Friday, June 26, 2009

Childhood friends

Yesterday I had a girls' night out. It was so much fun. I have known these two girls since forever. We grew up in the same boring suburb and we all went to school together. Well, then in our teens we all kind of went our separate ways. But we never completely lost contact. Now when we see eachother we won't stop talking. We met up around 6:30 pm and before we knew it it was midnight. One of us didn't drink because she was driving, but the other girl and I shared a bottle of wine and then some...But, I feel great today. No wine hangover whatsoever. I guess being in good company and reminiscing about old times is therapeutic. I laughed a lot....I really need to get out more.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Out on the town with a teenager

Yesterday I took my son out for a beer in Stockholm. He is 18 plus. He'd never ordered a beer before since back home you have to be 21 to drink alcohol. We had a good time. We just had one beer at a bar with outside tables. It was a beautiful summer evening and there were a lot of people out and about. So, we're just sitting there talking and people watching. We had a really good conversation. It dawned on me that my son is really growing up....today he is out all day with friends. He gets around like a native here. Mom is feeling a little old....

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Östnora Beach

The weather was beautiful today, so we went to a beach I used to go to when I was a kid. My 20 month old Hayden had a blast. He was running around like crazy and was splashing water everywhere. His shoes and clothes got wet. I wasn't fast enough in removing them before I turned him loose on the beach. We stayed there for a few hours and he even napped on the beach on a towel. I took the opportunity to eat an icecream while he was sleeping. Wanted to avoid the mess which undoubtedly would have happened had he gotten an icecream too. Mean mommy...I know. We had a good time, but then it was time to leave, and Hayden does not understand that all good things come to an end. Needless to say he fell apart. He is at that stage when tempertantrums are the way to deal with no's and other rejections. Can't wait for this stage to pass...

Waiting in line for the computer

I have been in Sweden for a week now and today is the first time I could sit down by the computer and write. The reason is that my teens have been monopolizing my parents computer. They both have a girlfirend respectively boyfriend back home, and therefore they just "have to talk to them all the time". They're on facebook, skype, msn messenger, aol, my space and God knows what. And the few times I could have been able to write something then I have had people looking over my shoulder "Are you almost done?". Did I mention my parents appartment is pretty small, and the computer desk is facing the kitchen table where everyone is sitting. I am about to get just a little bit claustrophobic....
So, my first week went by in a blurr. Had jetlag for a few days and the weather wasn't great, but now it seems like it's turning around. Went in to the city yesterday. Took the train. My 20 month old Hayden was so excited to go by train that he got upset when we had to get off. Oh well..the poor thing is used to go by car door to door everywhere we go. Anyway, bought a pair of cute shoes in town and had a swedish "tunnbrodrulle" a swedish junk food dish made with a thin tortilla lika bread filled with mashed potaotes, a hotdog and shrimp salad!!! Sounds pretty awful, but it tasted god at the time. Until next time......

Friday, June 12, 2009

Grad party

Tonight my ex is having a grad party for my son. We're all invited. It's going to be awkward, but I am determined to go. It's my son's graduation after all. But, my son doesn't really want to have a grad party at his dad's. I asked im why. Well, he didn't want all these people (girlfriend's parents and friends) meet his relatives on his dads side. He didn't want anybody to know that he is genetically related to these people. I couldn't help but secretely snicker.

Highschool graduation

Yesterday was my son's highschool graduation. There were 600 students in the graduating class. Needless to say it took a looong time to go through all the kids' names. And we were sitting on very uncomfortable bleecher seats. I think we all have pressure ulcers on our buttcheeks after the two our ordeal. I know, you're not supposed to say that. We're supposed to be all excited and happy to be there. But, come on, even my son was bored to death. I saw him from a distance sitting in his cap and gown texting on his phone. At least they had backrests on their chairs. Well, he did look very distinguished in his attire, and I am very proud of him. He's off to college in the fall. We'll have to go through this again next year with the now almost 17 year old. Can hardly wait!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Disneyland

We went to Disneyland yesterday. Had to take granny and our 7 year old niece visiting from Missouri. What a nightmare. It was so overpriced and overcrowded that I never want to set foot there ever again. So, any Swedes visiting...you're on your own. I let you borrow my car though...anything, as long as I don't have to go. I might add that I have been to Disneyland many times. Everytime I have visitors from Sweden they always want to go to Disneyland. It didn't used to be this bad, but now, it's like a freeway with bumper to bumper traffic. But, instead it's shoulder to shoulder traffic. Imagine having a 20 month old who does not want sit in the stroller, and on top of that does not want to hold our hands. We had quite a few tempertantrums throughout the day, and I was almost to the point of killing someone...dangerous place that Disneyland.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Busy Week

