The evolution of the Valentine's box

I am sure if you grew up in the States you had one. A shoebox decorated in obnoxious stickers and heart doilies. Well, FYI America the Valentine's boxes have evolved! I am not complaining-thanks to seeing a pic from Kristy's blog we decided to go for a ipod inspired version. Way cool, easy and won big brownie points for mom thinking up the idea.



Happy Valentine's weekend!

TMI about my buns

In Sweden it is the time of year to make Semlor. We hold tradition no matter where we live. Since alot of you might not be familiar with the best thing EVER to hit the baker's shelf. Below is history of the Semla.

History

The Semla was originally eaten only on Shrove Tuesday, as the last festive food before Lent. However, with the arrival of the Protestant Reformation, the Swedes stopped observing a strict fasting for Lent. The semla in its bowl of warm milk became a traditional dessert every Tuesday between Shrove Tuesday and Easter. (not all Swedes each then that way, me included!)Today, semlas are available in shops and bakeries every day from shortly after Christmas until Easter.

Wikepedia says -Each Swede consumes on average five bakery-produced semlas each year, in addition to all those that are homemade.Confirming my suspiction that I am above average.

Now you have been given TMI on my buns.

Well- I have no more secrets so per Heidi's request my recipe. (I am a eye baller so sorry if it isnt exact, and it took me about 3 years to get this recipe great!)
YOU WILL NEED-
Yeast, Milk, butter, sugar,flour, almond paste, egg, powdered sugar (decoration), and whipped cream ...the real stuff.

In a sauce pan warm about 3 1/2 cups milk and then add a stick of butter, stir it till the butter is melted. Let it cool till just it is no longer hot, you are going to mix about 50 grams yeast(I usually do 3-4 tablespoons.) stir it up till yeast is dissovled. In a mixer add 1/2 cup-3/4 cup sugar, then start to add the flour adding slowly it should be about 7-8 cups.( Yikes, I eyeball this till the dough is smooth and has pulled away from the bowl) cover and let rise till doubled. Then form small ball of dough (you should get approx 25 total), place on parchment paper on the baking sheet or stone you will use to bake. cover them let them rise again till doubled in size. Beat one egg and use this to brush the tops right before baking. Bake them at 375 for 8-12 min. Or untill golden on the tops. (Temps are tricky, if they are burning on the bottom to fast then raise the rack higher that works for me) . Cool on a rack. Serving directions, slice the rounded top off the roll, you will take some of the bottom (this is where the filling will go)of the roll. About a quarter sized circle and maybe about a 1/2inch deep. SAVE the bread you take out and place in a bowl. ALMOND PASTE FILLING- Get it in a tube in the baking aisle, grate it finely into the bowl with bread pieces add a tablespoon milk, and mash it up good. This will be place in the "hole" you made in the bottoms of the rolls. Fill each with the filled. Add a good dalup of whipping cream next then re place the top on the rolls and sprinkle powdered sugar on top.

The rolls freeze great and are perfect to take out and thaw and make this whenever.


If anyone dares to do it I would love to hear how it goes. If anyone dares to ask me to show them I will accept that challenge too =)

Franko turns 2!

I know, I know....you can't believe it either! Lil' Frank turned 2 last week! He magically is very interested in the toliet, mainly flushing and pretending or trying to clean it. (With a toothbrush, GAG!) He wants his snacks in ziplock bags, and he trys to rinse his hair in the sink! (He hangs out alot with a hairstylist so go figure right!)

Favorite words, are alright, i love you and he loves saying "tattoooooo" after he draws on himself.

Happy Birthday Frank! You are the best surprise that has ever happened to our family and we wouldn't have it any other way!

Happy Birthday Franko!

A Ketchup packet

Well, it is (as if it wasn't already known before) that I am a "crier". It is now. This month has been insightful, inspiring, jaw dropping, emotional and heart breaking. For all the right reasons. Foster Care classes have been well worth my time. However, I was totally caught off guard today. They pumped us up that last week would be hard, heartbreaking and tough. Many heavy topics for sure. But today, I sat and had a "moment". Our teacher had us doing a game where we swapped seats randomly throughout the morning and slowly we left bits and pieces of what we came to class with behind. Then spouses were randomly split up. Then we discussed the feelings of children in foster care. Transition, and grieving the loss of parents and homes and "their world". It was an "ah hah" moment. Then on the heels of that we watched the most low budget movie (which was power point slides of text and children reading it) and my heart cracked open and out slipped the contents. Sitting by a stranger, listening to the feelings of children in foster care. Tears pouring down my face, my nose uncontrollably running! They told of what is going through their mind, how they feel and what they don't understand. More importantly how much they do understand. The naked pain in the honesty was like a hammer breaking my heart with each sentence.

