Stuck in London

Fourteen years ago, I decided to go to London during Christmas time after watching Love...Actually with my bff. So we booked flights and accomodation for the next year and there we went. Since then, it became kind of a tradition. We went every year, apart from those years, in which we had babies. Then I got sick and going to a crowded city before Christmas seemed like a real nightmare. So we didn't go since 2010.

I remember one afternoon about five years ago, when I was very, very sick and crying my eyes out. I talked to my mom about the good old times and how I would never ever see London at Christmas again. "You will!" she ensured me and she was so right.

It felt good to go this year, so we book flights and a room back in April. We somehow didn't manage another date, so we flew out to the UK two weeks before Christmas. We are idiots, really. London is always busy, 365 days a year, but two weeks before Christmas? It's hell. It's so busy that tube stations on Oxford Street are closed. Too many people down there. Plus, what did we think about flying in Mid-December?? Nothing, really. We didn't think about loads of snow and how the planes wouldn't be able to fly. We still thought we were fine, when we woke up to fluffy snowflakes on Sunday morning. Hell broke lose, when our flight was cancelled. Big shit. Long story short: it took us 29hrs of delay to come back to Germany, involving a fire alarm and an evacuated London City Airport. Fun all around.

Honestly, when I open my front door on late Monday night, it felt so incredibly good to be home. I never felt that way before. I am pretty fed up with travelling for the moment (I am not a big traveller anyway), but ask me again in some weeks or months.

Apart from all that, we had a great time, did some serious shopping and I even brought home a traditional British Christmas Cake. (In fact, I am the only one around who is excited about that.) We also saw Kinky Boots, which was great and Thriller Live (the Michael Jackson show), which was good, too.

Now, we are heading into the last full weekend before Christmas and there are tons to do. So, have a great weekend, everybody and remember to also find time for a nice hot chocolate and a Christmas book or movie.

Love, Sanna

Merry and bright

Oh man, life is crazy. I cannot believe it's been nearly a month since I last wrote an entry, so here I am.

We went back to school after fall break and as Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Germany, we are in full Christmas mode. It really is my favourite time of the year. I love everything about it. The twinkling lights and candles burning, reading Christmas stories to my kids and loads and loads of cookies. Speaking of which, I took a cookie decoration class on Halloween and I am so planning to do some baking over the weekend. In fact, I am planning to do five dozens of cookies. The baking is not the hard working part, the piping is. But I will play Christmas music and make loads of royal icing and then let the fun begin.

Also, I managed to read two Christmas novels and I loved them both so much. I will (hopefully) write more about that over the weekend to recommend them on my blog The Christmas Reading Challenge. If you are an avid reader od romance, you might want to check out that website, cause you'll find lots of stuff to read during the season.

I hope you are doing fine and your life is a wonderful (and busy) as ours.

Have a great day! Love, Sanna

Fall break

It's fall break! Woohoo! As I am a teacher, it means I get two weeks off and have some time for family, friends and myself. We headed to the Dutch coast for some days and enjoyed the beach, cold sunshine and coffee in the beach café. Big L didn't go with us as he was experiencing the joys of his first vacation without us. He came back on Friday more than tired, but happy. He went to bed early and after fourteen hours of good old sleep, he was back to his happy self.

Yesterday, we went to the pumpkin patch and the kids carved pumpkins and afterwards we went to my cousins place for coffee and cookies. It was such a great and relaxing day and I feel like my batteries are full again. And then today I got an unplanned day for myself and I curled up on the couch, read my first Christmas novel and went to town. Which was crazy as we have two holidays tomorrow and on Wednesday.

Tomorrow we are having family over to celebrate Halloween and I got a it over the top with decorations and the candy table. My children will suffer from sugar shock tomorrow night. I will post about party over the next days, I think.

So, from my family to yours, have a great Halloween and don't eat all your kids' candy.

Love, Sanna

Such a girl

When I was a kid, my mom was more the convenient type of mom, which means I was a girl with short hair, because it was easy to handle. I wore brown and red and blue, because it was easy to keep clean. I was a tomboy. not by heart, but by looks.
Then, in my teens, I let my hair grow. And in my early twenties, when I moved out and started living my own life, I really found the girl in me.

