If only we were 4

Classic four year old comments:

I was washing my bras in the sink and Saniya asked me, "Why are you washing your boobs?"

She holds up her headband that she received that week and asked, "Mama, do headbands die?"



Let's see... it has been awhile. Rob's mom was with us for 5 days. Now, she is off to St. Petersburg and will return for another week in Stockholm. We are having fun and Saniya is really into being with "Nana" and where she is and what she is doing. Very exciting.

Rob and I decided to take the summer off from Swedish class. It was a big commitment and think we can benefit more with simplifying obligations and enjoying time together. The summer is so great here. We are excited for lots of dinner picnics and walks and meandering through the city and it's parks. There are lots of wading pools in the different parks in the summer and it is fun to have the kids jump in when we come across one. Most children wade naked so it is nice that if you do not have a bathing suit with you it is no matter.

What else... we are planning our summer trip for July. We discovered that renting an apartment is the way to go with little kids. We have already reserved an apartment in Berlin and are in the process of doing the same in Cinque Terra, Italy. As well, we have an apartment reserved in Norway for when we meet my mom there in August. Yeah! Nice to find a way to travel with small children and still remain sane.

Maybe Rob will actually write in here soon and tell you of his travels, work, etc...., hint hint.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Yasmiene

Our coming anniversary....

Well, it is official. We have been in Sweden for one year as of May 26th. My, oh my, does the time fly. I have to say the culture shock to MOVE here was intense, but has now worn off. I was walking in the park behind our house this weekend and realized it almost feels like home. We have definintely come full circle and feel this nostalgia in having our "second" summer here. We know what to expect and are looking forward to the great explorarations of the summer months. We visited a gallery this weekend called the Thiel Galleriet. It had great Edvard Munch stuff. He did "the scream".

http://www.thielska-galleriet.se/

Anyways, the point of tellling you that is that it is in this beautiful area of the city called; Djurgarden. It is where the king had lots of land. It was never developed. Now, it is a beautiful park. So, we were there at the gallery , then we mozied down and began walking the park and I was able to suggest to Rob, "hey let's walk to that cafe by the water, that we went to last summer and is so great". He knew, I knew... no maps, no first time in the park, no how far and will the path connect? We just knew... it is so nice to be locals, or at least feel a semblence of it.

P.S. Saniya and Rowan are great. We took them swimming today at an adventure pool. So, cute. They don't use any chlorine here in their public pools. There is a non toxic alternative that they do use, but we are not sure what it is yet... I guess we will know as the summer progresses.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mom's out there.

Yasmiene

Random recent pictures

I seems like forever since I have written in here. Let's see. My Dad was just here for a visit. That was fun and we got to do lot's of sightseeing. The city is blossoming with Spring growth. The cafes have people lounging outdoors at sidewalk tables. The weather is variable. One day it will be cold and windy and the next very warm and summery. Saniya is all about the seasons rights now. She keeps asking if it is Summer yet. She is happy with school and has a best friend named Stephanie. Rowan is responding to direct questions by nodding yes or no. He talks and has quite a few understandable words and lots of baby-talk words. Although, he really isn't a baby anymore. Rob is around. He spent most of last month away for work. I spent most of the last month home with sick children. So, I think we are both happy things are getting back to normal. We are looking forward to Rob's mom coming in about two weeks. So, that should be fun. Saniya is really into having visitors and that her parents have parents and what that means and grandparents in general. So, that has been fun. Here are some pictures of us lately:


The group, this winter, leaving the children's museum.


Looking out of our balcony at our apartment.


A funny door sign we passed by one day.


Saniya and Rowan playing at the Music Museum one day.


On Pippi's horse, outside of her house, at the Children's musem.


Doing a puzzle, at Pippi's house, in the Children's museum.


Rowan falling on the ice and then looking cute.