Fun in the Park

The community recently finished a park right by the lake where we like to picnic. The kids anxiously awaited the completion of the park, and we monitored the gradual changes each time we visited the lake this summer. Now, K regularly asks if we can go to the park. We have managed to get over there twice this week, and we were able to witness a beautiful sunset tonight as a bonus.

H and AJ on the merry-go-round. H is sitting on AJ's legs.

The park at sunset

Upside-down sweetheart

H on a rocking toy

AJ sliding

Sunset on the lake

After the sun set, it was time to walk the kilometer home, but I have a feeling we shall return.

Third Culture Crossroads

Sometime during the past couple of months, I have felt that I entered the "third culture" state. When we first moved here, I felt like home was back in Arkansas. However, as we close in on the three-year mark for living here, I no longer look at any one place as "home."

Too much has changed in the familiar haunts back in AR. It is not the place I left, even though many of the people are still there. Keeping up all the friendships when separated by an ocean is difficult, and my time really needs to be spent cultivating relationships here, instead.

On the other hand, despite being surrounded by wonderful people, I certainly don't feel like I really belong here, either. The language barrier is obviously one reason for that. Enough people speak English, but expressions, jokes, euphemisms, etc., get lost in translation. Another reason we don't feel at home here is that every new venture is always so much more difficult because we simply don't know "how it's done." And getting it done is a big deal again because of the language issue.

Not knowing how much longer we will remain here only compounds the disconnected feeling.

Rich Mullins has a great song, titled "What Susan Said." It's a song of friendship and loneliness. Here is the part I find to be the most relevant.

And we both feel lost
But I remember what Susan said
How love is found in the things we've given up
More than in the things that we have kept
And ain't it funny what people say
And ain't it funny what people write
And ain't it funny how it hits you so hard
In the middle of the night
And if your home is just another place where you're a stranger
And far away is just somewhere you've never been
I hope that you'll remember I was your friend

I first heard these words in Costa Rica, and they are speaking to me again.

A Few Updates

I have a lot on my mind I would like to blog about, but, for now, I will just post a few updates.

Saturday, H did a front roll completely on his own. He initiated it, pushed forward, and completed the roll, much to everyone's surprise (including his own). Encouraged by our cheering, he continued rolling throughout the evening.

I recently bought a few figs at the grocery store. I gave some to H, and he liked them, so I bought more the last time we went grocery shopping. I bought four, and he ate almost all of them at one sitting. I had washed two for H, AJ, and me, but I ended up having to wash the other two as well. AJ ate a couple of bites, and I ate some, too. H probably ate about three of the figs himself (sans peel).

Last week, we had our development discussion at K's school. The teacher had set some goals for K, including learning to make 10. Of course, K then spits out 9,1; 8,2; 7,3; 6,4; 5,5. Her teacher responded, "Well, I guess we can go ahead and mark that one off the list."

AJ sometimes likes preschool, sometimes doesn't. There is one boy in particular whom he doesn't like. This boy seems to continually pick on him. I don't really know what to do. I know the teachers are addressing the issues as they arise. He does have another boy he likes in his class, though. I think it is good for him to develop friendships with boys his age. His teachers also say his Swedish is really taking off.

At home, I continue to do home-preschool with AJ. He has read a few books, and I have noticed his reading is getting smoother. He is also doing a preschool workbook, and I have several books I read from regularly.

That's it for now. I need to get back to my kids. H is grabbing me, letting me know I am done. At least he isn't slamming the mouse on the keyboard anymore.

Roses and Cars

I volunteered to bring the snack (read: dessert food) to my cell group tomorrow. I should have made cookies (they are faster), but I just received icing coloring in the mail (thanks, Lisette!), and I really wanted to use it. So, I made cupcakes instead. I iced most of them as roses, but I also made a car for the kids to split. I realize it is far from perfect, but it was fun to make.

The front of the car

The back of the car

A dozen roses

One of the two-toned roses

A pink rose

The food coloring makes a huge difference in the appearance of the roses. Last time I made them, they were white, but these are just so much more beautiful. I really liked the two-toned roses, and I think I will do more next time.

Triple Fun, Triple Yum

Today marks H's first baking experience. We had some bananas that needed to be used yesterday, and K's specialty is banana bread. I therefore decided that this afternoon, my kitchen needed to be filled with the sounds and smells of my three kiddos baking.

I sat all three next to each other at the kitchen table, and away they went.

(Disclaimer: I was playing with my camera settings, and I think my aperture was too low, and my ISO was too high. Results: below. I should have left it on auto and played when I had a less important event to document.)

She loves her little brother.