It was like discovering a whole new world. Pink clothes, lots of it. Long hair and all kinds of different hair does. Skirts and high heels. Make up! Nailpolish!! Oh, how I love it!

Today, I am living with three boys and I couldn't be more girly. I love to be surrounded by beautiful things. Here is what I love most.

• Books. As in books about baking, cooking, decorations. I love the Farm chicks books and Martha Stewart and everything similar to that.
• Decoration. I have lots of decoration matching the seasons. I have a big box of decorations for NYE in silver and gold and glitter. I cannot wait to bring them up from the basement. And don't let me even get started on Christmas decorations. ;o)
• Crafting. I am really happy that Little L still likes to craft with me. Therefore I own A LOT OF craft supplies. Way too much to use during this lifetime, but hey, whenever there is a crisis concerning arts supplies, I can offer worldwide support.
• Nailpolish. I own hundreds of bottles of nailpolish and I would wear the right color matching my outfit. Always.
• Paper napkins. My family thinks that I am crazy, but I LOVE paper napkins. I would NEVER set a table without them and they would ALWAYS fit the occasion or season. I own paper napkins in every shape and colour and I love it.

There's a lot more, but I honestly won't have the time to write it all down. Plus, I have a movie date with the kids this afternoon. How about you? Are you a girly girl?

Have a great Sunday! Love, Sanna

Long time no see

Oh man, I cannot believe it's been six weeks since my last post. Time really flies, especially as we were so busy these last weeks.

We celebrated DH's 40th birthday and Linus' fifth. We are back to school for some time now and heading into fall break in two weeks time. So life is back to normal and fall really is here. The leaves are yellow and red and orange and I am back on wearing scarves and boots. We light candles with our tea time and cuddle up with books and movies. The kids play Playmobil for hours straight and I get lost in book after book.

Fall really is a wonderful time. It took me some days to adjust to real shoes (no flipflops!) and the cooler weather, but now I am just loving it. Right now, Linus is in the backyard and playing with his little friend, while I will do some laundry and then will start reading my first Christmas book. Call me crazy, but it's only six more weeks until December. I already have the first presents, so I am getting slowly prepared.

But before that, we will have a Halloween party with my SIL's family and I got a bit crazy with decorations and stuff. I am planning on doing a candy table with creepy snacks and I might have shopped Halloween t-shirts for the kids. It might seem too much or over the top for you, but I feel like it's the best I can give my kids...memories. Being a good parent is about a lot of things, but I will be so happy when in twenty years, they will remember that night and talk about it with gleaming eyes. Like "Do you remember that year Halloween when mom made us eat candy brains?" or "I will never forget the night when we ruined the carpet with  fake blood!". I will laugh with them and be happy to have created a memory that lasts a lifetime.

Because when looking back on the best days of my life, I remember the fun I had, the love I felt and the people that were by my side.

Have a great week! Love, Sanna

Not ready for fall

It's the last weekend before school starts and it makes me sad to see summer go. With the end of summer break and the end of August comes the cooler season. So far it's still pretty warm and the pool is up and it smells like sunscreen. We had a great summer and an amazing vacation at the coast. We spent days on the beach and had way too much ice cream. Everything was sandy and the kids smelled like salt water all the time. We also visited Hamburg with the kids, who have never been in such a big city before. It was loud and hectic and DH and me were a bit stressed to have an eye on the kids all the time so nobody gets lost, but it was worth every minute.

Now, we are preparing for normal life again. We shopped school supplies and I realized I forgot to order school books. Just in time as they were delivered yesterday. I am super mom.

The forecast says temperatures will drop next week and it really is chilly in the evenings, which does not keep us from sitting on the proch until the sun goes down and share some drinks with friends. We will spend these last days of summer outside with ice cream and pool games and enjoy them as much as possible.

