tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770343272313292702024-03-12T20:23:00.321-04:00Erickson's BlogWe are a young family of 5. The three girls certainly keep us busy.Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-21086635014416810072012-04-03T13:56:00.006-04:002012-04-03T15:02:12.491-04:00Spring Break 2012<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjl83jf1drmJnKhgyZWGpupI1vFsj9ywMMJHAVt4vSGqHacrp_GuRcvReYaG3aQ98CPiHe6EC6cFEbiZS5mw8TfJNOJhdIEZX8FfkDYq8eLShIwHtGe8P5l3SyxawfMyTfJo45RlxJ3Ip/s1600/DSC06542.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjl83jf1drmJnKhgyZWGpupI1vFsj9ywMMJHAVt4vSGqHacrp_GuRcvReYaG3aQ98CPiHe6EC6cFEbiZS5mw8TfJNOJhdIEZX8FfkDYq8eLShIwHtGe8P5l3SyxawfMyTfJo45RlxJ3Ip/s400/DSC06542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727250353053939506" border="0" /></a><br />Well, it's Spring Break here in Colorado. Actually, the 2nd week of break. Because of the modified schedule Linnea is on, the one that had her starting school on August 3rd, they have 2 weeks of October Break and 2 weeks of Spring Break. Go figure! I'm been trying really, really hard to keep the kids busy. Week 1 went pretty well. The weather was warm and sunny and we went to the Botanical Garden and the Art Museum, along with trips to the park and a family hike/picnic at Castlewood Canyon. Yesterday, Linnea had a nice day long play date and Sonja actually went to preschool (they are on a different school schedule), so it was just me and my little buddy, Mira, running errands and snuggling down as the temperatures dropped from a comfortable 83 degrees to the 40s and then 30s. This morning we woke up to an inch of snow on the ground! Colorado definitely has the most bizarre weather I've ever seen.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T-8S9JeToB2c6Q7-hYvPyk3uPjES2IZR6SW_jj6PsJ8mLHLnYM6SqjF4QDuC9UVFdHnBWHPqiSDImW1Lsg3ip5eoM3gwxiOJBnynrKEtfD-UVeBQIWI_3KXoGXYrM__z6b8scF4txXY3/s1600/DSC06541.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T-8S9JeToB2c6Q7-hYvPyk3uPjES2IZR6SW_jj6PsJ8mLHLnYM6SqjF4QDuC9UVFdHnBWHPqiSDImW1Lsg3ip5eoM3gwxiOJBnynrKEtfD-UVeBQIWI_3KXoGXYrM__z6b8scF4txXY3/s400/DSC06541.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727250344392107826" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEAyhH-Yf_8PLV05xxMpJG5vKgbJsKCC7fkLs2yiP7oSy6lu0ou11yZyW9HGQY16z691hIbB0Bw6NBAbIkFqVGxoYWpZ_JQFKJ2zT94glacbChRDjhNvCVE5nsV97S_Hy9BUrod4UMzfm/s1600/DSC06522.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEAyhH-Yf_8PLV05xxMpJG5vKgbJsKCC7fkLs2yiP7oSy6lu0ou11yZyW9HGQY16z691hIbB0Bw6NBAbIkFqVGxoYWpZ_JQFKJ2zT94glacbChRDjhNvCVE5nsV97S_Hy9BUrod4UMzfm/s400/DSC06522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727250339686422770" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fA1lJ3-rpPVcdnr0IM7lTEvJT2NVJxQexOHmMv8ftvBSEjoIJyKOqbtgcFO_dWg7DoqqhQO8tGB8LoSsUmVEMR3EuKXpUVrl0bNaAoTzoM81w75nGeghlADFWHwtWuJ-B_3XxUlNgmUC/s1600/DSC06503.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fA1lJ3-rpPVcdnr0IM7lTEvJT2NVJxQexOHmMv8ftvBSEjoIJyKOqbtgcFO_dWg7DoqqhQO8tGB8LoSsUmVEMR3EuKXpUVrl0bNaAoTzoM81w75nGeghlADFWHwtWuJ-B_3XxUlNgmUC/s400/DSC06503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727250327395991954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiNS0TcnwrAqyozTxO3bDLM0QG8oSiFfDa4A_EGD1RNjGyPUG3nqroxRSzaL4yOzkpP-I13kFNJ82VmiqJQEu_lt-QCMThpz6dm108noQrDxXyZACOKCMuaOxpiT3Bzeb0F0jlEnVJdxg/s1600/DSC06527.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKiNS0TcnwrAqyozTxO3bDLM0QG8oSiFfDa4A_EGD1RNjGyPUG3nqroxRSzaL4yOzkpP-I13kFNJ82VmiqJQEu_lt-QCMThpz6dm108noQrDxXyZACOKCMuaOxpiT3Bzeb0F0jlEnVJdxg/s400/DSC06527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727237355104101538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_w6Zb8r4Iolc2DAFVyvADaiDWwjsXRWfK9TLqDJKtTlfBiQkKEvOc8Fk3aLIXAkE-4QIZgcesnzmCXcNWFVUtF3WqrtY5qP5b8-fLin_nPlgHLxBTWJN4_HaaeGSYh96IYZnbse9ubx2/s1600/DSC06498.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_w6Zb8r4Iolc2DAFVyvADaiDWwjsXRWfK9TLqDJKtTlfBiQkKEvOc8Fk3aLIXAkE-4QIZgcesnzmCXcNWFVUtF3WqrtY5qP5b8-fLin_nPlgHLxBTWJN4_HaaeGSYh96IYZnbse9ubx2/s400/DSC06498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727237347063265842" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyWUbD8k6GWtKLlZSiXrMFRL5NuQIu7v5YTAfa7HrLMSJEv5oRE9mdtkMQO9xXIxmSLF3vsyodFRbOGLQ4gSIIxfUSiyZA4bt7tqn8Vq7w8iGcK2OYc-oFKTZIu1gvvSL4pihb1WeQJiJ/s1600/DSC06496.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyWUbD8k6GWtKLlZSiXrMFRL5NuQIu7v5YTAfa7HrLMSJEv5oRE9mdtkMQO9xXIxmSLF3vsyodFRbOGLQ4gSIIxfUSiyZA4bt7tqn8Vq7w8iGcK2OYc-oFKTZIu1gvvSL4pihb1WeQJiJ/s400/DSC06496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727237337678400322" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIalvoOAVYU2VzI1I2-_hftVhVNQmqWbIuXL-rCd5NzAO5c4vRgzc8PMfKVIDXzlqQnv8UXmv9kKFi5i1CQNML-ZY0m3aLOXVN3dt0hI9_Z3a2NQZ0z9ZMPIhMG64BCzmT1JiHBXYCMhKG/s1600/DSC06495.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIalvoOAVYU2VzI1I2-_hftVhVNQmqWbIuXL-rCd5NzAO5c4vRgzc8PMfKVIDXzlqQnv8UXmv9kKFi5i1CQNML-ZY0m3aLOXVN3dt0hI9_Z3a2NQZ0z9ZMPIhMG64BCzmT1JiHBXYCMhKG/s400/DSC06495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727237334119377026" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJOnYRqYHkJb6sFcAciWez8ARWMVBuRPGLRmgprFznQdqrE1iMLtf5hEJeir6y6vQWCpxwrXp1MYKSHAnqi_VuutKxYr0jaenhZVJRf_GFJw-5FfvGyZbtJT7Vj33uFrGMOMTPT4aVEbZ/s1600/DSC06529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJOnYRqYHkJb6sFcAciWez8ARWMVBuRPGLRmgprFznQdqrE1iMLtf5hEJeir6y6vQWCpxwrXp1MYKSHAnqi_VuutKxYr0jaenhZVJRf_GFJw-5FfvGyZbtJT7Vj33uFrGMOMTPT4aVEbZ/s400/DSC06529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727237361878837186" border="0" /></a><br />Today we colored eggs. Some of us also colored our hands.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisL6E6yF3ThvCkFVfuN9ufoajjdArAqX3NUeQFK88enXspYU43IfkjTLVgcStmRx7Vf3lqqJ3Fm5MPTzlUfaQE98B5WQiHM4OmbaVudbtXiRcW8WBthkqw9rL-Fi78p5ITL299CwbjilQm/s1600/DSC06559.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisL6E6yF3ThvCkFVfuN9ufoajjdArAqX3NUeQFK88enXspYU43IfkjTLVgcStmRx7Vf3lqqJ3Fm5MPTzlUfaQE98B5WQiHM4OmbaVudbtXiRcW8WBthkqw9rL-Fi78p5ITL299CwbjilQm/s400/DSC06559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727250364862957602" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDNnYj69c04iqS1lRiFdzZclXIavEFbCOVJc8toXwLCpPG4m-zFiyNWo9bLXY-o2JVQHxECdt9HAZvCqYfgJdMTG1u1Yy6OaUJ2EZtFR-OHkBVMOSNVL_7UtGYigZT5GjvAjqQq1HVu95/s1600/DSC06556.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDNnYj69c04iqS1lRiFdzZclXIavEFbCOVJc8toXwLCpPG4m-zFiyNWo9bLXY-o2JVQHxECdt9HAZvCqYfgJdMTG1u1Yy6OaUJ2EZtFR-OHkBVMOSNVL_7UtGYigZT5GjvAjqQq1HVu95/s400/DSC06556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727251249769440738" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mzZKp3YF7msr3eXROzYdOHB5J6oRe5OPxS2ef4GMtnoERkjiI_7kGZSmMyZ2EisMhvHtDJZt8Y82qgqd8sGHq3iee8-gnBytCZHwhfxt7_Q8BSf4eX7lHuiL7aXo9nmJkEHQnpVCrIJd/s1600/DSC06558.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mzZKp3YF7msr3eXROzYdOHB5J6oRe5OPxS2ef4GMtnoERkjiI_7kGZSmMyZ2EisMhvHtDJZt8Y82qgqd8sGHq3iee8-gnBytCZHwhfxt7_Q8BSf4eX7lHuiL7aXo9nmJkEHQnpVCrIJd/s400/DSC06558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727251255955802578" border="0" /></a>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-71736163409654353522011-03-07T14:59:00.008-05:002011-04-29T20:27:23.908-04:00Easter and Spring HappeningsTime just seems to be flying by. Mira was 5 months old yesterday and Linnea's 6th birthday is coming up in just 2 short weeks. Sonja turned 3 back in March. Things have been really busy leading up to Easter and now we are all looking forward to getting back to our regular routine. <br /><br />The girls had a great Easter - got a little too much candy, but mom and dad helped out with that problem. The weather has been pretty crazy. Some days it's warm and sunny others cold and rainy and other where the wind blows so hard I'm afraid the roof is going to fly off. We've seen days in the high 70s and then just the other night we got a light dusting of snow. Colorado, who knew it could be so unpredictable?<br /><br />The girls are doing well. Sonja and Linnea are starting to compete more and more for the same things so I'm having to break up fights more often than before. I'm glad that they are not together all day every day. It seems that the time apart from each other does them some good.<br /><br />Mira is the loudest baby I've ever heard. We joke that she is part pterodactyl. She is loud, likes to sing and gurgle and even occasionally screech. I try to get it on video, but she always seems to clam up with the camera on her.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrvCFWsbJ82blC3-1NVH8noUxVJ4eFkoZy0RCq-DCOsomxFyJ7bLTjVEfDkFRc3Z7H7uEmDOcGW_c3V_qc8TJ90DAsNqrD0-1iWQtCJWIXqZWyQpXmMDyMJ1BkZ72dZ7rjScvGQ6jt9K5/s1600/DSC05848.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrvCFWsbJ82blC3-1NVH8noUxVJ4eFkoZy0RCq-DCOsomxFyJ7bLTjVEfDkFRc3Z7H7uEmDOcGW_c3V_qc8TJ90DAsNqrD0-1iWQtCJWIXqZWyQpXmMDyMJ1BkZ72dZ7rjScvGQ6jt9K5/s400/DSC05848.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601155702935938514" border="0" /></a>Linnea's new do - curls!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwC5Lfa5HTQXfngkpyGBl0souM3uL5s1cLKTgJ2vubaJVsYiXDKPRbUnzeFgM4qT_06zaWpj2tIxS5c5km1pMgG8AthoOWkVWZupyHwKQQWk5a8p6Y3-n35BvKZxxXQfcVRIqMFTDA0Do/s1600/DSC05843.