Tagged: holidaze

17
Apr
2012

A PIEDI

I started walking again, officially yesterday, even though I walked all weekend because we were in ITALY. I mean: going for a walk. One of the really great things about Martin, who is pretty great in lots of ways, is that he always says yes if I ask him to go for a walk. And then we get to talk and laugh and have really great discussions to boot. Honestly, it’s crazy that I don’t do it every day; that’s how rewarding it is. In the midst of all our talk, Martin was telling me Things His Classmates Don’t Know...

09
Apr
2012

RELAXING, WITH EGGS

I had a half-day on Thursday, Friday off, and today as well. A 4.5-day weekend: JUST what I needed. The only bummer is that I am tired and in bed by 10:30 p.m. and awake around 8 a.m. What gives? I used to be the queen of sleeping in. I can’t even get BACK to sleep. *suck* Easter was sort of perfunctory around here, I’m sorry to say. We did color eggs, which I’m happy about. Karin had a 2-day soccer camp overnight yesterday and today, so the kids got their Easter baskets and lame-o egg hunt a day early....

26
Dec
2011

WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

One thing that I love to do when giving gifts is to shock the recipient into speechlessness. It’s not very easy to do, and it takes a lot of hard work and observation and sometimes sheer audacity and unexpectedness. Anders and I have done a pretty good job of it the past few years when it’s come to the kids’ Christmas gifts. But with a gift they NEVER expected, from parents who have always said, “No way, save your money, those are too expensive,” we managed to shock the both of them into complete speechlessness this year. Everything else they...

24
Dec
2011

MERRY MERRY!

Anders and I just finished the wrapping, and all we have to do is put the last of the gifts under the tree after the kids are in bed, which they will be in a moment. Martin wins the biggest present under the tree this year; he’s going to goggle when he sees the package…it’s as tall as me! 😀 Our annual Ek Family Christmas letter is below, and here is a link to the photos that go with it. I’m glad that the only thing I have not managed to get done in the week since mostly recovering from...

22
Dec
2011

NOT QUITE STRESSMAS

Why is it that every year when I’m buying Christmas presents, and am so careful to keep the piles even, there inevitably comes a day about a week before the 25th where I get all the bags and boxes out of the closet and put them on the bed and divide them into their respective recipient piles and discover that one of the kids has a disproportionately larger pile of loot than the other, necessitating some rather panicked shopping expeditions in the worst of the holiday madness? Thought I was done. Turns out, I’m not. Even if it’s only a...

27
Nov
2011

AFTERMATH

Yesterday was great…everything went well, despite a last-minute cancellation from one family which brought our total down by 3 but ensured more turkey leftovers all around. The food was fantastic, from the main courses all the way through to 2 perfect pumpkin pies and an out-of-this world chocolate cake with candied cranberries on top. This year, people left at a fairly early-ish reasonable hour, which just meant that we were able to get the majority of the clean-up done before we went to bed last night. Karin took photos of the tables: we had 2 set up, one for the...

26
Nov
2011

READY

It’s 2 pm, 3 hours before our guests arrive for our Thanksgiving bash. The last 2 turkeys are in the oven. The entire house is sparkling clean, thanks to the help of ALL of us (Martin windexed, Karin dusted, Anders mopped, I vacuumed). The tables are set up and decorated, and I have nothing do do for 3 hours but write this post, eat a (very) small lunch and RELAX. Aaaaaaaaaaaaah. Life is good 🙂 Happy weekend everyone!

24
Nov
2011

HOW I SPELL THANKSGIVING

T is for Typing, one of the primary ways that allows me to easily communicate with all my loved ones far away H is for our House, chosen with care, built with pride and filled with love A is for Anders, without whom I would be lost N is for Nature; this wonderful world that surrounds me with beauty and fills me with inspiration K is for the Kooky Kween of Kuteness: KARIN! S is for Sweden, my adopted homeland G is for the Good Son, my firstborn, Martin I is for the Internet and all the Information it puts...

23
Nov
2011

THOSE MOMENTS WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE CONSCIOUS OF OUR TREASURES*

As long as I’ve lived in Sweden, I’ve tried to keep my American heritage alive for my children, and for myself. I would say we celebrate certain traditions religiously throughout the year, but truth is, we’re not religious about it at all. We just think it’s fun. I’ve had to learn to compromise my expectations for some dearly-held family favorites and we’ve learned to create our own meld of Swedish & American celebrations. Christmas, for instance, is a 2-day festival here. Halloween is organized down to the minute. There is no real outside motivator for my kids when it comes...

02
Nov
2011

NOT EVEN 15 MINUTES OF FAME BUT I’LL TAKE WHAT I CAN GET

I had a phone call early this morning as I was getting ready for work. Karin had spent the night at a friend’s house (she & Martin are on Fall Break) and Anders had just left to go pick her up and drive her to an all-day soccer tournament somewhere. I figured it was Anders calling to remind me about something. It was Sveriges Radio, the local public radio station broadcasting from Malmö. They were wondering if I would be agreeable to being on the program in FIVE MINUTES to talk a bit about Halloween and trick-or-treating, since I’m apparently...

December 2025
S M T W T F S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  

Archives