Have a great weekend! Love, Sanna

Down came the rain

Week 2 of summer break. It's raining cats and dogs. BigL is at summer camp nevertheless. Every morning I ask him, if he wants to go and every morning, he says, "Of course!". So we bought hiking shoes to withstand the mudder and he is happy.

Little L and me are running errands, went to the mall (I bribed him with a BIG cookie) and hang around home. We watch movies and nap and do puzzles and play and love being with each other. It's pretty awesome. Today he helped me with housework, which took like forever. But we have all the time in the world and I love his company.

So, that's pretty much all we do these days. End of story.

Love, Sanna

Summer Bucket List

Only one more day, and I am heading into summer break (poor kids have one more day to go). As every summer, there is stuff I wanna do and there are things and places I wanna see. Here is my summer bucket list:

• Go to the fish spa. I wanted this for years and I will so do it this summer.
• Visit the coast and dip my toes into the North Sea. Not sure if I will take a full dive, depends on how warm it is.
• Visit Hamburg's new Elbphilharmonie.
• Play lots of Uno and other stuff with LittleL during his two weeks off from daycare (plus our summer getaway).
• Meet with friends, have coffee and cake and good conversations.
• Laugh more, dance often and go to a concert (Gentleman, honey?)
• Try to use my smartphone less.
• Visit the family party at summer camp.
• Paint my toenails all kind of colours.
• Wear flipflops only.
• And shorts and dresses.
• Oh, and my size twelve bikini. Woohoo!
• Go horse back riding with the kids.
• Shop for school supplies (note to myself: NOT on the last day!!)
• Have an outdoor movie night.
• Have lots of BBQs.
• Finish season 10-12 of Grey's Anatomy.
• Take naps on my sunbed.
• Get together with family and friends and celebrate DH's 40th and LittleL's 5th birthday.
• Read ten books.
• Enjoy life.

Have a great summer, everybody! What are your plans? Any suggestions of what I REALLY have to do?

Love and hugs, Sanna

Years Off My Life

I ain't a fan of going slow around corners,
Stomp on the gas and grab another gear
Yeah I'll take years off my life
Before I'll take life off my years.

So, I was listening to one of my favorite music ever (Lee Brice - Hard 2 Love) in the car, when this song came up. And it made me think. About what changed since I got sick and how much more I love life right now that I am okay again. 

A lot has changed. It's not like I got adventurous all of a sudden. Nope, not going to happen. But I really am more happy in life. Just because I try to do what is good for me. To celebrate the little things and to have the courage to go for what I really want.

To me, living life to the fullest does not involve jumping out of planes or doing zip line rides. It's more like spending quality time with my beloved ones. It's warm summer sunshine on a day at the lake. It's a good book and a nice coffee. It's cooking and baking and napping. Might sound boring, yes. But to me it is heaven. 

I have never been more satisfied with me and my life. Because I know how bad life can be and I try not to let go of chances. That's why I picked up all my courage last night and dug out my ballett slippers. These have been in the closet for twelve years, but after watching a friend doing ballett classes, I felt such an urge to get back on the dance floor, it kind of hurt. I packed some weight since my last dancing class and it was before babies and PPD and meds, so I freaked out a little bit. I actually was thinking about cancelling the whole thing and sit on my couch and wait for more weight to drop. But then DH kind of ordered me to go, damn it. And I did. And it was the most wonderful thing in the world. Of course, it felt different and I realized I am not as flexible any more (but that will hopefully come back!), but my body remembered every single move. It was right there and I only had to start again to make it come out. I had no idea how much I missed dancing until I actually hit the dance floor.

So, living life to the fullest means taking risks. And having courage. And all of the above. Have a great weekend, everybody!

Love, Sanna

What's the use of life if you don't live it?
You sip your water, I'll drink my beer
Yeah, I'll take years off my life
Before I take life off of my years

My journey to size ten

As long as I can remember, I used to be chubby. It kind of runs in my parrt of the family, so here I am. After having two kids and being on three different meds to treat my PPD, I gained a LOT OF weight. Actually, I have never had more weight in my life before.

