Merry Christmas, and Lucia

Before I had three kids, our Christmas cards were usually prepared right at the beginning of December and sent with ample time to reach Europe. Now I send most electronically, and the hard copies that are sent this year will land somewhere before New Years - I hope.

Anyhow, here's a Christmas wish from our house to yours. And below, a picture of the Lucia celebration in Dallas on the 13th. Elina can be seen to the right of the Lucia herself, Isak is in one of the two star boy hats. Yours truly is somewhere on the back row. The light is not the best, but clicking on the picture should help.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

A bit of December

We went to Dallas for a truncated weekend. My kind brother-in-law not only lets us stay at his nice condo, he literally evacuates to let us have it all when we come down. The kids are so enthralled with urban living, the grand view over down town from the balconies, and the stores and people just below. When we were there we saw horse carriage rides every night, below on the street! Elina was in heaven. We saw the Dallas Temple (spire above) and met all the Swedes of Dallas for the annual Christmas celebration.

No pilgrimage there is complete without an IKEA stop, especially before Christmas when we have to stock up on essential Swedish Christmas food supplies. (I may add a video later of the Lucia performance). No pictures were taken. Mark had his hands full with Anja, I guess, and the rest of us were in the performance. Elina endured the entire dress rehearsal then backed out of the actual performance because she did not feel well. Sure enough, at IKEA later that evening, she threw up after I - very motherly - insisted that she take "two more bites." Elina throws up no matter what her illness is. This time it was upper respiratory.

At the IKEA cafeteria, minutes before Elina 'personalized' our area, poor thing.

I am also adding some pictures of the annual Christmas photo shoot. Last year we somehow managed to get everyone facing the camera at a snapshot in the church foyer. This year blood, sweat and tears would not get my kids to cooperate much. And forget taking them to the photographer. The photographers tear their hair out before we leave and insist that every picture is "really cute", just so we will leave, even though my otherwise gorgeous kids look like caricatures of themselves. Isak and Elina did fine during my hopeful session, but Anja would have none of the posing stuff, would not be still for even a second and never mind looking in the camera. Isak and Elina came up with the idea of chasing Anja down and putting her in an upright wrestling hold. It worked better than any other thing we tried. My kids just don't get enough practice posing, I guess. Worse things could happen to kids, but I would like just one good Christmas picture one of these years. Is that too much to ask? (All I want for Christmas is a frameable family picture, or one of the kids.)

Anja, 19 months

Isak, almost 6 and a half

Elina, 4 and a half

How to make hair like this, you wonder? After bath, let dry without any brushing. Voila.

The trick to making Anja sit long enough to snap this picture: removing one of her new shoes. "Ko!" she says while putting it back on, her version of the Swedish "sko" meaning "shoe."

Cold Blooded

Elina: "Mamma, can I go outside in my swim suit and play with the water hose?"

Mamma: "It is only 5 Celsius outside (41 F), that's really cold. You'll freeze!"

Elina: "No, I won't. Only for a little while, please?"

Mamma: [plan response, anticipate answer, form retaliation, steel myself against the emotional fit...Is there not a better way?] "Hmmmm. Okay. "

Elina: "I can?"

Mamma: "You can."

Elina zips through the house and in no time is dressed in her swimsuit.

One of those affordable lessons, right? She'll learn it is cold, come in on her own and then we won't have to have this discussion in December again.

She stayed outside, undaunted. Then I remembered that she has Viking blood, and despite the 3% body fat, playing with water outside is simply too much fun to give up just because it is, well, winter. The eighteen-month old on my hip (the one with the runny nose) moans and whines. She, too, wants to get down and play. Ouch. Plan has backfired.

Cousins

And they all bear the same last name. This was taken on Thanksgiving Day at grandma Donna's house, before we found the battery charger to our camera and it had so little charge left I was in a mad rush to just get the pictures, and had no time to concern myself with smiles etc.

Seated by age, mostly. Donna's grandkids: Anja (2007), Sebastian (2006), Merritt (2005), Elina (2004), Eliot (2003), baby Iliam (2008), and Isak (2002).