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwC5Lfa5HTQXfngkpyGBl0souM3uL5s1cLKTgJ2vubaJVsYiXDKPRbUnzeFgM4qT_06zaWpj2tIxS5c5km1pMgG8AthoOWkVWZupyHwKQQWk5a8p6Y3-n35BvKZxxXQfcVRIqMFTDA0Do/s400/DSC05843.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601155694748409074" border="0" /></a>Mother's Day Tea at Sonja's preschool<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrNfg6ln4WCx7n6GvZIWKG3ww2GWlREBsNi_1_6X8FNaMKgyNbQqiadSHaRDkKzzZ83BEzF0tJzM3tLBSd4Tdd3TuLNLG3_gWVq17rwyTomtSOBjG-qyY95QA1r1V-wC3i6YIRVRCI1ny/s1600/DSC05809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrNfg6ln4WCx7n6GvZIWKG3ww2GWlREBsNi_1_6X8FNaMKgyNbQqiadSHaRDkKzzZ83BEzF0tJzM3tLBSd4Tdd3TuLNLG3_gWVq17rwyTomtSOBjG-qyY95QA1r1V-wC3i6YIRVRCI1ny/s400/DSC05809.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601155711140157250" border="0" /></a>Can't hardly find the baby amongst all the presents<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmKcm-hfGGkAUhsZWNDHr4p7zWf3jX7FozHAV1XRxNm27I9ZvgLreJV-1m9Mquuz7dm9UY8E38iYzJB0k6VAtI2mi2Jb3XTU1o8orFL9fRSDwBGB-eXZNWWte-AsJXu-uimWpUEORSlkT/s1600/DSC05887.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmKcm-hfGGkAUhsZWNDHr4p7zWf3jX7FozHAV1XRxNm27I9ZvgLreJV-1m9Mquuz7dm9UY8E38iYzJB0k6VAtI2mi2Jb3XTU1o8orFL9fRSDwBGB-eXZNWWte-AsJXu-uimWpUEORSlkT/s400/DSC05887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601154949938983154" border="0" /></a>Daddy's girl #3<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmmOkrff6R77kU4rEQDp5TfWGAWCggLJwkxnyE5GqraL6FrrVBrAz77HlMpGKhxL1JQ5nFd3zgO7TH14ToP4YK1x-E9-IBnXfDY_Gj1Gj1SCjLUkg6jsf21KUeZqwqs2hKlsT2bS4fLRW/s1600/DSC05868.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmmOkrff6R77kU4rEQDp5TfWGAWCggLJwkxnyE5GqraL6FrrVBrAz77HlMpGKhxL1JQ5nFd3zgO7TH14ToP4YK1x-E9-IBnXfDY_Gj1Gj1SCjLUkg6jsf21KUeZqwqs2hKlsT2bS4fLRW/s400/DSC05868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601154942477984498" border="0" /></a>Easter morning<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPsRDNE0vKUwmcHTGY7jL484IIhmlIIdQKx0-tFEBjVgERUTo-ogeNDTvpHZGyrb3jke_dKsew7d0otpP1y6GUdJpryvWPB-nCP9y7s4uhJ2XWB3EmcCWa1IqogPfWfdSiK-rDc5BvLfu/s1600/DSC05858.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPsRDNE0vKUwmcHTGY7jL484IIhmlIIdQKx0-tFEBjVgERUTo-ogeNDTvpHZGyrb3jke_dKsew7d0otpP1y6GUdJpryvWPB-nCP9y7s4uhJ2XWB3EmcCWa1IqogPfWfdSiK-rDc5BvLfu/s400/DSC05858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601154932144338802" border="0" /></a>All the girls in their Easter clothes<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mh3msZf1JXf5hJMxVprjHRhs8qMiGtKQs4h-JevvLCeLLoakF-yEoEn6XG1bcSfgI-Thfmib4x_nrH5UnZFMT2DHV7C_JDxrXPLnehcu4twZlCTWpXEWjtGO-EsSlA3VE2Sov78tgcC6/s1600/DSC05857.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mh3msZf1JXf5hJMxVprjHRhs8qMiGtKQs4h-JevvLCeLLoakF-yEoEn6XG1bcSfgI-Thfmib4x_nrH5UnZFMT2DHV7C_JDxrXPLnehcu4twZlCTWpXEWjtGO-EsSlA3VE2Sov78tgcC6/s400/DSC05857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601154925510657570" border="0" /></a>Practicing their curtsies<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyK-dPg_sYSdUIbvQvDVjXSk5NWhqz3SKgWwGBAEKqPMUa3vSyzEhPknucCO918RLQt5771FxPWqBbhDhnm2S_DQ_yUNVxhnITZ9wQ7t1BA4Tpg1fU5W2Fb6eADtz6ogpgz7_fNlMfv3Z/s1600/DSC05893.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyK-dPg_sYSdUIbvQvDVjXSk5NWhqz3SKgWwGBAEKqPMUa3vSyzEhPknucCO918RLQt5771FxPWqBbhDhnm2S_DQ_yUNVxhnITZ9wQ7t1BA4Tpg1fU5W2Fb6eADtz6ogpgz7_fNlMfv3Z/s400/DSC05893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601154959896833538" border="0" /></a>Mira's faux hawk curl - it's natural: aren't you jealous?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Coming up we've got Linnea's birthday party, the end of Sonja's preschool year, and Linnea's kindergarten graduation. Then our summer starts June 3rd and I just know it is going to fly by!<br /></div></div>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-21353092397173991862011-01-22T20:25:00.007-05:002011-02-01T11:42:46.150-05:00Mira Hope<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oo1kwTy0e-OLjweBbSWtcaPfB4FpQSdVtwFcsyM2oHZgHfoEPYfhhU3Ig77fuoXHqUKncQDK3u9EvXRYcMg8fXgvUrS2YPLT3Qxr85w7J00LaT_4lI2H0gFbY6h-DP9PmkEcRUfP5ZFk/s1600/DSC05491.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; visibility: visible ! important;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oo1kwTy0e-OLjweBbSWtcaPfB4FpQSdVtwFcsyM2oHZgHfoEPYfhhU3Ig77fuoXHqUKncQDK3u9EvXRYcMg8fXgvUrS2YPLT3Qxr85w7J00LaT_4lI2H0gFbY6h-DP9PmkEcRUfP5ZFk/s400/DSC05491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565187578217733602" border="0" /></a><br />Our little Mira Hope arrived on Sunday morning, the 28th of November after 12 hours of uncomplicated labor. She is a beautiful addition to our family and already has numerous adoring fans, her greatest admirers being Linnea and Sonja. I say "little" because she was our smallest baby yet. She weighed in at 8 pounds and 5 ounces, 21 inches long. Still a pretty good size nonetheless. At her 2 month check-up last week, she was 11 pounds and 23 inches long. By comparison, Linnea was 11 pounds at 1 month and at 2 months, Sonja was nearly 13 pounds. So she still remains our little Mira.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZ8gxxWTAe31QIy7QJNZiIPq1ki2tCVX-PLqOPFSX4u5kFXtEW823hVrE7IW-rrKGoGnVLKq7t17pJyc535eOMaGNY7N3-UV4w-MWmEzADc8TonCZ8g8HEZuK0XcirlgC70qOw8eQAuFN/s1600/DSC05543.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; visibility: visible ! important;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZ8gxxWTAe31QIy7QJNZiIPq1ki2tCVX-PLqOPFSX4u5kFXtEW823hVrE7IW-rrKGoGnVLKq7t17pJyc535eOMaGNY7N3-UV4w-MWmEzADc8TonCZ8g8HEZuK0XcirlgC70qOw8eQAuFN/s400/DSC05543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565187587736528322" border="0" /></a>Her adoring fans<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iUhvZEH7wfARSOVMVt0bRhmWgMbN45sg97VYtFIRMexDD7Qz9cri5PCBISCcMOfR6ag4ztHOch5VE_Vki3YSe3EJFuKE4Nvh0t8f2TJ3AJSz6v6FVDR53tPRs2TQKee9CWXDyHoyiqQo/s1600/DSC05513.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; visibility: visible ! important;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iUhvZEH7wfARSOVMVt0bRhmWgMbN45sg97VYtFIRMexDD7Qz9cri5PCBISCcMOfR6ag4ztHOch5VE_Vki3YSe3EJFuKE4Nvh0t8f2TJ3AJSz6v6FVDR53tPRs2TQKee9CWXDyHoyiqQo/s400/DSC05513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565187581625300418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oo1kwTy0e-OLjweBbSWtcaPfB4FpQSdVtwFcsyM2oHZgHfoEPYfhhU3Ig77fuoXHqUKncQDK3u9EvXRYcMg8fXgvUrS2YPLT3Qxr85w7J00LaT_4lI2H0gFbY6h-DP9PmkEcRUfP5ZFk/s1600/DSC05491.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbaNnipyfNAHn9dqSs1cIrjc_MQsf1xTwXdUco-5qMdgNRavxymT4CneKKzKLsykgRGVBi4yuIkaR0CAjWpjMwNpySAX7s_EdFf20HSTXfj8qwmX7clWsdE-5DdrfWgnrYbUoufMQeVFj/s1600/DSC05548.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; visibility: visible ! important;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbaNnipyfNAHn9dqSs1cIrjc_MQsf1xTwXdUco-5qMdgNRavxymT4CneKKzKLsykgRGVBi4yuIkaR0CAjWpjMwNpySAX7s_EdFf20HSTXfj8qwmX7clWsdE-5DdrfWgnrYbUoufMQeVFj/s400/DSC05548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565187593784755842" border="0" /></a>Our first significant snowfall last month<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Linnea and Sonja both continue to enjoy school. Actually, they were bummed that today turned out to be a snow day. I'm not quite as exciting as school. We can't believe that Sonja's 3rd birthday is right around the corner. How times flies! Sonja has a great sense of humor and cracks us up daily. She's our little spit-fire. Here she is at her school's Christmas program.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmjM-eAteWrBCWUKZcoTuD34F_VhBDAt-Vd2xuoB1PopzCRiZ5URyLNodc9XqGKR5NY6lSOB0xm0u5jz1d8muFu06KI1Fc_TrJLooil8hK_HOZL2wFtQioL3vOz3HgSJnM2FuQ-M9oAVH/s1600/DSC05534.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; visibility: visible ! important;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmjM-eAteWrBCWUKZcoTuD34F_VhBDAt-Vd2xuoB1PopzCRiZ5URyLNodc9XqGKR5NY6lSOB0xm0u5jz1d8muFu06KI1Fc_TrJLooil8hK_HOZL2wFtQioL3vOz3HgSJnM2FuQ-M9oAVH/s400/DSC05534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568761539849657682" border="0" /></a><br />Linnea is growing like a weed. I think she must have grown about 3 inches in the last 2 months. Most of her cloths are now too short and she just looks so long. Must be the long legs!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbox4doADoft1961EUTc8chY-QcRwvVrneLk99qW5vHLoLujld-uWAng8aSgXII7FtPfnRW2sG-I6gXiNAKulF9d0h4AS_ZxWTIODV5Kxc0w27_dO7sLs3gtDg7hCF3I3Cm2EI0LDjNwro/s1600/DSC05564.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; visibility: visible ! important;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbox4doADoft1961EUTc8chY-QcRwvVrneLk99qW5vHLoLujld-uWAng8aSgXII7FtPfnRW2sG-I6gXiNAKulF9d0h4AS_ZxWTIODV5Kxc0w27_dO7sLs3gtDg7hCF3I3Cm2EI0LDjNwro/s400/DSC05564.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568761535068890034" border="0" /></a>Linnea, the roving photographer, takes a snapshot with her baby sister<br /></div><br />Mira is a really great baby. She sleeps well at night, nurses well, travels well and is a happy, smiley baby. Must be because she's the 3rd child. I don't remember getting this much sleep so early on with Linnea.