Svenskt julfirande i finska hallen
Swedish Christmas Celebrations at the Finish hall

I helgen var vi pa svensk julfest for barnen arrangerad av svenska skolan i finska hallen. Vi dansade kring granen och det var svettigt varre. Det var ca +33 grader utomhus men trots luftkonditionering sa blev man svettig. Det saldes lussebullar, pepparkakor, glogg och lottades ut korgar med svenska delikatesser. Fanken att man inte vann nagot. Layla tyckte att det var kul att dansa kring granen men tomten ar hon radd for. Hon forstar ju inte an att man far presenter av den dar otacka, skaggiga mannen.

I sondags var vi till Moorychydore och latade oss pa stranden. Det var molnigt tack och lov for det var varmt som det var. Smetade in en massa solskyddsfaktor pa oss alla och ingen brande sig vilket var bra. Solen ar ju otackt stark har.

Imorgon har jag min forsta patient som ska horas i hogsta domstolen. Det ska bli intressant.

Ha en bra vecka. Kramar, Agneta

Hello,

Went to a Swedish Christmas celebration at the Finish hall organised by the Swedish school on Saturday. We danced around the Christmas tree and ate lots of yummy Swedish Christmas food. It was rather hot dancing around that tree as it was about +33 degrees outside. Despite the aircon I was glad I hadn't fogotten my deodorant that day. Layla thought it was so much fun dancing around the tree. She was not as pleased about seeing Santa that turned up. She is so scared of this bearded man. I guess she hasn't yet realised that you get presents from him.

On Sunday we went to Moorychydore to spend the day on the beach and to watch Greg and Brett surf. Luckily it was a bit cloudy as it was hot as it was anyway.

Have a great week. Love, Agneta X

Layla gillar sin nya gunghast. Hon kan klattra upp och gunga pa den sjalv.
Layla likes her new rocking horse. She can climb up and rock on it by herself.

Morgonpigg
I am wide awake!

Layla ar inte radd for dammsugaren langre
Layla is no longer scared of the vacuum

Greg provar Laylas julklapp
Greg is trying Laylas Christmas present

En riktig Viking
A true Viking

Sankta Lucia...Mumsiga pepparkakor
The kids as St Lucy and friends

Man fick faktiskt lite julkanslor
I actually felt a bit Chrismassy

Tomten hade kommit anda ifran Sverige
Santa had come all the way from Sweden

Han var poppis bland barnen (minus Layla)
He was a popular man amongs the kids (minus Layla)

Beach baby

Surf baby

Layla konstnaren...Nej det ar inte ett spoke hon ar insmetat i Zink pasta
Layla the artist...no it is not a ghost...it is Zink paste

Fjantiga killar
Silly boys

Oj, snart ar det jul...
Oh dear, it is almost Christmas

Kan knappt fatta att det snart ar jul. I lordags stadade jag och tog fram lite julgrejer sa nu kanns det lite juligare i alla fall...trots varmen. Har i Australien sa tar man fram julgranen i borjan av december. Har tankt ta fram den till helgen for hellre har jag den framme lite langre innan jul an efter. I helgen sa handlade vi nastan fardigt alla julklappar. Det kanns skont och nu ar det bara nagra smagrejer kvar.

Ha en bra vecka. Kramar, Agneta

I can't belive that it is almost Christmas. On Saturday I finally brought some Christmas things out to make it feel a little bit more festive. Will bring out the Chrissy tree this weekend as well which will be interesting. I wonder if it will be left standing for very long. At least we have almost finished our Christmas shopping. Greg has been really good and has done some during the weeks. There are only a few little things to get yet which is not too bad.

Have a great week. Love, Agneta X

Flytta pa dig...har ska jag sitta
Move it...This is my chair and not some type of pillow!

Luca med roda mulen...sa himla sot!
Luca the red nose raindeer...

I fredags var vi pa julfest pa Laylas dagis. De hade ett mini zoo, disco, kuddmys, sagostund och bjod pa en massa godsaker. Men det var sakert 150 barn dar och livat varre. Sa har ser i alla fall Laylas avdelning ut dar hon gar.
On Friday we went to Layla's daycare's Christmas party. They had a mini-zoo, a disco, big pillows, book readings etc and there was plenty of yummy stuff to eat. But there must have been 150+ kids there so it was a bit manic to say the least. This is where Layla goes anyway...the Butterflies.

