Life Lately

Currently sitting (most likely) in a hot springs in the Blue Lagoon of Iceland. That is if we survived the plane ride with two kids, one who hates being restrained. Okay make that two but at least the 6 year old can at least be reasoned with. Most of the time. 

^Exhausted after spending two days with a 3 month old and two just turned 2 year olds..^

^Hanging lights in our tree. Cozy, cozy summer nights are here!^

^Current favorite game in our house. The baby pushes the big boy on the car^

^Everyone doing Saturday morning chores. One of them is cleaning off the high chairs^

^Helping papa with the car^

^Elementary school dance. Cutest thing ever. Also, I had the best looking date there. Obviously^

^Farmers market bike rides and breakfast. Every Saturday^

^Swedish school graduation^

^Love them^

^We like coffee, okay? Don't worry it was empty^

^Life changing Bike. I'll blog more about that later^

^Saying goodbye to Kym. I still haven't forgiven her for leaving^

^BFF's^

^Saying goodbye to Sarah, why do all my bloggy buddies leave??^

^Zoo trips. We have been twice since then^

^Pinata time at a friends birthday^

^Family visits are the best!^

^He gave her a horse for her birthday so she gave him a kiss.naturally^

^Library play^

^Bathroom potty breaks in the back of the portapotty suburban^

^She's so sassy^

My living room right Now.

This is what my living room looks like currently. After I finish packing I need to figure out how we are going to handle 7 bags, one stroller, one car seat (and a booster) plus two children getting them on and off plains/trains/busses/cars/ for the next three weeks in three different countries (four if you count the US). Totally doable right? Humor me. See ya on the other side of the ocean! 

Hope everyone had a fantastics fathers day! We did and of course the only pictures I took the entire day were of Jasper's last football game!

I sure am glad I did get these took, I mean look at his face during this one! He scored a touch down which he was super excited about (so was I if I'm being honest) and even more exciting is he ran it down the entire length of the football field! He's a little speed demon. That picture cracks me up, his face looks like he's saying "oh sh*t" and the kid behind him looks pumped like he's finally going to get Jasper's flag but NOPE he sure didn't!
The rest of our fathers day was spent celebrating Drew (obviously) and his dad who is in town. It was low key with breakfast at the park followed by the game and then the guys went and played frisbee golf while the ladies all napped. 

The next few days are crazy here trying to get everything ready and then in just a couple of days we are  on our way to Iceland, Sweden, Norway and then back to Sweden before heading home. I've been looking forward to this trip FOREVER that it doesn't seem possible that its getting ready to happen!

Fingers crossed/prayers/happys thoughts for us our children are well behaved and sleep during our travels? Thanks a bunch!

Checking in! And Watermelon icee

Apparently I have gone on a summer hiatus! Though not really, just been lazy at the computer this week. I have been spending nap time cuddling up with Jasper reading and napping and I can't even begin to tell you how magical that has been. This boy hasn't wanted to nap with me since he could crawl, and here he is at almost 7 (!!!) asking me to lay down with him in the afternoons while Tindra naps. And most of the time we fall asleep ourselves. Bliss I tell ya. Pure bliss. 

Day four of summer break has wrapped up and each day is as great, if not greater than our first. We have been to the zoo, parks, playdates, the works. And every afternoon has included one of these..

Jasper calls it an icee, Tindra calls it a juicy. They both call it delicious!

I've been asked several times for the 'recipe' so here it is, though I don't think you can even call it a recipe!

A bunch of watermelon scooped out of the melon

6-7 large ice cubes

A large handful of chunks of frozen mango

That's it. Throw it in the blender, if it's too thick add a tiny bit of water. 

It's super refreshing and healthy. And it gives me a great option to counter with when the kiddos ask for ice cream, no complaints!

Hope your summer is off to as great of a start as ours is! 

First day of summer break.

And it was just perfect. Nothing major or exciting happened. But I had both my babies home, nice cool weather and sunshine, and nothing can beat that.

