New Year 2011/2012

Celebrated the last year and welcoming a new year filled with interesting things and challenges with fantastic friends at our place. With 10 adults and 10 kids I’m not underestimating when I say it became a night with very few quiet moments. Five Thai dishes made by the best Thai chief I’ve ever known followed with chocolate (Toblerone) fondue and all possible drinks made it into a very memorable New Year party.

A quick summery of the year 2011 for family Berg looks like this:
January
Shovelling snow is what comes in our minds. We had more snow then we’ve ever had and Daniel worked extremely many hours during the nights shovelling snow in and around Malmo so that people and cars had a fair chance of getting around.

February
Kevin operates the tubes in the ears and removes polyps to try to improve his hearing and make his breathing easier for him.

March
First week of ski vacation together in Sälen, Sweden. Kevin and Daniel learned how to ski!

April
Pernilla has to make a short break of her maternity leave to sort out a few things in the office in UK. First trip with our new camper van goes to Olofström.

May
Daniel month! Complete Gothenburg half marathon for the second year in a row and passes his exam to drive heavy trailers. June – Camping for several weeks. First more then a week in Trelleborg and then one week in Simrishamn where we celebrated Midsummer.

July
Fantastic camping week in Osby with fam Ericsson.

August
Pernilla month! Starts working at Pergo again and passes the course as Les Mills Combat instructor.

September
Daniel trying to get the hang of being a home dad with two kids while Pernilla tries hard to get back into being a working woman again.

October
Pernilla starts her Active Parenting course while Daniel starts his Digital Movie Editing course and Kevin tries out wrestling.

November
Daniel complete his tattoo on his legs so that the hand- and foot-prints of both Oliver and Kevin is now there.

December
A typical winter for southern Sweden; mild, wet and dark. Nothing exciting happened except a cozy and very nice Xmas/ New Year.Hope you’ve all out there had a happy 2011 and that you have a successful 2012 ahead of you!

Oliver + Horses = true love

Mum had to work some of the days between Xmas and New Year but we still managed squeeze in some quality time. Best quality of activity was to hang around the farm of some friends. Horse riding, plenty of coffee, jumping in the hay for the kids and just being around the stables is calming enough. We all miss it allot. Oliver is falling in love with the horses. Always patting them and now even kissing them, no matter how big they are!

Radio controlled helicopter

Kevin got one special Xmas gift which he liked maybe a little bit more than the other gifts he got. A radio controlled helicopter. Everything was in danger when he tried to control this thing. I had to leave the room the first couple of times when Kevin practised with Daniel. I could see the spotlights falling down from the roof and the flowers being sliced into thousand pieces. But Kevin had lots of fun and after just a few try he could control it pretty well and I even dared having them practise in the living room.

Gingerbread house

Xmas is over and therefore it was also time to eat the gingerbread house. With each others help they didn’t have any problem at all to destroy the house. If there’s anything they’re very good at – it’s destroying things! Kind of their specialty! ;o)

Xmas 2011

A fantastic Xmas with fantastic family. We were all struggling to get the right Christmas feeling before Xmas since it's several plus degree´s outside and grey, wet weather. Went to have coffee and to hand out our Xmas gift to the boys great-grandmothers aunt in the morning. Then we relaxed until we were all gathered for Xmas dinner at our place. That's when the Xmas feeling spread quicker then expected and we had a better Xmas then in many years. Kids were in a good mood and so were the adults! Food tasted great, even if you tend to eat way too much. A very nice Santa arrived and had maaaany gifts to hand out!

Even the Xmas game at the end of the evening ended up with only winners!

With nothing else to ask for for this Xmas we want to wish you all a very Merry Xmas!!

Swimming pool

First day of work and together before xmas and Kevin decided that the whole family  should go to the swimming hall. We seemed to be the only ones thinking this was a good idea as we were almost on our own. Lots of fun!
Followed with the traditional Thursday dinner with family Ericsson.

Early Xmas gift

Xmas came early for Daniel and me who got an order from grandma and Klasen to go out and have dinner at an restaurant while they played with the kids. We didn't have to think twice before we accepted the offer. It's been a very hectic period and both boys are in an extremely active age where all rules and limits are to be tested all the time. Therefore it was extra nice that someone from the closest family recognised this situation and actually did something about it so that we could get some hours calm and silence. Thanking grandma and Klas for this very kind initiative.

New favourite

Mum served this chocolate when we past by. It's now my new favourite. It's so good and unhealthy!

Gingerbread

Oliver saw Daniel dipping gingerbread in his coffee. Oliver only had pear yoghourt in his glass which work find to dip in. A new combination is created. Not sure I'm very tempted to try!

Homemade pickled herring

We've been spoiled to been given homemade pickled herring from Klasen. One mustard and one chilli. Very nice! Thanks Klas!

Vaccination

First shot vaccine was taken today. Only a few more and we're prepared to travel around the world without being scared of catching some freaky disease.

Copenhagen

Daniel surprised me by taking me to Copenhagen for the weekend. One night at hotel in Nyhavn. Found a fantastic Indian restaurant which we can warmly recommend; Cave. Walking up and down Ströget and really enjoyed window shopping, walking without having to chase two energetic kids and the great Xmas atmosphere Copenhagen offered.
Thanking my husband for this initiative and grandparents in Malmö for again loving to spend time with our kids.

Santa Claus is coming to town

Even this year Santa visited us and gave Kevin and Oliver a calendar with 24 xmas gifts to make the count down to Xmas even more exciting. It was a very generous and kind Santa which Kevin guessed was grandma when Santa had left.

More Pergo floor

BeforeAfter

Today became a long working day. Kevin and Olivers day-care was lucky to be the chosen ones for a Pergo project where we need a new floor tested in an rough environment. Even if it meant working until after 8pm, I think that their playroom got a nice facelift.
Tonight was also wrestling night for Kevin. Again he did very well. Might be that having his best friend Alma there to watch made him work extra hard.

Pergo floor

Before After

Before
After

Now even out bedroom has got Pergo flooring! With help from our friend Chrille we made it easily in half a day. Paint on the walls and more interior details to the room in still to come. But just the floor made a big improvement to the room.
Thanks Chrille for your great help today and your company when having giant shrimps dipped in garlic sauce for dinner.

Family & Friends day

I took the day of work to spend a full day with the family. We had breakfast together before walking across the road to the open preschool where we played, sang, drank coffee and ate a second breakfast. Went home and just relaxed. In the afternoon grandma and grandpa came and picked up the kids. We had a shower and got ready for the awaited Christmas dinner/ bowling with great friends. And what a night it became. Fantastic Xmas buffet and great game of bowling. Daniel won in his group and I won in mine. Not that winning is the most important, but I wouldn't take a second place very well;o)
There was very many laughter tonight, but the best one was when Daniel asked Uffe for the phone number to the taxi company. Uffe answered 11 21 12 not thinking about how much Daniel had had to drink and not thinking about to say the number INCL the area code..... and you can imagine yourself where you end up if you start dialling 112...... He was kindly told that this wasn't the place to get anyone to take us home!!!