Livet med Liam och Erik - back to Florida edition

Fishing in Naples

2012-01-23T16:31:00.000-08:00

Sjön suger as we say in Swedish

snyder park

Christmas 2011

2012-01-16T14:25:00.001-08:00

Tree tops park

2011-12-17T12:49:00.001-08:00

Grandma and grandpa visiting

2011-12-16T16:23:00.001-08:00

Pine cone craft

2011-12-16T11:22:00.001-08:00

Liam made magic sticks and turned me into a frog

These will go up in the christmas tree

At the park

2011-12-15T07:49:00.001-08:00

This morning we spent some time at the park with our friends. Erik had a lot of fun

This is what Liam does...

2011-12-14T11:54:00.001-08:00

During what used to be his afternoon tv time. Our new rule is that tv is for weekends only. We have much more fun now, and Liam and I get some valuable mother/son time. Today we spent quite some time playing batman and robin.

Santa came by train

2011-12-11T16:53:00.001-08:00

Fishing pond at SWEAs Xmas bazaar

2011-12-10T12:33:00.001-08:00

Julstok Christmas prepArations

2011-12-09T08:03:00.001-08:00

Mid morning snack

2011-12-09T07:14:00.001-08:00

Christmas stuff

2011-12-09T05:32:00.001-08:00

I made a wreath from left over tree branches. Today we're going to dress up the tree.

Secret woods and friends playing

2011-12-08T12:19:00.001-08:00

Herbgarden

2011-12-07T11:35:00.001-08:00

Liam and I planted an herb garden. I love to be able to put herbs on the food

Gingerbread dough

2011-12-07T11:12:00.001-08:00

Today Liam and I made gingerbread cookie dough. It was a lot of fun! Friday we'll make the cookies

2011-12-07T09:11:00.001-08:00

2011-12-07T08:44:00.001-08:00

Finally I figured out how to post from my phone!

2011-10-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

Liam has gotten really good at writing lately. Here's a monster he drew. He wrote " Happy Halloween" and he signed it with his name.

Go to sleep already!

2011-10-12T19:26:00.000-07:00

Such sleepy boys!

A little break-dancing before bed anyone?

Liam loves his teddy-bear, which he got from Aunty Pam

Finally!

Erik loves to go sleep with a bunch of his cars. He also drags them around everywhere and gets really angry if he drops one.

Swedish church - 16 kids today!

2011-09-27T14:48:00.000-07:00

Halloween crafts

2011-09-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

Daddy's 38th

2011-09-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

making sure daddy's birthday cake will taste right

"pappa"

Inside birthday card

daddy's favorite cake is done

cool brothers

is this how you do it?

ok, now I got it!

this past weekend

2011-09-18T17:06:00.000-07:00

We've had a fun and busy weekend. Beach date, ladies night, Boca trip and Sunday evening visit with friends. Here are some pics

Lego boat

Ethan and Liam

Ethan

boys picking up jellyfish and throwing them back in the ocean

jelly fish

Liam and Tindra

2011-09-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

Liam likes to sit and make up stories by himself for long periods of time. I used to do exactly the same thing as a kid, so it brings back happy memories.

drawing

making up stories

wooops

guilty but pretty happy at the same time

Filip visiting!

2011-09-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

Boys playing

Huh?

Crawling competition. Filip missed the start-signal. Note Viveka to the right :)

yep, that's my buddy!

We all love to hang out with the Leroux-clan! Filip is such a sweet boy and the boys have such fun together. I wonder how freaked out we would have been if we had seen these pictures ten years ago!

Fishing with Grandpa

2011-09-02T18:39:00.000-07:00

Way to go! eco shuttle

2011-09-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

So now we've embarked on a new adventure! Jason is starting up a new eco shuttle service and we're back in South Florida. Feels very exciting!

The boys were very excited to try the new ride around the neighborhood!