One day in February, I decided to give it a try and downloaded the Weight Watchers App. I tried not to go in with too many expectations, but with my mind set on a goal. And so it began.

Since then I have lost a total number of 33lbs (15kg). And to be honest, it's pretty easy. I am never hungry, I can eat everything as long as I stay within my SmartPoints and it so works for me. For many others, this is not the right way, but for me it absolutely is.

Plus, it is amazing of how good I feel since I lost weight. My knees do not hurt anymore. I can easily go to the basement for laundry and up again (We live on the first floor!!). I can practice riding his bike with Little L and jog next to him. I can buy regular sized clothing, which is the best part of all! ;o)

I plan to lose more weight and have a helthy BMI around Christmas. If it spring, that's fine with me, too. Moving forward is good, no matter how long it will take. With every day I am closer to a healthy body and that is just awesome. Plus, I am looking into different opportunities to work out at the moment, but I will post about that later.

Have a great day! (And eat some cake!)

Love, Sanna

Weekend update

Hey friends!

How is the weather in your part of the woods? Germany is freezing. I froze my butt of at track and field today. I wore a jumper and real shoes. Fun times.

But, to be honest, the forecast to the upcoming week looks better, so I will stop ranting now. I am so looking forward to our summer getaway to the sea, so I am hoping the weather will be fine then. Only eight more working days! Woohoo!

Stuff we did this weekend:

• Grocery shopping.
• Shopping new sports clothes.
• A quick trip with the kids to the city to check out the new Tiger Store.
• Track and field.
• Nap.
• Go to the town's festival.

Now, I will clean the bathroom, vacuum and do laundry. We really know how to party.  After that, I will go to the cake decoration shop and spend a fortune. End of story. Here is my favorite summer song.

Only eight more days!

Do you know that feeling when summer break is so close, but every work day seems like an eternity? Yeah, I am right there.

Only eight more working days in class for me (plus one day of testing) and I cannot wait to go into summer break full force. We have plans to go to the sea and add some days in Hamburg, but I will also enjoy four weeks at home. The first two weeks of the holidays, Big L is at summer camp and I will be home with Little L, who also has some time off of daycare.

Here is what Little L likes to do:

• Drink milk
• Go outside
• Go on holiday
• Go to a museum (with animals or dinosaurs)
• Paint
• Go to the forest
• Go for a walk
• Egg hunt 

I think, I will manage that. I'l keep you updated. ;o) 

Summer Reading: Little Beach Street Bakery

I love reading. I love the seasons. I love seasonal reading. I read Christmas books in winter, lovely short stories in fall and books taking place on the beach in...well, in summer.

I would love to introduce you to my favorite summer reads, just in time for summer break and your vacation on the beach.

I am starting with chick lit by Jenny Colgan. In fact, it's a trilogy, but just the first two books are set in summer. Little Beach Street Bakery and Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery.

This is what it's all about: Heroine Polly Waterford just lost her boyfriend and her job. As she is looking for a fresh start, she moves to the sea side resort of Polbearne in a little flat above and abandoned shop. To get her thoughts straight, she does what she loves most: baking. With every loaf she bakes and with every rich ingredient she adds, she finds more of herself and a new life (and love) where she never expected it.

Oh, how I loved these books! I read them - have a guess - last summer on the beach. And if it wasn't for me to actually be on the beach, I would have smelled the salty air of Polbearne and heard the waves break. The writing is really good, the story extraordinairy. Chick lit, but without the idiotic heroine. No Bridget Jones moments. Great characters, unexpected twists.

In case you are looking for a good summer read, go for it.

Also, the third book in the series is called Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery. Just perfect for my anglophile, Christmas loving self. But I will talk about this in half a year.

Happy Reading! Love, Sanna

Important to me

Today in class, we talked about wishes and dreams and what's important to us. That made me remember one of my very favorite songs by Joey & Rory. And it made me think about what really is important to me. Here are my top three.