Feels impossible to explain. I know I can never fully understand- but getting cups full of their realities poured into my heart has been like dropping bricks on a ketchup packet. Imagining that to be my reality as a child. Completely heart wrenching. Yet I have no idea how after hearing it one isn't compelled to action. Today our instructor said something that hit home for me. "So many of the behaviors children in care express are a broken heart - grieving a loss. "



This month has been a blur. Our kids are being troopers! Our friends have rallied around us like a family would! God has met us right here. And each time my mind races ahead to try to figure out what will happen next, how it will happen and how I will handle it-I am reminded of a verse.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:9-11

MY "not so American" Dream

Many of you know, alot of you don't know. We are starting down the road to fostering/foster adopt. Wow it still is unreal to say it. I never envisioned the dream I have had (we have had) taking form like it is. Adoption was always a baby (in my head when I thought of it) God works on us in so many ways. God's still small voice, a pastor, a friend, a book, or your spouse-last but not least through the dreams. Finally it feels like God is releasing us to go for it. This is so different than I had imagined. My insides are tangled up with feelings. Not sure who to share it with and when. Questions are flying in my head about alot of things, some filled with more joy and hope than others.(Hard to explain) My reality is that I must deal with every fear and doubt about who I am as a parent and how I parent. Now I have to talk about it, write about and allow strangers to come in and judge me on it. Brings me to the place multiple times per day when my prayer is-Ok God. Pushing all the chips back in. I am all in, no more hidden rooms with locked doors. Vulernable and ready for scrutiny. Trusting and waiting...learning and loving. Below is my scrapped together thoughts about "my not so American dream"

My not so American Dream

Since I am born here I guess that makes me American.
Don't really feel it alot,
It goes deeper than my "third culture kid" issues.
The typical dreams that live here aren't really my own.
The cars, trips, money, luxury of it- all isn't much for me.
So I again I wonder-does that make me less "American" while I dream
MY dream.
It has nothing to do with material happiness.
If anything probably the opposite
Losing site of everything the world holds dear
Walking against the stream with my family
Each having a story in their heart and a smile on their face.
As I write it, I feel like words echo out to those who stare back puzzled.
Why would one welcome more discomfort in this comfortable country.
I do know why I would.
Compelled by calling from God.
I get it completely-I have no control.
God has complete control.
Freeing thought and totally scary mixed up into the same.

Yet again God and I dance.
I let my feet fly and my hands are open
Following His lead
Suddenly I can breathe
Yet my heart is pounding and I am afraid.
The song is new and I have never danced like this before.

I have come to grips with the fact I may stumble
I have realized the fact I may even fail.
Along the way people will look, stare and even judge.
The question I ask time and again when I am scared -am I ok with not even trying?
No. Simply no.

I will open my heart wide open for you.
My life exposed, and heart so vulnerable to all that is coming down the road.
The dream looked so much different in my head
God shaped and formed it in many ways.
I am ready to embrace the dream.
However it comes thru our door.
Soon I will welcome you.

Come dear life so broken, shattered and abused.
I will hold you.
Give you love and nurture.
Stand up for you, advocate for you.
I will be your voice
I will resolve that my home will be a place of healing
A safe place to grow, heal and learn

Love be planted.
Love be watered.
Love start to grow.
Tiny little seed don't fear
it's going to be safe to blossom here.







Thanks for your prayers for our family on this journey.

The faces of Christmas-2010

My bedhead twin made an appearance. She isn't a morning person!
Frank had fun with the marshmallow shooters, mainly eating ammo!

The hats were a hit!
Frank wears them for a minute takes it off-REPEATS, alot throughout the day!

DS reaction....sorry for the blurrrr

Teamwork.

Hat=check
Sillybands=check
Candy necklace=check.

Bookworm gets a Kindle

Policeman Dad

What a face! Pretty sure he was saying AWESOME!!
We had a great day, relaxed and filled with laughter and
a Christmas day NAP! The best gift of all!
The only thing missing was some fresh snow!

Lucia-i Salt Lake City!

Lucia Program
Swedish Heritage Society
Dec. 11th 2010



Midsommar at Ikea we ran into this group and were thrilled to get in touch with other Swedes living in the valley. We attended Lucia with them last year and it was so nice! So the kids participated this year and totally got into it! I got the chance to be in the small choir, which was a blast to sing again I miss that so much!



I think our camera is on the fritz! Focus is not the greatest on these but you can see the kids! Peter was on Frank duty in the audience then went out to find our kids after they were done so that is all the pictures we got of the night. I will post a video clip on facebook soon!





I must confess that I did miss having the normal "family" cheering section in the crowd. Typical Christmas Program stuff. I guess I am slow to realize stuff like that, geez we have only lived away from family for 6 years! I guess since Ann-Britt has lived with us alot it has felt like family has taken part in things.





All the kids did great, knew the parts. Sang very good in Swedish (even when mixin up tre och three and se och see) Music to our ears to hear the kids singing and thinking in Swedish again.






Glad Luciadagen!