2011-07-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

Liam is not the only one in the family who likes to dress up

When he wanted the wig off he spoke his longest sentence so far "hej då pippis håj" (bye bye pippi's hair)

Sweden

2011-07-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

We now back from Sweden. We had such a great time with everyone and took so many pics I don't even know where to start. Here's a bunch of pics all mixed.

outside teknikens hus Luleå

Nisse at Gammelstad

Gammelstad

by Nisses hunting cottage

morfar and Erik

In the troll caves

Gammelstad

what to choose?

vacation can be tiring

On our way out to an island pub

playing a drinking game which involved killing mosquitoes. Jason practicing the "miagy pinch" which gave high scores.

sisters in law

Nisse and Ida on the ferry

we ran into on of the locals on our way to the beach

cutest kid ever

seskarö

the whole family on a rock

Liam and Elina hit the swings

Erik munching on one of Ida's chocolate balls

there was a lot of swimming this summer!

Nils cooking at the moorika

their cottage in the archipelago

morfar and Erik looking at the dinner

I worked it too

Liam and the neighbor Sebastian had a lot of fun this summer

post-swimming nap at Pite havsbad

ladies night

more ladies joined

Liam was proud of the fishes he caught (he caught 2 of them)

bike ride

Hanna having mixed feelings about her birthday cake

long time friends

a fox

fun at Överkalix fair

mormor and Erik

a dip in the river

my brother couldn't resist either

Melker and cousin Christina

still mixed feelings

the lovely Ida

posing by the river in okx

2011-07-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

On our way out to Uncle Nils and Aunty Ida's cottage in the archipelago.

Liam told everyone proudly that he's great at driving boats.

if you're wondering why there are so few pictures on the blog, it's because my dad is busy babysitting rather than taking pictures. I have quite a few on my camera that I'll share when we get back to the states.

Erik's Christening

2011-06-25T08:32:00.000-07:00

We had a nice ceremony yesterday. >it was great catching up with cousins, aunts and uncles. The ceremony was a two pm and people didn't go home until midnight so I think everyone had a good time!

2011-06-06T16:49:00.001-07:00

Erik's new ride

2011-06-03T19:47:00.000-07:00

Jason is putting together Erik's new ride

The premiere ride

L is moping because he doesn't get to drive

problem solved!

out walking

US citizen

2011-05-26T16:32:00.001-07:00

I'm now a U.S citizen

The boys had movie night while I was out watching Bridesmaids

the boys

Liam took this after I came back from a run

Camping in the malibu mountains

2011-05-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

The kids and I went camping along with parents and kids from Liam's preschool. It was very exciting for the kids. We had a fun time and since we don't own a tent we slept in my minivan. It got kind of chilly but we had big down comforters so we were comfortable still.

Out hiking

crossing a stream

Erik accompanied me on my back

The kids built a river

Relaxing in the hammock

Add caption

Relaxing

Malibu mountains

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Malibu beach

Friends visiting

2011-05-19T16:46:00.000-07:00

Playdate with friend from school

ditto

my valentine's orchid is still blooming!

enjoying the waffles at church

also enjoying the waffles and home made bread at church

breakfast chaos

2011-05-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

black spiderman with red spiderman

2011-05-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

Jason got a black spiderman costume as a surprise for Liam! Liam's been asking Jason to get one for the longest time, so he was thrilled. Now they can play around in the backyard.

Erik singing Justin Beiber's "Baby" (dark)

2011-04-30T20:10:00.000-07:00

easter egg hunt

2011-04-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

yesterday, my brother and his family went home to Sweden. It was very sad to see them leave. We had such a great time and I wish they could have stayed longer. We did an American style easter egg hunt, so that Elina would get the experience. In Sweden, you go hunting for one nicely decorated big egg filled with sweets or a toy (and in the US you hunt many little plastic eggs with sweets or toys in them).