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxG0KyVoF_QnXfOI-c0uVptcxm-9vCwVGpH4udTp3KJOIVZtCKmv1akyl-10faJ64Eezeybo0YbwqFuT12tC1zYzz_sqtnhptNg9K7mvyYmEdQyIKnGML1-N_rftPeyT8ZOssGgr6f6_J7/s1600/DSC05607.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; visibility: visible ! important;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxG0KyVoF_QnXfOI-c0uVptcxm-9vCwVGpH4udTp3KJOIVZtCKmv1akyl-10faJ64Eezeybo0YbwqFuT12tC1zYzz_sqtnhptNg9K7mvyYmEdQyIKnGML1-N_rftPeyT8ZOssGgr6f6_J7/s400/DSC05607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568761541436122738" border="0" /></a><br />In about 3 weeks we are taking our first vacation as a family of 5. We are driving down to Pagosa Springs to meet up with my mom, dad, sister and brother-in-law for 3 days of skiing at Wolf Creek. Linnea is going to try downhill for the 1st time and maybe Sonja will too. The best part next to seeing family and skiing is that Pagosa has wonderful outdoor, natural hot springs. I can't wait for a nice long soak. We'll let you know how it goes!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-35057175030379456292010-09-08T19:01:00.008-04:002010-09-09T09:19:19.916-04:00Our Move To Colorado and the End of SummerWell, we've been in Colorado for over 3 weeks now and are really feeling comfortable and settled in. The move from Minnesota was not exactly fun (when is packing and moving ever fun?), but the 2 day drive to CO went off without a hitch. The girls were just fine and even got to ride in Daddy's big, yellow truck!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTL5c3mJe-uTmExmVK1p7XWKiBPBxyenKYezTCu0t1zC1fX2fC4zQ_30m14X4N0ZWpNm6oKQZwcaeCL9ylcSphiyDvrxn3QVbdjfSxmEGF-Ebyu7xiva379LW2qWnuO5kXlqGwNYlM-5y/s1600/DSC05281.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTL5c3mJe-uTmExmVK1p7XWKiBPBxyenKYezTCu0t1zC1fX2fC4zQ_30m14X4N0ZWpNm6oKQZwcaeCL9ylcSphiyDvrxn3QVbdjfSxmEGF-Ebyu7xiva379LW2qWnuO5kXlqGwNYlM-5y/s400/DSC05281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514687902731797426" border="0" /></a>Packing boxes in Minnesota<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6en-XERi8xKH6omVRvhcqztb4HmJPEL8o8eEb-LsU3p5-UgyUuw-jKuU7UJytViPoCWdOqAara6BAJEQyCUbHRKyDtmbBwtl2vEDLxsrx_d-PDl2Wb6OsBxyM58KfT6AZFh0IxrTes8iR/s1600/DSC05290.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6en-XERi8xKH6omVRvhcqztb4HmJPEL8o8eEb-LsU3p5-UgyUuw-jKuU7UJytViPoCWdOqAara6BAJEQyCUbHRKyDtmbBwtl2vEDLxsrx_d-PDl2Wb6OsBxyM58KfT6AZFh0IxrTes8iR/s400/DSC05290.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514687912527582562" border="0" /></a>Sonja in the moving truck<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRSKJKII9Q0-6OIApvVz9n5YPF1DYR892eXdAnrrVeMF4f9IF3dHFdnvNIcxqxUsySn6rSwTrQ8gmyPqonlNQim6oL0oySaSYCadhmL_tr_L7aZY5j8Xtp9fIskM5-kmsZ4xFBIdN97ul/s1600/DSC05288.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRSKJKII9Q0-6OIApvVz9n5YPF1DYR892eXdAnrrVeMF4f9IF3dHFdnvNIcxqxUsySn6rSwTrQ8gmyPqonlNQim6oL0oySaSYCadhmL_tr_L7aZY5j8Xtp9fIskM5-kmsZ4xFBIdN97ul/s400/DSC05288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514687909375074754" border="0" /></a>Some sister time<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxX3NEN213Zq3KuG8KobjiLjzGTavn4Vba2lJ11UXZfFt8-4HgJqX7NBkFQrP1nAlBYGteYUhiVpWFOJcCXnquWo2Syr-y6Op6srT6pckUgzUuyR5UgWXfI1F7cCSBJZyI9Uml8VMWaDI/s1600/DSC05292.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxX3NEN213Zq3KuG8KobjiLjzGTavn4Vba2lJ11UXZfFt8-4HgJqX7NBkFQrP1nAlBYGteYUhiVpWFOJcCXnquWo2Syr-y6Op6srT6pckUgzUuyR5UgWXfI1F7cCSBJZyI9Uml8VMWaDI/s400/DSC05292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514686760742090530" border="0" /></a>Sonja and Daddy in the truck<br /><br />Just a few days after we moved in, Linnea started kindergarten. The kids actually started a week earlier, so Linnea had her own "first day". The elementary school is very close by and I have been enjoying walking her to and from school. She goes to school 2 and 1/2 days a week and she has so much fun!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_XKmblQsI3J2q2vpVGJ6tsGJuIqhthLVbnGfETotZFhWjEoqRnykWALYWuql-dtOuYEWc6nehCop9DjC9ErKTZBEpl7SzkVsP_tJZhvXliHxN8_ZGsLB4ZM8nMISrqKbSL6JEa537qLp/s1600/DSC05332.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_XKmblQsI3J2q2vpVGJ6tsGJuIqhthLVbnGfETotZFhWjEoqRnykWALYWuql-dtOuYEWc6nehCop9DjC9ErKTZBEpl7SzkVsP_tJZhvXliHxN8_ZGsLB4ZM8nMISrqKbSL6JEa537qLp/s400/DSC05332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514686747183024002" border="0" /></a>Little Miss Linnea ready for her first day!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkwIRj1moSOgJ43O4_8VRrKRZAS_UAhi6U1CHsfTFFoBPK2LjJg5LqcTPyZVYllcpbceFpddwruCdEXvMhDzZHZuhj6FaKIMgX5fJUiuRVoOEg6gJX0K3CoQ9fZBjB5yYLtQlS9wZ51Yn/s1600/DSC05330.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkwIRj1moSOgJ43O4_8VRrKRZAS_UAhi6U1CHsfTFFoBPK2LjJg5LqcTPyZVYllcpbceFpddwruCdEXvMhDzZHZuhj6FaKIMgX5fJUiuRVoOEg6gJX0K3CoQ9fZBjB5yYLtQlS9wZ51Yn/s400/DSC05330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514687922375004562" border="0" /></a>Outside on our front porch!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUd-rPwOd4BDCcsPgXabHgdf_VOHXctQZi3MT1bsM5zUslEf-UG14KPvawmYumzdKMVjiko-eL5a7Kv3XDLiF7EH369vyBPOI9eb2uhGlqAt-7I8NpVCx7StMjmEccMGK5h3BrMPF-pA8/s1600/DSC05339.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUd-rPwOd4BDCcsPgXabHgdf_VOHXctQZi3MT1bsM5zUslEf-UG14KPvawmYumzdKMVjiko-eL5a7Kv3XDLiF7EH369vyBPOI9eb2uhGlqAt-7I8NpVCx7StMjmEccMGK5h3BrMPF-pA8/s400/DSC05339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514686759523341810" border="0" /></a><br /></div>The following week, Sonja started preschool and really loves it. She goes 2 days a week, which seems like just enough for her. On her first day she came home all smiles and covered in paint. Here she is getting ready to drive with Daddy to her first day of preschool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FVI9xzV7euUlpTS39kMglDVLoXtB40Vgq7xPQfIlblJxFDMkPmYW38FiLF-o1Che2rB2VMZQ7snO-4o1VXxXNXyai5MAGFCokgqRTwS6652ZwTXIAPCkpDLCudkJHUUioPAgvCKbyfs7/s1600/DSC05349.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FVI9xzV7euUlpTS39kMglDVLoXtB40Vgq7xPQfIlblJxFDMkPmYW38FiLF-o1Che2rB2VMZQ7snO-4o1VXxXNXyai5MAGFCokgqRTwS6652ZwTXIAPCkpDLCudkJHUUioPAgvCKbyfs7/s400/DSC05349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514686755213175874" border="0" /></a>We really, really enjoy living in a house and feel truly blessed. Since we've arrived in Colorado, we've felt welcomed and loved by the church community. We feel like we are fitting in well and are looking forward to the next couple of years.<br /><br />On a pregnancy note, I've been feeling just fine. I'm starting to feel the tiredness that comes with the third trimester, but with both girls in school a couple days a week, I've been able to take rests and relax a little. When both girls are home, however, there is little relaxation; they certainly like to keep me on my toes! I was excited to pass my 1 hour glucose tolerance test (a first for me!), so I don't have to go through the undesirable 3 hour test. We are all getting really excited about meeting are new little girl!<br /><br />The weather since we've been here has been hot and sunny, but not at all humid, which is a nice change from MN. Now that the evenings have been cooling down considerably, we are looking forward to what Fall in CO has to offer.<br /><br />We're hoping to keep you updated on a more regular basis, but we'll see what happens!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQlf6ar7ZW7aWdhAEUgGE04JQEmeYzr6U7PosW8eUPAHFpgLC4F801kx85EdrNxZCdgYSNri720vEATVz7D_tmmzb-AUFuJ3cwLE5cZjlrIW_fNRn6KotMwNfqFDVhHLVSU8NQDUUcRkZ/s1600/DSC05345.JPG"><br /></a>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-66176848170891974262010-05-26T12:35:00.003-04:002010-06-19T19:43:22.056-04:00What's New?So, I've been really, really behind on the blog posts. But that's good news! That means that we've been super busy and will have lots of exciting news to share. The first batch of pictures I took about a month ago and thought they were super cute. The photos at the end are of Linnea's 5th birthday party back on May 15th. Once again we had beautiful weather.<br /><br />Now, on to the news. We are moving to Colorado for two years in August. Matthew was assigned an internship at a church in Littleton, CO. We are all very excited about this decision, as this was his first choice of internship sites. The other news is that we will be adding Erickson baby number 3 the the family right around Thanksgiving. We will find out next month whether we're having a boy or a girl. The girls really want a little brother, but I think they'll be just fine with another little sister as well. They are both very excited about the new addition to our family.<br /><br />I recently took the girls with me back to Massachusetts to visit my family and we had a great time. It was great to see all of the family and for the girls to visit with their cousins. I will have to post some of those pictures soon.<br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZRW0wBwjs-OMOaxa3I8gzLoAxp3zDtsr4ssuy4w_AFsdsGcAjQH-u8_76pDLqQFUNJjNtGMYFKYUgkqcgyYQjYOfeWft8eQ87I05j2xJNYC0KW4WmfQju7jjB8s2KuY1u8yMEqrEr4T1/s1600/DSC05103.