My dad's backyard is cooler than your dad's backyard

My dad recently moved back from Norway and accepted a job in Yellowstone National Park. He's basically in charge of all the restaurants in the park, or something like that. He is living in the park (which apparently not many get to do) in one of the park's houses, but he decided to buy a house just outside of the house, in Montana, as well. 

He just sent me some of the pictures of the view, and it doesn't even look real! I thought I have a good mountain view here in Denver (and I do) but damn, nothing compared to this!

Can't wait to visit this summer and experience this views! I can Almost taste that fresh mountain air just by looking at these pictures! Jasper will be in Heaven running around here! He's a true outdoors boy at heart. 

11 Questions.

It's nap time and I feel like blogging (instead of doing the Jillian Michaels yoga that I should be doing) but can't think of anything right this second to write about so I'm playing along with  The Paper Mama         and answering these 11 questions.

1. If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to?

I always loved my sisters name growing up, I was jealous that she got TWO Swedish names and I didn't even get 1. So I would pick her name, Camilla Cecelia. 

2. Are you a collector of anything?

I like to collect souvenirs from Sweden every time we go back. And other little nicknacks from everywhere we travel. 

3. What is your first thought when you wake up?

 Coffee. 

4. Do you prefer sweet or salty foods?

Both! I really can't pick just one! I love salty potato chips. But love chocolate and ice cream as well. 

5. Name one thing you miss about being a kid.

Being with my siblings/parents all the time. We had so much fun together all the time. Being far away from my family is Hard! 

6. Are you a morning or night person?

I can be both! I apparently don't need a whole lot of sleep anymore. I can wake up super early (up by 6 most day) and can stay up late. 

7. List 5 items on your life’s to-do list:

Move to Sweden.

Travel EVERYWHERE

Finish college.

Rent an RV and drive through out the states

Become awesome at yoga.

8. Share one thing that people may not know about you.

I want a whole bunch of babies. If money/health/space wasn't an option I think I'd want like 10!

9. What is your all time favorite song, movie, and book?

Oh damn this is so hard!

Song- either Fix You by Coldplay or Flake by Jack Johnson

Movie- You've Got Mail, Pretty Woman or Sound of Music

Book- I honestly don't think I can answer this one! Maybe any Jodi Piccoult book? I love to read but rarely read the same book twice. 

10. Do you have any hidden talents?

I don't think so? Lame. Thought when I used to bartend I was able to tie a knot in a cherry stem in my mouth, but haven't tried that in years so I doubt I would still be able to. Plus it took me like 7 minutes. 

11. Are you a really clean or super messy person?

I like my home clean but hate to the act of cleaning. If you say you actually ENJOY cleaning, I think you are either a liar or cray cray. I am Decent at keeping my home clean but I would like to be way better. It's definitely a goal of mine. It's a lot harder with multiple children for sure!

Let me know if you play along and answer the questions! 

Lately

I got my haircut last weekend and a few hrs later went in and signed Jasper up for swimming lessons. The guy working told me I was such a great sister for taking Jasper to sign him up, but I would need my mommy to come in and sign the paperwork. So Apparently my new haircut makes me look like 16? Not a compliment. Maybe in a few years, but not right now. 

 Jasper's favorite lunch is salad. Coolest 5 year old ever? I think yes.

 I decided to throw some ingredients together and it turned out AMAZING. I think I shall call these, chicken stuffed twice baked potatoes. Delish. 

 Jasper has been asking if I will come eat lunch with him at school some day, so finally on Thursday Tindra and I brought Jasper lunch. Apparently parents are still cool at this age, because as soon as his classmates saw that his mom was there, they were fighting over who got to sit by us. Also, about three kids showed me their loose teeth, which made me come to the conclusion that loose teeth are Gross. I am not looking forward to that fun phase we will soon be going through.

 I bought a double jogging stroller. Who am I? So far I've only gone jogging with it once, and I'm not sure you can even call it jogging. I could only make it a few blocks pushing the 50 plus pounds (while jogging, walking i can do it all day) so I seriously jogged two blocks, walked one block repeatedly. Sad huh? Oh and I'm pretty sure I sprained my ass doing that. Is that possible? My right cheek would surely tell you that it is. 

 This guy has been extra cuddly lately. I'll take All the cuddles I can get. 

 Mamma's girl. 

 Jasper's MLK day poster "I want everbede to be saf" He's a sweet kid that one. Other kids 'had dreams' such as wanting a new snowboard or lego set. My kid wants everyone to be safe. 

 Backseat smiles!

 At the fire fighters museum this weekend! 

 Reading books under the blanket with a flashlight. Probably Jaspers (and my!) favorite things to do. 

Tindra trying to climb up Jasper to get to his popcorn. She wasn't giving up. And he's completely unfazed by it.  

 Jasper refused to buy a box of generic valentines cards, so I spent an hr this evening cutting out hearts. The hand cramp was worth it! 

 A friend fell skiing and had knee surgery on Friday, so I took her daughters with us to Swedish class (they attend as well) and Jasper was So cute with their youngest. Holding her hand and walking her into class, wanting to buckler her in the car (don't worry I checked his work before we drove off, but he did it perfectly!) 

 Frozen goghurt for a teething baby is apparently like crack. She would NOT set this down for even a second. 