The hunt is on

Blowing easter bubbles

Liam was going to a friends house for a birthday party. I love the "Emil-style" shirt he got from mormor

2011-04-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

I was baby sitting Elina the other day while her parents were out in Santa Monica. We had a great time, a lot of playing and baking..

brother and family visiting

2011-04-18T13:33:00.000-07:00

My brother, his lovely lady Ida and their daughter Elina are visiting us from Sweden. We're having a lot of fun exploring southern California and just enjoying each other's company. The kids are having a lot of fun playing and bickering, just like siblings.

Hollywood

Hanging with Nick in Hollywood. He was quite shocked when I pinched his bum, thereby the facial expression.

snuggling in the couch

Santa Barbara zoo

Having a picnic in a chumash (native american tribe) village

Nisse by a chumash shelter

Walking from the Chumash village

Making playdough animals

At a Scandinavian festival in Thousand Oaks

not everyday you find a sami village in southern Cali. They had set up a tent at the festival

picnic at the festival

Rest in peace farmor Elin

2011-04-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

A few days ago my Grandmother, farmor Elin, died at the age of 89. She fell asleep peacefully in a hospital bed. She leaves behind five children, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. May she rest in peace. I wrote her a poem (in Swedish).

Elin Viktoria

Guldbruna lockar och prickig kjol
hon sveper så nätt över banan
när spelmannen lockar med sin fiol
så säker i valsen av vanan

Gäckande leende nära till skratt
hon plockar blå blommor på ängen
men vem kan du gå till i mörker natt
när monstren skräms under sängen?

Hon väntar på dig på en gyllene strand
så länge har hon längtat
hon smeker din kind och hon tar sen din hand
när kyrkklockan för dig klämtat

easter crafting

2011-04-02T17:37:00.000-07:00

busy making chickens

Also very busy

our chickens

easter decoupage egg (half done)

one year ago

one year later

Sunday

2011-03-28T15:53:00.000-07:00

Liam jumping

A lot of climbing going on these days

In the walnut tree

Helping daddy cook

Erik blowing bubbles

Blurry family

Last couple of days

2011-03-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

thinking

Erik napping with Emil

Before bed mischief

Liam took this

self portrait

Harry in profile

2011-03-19T16:39:00.000-07:00

parrots in the backyard

in the playhouse at Swedish church

Erik

Liam with his friend from school

Chatting at the Swedish church

climbing

Erik with his friend Oliver

swinging

someone really likes spiderman!

2011-03-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

Pasadena

2011-03-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the Rose bowl flea market in Pasadena. It was huge. Unfortunately, we didn't take any pictures there but afterwards we went to Robbie Hart's house from "The Wedding Singer" and the playground.

Robbie Hart's house from "The Wedding Singer."

climbing

high up

climbing

sliding around

chasing Erik around

Swedish church friday mix

2011-03-12T07:43:00.000-08:00

Every Friday the Swedish church has a family get-together. We met up with Åse, her kids and her parents. We had a good time and had dinner there as well.

The boys riding the dala-horse outside the church

Annika, Åse and Irene

bus pojkarna

somehow Åse always end up reading to all the kids

Liam came home with "Holy" the bird yesterday so now Butthead has company on the shelf

coco-lavender peel

2011-03-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

This worked like a spring cleaning for my gloomy winter skin so I thought I'd share it with my fellow sisters. The measurements aren't exact so mix it until you get desired consistency.

1 teaspoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon honey
2 drops essential lavender oil
+ sugar to desired roughness

mix everything together, rub gently against skin and rinse with water. The lavender oil is the luxury factor (but it's also good against breakouts and calming).

I've also been experimenting with apple cider vinegar. It works as a toner, good for acne and for the skin in general.