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZRW0wBwjs-OMOaxa3I8gzLoAxp3zDtsr4ssuy4w_AFsdsGcAjQH-u8_76pDLqQFUNJjNtGMYFKYUgkqcgyYQjYOfeWft8eQ87I05j2xJNYC0KW4WmfQju7jjB8s2KuY1u8yMEqrEr4T1/s400/DSC05103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475619676876464082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9csfr20B-KWKhS-CyyZN3gCWrETKScDauirJqtlc3wgxz5HRhdAL2v7uye3TeXC3N-5f2IFNAb1SHyQP7Jz7kwHhqBtEUPnxZGc2CAS9M6H6D1UpI0ClpXItBm3nRhxX4npg1GGTy56aI/s1600/DSC05101.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9csfr20B-KWKhS-CyyZN3gCWrETKScDauirJqtlc3wgxz5HRhdAL2v7uye3TeXC3N-5f2IFNAb1SHyQP7Jz7kwHhqBtEUPnxZGc2CAS9M6H6D1UpI0ClpXItBm3nRhxX4npg1GGTy56aI/s400/DSC05101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475619666863792402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlnA5xTvB3c9b_DngJuGlgyM5ezemaOIzm5rdGAEZ9vyFOKbHgoyHYV4-xLQhOFTbxIWn28xQjvJV7ACsLVQo-2UVOEQj7VVjZzZ31KkK3k0NNiOE5GAcGkeOykLhbp4tbRnHsfj6ncPL/s1600/DSC05100.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlnA5xTvB3c9b_DngJuGlgyM5ezemaOIzm5rdGAEZ9vyFOKbHgoyHYV4-xLQhOFTbxIWn28xQjvJV7ACsLVQo-2UVOEQj7VVjZzZ31KkK3k0NNiOE5GAcGkeOykLhbp4tbRnHsfj6ncPL/s400/DSC05100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475619664138732242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEF2btX6UQk45cZG3CnbS2Uo5Sbm1X9iVKgssC1nTaAFAn_U953M8S1mhG8dtM6OO1Rq7K0cN3JrBnZ4py-sryM7G_gLY0jESZ2uawnjEP1c0uUgQPAx3s1U2lYgtzwdeZ6n5OTi7qSlJ/s1600/DSC05080.JPG"><img style="display: block; 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margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HrCQ4jN5QGbZAcaOv2C3fTBfJTXi13ZbyiRgcLxsrdffFYYbnseLdnoVQol0LcLA5EZ4qw2Mg4WcGkFQw1kFJfvi3Efx6Xggv7h-hC44N2KCb0M4HOt6Xwo5EU6Sm84ngsO7VMU1nXep/s400/DSC05058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475618862813596482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-945BK9HxA1zrRCSJ3UIPpaOCPEXZ4WH_7F_UvftbFZFuZT7408cYbIRU5D0y3pltMYImuwak-d-SsPzD17FjV3mFbJsORlkBEUWr4e_X1gJ6M1rD9QImBNiH2TkQ58NJlp602iofosN/s1600/DSC05054.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-945BK9HxA1zrRCSJ3UIPpaOCPEXZ4WH_7F_UvftbFZFuZT7408cYbIRU5D0y3pltMYImuwak-d-SsPzD17FjV3mFbJsORlkBEUWr4e_X1gJ6M1rD9QImBNiH2TkQ58NJlp602iofosN/s400/DSC05054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475618856862396898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBO03VIf9L9dMxaDapDN9jEjtRahzm6GKqVbh1kXZ9F0kvRN2ER04fRN0HRHK51gm1zYFYbNeAuQkqrt6uSO9UKCnxKhcMtJboakI74CPiOx3v6lo2QFaB658nCRvP5R-tyzc0dEBUgD4T/s1600/DSC05052.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBO03VIf9L9dMxaDapDN9jEjtRahzm6GKqVbh1kXZ9F0kvRN2ER04fRN0HRHK51gm1zYFYbNeAuQkqrt6uSO9UKCnxKhcMtJboakI74CPiOx3v6lo2QFaB658nCRvP5R-tyzc0dEBUgD4T/s400/DSC05052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475618844627551810" border="0" /></a>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-17215852488757164062010-02-23T19:51:00.005-05:002010-02-23T20:24:03.631-05:00Back in Minnesota AgainIt's been so long since our last post and a lot has happened. We spent 3 weeks in Mass and the another few weeks in Washington before our half- country trek back to the cold, snowy Mid-West. On our way back we stopped at beautiful Yellowstone National Park for a few days. There we went on a snow-coach tour of the park and saw some amazing things like Old Faithful and bubbling pots of mud. It was really amazing and the girls enjoyed the trip. We also went cross-country skiing and outdoor ice skating, and took advantage of the indoor pool.<br /><br />Since we've been back here, it's been pretty cold (compared to what we were used to in Sweden) and we've had a decent amount of snow. And we're loving it! It is so sunny here most days and that I really enjoy. The girls and I have been outside almost everyday (sometimes twice a day) playing in the snow or taking trips to the local libraries. I love to keep these kids busy. We've also been reconnecting with our friends we met here over a year ago and it's been fun to catch up with all of them.<br /><br />Now Matthew is in the process of interviewing for internship next year. We won't find out where we will be moving to next until after April 1st. Seems like a long time off, but I know it will go quick. I've signed with girls up for swim lessons starting next week and I have a feeling that they'll love them. These girls really love the water and I love how it tires them out!<br /><br />I've been working on doing a lot of homemade projects in addition to the regular cooking. That means all of our bread (gluten and gluten-free), yogurt, buttermilk and granola is homemade. It's fun to do with the girls and they really enjoy the food. Today we made homemade play-dough, which we didn't eat. ;-)<br /><br />I'll end the post with a few pictures of the girls and our adventures. Check out the video as well. Enjoy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K8goBgpukXXWj9IYqAN8xoQa1aGS7tc2n7aWAf55kFNS9MGNwUDR39h5L8AYP7A8nki620YyDaP8onKrg6yi3-xQUpkZSWKRNO88IrVSofOCPymNuR1sOuvd7dmC5gS-5RGQFc61dTA_/s1600-h/DSC04669.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K8goBgpukXXWj9IYqAN8xoQa1aGS7tc2n7aWAf55kFNS9MGNwUDR39h5L8AYP7A8nki620YyDaP8onKrg6yi3-xQUpkZSWKRNO88IrVSofOCPymNuR1sOuvd7dmC5gS-5RGQFc61dTA_/s400/DSC04669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441611452701410850" border="0" /></a>Linnea bowling back in Mass<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinszy1p0zqTLfIEyU_A-VDdy6zsdKXa2p8f1O2tn97548_-jQJL3GG5P-A89t3VJmHjlDLBWNmA4IXSzobF7B9aBUdAWjL4GBrFHpr5uQCeAnGJPc4Mqj4AOlYqAkSH9pDYtVPHDfpZQF7/s1600-h/DSC04671.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinszy1p0zqTLfIEyU_A-VDdy6zsdKXa2p8f1O2tn97548_-jQJL3GG5P-A89t3VJmHjlDLBWNmA4IXSzobF7B9aBUdAWjL4GBrFHpr5uQCeAnGJPc4Mqj4AOlYqAkSH9pDYtVPHDfpZQF7/s400/DSC04671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441611463127580386" border="0" /></a>Sonja snoozing<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0wE000anjgxwcRzszbPj5CRpOqc8xGQ1_IG7J5Yz8jbyWPS4G0j4aZ-BOEkYSwIlCoItCqxu3kAvXxhLKMGZgkgAz1eC7heE2o2M4ZMLqIBizzxoueLf25B8jEESsVxERuwKkOHmGQV6/s1600-h/DSC04705.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0wE000anjgxwcRzszbPj5CRpOqc8xGQ1_IG7J5Yz8jbyWPS4G0j4aZ-BOEkYSwIlCoItCqxu3kAvXxhLKMGZgkgAz1eC7heE2o2M4ZMLqIBizzxoueLf25B8jEESsVxERuwKkOHmGQV6/s400/DSC04705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441611470957307538" border="0" /></a>Hiking with farmor in Washington<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaw7RBEZ4KYYlEj3GjIP-IUyG117-vFy3EZA_745inNZ_aED62DRwuhwhHue4DAJCfb4qO4t_VcSu_hmNJxJxhGNDHZPAAwZTwHaQIJooPkNgIT8uPGs0dCtlIAFMcozZaC5ujZRCOdz0U/s1600-h/DSC04684.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaw7RBEZ4KYYlEj3GjIP-IUyG117-vFy3EZA_745inNZ_aED62DRwuhwhHue4DAJCfb4qO4t_VcSu_hmNJxJxhGNDHZPAAwZTwHaQIJooPkNgIT8uPGs0dCtlIAFMcozZaC5ujZRCOdz0U/s400/DSC04684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441610925157126226" border="0" /></a>Linnea on the mountain (Mt. Baker)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8BEd_AgmSuTofiVAXh30duvsucjqhTHacZ6mDgCCqlKO5rAYLpHRfCY93BOh1qocCqt27lbwG4X25q9VLvL4A93EoUDoQDvA7Ap3hR_CklhCls-JrtGc3FY8-dJdMD6422O5jK_WD0nk/s1600-h/DSC04711.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8BEd_AgmSuTofiVAXh30duvsucjqhTHacZ6mDgCCqlKO5rAYLpHRfCY93BOh1qocCqt27lbwG4X25q9VLvL4A93EoUDoQDvA7Ap3hR_CklhCls-JrtGc3FY8-dJdMD6422O5jK_WD0nk/s400/DSC04711.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441611444694241970" border="0" /></a><br />Snuggle time<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXV_pY3MQOIfzjIF8Nvbk-85xMLSJ__sBrCcct1RUFvw6s7uOc4t-ud1j027XGHrvNfcPU6QghmuxEevRI4u3r2oejmWNz4pAhXhQ1bj6r8WZIg7WC2jtKt599xDuU7z7mV95UUQMWwto/s1600-h/DSC04714.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXV_pY3MQOIfzjIF8Nvbk-85xMLSJ__sBrCcct1RUFvw6s7uOc4t-ud1j027XGHrvNfcPU6QghmuxEevRI4u3r2oejmWNz4pAhXhQ1bj6r8WZIg7WC2jtKt599xDuU7z7mV95UUQMWwto/s400/DSC04714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441611437423461938" border="0" /></a>Yellowstone at sunset<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Yk-dkREF39AREgFuj7D0aBpGKXaUhcBPCigJQYVIHkW_qtpR6KsO-OgUBWfkkzrzfv1l2QrzMENORww9DMdhJ0WnZixeu2wkUGO9bb1jvcOTu5OnNtWLm3JFjdGNSKk-6rA13ENzCfKE/s1600-h/DSC04717.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Yk-dkREF39AREgFuj7D0aBpGKXaUhcBPCigJQYVIHkW_qtpR6KsO-OgUBWfkkzrzfv1l2QrzMENORww9DMdhJ0WnZixeu2wkUGO9bb1jvcOTu5OnNtWLm3JFjdGNSKk-6rA13ENzCfKE/s400/DSC04717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441610951479270610" border="0" /></a>Skiing out<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovVyan6eN1mznQXx8GQtFT79oduzr0YARGPXJuLP-EVepNafkqRfJHy42-jbU22rBtb7BtsYTYiiD7BkHIClpFA6FcKGoZOy3KZZJqkwtSgOLtkNpn8Slo_2frAAn_Kt_Z1mBI8Vn9kxc/s1600-h/DSC04716.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovVyan6eN1mznQXx8GQtFT79oduzr0YARGPXJuLP-EVepNafkqRfJHy42-jbU22rBtb7BtsYTYiiD7BkHIClpFA6FcKGoZOy3KZZJqkwtSgOLtkNpn8Slo_2frAAn_Kt_Z1mBI8Vn9kxc/s400/DSC04716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441610939863030738" border="0" /></a>Skiing with Sonja<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSjw3EZf-7hGsyVgtEu6z7uPhS0F9tV4Xcx2Eljnf7dOFLTPmaSEyiu6BwJhiTUJTlSHMiXh1UpQyP-l9Jv5nDh83da79UKxOTOVCAK4fu0xn00STjlC6WCjiupFfqS_nfvUKeOLRYBki/s1600-h/DSC04788.