Det har ar Laylas dagiskort som sitter pa vaggen dar man gar in. Det maste hon peka pa varje gang vi gar forbi.
Here is Layla's photo that sits on the wall where you walk in. Layla likes to point at it before we go in.

Kathryn, Luca, Layla & jag/I at the party/pa festen

I vantan pa upptradande
Waiting for the singing performances

Igar var jag och Layla pa luciafirande pa svenska kyrkan. Hann se litegrann innan Layla borjade jogga omkring. Sedan var det fika och de bjod pa lussebullar....mums!
Yesterday Layla and I went to see Swedish Lucia celebration at the Swedish church. Afterwards you got yummy Swedish saffron buns.

Sjuka igen...Ar det mojligt!
Sick yet again....What!

Det ar harliga tider det har nar ens barn borjar ga pa dagis. Man ar standigt sjuk. Fast den har gangen blev vi nog inte smittade fran Layla. Efter att ha trott att Greg blivit matforgiftad av en varrulle i fredags visade det sig att han hade magsjuka nar jag ocksa blev sjuk. Jisses vad dalig jag var. Har nog inte varit sa magsjuk pa flera ar (plus att det var +35 grader har den dagen). Medan Greg fick den utdragna varianten (sjuk i lordags och madde till slut bra igen idag pa dagen) sa fick jag den intensiva varianten. I ca 7 timmar var jag sa otroligt dalig. Pa slutet var jag tvungen att ropa pa hjalp fran Greg nar jag inte hade tillrackligt med ork med att hanga pa hinken pa toaletten. Lyckades slapa mig till sangen dar jag till slut somnade helt utslagen. Nar jag val vaknade kande jag mig ratt ok. Men vi var anda hemma allihopa igar. Kunde inte direkt skicka Layla till dagis heller for da hade val hon smittat ner varenda unge dar aven om hon sjalv inte blev sjuk.

Det ar ocksa jobbigt att vara sjuk nar man har smabarn for da kan man ju liksom inte vara helt sjuk heller. Greg och jag lyckades tima det sa bra att vi inte var pa toa samtidigt. Det var bara ren tur att det blev sa. Naval, nu mar vi bra igen tack och lov.

I sondags var jag pa Ikea med mina svenska kompisar och deras barn. Tyvarr sa var jag da smittsam och stackars Mia lyckades fa magsjukan ocksa. Jag har haft sa daligt samvete for hon ar ju gravid ocksa. Men hon var snall och sa att hon kande andra som ocksa hade haft magsjuka och att det kunde likaval varit de som smittade.

Ha en bra vecka. Kramar, Agneta (en numera glad icke-krakare).

There are great times when your child starts childcare. You are more or less guaranteed to get sick. Even though this time the source was not Layla, we got really sick on the weekend (in the +35 degree heat). At first we thought Greg had eaten a bad spring-roll when he felt unwell on Saturday night. So off I went to Ikea with my Swedish friends, spreading the germs around. Later when I got home I started feeling really nauseous and yep, it was a full-blown stomach bug that Greg had caught. Jeeee, I got so sick! While Greg got the stretched out version, I managed to get the short, very intense one. After having emptied my stomach content in various ways (to keep it interesting) I eventually to so weak that Greg had to help me drag myself back to bed. I didn't even have the strength left to hold myself up on the bucket in the loo. Crashed back in bed and woke up feeling pretty ok. Still stayed home on Monday as I didn't feel like sharing the great germs with any other people. Also couldn't send Layla to daycare as she might have given the bug to all those kids there.

It is so much harder being sick when you have little ones. You just can't be fully sick. Luckily Greg and I somehow managed to take turns with times in the toilet which was good.

Have a great week. If you are well, please appreciate it.

Love, Agneta (a no longer very happy non-vomiting lady).

Ett litet troll
A tiny troll

Layla gillar hattar
Layla likes hats

Smaskens spagetti
Yummy spagetti

Lady och Lufsen Layla
Cute spagetti face

Oj vad en vecka gar fort!
Oh dear, time flies when you are working full-time!

