Happy Halloween!

I was a bit taken a back when I asked the boys what they wanted to be for Halloween and they answered, "A soccer ball!" and, "A garbage can!" I tried to convince them them to be skeletons. After all they wear their skeleton pajamas all day when given the chance. 

I even suggested ghost but they wouldn't budge. So we got some cardboard and started painting. 

The cutest trash can in Vasastan!

Unfortunately I didn't get a very good picture of our soccer ball.
Halloween isn't really a big holiday in Sweden so I worked with Mac's class mother to plan a little trick or treating party for the class. We met at the school and trick or treated at participating kids apartments. Then everyone came back to our place for coffee and juice and cookies. I think I had more fun than my kids!

Stockholm Public Library

I love all libraries. Maybe because my mom went into labor with me in a library. I used to love that story. I imagined her lying on the floor in the stacks with the crew from Emergency One tending to her. I found out later that real childbirth takes way longer than the tv kind. She managed to take my brother home, visit a neighbor and call my dad to come home to take her to the hospital.  

This is the main branch of the Stockholm Public Library. I took this with the hipstamatic app last winter. This building was designed by Gunnar Asplund in the 1920's. The orange hat box is always the perfect color whether it is against a blue sky or brightening up the gray. I walk past the library everyday on my way to work and I never get tired of seeing it.

This one has a Scooby Doo feel.

The children's section is downstairs but we always go up to look at all the books in the rotunda.  These photos I took last year. 

It's also fun to walk around and around. 

These photos are from a date I had with Sam a few weeks ago. The boys share my library love. It was one of the first buildings they recognized. 

If you are ever in Stockholm, go to the library. You won't be disappointed. 

As Seen on Pinterest: Pancake Batter in Squeeze Bottle

I need to justify the insane amount of time I spend on Pinterest by blogging about my many new ideas. I thought I would try putting my pancake batter in a squeeze bottle. You might think this sounds like a waste of time and an extra step but it is worth it! It forces me to get the right consistency in my batter, the bottle is so much tidier than a drippy bowl, and I have so much control over the size and shape of the pancakes. Also the bottle stores neatly in the fridge if you want to save batter for the next day. 

This is an old syrup bottle. I was a little afraid that a ketchup bottle would make my pancakes taste like ketchup.  

 The Star Wars pancake makers are a pain but who can resist munching on Yoda or Darth Vader? 

Cute little pancakes for snacks at soccer practice!

As Seen on Pinterest: 30 Minute Yeast Rolls

We don't do mornings by choice in our house.  Sam showed some morning person tendencies when he was younger but thank goodness he seems to be cured of that. This morning we went swimming. The pool opens at 9 and it is a good idea to get there when it opens to beat the crowds. I decided to try these 30 minute rolls. I got up before everyone, put the coffee on and mixed the dough. 

Then I woke up Mac. We let the boys sleep in their bathing suits:

 1. So they would have something to laugh about at bedtime and 

2. So they would be ready faster this morning. 

This is a nice look.

The rolls turned out pretty well. They were a bit sweet. I think I will make them again when we have a lot of people here so that they will get eaten while they're hot. They did microwave well later in the day and I froze some for later in the week. 

Country House

I thought I would join Kelly's International Week theme this week. Life in Stockholm is a lot like life in cities in The States. One big difference though is vacation time. People in Sweden have over 5 weeks vacation time a year and they really use their vacation. It's maybe for this reason that it is so common to have summer homes.  If you ask people in the spring or fall what their weekend plans are. The answer is often that they are heading to the country. Our summer house is about 3 hours south of Stockholm. It isn't fancy at all but it is a place we can go to get out of the city. We spent a few weekends there in September. It is heaven for the boys. We have a little canal where we can go boating.

Mac liked the fishing, Sam preferred his candy. He's the smart one. We only ever catch perch that we have to throw back. 

Mac loved helping with a big bonfire. 

We have a pretty laid back dress code when we are there. 

My three working guys! 

A Little Piece of California in Småland

I spent the first 6 years of my life in San Jose, California. Imagine my surprise when I found this prune box under the wood stove in the summer house in Småland. The boys keep cowboys and Indians in it now. 

They play with the cowboys and Indians on this 1940's California tablecloth that we acquired from the estate of a relative to someone who works with my mother in law.  Of course our little geography nut loves it. 

As Seen on Pinterest: Chalk Props

I saw this sweet picture on Pinterest. Here is another cute idea. Our first attempt was a bit of a fail.  Crowns too big, light not quite right. At least I have the sweetest models in Sweden!

Kanelbullensdag!!!

October 4 is cinnamon roll day in Sweden. I hadn't thought of it this year. It was actually Sammy who told me when I suggested baking bullar this afternoon. I blogged about baking and eating kanelbullar here and here. It is so fun looking back at the boys. Sammy loves to bake. His favorite part is eating the dough and flour. 

As Seen on Pinterest:Obstacle Course

I love Pinterest! I have found a lot of good ideas for home and school there. I though I could blog about some Pinterest projects. I saw this idea about making an obstacle course for kids. When we were in Småland this weekend we made our own course. I used some toys we had and dug around the shed for some other items. We had a spider web, a shooting gallery, a balance beam, a heavy weight to lift and carry while running, some balls to throw and a few more challenges. When I asked Mac about his favorite part of the weekend he said, "The obstacle course!" This from a boy who got to use a saw for the first time, tend to a giant bon fire and play a new board game over and over again. 

Early morning training session.

Sam racing to the finish.