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSjw3EZf-7hGsyVgtEu6z7uPhS0F9tV4Xcx2Eljnf7dOFLTPmaSEyiu6BwJhiTUJTlSHMiXh1UpQyP-l9Jv5nDh83da79UKxOTOVCAK4fu0xn00STjlC6WCjiupFfqS_nfvUKeOLRYBki/s400/DSC04788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441610919366333346" border="0" /></a>Our snow-coach<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC62HVYzTGOZwcW0WQf2pIUkQhTZOG7AiLyD3mb398iIepDo4CAaOTZEP-bLKV4IEiFz663s63fOws50I8poGf9W_AWHmEUYCMxcEHfC979LG3pp0McsAUWDkdubxwnCd0e6ZOzhGeVXfl/s1600-h/tasty+ice.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC62HVYzTGOZwcW0WQf2pIUkQhTZOG7AiLyD3mb398iIepDo4CAaOTZEP-bLKV4IEiFz663s63fOws50I8poGf9W_AWHmEUYCMxcEHfC979LG3pp0McsAUWDkdubxwnCd0e6ZOzhGeVXfl/s400/tasty+ice.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441610906404888194" border="0" /></a>Eating ice outside our building<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHPiP_5SSQQer3BFD-5Bhbo7PSPah7mYIlLK90ad2x-RCDWaLrPWpUZc869Nuo1fELiBEvzWQuEJpbNQYStBxPT5S4Elg58WRUXypVmAq0PPG4d_jDl0djJBPhJknH6brOq50TBqUftRO/s1600-h/slide.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHPiP_5SSQQer3BFD-5Bhbo7PSPah7mYIlLK90ad2x-RCDWaLrPWpUZc869Nuo1fELiBEvzWQuEJpbNQYStBxPT5S4Elg58WRUXypVmAq0PPG4d_jDl0djJBPhJknH6brOq50TBqUftRO/s400/slide.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441610366778041090" border="0" /></a>In the tunnel<br /></div><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyyqtxV3zFKTD_kVbKpyzPgHYEKRfbMsSmVanlliVmI0T4xyPF7PE9-gAOfBqq-r8YeVSAbhOtQPb_xvHGhLA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-11133885774431978262009-12-12T00:43:00.007-05:002009-12-12T03:19:00.551-05:00Heading WestAfter Wayne and Ellyn left us in Stockholm to fly back to the US, we were all sad. It seemed so quiet without them. Linnea complained that she didn't have anyone to talk to while riding in the car. We all felt a little lonely without them joining us on our adventures. The same day they left Stockholm we headed west towards Norway. We stopped to stay a couple of days at a cabin on the Northern tip of one of Sweden's largest lakes. Unfortunately, it was cold and rainy so we didn't even get to go swimming. So sad. Instead we went hiking and hit the mother load when we discovered all of the wild blueberries everywhere! We packed up a few containers full and enjoyed them for days.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4AxN2hVhHvKE6aX9vcaCKa6kikRvWut6o95DhB9HfDk0uCmWA89VsYD_SUEMHbo0vCAq7gF-LsrauPbujKeymRx9BFJJtldmxsLWbkNx-CxTWhyul08Z1BfGJwF6G7CFDF3dyjae2S9J/s1600-h/DSC01651.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4AxN2hVhHvKE6aX9vcaCKa6kikRvWut6o95DhB9HfDk0uCmWA89VsYD_SUEMHbo0vCAq7gF-LsrauPbujKeymRx9BFJJtldmxsLWbkNx-CxTWhyul08Z1BfGJwF6G7CFDF3dyjae2S9J/s400/DSC01651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414253395394621234" border="0" /></a>A bus we saw on the road<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionN3IVgm-qW1smKydmSENm6UzKrjAWdTSHfVC07oIvQlCEQGUaQdZESrVIkcqfM_w8Cfcr7YxU_JEDhRyVEs0gD8t_P8YS7y0G62qvib2n_z6PwAp_lx2wAo9BTdLOAn-pUW4h1p0mxsG/s1600-h/DSC01652.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionN3IVgm-qW1smKydmSENm6UzKrjAWdTSHfVC07oIvQlCEQGUaQdZESrVIkcqfM_w8Cfcr7YxU_JEDhRyVEs0gD8t_P8YS7y0G62qvib2n_z6PwAp_lx2wAo9BTdLOAn-pUW4h1p0mxsG/s400/DSC01652.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414253383622332354" border="0" /></a>Out on a hike<br /><br /></div>Then it was time to move on again, but we were all eager to escaped the rainy weather. We took a half a day and kept on west to Norway. There we stayed with my very distant and very nice relatives Nils and Vesla on the family farm northwest of Oslo. They were so gracious and hospitable - great people! They are a retired couple that have moved out of the main farmhouse into a very cozy home on the property. One of their daughters, her husband and 3 children now live in the main farmhouse and run the farm. We also visited Ola (their son) who lives on another farm not too far away with his wife and daughter.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeRgDNLsgLEpwZru-CkXbm4wurKhBogDUcytdbM5aGvlPHS2B81n4BWUscepPw5pQACWrnI6SPPAJ4vPls1CbeoIz6G4EG0G55kj0iRrlKrLnHvmmToXOU22V6X0xQxkg4pQpji-Z0ILL/s1600-h/DSC01664.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeRgDNLsgLEpwZru-CkXbm4wurKhBogDUcytdbM5aGvlPHS2B81n4BWUscepPw5pQACWrnI6SPPAJ4vPls1CbeoIz6G4EG0G55kj0iRrlKrLnHvmmToXOU22V6X0xQxkg4pQpji-Z0ILL/s400/DSC01664.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414253398096679570" border="0" /></a>View from across the fjord<br /></div><br />The girls loved playing with their "cousins" and the weather was just gorgeous. I had stayed there back in 1998 for a week after I completed my term in Germany. It was great to see everyone again, how the kids had grown and to meet the newest family members. While there, we also visited the glass factory and an old silver mine. Very fun. It felt so nice to stay in a home with great hosts after staying in cabins and hotels for the past few of weeks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU93LQZAzPFoKUAPxRyR3VDIDSZIwu-iU3YpPX7FzRYE0mG8q7UYrS4sYqdLbDgFnDpcCMGBByuqoUlf37vuGr85tKKk8qsjJZAVVjIMaW0vQNURrrXGGE3lg3ABg_TX-EG_eNGyAz7HK/s1600-h/DSC01680.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOU93LQZAzPFoKUAPxRyR3VDIDSZIwu-iU3YpPX7FzRYE0mG8q7UYrS4sYqdLbDgFnDpcCMGBByuqoUlf37vuGr85tKKk8qsjJZAVVjIMaW0vQNURrrXGGE3lg3ABg_TX-EG_eNGyAz7HK/s400/DSC01680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414253411531820258" border="0" /></a>Annette, Linnea and Sonja<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOAuu8CxdHKSq0QuFzqPe27FC1_bihOI0pV2EB8VFNVh0rRTJYUmMdAyefC8mr4axHPV32SNH4YM7HI2B6Vb5VsitjF9u_HNkjA1glLaNqRhVPsw-TP5ZXydxHFh0W3r4XlsAQanoJskw/s1600-h/DSC01673.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOAuu8CxdHKSq0QuFzqPe27FC1_bihOI0pV2EB8VFNVh0rRTJYUmMdAyefC8mr4axHPV32SNH4YM7HI2B6Vb5VsitjF9u_HNkjA1glLaNqRhVPsw-TP5ZXydxHFh0W3r4XlsAQanoJskw/s400/DSC01673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414253403908735938" border="0" /></a>The two familys at Ola and Anna's house.<br /></div><br />From there we set off for a week up to Flåm and then Bergen where we saw some absolutely amazing county. Stories and pictures to follow.Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-80155036598924164062009-12-03T07:21:00.006-05:002009-12-03T11:07:56.136-05:00Farewell Already?We can't believe it! We'll be leaving Sweden in just 11 days. Could it really be that soon? Of course we are really, really looking forward to getting home and seeing family. We are also sad to say "goodbye" to the good friends we have made over the past year. We hope that we will see them again someday! Perhaps they'll visit us in the US?<br /><br />Our plans for the holidays are to spend 3 weeks in Massachusetts over Christmas, my birthday and New Year's, and then about 2.5 weeks in Washington. Then we will begin the long drive back to Minnesota. This time however, we will be making a stop for 4 days in Yellowstone! We are so excited, I've never been. There we hope to do some cross country skiing and hot tubbing. It'll be interesting to move back into our old apartment building in MN. Some friends are still there and we are very much looking forward to reconnecting with them. Of course, we'll have to get used to the extreme cold again, but I'm really looking forward to some snow.<br /><br />We are trying to make the most of our remaining time in Sweden and participating in some Advent festivities. Next week Linnea has a Santa Lucia performance at her school at 7:00 AM while it is still dark. That'll be cold. Pictures to follow. Tomorrow we bake Christmas cookies with some friends. And we've done a little Christmas shopping here as well. The girls made a gingerbread house which was quickly devoured.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjKYq_cCGh1prjI4bc2SWstpDCK2rPnasgAVpBYwsjmAX9CLVFUldP9dDmPXLOyJ6CuVRmOR1nxbSU3sNv8hPDzAyCUOyjIbwSrqcOZyAXq3OBZ1pXHtXcCp6SIDEtABHLD4wPUJoiDid/s1600-h/DSC04484.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjKYq_cCGh1prjI4bc2SWstpDCK2rPnasgAVpBYwsjmAX9CLVFUldP9dDmPXLOyJ6CuVRmOR1nxbSU3sNv8hPDzAyCUOyjIbwSrqcOZyAXq3OBZ1pXHtXcCp6SIDEtABHLD4wPUJoiDid/s400/DSC04484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411001925382312642" border="0" /></a>Hope to see some of you real soon!Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-8589302683840014892009-11-20T07:33:00.009-05:002009-11-20T15:11:36.948-05:00Polar Circle, High Coast and StockholmOur time with Ellyn and Wayne continued on to more northern Sweden into Lappland. We stayed 3 nights in Arvidsjaur and during that stay traveled north to Jokkmokk, which is north of the Arctic circle. Up there we saw many reindeer and visited the Sami museum that we found very interesting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqS-O8pAYR892Gaug0nJy54o3f-GKwRxzkoy8JUi5IYuU6-lTltkI06dWCjatryfKHOXC-jtDVDhHU1Yv54_uCvj28fHBeK6riciOQuVpkHp8HV5sPYemdiKwRjZEVN5j9ykrl4BOLVZt/s1600/DSC01539.