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
4 teaspoons water

wilderness park in Torrance

2011-03-07T14:41:00.000-08:00

The boys

Liam flying a kite

Erik running downhill

tree-hugger

feeding the ducks and coy fish

Superman and the green goblin

a family portrait. I especially like Harry in this pic. Liam said that we have "bus-munnar" (mischievous mouths)

childrens' circle at the Norwegian Seaman's church

2011-03-03T18:10:00.000-08:00

We've had great experiences with the Scandinavian Churches kids' groups in Florida, so we've decided to try the Norwegian equivalent here in San Pedro. The kids play outside and we eat home-made bread and cheese, waffles, and coffee. After a while the nice "husmor" (house mother - don't know what it's called in English) Bodil has circle time inside the church. Today was rainy so we had to be inside. There weren't that many who attended, perhaps due to weather. Liam and Erik had a ton of waffles and we had a great time until Liam suddenly threw up all over the church floor (probably too much waffles for his post-stomach flu sensitive stomach). That's when we decided it was time to go home.

Erik made friends

Playing by the altar

playing the piano

A day around the house

2011-03-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

This is how I found Harry today when Erik was napping and Liam in school. I think it's a sign that Harry's getting old. He blatantly ignores the rules around here. I remember our dog Laika started to do the same thing as she got older. Harry never used to lay on the couch while we were home (when we were out is a different story)

These days they start text messaging really early

This is exactly why I try to do arts and crafts with Liam while Erik is napping

Afternoon at the Long Beach Aquarium

2011-03-01T21:50:00.000-08:00

We've spent the last day or so being sick with a stomach bug, so today we felt like we needed to get out of the house. We opted for the Long Beach aquarium which is about a half-hour drive from our house. It turned out to be a nice place and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Little Erik

playing in the water

admiring the sea creatures

If Jason wasn't there Erik would be swimming with the fishies. He can get a bit ...how should I put this... "rowdy" sometimes

don't even think about it sharks. You have no idea who you're messing with

This shark had a tendency to give evil glares at the people watching it

playing around

Nemo and his daddy

Petting the sea creatures

Erik looking at the nice fishies

Erik getting his Lady Gaga on in the tub

Rainy Friday

2011-02-25T16:52:00.000-08:00

Liam and I made a tree while Erik was napping. Liam was not in a crafty mood, but I bribed him with strawberries (he forced me to admit this on the blog. He also wants me to write that he's afraid of monsters)

the apples

finished

Liam took a pic of Erik and me after Erik woke up

Liam and I also cooked up some play dough, since Erik loves to eat the stuff. Making play dough was more fun, Liam thought

the home-made stuff was gross, according to Erik

Ode to a Three-year-old

2011-02-23T14:59:00.000-08:00

sometimes I yearn to smell you hair
touch your soft chubbiness
not so chubby anymore

sometimes I see the battle within you
you want to sit in my lap
your mouth is pouting down
but you're too proud
your integrity is strong

you can be shy if you want to
you can be blunt if you want to
you can be sad if you want to
you can say no if you want to

I learned my lesson
I will put my trust in you
always stand behind you
never be ashamed of you

because I see you
I know you who you are
I see hints of who you will become

you talk really loud
beg me for stories
you're so enthusiastic
about life and those around you

please don't let us change you

Monday

2011-02-21T15:53:00.000-08:00

We've had quite an uneventful Monday, passing the time in the backyard and inside the house.

"look they match" said Liam about my shoes

giving water to the birds

of course, little brother wants to do the same

climbing the walnut tree

checking out ants

hello there!

snack

Felix, Annika and Åse visiting

2011-02-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

we've been lucky to find friends like them here on the west coast. We have a lot of fun whenever we see them! Liam looks up to 4year old felix a great deal and annika is just too cute!

Annika relaxing

boys are all smiles

reading spiderman books

flashlight game

some pics from Liam's new school

2011-02-16T14:35:00.000-08:00

We've had a rough week with all family members being sick one way or another.

On a positive note, Liam is doing great at his new preschool. The teachers say he's doing awesome and making friends. He is not even sad at goodbye anymore. It's a great little preschool. They have a ton of creative stuff going on. The kids spend most of the time outside, but they come in for circle time, music and drama. Liam loves the drama class! It's also walking distance which is a huge plus.