Lake Thunderbird

One of our favorite spots to visit this time of year is Lake Thunderbird. Our dog loves it too. Sometimes I wonder if Sadie thinks every time we get in the car and go somewhere we go somewhere fun, like Lake Thunderbird, since the only time we ever bring her in the car is when we have such a destination. Poor Sadie, if that is what she thinks. No wonder she moans when we leave her behind on a daily basis. Those cruel humans.

The cut on Mark's forehead? Caused by razor sharp front teeth from the very angel on his shoulders.

Halloween

Yoda. Cuter than the original?

A one-time wonder with the old, chewed uploading cord. Mark jammed it in there, man-like. I don't think we'll try that again or it will likely ruin the camera port. But, we now have PICTURES.

First things first, my favorite American holiday: Halloween. To me, this holiday embodies the essence of what made me fall in love with this country back in 1993. I can't very accurately describe it. I guess it is the open hearted, living-it-up sense of fun. My dad said it best, I think, during a regular OU game (which equivalent sporting event would have to be the European Soccer Championship FINALE). "It's not the crowd. I've seen plenty of crowds before. It's the 60 year old men wearing foam prairie wagons on their heads." One of the many reasons I love this land.

Obi-Wan is feeling the force and Yoda is not. Or the other way around?

Dragon and farmer have got the moves.

Modeling the costume.

Elina was done trick-or-treating long before the others.
"I really don't want more candy. I have enough."

Elina at her school.

Halloween party at the Balkmans.

I did not dress up. I was too busy sewing Isak's costume to perfection... That's my excuse.

Mothers Without Borders

My camera battery charger is lost. I think the kids did something with it, because I never move it - it is one of two places at all times. But until I find it, I cannot upload pictures. The camera is filled with all kinds of things, Halloween pics, most notably. But also other adventures. I'll try and deep clean the house this weekend and find it.

The newest news in our family is that we have been adopted by a CAT. Five days went by and it would not leave, even though Sadie did her "roaring lion going after a gazelle" impersonation on the poor cat several times. Elina named the cat "Skittles," after the candy. Her inspiration was the classroom pet hamster Jelly-Bean. Jelly-Beans and Skittles do look a bit a like, I suppose. I finally broke down and fed the cat, and tonight for the first time we let it spend the night in our entry way, and made a bed from an old towel. It is not heated, but well-insulated, wind-free and won't freeze. I even bought a bag of cat food, and I am not a CAT PERSON! If anyone in Norman wants to adopt a cute, sweet tabby cat that is fond of children, let me know. I have yet to find a lost-cat ad, and I have checked.

The thing that has absolutely CONSUMED me lately is AIDS orphans in Zambia. I have since very early in life had a strong desire, no yearning, to be part of a solution for Africa. I remember the Christmas my parents bought the single "Do they know it's Christmas time?" I was 6. I listened to it over and over and had my mother translate the words for me, because I did not understand English at the time. I watched the documentary behind the making of the single with my parents when it aired on TV and the melody haunted me along with the images of desperation in Africa. I remember the feel of the single cover and I must have spent hours looking at the image of the two starving Ethiopian kids. And yes, the argument "Think of the children in Africa" usually worked to get me to clear my plate.

We lived without television for 4 years, Mark and I. But a few years ago we got satellite, except we pay only for the outdoor channel, a la carte. It's 5 bucks a month and we get twenty or thirty free channels. They are obscure ones, but we like them. BYU TV, UCLA TV, and a bunch of other university channels. We also watch China News and Al Jazeera in English and other Middle Eastern, British and German news casts along with American news and funky world music on LINK. We also get DOC, the documentary channel. That is where I saw the documentary "Their Brother's Keepers: Orphaned by AIDS" (will air again Dec 11, 6 pm central time) that kept me up crying like I haven't cried since I said good bye to my family at the airport in June, worse actually.

