Kitchens do sweden for a year: July 2012

Good morning everyone!
Early start to the morning here, Calvin decided to wake up at 6.30am, yes, I know that might not be so early for some, but when being alone with the kids for nearly 7 weeks, it's very early for a tired mamma like me!

The last few weeks has been great here, reconnecting with family and friends, not as hectic as it normally is while visiting Sweden, since we are staying a year. but the whole trip went quite OK, arriving in Frankfurt after a very smooth trip, where all the kids were sleeping. (while being on that subject, a tip is to bring your car-seat ONBOARD the flight, Calvin slept from take off in Vancouver, and I had to wake him up before landing in Frankfurt) Jack and Molly did a great job too!

I quickly got introduced to the Swedish negative manners, people where wanting to get first in line to the plane in Frankfurt, first on the bus, no offering to help me out lifting the stroller, and sour faces because my kids where moving around and using a higher voice than their liking. the looking up and down wondering who is this person traveling with three kids, and why can't she keep them quiet. I am so lucky I had our au-pair Sabina with me. finally getting on the plane, in to our seats, some well styled Swedish guy started to huff and puff, because his super flash hand luggage wouldn't fit above OUR seats... not his own seats. One guy was complaining and speaking out loud of his thoughts about the seating and the organizing of the boarding of the plane, Screaming out loud "IDIOTS".... that was when my first thought of "oh nooo, why am I here?" why didn't I stay in Canada where people are happy, let you go ahead of them, smiles at you when you sit next to them at the plane, and gladly helps you carry your stroller for you, even would take your kid for you. Oh well, luckily the trip was short to Copenhagen, where my sister was picking us up! Oh no.... and my Bag was missing, but did however make it by Taxi to our house in Sweden the next day. ;)

But, I got to say... Our start here in Sweden has been nothing but excellent!
signing me and the kids back in to the country was easy, and BAAM!! we were in the Swedish system. Not even two weeks in, I had Calvin excepted in to daycare, 2 different medical care facilities wanting to know if I wanted to have my family signed in with them, Child benefits, a welcome letter to the town with all kinds of info and a Pap smear appointment!! WHAT!? really? I've been in the country for 12 days and they already want to check out my "teapot"! wow, I don't know if I should be flattered or scared! ;)

All the positive welcoming to Sweden, made up for the bad first impression.

We were quite unlucky with the weather when we arrived, and it rained for the 2 first weeks, which made it hard to activate the kids. My mom and my step dad went to Turkey for a week, and we had the whole house to our self. Then summer arrived and we spent lots of time around the pool, and just chilled out. My girlfriend Jessica and her son Hugo, has been with us almost every day, and the kids have really taking to each other as good friends. Nice for me and Jessica to catch up, and really, she is the kind of girlfriend where it's like I saw her yesterday, Even met with an old yachtie friend, and talked old memories! Ahhh, it's been great!
Molly has been hooked on sleep-overs and has already had 6 since we arrived 3 weeks ago.. :)
The kids Swedish is great, the speak Swedish all day long now, and I'm sure school is not going to be a problem.

Now we are waiting for Brad to arrive home after 8 weeks away, we miss him so much and Gaaawwwddd, I'm longing for just ONE sleep-in.

so, I hope you all will enjoy reading about our daily lives here, and PLEASE do comment!

To all you Canadians, I miss you already!
and all you Swedes, I can't wait to hang out with you and get in to the daily life here in Sweden, with all "Fika". (coffee meetings)

Hugs, Jannicke