Friday night

I think that everyone was happy for Friday! Andreas spent the day with me at work (yes, sometimes we actually work together too) and, after stopping at my favourite cafe for a coffee to go, we took the train home together. After picking the boys up from school, I took Nicka to pick up his new glasses. He put them on and, suddenly, looked like such a big boy! We spent the rest of the evening being cosy...  I made the boys home-made chicken nuggets and, after tired boys went to bed, Andreas and I treated ourselves to a sushi take out. Talk about tired... I think that we lasted about half an hour after we finished eating ;)

So glad today is Saturday.... one more week of teaching :) We promised the boys to "camp out" in the living room this evening. I will let you know tomorrow if it was a good/bad idea ;)

Wishing you all a great weekend xox

Tornado time (aka mornings at our house)

I get up early.... ok.... maybe not as early as Andreas, but I get up early. I like to have a cup of coffee... or two.... or three.... and check my favourite blogs.... and read the newspapers.... and ease into the day. Then the boys start to wake up.... It starts off calmly... then then- somewhere after cereal and before getting school bags packed- it happens.... TORNADO TIME! This is the time when chaos strikes and all hell breaks loose! The boys start to jump around, run, fight, punch, argue, freak out the dogs and just, generally, get on my morning nerves (which are much easier to get on then my rest-of-the-day nerves). So, between the yelling/barking/banging/arguing, I have to make sure that they get ready for school and out the door.... It doesn't seem to phase Andreas at all... in fact, being a larger version of the boys, he often joins in the tornado. This always leads to more yelling/barking/banging/arguing and, amazingly, more yelling/barking/banging/arguing. At this point, I am always regretting not getting a house with an extra "only-woman-in-the-house" bathroom... a sound-proof one.... with its own espresso maker and spa..... At this point, the tornado makes its way outside, into the car and off to start the day. Our neighbours love us ;)

Wishing you all a great rest of the day xox Think of me in the morning ;)

Welcome to mornings at our house ;)

That is my kid!

It is snowing out... We are expected to end up with 5cm... UGH! When I went to pick up the boys from school, Nicka was in a bad mood because of the snow. I was so proud.... that is my kid! ;)

Wish us luck and a quick melt xox

Not amused!

Even more not amused....

STOP!

And it keeps on coming.... argh!

Glimpses of a play date

On the whole, I love having my boys' friends over. We have a pretty "kid-friendly" home (see definition below) and, honestly, I kind of like the bustle of the boys.... until it becomes tornado-like (see definition below)- and then I can flip. Over the past 2 years or so, when Alexander and Nicka have friends over, I have definitely become the "not cool mother who is cramping our style" and just tolerated... unless I have snacks, then I am awesome and am allowed downstairs... but only for dropping off the snacks and then my awesome-ness is over and no photos allowed ;) With Oliver, I am still in the "will call mother in case we do something really cool, funny or someone gets hurt or is scared of the dogs" category when he has friends over. Thing with Oliver is that he always has a friend over... or is away at a friend's house... and it always seems to be the same boy. Jokingly, we consider this boy our 4th son because he is always with Oliver. Actually, they play so well together that it is an absolute pleasure to have him over. Anyway, this weekend, I was called in to witness the cool thing that they did (ie: bury the visiting boy in the toy pile). I had to remember E.T. (see definition if you don't remember the 1980's movie) but they didn't get the reference ;) I enjoyed the small glimpse into their play date. These two, together, are hilarious and I am so lucky to still be allowed "in"... and I know that only a short period of time remains.....

Wishing you all a great day! xxo

"kid-friendly": most of our furniture is either broken, stained or very well-loved so they cannot do much more damage than there already is ;)

tornado-like: Alexander's 11th birthday party sleep over.... just leave it to your imaginations and then add x10 ;)

E.T. the movie: see link

Guess what I have in my hand... (hint: wet, sticky, made of sugar and looks like a little bear)

Here is E.T..... I mean, Oliver's buddy.... ;)

Their favourite thing to to: watch movies on my tablet in their "tent". Yes, this photo actually contains 2 little boys... ;)

Local talent

Our neighbourhood is full of talent. Instead of watching Youtube, the local boy posse is creating it ;) I was lucky to see the "behind the scenes" action and managed to successfully dodge the camera, otherwise I would have been the scariest thing in the video ;)

Hope you enjoy! Have a great rest of the weekend xox

Mother talk (or wah-wah-wah)

Do you remember Charlie Brown cartoons? Remember the teacher? All you would hear was "Wah-wah-wah-wah-wah-wah" whenever she spoke. I swear that is EXACTLY what my boys hear when I speak to them. Not "Can you please put down your tablet?" Not "Please get ready to leave in two minutes."  Not "Please clean up your room and put away your stuff." Not "Time to brush your teeth." Not even "Dinner time!" All of that just sounds like "Wah-wah-wah-wah-wah".... On my end, it also means that I have to repeat myself over and over and over and over....

Some days, honestly, I lose it. It would be SO nice just to say something once. OK.... maybe THAT is TOO much to ask... Let's say twice.... maybe even three times... but sounding like I am on repeat mode makes me a little bit nuts... AND then they wonder WHY I am freaking out. It is not like they cannot hear me because they can hear when I silently eat a piece of candy... in another room.... There is just something about the voice of a mother (wife) that they can just tune out from.... wah-wah-wah.....

That is when I count to three and go to my happy place.... the one where boys are not allowed... not even the adult ones.... My happy place serves wine... with chocolate...  ;)

Mothers, you are always welcome to join me ;) I go there often ;) xox

Boy, is this ever right!

Good grief! ;)

Ahhhh... Friday :)

Today has been rainy but almost 16C... so I will take it :) Most of our backyard snow is gone and the grass is starting to green. Don't you find that people's moods just change when the weather gets warmer? I actually see smiles on faces... and people say hello... and chairs on terraces start to fill (even if that is still pretty optimistic). It will go back down to -3C on the weekend but I see the light at the end of the tunnel.... Maybe I should go find my sunglasses? ;)

Wishing you all a relaxing and cosy Friday evening!

Yes, I am happy too :)