Field Day.

Jasper's kindergarten had 'field day' last friday so the girls and I ventured over to watch. They had so much fun watching the big kids do their thing, and Loved all the attention. Apparently kindergarten girls are obsessed, and I mean Obsessed with babies. And Jasper, the always proud big brother definitely enjoyed showing them off. And apparently, bringing your baby sister around is a great way to get all the girls to crowd around and talk to you. Though that could be a daily occurrence even without that babies there, wouldn't surprise me one bit. He's got charm his father never had (sorry Drew, it's true.)

 Here my little gentleman is letting all the girls dry off their wet hands on his shirt. 

Days like these make me So incredible grateful to be able to stay at home home so I'm available to do all these things. I always have said I would work once all my kids are in school full time, but how would I be able to to be there for Everything, even things as trivial as field day?

Fear

My biggest fear is obviously losing my children. It's such a debilitating fear I can't even talk/write about it.

So, besides that obvious fear, I do have some that Might seem a bit silly.

Biggest one. Mice. I'm Horribly horribly afraid of them.

And apparently Denver has a bit of a mice problem. All these old houses in our 'well off'  neighborhood (that seems necessary to throw in because when I think of mice/rats I think of ghetto areas for some reason)  get them occasionally. Ours included. We had a few last summer underneath the kitchen sink and I basically refused to go into the kitchen for a month. I wish I was joking. A few weeks ago one of Tindra's slippers was on the kitchen floor, and I turned quickly and saw it, and from where I was sitting on the couch two rooms away I was 100 percent convinced it was a mouse. I started throwing things at it. Yeah. From two rooms away I'm throwing pens at a slipper. Not really sure what i was hoping to accomplish. Even after I had figured out it was in fact a slipper, I was seriously afraid of the slipper. It's like even though I knew it wasn't a mouse, I couldn't just forget that for a good 3 minutes it Had been a mouse, ya know? Yeah I know I'm a freak. My husband likes to remind me. Oh and it's not just alive mice I'm afraid of. I'm almost equally afraid of dead ones. When we had set a trap out in the kitchen, I was too afraid to go into the kitchen to see if there was one in the trap. Yep definitely made Jasper go check. And when he said there Was in fact a dead mouse, we had to wake Drew up to take care of it because there was no WAY I was going into the kitchen to make breakfast while there was a mouse (dead Or alive) in there. Skin crawling yet? Yeah mine too.

Other fears, Heights. Self explanatory. But I don't let this one stop me. I still go up to super high places, I just hyperventilate a little bit.

Small places. I have a pretty big case of claustrophobia. I haven't used a bathroom on an airplane since I was like 9. And considering I've been on probably at least 10, 8+ hr flights, that should tell you something. Makes for a loooong flight. But hell no am I locking myself into a bathroom half the size of my very small Bungalow closet, and since peeing with the door wide open in't really acceptable..no drinks on flight for me! Which is actually pretty dangerous as it turns out. But that's a story for another day.

What are your rational and irrational fears?

Weekend.

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Lately our weekends have been so busy, and this one was no different! Saturday was filled with Jasper's soccer game and an out of town birthday party. And Sunday we met friends at a little festival (for lack of a better word, I really don't know what to call it!) where they had live music, some food vendors and kid activities. The day was over cast and a little bit chilly, but it ended up being perfect!

Jasper spent probably 30 minutes on the rock climbing wall and he was Loving it! They had different 'courses' and he did every single one and made it to the top each time. The hardest one he had trouble with, so after he had completed the rest, he went back and did it again and again till he made it to the top. He was So determined, and wouldn't give up till he made it. So proud of this little man. The guy running the rock climbing wall came up to me while he was climbing and told me we Have to get him rock climbing, said he had the natural talent and determination that he would need. So looks like we are off to find some rock climbing walls! Random, but I actually took a rock climbing class my freshman year of college and loved it! And we live in Colorado, so it's no surprise to anyone if he becomes a little rock climber. As long as he sticks to the indoor walls, this mamma heart couldn't possibly handle him actually climbing up the side of a mountain! On the other hand, maybe we should get him into golf or something. That seems like a safe enough hobby. 

I've been having so much fun learning to shoot in manual, so be prepared for lots of pictures! 

 Men and the babies

 Seriously delicious 'atomic' burgers

 Jasper getting a lion face painted on

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"
-Albus Dumbledore (okay fine, J.K. Rowling technically)

This quote is something I need to remember to live by. I have dreams. Big dreams. And most of them require us picking up and moving across the world to make happen. And while I won't forget what I want, it will take a lot of time, planning, money and some minor miracles for that to happen. And it's great not to forge those dreams. BUT, I do need to be better about living in the now also. I can still make out lives here amazing until we get to fulfill our other dreams.

Taken by a friend in June of 2011 on an island off of Stockholm, Sweden.

Today's challenge ' what makes you uncomfortable'

Ah where to start.

Walking into a room where I don't know anyone and everyone else seems to know others. If it's a situation where nobody knows each other, I can handle that just fine. But if I'm the only one that doesn't know everyone else, and it's obvious? I sort of want to curl up into a ball and die. But I usually get my phone out and pretend to text someone (or actually text someone) until I work up the courage to approach someone friendly looking.

Going to the gym and having all amazing runners along side me as I'm huffing through one mile. Yeah that makes me uncomfortable.

Touching chalk. Can't do it, it makes me cringe and gag. Totally out of my comfort zone.

Small talk. I don't like it. I'm not good at the small talk. I will gladly talk to you about things that matter, but small talk? No thanks.