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqS-O8pAYR892Gaug0nJy54o3f-GKwRxzkoy8JUi5IYuU6-lTltkI06dWCjatryfKHOXC-jtDVDhHU1Yv54_uCvj28fHBeK6riciOQuVpkHp8HV5sPYemdiKwRjZEVN5j9ykrl4BOLVZt/s400/DSC01539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406186922866346098" border="0" /></a>After our time up north we started to make our way south down the east coast, also known as the High Coast. Here we stayed another couple of nights. We were originally going to stay in another stuga but the reservation got mixed-up. Apparently, they had us booked as 4 dogs and 2 children instead of 4 adults and 2 children. Not quite sure how that all happened but it was pretty humorous when we were trying to check in! Luckily, there was room at a hotel and we stayed there instead. On the high coast the girls took their first chair lift ride up a mountain. From there we had a beautiful view and they feasted like bear cubs on wild blueberries.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaGf0Cpq7RNksl2wUv17n2MwkC7AyBsEP2vuKIq3XHiB7nDCVN03ab4DoWDjaB81IaCrszN2oI46EDsRFkZ0ETcNr_7t5hT3EA5bSxLOdcEH4-_OS6T3LkCJOjjJVSChS-7R8EGe4_2jd/s1600/DSC01546.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaGf0Cpq7RNksl2wUv17n2MwkC7AyBsEP2vuKIq3XHiB7nDCVN03ab4DoWDjaB81IaCrszN2oI46EDsRFkZ0ETcNr_7t5hT3EA5bSxLOdcEH4-_OS6T3LkCJOjjJVSChS-7R8EGe4_2jd/s400/DSC01546.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406186932297939378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ya4UwoPnPJa36_r1sO5c9ltgzX4W4ZipfLhCG5hnJK1nN1HTWs7U7at0V6lR0zwUjXtzYq-igsCVNSwycjeeFrnMt-4uLudPQBr3MhLr8KmiglARADR-eCEOSGl3h5ooVzyrFUamYxGh/s1600/DSC01545.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ya4UwoPnPJa36_r1sO5c9ltgzX4W4ZipfLhCG5hnJK1nN1HTWs7U7at0V6lR0zwUjXtzYq-igsCVNSwycjeeFrnMt-4uLudPQBr3MhLr8KmiglARADR-eCEOSGl3h5ooVzyrFUamYxGh/s400/DSC01545.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406186929699885314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWvHisAwXTAdNHcQa0ngBB8P7HCyy_1rLy3JJK8-0oJRvWebI82HMzMxEHwtX6HDykt56zLqUkhC6xN4SS9zP4ssL_amQtOT4Iujk9vhuw_wjZdc8Uy5gALXIlyw31tsxbdgshv1UqpGq/s1600/DSC01553.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWvHisAwXTAdNHcQa0ngBB8P7HCyy_1rLy3JJK8-0oJRvWebI82HMzMxEHwtX6HDykt56zLqUkhC6xN4SS9zP4ssL_amQtOT4Iujk9vhuw_wjZdc8Uy5gALXIlyw31tsxbdgshv1UqpGq/s400/DSC01553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406265648114688802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dQtUHhfl_owZllvcq8SXO5p3v2vTYbS5lmC41YSITmn3sMg-Lz2aU8b9O_Czw14OfRs4W_zHA4KDt7NRmEd_02yDz_qDBFGL80c98UGQlH-65_KORUjM1HvAfqqdqBN2mw_LfO2zwcIL/s1600/DSC01554.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dQtUHhfl_owZllvcq8SXO5p3v2vTYbS5lmC41YSITmn3sMg-Lz2aU8b9O_Czw14OfRs4W_zHA4KDt7NRmEd_02yDz_qDBFGL80c98UGQlH-65_KORUjM1HvAfqqdqBN2mw_LfO2zwcIL/s400/DSC01554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406265638113880882" border="0" /></a>Another day we took a wild ferry ride to one of the islands just off the coast. It was a choppy ride and while both girls felt sick, it was only poor little Sonja that puked all over me. Yuck! The rest of the day was much better until it started to down pour and we all got soaked, especially Wayne who saved our spot in line to get back on the ferry. Luckily, the ferry ride back to the mainland was not as choppy.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDbQdF0sCSbWEK19r2jGXrRPf79Zim199Lswo7QKeIXavQNXMgQrddcWJ5gEvIhekabRIDjFcDQDtYhjgSLUtcx-jP7-trsmvVY87az9D1YJr8wAhzhYoKHlDkHYG7A20d8rnm_zuNkT5/s1600/DSC01598.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDbQdF0sCSbWEK19r2jGXrRPf79Zim199Lswo7QKeIXavQNXMgQrddcWJ5gEvIhekabRIDjFcDQDtYhjgSLUtcx-jP7-trsmvVY87az9D1YJr8wAhzhYoKHlDkHYG7A20d8rnm_zuNkT5/s400/DSC01598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406236577725300642" border="0" /></a>Then it was down the coast again to Stockholm where we spent a couple of days doing the usual touristy stuff. We saw the royal palace, walked along the old cobble-stoned streets, took a canal boat ride, and everyone except Sonja and me visited the Vasa museum. It was by far the most touristy destination on our trip. English was spoken everywhere.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAN6MqybOazTgF1hZMPkSHg6cQLf8gdhePe_z3NogeBC3snzHSBMwuWcI3QmZiHIrioTZRgzG7YhdSVOZ5VvxO1tTx9jF4n5a8INWH-s_UH8p7_hbVUU7fT6D8qi8Mdf04AK35uFP9Aiv/s1600/DSC01613.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAN6MqybOazTgF1hZMPkSHg6cQLf8gdhePe_z3NogeBC3snzHSBMwuWcI3QmZiHIrioTZRgzG7YhdSVOZ5VvxO1tTx9jF4n5a8INWH-s_UH8p7_hbVUU7fT6D8qi8Mdf04AK35uFP9Aiv/s400/DSC01613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406236592865721874" border="0" /></a>We stopped at IKEA on the way for a break and some Swedish fish<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrGs4_SDJ55jC0CoojCyx6BLm1u9u1iMfVrs4N5BYY72pSk2_h2ocZFPa379mFUF-_Zb_orsXQOdUmix0zXKJ3klZLsgvO2Rc1M13W70EcMOB2ERtf52RDbznsxtC559dSXQL5KCFFpAN/s1600/DSC01621.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrGs4_SDJ55jC0CoojCyx6BLm1u9u1iMfVrs4N5BYY72pSk2_h2ocZFPa379mFUF-_Zb_orsXQOdUmix0zXKJ3klZLsgvO2Rc1M13W70EcMOB2ERtf52RDbznsxtC559dSXQL5KCFFpAN/s400/DSC01621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406236585699841122" border="0" /></a>Linnea admiring the crown outside the Royal Palace (2nd largest working palace in Europe)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGZed-BQ1f69hFH1i3Tu1EAxz7g1BmjTz0rdLv00dGR4gbHqptfwPLPj_SwZ1gjLirtOcHJ5P8X1XUqjB58IsxnkxOMD020t1c6NYJKAZL4HwjFAwaesYALI-0PQ50_1R49nnVCeK74qe/s1600/DSC01643.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGZed-BQ1f69hFH1i3Tu1EAxz7g1BmjTz0rdLv00dGR4gbHqptfwPLPj_SwZ1gjLirtOcHJ5P8X1XUqjB58IsxnkxOMD020t1c6NYJKAZL4HwjFAwaesYALI-0PQ50_1R49nnVCeK74qe/s400/DSC01643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406236597900060706" border="0" /></a>Listening to the narration on the canal tour<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zOQxeDILv-jkIjVm5kzDQOhpSpj5TOUt0_1eKCQiXU1IKsQwptv75jGGJPdAH1sfceBH8jxBb1DzvZrkpWkNv_uevro9t5lP0Ek1NhX0rZEByDDTpKEoArBBviUfgSImriZbLj5Sxd4f/s1600/DSC01628.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zOQxeDILv-jkIjVm5kzDQOhpSpj5TOUt0_1eKCQiXU1IKsQwptv75jGGJPdAH1sfceBH8jxBb1DzvZrkpWkNv_uevro9t5lP0Ek1NhX0rZEByDDTpKEoArBBviUfgSImriZbLj5Sxd4f/s400/DSC01628.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406236589977200354" border="0" /></a>At the Vasa Museum<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After Stockholm it was back to the US for the Farfs. We continued our summer adventure traveling west over towards Norway where we would stay for 2 weeks.<br /></div></div>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-56424598761615442672009-11-03T05:18:00.012-05:002009-11-03T15:17:25.178-05:00Stuga FeverThe next week of our journey we spent staying in a cabin or "stuga" in Storlien. This is a little ski village and apparently where the Swedish royal family has their ski stuga. Ellyn and I went snooping around one evening trying to find it. ;-) Our stuga was very cozy, right on a little pond. Farfar took off a few mornings (once with Linnea) and caught us some little fish in the surrounding lakes. We spent much of our time outside enjoying the beauty of the mountains.<br /><br />All week we took off on daily outings. Our biggest day was back to Norway to visit Trondheim for the day where we visited the Nidaros Cathedral and for dinner that night Matthew had whale steak!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTARaJqPetB68rPo7F1oLJMt50zc1C-m8qpYu7FDKgHUox5Ry7Gl7foLjyWHd9okpUWMNF23VX1rZbXsNWRmgy_fZ-A97SSvt9bXy1hFJ8sVr0VLfcCLuEBqxlp-kB5FbHGwJe12gpqYKO/s1600-h/250px-Nidaros-cathedral-west-front.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTARaJqPetB68rPo7F1oLJMt50zc1C-m8qpYu7FDKgHUox5Ry7Gl7foLjyWHd9okpUWMNF23VX1rZbXsNWRmgy_fZ-A97SSvt9bXy1hFJ8sVr0VLfcCLuEBqxlp-kB5FbHGwJe12gpqYKO/s400/250px-Nidaros-cathedral-west-front.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399929731284486786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVeijksy_qq6rt70hDp_6nZa6PcwyeYY5gAGT72KCVdiJP9X1Z5yumy4yieOZyOTRcrp_wa69K1cE-gQdOEiFMl56IJ5htV6PNEJqOfueI7NzVc0Ub364bvubtvDPdZ9Tl62cOOYS8FgU/s1600-h/DSC01515.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVeijksy_qq6rt70hDp_6nZa6PcwyeYY5gAGT72KCVdiJP9X1Z5yumy4yieOZyOTRcrp_wa69K1cE-gQdOEiFMl56IJ5htV6PNEJqOfueI7NzVc0Ub364bvubtvDPdZ9Tl62cOOYS8FgU/s400/DSC01515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399929723562028194" border="0" /></a><br />Many of the days we went hiking in and around Storlien. We also visited the popular ski town of Åre where we took a gondola up to the top of the mountain and played in the snow. It was on one of these outings that we spotted our first reindeer.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKoS5AzeSG2UvwdTMGl9J7widwG9uR6Y-YN6noLuzfKvQZJj6lVw-4MTQfBYX4QJ3F240c3UbQTnjTt7uSBY2sNa3Bp9PlZHaFFhdT5S0idoA0_CPej8weCnOpmpv7MdiHF8DBhvCvkBo/s1600-h/DSC01431.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKoS5AzeSG2UvwdTMGl9J7widwG9uR6Y-YN6noLuzfKvQZJj6lVw-4MTQfBYX4QJ3F240c3UbQTnjTt7uSBY2sNa3Bp9PlZHaFFhdT5S0idoA0_CPej8weCnOpmpv7MdiHF8DBhvCvkBo/s400/DSC01431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399889298478691218" border="0" /></a>Linnea and Farfar in their matching vests on a hike down to a waterfall<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4aZ9z2f4GlHf5QKYGrAWtGe0lIf1AJlbeyP4Do4X9FB4zHfXevzk6XuRWV92cNVqmHrlAGDQLBNSimSiV6dLYqVbyPiSuEqYaHr_ML7HR5A3C_XFYral71FiuX5BvCSzorm2ob-nga51/s1600-h/DSC01439.