I mean, anyone who has not lived under a rock for the past 10 years knows how AIDS is ravaging Africa, but to see and follow day-to-day life for child-headed households in Zambia was almost more than I could bear. Ten year old kids care for their younger brothers and sisters, sleeping on burlap sacks on dirt floors, eating a few times a week. They wash them, play with them, comfort them and sing to them, telling them everything will be alright.

My response is always the same. I go into a mental frenzy on how to make insane amounts of money, get resources and just pour it into these children's lives and their communities. But fact is, I will never make that kind of money. But I am insanely rich already. I have MANY changes of clothes, as do my children. I have a warm house with all kinds of furniture, food, books to read and DVDs to watch, pretty things and things I don't want or really need. I eat too much. My kids are getting a great education. I have a college degree. I have a freaking cell phone! Would I give it up to feed an orphan child per month in Zambia? Absolutely.

I am not too trusting of charitable organizations, except The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whose Humanitarian Aid program donates 100% of funds directly to the people in need, thanks to an all volunteer staff. Plan is the name of the organization that made the documentary I saw, or at least they were connected with it somehow. They use 22% of donations for administration and advertisements. If they had not, I would never have learned about Zambia the way I did. So I think 22% is fair. Someone has got to get the word out, or nothing gets done.

But then I looked at the organizations the Church works with in Zambia. They only work with the best. Here is a map of the Church's humanitarian efforts world wide. It has been Mark's and my dream since we got married to one day serve a Humanitarian mission for the Church, once the kids are out of the house. One of the charities the Church works with in Zambia is Mothers Without Borders. They use 94% for children's needs. An absolutely AMAZING organization now that I have looked at it. But again, they are not likely reaching the audience that Plan does, because they do not spend money on advertising. So I may do a one time donation to Plan to encourage them to keep up the good work. But Mothers Without Borders is in my heart and will be part of my life from now on. Perhaps I will be able to sleep at night.

Of Pitbulls and girls

Elina and Isak have both been thoroughly indoctrinated to be wary of Pitbulls, since they have such steep statistics against them when it comes to turning on their owners, resulting in grave injuries - not to mention attacks on strangers which is equally high for this breed. (We have several Pitbulls in our neighborhood, and my feeling is: If you want a sweet dog, get a Lab for goodness sakes!)

Elina, home from school is outside swinging in the back yard where Mark is getting some tools. Ten minutes later she comes in crying mad and furious tears.

Elina: "Pappa is not telling the truth! Jasmine at school has a nice Pitbull. It is not mean! He doesn't know that it is a nice Pitbull." Tears streaming down her face and wailing like she got her finger stuck in the car door.

Mamma: "I think what Pappa meant is that sometimes even nice Pitbulls can become mean, suddenly, even when no one is being mean to the Pitbull."

Elina: "No, that is not what he said! He said he wanted to kill Jasmine's Pitbull! I am angry with him!"

Mamma: "He said that? He should not have said that. I'll tell him."

Elina goes back out in the yard again, still red faced and upset, but not wailing.

Enter Mark.

Victoria: "Honey, did you tell Elina you were going to kill Jasmine's Pitbull?"

Mark: "No, I didn't. I just said they taste better when fried."

Boomer...

We've battled a strange stomach flu these past two weeks. It doesn't go away. Everyone has had it in the family, and I was the last one to get it, and the last one to shake it. I have now been sick for over a week. Mostly fetal position and very little sleep. Today I ate only crackers and bananas and felt well enough to sit on a chair and hold a parking sign. Isak did half my shift, thankfully, and parked 3 out of 10 cars. Not bad for a 6 year old. He earned a dollar doing it, going towards a Lego set that he wants which is $20. He has to do 20 jobs. He's crossing off a chart. Only 12 more to go. Every time he gets a new job he's SO EXCITED. He never complains about how long it is taking or that regular chores don't count.

Anja doesn't speak much, but she's developing other talents. One of those is a great sense of order. She sees a toy in the wrong toy bin and she corrects it! Today it was a "Little People"-car in the baby toy box. She spontaneously cleans when it gets too messy. She also comforts Elina and Isak any time they cry by patting and hugging, something Isak and Elina don't do for each other, that's for sure.