Action shot of the three of them. H was reaching for the flour.

This shot is blurry, but it was taken right before he dropped the bag on the floor.

"I've got my bowl. I'm ready to go!"

H playing with baking soda

K helping H pour in the flour

K with the baking soda

They had to measure it together.

K pouring it in with H

H wanting to put the lid on before K was done leveling off the teaspoon. She is saying, "No!"

Shaking in the cinnamon together

Pouring in the vanilla sugar

Happy boy

What's in here?

K checking the level of the cooking oil

A rare pic of AJ. He hates having his picture taken.

K's egg

The final product

It was fun having all three involved in a project. So often H is left out because he is so young and likes to make messes -- mostly because he likes to make messes. I am looking forward to more tasty treats in the future.

Sad Squash

I bought a butternut squash yesterday to puree for some fall recipes. The poor thing looked so sad, I had to play. Two black-eyed peas and a few cuts of the knife later, he was ready for his debut as a cover squash. I snapped several pictures, but this one is my favorite since he was going into the hot oven (in the background) right after the photo shoot. He has every reason to be sad, and some of the juice even formed a tear that came out of his right eye.

Bunch of Butter

I was away when this happened, but Timo took a picture that was too funny not to share. AJ is holding a piece of knäckebröd (for those who don't know what this is, think a cross between bread and a cracker) that he buttered himself. Timo had been busy with something else, and he came to the kitchen when AJ asked, "Do you have another knife for the jam?"

He was so proud of himself for buttering it, and he seemed to have every intention of eating it exactly like this (with jam, of course).

Shut de Door

AJ (singing): Shut the door, keep out the devil, shut the door keep the devil in the night.
AJ (talking): You have to keep the devil in the night, because the devil always wants you to disobey your parents, so you have to keep the devil in the night, right?
Me: Right.

Sheets and Fun

Changing sheets is just so much more fun with a one-year-old. I'll let most of the pictures speak for themselves.

He thinks he's hiding since his head is covered. Reminds me of an ostrich.

Excuses

So I never made it out to go running. The day seemed to be consumed with one errand or activity followed by another.

After lunch, we bought the kids snow boots and shopped for food for dinner. I had seen this recipe when I was online looking at the doughnut recipe this morning, and I decided I had to make it. I was going to run when we returned home, but it started to rain. So, we went to IKEA instead. I thought I would have time to run in the evening, but that didn't happen.

While I made dinner, Timo and the kids put some of the IKEA furniture together. This was H's first IKEA experience, so, of course, I had to document it. :)

Everyone helping

H's first power tool experience

He loved it.

Then, it was dinner time. This was so absolutely scrumptious. I will definitely make it again -- fresh tortellini with tomato cream sauce, ham, peas, and fresh basil.

This was another Pioneer Woman recipe, and I think I'm addicted. With two mouthwatering successes in one day, I found myself browsing her website for more ideas.

So, those are my excuses for delaying running one more day.

Doughnuts

Move over, Krispy Kreme, there's a new kid in town. Last night, I decided to make the Pioneer Woman's Homemade Glazed Doughnuts. Now, normally, I don't like doughnuts, but I wanted to make these for my wonderful hubby, who does.

I made the dough last night, then I rolled it out and cut the doughnuts this morning. I didn't have a doughnut cutter, so I used a biscuit cutter for the outside and a small heart-shaped cutter for the middle. After waiting for them to rise, I threw them in my deep fryer, drained them, and glazed them. K and AJ wanted sprinkles, so I added those to their doughnuts.

K's doughnut

AJ's doughnut

Now, I said that I don't like doughnuts, but these were so good. The texture was light and fluffy, almost like eating a cloud -- a warm, sticky cloud of deliciousness.

Doughnuts cooling

Leftovers

I probably ate too much, but I hope to go running this afternoon, so that makes it all better, right? Right? Oh, and I think I made Timo's day. :)

From Tree to Table to Tummy

I love apple season. On Wednesday, we visited our neighbor's yard (with permission) to pick some fresh apples for apple pie. Actually, it was more like apple cobbler or apple crisp.

Me lifting up AJ to pick an apple.

K picking apples

After picking several apples, we walked home to peel and cut them. I peeled them and cut them off the core. Then, K cut them into smaller pieces for the filling. We added lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and flour. Then, I combined brown sugar, flour, butter, and something similar to molasses for the crust.

Inspired by a friend, I chose to make individual-sized pies in ramekins.

Apple filling

Ready to go in the oven

They were delicious, and it is nice knowing that I wasn't enjoying pesticides with my pie. I can't wait until we pick some more.