Home for Christmas....

very common to see in Stockholm

Freezing at the Christmas Market in Skansen

Where has the time gone? I can't believe I'm packing to come home for Christmas.  As I reflect on 2013,  I'm amazed at how my life has changed in just one year.  Last year at this time I was decorating my home in Atlanta, excited about hosting my first Christmas in a very long time, and feeling really blessed with my wonderful life.  Twelve months later,  I'm living in another country, across the world.  I'm not decorating my home, but instead, packing and shopping in preparation to spend Christmas with all of our family and friends.  But.. I am still feeling VERY blessed to have a wonderful life and a new adventure to add to our memory book.

Chase was home sick last week for a few days.  He didn't get the famous Stockholm Stomach Virus, but he did get a fever for two days.  Before moving to Sweden, one of my fears was how to get the boys to school if one of them was sick.  While Smith was sick, I left him home alone for the hour it took me to take Jake and Chase to school.  When Chase got sick, I didn't have that option.  The only solution, Jake and Smith go alone.  I was 100% confident that the boys knew the way and were very capable of this feat.  However, they had never done it alone before, so Steve decided to (secretly) follow behind.  Of course, they did awesome, and they loved the independence.  They came home that day by themselves and did it all over again the following day.  Now, even though Chase is back to school, they beg me to let them go alone.  I'm not ready for them to go alone everyday, especially because they don't have a phone to call me if they get into trouble.  I know many of you are thinking that I'm crazy... but this is very normal here.  I'm one of the few parents that walks their kids to school.  Steve and I were more nervous about them losing their $1,000 train card.  hahaha

 On Friday the weather took a turn and the snow arrived.  It wasn't the snow storm we were hoping for, but we did see white all weekend.

taken from my living room window at 2:00pm

 The wind was unbelievable.... so strong.  It actually knocked Chase off of his feet while walking to the train station last week.  He's now bundled up in his full winter gear.  It's adorable.  Unfortunately, the temperatures were so cold that it all turned to ice.  I'm blown away by the ice that coats the streets and parks.  I thought there would be more plowing, but I've discovered that the sidewalks are not shoveled.  Now I know why everyone is talking about the spikes that go under your shoes.  I will most definitely be purchasing those.  Smith has already wiped out four times.  The ground is very deceiving... it doesn't look like ice until you step on it and go flying.  Speaking of ice... Bebop and Kiki bought the boys ice skates for Christmas.  They opened them early because they all started skating lessons, through the school, a few times week.
Lesson day was an adventure that I will never forget.  Because the park we were originally signed up at was repairing their ice, the lessons were moved to Kungsträdgården.  It's a great area of the city, all decorated for Christmas.  It reminds me a bit of Rockefeller Center in NYC with the Christmas music playing, the tree decorated, and the people skating.  The smells of doughnuts, coffee, and the crisp air, brings me back to my days in NYC with my parents and sisters.  The boys were excited to be on skates for the first time.... but after five minutes on the ice, they weren't so thrilled.  Ice skating looks a lot easier than it is.  They reminded me of Rudolph and all the baby reindeers when they were learning to fly, and their legs would slide out from under them, spending more time on their bellies than their feet.  Chase became frustrated very quickly.  He needed more one-on-one, and the instructor had over ten kids to teach, none of which were any better than my boys.  After 20 minutes Chase was in full meltdown mode and he exited the rink quicker than I could blink my eyes. The other two were frustrated, but stuck with it.  By the end of the lesson, both were standing on the ice.  They didn't want to continue, but I'm forcing them to go back and try again.  Once they get the hang of being on the ice, they are going to love it.  According to both of them, I'm the meanest mom... however, I know how fun skating is and I want them to experience it.  As for Chase, I'm signing him up for private lessons.  The group lessons, with 7-10 year olds, is way to intimidating for him.

Smith and Jake down for the count

Jake about to go down... but Smith is up

Jake grabbing this little guy for balance

The rink

After the session, we had to walk quite a distance and then take a train home.  Chase was still melting down because he was completely freezing and tired and wanted no part of this adventure.    Jake and Smith started fighting because they too were tired, cold, and didn't want to listen to Chase screaming.  I was carrying everyone's skate bags and trying to hold on to Chase.  I was so cold, my toes were numb, and my biceps were burning from all the bags on my arms.  For the first time in a long time,  I questioned whether I wanted to live here anymore.  The winter brings on a whole new stress, and having three boys making a huge scene on the most crowded streets in the city, made me want to cry and run away.  Thank God, on our walk home, we passed the NK window displays, which actually caught Chase's attention and he stopped crying for ten minutes while we observed the windows.  Somehow in all the chaos, I was able to snap a few pictures (I always put this blog on high priority).  There were more windows, many animated, and with motion.