We were done parking early and I took Isak and Elina to the Mormon Institute where I sat on a chair fending off waves of nausea while they played on the Moon Bounces for an hour. A great success.


The kids got free cotton candy. They had to have it. Then they recalled that they don't like cotton candy. They tried it once when we went to the circus in Sweden. The outing ended with Elina receiving a near-mortal wound to her toe. We had to go home and get a Band-Aid.

Elina occupies the top bunk. Here she is with Finuds the Cat. Isak sleeps below so he has easier access to the CD player and can choose the audio book, control the volume and chapter etc.

I would rather chase a dog

Elina säger: Han ska hämta fisk och han är arg för han simmar i vatten. Och Victoria och jag skrattade för han är i vattnet. Han har en fru som älskar att simma i vatten och han är så arg på sin fru och han simmar i vatten (skratt, skratt, skratt) Och han är en barn bäbis som är stor och han är arg. När han är arg på sin fru så blir han jättearg. Han heter Kalle Julius Fisher och han heter i det sista namnet Fisher Fisher Kalle. Och han är en pojke. Han tycker om fisk för katter äter fisk. Kommer du i håg att Pelle tyckte om fisk och te och vatten blandat? Och Elina tyckte att han var konstig och en annan katt som bet en valphund och då sa katten till sin fru stackars hund, "Du dumma fru." Jag har sett en katt som bet en gång på mig, jag hade en blod här! Kalle Julius fru är den katten som bet valphunden och den var så konstig i huvudet, den hette Fru Julius. Och fru Julius sa till hunden "Hund, om du inte flyttar så kommer jag äta dig." Den var jättekonstig och den ville äta hunden. Så då sprang hunden i väg och den valphunden berättade för sin mamma som grävde jord och den sa "Mamma kan vi inte köpa lite ben till oss? Två ben till mig att spara tills jag vill ha dem" sa hunden. Och den hunden hette Dupi och Fru Dupi (mamman) sa "Det kan vi." "Tack så mycket" sa Dupi till sin mamma. SLUT.

Ward Cook-Out

Friday we got together with the church members at the park for some serious mormon grilling and potluck. Half the spread was side dishes, the other half desserts, like a proper balanced meal, besides the meat of course! We had a great time. The kids ran around like crazy. Isak and Elina played mostly at the playground, but Anja actually spent most her time doing what she loves best: kicking and throwing a ball, without needing any family participation.

PLEASE CHECK BACK AND I WILL UPLOAD MOVIE SOON, featuring much of the ward!

Bollen!

Anja, full fart nedför rutschkanan

Isak mellan språngmarscherna

La piñata

After the piñata. Elina only caught one piece of candy among the hordes of kids, thus the tears!
She was not the only one crying. Such hard lessons about first-come-first...

So, she had to be carried and comforted.
Also, in this picture you can see my shorter hair. I cut 6 inches! (15 cm)

The Red Robin Hood

That's what the kids kept calling it. We had coupons, you see. No, I am not ashamed to admit it. Isak pulled a tooth last week, and he got coupons for 3 free kid meals at the Red Robin. Add to that, two free milk shake coupons that the kids earned in the library reading program this summer. I have racked my brain for the last time we took the whole family out to eat, and I think the verdict is that it was when Elina was 2 and my parents were here and we ate at Cici's Pizza. The Fisher family just does not go out to eat. Besides considering it a waste of money, I suppose it is because we hardly ever ate out when I grew up, aside from going to cafes, ordering pizza, getting hot dogs on accasion and once in a while in the summer time we'd eat ice cream or waffles at an outdoor establishment. I cannot recall but a few times we actually sat down in a restaurant in my entire childhood. That our kids were newcomers to the dining-out life style last night became very obvious when Isak began clearing the table at the end.

Cool! They're gonna bring us food and we just sit here...

Anja prefers the melon rind to the steak fries.

Mmm, milkshake. Thanks for sharing, Elina!