Who's the mouse?

Teo this morning:
- You know, mama? We played Cat and Mouse in school.
- Aha.
- Yeah. I was a cat and Arda was a tiger.
- Hmm, but who was the mouse?
- I don't know!

Saturday morning - Saturday night out!

Saturday morning... I'm sitting together with Teo and Danaë in Teo's bedroom, and we're about to start playing with Lego. Teo has found a new interest in Lego, it's just a matter of time when to start playing with different toys. I like Lego, it's very creative and good for motorskills and it's something I'm not bored to do together with the kids. Though we're in a period with a lot of fights and crying on a daily basis, they still get a long quit well.

We have added a new member to our staff, a nanny, Nanny Anny (just love the way it sounds). She comes every day from 12pm to 6pm and on Saturday's from 6pm to midnight, Kostas and I are supposed to go out for some grown-up time. Since Nanny Anny started this week we haven't tried the night out yet, tonight will be the big test, maybe I finally get my Mojito! My plan is to put Teo to bed at 7pm as usual and let Danaë stay up as long as she likes. They can play or do some artwork or just watch a movie... I keep my fingers crossed (X).

It has been good though with the nanny, I have been able to let the kids do different things in the afternoon. Teo's been playing with some new friends alone and Danaë have played with her friends, and nobody gets bored or overruled.

Danaë started swedish preschool, every Thursday we meet in Thomas and Lisbeth's home for a swedish lesson with teatcher Ylva. 3 girls, Svea, Klara and Danaë 5 year olds and 2 girls and 1 boy, Astrid, Judith and Karl-Einar 7-9 year olds. One hour lesson were they learn to read and spell in Swedish. Danaë got so exited and took work for home which she finished the next day, finally she got really interested in letters and writing...

We have had Halloween celebrations and been trick or treating for 2 days. Danaë and Teo choosed to dress as Alladin and Jasmin, it was interesting to see that all kids under 5 didn't like to wear scary costumes and insted they choosed princesses and superhero clothes. The big kids were all dressed in black and were the big winner in the trick or treat contest. They just grab every candy from the candy basket, my mistake to hand it out. And learning from my mistakes I started to share the candy for the following trick or treater. The young ones just choosed one or two candy's, it was so sweet to see.

Björn Borg is coming back!

Tennis Lesson #1
Originally uploaded by sofia.adam

Teo is trying out tennis. His first lesson went really well. He enjoyed it and played for 20 min (the lesson was 30min). Today, two days after, we're going for lesson #2. Let's see if he still likes it.
I haven't got him a tennis racket yet, we have to try it for some more times before getting one.
He looks good, he has the swing!

ice

Teo likes to say that something is "ice-cold" when it's really cold. Yesterday when he was swimming in the pool at the club house, and changing from the warm Jacuzzi to the pool he informed me that it was "ice-cold" in the pool. Then when changing back to the warm Jacuzzi he shouted out loud "wow it's ice-hot!!"

Leaving Sweden

So the end of this summer stay in Stockholm has come to an end. After 2 months in Sweden we have had a lot of time to do so many things and meet with friends and family many times. T&D have really had a great time. I'm so happy that they have had a chance to see their friends and play with them several times. And of course also I have had my big share of quality time with old friends. It has really been wonderful! A big hug to you all and thank you for all the "fika" and "korv" and chats that we have enjoyed, we meet all again next summer.
Next stop is Athens for a couple of days to meet up with Daddy and then off to Kalymnos for 10 days, a little rock climbing, sun and swim, good food and rest. Then off again to Jakarta and school, yoga, pilates and horseback riding. I bought myself a pair of riding trousers from the swedish horse shop Höök, a pair of black ones, looks good!
If you pop in to my photo gallery on the web from time to time you can follow us during this winter and get all the new pics at http://gallery.me.com/sofia.adam . You can also subscribe to the gallery and so you will always stay updated when new albums are uploaded.
Have a great August and we stay in touch.
Bye Sweden!

