Some pictures from the weekend.

First lunchbox.

I decided it was time for Leia to have her first lunchbox. :) It isn't exactly my first choice, but there wasn't much to choose from. There was Spiderman and Princesses.. :) We're going to have to have Mormor find all my old ones (if she still has them) and send them for Leia. :))

A job!

Yes! :) I got a job!! :)

On Wednesday I found an ad for a "kursledare" (course leader / teacher) in English in Säffle with "Medborgarskolan," the town next to us. On Thursday I sent an interest-e-mail and told her that I would be sending my CV and then call her to talk about the job. She ended up calling me a couple of hours after I sent the e-mail, and pretty much hired me then and there. She asked if she could come to the house for an interview today.

So she came over and we chatted. :)
"Medborgarskolan" is literally translated "Citizen school" which is a private school that offers courses for self-improvement, hobbies, etc...

I'll have an adult conversation class in Säffle. And then she wanted to start an adult class in Åmål, too. :) And then I suggested a children's class. :) Which she was very happy about, she thought that was a great idea. So we'll see if anyone signs up for the classes in Åmål. :)

So I'll have 1-3 classes starting in February. :)
It doesn't pay much, well.. the pay is good, but it isn't many hours. But they will pay for my travels to Säffle, and I get to go to other courses for free (if I'm interested).

Yay! :)

A few issues.

Okay, so Fredrik and I are having a few issues with Leia's daycare.. :/

They called me again yesterday, to come pick her up early. Their reasoning: She wouldn't eat and they knew I was home to come get her.

I asked if she had eaten anything during the day, they said, "No." And I asked "Not even her banana?" (Which she will ALWAYS eat.) And she said, "No." I get home, and open her bag from lunch, and there was her banana..... They didn't even try to give it to her. And her juice was also in there, obviously unopened. So she went all day without food, AND without anything to drink. If she doesn't want to eat, then she doesn't want to eat, but knowing they didn't offer her her juice makes us *VERY* angry.

So.. Fredrik is calling.. right about now, actually.. to ask "what's up?" See how everything is going and if there are any problems, since they've been sending her home early.

Honestly, we just think they are lazy.
So, we'll see what kind of conversation they have. :P And of course I will give a report.

September pictures.

Pictures from the month of September.

Hoping!

So I'm hoping for a better day today for Leia!

She didn't sleep at all yesterday during the day, but she of course fell asleep easily last night, and didn't get up until 7 this morning, and she is in a much better mood. Her tooth came through a lot more last night, so I'm hoping that it is feeling better.

They are going on a walk today in the forest, and they will take a sack lunch, which I just prepared. She is taking a sandwich with turkey and cheese, a banana (her favorite) and some snacks that Aunt Carie sent. And a juice box. I think she will enjoy herself. :) She will be outside and with other children. And she will be in a double stroller with another baby that is 17 months old that isn't walking yet..... The older children will walk. But sitting next to another baby should keep her occupied.. :) Give her someone to pinch, poke and punch. :))

I finished my paper last night and sent it to my teacher. That was my last Swedish assignment. So now I am done with my class. I will meet with him again, and probably write a little something for him in person, so that he knows that I'm not cheating on all my assignments.. ;)

Fredrik has a district meeting this afternoon in Uddevalla, so he won't be home today until late.

Today I'm hoping to update my resume (CV) and get going with my SPCS class that I've been neglecting.

More later.

Not a good day.

Took Leia to pre-school this morning and she started crying when I gave her to her teacher. They called me around 11.45 and asked me to come pick her up. She obviously slept 45 minutes for them, but woke up screaming and wouldn't stop and she wouldn't eat lunch. I can't get her to sleep. I have gotten absolutely nothing done today, which I would have if she just was home with me like normal. I am trying to keep positive and tell myself that it will get easier for her, but I know Leia better than anyone... And I know this is how she is going to be with them, which is how she is with Fredrik and I. Now we just have to see if the teachers are willing to put up with it or not, or if they will call me to come pick her up early every day. Taking her there is supposed to start making things better.. not make them worse.

First kiss.

Leia had her first kiss today. :)) She had dropped her pacifier in the middle of the floor at pre-school. A bit later, the little boy, Theodor, found it and picked it up and said, "Where's Leia?" The teacher pointed to the other side of the room and he went over to her. He put her pacifier in her mouth and reached in and gave her a kiss.. :D It was SO cute. :))

I was there for lunch.. and wow.. I want to go back every day for lunch.. :D
The food is catered by a restaurant and it was delicious! We had breaded fish, boiled potatoes, dill sauce, peas, carrots, coleslaw and potato salad. :P Leia ate very well and then we came home and she went to bed without any warm milk! And she slept for about 2½ hours.