Har ar nagra bilder fran veckan som gatt. Vi ar fortsatt snoriga och Layla ar nu inne pa sin andra kur ogondroppar for ogoninflammationen som kom tillbaka. Dagisdagarna den har veckan gick bra. Hon dock blev biten av ett annat barn och hade fina bitmarken pa armen. Men hon hade visst inte gratit en tar. Personalen var forvanade. Men hennes hoga smart troskel kanske forklarar varfor hon ar sa tuff i tagen sjalv. Hon tycker val att lite riv i haret och ett litet nyp inte gor sa ont? Vem vet.

Kramar, Agneta

Here are some photos of the past week. Our snotty noses continues to run and Layla is now receiving the 2nd round of eye drops for conjunctivitis. Layla's days in daycare this week went well. Although she got bitten by another kid. Saying that I am sure she wasn't innocent herself. However, the staff were amazed as she didn't cry a single tear. I guess her pain threshold is pretty high. This might explain why she is so rough with other kids. She probably doesn't think pulling hair and pinching is that painful. Who knows.

Love, Agneta X

Layla i farten
Layla on the go

Layla med slick frisyr och ogoninflammation - igen
Layla with bad hair and conjunctivitis - yet again

Klas klattermus
Climbing is fun these days

Familjen Anderson i poolen
The Anderson family in the pool

Layla forsoker smita
Layla is trying to sneak off

Layla alskar att bada
Layla loves to go swimming

Claude & Rae chillaxing/tar det lungt

Greg med sina slaktingar fran Cairns. Hans mammas kusin Jack och hans fru pa besok.
Greg with his relatives who lives in Cairns. Greg's mum's cousin Jack and his wife Dianne came to visit on Saturday.

Layla badar
Layla in the bath

Plask, plask
Splish, splash I was taking a bath...

Antligen lite nya bilder...
Finally some new photos...

Som forvantat hinner jag inte uppdatera bloggen sa ofta nu nar jag jobbar. Inte hjalper det nar varat modem har hormonsvangningar heller. Men ikvall sa fungerar internet sa har ar nagra nya bilder som sa onskat av moster Anette och mormor Erna. Kramar, Agneta

As expected there isn't much time to update the blog these days now that I am working. The fact that our modem is like a sour old woman and only works on some days doesn't help either. But this evening she is in a good mood so here are some new photos as requested by auntie Anette and grandma Erna. Love, Agneta X

Sa har ser Layla ut nar hon inte far som hon vill...
This is what Layla looks like when she doesn't get her way...

Krullarna dar bak borjar bli langre
The curls at the back are getting longer

I lordags kom familjen Kostecki over. Layla var forkyld och hade ogoninflammation.
On Saturday the Kostecki family dropped in. Layla had a cold and had viral conjunctivitis.

Scott & Francesca

Eftersom Layla hade ogoninflammation som smittade fick hon inte ga till dagis i mandags. Men hon var glad anda. Har gympar hon till Ekorr'n satt i granen som spelade pa en cd. Hon tycker den ar rolig.
As Layla had viral conjunctivitis she wasn't allowed to go to daycare on Monday. But she was happy anyway. This is hear dancing to some Swedish music playing.

Daremellan sa studerade hon sa hon inte skulle komma efter pa dagis
In between she was studying to ensure she wasn't falling behind at daycare

En snorig sotnos
A snotty cutiepie

Mamma gjorde pannkakor med yoghurt och banan till lunch
Mummy made pancakes with yoghurt and banana for lunch

Igar (tisdag) hade vi +34 grader (det var +40 grader i Ipswich som ligger nara mitt jobb). Sa har snygg blev Layla i haret efter hog luftfuktighet och en massa mat insmetat.
Yesterday we had +34 degrees (it was +40 in Ipswich). This was Layla's great hairstyle after high humidity and some food leftovers in the hair.

Laylas jattesnalla mormor och morfar skickade en supersot klanning till mig som jag fick idag. Layla tyckte de sma djuren hon fick var roliga ocksa.
Layla's increadibly nice and generous mormor and morfar (grandma and granddad) sent a really cute dress in the mail that we got today. Layla also liked the little animals she got.