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4aZ9z2f4GlHf5QKYGrAWtGe0lIf1AJlbeyP4Do4X9FB4zHfXevzk6XuRWV92cNVqmHrlAGDQLBNSimSiV6dLYqVbyPiSuEqYaHr_ML7HR5A3C_XFYral71FiuX5BvCSzorm2ob-nga51/s400/DSC01439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399929730364344818" border="0" /></a>At the bottom of the falls<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeXzdWODujxX1hjpWoYiNjBt2OZlMoLowR_7lMOn1YiOgClDmcec10iujWMQGIHUmZDRis6z86PwglsSjBAjMjjryZQqwvchVUKqcDWqmkoLD3263BecjvEaN8ozYQCwgT9j90J5VR4Xv/s1600-h/DSC01486.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeXzdWODujxX1hjpWoYiNjBt2OZlMoLowR_7lMOn1YiOgClDmcec10iujWMQGIHUmZDRis6z86PwglsSjBAjMjjryZQqwvchVUKqcDWqmkoLD3263BecjvEaN8ozYQCwgT9j90J5VR4Xv/s400/DSC01486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399965120251136210" border="0" /></a>At the top in Åre<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yTBxRj50e1LkIY-1XGbrRiJoF-avcHXTRKWiAOXlV1_m46dDLdguqu26-Ewjo74ai0YoBmspIjYaj9dyREvZBfg-d7Hs6D8-YLTRNh3jDbJwtuxgb74ey-S3DcYWQxJRnhVT-YTyx41u/s1600-h/DSC01450.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yTBxRj50e1LkIY-1XGbrRiJoF-avcHXTRKWiAOXlV1_m46dDLdguqu26-Ewjo74ai0YoBmspIjYaj9dyREvZBfg-d7Hs6D8-YLTRNh3jDbJwtuxgb74ey-S3DcYWQxJRnhVT-YTyx41u/s400/DSC01450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399965111863909618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecIEJoiLdrkilB3whVfCkkS7k19xnMZJPSF7tgFeVhDF0GBMfdrDImxtooPolcJ7LVSMkbpb6mWXnErGScXwZpGXFNXVymVR0q3_MrHl9x2L5A5A0T9PadXV_GmDXkE9DalsmdtBU0UJx/s1600-h/DSC01464.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecIEJoiLdrkilB3whVfCkkS7k19xnMZJPSF7tgFeVhDF0GBMfdrDImxtooPolcJ7LVSMkbpb6mWXnErGScXwZpGXFNXVymVR0q3_MrHl9x2L5A5A0T9PadXV_GmDXkE9DalsmdtBU0UJx/s400/DSC01464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399965104122108578" border="0" /></a>On a hike up the ski area behind our stuga<br /></div><br /></div></div></div><img src="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Matthew/Desktop/Summer%20in%20Sweden/Farfs%20Lund%20to%20Storlien/DSC01532.JPG" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Matthew/Desktop/Summer%20in%20Sweden/Farfs%20Lund%20to%20Storlien/DSC01532.JPG" alt="" />Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-47283342801742317722009-10-21T04:29:00.003-04:002009-10-21T10:35:23.892-04:00Video of the Girls Playing Tag<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzXrryc_Ygdp4D_JZU6s6pd1IZomVucIaXgLNys7e8QaLPAfHfN_RYsAYJlCznpCz1BpkupRdgrOlQlQ0FhZw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-63618784765797651702009-10-17T03:18:00.010-04:002009-10-17T14:04:30.893-04:00Tour Continues With "The Farfs"<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9l-huyQdlFOUufFxfwNxdrg2dl3sdgS_VJOVO9FtI5D1rNNWrC8e7mJv4sRmjIjVCo_nXKGZC3_0fLerSNqH1JE8YyGZKlzPHhT_EF6mOnKrsFsF3hoDLA_cARwv5w2eEFkHdpts20ed/s1600-h/DSC01425.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9l-huyQdlFOUufFxfwNxdrg2dl3sdgS_VJOVO9FtI5D1rNNWrC8e7mJv4sRmjIjVCo_nXKGZC3_0fLerSNqH1JE8YyGZKlzPHhT_EF6mOnKrsFsF3hoDLA_cARwv5w2eEFkHdpts20ed/s400/DSC01425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393619762777148866" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dinner out with Far Far and Far Mor</span><br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Like I mentioned in the last post, the next part of our journey was up to northern Sweden (through Norway) with Matt's parents, Wayne and Ellyn (also known as Far Far and Far Mor, or more commonly referred to as "The Farfs"). We left Lund early in the morning and started our all day trek through the rain to Oslo. Traveling along the highways in Sweden is not at all like in the US. There are plenty of nice rest stops, most with nice picnic tables and a toilet. Sometimes you'll hit a place with a gas station and/or restaurant that serves light sandwiches and coffee. There are no drive-through coffee shanties. Once in a while you might run into a Burger King, but that is my absolute least favorite place to go! It is kind of assumed that most travelers travel with their own food and coffee. We've been accustomed to this since arriving in Sweden in January so we were prepared and packed a lunch and snack to take along the way.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">In Oslo we stayed at a hotel with adjoining rooms, which was very nice. It gave Matt and I a chance to leave the girls with Wayne and Ellyn while we went out for the evening. One evening Matt and I visited Vigeland Sculpture Park and that was amazing! By the way, the pictures taken below were taken after 10:00 at night!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEEZk6RLMmOJa3HJff-ZXE8fDfOFmM9Q81u6mfAYr086FoM5nU3BvhC5I6JWxb6V2Lm5YNVmhzvYtvDDu0kfqaCVvpz2Ypu-qKStb1erSCU0xh-xvHaQQzwTbZ_wT9E3cSPk8nD_ViKN9/s1600-h/DSC01409.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEEZk6RLMmOJa3HJff-ZXE8fDfOFmM9Q81u6mfAYr086FoM5nU3BvhC5I6JWxb6V2Lm5YNVmhzvYtvDDu0kfqaCVvpz2Ypu-qKStb1erSCU0xh-xvHaQQzwTbZ_wT9E3cSPk8nD_ViKN9/s400/DSC01409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393619734543846098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsWN_7TiDWXbIarMbC_V5GcutfvivT_efrzU8hER4hBUsmXsDHFK8VLEnzcEq1ayztpgbpT9TruJU8oj6V3MjpQrPcb-yehrByUgfGF0iE3c7DnykfxpzNS3LQfFqhfnODvOoBdcm9sh5/s1600-h/DSC01410.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsWN_7TiDWXbIarMbC_V5GcutfvivT_efrzU8hER4hBUsmXsDHFK8VLEnzcEq1ayztpgbpT9TruJU8oj6V3MjpQrPcb-yehrByUgfGF0iE3c7DnykfxpzNS3LQfFqhfnODvOoBdcm9sh5/s400/DSC01410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393619743570506802" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >This one reminded me of Sonja</span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Together we all took the ferry over to </span><span>Bygdøy and saw awesome viking ships at the Viking Ship Museum ("it </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">houses three ships found in large burial mounds in the Oslo fjord region. The best-preserved Viking ships in existence, each contained a wealth of material, both decorative and utilitarian, dating back up to 1200 years").</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XbJ2HsK68K0t_YNyCmsEUAE_PaofxhgLNZwyqWUYP2qo2vD2f8mmr6o1Gw3uJb1bHkLX1wBdWF3I8ao7RZNStOiZKZroiP5LD3vU_x2FD9ksBIxX61OUmexMfQfhnGXkTrhYxFqF-pip/s1600-h/DSC01383.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XbJ2HsK68K0t_YNyCmsEUAE_PaofxhgLNZwyqWUYP2qo2vD2f8mmr6o1Gw3uJb1bHkLX1wBdWF3I8ao7RZNStOiZKZroiP5LD3vU_x2FD9ksBIxX61OUmexMfQfhnGXkTrhYxFqF-pip/s400/DSC01383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393523247972948866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and the</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span><span style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Norwegian folk museum.</span> <br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulpHcV_IxNJAhIn0aYBn3zHcjgpPiBYU_50gurp_dplQIkFZCLI8aqwO_1PZGpm67lYLSSjnvVvbZt4kLTOIw67-bry5nmomGvlgop_uKBQzYFaFkmVVNb8yuF6Fli-5b2uvDylpCPnqJ/s1600-h/DSC01396.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulpHcV_IxNJAhIn0aYBn3zHcjgpPiBYU_50gurp_dplQIkFZCLI8aqwO_1PZGpm67lYLSSjnvVvbZt4kLTOIw67-bry5nmomGvlgop_uKBQzYFaFkmVVNb8yuF6Fli-5b2uvDylpCPnqJ/s400/DSC01396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393523255802014354" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQukWu-5SVYQzxP0DH5a8Y4Dvstsz82GFdpItJaZizUTs8mVL_2rP-fIP9RLwO1JxhwvP6VmzQ2EBTjpDTwTmmpSzvlJM7Kj8SeVc7VlXmNr4uVVV6FNjqd_Y2apyd-XqvmvXxReSYoLrv/s1600-h/DSC01405.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQukWu-5SVYQzxP0DH5a8Y4Dvstsz82GFdpItJaZizUTs8mVL_2rP-fIP9RLwO1JxhwvP6VmzQ2EBTjpDTwTmmpSzvlJM7Kj8SeVc7VlXmNr4uVVV6FNjqd_Y2apyd-XqvmvXxReSYoLrv/s400/DSC01405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393534930677426530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span>We also visited the Kon-Tiki museum. <br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2DDnvvfqc9iOfoyPfSUKGZD8Q-K9FZ25DeawczojrYpKRni55w-3etL4mZkv1HA2jNyST1WxunvcuFuLUvmLbQCxF4GQQYBOFsMt0c51cuuuSCdHKLIf__tOOCLYrFWevAPpMEZbfmbN/s1600-h/DSC01408.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2DDnvvfqc9iOfoyPfSUKGZD8Q-K9FZ25DeawczojrYpKRni55w-3etL4mZkv1HA2jNyST1WxunvcuFuLUvmLbQCxF4GQQYBOFsMt0c51cuuuSCdHKLIf__tOOCLYrFWevAPpMEZbfmbN/s400/DSC01408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393534935626871730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span>Linnea and the Farfs continued on to the Fram Museum "which </span></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >preserves the polar exploration ship Fram that</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;"> between 1893 and 1925, sailed further north and further south than any other surface vessel".</span><br /><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Following our two nights in Oslo we had another long day of driving ahead of us as we headed north to Trondheim and hopped on over to Storlien, Sweden where we were staying in a cabin at a wintertime resort for a week.</span><br /><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEbl6YtAQu06TJD7wXkYkXfcxCJ9KRa0pSngss98Slm2V8EHM9HzXj1gnInDnBtRRHontKYGN675HxyFZEgDkr3k-G4hWeDy80YDFoANK-Q6nYAY5rmxLO891_lc517V-h3UNAuJG0Yqn/s1600-h/DSC01423.