Unexpected event and a happy Canadian.

Instead of watching the hockey final I had to go with Lovisa to a birthday party for one of her friends from the daycare. When we accepted the invitation I had no idea that it would crash with the final between Sweden and Canada, but now knowing the result I don't feel to bad missing the drama since Sweden lost...

Lovisa was happy going to the birthday party and now she's high on sugar. Good though that she offered a bit of it to her little sister so they're both in the same state of manic sugar high...

And for the Canadian he doesn't complain...

Sweden versus Canada!

We're in for a perfect final in the icehockey of the winter Olympics of 2014, Sweden versus Canada tomorrow! Yesterday we were all over the place over the fact that first Sweden beat Finland in the semi-final and then Canada beat the US! Wohooo!!! Supper in front of the tellie doesn't happen often in our house but yesterday it did...

 The girls in a state of chock, supper in front of the TV and screaming parents, what's happening?!?!

Today I woke up to the fact that I have the third cold so far this year, to comfort myself I found the perfect treat: the mini semla:

Now we're looking forward to the game tomorrow: may the best team win!

It doesn't always turn out as planned...

Instead of running to work early this morning I was awake with a feverish Lovisa. Since H had an important presentation I staid home today taking care of the girls. And as usual they're very active considering the fact that they're not completely healthy...

And for my running I'm going to get out tonight when H gets home. Then I'll need a break from this infirmary...

To early for most people...

This with finding the time for running is tricky. I don't want to take to much time from the family but I want to keep up 3-4 running sessions per week to be able to get better, faster and feel good about myself. So early, early mornings are my best time to get my long running sessions done... I set the alarm clock on 04:45 (I'm not kidding!), get up like a zombie, brush my teeth and go to the toilet. Then I try to get my running clothes on (which I neatly prepared the evening before) while sipping on a small coffee with milk. Then I double check so I've packed all my stuff, I put on my running back-pack, my shoes and off I go into the darkness. It's quite and cold and all I can hear is the sound of my own breathing... 15 km later I'm outside my work, sweaty, happy and with a warm hard beating heart. That's what I call a good start, to early for most people but not for me...

And tomorrow it's time for my morning run so I'm off to bed now, saying goodnight with the beautiful flowers that H gave me on Valentine's day:

My stubborn little adult.

Oh my, Lovisa is really testing my limits right now. She started to fuzz, or "fuzz" is a very nice word for what she's doing, when it comes to listen to her mamma. Well, her papa to but it's mostly me she's challenging by ignoring what I say or do the opposite of what I suggest. She's also very sensitive, the smallest thing that does not go her way grows totally out of proportion and she can start crying hysterically over the most trivial things. The typical situation is when I pick up the girls from daycare. At first she's really happy to see me and then when we're suppose to start getting ready to leave she goes manic. Running around, hiding, getting little drawings that she made during the day, wanting this and that and always refusing to get dressed. It normally ends with a very angry and frustrated mother (me) and a very sad and hysteric girl (Lovisa). Then it doesn't help that Andréa wants to do everything that Lovisa does so she tries her best to refuse me and be a little troublemaker, on top of her sisters behavior. I've been thinking a lot about how I react to these situations and I'm not proud over myself. It's late afternoon and we're all tired from a long day, it's dark and we're hungry, the worst combination for dealing with a stubborn 4-year-old. It's also embarrassing that it always happens at the daycare, in front of other parents and teachers. The teachers are trying to be helpful, pepping Lovisa to get dressed and encouraging her to listen to me. I try to talk to her when we're both calm, explaining that she has to listen to me and stop screaming and refusing to do whatever I suggest... It's funny how she can turn from being a small immature stubborn girl to a little adult. The other night when I was tucking her in for the night I had a serious talk with her. I explained that her behavior makes it hard for everyone, we all suffer from it and it would be much easier if she cooperated and listened to me. Then she looked at me with her big blue eyes and answered "You know mum, I'm just a little child and I can't listen to everything you say all the time". And that's something that I tend to forget. She's only a little girl and she doesn't think and react like an adult. Even though she seems to be just as clever as one from time to time...

 Andréa trying her best to behave like an adult... Like reading while doing number 2...

Lovisa - a revolting 4-year-old...

Like so many times before I think to myself "This to shall pass"...

Goals of 2014!

What would a new year be without new goals? Here are mine:

• To run 10K under 45 minutes. 
• To run at least 1572K total during this year (happens to be the exact length of Sweden).
• To run Stockholm marathon and at least two other 10K races. I already signed up for Stockholm marathon (God help me!) and for this 10K race.
• To combine my running with strength training focusing on my core and legs, to prevent injuries and make me stronger.

Let the games begin!

January check-up!

I started and ended January 2014 with a cold which wasn't planned nor fun just bloody frustrating... At least I got a few nice work-outs in beautiful New Orleans wearing nothing but short pants and a top:


The route was along the wonderful Mississippi river:


My running during this cold, grey and a bit sick January ended on 104,0 km. I also squeezed in 5 strength training with focus on my core and legs. In comparison  to January 2013 when I ran 50,1 km I managed to run more than twice as long this year so I'm quite content. Good girl!

The coolest cake ever...

My niece, the girls cousin, turned 5 years old this weekend and was celebrated with the coolest cake ever:


Guess how's her favorite singer and dancer?

I can't really comprehend that Lovisa and her little cousin are turning 5 years old this year... It seems like only yesterday they were running around in their diapers... Brrrr...