They grow flowers and vegetables in the front

It was rainy today

saying goodbye by the fence

Some of the kids and teacher Kathy

bundled up with a sick daddy

New school

2011-02-07T13:50:00.000-08:00

Today was the first day Liam attended his new preschool. I gave Jason the honors to drop him off because it's usually not a very pleasant experience. Of course, Liam was upset, but after 5 minutes he went on to having a great day with the rest of the kids. I'm so proud of him!

I dealt with my own anxiety by cleaning out the boys' room.

Before

After

Liam came home with this surprise for his daddy. He proudly announced that his creation's name was "mr Butthead." I guess he learned a new word at school today!

Day trip to santa barbara

2011-01-26T10:22:00.000-08:00

yesterday, we took a trip over to Santa Barbara. We had a lot of fun, and Santa barbara is truly one of the prettiest and nicest cities I've been to. Quite the contrast to LA if you ask me. First we went to the zoo, then down to their pier and afterwards to the SB mission

sliding dow hill at santa barbara zoo

liam got to feed a giraffe

all in the family

the zoo had a beautiful backdrop

flamingos

a lion took a nap

a piranha

a cute penguin

after the zoo we went down to the pier. We took a monkey with us from the zoo

Erik got tired after all the monkeying around

ice cream at the pier

one of the monks at the santa barbara mission, an old ministry from the 1700s

another monk

outside the mission

yet another monk

the church in the background

we stopped at a beach to watch the sunset. It was beautiful, but not quite worth the 70 dollar parking ticket

Erik

different uses of lavender

2011-01-22T07:59:00.000-08:00

we made a butterfly garden out of mussels that we found on the beach and lavender and rosemary from the garden

the result

I couldn't stand parting a whole year with the Nusnäs candleholders I got for Christmas so I tied rings out of lavender to make them less "christmasy"

the advent candleholder

Liam took this photo while skyping with mormor and morfar. Morfar always comes up with fun stuff, hence the horse next to mormor

the lights in the backyard

erik dancing to snoop

2011-01-21T13:39:00.000-08:00

The best moment of the day

2011-01-20T19:18:00.000-08:00

your little hand is resting on my underarm
one foot burrowed into my stomach
finally still after a day of constant movement
a kiss on your hair
down soft after an evening bath
I'm not worried about you
you are strong
willful
a handful
but pure
draw people towards you without effort
and now you are breathing slowly
I get a chance to enjoy you
a quiet moment to remember how much I love you
always

mixed pictures from our vacation in florida

2011-01-20T17:17:00.000-08:00

The boys comparing their spiderman shoes and their features

Mattias taught Liam some new tricks

Erik and grandpa at naples beach

Our beloved Johanna

The kids doing artwork during brunch

claire and millie at brunch

Luc and Liam in the "spider web"

Erik in the grocery store

In the fog of Naples beach

Naples playground

Philip and Liam sharing the fun

Anna and baby Maya

At the playground

Baby Filip

Erik being coy at the Eckstein's house

Alicia and Erik

Liam hanging in the rope-swing

Viveka, Filip, Tindra and Liam

picnic at the playground

Mattias hanging in the rope-swing

picnic

after christmas in weymouth

2011-01-20T16:11:00.000-08:00

snowy weymouth

brothers playing

cousins

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waiting to go east

2010-12-28T19:00:00.000-08:00

Due to bad weather and cancelled flights, our east-coast traveling plans have been put on hold until tomorrow. Luckily, Liam is amusing us here at home. Tonight, he announced that he was going to work. Then he took the tape and proceeded to put it all over the furniture so that "the flies would get stuck and the spiders would come eat them." He was very proud of himself and admitted that he was working very hard. Lastly, he announced that "working is really good for the brain." (I think he was comparing to TV which I had told him was very bad for the brain). Now we're off to bed and hope our flight is on time tomorrow.