Fredrik is going to Lilla Edet tomorrow, Leia will be at daycare almost all day, I am *almost* done with my last paper, we've ordered our DIF ice hockey tickets for December, and we have our Thanksgiving dinner with friends all planned out.

Things are coming together!

A little strange.

Okay.. so it is a little strange to be home without Leia.. :/ :) Knowing that she is just across town.. But it is good for both of us. Yes, I miss her. But it is good. She needs to be with other children and other adults. And I need time to myself and time to do my school work and clean and all those things I can't get done while running after her all day. :)


Here are some pictures from yesterday:








She absolutely loves that skirt. The first thing she does when she is there is get the skirt and then she wears it all day. :)

Yesterday I left her for 1 hour, and today for 2 hours, and then today I will go back and be there for lunch. And then for the rest of the week, she will be there by herself from 9-13.30. And then next week she will start her schedule (9-15.00 Tue-Thur).

Her tooth is finally showing a little! Not sure if she has a cold or not of if it is just the teething. Fredrik and I both have sore throats and we are sneezing. So not sure if we are sick or not either.. :/

It has been cold and rainy and cloudy.. :/

I finished one literary analysis, I am in the middle of the 2nd one. I am SO anxious to be done with this Swedish stuff and be done with the class. I've been putting off my SPCS work to finish the Swedish.

But now I am going to dry my hair, since Leia just stands and screams at me when I try to do it with her here, and then Swedish work, and then if I have a chance, I hope to dust off the exercise bike!

Oh yeah.. and Fredrik has to go to Lilla-Edet tomorrow... :/
Not too happy about it.. because of all the driving.. but not much to be done about it.. :P

House guests.

Today we had some guests over to our home! :) It was fantastic to have them here. Angelica came over with her daugther, Alonnika, and son, Bowen. We had some of my delicious, homemade rhubarb pie, and ended up chatting for 3½ hours. We had LOTS of fun!

We reserved Alonnika as a babysitter when Leia was only a few months old, but unfortunately we haven't had a chance to have her come over. (We need money in order to go out on a date!!) :))) But we do hope to have her come over some time in the near future.





Leia has a back tooth coming in.. :/ It has been swollen for about 6-8 weeks now, and now it is finally popping through. It has caused her to sleep poorly.. :/ But last night and today she has slept very, very well. Thank God for Baby Tylenol!!

And we all have colds. :) Leia's is much worse, and I am just getting started. Not sure if Fredrik is sick or not. I think we got it from one of the twin girls at Leia's preschool.

Hmmm..

Preschool is going great, though!
On Thursday I left her for 20 minutes. And on Friday I left her for about 45 minutes. Tomorrow she will be there for about an hour by herself. Tuesday she will be there for.. 2½ hours by herself. Then I will come back and join them for lunch. And Wed, Thurs, and Friday she will be there by herself from 9-13.30 or something like that.

On Friday it was only Leia and the little boy, so that was perfect. Gave her a chance to get used to the place more and with the teachers, without it being so crowded. I think it made a big difference for her. I think she was sad on Saturday when we got out of the car and went into the store, instead of her preschool. :( :)) She really likes it when we show up, and she smiles and runs into the room.

I am so pleased with everything. :)
We got our bill, and we'll pay 600kr/100$ a month, for her being there 18 hours a week (72 hours a month). We COULD have her there up to 25 hours if we wanted, or something like that with the same amount of pay, but I think this is good for now. With me not working, I would get pretty bored without my Leia around 25 hours a week.. :P The rest of the fee is covered through taxes by the government (Socialism isn't so bad afterall, huh?).

Fredrik is afraid of how his work week will look. He's certain that his boss is going to call him again and send him to Lilla-Edet.. :/ He has lots of stuff to get done before December. I'm trying to push him to work a little on Saturday's just so he doesn't have to be stressed during the week.

He got his vacation without a problem, so we'll be going to Stockholm the first weekend in December (the 4th). Leave on a Thursday and come home on Monday.

Okay.. that is enough for now.. Even though I know there is probably more.. I forget a lot more when I don't write every day.. but I don't have time for that right now.. :P Even though I am a speed-typer.. :P