Back in Athens alone

So I'm back in Athens all alone, left the children with my mother and sister in Sweden, husband is working in Jakarta. The feeling of us being spread all over the world isn't too good. But I do need this vacation.

Yesterday I went with Danaë's godfather Lytras and our friend Patrick to the SANTANA concert in the Olympic stadium. We had arena tickets because the godfather still believes we are 20+ when it comes to concerts, by the way, so did a whole bunch of other 40+ and 50+ believe too. So today my feet are aching but it was great. Summer and concerts are a must and I haven't been to one the last years.

Today I have to run some errands and then the beach the whole day. I'm going to lay on the beach read a book and listen to my iPod. And when the sun starts to set I'm going home for some greek salad, cheese and fresh bread. I'm on a detox tour to, no meat this week only salads and fish or pasta. How great isn't that?

Stockholm!

After a power week in Athens, Greece, we are now in Stockholm. We will spend our summer vacation here this year, 2 months. I will have a little brake and go back to Athens BY MYSELF in july for one week!!!

Kostas went back to Jakarta and will have two months of intense work so I guess we're better off here not much family time in Indonesia.

It's amazing how many things you can do in one week - 10 days. We went to one wedding, one christening,  one day at the beach, one playground, met grandparents, met god mother 1, met god mother 2, met with god fathers. Had my yearly check-up at the hospital - did well! Took the car for service, (the battery was dead when we came back), met with god children (2). Did our tax declaration and bank errands, husband also went to the office one day (with flu) and then we had the children's vaccinations done.

I need a rest!

Cooking

I have started to take my cooking seriously. Trying to learn some new tricks from the masters, since my sister suggested we should write a cook book together. And for that I bought my first Jamie Oliver book - "Happy Days with the Naked Chef". So far I have only tried the Chicken Breast Baked in a Bag with Cannellini Beans, Leeks, Cream and Marjoram. It was good and easy. 

You can follow Jamie Oliver online at http://www.jamieoliver.com/ it's a great site with a lot of things to surf around and a lot of interactive stuff. He also have video recipes, which are good because sometimes you want to see how to prepare something.

Another one that has some yummy stuff is Nigella Lawson, at http://www.nigella.com/ Like her site too and I will soon try some of her recipes. 

Today I did my own thing with baby pork spare ribs. I marinated them overnight with olive oil, oregano, garlic, juice from half a lemon, daphne leave (laurel) salt & pepper. Baked them slowly in oven around 175°C for about 45min or until they look good. The kids loved it and licked their fingers.

Twitter

I'm really trying to understand how this Twitter is working. Right now I'm a little confused. Don't really get the thing. I can't see the replies that people are writing to each other. Anyway I have registered on Twitter also just to see how it works. I can always close the account... 

In the sidebar further down you can see my twitter updates widget.

Boob thoughts.

This morning as I was getting Danaë and Teo ready to school. I told Danaë to go and wash her face a little and brush her teeth. She went and after a while she came back. 

- Mom, I washed my face and my pillows (this is Danaë's word for boobs) like Kattis does. 

- Oh, that was good. I said

- Mm, I also want big pillows that hang down (!) like you. When will I have that?

- What do you mean hang down? I asked will I was leaning over to help Teo with his trousers. 

- Like that, like yours. She said and showed me my braless ones still in my Pj's.

Nip/Tuck I'm coming!

The first month.

Our first month in Jakarta is coming to it's end, and we are getting more and more settled in. Our things from China hasn't arrived yet and to tell you the truth I'm getting frustrated. I guess they will be here just after we have left for Europe. I have some stuff I would like to bring, first of all warmer clothes, especially since I've been planning to spend most of the summer in Sweden this year. And there the summer can be a surprise weather wise.