Last night was our second lesson.  Wow, what a difference!  Smith had no problem standing, and started skating (it looked a lot like running) small distances.  He came off the ice, after an hour, excited about how much fun he had.  Jake, after five minutes, was gliding around the rink.  I had to drag him off the ice after 90 minutes because we were all freezing and starving.  See... Mommy does know best!

My big guys skating

Steve had a meeting downtown so he met us at 5:30.  The boys were craving burgers and fries.  Since Fridays was next to the park, we went in there hoping to get in and out quickly so we could get them home.  Once again, wish the Swedes would get more efficient when it comes to dining out.  There were over five tables open... yet we still had to wait 30 minutes to sit.  Why, you ask?  Well.... those tables were reserved.  Here's the frustrating part..... the reservations were for 7:00 and we walked in the door at 6:00,  an hour after we arrived.  Oh how we wanted to pull the manager aside and tell him to seat walk-ins because within that hour, at least ONE table would be getting up to leave.  This is very common here in Stockholm.  I understand this system in a trendy restaurant on a Saturday night, but it doesn't work in Fridays on a Wednesday night.

The waitress was super nice and the boys had a great time coloring their Swedish Children's menu.  As I was sitting, I was observing the decor and the Christmas music playing, thinking how we could have been sitting in America right then.  It didn't feel like Sweden at all... especially when the servers started singing Happy Birthday to one of the patrons in ENGLISH!

Lori and I have been busy shopping for Christmas presents... and also ourselves.  Steve you didn't read that.  You have to be dedicated to shop in Stockholm.  It was raining and snowing, but boots were calling our names, so we suffered through it.  Walking the streets with lots of packages, in the cold wet temperatures... who wouldn't love that?
I had to take a picture with the Christmas trees.... they were so small and fun.

Saturday morning, our Out and About Club met at Skansen for the Christmas Market.  I absolutely love Skansen.  It's one of my very favorite places here in Stockholm.  There's so much history and it amazes me each time I go.  This time, it was set up for Christmas with many vendors selling traditional Swedish gifts.  What makes Skansen's Christmas market unique? It takes you back to the 1800's.

making bread

selling incense

Christmas carolers throughout the market

The entire place was a replica of Swedish life in the 1800's.  The picture below shows how books were made back then.  This woman is binding the book with needle and thread.

Some of the ladies in the group

There was live music and large groups of people dancing to traditional Swedish Christmas songs.  What I loved most, everyone was having fun and nobody was judging anyone else's dancing.  Kids were having as much fun as the adults.  I was going to join them because they were all having a great time, but I had no idea how to do any of the dances.  It was so cold and it would have been a great way to warm up,

Skansen is up on a mountain, and when I tell you that I have never been that cold in my life, I'm not exaggerating.  This winter has been very mild, except for Saturday, December 7th.  Temperatures were as low as the teens, and with the wind on top of the mountain, it felt much colder.  At one point, my toes and fingers were so cold that they felt bruised.  I spent some time in front of the fire.... even though I smelled like a charcoal grill afterwards.

Me freezing in front of the fire

At one point, we went into the church, just to get warm.  I'm really glad I did because it was one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen.  The pictures below do not do it justice.

the church alter

the ceiling of this church was amazing

I could have stayed there all day, however, we were all frozen to the bone, so Lori and I went to Verma for some warm soup.  This is our view of one of the restaurants from the bus stop.

Alli and Lori as we were leaving

That evening Åsa and Jimmy invited us to their home for dinner.  They live in Solna, so we took the train and then a bus to get there.  Steve always wants to grab a cab, but I prefer public transport for some reason.  I like figuring out how to get places.  Weird... I know!  Dinner was amazing.  We ate a Swedish beef stew with potatoes.  It was so delicious.  For dessert they made chocolate meringue, topped with home-made cream (lactose free... made from yogurt, so not sweet), raspberries and almonds.  Even my chocolate snob husband loved it.  We had a great time with our new friends, and we've already scheduled our next family get together... at our apartment in January.  The trip home was interesting.  Jake slept at their house, so it was the remaining four of us.  We walked through the snow and ice to the nearest bus stop.  Waited on the bus and then transferred to another bus.  Yes, that was me again forcing the buses.  Steve wanted to call a cab, but I really wanted to learn the bus route.  On the first bus, Chase fell asleep sitting upright in the chair.  Steve carried him to the next bus stop and he slept the entire way home.  I guess even the cold temperatures couldn't keep that tired little guy awake.  

Keeping the apartment clean in the winter is not an easy task.  Besides the fact that we are living in very small quarters, when you add dirty shoes, jackets and pants to that list, it can get pretty icky inside.  I feel like I spend most of my time cleaning and straightening after FOUR messy boys.  