The other night, Erik was being a racer bunny at bedtime. Finally, I said something angrily to him. Liam then told me in a very patient voice: "mommy, you can't get mad at Erik, he just wants to be up and play". hmm... what do you say to that? He was right too.

Same thing yesterday when Erik was trying to open the oven as I was cooking. Finally, I got really annoyed and snapped at him. Liam then got very upset with me and told me "stop yelling at Erik, he'll get scared."

Also yesterday Liam asked me to "quiet down a bit so he could play in peace and quiet." And you know what? he actually had a point.

Opening gifts

2010-12-25T11:52:00.000-08:00

the favorite gift of the evening. Thank you uncle Johnny!

another favorite

opening stuff

Harry got a gift as well

Liam helped Erik open gifts

pressing away

Erik loved his new game

waiting for santa

2010-12-25T11:16:00.000-08:00

liam and morfar having fun

Liam snapping pics

I'm playing papparazzi

Christmas Eve

2010-12-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

at our house, Santa comes twice. Once on Christmas eve and then he returns with more gifts overnight. It actually works out great... Right now it's 9am and Liam is still sleeping, but he was very anxious last night about santa's return. I can't wait to see his reaction when he wakes up and sees his gifts. Erik is just wandering around the house with a couple of balls he received last night, very content.

waiting for Santa

waiting some more

enjoying christmas supper but really waiting

clueless

some general craziness

finally! he came!

opening presents....

making gingerbread cookies

2010-12-19T13:38:00.000-08:00

The weather hasn't been good the last few days, it's been rainy and windy. So we've had to stay indoors most of the time. However, there's an old swedish saying "there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes." So the kids have to go out regardless of the weather. Since I was tortured that way as a kid, I have to do the same thing to my kids. Only kidding, they actually like being outdoors in the rain.

baking gingerbread cookies with mormor

before

after

Out playing in the rain

out strolling in temescal canyon park

2010-12-19T13:29:00.000-08:00

We visited my favorite park around here. It was beautiful as usual

beautiful fall colors

2010-12-16T17:44:00.000-08:00

Liam is really enjoying that mac n cheese!

squirrel in santa monica

admiring the view in santa monica

brothers playing with each other. I'm very happy that they're always playing together w. minimal fighting. Did I just jinx myself?

baking a cake w. mormor

disneyland

2010-12-16T17:34:00.000-08:00

we visited disneyland the other day. The kids had a nice time but it was CROWDED...

My gingerbread boys

2010-12-14T21:19:00.000-08:00

Mormor and morfar brought gingerbread costumes

they loved their costumes, especially Liam. But Erik wouldn't keep his hat on.

Farmer's market in el segundo

2010-12-09T19:55:00.000-08:00

One thing that I like about the LA area are all the farmer's markets around here. You can find really nice produce and stuff, and it's all local.

On the way to the farmer's market

checking out the goods

2010-12-09T19:45:00.000-08:00

The boys in the "boat"

This is good exercise for Jason

Liam digging for worms

He made a house for them

comments

2010-12-08T09:20:00.001-08:00

I changed the settings so anyone can now leave comments if you should so desire...

Franklin canyon park

2010-12-08T08:54:00.000-08:00

Just a mile or two from the glitz and glamour of Beverly Hills, there's Franklin canyon park. The contrasts of the LA area just amazes me. Personally, I prefer the parks and the nature to the hustle and bustle of the city any day.

Erik having breakfast

2010-12-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

Look at me eating yoghurt with my spoon!

I'm totatlly eating nicely

that's why I'm not messy

well, sometimes I slip...

Ghost family

2010-12-05T21:44:00.000-08:00

Tonight, Liam decided that he wanted to make a family of ghosts. He made Liam ghost, pappa ghost, mamma ghost and Erik ghost. Then he wanted to put the ghost-family up on the wall for protection against monsters. I thought that was pretty neat and a very primal human thing to do. Later, as we were watching a movie and a bear appeared in a scene, Liam yelled to the ghosts: "ghost, shoot the bear!!! shoot him!

