Viewer discretion (feet)

Isak is showing signs of becoming very TALL. No surprise there, and it's not news. But the latest round of shoes shopping has me pretty amazed. He turns nine in 4 months, and he is wearing a size 6 - that would be 39 in European measures. To be fair, his soccer shoes are "only" 38s (5.5 US). I used to wear a 40 before kids, but after 4 pregnancies my feet have grown (both length and width) to need an American women's 10, or European 41. Keep in mind European sizes use ONE SCALE from babies through adults (men and women), so when Isak wears a 39 and I wear a 41 he is truly only 2 sizes behind his mother at age EIGHT. Here's a picture of his new shoes and both our feet:

Elina's 7th Birthday

We celebrated Elina's birthday early this year because the next two weekends are booked. For the first time in our family we paid for a birthday party. Elina's special request. She had once seen a birthday party group at the Natural History Museum, and she never forgot it. Here are a few pictures:

 "Puff the Magic Dragon" clay sculpture by Inger and Sofia. Elina LOVED it.

And book to match!

 All the kids, minus Julia whouldn't sit still, and Grace who left just before this was taken.

The Functional Family

Student-led Conferences

In the Spring at our school we have Parent-Teacher conferences only if there is a particular need. If there isn't, then we have only student-led conferences. Both Isak and Elina did a really good job showing Mark and me what they have been working on. Isak's class has a cowboy-theme in the classroom and this was the cover of his home-made folder filled with his best, recent work. I am happy to report that both kids are doing very well in school. They are hard workers, organized and responsible. I just turned in the application for Anja for pre-K. We find out April 1st if she got in, since it is a drawing and not everyone is guaranteed a spot.

Julia, Julia, Julia

Julia could be the star of her own blog. There is SO much material to work with. I don't usually think of capturing her antics in pictures, but this one I did. I heard her screaming her "I am very, very irritated" cry, while coming up the stairs. This is how she entered the master bedroom. It is noteworthy that the toilet ring in the picture has been retired (and cleaned) for a long time and been tucked safely away back in a cabinet in the laundry room. She obviously found it. Typical Julia. I don't think she knows what it is. She has her frog-potty and tells me several times a day that she has to go use it - no prompting from me. 

Last night when I went to my class my brand new textbook was sporting huge "hanks of yarn" in ink on the front and back covers and at least 15 pages. Isak's beloved Indiana Jones book had gotten the same front cover treatment. He came in to show it to me and in turn I showed him my book. He just sighed and said "I can remove the dustjacket, I guess."

Only a month ago Mark went and painted large areas of wall where she had colored (to be fair Anja had helped). It is time for another round, because this little artist is not lazy, no siree. And trying to get the kids to keep track of their crayons, pencils and pens that they use is as futile as getting them to close the bathroom doors. I have found Julia twice with her FOOT in the toilet, once she had shoes on (put them on herself of course) and was stuck and very angry about it. I sometimes fear for her life on a daily basis, but the truth is she is just fine if she has some attention. It is when I have to clean, cook, do laundry or tend to other things that she finds entertainment for herself. If it were up to her we would just sit on the couch and read books about babies all day long, or get pushed on the swing.

Det håller i sig!

Lilla Julia visar inga tecken på att tröttna på att gå på pottan. Tvärtom blir hon bara bättre och bättre på det. Jag har stora förhoppningar om att hon kan bli helt blöjfri till sin 2-årsdag.  Dessa två bilder, nedan, togs bara minuter innan hon hittade en obevakad schampo flaska i barnens badrum (för ingen mer än vi vuxna stänger någonsin dörrar i detta huset), tryckte ut rikliga mängder (flaskan hade pump), gned in det noggrant över hela huvudet men fick sedan massa i ögonen, gned med sina schampohänder och förvärrade det, och skrek som en stucken gris.

Av med alla kläderna, duscha av alltihop och skölja ögonen. Sen sköljde jag så gott det gick med koksaltlösning. Trots det är framför allt hennes vänstra öga väldigt rött och irriterat. "Ont," säger hon och gråter. Men det är väl nyttigt med tårar i detta fallet. I morgon ska vi hämta ut ett recept med salva för ögat. Ja, den Julia, henne kan man inte lämna utan uppsikt ens en minut. Men hon är världens underbaraste ändå. Det är ju för att hon är så kapabel och smart som hon hittar på så mycket. Kanske har hon lärt sig att hålla sig undan schampo flaskan? (Kanske har de andra barnen lärt sig att stänga dörren - inte troligt!).

Kan man låta bli att älska den ungen?

Daddy Daughter Dance - eller "Vad är väl en bal på slottet?"

 Before departure they descended hand in hand and Elina half-strode half-floated down the steps.

And that's not a camera smile.

ALL DRESSED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO!
(Next year she'll be old enough.)

 "I have lockigt hair!" she told her dad.

I morgon är det den stora dagen...

...för Elina alltså. Men prinsessan i huset är ju faktiskt Anja och hon får inte gå på bal för hon är ju för liten. Så när vi prov-fixade Elinas hår var vi ju tvungna att också fixa Anjas hår lite.

 Elina informerade att hon tagit kort på sig själv medan håret torkade. 

 Resultatet, ngt suddigt.

 Rullarna längst upp hade inte torkat ordentligt. Suck.

Men vill man vara fin får man lida pin.

"Är du FÄRDIG snart?"

Mer snöbilder

 Glada Anja.

 Gamla Sadie (fyllde nyss 11 år!)

 Det var väldigt ljust ute.

 "Dra mig, Sadie!"

 snöboll

"Kan Matte kasta några snöbollar, tro?"

Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow. Lucky he does not live where we live, or he would have! So, an early spring it is.

Snödagar

Efter en vecka och helg med mer än 20+ grader varmt och underbart solsken kom vintern. Som vanligt i Oklahoma med andra ord. Ute i shorts och t-shirt ena dan, med full vetskap om att vinterstormen var på ingång. I dag var skolan stängd och det är den i morgon också. Det är som dagarna före jul på WalMart innan en vinterstorm, fast i stället för julklappar är det mat, ved och andra förnödenheter i varukorgarna. Lite komiskt tycker jag nog, men vi är ju i södern och folk här är inte vana vid vinter och så finns det ju knappt plogbilar eller dubbdäck.

 Kan det vara en snöboll?

framför huset

 Elina var ute i snön längst av alla, med Sadie som hon ALLTID har med sig när hon är ute.

 Stackars Julia har en ALDELES för liten overall på sig, men hon var glad ändå.

 Isak skottar grannens uppfart

Our street

Anatomilektion

Blodomloppet, matsmältningen, skelettet, delar av nervsystemet.