....och lite 'sommar pa burk'...
Harligt!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Anna's House
A few weeks before we left for Sweden, Patrik started building a playhouse for Anna in the back yard. Anna just loves it and has been playing in it since before it had walls. The following are some photos of its evolution.
In Anna's words.
Anna is not a big fan of noise, and so she liked to wear her ear protection while she was supervising daddy.
The first tea party.
One of the first tea parties after the walls were up.
Some help arrived one weekend in the form of a big Stone...
...and a little Stone.
Anna planted her own flowers.
And helped daddy to paint.
As Anna would say: Ta da!
Now mamma just has to sew some curtains and it will be all done.
Sweden Part V - Stockholm
And then, somehow, it was already the last couple of days of our trip. We spent them with Jonken, Johanna, Love and Linus in Stockholm. As it was midsummer, they are usually up in Dalarna celebrating with family, but luckily for us, they stayed in the city with us.
The kids ran off some energy one morning in a sweet park just a few minutes walk from their place.
We headed out to celebrate midsummers afternoon locally. We danced around the Maypole, had fika (of course!), and just enjoyed each others company.
Jonken and Johanna also treated us to some fantastic meals at their new place. Over one of those meals, and perhaps over a glass of wine, we're pretty sure that we heard them say that they are coming for a visit again soon. Yahoo!
It was a lovely day to end our trip on. Thanks to everyone for being such lovely hosts while we visited. Our guest room is sitting empty at the moment, and we hope to hear that some more of you are thinking about coming for a visit sometime in the not-too-distant future?
The kids ran off some energy one morning in a sweet park just a few minutes walk from their place.
Anna and Linus on the motorcycle-go-round.
Anna playing in one of the playhouses at the park.
We headed out to celebrate midsummers afternoon locally. We danced around the Maypole, had fika (of course!), and just enjoyed each others company.
Jonken and Johanna also treated us to some fantastic meals at their new place. Over one of those meals, and perhaps over a glass of wine, we're pretty sure that we heard them say that they are coming for a visit again soon. Yahoo!
It was a lovely day to end our trip on. Thanks to everyone for being such lovely hosts while we visited. Our guest room is sitting empty at the moment, and we hope to hear that some more of you are thinking about coming for a visit sometime in the not-too-distant future?
Sweden Part IV - Vasteras
One of the first things that we did when we arrived in Stockholm was to jump onto the train and head to Vasteras to visit Camilla, Hanna and David and Gerd and Roland. But we were also so happy to get to meet Gertrude and Bertyl who drove up from Enkoping and also Annagretta and Sven-Anders who happened to be visiting Sweden (from Australia) and who took the time to drive up and meet us. We all gathered for lunch at Camilla's house and caught up as much as you can over a couple of hours.
Sitting around a table with three of mom's sisters, I could see a little bit of her in all of them. Growing up in Canada so far away from most of our family, I have gotten to experience this so few times. I treasured it.
Another person that I was so so happy to see was Camilla. Although we don't see each other often, it always feels so natural, comfortable, and easy when we see each other. I'm working on getting her over here for a visit soon!
Hanna and Anna played well together, and Anna happily got to inherit some of Hanna's old toys and dress-up clothes, like a flamenco dress and shoes that Anna did not want to take off once it was on.
In the evening while winding down before bed, the kids each cuddled their crocheted animals that Gertrude had made for each of them. When it came time for bed, Anna refused to sleep in her bed, and insisted on sleeping in Hanna's. We transferred her over to our bed after she had fallen asleep. In the morning, waking up in a strange room, she asked us "where is my bed? where are the bears on the wall?" Even now that we're home, she is still talking about Hanna's room.
Sitting around a table with three of mom's sisters, I could see a little bit of her in all of them. Growing up in Canada so far away from most of our family, I have gotten to experience this so few times. I treasured it.
Another person that I was so so happy to see was Camilla. Although we don't see each other often, it always feels so natural, comfortable, and easy when we see each other. I'm working on getting her over here for a visit soon!
Hanna and Anna played well together, and Anna happily got to inherit some of Hanna's old toys and dress-up clothes, like a flamenco dress and shoes that Anna did not want to take off once it was on.
In the evening while winding down before bed, the kids each cuddled their crocheted animals that Gertrude had made for each of them. When it came time for bed, Anna refused to sleep in her bed, and insisted on sleeping in Hanna's. We transferred her over to our bed after she had fallen asleep. In the morning, waking up in a strange room, she asked us "where is my bed? where are the bears on the wall?" Even now that we're home, she is still talking about Hanna's room.
Sweden Part III - Jamtland 'Land'
Hugo, Viggo and Frans were so great with Anna. Hugo was always watching out for her, making sure she all right, helping her when she needed it. Viggo let her play with all of his toys and she spend a good amount of time in his room. And Frans was so great at sharing with her - even his very favourite toys, which apparently just does not happen. And the four of them had so much fun together just chasing and being chased, kicking a ball around, baking with farmor/mormor, and more.
To my delight, we headed into a hand-blown glass boutique, and she let me know that she, Solweig and families were treating me to a glass blowing lesson. This is something that is absolutely up my alley! It's hard to describe how fun it was. I got to make a glass ball to hang from a window and a little bowl, and I left the lesson feeling like this is something that I am going to have to try again. Thank you all for such a fantastic treat!