What makes YOU uncomfortable? I probably have more but these are what comes to my mind right away!

This picture has absolutely nothing to o with this post, but what's a post without a picture?

Today's topic for 'Blog every day in May' is to 'educate on something you know a lot about or are good at' and since we woke up yesterday to SNOW. In May (and continued to get about 7 inches throughout the day) I thought I would revisit an OLD post I wrote back in like 2010 talking about how to dress your kid for snow. We are now entering our 8th consecutive month of blizzards, and my kids love the snow, so pretty sure I know what I'm talking about when it comes to this topic. 

I don't want to sound like a judgemental know-it-all, so I hope I don't come across that way, but this is something that Really bothers me. Not dressing your child properly for the weather. In Sweden they live by a saying that translates"There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes" and i whole heartedly agree. The other morning I took Jasper and Riley to the park. It was early in the morning, and winter, and we live in CO. So yes, it was chilly. About 40 degrees- the boys had on their pants, proper shoes, jacket, hats and gloves. The was only one other mom/son at the park. He was about 3 and wearing jeans and a T-SHIRT! I could see my breath! I was appalled. And it's not like this mom couldn't afford proper clothing- she was pushing a $500 stroller and drinking a $5 starbucks, so really NO EXCUSE. 

So here it- how I think you should properly dress your kid to play out in the cold.

***I spent ten years of my childhood in Northern Sweden where for 6 months out of the year we saw several feet of snow and played outside in it daily. Then I moved to IA where we saw about as much snow and throw in high winds all winter long. Then I ended up in Colorado. So yeah, I consider myself an 'expert' on dressing properly for winter.***

First Layer- a pair of long john type pants and a tighter fitting shirt (doesn't have to match..as you can see below) On Jasper: pants are from Polarn o Pyret- and have the Best winter clothes I've ever encountered. They are pricey- but if you live somewhere cold it's worth it. (Swedish website that now you can buy in the US!!) J's shirt is an old thermal shirt from GAP. Again nothing fancy- but it does the job.

2nd layer- HEAVY SOCKS. Being out in the cold and having to come in because you don't feel your toes is a major bummer- so keep the toes toasty!! On Jasper: knitted socks from Farmor(father's mother in Sweden) she has more in the mail coming for us as these are last year's and getting a bit small!

3rd Layer- and perhaps THE most important layer. Gloves. GOOD gloves. On Jasper: Awesome gloves from Polarn o Pyret.  These gloves are so freakin warm and come all the way up past his elbow and NEVER fall off!! Major major bonus points.

4th Layer- warm fleece! Fleece is awesome for providing warmth- but just make sure it's not the outer layer, as it does get wet in the snow and wet + cold=NOOO BUENO! On Jasper: GAP fleece pants and sweater- we love this set, it's super comfy, cute and very warm. *Make sure you put sweatshirt on Over the gloves- as that provides another layer to make sure the gloves fall off (not a problem if you have these P.o.P gloves- but if you have any other pairs you will need to do this*

5th layer- scarf and snow pants. The scarf keeps his little neck/chin nice and warm and if he is diving head first into the snow (which he will) then at least he doesn't get snow down his neck/back. Because seriously- that blows. On Jasper: scarf made by his Mamma, snow pants from COOP in Sweden. These aren't very warm and are more used in the fall/spring in Sweden when they get a ton of rain, but apparently J has grown 3 in. in the last couple of months and my 3 yr old doesn't fit into 3T anymore- so tomorrow we are off to buy a pair of warmer snow pants we have on hold at GAP. 

And Final layer- boots, warm coat and a hat. Warm and water resistant boots are so important if you are playing in the snow. Because wet boots mean wet socks and again, thats gotta be the worst feeling Ever.
On Jasper:boots, can't remember the brand but they are from Nordstroms and say they are good for -20 degrees. We prob. wont be out in That cold of weather, but good to know that we can! Coat- GAP- its double layer with down, and fleece on the inside so its Super warm, hat I can't remember where it's from. It's probably not the warmest hat ever but Jasper insisted and it was warm enough and covered his ears and I knew he wouldn't try to take it off.

So there ya have it- a very warm boy ready to go roll around in the snow.

Oh and if your child looks like he can barely move because of all the layers you have done a good job.




I also talked about dressing for winter HERE which included a baby in a snow suit (probably cutest thing ever.)

Story of my life

In 250 words or less. (These didn't count!)

Born in Florida, moved to the Virgin Islands,then South Carolina, back to Florida and then to Sweden- all before I was three. Also spent a year in Bali, Indonesia before moving to Iowa in 4th grade. I'm the middle of 5 and I think having a big family is the absolute best.

Drew (husband) and I have been together since senior year of high school. I was a bit of a wild child then, but he 'tamed' me down. I transferred out to Colorado after my freshman year at Northern Iowa to be with him. Jasper came into our lives in the summer between Sophmore and Junior year, and our lives have never been the same. They have been so much better. And they just keep getting better.

I have the worst case of wanderlust of anyone I know. I can't stand to live in the same place very long. We are going on a year and a half here in our house in Denver and I'm ready for a change. Again. I'm constantly searching job postings in Sweden for Drew, but really, would move just about anywhere just for the change/experience. Now that Jasper has started school, it's harder just to pick up and move, so we will have to wait for the best opportunity for everyone.

In all of my free time (ha!) you can find me reading in the sun, taking pictures or day dreaming about Europe.

Drew and I circa 2005

Okay I'm not going to count how many words that is, but that's got to be close.