Tennis is going well.  I really enjoy playing, and the ladies have been so welcoming.  They are consistently teaching me Swedish, and now they are making me say the score in Swedish.  I can completely understand it, but my pronunciation is not quite there yet.   I can't roll my tongue.  Even when I was learning Spanish, I could never roll my tongue.  There are certain Swedish words that require this skill.... so when I say them, they sound ridiculous.  When the score is Thirty/Forty.... that would be one of those times that I sound comical.  They never laugh at me though... I told you they were very nice.  I've actually double faulted quite a few times because I'm concentrating so much on saying the words correctly.  

Even though the Christmas stress is not prevalent here in Sweden, I'm still feeling very overwhelmed with all that I have to do.  We are leaving in two days and I am still not packed, still have a few more gifts to buy,  have a school party to plan, and my neck went out two days ago so I can barely turn my head.  If only the stores would stay open a little later, I could be shopping at night and getting it all done.  Like I said, the hustle and bustle is not here.  The stores all close between 5-7pm every night, regardless of Christmas season.  It's crazy!  

It took me two days to get in touch with the chiropractor to make an appointment.  I tried calling yesterday, but couldn't understand the office message.  I know the recording was telling me to push a button to schedule an appointment, but I didn't know which number to press.  I decided to try all of them, one by one.  Pretty good plan right?  No luck... I got hung up on.  My next plan, send an email explaining  that I don't speak Swedish and that I am in a lot of pain, and I need to make an appointment.  The sympathy card worked because I finally received an email back, the next day, and I was able to get an appointment for tomorrow morning.  I guess I should be happy that I was able to get in before I flew for 20 hours.  

Gustav, my hairdresser, squeezed me in Monday night (they work late.. thank God).  We were chatting about living in America (he's been many times). His sister and brother-in-law live in Salt Lake City so we talked a bit about that.  It was interesting to hear his perspective on America.  I think Swedes in general are in awe of America and Americans.  He was saying that even though it's his favorite place in the world to vacation,  he doesn't want to live there.  I asked him why.  He said because you have to be rich to live in America.  I chuckled a bit because you most definitely do not have to be rich to live in America.  His point, was that it's very stressful to raise a family there because you would always be stressing about your future, your kids' future, your job security etc.  This conversation gave me a new perspective into life here in Sweden.  Swedes don't have to stress about their future because their education and retirement  are taken care of.  Saving money for a future is irrelevant.  We were also talking about health, food, music, and entertainment and how all of it originated in America.  We talked about the extremes in the country.  It was fascinating how spot on he was.  We are a country of extremes.... think about it.  

As  I meet people, so many of the twenty/thirty year old age group is flabbergasted when I tell them that I live here now.  They all say, without hesitation, "why would you move here from America?"  It's funny when you think about it.... many Americans will never leave the country and don't have a desire to ever leave, even for vacation.  I have always been from the mentality that there is so much more to experience than just our American culture.  Don't get me wrong, when this journey is over, the only place I want to live is America... but I am so happy that we are all experiencing another culture.  Steve and I were just talking the other night about how big the world actually is.  Now that we are in Europe and hoping to visit many other countries in the next two years, we are in awe of the vastness of this world.  

Tuesday, after school, Jake's friend Pascal came to play and then had dinner with us.  Besides being a great boy and really good friend to Jake, Steve and I had so many laughs listening to his perspective on living here in Stockholm.  His family moved here this summer from Dallas, Texas.  He is one of six children.  We asked him what he thought about living in Sweden.  His first response, "I don't understand why people don't say hi to each other on the street."  He went on to say that in Texas, everyone says hi to one another, even strangers.  He told us that he just can't stop doing it... so he continues to say hi to people on the streets and nobody says it back to him.  We laughed so hard when he was talking because he is spot on.  Now I don't feel as bad about getting annoyed at this because this nine year old boy feels the exact same way.

Speaking of annoyed, Steve finally hit his breaking point.  It took him a bit longer than me... but he's now getting so annoyed at the rudeness, the lack of courtesy, and mostly for the non confrontational attitude that everyone here has.  Things are happening with soccer that don't make any sense, yet nobody will stand up to the "powers that be" and say anything.  So..the "loud" American is having to do all the dirty work.  We will make our mark here... one way or another.  hehehehehe

I'll end with a funny story... guess which child of mine did this.

The other day my cleaning ladies were here and they called me into the half bath that is the size of a very small closet.  She pointed up where there were strange white things sticking to the ceiling.  She told me she couldn't get them down, but that they were not there last week.  I looked at her in complete confusion and she started laughing.  She said, one of your boys has been throwing wet, toilet paper balls on the ceiling, and they are stuck now.  Hmmmm  can anyone guess which one of my sneaky little rascals did that?  By the way, he completely confessed and wondered why I was not happy with his art!

this picture might give you a hint

I did not get Christmas cards out this year.  So MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!  I can't wait to write my next blog after returning from the states and seeing all my family and friends.