High tea

I sondags morse var jag och Layla pa Fionas babyshower (en typ av tjejtraff nar man firar att nagon ska fa barn) i Highgate hill. Det var forsta gangen jag varit pa high tea. Det var roligt och stallet vi var pa var sa himla fint. Kolla in det pa den har lanken:
http://franklinvilla.com/index.php?page=gallery

Igar var Layla pa dagis for forsta gangen och allt gick jattebra. Personalen ar verkligen trevliga och det kanns inte olustigt att lamna henne dar en hel dag. Idag hade hon varit ledsen nagra ganger men det ar visst vanligt andra dagen. Imorgon ar hon "ledig" igen och ska simma med pappa Greg. Kramar, Agneta

On Sunday morning Layla and I went for High tea in Highgate hill as Fiona had her babyshower at Franklin Villa. Check it out, it was such a beautiful place:
http://franklinvilla.com/index.php?page=gallery

Yesterday was Layla's first day at daycare and everything went really well. The staff at Habitat are just great so it is not too upsetting leaving her there for the day. Today she was upset a few times but that is often the case on a second day. Tomorrow she has a "day off" again and is off swimming with daddy Greg.

Take care. Love, Agneta X

Hmm, vad finns det dar inne?
What is in there?

Layla funderar fortfarande pa vad som finns i Fionas mage.
Layla is still having a think of what might be hiding in Fiona's belly

Det fanns en massa saker som Layla ville titta narmare pa...
There were a lot of things Layla wanted to have a closer look at...

Det dracks en massa te
We drank a lot of tea

Varje person fick en sadan har...jag och Layla at upp allt.

We got one of these each! Layla and I finished the whole lot.

Veckorna gar fort...
The weeks are flying past...

Nu har jag jobbat i tva veckor och det har gatt sa himla fort. Fast det har anda gatt valdigt bra. Det har varit tryggt och lungt att fa komma hem utan att behova hamta eller lamna pa dagis. Fast snart sa ar det dags. Pa mandag ska jag lamna Layla pa dagis for forsta gangen fast bara i en halv dag. Greg ar ju fortfarande hemma en vecka till sa han hamtar efter lunch. Fast pa tisdag sa ska hon ga hela dagen. Jag kanner mig inte sa orolig for hon tycker det ar sa himla kul med andra barn men ni far halla tummarna anda.

Kan inte fatta att det snart ar jul. Letade julklappar idag eftersom man maste vara ute i lite god tid for att de ska hinna fram till Sverige innan julaftonen. Men jag hittade inte sa mycket. Vad svart det ar att kopa nagot nar alla har det de behover.

Ha det bra. Kram, Agneta

Now two weeks of work has passed and wow time really flies. It has gone really well as Greg and Layla have been at home so far. But it is soon time for daycare. On Monday I am dropping Layla off for the first time but only for half a day. Greg will pick her up after lunch. On Tuesday she will do a full day. I am not that concerned as Layla loves other kids but keep your fingers crossed.

Take care, Agneta

Traffade mina svenska kompisar pa ett lekcenter forra helgen.
Met with my Swedish friends at a playcentre last weekend.

Layla tyckte bollarna var roligast
Layla thought the balls were the most fun

Layla har fatt tva paket pa posten av sin alskade moster pa sistone och det ar inte ens jul. Sa har ser hon ut i sin fina rosa polarn och pyret sjal.
Layla has received two parcels in the mail from her beloved auntie Anette recently. She is spoling her rotten. This is what she looks like in her new nice pink scarf.

Greg fick antligen hamta sin nya surfingbrada forra veckan. Han har designat den sjalv och den ar special tillverkad for hand. Imorgon ska den premiar surfas.
Greg finally got to pick up his new surfboard last weekend. He has designed it himself and had it custom made. Tomorrow it is time to try it out.

Laylas handavtryck pa bradan.
Layla's handprint is on the surfboard.

Layla funderar lite...
Layla is having a think...

...pa vad for bus hon ska hitta pa.
...about what naughty things she can get up to today.