December 14 - Day 3, Still Jet-Lagged

Lucas and Henrik's grandmother (Farmor) gave them a pocket advent calendar that was hanging in our house when we arrived. Each day, they open a new pocket to find a little gift. This is of course very exciting, but the problem is that Henrik has, for two days, woken me up in the middle of the night asking to open the calendar by saying "Number 13!" or "Number 14!" The first night, I let it slide because we were all jet lagged. This morning, I told him that the numbers don't get opened until morning time.

Today's prize - a mini pinball game.

Another prize - Mats had a second interview with a company here in Lund. Fingers crossed!

Move Preparations

Quick update: We've moved to Sweden! After 2 years of debating, we decided to go for it. Here are a few pictures from the past few months.

61 boxes packed and ready to be shipped by boat to Sweden. ETA: 10 - 12 weeks from early November.

Sale pending, phew!

Storage containers arrived:


We shipped the Prius. ETA: 10 - 12 weeks from early December.


Packing

Where the Hell is Matt?

Last weekend my brother got married. I spent the night before at my parents' house. It was fun to just hang out with my family late at night like when we were all living together. But now it was my own kids sleeping upstairs, and I was the mom still awake downstairs like my mom always was (and still is.) The bummer was that my brother pulled his back out the day before his wedding, so seeing him in so much pain was hard for all of us. Thanks to some homeopathy, Reiki, and western medicine, he was able to stand at his wedding and didn't need to use the wheelchair my mom's friend found for us at 11pm the night before.

As we hung around in the kitchen that night, and my brother and his fiance packed for their honeymoon, my younger brothers (the ones who weren't getting married the next day) told me about a really cool YouTube video called "Where the Hell is Matt?"

They told me I HAD to see it, and they were right. It's amazingly simple, artistic, and moving. Basically a nerdy guy named Matt dances in different locations around the world. According to the FAQs on his website, the message of his videos are "Up to you. I'm just dancing."

I think it's about world peace. But that's just me. Watch the videos and let me know what you think!

I'm not making any promises, but maybe I'll make my own knock-off version in Sweden. And if Stride gum wants to pay me to travel around the world and dance too, hey, count me in!

Where The Hell is Matt? 2008

Where The Hell is Matt? 2006

Taking Flight

I had a vivid dream years ago in which I was able to fly in my fish tank. Technically this would be swimming, I know, but it was different- I could fly underwater.

According to a dream book I read years ago, flying symbolizes freedom from constraints. As for flying in airplanes, to me it means a new opportunity for travel and adventure. Of course, air transport is much different with two young sons. Gone are the days of watching a movie in its entirety, losing myself in a good book, or, one of my favorite past activities on a plane- sleeping.

There are advantages too- while you walk the aisles with your young ones, you get to meet all the child-friendly people on the plane, meanwhile finding out who would rather not have a toddler pat his lap to say hello. Actually, I'm always surprised how few in number the child-unfriendlies are.

In a few months we will board a plan to Sweden, where we'll do a house swap with a friend. Not only does this help out with the cost of traveling, but since we have kids around the same age, both families get to experience "new" toys! But just to be sure their favorite toys aren't left behind, my boys have already packed their mini backpacks for the trip. They get this planning ahead gene from their father, I'm pretty sure.

Speaking of Scandinavia, sons, and flying, a friend of mine recently sent me an e-mail titled, "The boy stuff us Moms go gray over." This video make me think back to my flying dream, and for a second, I wanted to join these dare-devil young guys jumping off cliffs in Norway and flying. Or at least I could go see them in action. But my next thought stopped me- I don't want my boys to see this. I'd rather them stick to jumpy houses with confined, padded floor and walls for now.

Here's the video, and happy flying:
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1778399&server=vimeo.com&amp

Impromptu Trip

If there is something Mats and I have not been since having kids, it’s spontaneous.

We love to travel. Or loved to travel, I’m not sure which tense to use these days. Traveling with kids is different. The sleep and exhaustion factor are always there.

But on Friday night, for perhaps the first time in over four years, we decided to take a weekend trip with the kids at the last minute. We left at 9 p.m. and arrived at my parents’ property in Central California at midnight.

The boys had a blast. Lucas was Grandad’s little helper the whole weekend, a title he was quite proud of. He even got paid a quarter and wants to buy something with it. The second night we all slept well. Mats and I went for a hike at the Pinnacles National Park, sans kids.

It was a great trip.

Arriving home today we were all a bit out-of-sorts, but we survived. And we have more memories than if we had stayed home. Time to start traveling again!

Lucas says he wants to go down next Saturday. OK, maybe we’re not that ready.