Rewards

As some of you know Yasmiene is enjoying herself in Ireland with a friend. That means I am home with Saniya and Rowan. It has been 3 days entirely by myself and 2 more to go. I'm over the hump. I won't bore you with stories of how many times I have to clean the kitchen and every room in the house, how much laundry needs to be done, how many cooked meals go uneaten, how many tears I need to wipe, how many butts I have to wipe, how many times I can walk into the same room and pick something up, because all of that is a given.

What is amazing is that Yaz has to do it everyday. My 3 day glimpse of her days makes me appreciate her and all the stay at home parents. Perhaps I have not been doing it long enough to even know what it's really like because it's so fresh and raw. But I'll take the liberty of pretending to understand it somewhat. Taking care of children is a condtradiction. It can be the most exhausting and physically demanding day (which is everyday), yet it is equally amazing and refreshing (which is everyday).

Walking to the grocery store without children is a typically mundane task, potentially entertaining if I bring along my ipod. I typically don't really notice things like the number of sticks I can pick up and drag along. Or seeing the excitement of finding a partially used roll of tape on Saniya's face. Or Rowan pointing and going "toot, toot" to everything with a wheel. These are the things that make my day rewarding. Sometimes it's hard to remember when you're in the thick of it but in the end I won't remember the poopy diapers, only the number of sticks along Sveavägen.

Rob

Preemptive Procrastination

I see Yaz went ahead and posted some thoughts I was formulating. Unfortunately there were a few more observations and corrections to be made. At least now I can wait a few months to post those.

Rob

Corrections and Observations

Hello. It's your favorite family in Sweden. I know it has been quite awhile since I've said anything in the blog, so I'll catch up right now. Where to begin?

Talk about the weather? Always a good conversation starter. The cold weather seems to have departed and the wet winds of spring are upon us. It has been a mild 5-10 degrees Celcius most days and the sun has been shining until this weekend. The city seems to be waking up from its dark slumber. I figure that when daylight savings comes (not as early as those damn Americans!) spring will truely be in full effect. There are a few shoots already poking through the damp ground and I'm wondering what they will bring. Daffodils? The rabbits have been slow to return from their burrows, but are now out munching on the grass near our balcony. Rowan is particularly fond of watching them nibble nearby.

Rowan is now somewhat self-sufficient and understands most of what we tell him. He is helpful by bringing plates to the sink to be washed, by telling us what he wants ("apple" is all he really says for almost everything), and by annoying his sister. Ok. The last isn't the most helpful, and he is becoming quite good at it. It doesn't happen all the time, just when Saniya is tired and all she needs is a little something to push her over the edge. Like today.

We were going to go swimming at Husbybadet, but when we got there we found out that it was closed. So back on the subway to go to another swimming place, Eriksdalsbadet. The window of opportunity was closing as we approached the Skanstull metro exit. It was the little things at first. Saniya's inability to sit in her seat, the need for constant attention, and some whining that fortold of (drum roll please) the "I'M FOUR, TIRED, AND CAN'T COPE MELTDOWN". I'll spare you the details, but in summary, "ANNOYING AS HELL WHINING, COMBINED WITH ANNOYING AS HELL WHINING". I'm sure most of you have experienced this before. That was only the ending. The beginning was full of fun and cuteness so it has to be forgiven. Upon returning home, Yaz remarked that it would be great to have a kid remote. I'll agree with her. To be able to fastforward, and pause would be 2 nice features to have sometimes. Wasn't there a movie about that?

Rob

....ugh, ugh.....excuse me Rob and readers, Yasmiene here. I just found this in the draft section of the blog. I do have to say that my partner is such a procrastinator this entry might sit there and be revised for a week or two or three. So, I am taking the initiative to sign his name and post it. Ok, Rob, now feel free to continue in another entry.

Your loving expediter,
Yasmiene

Spring is in the air

Sorry about the response delay to all of your great update emails. We had a cable access glitch and it took a few days to remedy. Also, I will have skype on for the next few evenings (mornings your time) to chat as well. Missed you all last weekend.

So, I am definitely feeling this resurgence of Spring and regrowth. It is getting less frigid (you know it has been cold when Rob said it was warm yesterday and the temp was 40). The snow has melted and the days are lighter. We have daylight from 6 am to 6 pm now. When daylight savings time comes, in the next week or so, it will be light until 7 pm. That is so huge here!!! It feel the energy is coming of the looooooonnnnggggg days when we arrived last year in early June. Then, it will be dark by 11 pm and light around 3:30 am. So, it is exciting. I was also trying to be positive about the lack of sleep we get because we have small kids. I was thinking that this will be a good place to have this part of our life because we are awake all the time and now we can enjoy our dazed day. Rowan sleeps now, but wakes between 5:30 and 6. They both go to bed early, but we get so excited to have time to ourselves that we end up staying up late just to, well be adults, and have a complete thought without interruptions.

I have also become used to how healthy food is here. We took Rowan and Saniya to a children's museum last weekend. All of the cafes here are sandwiches, salads and fruit, etc. We were commenting on how this would be pizza and hamburgers at home. There really is no fried fast food here at the cafes (which is where most people stop to eat). There is McDonalds and Burger King around. Although, more common are kebab huts and hotdog carts on every other corner and are really what people will stop for in a hurry. In front of the library, is a crepe stand. That is kind of where people are at with the food thing.

Also, with food at home we shop differently. I have not bought lettuce for months. We make this traditional Swedish cabbage salad instead. It is shredded cabbage, carrots and onions tossed with apple cider vinegar, sugar and pepper. Lettuce is sold live in little individual pots with the soil and everything. It seems to wilt if you don't eat it that day (in the summer this is not a problem). Different.

Ok, lots of hugs to everyone,

Yasmiene

Pictures for Grandma