and give our poor, ignored fussball table to some friends of ours but Oliver ended up having a big fit about the table. So much for my plans for making some extra space in the basement... ugh! I guess toys only become interesting when they are intended for someone else :P

Last week was the last week of classes and tomorrow I start the exam period. Honestly, I am dreaming of a day off... in pajamas... with absolutely nothing to do ;)

Wishing you all a good week ahead xox

Happy First of Advent!

Happy First of Advent!

I know that I complain about winter a lot but- don't tell anyone- I find the Advents really cosy ;) We are spending the day not doing a heck of a lot, eating some cinnamon rolls and homemade banana bread, drinking coffee (not the boys, they have enough energy!) and putting a few Christmas decorations up.


Wishing you all a relaxing day! xox

The obligatory "before you open your Advent presents" picture ;)

Books... ok... at least we got chocolate to make up for it ;)

Happy Advent!

<3

Happy 4th advent!

It was really nice... we got to start the day rush-free :) It doesn't happen often and, every once in a while, I would pretend for a second that we had to hurry to get somewhere and then- I know it sounds crazy- enjoy the fact that we actually didn't ;) A little bit like setting your alarm clock, just to be able to shut it off and enjoy going back to sleep again ;)
It is supposed to get to -24C tonight. Strange after the rain we had this morning! Hopefully, the weather will stabilize soon because the warm/cold/warm/cold is a bit hard on the system... plus you never know what to wear... and it is icy as crap.

On another note, can you believe this is the last advent?!??!! Christmas is right around the corner! This week, Alexander will have exams. I have exams (well.. not me but my students). Stressful. Nicka and Oliver have pajama day. Not so stressful ;) Friday will be a half day at school and I am hoping that I will have the chance to use the morning to submit most of my grades... to pick them up... and to be officially on holiday! :)

Wishing you all a great week ahead! xox

3rd of Advent? Already?

How the heck did this happen? Only 2 weeks left until Christmas? The past few days have been filled with sickness, getting better-ness, dirty laundry, cold weather, homework, studying, grocery shopping and house cleaning. It is Sunday now and the boys are getting ready for bed... I am planning on a quiet evening to recharge the batteries. Wishing you all the same! xox

Second advent!

There was lots to celebrate this second of advent: it is our (meaning Andreas and me) 12th wedding anniversary; Alexander did a good job at his first real indoor swim meet; we put up our Christmas tree and there was minimum fighting; I am almost finished writing my final exam (the actual exam that others will write); I am up to 653 blog posts (!) and the second of advent itself!

I will further celebrate by moving bed time up by 30 minutes ;) They all seem tired so I am sure that they won't even notice ;)

Happy 2nd advent... and wishing you all a great week ahead xox

Help in progress....

The finished product <3

Happy first of advent!

Just stopping by to wish you all a very happy first of advent! The boys had a long weekend so I thought that there would be more time to get things done but, as usual, that concept didn't quite work out for me ;) I did manage to wrap the advent presents... whew! Again, I went with the 4 presents (one for each advent), rather than the totally crazy 24 little gifts that I tried a few years back (to witness my insanity see here ;) I also prioritized a trip to a local European shop to pick up some advent cookies/candies/chocolates... I say that it was for the boys but, honestly, I had a craving ;) Now, we are finishing homework and starting to get organized for the week ahead. Wishing you all a good evening xox

Here are some glimpses of the weekend:

Super cool elf dude ;)

Folding laundry is always better with wine ;)

Oliver's dragon artwork

Slow cooker Sunday :)

A real November sky

Advent presents

Advent goodies :)

The boys with their first of advent presents on ;)

The best pajama ever ;)