We left Anna with farmor and farfar one day, and took a drive out to Malin's school, where she was working on next years school curriculum. She has a long drive to get there and home every day, but I can see why it is worth it. Great colleagues, beautiful school.
It is not easy to get a photo that captures everyone, especially when the youngest members of the family do not stay still for too long. But, we did it!
It was hard to say good-bye. Because in that moment of saying good-bye you start to miss each other already. Because you know you will miss so many special moments as the kids grow. Because you simply haven't had enough time.
We already look forward to next time.
Out for a walk in the city.
Playing doctor, farmor/mormor as patient.
Gathering flowers and playing on the patio.
Climbing on storsjoodjuret.
I was completely surprised with an early birthday present one afternoon. Malin and I went into town for a couple of hours for what I thought was going to be a bit of time to ourselves, wandering into a few shops and maybe stopping for a fika. But after a little bit of just that, she let me know that we had an appointment somewhere, and we needed to get going. Hmmm. I had no idea what was coming.Malin and Daniel have such a fantastic backyard. Large, sunny, a short walk through the woods to the lake, etc. We spent some lovely times on their back patio.
One of the things I love about being outside of the big city, and summer, is that everywhere you look, there are fields of wild flowers. And Anna loved them too.
And there are a few fields of cows here and there, which Anna enjoyed.
Anna got to spend some great times with Malin too.
Riding on a balance bike for the first time.
One of the things I love about being outside of the big city, and summer, is that everywhere you look, there are fields of wild flowers. And Anna loved them too.
Running through a field of wild flowers.
Presenting daddy with a bouquet of wild flowers.
And there are a few fields of cows here and there, which Anna enjoyed.
Anna got to spend some great times with Malin too.
Riding on a balance bike for the first time.
Gathering sticks in the woods to build a fort.
Modeling an old dress of Malin's.
Modeling an old dress of Malin's.
To my delight, we headed into a hand-blown glass boutique, and she let me know that she, Solweig and families were treating me to a glass blowing lesson. This is something that is absolutely up my alley! It's hard to describe how fun it was. I got to make a glass ball to hang from a window and a little bowl, and I left the lesson feeling like this is something that I am going to have to try again. Thank you all for such a fantastic treat!
We left Anna with farmor and farfar one day, and took a drive out to Malin's school, where she was working on next years school curriculum. She has a long drive to get there and home every day, but I can see why it is worth it. Great colleagues, beautiful school.
It is not easy to get a photo that captures everyone, especially when the youngest members of the family do not stay still for too long. But, we did it!
It was hard to say good-bye. Because in that moment of saying good-bye you start to miss each other already. Because you know you will miss so many special moments as the kids grow. Because you simply haven't had enough time.
We already look forward to next time.
Sweden Part II - Jamtland 'Water'
One of the things that we really look forward to when we travel to Jamtland, is to be able to get out on the water, and preferable in farfar's boat. We managed a couple of trips this year. One with the entire Eliasson/Eriksson gang, and the other with all of the Eliasson's and one Eriksson (Frans).
The first trip out was a lovely relaxed meander out on the river, for a bit of fishing. It's always fun to help farfar stear the boat.
The boys took turns fishing, and although we didn't catch a couple of Oring to have for dinner, we had a nip, which was enough to make everyone look forward to the next time.
On the second trip out, we stopped in at Lit's camping where Anna and Frans played in the water and sand, and enjoyed a picnic.
Patrik also had a chance to get out on the water with Hogge in his boat. Just as when the boys went fishing, Patrik also had a bite, but it also got away. But the catching of actual fish was secondary to just being out on the water together and catching up.
Another popular bit of water on the trip was the pool at farmor and farfar's house. Anna, Hugo, Viggo and Frans had so much fun running in and out of the pool, and the boys taught Anna some new tricks. Below, Kevin is being sensible in the chilly weather and staying out of the pool, while Anna (with her extra insulation) thought that the weather was just perfect for a dip.
Anna also had a great time helping Malin and Frans get their wee boat ready to take out for a sail.
Stay tuned for Part III, where we keep our feet firmly planted on land.
The first trip out was a lovely relaxed meander out on the river, for a bit of fishing. It's always fun to help farfar stear the boat.
The boys took turns fishing, and although we didn't catch a couple of Oring to have for dinner, we had a nip, which was enough to make everyone look forward to the next time.
On the second trip out, we stopped in at Lit's camping where Anna and Frans played in the water and sand, and enjoyed a picnic.
Filling and re-filling buckets never gets old.
And neither does another cup of coffee!
Icecream!
It's good to have a construction project manager around when you need to build a dam and a man-made river.
Heading back home.
Patrik also had a chance to get out on the water with Hogge in his boat. Just as when the boys went fishing, Patrik also had a bite, but it also got away. But the catching of actual fish was secondary to just being out on the water together and catching up.
Another popular bit of water on the trip was the pool at farmor and farfar's house. Anna, Hugo, Viggo and Frans had so much fun running in and out of the pool, and the boys taught Anna some new tricks. Below, Kevin is being sensible in the chilly weather and staying out of the pool, while Anna (with her extra insulation) thought that the weather was just perfect for a dip.
Stay tuned for Part III, where we keep our feet firmly planted on land.
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