Making a ghost family

finishing up "Liam ghost"

they're watching over us, protecting against monsters

The green monster even has a hat

Liam being a ghost

Kenneth Hahn state park

2010-12-03T15:16:00.000-08:00

Liam breakdancing after watching a little boy do the same on a link off facebook

A playground with a view - Kenneth Hahn state park

Liam climbed up on the dragon...

...which was pretty high...

a lot of climbing

view from the playground

Erik finally wore his alien head

2010-11-29T10:27:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I forget that Erik is not a tiny baby anymore. He surprised me by building this tower the other night

Liam built a flying rug

Hugging the "julbock" He's watching the garbage truck in case you notice he's staring at something.

Liam loves to take his sweet time when we're out walking. He's looking at stuff, notices everything and picks up things of interest. Today he picked up two leaves and starting playing that they were having a conversation. I really try to be patient, and to let him have his experience (despite having Erik in the back-carrier and Harry pulling the leash). It's a lesson for me to slow down, and to experience things too. It's funny what kids will teach us if we let them.

Thanksgiving and new bike

2010-11-26T10:50:00.001-08:00

Liam and Jason next to the star of the evening
we kept the side-dishes to a minimum (and we still have plenty of left overs). From left mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole (my personal favorite), gravy and stuffing
boys rough-and-tumbling in the backyard as usual
Erik examining the plants
Liam found the bike he was getting for Christmas so now he's practicing it
My little boy isn't so little anymore

play-dough with daddy

2010-11-22T13:31:00.000-08:00

The boys were making stuff with play-dough
Hmmm... wonder what the spider tastes like?
...not very good
deep in concentration
Reading before bed in their armchairs

Welcome to the world Filip and Maya!

2010-11-14T22:46:00.000-08:00

We're so excited that Viveka and Marcel had their little Filip last Wednesday! He came a bit early so he's needed a some extra attention at the hospital, but luckily he's feeling better and will join his parents at their house before we know it! They started a blog and I've added a link under "our friends"

A day later another precious baby was born, Maya. She's Anna's daughter and Philip's little sister! Welcome to the world to both of you!

creativity out of boredom

2010-11-08T10:59:00.000-08:00

they decided to reorganize the art box
it was very interesting
beautiful birdmore birds
For one reason or another, this weekend hasn't been very cheery, so I haven't really had the energy to get out and about with the boys. So when they ran out of stuff to do, they decided to reorganize our arts and crafts box. They dragged everything out, and after a while Liam said he wanted to paint. I went to put Erik down for a nap, and when I got back Liam had made this beautiful bird painting

there's nothing wrong with fisher price though... :)

2010-11-02T14:41:00.000-07:00

Erik got this great chair from Aunty Tracy with family
Liam got a matching chair as a baby
Erik got this toy from Auntie Pam and his Maine cousins
winnie pooh train from us. They ride around the house again and again

mm

2010-11-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl, I went to a daycare close to my house. The daycare was adjacent to the woods, and everyday my friends and I would play among the trees and the rocks. A few hundred yards in, there was a big rock which we called "storsten" or "big-rock." It took a little bit of mastery to climb up on the rock, and you could definitely get hurt if you'd fall down. One day the rock would be a rocket-ship, another day a big boat or a house. The teachers would come over once in a while, but they generally didn't stay and monitor us. We would be outside for hours every day regardless of the weather, free to play and roam about. I made friends in daycare that I'm close with until this day .

I wonder about today's preschools in the U.S. Generally, I think they are way too structured. I don't think the reason the U.S is so far behind most industrialized nations when it comes to school achievement has much to do with the way the subjects are instructed. I think one of the major factors is that most kids don't get to play and move about freely in the outdoors. The basis of abstract thinking is built during play, and free play is a necessity for proper neurological development (particularly in boys who are pre-wired for rough-and-tumble). Not a single toy made by fisher price is superior to a stick and some mud.

