The days before Christmas...

Time flies by... Christmas is already over! We had a nice and pretty calm week, and I will tell you about it and of course show some pictures...but first I'll write a little about before Christmas day.

Like always before Christmas its a lot of things to fix, but we were not gonna have any people over to our house so it wasnt overwhelming. Ive worked quite a lot as well so I'm glad most gifts and essential Christmas must-fixes were already done (or at least unwrapped/in the house...) We didn't place any gifts under the tree in advance, maybe next year when Jamie's a little older. We got the Tree the weekend before so now we have enjoyed it for a while. It must be a real Tree...so you can smell it!

On the Friday,Natalie ended her semester so we went there for a Winter concert in the evening before and a Holiday party in the morning. Natalie and her classmates were cute little mice...Check out their performance here. (Natalie has her line after 6 min).Jared was off this day so we could both go and also do the last minute shopping together before Natalie was done  The parents in her class has been volunteering for planning each festive occasion and this time ( just as Thanksgiving) it was very well done. ( We are involved in the Valentines later on.. )

The coming days we mostly stayed at home and relaxed, baked, made meatballs and did some crafts...Jared went duck hunting with Natalie one afternoon and we did go and see some Christmas lights.

On Christmas Eve we went to Grandma Rhonda's and Grandpa Bob's and had Christmas. It was a nice afternoon with a lot of food and a joyful time! The real Christmas we celebrated at home the 25:th.

It has felt a little strange to not be close to our family in Sweden at all this year and I missed the Swedish food a lot even if I've made some here... At least we were able to Skype a little. Next year we will hopefully all be together somewhere!

In the evening the 24:th Natalie made sure to put out a cookie and milk for Santa. In school they had prepared a bag of magic oats from the Northpole that was intended for Santa's Reindeer so she put that outside as well. She was a very tired and excited girl when she went to bed!

In the late evening Jared assembled the new play kitchen we got from Kidkraft. While I wrapped all the gifts. It went pretty smooth and I am so satisfied with the kitchen, love it! We prepared the stockings and put all gifts under the tree and I can say I fell asleep with a smile on my face! "Code to my old blog: 8679505931"

Last week...

Both girls were sick last week so we stayed at home Mon - Thursday. They had a regular cold, nothing serious. Jamie's breathing got a little affected but she only needed medicin one afternoon/night! So a lot better than the previous rounds with therapy up to every third hour.

We tried to work on the Christmas feeling at home and I think the Tree actually brought the right mood to our house.  We always have a real one...you got to smell it! I brought some ornaments from Sweden as well so we have a pretty traditional Tree with some extra colorful lights that the rest of the family had to have...  It did actually turn out good anyway and I believe that we have a kind of picture- perfect Tree to brighten the cloudy December days!

This week I also started to work a little more regular. .. I do translations from English to Swedish for different financial firms and three websites that will launch within foreseeable future. It is based in Europe..hehe.. So I go over to the USA finally have permission to work and now I got this job from Europe ( or well I guess it is global,  some from China to)...  It's interesting and a bit challenging but that's good I needed to kick on my brain again... It's been on only Mama mode long enough now! So we will see how long this project lasts,  but no matter what it gives good experience and I can use that for similar projects later on..

Here are pictures from last week. I will try to take more pictures on the tree later..and try to take photos for Christmas cards...Natalie wants to wear the same dress she had last year,  but she's had that one soo much so it barely hangs together...  I'm sure she'll be happy for a new one!

December...

Finally time for the Christmas month!  I remember I loved this time of the year when I was a little girl...then for a few years it turned into too many visits in such a short time frame so it almost became more stress than joy... Now when we have our two girls, Christmas is so much fun again. I truly enjoy to see them experience new memories and take part of the best things about the Holidays.  

We dont do it to the extreme but I want to make sure they get into a Christmas mood with baking, doing simple crafts, decorate, seeing Christmas lights,  hopefully visit a Christmas market somewhere and of course have alot of cozy time at home.

It's going to feel a little strange to celebrate without my beloved family and friends in Sweden and we will surely miss all of you! But this year we take part of the American christmas and next year we might be in Sweden again... It's good that we at least are able to update each other fast and easy nowadays!

This is last week in pictures...

Natalie and I had a memorable evening when we went to see "The Nutcracker" performed by New York Theater Ballet. Such an inspiration for my little girl!!

Yesterday we saw the Christmas Parade in Neosho after playing all day with the Sims family! I can say both girls slept good last night..

White beauty...

I took some pictures when me and Jamie had our walk. It was beautiful this morning...

 

 

And some in black and white...

Time to ski...

Friday, me and Natalie went skiing!! The school had a skiday so we went with the Swanz familly to Showdown. Showdown is a smaller skiarea about 2 h west of the ranch. It has 4 lifts and 30 + slopes. Half of them more advanced, half green and blue... It was a very convenient place to go ski with a child for the first time, not so big and a kid friendly atmosphere. The facilities might need some updating but they serve their purpose and it's good for schools to go ski here.

Natalie got to go to the skischool for a couple of hours. It was a very good start to do that, even if she at first was a little to eager to put both skiis on and go...  I stayed and watched her and it was a memorable moment to see her skiing for the first time!!

After skischool, me and Natalie were hitting the big slope... We actually took the chairlift up ( can't believe she dared to so quick...it) and then we could enjoy a long and perfect slope with plenty of time to learn all the way down to the valley. I can definately say that after a few rounds of "holding" Natalie (at little kid knee level) with my skipole, my legs and back were dead... BUT she learned a lot and did good!
( ♡ Pappa nu vet jag hur sega dina lårmuskler var under åren du åkte så med mig!)

We had a wonderful day and ended it over dinner, wine and laughter together with the Swanz's. Both me and Natalie really enjoyed having a day just the two of us and Jamie had a fun day alone with Daddy! Now I must plan another trip before this season is over...Showdown is worth another visit and then (with more skiing for Mama) we have Bridger Bowl and fashionable Big Sky a 2 h drive from the ranch!

(Ps. I know it was bad that she didnt wear a helmet,  but they were out of them! So before next time we have to buy one!)

Old buildings...

Took some pictures at the ranch... Here are some favourites. I'm really an amateur when it comes to taking pictures and edit them..but I try and I practise to get better.

 

Right now...

My girls are preparing for spring!

Today's DIY, sun chairs with tables. It's really nice in the sun!

Trying to make it cosy...

Sorry I haven't updated for a few days! Will write more tonight...

This afternoon is alot warmer no longer subzero! But we have snowstorm outside so I try to make it a little more cosy inside...

Found a new candle from Wood Wick (Trilogy- Fireside,Redwood, Sandalwood Clove). It smells like a mix between a fire and a hot man... ♡♡♡...

Finally warm toes...

Now they are mine... It took a while to find any winter boots in Billings...Crazy, but after running to several stores that were totally out of warmer boots, Scheels just got 4 new from Sorel . And lucky me they were exactly what I looked for and in my size!

I'm already in love...

Sorel's Tofino CVS in Black.

Crazy morning...

Cold, cold...-35°C (-30F) record low in several places... Our waterpipes froze outside the house so I have had 4 handy men that worked on that in the freezing coldness. At least the sun was shining.. Anyway the problem got solved pretty quick with a little help of open flames...under the house...

 

Me and the girls had a relaxing day,mostly inside but we did play in the snow for quite a while in the afternoon. It was beautiful, no wind and sunshine.. I must buy a pair of real winter boots for me! My toes are so froooze! I found a couple from Sorel, but haven't decided which ones yet. I'll show them later... Typically me..forget to buy real winter clothes (now we are talking extremes..) for the mama, only got good for the girls!