The Good. The Bad. The ugly.

The Good: 

Drew got an unexpected bonus. A lot more than we had even dared to hope for when we found out he was going to get one. He's only been working for his new company for a few months so we didn't think he would be getting any sort of bonus for quite a while. It was Such amazing news. I won't lie, I was already planning a vacation in my head. 

The Bad: 

That amazing bonus? Got taxed right off the bat, at a Super high rate. Like 50%. And yes, I know taxes are great and all. Really I do. I have been paying taxes since I was 14. But seeing SUCH a large number leave your hands before you even get it? Sucks. But still, was seeing the positive of that unexpected bonus. Even if it wasn't quite so large anymore.

The Ugly.

Last night, while Drew was meeting up with an old friend to help him brainstorm job ideas at a coffee shop his car window is smashed, and his laptop bag stolen. Laptop, external hard drive, ipod, important documents, all gone. So it looks like thats where a lot of that 'bonus' money is going. It's getting harder to see the positive when that bonus went from being cut in half, to cut in half again (most likely, don't know al the figures of how much everything will cost to replace, what will be replaced by insurance, and how much deductibles will be.) Karma better pay a visit to this person (persons.) I mean seriously. Who DOES that? 

Google Searches:

This is how many of you found my blog this month. 

10. Mama Mio Reviews. I Rave about them. So if you are trying to decide if Mama Mio is for you, the answer is YES.

9. Young Boobs. Sorry no clue what you are doing here and don't think I can help you (all 12 of you)

8. Bra joke. 32 of you this month found my blog by looking for bra jokes? Sorry can't help ya there. 

7. DIY bow holder. YES I can help you there, HERE is what you are looking for.

6. Swedish hot mom. Seriously? What do you want with a swedish hot mom?

5. Barefoot in kitchen. Yeah, I'm frequently barefoot in the kitchen.

4. Le Pause. If you are googling Le Pause, read the book Bringing up Bebe, and THIS post I wrote about our experience with it. Highly, highly recommend this book!

3. Swedish clogs. YES you have come to the right place, you can read all about the amazing Moheda (Swedish clogs) HERE

2. Umbilical cord is mistaken for penis. I had some fears during our first ultrasound with Tindra about that, but nope not the case. She is definitely a girl.

1. Paleo quiche. I get a LOT of searches for this one. I shared a yummy recipe HERE

What are some of the interesting ways people find your blog? 

One one hand, I dream of a city bungalow, small, but big enough for our family. With a small yard. In this home we are within walking distance to coffee shops. And grocery stores. And the best schools in the state.

Then there are the suburbs. With large open floor plans. And a HUGE yard. With ample space for bike riding, and garden growing, and frisbee throwing. 

Then there is the biggest part of me. The one who wants to be in a foreign city, somewhere abroad. In Sweden. Or really, anywhere else in Europe. A small city apartment. The park down the street would be our 'back yard.' It would mean lots of stairs, and probably a shared laundry. It doesn't sound ideal to many, but to me? It sounds like such an adventure I wish to relive. 

We have the bungalow in the city now. We have had (and maybe will again one day have) the big house in the suburbs. We have even had the tiny 500 sq foot apartment apartment in a foreign city (Karlstad, Sweden) and lately I have been feeling a need to change. Again. 

I know, I'm one of those crazies who actually enjoys moving. And Change. BIG change. 

Hopefully one day in the nearish future I will get my dream of moving back abroad (anyone hiring a finance analyst type person in Europe ;) but for now, I will practice being content with our little bungalow in the city. 

Taken in my favorite city in the world (Stockholm) on our last night in Sweden in 2011

Kindergarten drama

Oh it's real. 

Yesterday Jasper got off the bus with a kid crying behind him. The bus driver said there was an issue with Jasper and this other boy, lets call him Billy. (Not because I'm being discreet and keeping his name from you, because I have no clue what his name is.) Billy is crying, like almost can't breathe he is crying so hard. 

The ladies who help the kids off the bus, check parents ID's etc took Jasper and Billy to the side and asked them each to explain their side of the story.

Billy goes first.

"Jasper. Said. He. Won't. Be. My. Friend. Anymoooooooore" Gasping for breath in between each sentence. 

Bus Lady: "Jasper is this true, did you tell Bill you wouldn't be his friend anymore" 

"Yeah." Silence.

"Well why did you say that? You hurt Billy's feelings by saying that and I'm sure you didn't mean to hurt his feelings."

'Well he (pointing at Billy) said he doesn't like my sister. And I don't want to be friends with someone who doesn't like my sister'

I had to choke back a laugh and turn away at this point so they wouldn't see my face.

This whole bus drama was all because Jasper thought Billy had told him he didn't like his sister. 

Let's be clear on something, this kid has never met Tindra. Maybe he has seen her when getting off the bus, but that's the extent of it. 

Also, their bus ride, is Maybe 4 minutes. Tops. So this drama all happened in a very short amount of time.

Bus lady to Billy. "Did you tell Jasper you didn't like his sister? If you did that really hurt his feelings" 

Billy cries harder. 

"NOOO. I . Said. (more sobbing) I don't HAVE a sister. Only a brother"  

Like I said. Draaaaaama. 

Guys, It's hard being five