Our Christmas calendar of good moments

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December always takes me by surprise. So often have I found myself on the night of the 30th of November with no preparations done, and two little girls laying sleeping in their beds, expecting to wake up to some kind of Christmas calendar.

In exactly 14 days the calendar will say December. In New York, no-one really talks about or decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving has passed, and even though I love not having to look at Christmas decorations, Santa Clauses or eat Christmas food before we actually enter December, I also know that it will end up putting extra stress on those all ready busy December days.

So this year, I’m going to start preparing for our Christmas Calendar of Good Moments a little earlier, and since I always have so many comments about it, I wanted to share it with you as well.

One last goodbye to October

It feels like October flew by without me hardly noticing it. Maybe it was because the weather in New York felt more like a perfect Scandinavian summer day than anything that even resembled fall, maybe because the leaves just started changing colors last week or maybe it is simply because my mind has been occupied with other things, more important things, and prevented me from noticing all the small things I normally love so much about October.

Creating a Halloween costume

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We moved to New York on the night before Halloween, from a country who, at that time, didn’t celebrate Halloween with more than a single pumpkin in the window. In the beginning I stuck to my resilient thoughts and chose to see this special American holiday as yet another commercial day made special by the retail industry in another attempt to make more money. But then I participated in the amazing celebrations

togetherness & organic modeling clay

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There are things that I love doing with my daughters ( like going on a picnic on a beautiful fall day), things that I’ll do, because I know it makes them happy ( like going to the cinema to see Smurfs or My Little Pony) and things that I really hate and would do almost anything to get out of ( Like playing with Barbie).

Morning routines

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I know, before I even open my eyes. I hear her little noises, so different from the ones that she makes when she’s just moving around in her sleep. Her excitement, when she realizes, that I’m slowly waking up as well. I’m not sure when I lifted her up in our bed, but here she is, right next to me, crawling onto my chest and giving me big wet kisses on my cheeks, lips and chin. It’s her favorite thing these days. Kissing. Big wet kisses that she makes by putting her open mouth against my face and then breathes out. I know of nothing sweeter than her morning breath in my face, the drool I could do without though. But who cares. I didn’t even get to take my mascara of last night.

Quiet mornings, calm days

Some Saturday mornings are quiet and has hardly any words. A simple meal served and cups of coffee drunk in silence. Baby toys scattered over the living room floor, because no one had the energy to pick them up after the baby went down for her first nap. The older kids doing their own thing, in their own time, in their own room. Because sometimes parents need time to figure out their own stuff, listen to their thoughts and drink their coffee without little voices interrupting.

My little New York city guide

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No matter where in the world you move to, after a while, living there will turn into everyday life. You and your family will find your own routines. You will walk the same streets, go to the same shops, pick up coffee at your favorite coffee bar and sit on the same bench in the park while your kids are playing at the same playground. And that I love. I have always been a big fan of everyday life, of my own little routines. But I also love being reminded of what an amazing city we live in, and that is exactly what happened when Alex and Alexa asked me to share a few of my favorite New York spots.

What we eat, read, wear, dream about and listen to right now

Last night, walking home from my eldest daughter’s ballet class, we felt the hurricane Jose passing by 250 miles away. The air was still hot and humid and while light rain fell on our bare arms, the wild wind blew golden leaves all around us. Fall has arrived to New York, and though it’s still too warm to wear wooly jumpers, I can’t wait for my favorite season to slowly unfold in front of me.

About parenthood and Patti Smith

I wanted to begin this text with a quote. With some wise words from an inspiring woman, who I earlier this week, was lucky enough to spend an evening in the company of. I started looking through her books. The new one, and old one, my favorite one. There were just too many. Too many things said and done, too many wise thoughts written down in her little notebook, too many sentences that reflected how I feel right now.

5 fall outfits to keep your baby comfy

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Mocks / mini mocks Bonnet / Briar Handmade Romper / Caramel Shirt / Babe & Tess

Today, on this last day of our vacation, it rained. It rained and we walked out, them in bare legs and rubber boots and me with a silent smile on my face and a little hand in each of mine.

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