So what am I trying to achieve by writing this, and who cares? I don't know. I don't necessarily think that my own boys suffer from living in a city. However, I think they are missing out, even though Liam goes to a great school and he gets some of that nature-exposure there. Yesterday, he and another boy had dug up a bunch of worms which they were playing with. Also, we often visit great natural parks around here.
I miss the woods, and our next house has to be close to nature.

Happy halloween!

2010-11-01T08:03:00.001-07:00

Buzz Lightyear. Liam had planned that Erik would be the alien, Jason would be woody and I be the princess. He nagged and nagged jason to get the costume. Unfortunately, it cost 90 bucks so he didn't get it. Liam reminds me so much of Jason when he starts planning and organizing us.
Erik liked my witch-hat but not his alien head
out trick-or-treating
We met woody!
Erik was supposed to be an alien but refused to wear the head so he got to be a doctor instead. He kept stealing the candy and eating it through the wrappers
Liam greeted the trick-or-treaters by the door, said "happy halloween" and gave out candy. Erik helped

Erik's first birthday

2010-10-30T13:37:00.000-07:00

The birthday boy
It started civilized...
...but ended up like thisLiam got to blow out a candle too
he was very happy about that arrangement
Liam picked out Erik's gift (a toystory tent - surprise)

While Liam is in school...

2010-10-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

Erik and I go to the playground. Views anyone?
My soon to be 1-year old
love the views all the way to malibu
Erik and his old lady
it's a gorgeous neighborhood

Halloween decorations around the neighborhood

2010-10-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

some yards are decorated with cute halloween stuff (this is Erik's favorite)
some are a little creepy
and some are downright scary! Luckily my kids looked the other way when we were out walking last night
She stands kind of hidden behind the fence so you notice her when you're right next to her
Liam drew the face of the pumpkin
concentration
The result

pumpkin patch at Underwood farms, Reagan's library in thousand oaks

2010-10-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

We had a nice day driving up to visit a park (unfortunately closed due to mud, and Reagan's library)

riding in a wagon
such a heavy pumpkin
Erik is checking the quality
goat on top of the roof of the truck in the background
It's always nice when you know you're walking in rattle snake habitatThe seal of the president
Beautiful surroundings
Reagan's oval office
By Reagan's air force one
My boys
Erik by the marine onethe whole family posing before we enter air force one

The elephant in the room

2010-10-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

We found out a couple of days ago that the pipe going from the garbage disposal out is completely ripped and water and trash has leaked into the kitchen wall and underneath the house. This is what it takes to fix it (besides manual clean-up and plumbing)

Erik walking

2010-10-15T09:38:00.000-07:00

finding the balance
here he goes!
and goes!...
even further
now you're just showing off!

morning visit to Santa Monica beach

2010-10-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

Liam working out
hitting the swings
the sea air makes you sleepy

pumpkin patch in Beverly hills, greystone mansion

2010-10-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

riding the wagon through the pumpkin patch. I saw a pic of Christina aguilera and her son Max here a few days later in a swedish online gossip magazine. Too bad we missed her (Jason is a long-time fan, but perhaps not so much of her music as of her general appearance)
Liam and I had fun
jumping around in a bounce pumpkin
looking at the coy fish
the mansion looked nice but it was locked for us commoners
nice view of LAmeet and greet with the turtles in the pond

It rained!

2010-10-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

For the first time since we got to Los Angeles on July 29th, we had rainy weather. They were saying on the news that there were many traffic accidents because of the rain. I guess people aren't used to driving in "slippery conditions."Well, now it's dry again so I guess we'll see when the next "rain storm" is coming (they called it rain storm on the news, I would personally have described it as moderate rain and a bit windy)

boys getting ready to go outsideLiam is in charge of Harry