Christmas 2008

Since Christmas Eve night is the big day here we had our own Christmas with the American presents on the 25th. Here is Saga waking up to find our stockings on the couch.

Waiting for Santa to arrive.

Santa (Tomten) came over the ice to bring us presents. Saga was really excited as we watched out the window but got a bit more hesitant the closer he came.

Saga in her new fairy wings!



Saga has a new favorite candy, canycanes, she loves them.

Saga playing with the Christmas Pig! At one point during the evening she was riding it around.

The girls doing the traditional Christmas dancing. Video to follow, O BOY!

Dancing from Kate Nordmark on Vimeo.

Saga, Alina, and Fanny watching Donald Duck on TV. Every Christmas at 3:00 I think every family in Sweden watches Donald Duck, one of those traditions.
We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We wish we could have spend it with our family in the USA too, maybe another year.

Photos From the Last Few Weeks

Aunt Fanny as Saint Lucia. Dec. 13th is Saint Lucia Day. Lots of signing and candles. It's really beautiful to watch the procession.




Saga carrying her baby around on her back.

A new way to keep Saga entertained while I'm cooking dinner, give her a bowl and a spoon with some flour. It's a mess but so much fun!

Saga and her play-dough jewlery.
I sit her writing this while Saga is taking her second nap of the day due to having the flu. She has been sick since yesterday evening. She hasn't eaten and eveything she drinks comes back up. Anyway, I hope she feels better soon :(

I'm trying a new way to watch videos on my blog. It should be a bit better quality.


Fish from Kate Nordmark on Vim
Little Santa from Kate Nordmark on Vimeo.eo.

My Dad Passed Away

We've had a pretty tough week here at The Nordmark House! I got the call on Sunday that my father died of a heart attack on Sat. morning. He left behind a young family, a daughter that is 4 and a stepdaughter that is 13. His wife Heather is being so strong and dealing with it by putting a lot of work into the funeral. I won't be able to make it home for the funeral which saddens me. My brothers are going, and dad knows I would be there if I lived on the same continent. It really is amazing how death can teach you so much about how to live. My dad and I had many issues in the past but in the last few years put all of that behind us and moved on from where we were in our lives at that moment. It involved lots of talking and tons of emotions were shared and in the end a new relationship was found. It was the best thing I could have done for myself and for my new family (Axel and Saga). I'm very sad, he was a funny, caring, overprotective guy. I remember when we would visit him he was always so worried that Saga would fall, he had a hand on her all the time just to be safe. So, since there is a lesson in everything we experience, I would say reach out to those that you love and miss. If you have someone that you wish to reconcile with but think it will happen someday, do it now. It's worth the effort, because I couldn't be writing this email with a faint smile on my face remembering my dad if I hadn't made that effort.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is the new cabinet I painted a few weeks ago after it's been decorated for the holidays.



Saga and all of her Christmas decorating treasures.




The whole crew looking at the birds on the bird feeder.



Axel, Elin, and Saga taking a break from jumping off the couch onto the mattress below.


Saga showing off her lion mask we got at McDonalds.

I of course want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We got to see and talk to my family on our new webcam. It is really a great thing for Saga to get to see everyone and vice-versa. I started my Christmas decorating today. Saga and I had a blast taking everything out of the boxes and talking about everything we found.

Our First Snow

Here Saga getting her first taste of this years snow. We were out on a walk and I had to drag her along because all she wanted to do was put her glove in the snow and lick. It's going to be a long winter if she keeps that up.

It's Been So Long!

Our computer has been broken for the last week, but now we are back in business. I am going to download some pictures tonight and will update the blog soon. Hope you haven't been missing us to much.

I'll just add some pictures from our last boat trip. We thought we'd see if we could make it out to the sea, but I made Axel turn around due to thick ice. It sounded aweful, the boat crashing through the ice. The evening was magically beautiful though.

New Hair Cut

Helena cut my hair on Sunday. I love it! It's short and cute. She is awesome! I tried to do a few self portraits so you could see.

Busy Busy Busy

Singing HAppy Birthday for Arvid.


Helena and I


Saga and I on our way to meet the rest of the family for Mormor's dinner celebration at a fancy restaurant. Notice my boots. We actually left early so I could buy a pair of more appropriate boots before dinner.



Saga and Farmor eating cake at Mormor's house.


Axel's 80 year old grandma and her son (Axel's uncle)

This last week has been very busy for our family. It started out with Fanny and Alina staying the night. Saga loves her Aunts and couldn't have been happier having them her when she went to bed AND when she woke up early (6AM). Friday was spent at Axel's grandma's house celebrating the first of three birthday celebartions we were to have for her. She turned 80 on Tuesday. Her son, Ola, and his family drove up from the Stockholm area to be here to celebrate. We ate dinner out on Sat. together and then went back to Axel's parents house and celebrated Arvid's 28th b-day. Then on Tuesday we had the whole family over for dinner for Mormor's last day of celebrating. It was fun to watch Saga and Mormor play together.

Saga Hanging Out With Her Friends

Saga carrying around the kitten.


Elin and Saga

Axel, Elin, and Saga