Today we got some rain, and we didnt mind at all. Kids went out running naked in the rain, just like me and my brother used to do when we were kids. I remember clearly how much fun we used to have doing just that and Im so happy the kids get to experience things like that. We baked the cake I have been longing for since the day I saw the receipe. Its called Very Cherry Chocolate Cake and I tried baking it glutenfree so I could eat it. It seems it wasnt the best of idea since it just never was ready. After an extra 15 minutes I took it out of the oven anyway and it wasnt nearly enough so I ended up putting it back in again! It didnt come a complete cake but it did taste quite good but I wouldnt have minded some more cherry cake :)

Now in the evening my best childhood friend came over for some cake, tea and a chat, its always lovely. I hope we can have many more evenings like that before I leave.

This last week has been pretty relaxed, we have mostly stayed near the house, played by the swings, with neighbouring boys, gone for walks, practiced with the bike etc so there hasnt been lots to write about, that is why the blog has been empty :)

Tonight certainly hasnt been a good evening....Working hard to mow my mum´s lawn after having tried this afternoon but the mower went off and couldnt be started again. The kids were running behind me and when we were putting the tent back in place A tipped and fell flat and ended up with grass all over. Promised to read a short book but the rollerblind wouldnt stay down and went up with a bang and knocked down the lamp that was haning there and it broke in a million pieces. Just what I needed....not! Swept and also had to use the vaccum cleaner to remove all small pieces while my whole upper body was aching from all the pulling to start the lawnmower and the tears were rolling down with exhaustion. The lovely children tried to encourage me for the first time since we got here I havent heard them complain since we said goodnight :)

Since A is turning 3 in November it is now time to get him a new passport (they are valid for 5 years). Swedes seem to go crazy in summer applying for passports queues are ridiculous so I would have prefered to wait a bit but we needed it urgently so that R can start the visa process in Dubai asap. Therefore we went up to Borlänge today and to make sure to avoid some waiting we were there 10 minutes before they opened and even though there were quite a few people there only 2 of them had to apply for passports so we were number 3. Guess how my heart sank when she told me she had to check what stuff I needed to apply for a passport since we dont live in Sweden! :O Eeehhh? It turns out you might have to show a visa or something similar she told me. After long minutes with them on the phone in the back office it turns out we dont need anything, phew! While processing the application we talk a bit and it turns out that the clerks sister is moving to Dubai as her sisters husband works with Etihad (but they will stay in Dubai)! The world is so small sometimes....

The day passed quickly then, some shopping at Kupolen shopping centre, I did find a few things even though the sales had been on for a very long time. We stopped at a few other shops on the way home we found a note to go collect the balance bike we had ordered.

The kids had time to try it for a little bit before it was time for dinner and bed. Im spending the evning infront of the Tv, watching some athletics and feeling brain dead. 

Today we said our first goodbye, to my dad. A was devastated and cried and cried, sobbing and asking why we cant live in Sweden and that Malta is so boring. J wants to do everything like her brother and was sobbing too "hejdåååå moooorfaaar" (goodbye grandpa). My poor little ones. Neither of them wanted to sleep near my mum, tonight it appears they want mummy cuddles :)

This visit to Sweden is soon over. On Wed, its time to go back home and to be honest Im looking forward to going home. Cant wait to be back in my house, my own routines, exercise and of course R! A doesnt want to go home at all and J is missing her dad.

Tomorrow we are going to my dad once last time and then we have Monday and Tuesday with my mum. We are connecting in Frankfurt and so does R! His flight comes in at about 11 so even though the Malta flight is not until the evening we will be catching an early flight so that we spend some time with him.

Most of the awards went to the "right" people but I cant understand that Sedin didnt get male sportsperson! After having slept on it I can feel that it was probably right that Alshammar got the peoples award.

Highlight of the evening though was Heidis message to Björn Ferry, that he is going to be a father :D

....mentally. R is too far away

The days pass in the same manner, playing outside and inside, nothing new really but here are some more pics

The kids just cant get enough of the snow. Today, even after more than an hour outside, with slightly cold hands they still didnt want to come in again! This afternoon when we went out for the second time we went to my mums neighbor (who is also the daughter of one of my mums close friends) to see if her boys wanted to come out to play. She has two sons, both of them more or less the same age as A & J. They were really lucky and the boys father came with a snowmobile so the older children could ride behind it on a sort of sleigh and the younger stayed with him on the vehicle. It was a great day and the kids slept easily :)

We just about have time to finish breakfast before the kids want to go out to play. Here we were out for a little bit before driving my mum to work and then off to my dad. He kept us well fed, we played even more in the snow, watched some Tour de Ski and I had time to go on the exercise bike. Managed to keep exhausted kids awake in the car on the way home and once they slep I had the best end to the day with M, my childhood friend coming over.

Already on the first day we had to go get some wintershoes for A but we couldnt go anywhere without playing  a bit in the snow first. The kids were sooo impressed, I dont know how many times I heard "there is soo much snow" :)

The trip went surprisingly well, we must have been ment to make it all the way. In Munich we got the buggy by the aircraft so I didnt have to walk "children pace" through the airport. My suitcase was number 3 to come out and we found no problem at the check in. At Arlanda the buggy was waiting for us at "special luggage" and when the normal luggages came out mine was actually the first one out! We made the first train aswell, perfect!

All in all the kids behaved well but towards the end, on the train, we were really running out of patience all of us! It was so great to breathe some clean air, and even more great to see how happy they were to see my mum again.

Thought I would update tonight but no, I have better things to do. In just a little bit a very close childhood friend of mine is coming over for some tea and gossip, without kids! What luxury. Niiiice!

Update: R got safely across the Atlantic to Brazil, now we see when he gets settled in and we can talk.

My suitcase is packed and on the kitchenfloor next to the biiig bag is a huge pile of clothes that wont fit....what to do? :O

Tonight is our second last night and it feels unreal. In one way its going to be really nice to come back to home and my husband and get som order to things again with routines, school etc but I feel really sad about leaving. A whole month is a long time but both me and the kids love it here. Another reason why I think I find it harder is that my mum is working both tomorrow and saturday and that blows when you want to try to milk the last out of our time here.

A childhood friend came over for tea and a chat tonight, it was very relaxing to spend some time together without kids (mine were asleep and hers was at home with his father). Its so much easter to talk when there are no kids around to ask for your attention.

Today I went to the hairdresser as always when Im in Sweden. And as always am I very pleased with the result.