My mothers old boyfriends socks...

I just have to give you a tip on excellent running socks. Keeps my feet dry and at perfect temperature, not to cold and not to warm, during my running routes in the snow. The material is Merino wool, very nice and comfortable. OK, they remind me a bit of my mothers old boyfriends socks (we're talking 30 years ago) but hey, comfort comes before looks here...

Goals of 2013!

Since I'm a strong believer that a sleepless fit mother is way better than a sleepless unfit mother here are my fitness goals of 2013:

• To run 10K under 50 minutes. I almost made it last year...
• To run over 1000K total during the year
• To run at least two 10K races and one longer race (perhaps this one?)
• To start combining my running with some gym training to give this poor body of mine some strength...

Let's just hope and pray that 2013 is going to be a fairly healthy year, but then again, a fit mother is a healthy mother!

Sleep therapy?

Andrea is keeping us awake. She takes forever to fall asleep and when she finally does she wakes up several times per night. This night she was awake between 00 and 1:15 am, screaming and crying. I wish the girls could have separate rooms, poor Lovisa gets disturbed... And I sleep so bad even when the girls sleep. Takes forever to fall asleep for me and I wake up several times per night... For over three years I've been sleeping bad. Is there something called sleep therapy, because I really think I need it?



Andrea this morning, happy as ever...

Christmas is over!

Today Lovisa declared that Christmas is over. And she's probably right considering her homemade Santa is destroyed and the Advent candlestick is demolished.

Santa doesn't look really healthy and my candlestick is ruined...

More signs that Christmas is over is that I took my first run for this year today. 6,3 slippery kilometers and I thank God that I got the spikes otherwise I wouldn't be able to run at all right now, it's so slippery it's insane! After all the fat food, treats and wine I stuffed myself with during the holidays it felt like a liberation to run and inhale the fresh, cold January air - new year, new goals! We also did this years first barbecue today and this is something I really recommend. Defy the cold, grey weather, put on warm clothes, pack your bags and go out for a barbecue, it's just wonderful.

 Lovisa picking icicles

 The barbecuemaster...

 Yummy!

 Playtime after eating...

Tomorrow's an ordinary Monday and the girls are starting daycare after 2 weeks of Christmas break. Christmas is really over and it feels totally OK.

Stomach flu in the house...

I almost thought we would go through this holiday without the bloody gastro, but I was obviously jumping to conclusions. After dragging Lovisa around the mall, trying to convince her that she didn't have a stomach ache, that she was complaining about all day long, I had to give in when she vomited on the sofa just before supper time. The homemade pizza with chèvre, walnuts and ruccola that was cooking in the oven suddenly didn't seem that tasty anymore...
Now she's sleeping and I'm going to try to do the same because we just might be in for a long night.

Happy Birthday H!

H slept in this morning and then got a few gifts and a gigantic Canadian breakfast, so the day for the birthday boy started pretty good. Now we're waiting for my sister with family and the cake is hidden on the balcony, together with a bottle of champagne, and the seafood supper slowly taking it's form...

Remembering 2012

Tough January: sick kids and food refusal. When Andréa finally started to eat it was on her own, no more babyfood...

Hopeful February: Lovisa started daycare and gave her tired mother a bit of a break. And boy, did she love it!

Lonely March: H went to Canada for 9 days and despite my doubts I managed to get through it with my sanity still intact...

Happy April: Andréa turned one year old and celebrated by starting to walk a few days before her birthday.

Sunny May: after two cases of chickenpox spring finally hit us with it's enormous power...

Summary June: I ran my second race for the season under a blue sky and a warm sun.

Rainy July: Vacation! Crappy weather did not stop us from enjoying it!

Beautiful August: during a surprise trip to my home town we took this picture of four generations.

Stimulating September: Lovisa turned three years old and I started to work after three years of maternity leave. Fun, stimulating and exhausting.

Work out October: I ran my 4th and last race for the season and almost managed to break my dream limit, 10 K under 50 minutes. Almost...

Dark November: H left for Canada again, this time for two weeks and this time I also worked and Lovisa was in her worst "terrible three" phase... Yes, I'm proud I got through it without totally loose it...

Bright December: snow, St Lucia, Christmas and New Years. A long row of celebrations!

Thank you 2012 and welcome 2013. Happy New Year!