There were exactly zero Monday morning blues.
There was no rushing the kids to eat breakfast and get dressed so we could get Jasper to school on time (which by the way I have to brag about because Jasper got a certificate last week for being on time Every Single Day of the school year, apparently not many of those were handed out.) In fact, breakfast was a slow affair, I, not usually a breakfast eat, got to get dressed and sip my iced coffee before the ice melted (!!!) while the kids ate and watched some Pippi in Swedish. Jasper convinced me that wasn't really watching TV since it's in Swedish which means he's working on his Swedish. Smart one. He knows how to play me.

After the kids enjoyed a slow breakfast we decided to head to the Y so I could work out and the kids play. I'm usually rushing to get a quick work out in when I go with Jasper after school (and Tindra too of course) because I don't like to be away from him any longer than necessary with him in school most of the day, but he has made lots of friends there and always enjoys going. But I still always rush. Not today! Had a slow 50 min. of cardio followed by another slow 45 min in the weight room. I really enjoyed that time to myself! What a perfect way to start the day!
After the Y we ran a couple of errands, stopped at a park and then celebrated with a Cafe Rio lunch. Jasper's choice. Tindra proceeded to eat all of mine And Jaspers servings of rice and black beans!

We came home for naps and while I got some work done Jasper ready by himself for 45 min and then get this, Jasper and I took a 40 min nap together!! I don't think that has happened since he was maybe one. I'm hoping thats a summer ritual because that is definitely something I would get on board with!

After naps we went to sign up for the summer reading program, which Jasper has been talking about all week! Sure do love that little reader of mine..

We concluded the evening with a family bike ride to our favorite ice cream place.

Welcome Summer. We have been waiting for you.

Splurge vs. Save

So last week I decided it was time to hop on the whole romper trend. I know. I know. I will probably look like a 7 yeat old, but they look so cute and comfortable so I thought it was time. I was on the look out for a white romper for this summer (more specifically, for our upcoming Europe vacation) and even though I might regret white with two kids, it's what I wanted. And once I have my mind set on something specific I want..there's no going back! So I spent nap time one day last week scouring the internet for a white romper. Not as easy to find as one would think! I found one that looks Amazing from Jcrew. Of course. Only problem? It's $750. Nope not happening. 

So back to the drawing board I went. And this time to Nordstroms where I found this beauty. This one was a lot more reasonable at $98. I have no problem spending a hundred on a pair of jeans I will wear all the time, but a romper I might wear twice before I decide I hate it or my children stain it with their chocolate/blueberry fingers? A romper is just not something at this point I wanted to splurge on. Jeans or shoes? Sure. But not this. 

I was returning something at Gap that didn't fit Drew when I decided to pop into Forever21. I hadn't been in forever, but I figured that would be a good place to look for rompers. And tadaaaa I found the one! 

The one I found in the store isn't exactly like this one, but it's Really close! And for $20 I'm very happy with it! Now hopefully I can wear it for more than 20 minutes before a toddler ruins it with her dirty fingers! If not..well like I said, it was only $20!

I was asked by Credit Card Insider as part of their Save vs. Splurge campaign to share a recent save! Do you guys have any items you will specifically save vs. splurge on? 

Working parents?

I really don't get how parents work full time and find time to do all the necessary school stuff. I guess not every school is the  same as ours, and it's never quite this busy, but holy cow these last three weeks, there is something going on at Jaspers school almost every day! Last week there was a school concert, a field trip (both of which I went to, Drew the concert) and field day which took up half the school day. Drew took a half a day off and went to that as well. This week theres a poetry slam session, celebrating summer birthdays, half a day of school (early pick up, something that would be hard for working parents I can imagine) and an assembly celebrating kids who have turned in homework all year and those who haven't been tardy yet. If I had a 'real' job and wanted to be present for those events, I would have had to take off 6 days just in the past 9 school days alone! So really, working parents, how do you do it?? 

I had always assumed as soon as my kids were all in school full time, I would go back to work. But the busier each school year gets, I wonder if maybe that isn't the right choice for our family. We want at least one parent to be able to be there for all of our kids activities and special events, it's looking more and more likely like you can't have it all. Or can you? I would love some insight from you working parents!! Are you able to manage a career, and still be there for all your kids school activities? Not to mention swimming lessons, soccer practices and games, etc. etc. ?