Health. Yes, that sounds simple and we easily forget, but being healthy is the most important thing in life. It comes before family and friends and everything else. Without health, nothing is important. Without a healthy body, you cannot dance at festivals. In case your upper limbs are involved, you cannot hug someone special or tie your own shoes. Without mental health you cannot love and laugh and feel. So yes, health is the most important thing to me. And I am still learning to do so, but it is my top priority. Being good to myself. Body and soul. That's where it all starts.

Family. Where would I be without my family? Like all the many people that are special in my life. Starting with mom and dad. My husband and kids. My in-laws, my brother and his family, my cousin and aunts and uncles. And great-granny! There is a place in my heart for all of them. And I know from experience that they would do a hell of a lot for me, too. My world moves around my family and I know how lucky I am to have all my beloved ones still around.

Being me. Sometimes, getting older sucks. But sometimes, it is also a very good thing. The older I get, the more I fell like really being me. Doing what I really love. Being happy with myself. All of me. My heart and my body. I might not be perfect, I might wear size 14, but I am good the way I am. I am enough. And so are you. My journey from PPD back to life brought me closer to who I really am. And I am so grateful for it.

What is important to you? I'd love to know. Love and hugs, Sanna

Four weeks

The countdown has started. It's a short week for me because of a holiday on Thursday (I am free on Fridays), so there are only four weeks left until summer break! I am so looking forward to getting some time off work and spending it with my kids and family.

For the first time in ten years or so, we are NOT going to the Netherlands (because our holiday home was occupied), but we are staying within Germany and will spend some time at the North Sea coast. In fact, it's the very same sea we are going to every year, just more up North. We are real adventurers.

Apart from that, I plan on being lazy, do everything without a hurry and I am looking forward to visit Big L at summer camp.

I also wanna read lots of books and I herewith as for recommendations. I love seasonal reading, so I am looking for romance that's set preferably on the beach. I already have downloaded the latest books of Kate Angell's Barefoot Williams / Boys of Summer books. I L.O.V.E. these! Have you read them?

I might also re-read SEP's Honey Moon. I haven't read it for ages and I feel like doing it. But summer break is six weeks and I need more books! Spill!

What are your plans for summer? Any specific? Adventurous? I'd love to know.

Until then, finish the school year strong. Stay focused, but don't forget to dream about the beach.

Love, Sanna

Solo parenting

For five days, DH was away in Berlin to work his ass off. Which meant, I was solo parenting and at first it was a bit overwhelming to think about it. Because since I got sick, I was NEVER responsible for both my kids on my own for mor than 48 hours. I was worried, if I'd manage. Also, I was pissed, because it was a public holiday and long weekend. I like to spend those days as a family, but sometimes you don't get what you want.

So on Friday morning, DH went to Berlin and left me in charge.

Friday was good, because I went to work, the kids to school and daycare and it was just a normal day of the week.
Then the long weekend started and we spent it with lots of activities and fun. We went out for dinner, went shopping at the mall, went to the zoo and stayed up a bit longer than usual.

I loved our early nights, when Little L was in bed and Big L and me watched movie after movie and had way too much sweets. I hardly see my big boy, because he is running wild and free this summer, but every night he was there for a movie he got to chose. We watched teenage movies and romances and sometimes stuff with action. Afterwards, we would go to bed (he slept with me) and chat about the movies and our day. We would fall asleep happy and in the middle of the night Little L would come over and snuggle in with us.

It was an intensive time for the kids and me and I enjoyed it so much. Of course, it was a holiday and we had nowhere to be, so it was relaxed and easy.

Solo parenting is easy when you know that your better half is coming back in five days. I can only imagine how exhausting it must be, when you are a fulltime single mom or dad. In case you are such a parent, you got my biggest respect. You are wonderful and enough and doing a great job!

Long time no see

Yes, I am still alive. I just needed a break. From blogging and the pressure that comes with it. I often feel like I really have to blog. It has been days, weeks, so I need to write an update. Bullshit. I decided to take a break and let go a bit.

Social media is pretty inspiring to me, but it also contains a lot of room for comparison and sometimes makes me feel less than what I actually am. Again, bullshit!

