Happy Hallows' Eve

It has been awhile. I feel the blog absence, so I will attempt an update. We have been ravaged with illness three out of the last four weeks. Saniya had a high fever last night just after going to sleep. Rowan was home the week before and Saniya two weeks before that. Yuck. I wish I had more empathy, but really I think I am tapped out. Saniya is better today. She had a 106 that lowered to 103-104 for the rest of the night. Yikes! Today, so far, she is good at 101ish.

Also, it is Halloween today. Well, it is Halloween in our apartment building for the kids. Rob did the Halloween costumes. They are really cute. Saniya is a dolphin and Rowan is a turtle. There is a party on Friday at their school, as well. They don't do Halloween here, but they celebrate All Saints Day and dress up for that. They call it "Höstmaskardagen", which means "Fall Costume Day". So, hopefully Saniya will be better for that. I will try to get some good pixs for that.

On the Rob front, he has the typical job search issues. Lately, Rob is vacillating between saying he is sick of research and wants to do something entirely different to then changing his mind and relaying "maybe it is ok". I told him he gets like this when his experiments are not working. Also, really this is what job search is, deciding what to do next and thinking about all of the options. So, I think all is well on that front, albeit in a stressful life changing way.

We had daylights savings time end on Sunday. It is now completely dark by 4:00 pm. Wow. It is pretty dramatic. I feel like a bear getting ready to huddle into my cave for the winter. Although, the weather is really beautiful when it is light. Rob and I recently commented to each other that we feel better about the weather here, than in Eugene, because when it is light it is generally sunny and beautiful. In Eugene, the eternal wet and overcast yuck seems harder to contend with than the darkness. Who knows... I think if I had this darkness thing to deal with for 20 years the novelty might wear off.

So, I will get some good pixs of the costumes, the party and the trick or treating. Hope everyone is enjoying the Fall leaves and staying healthy.

Yasmiene

Lazy Sunday

I have to say I have been pretty neglectful of the blog lately. Maybe it is just the mode of our household, doing stuff as it comes, but not really venturing outside of the immediate familial sphere for too many external adventures. As well, I had a glimmer of hope that Rob would write in the blog when he said to me about a week ago, "I was thinking I should write in the blog". Ya think... But alas, no sign of the family patriarch.

So, we had this great day yesterday of biking to Djurgarden (http://www.djurgarden.net/eng/index.html). It is an island in the downtown area that is undeveloped and preserved. The trees are in the height of color. We went to the children's museum for accouple of hours and then had a picnic in a garden called, Rosendal's Tradgard (http://www.rosendalstradgard.se/section.php?id=0000000051). It is a beautiful public garden with a cafe, nursery, store and children's play area. It is generally a fabulous place to be on a nice day.

Today is a lazy Sunday morning of coloring, reading library books and general relaxing. Ahhh, how come we don't do this more often? I think it might have to do with if the kids are in the same mood of general laziness. Or maybe it is the Fall weather? It is getting down right chilly here and the days are shorter and shorter. I love having seasons and get excited waiting for the next season. Right now, I am anticipating winter and actually looking forward to it.

We will do a bit of Halloween here, at least with in our apartment complex there will be trick or treating. Saniya wants to be Eeyore again but I am not sure I can swing that. We'll see. The days are ticking away on that. So, to be continued....

Hope everyone is enjoying the foliage and feeling generally cozy.

Yasmiene

Great Podcast

I just finished a great podcast from 'This American Life' called, "How to talk to kids" (#341). So, if you want a funny and relaxing hour about how kids and teens feel when adults interact with them gives this a listen.

Elsewise, we all had the stomach flu last weekend. Tis the season. So, no major news on what we have been up to. Rob is at an overnight at Lake Malaren with his work tonight. Life is rough. He will have fun though.

Ok, that is it, just listen if you have the time and the capability.

Fall is in the air

Fall is for falling in more ways that just the leaves. It feels like a time to just snuggle up and ready one's abode for hibernation. Our house and mindset seems like just that lately. We are readying our life for the winter, and finding a schedule will see us through until next Spring. We are falling, and landing softly, from the whirlwind of summer fun, travels and visitors.

Rowan just began a set schedule of day care. He will go 9-11 M,W, F and 9-3 Tu and Th. Great for me. I feel like a privileged woman having the time to think. The leaves are incredible right now, so I have been walking in the park behind our house. The route I walk follows a lake and is really a treat to have in our "backyard". We celebrated Saniya's removal of her training wheels from her bike last weekend with a party. She is so great. It feels like a huge parenting milestone to see her ride a bike. Rob just finished a paper and submitted it for publication. I asked if he could relax now and he said he has two more to write. Yuck, but really good that he has stuff working, right? He just told me of a position in Barcelona which he will apply. I am attempting to find a "schedule" that will work for me. It all comes together eventually, right?

Yaz