Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

Here we go again....

 It started snowing early this morning and it shows no sign of stopping.  I have a love-hate relationship with snow.  At this time of the year when it gets dark at 3pm in the afternoon, I really look forward to snow.  It brightens up the surrounding a little.  Especially when there is sun and snow, the ground just glitters! Or when the moon is bright and the ground is covered with snow, it is bright because of the moonlight and so romantic!  It also feels less chilly when the snow really comes because it is less humidity in the air.

But then the snow stays for MONTHS!!!! After 3 months of whiteness, slippery roads and looking like a rice dumpling (not that it makes any difference without those layers of clothes.... >.<"), I want the snow to go away so the plants can start budding! But noooooo..... the snow stays till around April (it was still snowing in May last year!), before it finally crawls away unwillingly....

But the kids are always excited when the snow comes...

Going for sled rides, building snowman, making snow lanterns, ice skating, throwing snow balls...

Looking out of the window and begging to go out....  Unfortunately it is wet snow today, not so fun and very cold.  And I really mean ALL the kids, even the furry one is looking out.... ^.^

"What the......?????"

She looked out and then looked at me, as if asking,"Did you see what happen outside? What was THAT?" and then turned back to look out of the window.

This fur baby was born in spring and when she started running (more like bouncing actually) around, it was already summer.  So she has not seen snow yet.  It will be interesting to bring her out later! ^o^

Snow White lost her shoe...

Last night in bed, Lars starting talking about how the much better fairy tales is today, compared to the "old" ones.  He wasn't referring to the technical part but the plots. (Yeah, our conversation topics varies a lot...)

Then he said,"Like that one with the girl and the tin can (?) and the lion, I think "Kungfu Panda" is better than that one."

"You mean "The Wizard of Oz"? It was a tin man not a tin can.  And it was about them on an adventure looking for intelligence and courage.  How can it be better than "Kungfu Panda"?! Do you know anything about fairy tales at all?"  I asked.

"Of course! I know Snow White! She was the one who went to a party and lost her shoe right? Then she was trying the shoe on but it didn't fit."

This guy actually managed to leave me speechless...... because I was laughing so hard....

Our Precious 5-year Old

Ivan turned 5 last Wednesday.  We had a small celebration at home on the Saturday before.

He's 5! Soon he'll be in college!

Angel always makes a card when it's our birthdays, which I think is a nice and heart-warming gesture.  

Jovan and Angel used their own savings to buy Ivan a present.

His first Xbox game! (He usually plays Jovan and Angel's old games.)

Trying to smile for the camera is h.a.r.d.....

It is always stressful trying to catch this moment, it disappeared really fast if I didn't pay attention...

Trying to get all the kids in the same picture is challenging! And believe me, this is the best one after 5 or 6 tries!

Finally presents from mommy and daddy!

This guy loves getting presents! (oh well, who doesn't?) We can wrap a lollipop and give it to him and he'll be really happy! :)

Chris is test-playing Ivan's present.

Helping to open the presents with his new power drill.... I guess, it's a guy thing....

This is his favorite! It's a monkey which will repeat whatever you say in a very high pitch voice.  Lars and I regretting this purchase, 5 minutes after we put in the batteries.... =.="

And of course Lego!  (He is in the phase where he's starting to smile in a weird way...)

I baked a treat which he likes on the actual day - curry puffs!

Smile for the camera boys!

Come on now, look happier!

There is no guessing which is the cheekier one....

Tender moment between 2 best friends...

Most of these leaves are now on the ground when I'm writing this post.  We had our first snow yesterday.  Goodbye autumn and hello winter!

One Sunny Autumn Morning

Saw some autumn pictures taken by a dear friend and decided to bring my camera along to work this morning.

After dropping the little ones in pre-school...

Off I went, taking the route which Lars and I like to walk when we needed some fresh air.

Walking towards a small bridge...

The moon was still visible at 8 something in the morning!

The view from the other side of the bridge.

Mushrooms are popping up everywhere now like pimples on a teenager's face! 

Trees will get "naked" pretty soon...

The last bit of summer left...

Soon everything will be brown...

It was a cloudy day.

And even though the sun was shinning bright, it was a breezy 10°C outside - cold!

Here's another small bridge with a small stream running underneath.

Leaves are dropping, turning the ground orange, red and brown.  Is this why autumn is also Fall?

Arrived at work.

This small face greets me every morning at the door.

My little corner.  I have my "Japanese for busy people" at work as well.  That's because I'm not busy while at work.... I check my emails, read the news, surf, learn Japanese and occasionally, do a little filing, pay bills and doubled as a translator for a Chinese engineer once.  After talking to him on the phone for 2 minutes, he asked if I'm a Chinese! Oh wow, thank you! My translation must be quite good! :D

The 2 bosses in the office.  Occasionally I need to wipe up pee after one, and the other makes me coffee, (I've stopped drinking coffee in the office now, it tastes really weird.  I think the boys need to clean the coffee maker...) gives me bills to pay and receipts to file and talks to me about the complicated technical problems he has, which most of the time translate into white noise in my small and limited brain...

This guy guards over the samurai swords. Must be doing a good job, look at how hard he is staring!

And happy boy is always happy in the meeting room.  

This is going to be the next big break in the ANC (Anti Noise Control) industry! 

11am.  Time to pick up the boys and head home for lunch!

Polly's First Haircut!

Polly is now 6 months old and she hasn't had a real haircut since birth.  (Well, apart from the trimming above her eyes, around the paws and her royal behind, the only real big cut I did on her was when she got a piece of gum stacked on the side of her face and that was just the size of the small gum...)

It was getting really tricky to look into her beautiful puppy eyes....

Can you even see????

After checking around, I found a groomer here in Linköping who has good reviews.  So I called, booked an appointment and last Friday, off she went for her "spa" treatment!

When I left her, I told the groomer that I want a puppy cut, round face and round on the legs and paws, long on her ears and tails and I DON'T want a naked dog.  He said he'd take good care of her and we agreed to pick her up 2 and a half hours later.  She got a shower, got her nails clipped, ears cleaned and of course a haircut.  (Btw, she's the ONLY one in the family who goes to the hairdresser and gets a manicure/pedicure!)

And inside all the fur, they found this sweet girl! (The groomer did a good job! He even gave her a small ribbon to show support to the "Pink Ribbon" project for breast cancer.)

Now we can look into her sweet and round puppy eyes and say........ "No, Polly! Down, Polly!" (*sigh* yeah, these are said quite often throughout the day... )

Our 2 princesses in the family!