So, here I am again. With the resolution to focus more on who I am and what I really want. It's kind of a new start. I wanna go back to what my blog used to be years and years ago. Full of colour, fun and life. I wanna share my favorite reads and recipes and stuff about my everyday life.

I would love to see you on that journey with me and to start, I'll let you know what happened around my life in the last two months.

The week before Easter our great-granny fell an broke her hipbone. Yeah, fun times. They were able to fix it without replacing the whole hip and started therapy pretty quickly after the surgery. So me and the kids spent a lot of time in the hospital, which the kids loved as they were treated with ice cream, Fanta and cake in the cafeteria. Granny is 93 years old, but was a real champ with learning how to walk again. She came back home on Wednesday.

For Easter, my big L got some concert tickets he really wanted to have, so the two of us went to see his favorite band and spent a lovely evening together. I enjoy spending some quality time with him, because we hardly see him. Between school and track and field training, he is running wild and free around the neigbourhood. A real boy.

At the end of February, I started Weight Watchers to get rid of all the weight that anti-depressants helped me gain (that and a LOT OF eating!). From day one, it worked like a charm and as of today, I have lost a total amount of 22lbs. Which is freaking awesome. Yeah, me!

Now that spring is here, we spend as much time as possible in our back yard. The flowers are in bloom, the sandbox is filled and I had my first bubbly on my beoved garden swing. Life is good.

See you soon! Love, Sanna

Reading again

It's been over four years that Amazon did deliver a books to my doorstep. Before I got sick with PPD, I was obsessed with books. I read romance in every free minute. Any kind of romance. Paranormal, suspense, historical. As long as there was kissing involved, it was my kind of book. Same goes for Chick Lit, which my anglophile self just loved.

Then I got sick and with it came agitation and the loss of concentration. Plus, I felt like this happily-ever-after-girl was not me anymore. My life was full of pain and surviving day by day, so romance didn't seem to fit.

Over the last four years, I did a bit of reading. Mostly within the last year. I read a bit during summer break and afterwards. I tried to read a Christmas novel, but it didn't work for me.

For all this time a book was on my nightstand waiting for me to be ready. It was Maya Banks' Shades Of Gray, book 7 of the KGI series. A series, which I loved so much. Still, I coudn't make myself read it.

About two weeks ago, I finally picked up the book. And started reading. And then it all started. I felt the magic of different worlds swept over me. I read and read (and while reading realized, I've read this book before) and just couldn't put my book down. I spent my afternoons curled up on the couch, sipped coffee and fell in love with P.J. and Cole's story. When I was done, I picked up the next book of the series and read it within days. Then I browsed Amazon for more titles and put an order.

And just like that, I am back to reading. Not just some pages, but like I did before. Reading way too long at night, because I just can't stop. Living within the story and being in tears and laughter. Feeling with the characters every step of the way and being totally satisfied when they say their I love yous in the end.

It is a gift to be able to really live within the story. To be sad and happy and excited as you read. It is a gift that was hidden under depression, but fought it's way back up to life. Just like everything else, it came back to me. It took time and patience, but it came back. And I am so grateful for that.

Now excuse me, I have a date with my couch and a romance. Happy reading, everybody!

Today

Today was fabulous. I came home late last night from a party and woke up around nine a.m. which is pretty early for me on a weekend. No idea why, but I felt so full of energy and wanted to egt stuff done, so after snuggling with DH and Little L, I got up and jumped into the shower. We had breakfast and then DH and me cleaned the place and I tackled piles of laundry.

We met with our neighbour and her daughter (Little L's best friend) and went for a walk, which included ice cream some quality time on the playground. The sun was shining, but we didn't stay too long, because the wind was pretty chilly. I am so looking forward to this week, because temperatures are supposed to be around 13°C with lots of sunshine.

When we came home the kids went to see friends in the neigbourhood and DH and me cleaned out our living room drawer. Fun times. After that, we parked our butts on the couch.

It was a great weekend. Fun and relaxing. The right amount of busy and enough time to recharge the batteries. I am heading into this new week with excitement. My class is having their first exams on Monday and Tuesday. Keep your fingers crossed.