During this month I've been spotting around in shops and malls. Looking for and buying some necessary things since (as I mentioned previous) our things hasn't arrived yet, and there's a lot of nice stuff. You can find Art Galleries in every corner, and furniture shops with 

nice designs, it's paradise (and hell) for design freaks like me. I just want to buy all the furniture and decorate our new home but I know that it's not wise because we will only stay for 18 months and then what will I do with the things. It's like a kid in candy store and not allowed to eat a single lollipop!!!

We've been taking riding lessons (for the big ones) and pony rides (for the little ones), after my first lesson I couldn't walk normal for a week, a tried to get around looking like an old cowboy. There is an explanation why cowboys walk the way they do...

Also we took the kids to Disney on Ice and saw the Princesses Wishes. They enjoyed very much. Of course we left the place with one Sword, one Bell doll (Beauty and the Beast), one Horse and one Dragon to add to our collection of useless things, but I guess that's how it is. It's difficult to tell them "no you can't get anything just watch the show".  You just have to do the whole thing...

What else has happened, my laptop broke down for the second time and is now for service again for the same problem. So I said "Enough is enough, next time I'm getting me a Mac"and my husband said "Why don't you get one now?" and I thought about it and here I am with my new Macbook. It's very nice and I'm very Happy :)

Time for bed.

Mojito and Flip Flops

Hi there friends and family!
Since we're not living in China anymore, I thought it was suitable to start a new blog with a new title. This blog will be about the upcoming 18 months in Jakarta Indonesia.
Why did I choose the title "Mojito and Flip Flops"? Well, after one week here in Jakarta that's what it seems to be about. So far I've had some good mojitos and one very good. The whole day we walk around in flip flops because the weather is perfect. Warm, sunny, blue sky some breaks with heavy rain and then sun again. There is no change in the climate except from more or less rain. Right now the rainy season is coming to it's end and it will get dryer. The humidity we had in China doesn't exist here, thank God!
We live in the area Kemang, in the south of Jakarta. Here you can find the residency of most of the ex patriots and foreigners. This area is supposed to remind you of Bali, we haven't been to Bali yet so I can't say if it's true. We live in a secure compound, Kemang Club Villas, with apartments and townhouses. The feeling you get when you walk around is like a big resort with bungalows, swimming pools, playground, tennis court, spa, gym and a clubhouse with the best coffee in Jakarta (I've been told by some swedes I met the other day). One of Indonesia's big product is coffee, (Java coffee), and there are a lot of coffee shops with their own brewed coffee brand. Even Starbucks tastes better here than in Guangzhou...
Outside the compound it not very nice, the streets are very narrow and with heavy traffic . It reminds you of a small village, I guess this is the Bali thing. The good thing is that we can find anything we need just around the corner. From a simple bread shop with extremely good bread (in China there is no bread) to the latest design in restaurant with any kind of food you can imagine. The steaks are delicious, the vegetables and salads are perfect with nice balsamic dressings, delicious deserts and nice margarithas and mojitos.
The supermarket, that's situated just 200m from our house, has everything. A lot of dairy products to choose from (something very hard to find in China), fresh meat and fish, vegetarian eggs! (I don't know the difference from normal eggs) and a lot of bread. Very nice and fresh vegetables and fruits. The only thing little hard to find is wine, since it's a muslim country, and you need to go to special winestores to find it. We also have a bookstore next to the supermarket with book only in english and all the magazines you want, and also a big sortiment of children's books. Another thing that was hard to find in China, we usually had to go to Hong Kong to get books and magazines.
The school is very close to our home, around 500m. Danaë and Teo are attending the Jakarta Montessori school. And today we had our first visit. It's a beautiful school with small classes of 10. We found some Norweigen and Swedish students there, that's nice. The school will only be 4 hours and not 7hours like Phoenix Island. Danaë is very pleased by that. And also there will be no lunch in school!!!
It seems to be very promising and I belive that we are all going to have a very nice time in Jakarta.