I try to find some time to go on my laptop to check mail, check my facebook, write in my blog, etc, etc, but for some reason or other this week has been just crazy. I worked Saturday, and when I do it's a 12 hr shift and I am good for nothing afterwards. So, I thought I would catch up on Sunday, but it didn't happen. My mother in law was coming to visit for a week, and she was bringing her 7 year old granddaughter. Needless to say we had to clean house, go grocery shopping, and set up the guest bedroom. So, there was my weekend. On Monday we spent the morning together with granny and then I had to take my 15 1/2 year old to the DMV for her permit test. That was a nightmare. We are waiting in line and finally it was almost our turn when the power goes out. I couldn't believe it. So, the clock is ticking and I know I had to get my daughter back to school, and get myself back to my visitors. Nobody has any answers as to why the stupid power went. I try to ask the "the not so smart" government worker if my daughter can take the test while we wait for the computers to come back on and do the actual paperwork afterwards. Mind you, the test is done the oldfashion way by bubbling in the correct answer on a scantron. God forbid we should try to be creative and save time. The lady told me that "No, we can't let her take the test before the paperwork. She has to pay first and be entered into the computer."
" Well I understand, but this is an unusual circumstance, and there are so many people waiting. Why not try to get some things done that can be done without the computers running.?" No such luck. We waited for an hour and finally the computers were up and running. By the time my daughter finally received the test, she was so stressed out the poor thing, but she passed. So, watch out everyone. Tighten your seatbelts and get out of the way for here she comes.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Hiking in the Mountains

Went out hiking today with a friend and our toddlers in jogging strollers. When we were almost at the top of this long steep hill, quite a workout I might add, a big rattlesnake crossed our path. We stopped dead in our tracks and just watched it slither by. Hayden was quite mesmerized. I don't know if he got it, but I told him "Hayden, you have to watch out for snakes when wer'e out on the trails". He just kept staring at the rattler. Our mindless dog Daisy, on the other hand, kept barking and pulling on the leash thinking she could play with this venomous creature. I'd better take her to the vet and get her that preventive rattlesnake vaccine afterall.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Presents

My husband is good at buying presents. Sunday was our anniversary, and I had bought him some clothes because he never buys anything for himself. I got an Ipod Touch!!! It's absolutely amazing. I've alreay put a bunch of songs on it and some audiobooks (Curious George for Hayden), and quite a few photos. I'm going to download a couple of movies on it too to have for Hayden. We're going on a long plane ride in a couple of weeks, so I have to keep him entertained. But I am technically challenged, so I am happy to have two teenage girls at home, who of course already have this device and are pros, to help me out. I have 179 songs on it, and they laughed. "Is that all you have?" was their comment. They have about 5000 songs on their Ipods. I can't even imagine...Who the hell knows that many songs?

A Good Day

Today was a good day. I hiked in the mountains with my 20 year old bonus daughter, and my 20 month old son. My youngest and my oldest...aaaw....they are the only ones, except for my husband, that will hike with me. My oldest daughter is my rock. I know I can always depend on her when I need to. The two teenage girls spend all their free time on the computer, on their cellphone, or watching TV. God forbid they would volunteer for any physical activity. My 18 year old son is mostly hanging out with his girlfrind or at the gym when he is not at school, so I don't see him much, but when I do we always have a good time. He is off to college in the fall, so I am getting used to letting go. It was hard at first, but he is an incredibly good kid, and very creative and smart. I have high hopes for him. But, I guess to be fair I have to give the other two girls at home a couple of more years to mature. I'm not throwing in the towel just yet.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Teenagers for adoption available

If anybody out there wants to adopt a couple of teenagers I am willing to give mine away. The 15 year old spent most of the weekend lying on her bed, with the boyfriend next to her, watching TV and sleeping. She skipped breakfast, ate crap all day, stayed upp all night Saturday painting (on a canvas in her bed) and of course ruined her bed spread and sheets. Come 8 o'clock Sunday morning she declares "I am going to bed now because I have been up all night painting and now I am so tired. I told her she could have a 2 hour nap, but then she needed to stay awake or she would not sleep again on Sunday night. By 10 am her boyfriend arrived and she had to wake up. They stayed laying on her bed "watching movies" but really falling asleep again. This is how hey spent their Sunday. I make her leave her door open when the boyfriend is over. That's our house rule. No closed doors when boyfriends are over. No hanky panky in my house.
Of course she didn't sleep well Sunday night and was soooo tired when she had to go to school Monday morning. She texted me from school wanted me to pick her up. I told her absolutely not. Then she called her dad, and he called me asking why I couldn't pick her up. I told him, so he decided he wouldn't pick her up either. Now she is mad at me.
So, not only did I have to spend my anniversary dealing with an obstinate 15 year old, but our 16 year old totaled her car. She rear ended a lady in a van at a trafficlight. Hello....how could you miss that? What about paying attention? Her excuse? The brakes didn't work!!! My husband checked the brakes afterwards...and they worked fine. This is going to be expensive.
All of a sudden having a 20 month old with poor sleephabits and tempertantrums seems like a walk in the park in comparison.