Have a great week! Love, Sanna

I love my life

On Saturday, I turned 39. For the first time ever in my life I was freaking out about my age. Big time.

39 is so close to 40 and people, who are forty are pretty old for me. Too old, if you ask me. 40-year-old moms are embarassing and so not cool. They look old, they act old. Period.

Now, in under a year, I will join that club. How can that possibly be real? I just turned twenty, right? At least I feel as if I am still super young at heart. But then, I am raising a pre-teen. I developed wrinkles around my eyes and I have serious problems crouching down like HRH Kate does. (And she's doing this in heels with a baby on her hip. Amazing.)

But fact is, I am still alive. I was so close to giving up life, that every day is a gift and I intend to live it fully. So many young women die of cancer or other fucking shit, so I am grateful for the chance to see my 40th birthday. I am grateful for being able to support my children while growing up and to see them become wondeerful young people. I am grateful for spending day after day with my husband, who is the best partner, I could possibly have.

Getting older is not just a pain in the a$$. It also is a chance. To experience and see great things. It's a chance to become the erson I want to be, more and more with each day.

Never before I have I been so happy with my life. Or let me wuote Robbie Williams...

I love my life
I am powerful
I am beautiful
I am free
I love my life
I am wonderful
I am magical
I am me
I love my life

Yes, I do. I love my life. And everything that comes with it. Have a great day everybody!

Deal with me

So, here we are back to business. Every day life is back and I like it a lot. It brings some regularity into our life and that's a good thing. Although this week started kind of irregular, with Little L staying at home because of a fever and Big L jumping out of bed on Monday morning and hurting his ankle. So instead of work, I went to the doctor with him at 7.45am. It was still dark outside. Oh my.

My pupils were understanding about a day off, so that was not a problem. I really have a nice class and it makes me sick to my stomach to hear all this negativity and right wind paroles about refugees and immigrants. I deal with these people every day and 99% of them are friendly, hard working humans, who just want to live in peace with their families in our country. Most of them plan to go back when the time comes and they are so sad that they had to leave their countries. They are homesick and suffer from PTSD.

And honestly, I will not stop talking against right wing comments. I will open my mouth and speak up and let those idiots know what I think of them. The most hypocrit sentence is "I don't have anything against migration, BUT..." That little word BUT means that, yes indeed you have something against immigrants. So, please tell me, how many immigrants/refugees do you know? To how many did you talk?

I have seen hundreds in the last 14 years. And all I see on a daily basis are HUMANS. With a history, with anxiety and depression, because they have lived in danger of their lives for too long.

Okay, I am no idiot. Of course a open border politics invites idiots as well. But do you really think that a terrorist will be stopped from doing harm by a border? What about 9/11 or the London bombings? This happened before the refugees came to Europe and they found a way. They will always find a way.

So, yes, you have a right a free thinking and free speech. Do so. But be prepared to deal with me. I will talk against any kind of right propaganda. I will never accept a politics and thinking that is based on ethnic selection. Not in this life.

Now go and have a great day. Love, Sanna

One week into 2017 and Christmas break ends tomorrow. It was such a good time with family and friends and good food and celebrations.

Christmas is over, New Year's Eve is over and all we are left with is January. Cold, icy and grey. I am not a fan. I miss the sparkling lights of Christmas and the feeling of something special in the air. I miss dressing up for special occasions and wearing full make-up with glitter and all.

But I am really looking forward to getting some schedule back. Being lazy and all is fine, but I need some structure in my life. Not only me, the kids as well. So I am really looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. I am not happy about the getting up at the crack of dawn part, but what the heck. It's part of the deal. I just hope my pupils didn't reset their brains over the holidays, that would kind of freak me out.

Anyway, we will try to make January special with lots of hot chocolate and crafts and good movies. Little L's swimming class starts again tomorrow, so does BigL's track and field practice. We will be back to our busy schedule in no time and I am looking forward to it.

Here is my favorite Sunday song. Have a great week! Love, Sanna