Tuesday, July 30, 2013



Luca and Maya eat breakfast in the backyard. They usually have cereals+milk or peanut butter bread or the Chinese buns as breakfast. The weather has been very nice and we eat at the garden a lot. 


A new train table + train sets for both kids. It's a big hit.


Mama's birthday. Thank you so much to farfar, farmor, and Malin for the beautiful flowers. They brighten up the room, also our spirits. Mama also receives nice gifts from pappa, Luca and Maya. (maya and pappa did the shopping), which include a card, a small truck, a car magazine, princess crayons, and a pair of earrings mama loves. The strawberry cake is DELICIOUS!

As a gift to herself, Mama finishes editing her new novel on the day of her birthday, 29th, which she started four years ago. She's been working hard on it. On the same day she submits it to her agent in the UK and the US. Hopefully there'll be good news soon. For the rest of the day she takes it easy, working out and watching 24, the TV show, on Netflix. As for dinner, we have Indian food from our favorite Indian restaurant in the neighborhood.







Maya's last day at Agape preschool is July 31. She's making cookies for her school friends as a goodbye gift. We'll take some vacation before her kindergarden starts on 19th.


Luca, can you make your pants even dirtier???



Luca speaks more words

Luca's vocabulary includes:

Swedish: Titta, Lampa, pappa

Chinese: xiexie (thank you) - he loves saying xiexie, jiejie (big sister), gougou (dog), qiu (ball), mama

English: more - he says it a lot because he loves food!, byebye

And of course, gibberish. He understands almost everything we say to him, though.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Friends visiting, Maya's swimming class, fire station tour...

Our dear Swedish friends Johan, Karolina and their two kids, Noa and Vera, stayed with us for ten days. We went to the beaches, Napa, and a fossil park. It was so nice to have them. The kids were in the swimming pool several times a day, a perfect way to cool off.

Luca has been coughing on the off for over a month. I took him to see the doctor last week. Luckily, it's just the cold.










We saw a rattle snake in the fossil park


What got their attention???

Here is the answer.

The second time pappa cut Luca's hair


The result. What do you think?


July 4th party at our house. Fireworks at the neighborhood went on until midnight. Quite a spectacular show.


Making cupcakes on Noa's 10th birthday


Maya no longer wears the floater. She's really swimming!


Sharing a plate of pasta


Maya started her swimming class last Friday. She loves her teacher.


Maybe Luca will become a baseball player.

Fire Station Visit 


Maya drives the firetruck.
 Luca drives the firetruck.



Maya tries on the shoes.

Maya's new painting

Luca loves trains too. This is the set we just bought.


What are you doing, Luca? Arranging flowers?




Saturday, July 6, 2013

Maya's second email to Mommy

Hi mommy I love u mommy.  Hi mommy this is my gift to u
From maya

Sent from my (daddy's) Smartphone. 

Her first email to mama was sent two weeks ago. Similar content. :D