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEbl6YtAQu06TJD7wXkYkXfcxCJ9KRa0pSngss98Slm2V8EHM9HzXj1gnInDnBtRRHontKYGN675HxyFZEgDkr3k-G4hWeDy80YDFoANK-Q6nYAY5rmxLO891_lc517V-h3UNAuJG0Yqn/s400/DSC01423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393619752712756898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span> </span></span>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-5719402904945084472009-10-10T02:51:00.010-04:002009-10-13T07:25:53.083-04:00A Week of Summer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyheHscVcfEG8ltqLsTXc42_i_Ny7AR0FBAeb9oRopOX5-tRTQNcFz5hr9I3SijZqSyfABqSB-mY8kgk34c2hSm6DzonXud6XEYS2Yb-NSGgMB0y58Qi3d1y-KVOJueinifInVJXFvgjt/s1600-h/DSC01353.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyheHscVcfEG8ltqLsTXc42_i_Ny7AR0FBAeb9oRopOX5-tRTQNcFz5hr9I3SijZqSyfABqSB-mY8kgk34c2hSm6DzonXud6XEYS2Yb-NSGgMB0y58Qi3d1y-KVOJueinifInVJXFvgjt/s400/DSC01353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390886666260617138" border="0" /></a><br />Seriously, summer lasted about a week. Too bad for us we were no longer staying on the coast. Anyway, it seemed really, really hot. I don't think the temperature got above the high 80s; it just felt hotter. Poor little Sonja would redden up like a tomato instantly in the heat. Most of the 3 days we spent touring in and around Norrköping we spent trying to find places to cool off. We went to the lake a couple of days and found a nice wading pool another day.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKRCdyw8_Vq5xmZmCSBhX25OAmNudPikE5vG2VJUV_YF_2OvRuEa7AZA7-paj6OdMf1HY0-SOtzztJ9F3gT1ovR9sD3FyP-cDuW5QKNMpz4XNCYgw1LfuCqNdNA9QMr_kxb_LuSwce1LM/s1600-h/DSC01340.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKRCdyw8_Vq5xmZmCSBhX25OAmNudPikE5vG2VJUV_YF_2OvRuEa7AZA7-paj6OdMf1HY0-SOtzztJ9F3gT1ovR9sD3FyP-cDuW5QKNMpz4XNCYgw1LfuCqNdNA9QMr_kxb_LuSwce1LM/s400/DSC01340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390886655331012722" border="0" /></a>Linnea, always the Fashion Queen<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTZiVRSUovKLKaemL0IPtd6j-r-8fBb027m-L-7_0q_BNPGtmtVL4wVkI5XPBWKf1OAoQTKJ2fXQRMeWI1SRZ9Gvm3C-bBa_uOPkOXb7QpbDID8uAdFH0HrCb1ZmUYrPYoFr26WqqgqGt/s1600-h/DSC01339.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTZiVRSUovKLKaemL0IPtd6j-r-8fBb027m-L-7_0q_BNPGtmtVL4wVkI5XPBWKf1OAoQTKJ2fXQRMeWI1SRZ9Gvm3C-bBa_uOPkOXb7QpbDID8uAdFH0HrCb1ZmUYrPYoFr26WqqgqGt/s400/DSC01339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390886650693120594" border="0" /></a>Sonja cooling off with a cool drink<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjJdNDTYLGAmuqSlgpRaTLsONlvlRKS7v7nHuE6j4BS3-E_vwUYOQSmZpuadWoFHCk9ZqlHIFA0brcSwAcpAgFtQNGgHEckLaRIFKMbfs7m-AtFLugSqu7hR1jAKpPBcfr1QWaO1uJyFg/s1600-h/DSC01336.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjJdNDTYLGAmuqSlgpRaTLsONlvlRKS7v7nHuE6j4BS3-E_vwUYOQSmZpuadWoFHCk9ZqlHIFA0brcSwAcpAgFtQNGgHEckLaRIFKMbfs7m-AtFLugSqu7hR1jAKpPBcfr1QWaO1uJyFg/s400/DSC01336.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390886640687868418" border="0" /></a>Linnea trying to be friendly with the not-so-friendly hedgehog<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fF2tQ-48wfpmeeK3Ws3rLvqaK1ssPQfB2cw_8iKN9pwiGrQp5CyBe3RBxzMZTpasBSWSHeeA4dZrMjGwfI19ygwuYr-ZatceRK_cLUm31ZE3FiWgEN_ss_gQbTScjwUskh1AdWY-Kr32/s1600-h/DSC01332.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fF2tQ-48wfpmeeK3Ws3rLvqaK1ssPQfB2cw_8iKN9pwiGrQp5CyBe3RBxzMZTpasBSWSHeeA4dZrMjGwfI19ygwuYr-ZatceRK_cLUm31ZE3FiWgEN_ss_gQbTScjwUskh1AdWY-Kr32/s400/DSC01332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390886633929625794" border="0" /></a>Sharing candy from the candy factory<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We then spent a day in Kalmar visiting the castle. It was a lot of fun because we got to go on a tour and they had lots of activities for kids. Linnea even got to practice jousting on a horse!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9rolPJsH2UqFWD6iRiGw7hbHdfI5oc6ALQshUU7w_RJCdPQDpzcfg11Y8pOQmAvE8NnqsT8E-4e_SqYK93bjw75qtllN-AeHI3-XFNaMRUpKhBIGCAoVcp5FmUprQ_FoK5z5rGbCmKIu/s1600-h/DSC01359.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9rolPJsH2UqFWD6iRiGw7hbHdfI5oc6ALQshUU7w_RJCdPQDpzcfg11Y8pOQmAvE8NnqsT8E-4e_SqYK93bjw75qtllN-AeHI3-XFNaMRUpKhBIGCAoVcp5FmUprQ_FoK5z5rGbCmKIu/s400/DSC01359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392021624808082210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9f1VgxxA8cqrUqUe-E3w1rinWVH90uS2vcx27ATFyW3CGFrFluYMOVIOG8CTicsKNsygTBShAl-vAeY-dqIyG8_NlxgHdBCwhhhOUWAlcuB2MHwAzDxBRuqTz3WOazeAP8x8Rxavc-ov/s1600-h/DSC01362.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9f1VgxxA8cqrUqUe-E3w1rinWVH90uS2vcx27ATFyW3CGFrFluYMOVIOG8CTicsKNsygTBShAl-vAeY-dqIyG8_NlxgHdBCwhhhOUWAlcuB2MHwAzDxBRuqTz3WOazeAP8x8Rxavc-ov/s400/DSC01362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392032145637191922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlMZgRIEhxuIh9h0eq8_rtvlDTjGXhozBxFiWKHp1n4ORtQ4oRr_oIjrlqtpv_fw9uEnBUyY0jVlCQxePA5MLiM5DkcfRxw_3OeABICaGMri-uyqrJASm9X8Xo6uwyqV1JUYb2iqaYS8v/s1600-h/DSC01360.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlMZgRIEhxuIh9h0eq8_rtvlDTjGXhozBxFiWKHp1n4ORtQ4oRr_oIjrlqtpv_fw9uEnBUyY0jVlCQxePA5MLiM5DkcfRxw_3OeABICaGMri-uyqrJASm9X8Xo6uwyqV1JUYb2iqaYS8v/s400/DSC01360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392032140905438226" border="0" /></a><br />After our day trip we spent 3 nights in a state/province of Sweden named, Småland. We stayed in a really nice youth hostel out in the country and enjoyed biking and visiting the region famous for glass. After visiting a hand blown glass factory Linnea decided she wanted to be a glass blower when she grows up! The youth hostel we stayed at was very different than those I experienced in Europe during college. It was a nice old house (like you would image a B&B) and we had our own room - with a double/twin bunk bed and our own sink. We shared bathrooms and showers with others on our floor but the place was not full so it felt private. We had to bring our own sheets and towels and we had full use of the common kitchen.<br /><br />Next, we were on our way back to Lund to pick up Matthew's parents! We spent 3 days in Lund showing them around the city and letting them get acclimated to the new time zone (we're 9 hours ahead of them on the west coast). Since we couldn't stay at the house we'd been renting because the owner was using it for the summer, our good friends Karin and Jakob were very kind in letting us stay at their apartment while they were gone on vacation. The weather was pleasantly warm, but not at all hot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ90bM8wYTpE6_J3A59lFV26VKI3AAv9XmnAX66h6ogptNpqCfmVkEh6_IvubzyLPiw2Y8zT1toJQUlOb1AYQNqMlXrOmdKt9cJ2hmFCvlqW01KlG8mheSOYrEBMGLVtCv-rbSVmbwZq4/s1600-h/DSC01373.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ90bM8wYTpE6_J3A59lFV26VKI3AAv9XmnAX66h6ogptNpqCfmVkEh6_IvubzyLPiw2Y8zT1toJQUlOb1AYQNqMlXrOmdKt9cJ2hmFCvlqW01KlG8mheSOYrEBMGLVtCv-rbSVmbwZq4/s400/DSC01373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392039951371156338" border="0" /></a>Our next post will be about the first part of our journey with Far Far and Far Mor. We traveled through Norway, stopping in Oslo along the way, to Northern Sweden.<br /><br /><br /></div></div>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-43678651186019807192009-10-06T05:41:00.010-04:002009-10-08T06:27:37.658-04:00Fall Updates<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9EAMa8KYVundic4zjpgEEZDKezIhR8TOgYZR2M_MGrXDnxBqjq7ck6Zer8OgX8u5WveKhvSbZnvhIIH_P6gVgbmknmEXnc8xHUsU72NiY2ZQ8Y7IzDMrRnmLXzzzO65CrqRV8MK5N-WY/s1600-h/DSC01552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9EAMa8KYVundic4zjpgEEZDKezIhR8TOgYZR2M_MGrXDnxBqjq7ck6Zer8OgX8u5WveKhvSbZnvhIIH_P6gVgbmknmEXnc8xHUsU72NiY2ZQ8Y7IzDMrRnmLXzzzO65CrqRV8MK5N-WY/s400/DSC01552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390146386896273202" border="0" /></a><br />While I haven't even begun to finish posting about all of our summer travels, I thought it was time to give a little more current update on how we are all doing. Autumn is in the air! It seemed quite warm to us all of September and we were wondering how cold it was really going to get before we leave in December, and then October 1st hit and along came the cold. We've had a lot of cool, clear weather, but that usually follows a lot of rain and wind. No real color change though, guess we got spoiled living in Massachusetts. We've had to use both the upstairs and downstairs fireplaces a few times because the house is just so cold! We've decided to heat the place as much as we can with just the fireplaces and only use the electric (the very expensive electric) to heat in the girls' room at night. The fruit trees in the yard produced a lot of fruit: plums, pears and apples. Not all of it is really good to eat straight off of the tree so I've been making lots of sauces.<br /><br />The girls are doing really well. Linnea continues to love school and is learning to speak a lot of Swedish. She is also learning a lot at home too. The other day we had a long discussion about decay thanks to PBS Kids "Sid the Science Kid" that she explores online. She also has informed me that Sonja has an invisible arm and that is why she does things (like pour water on her head in the bath) that I can't see and it is clearly not Linnea's fault. And on Matthew's birthday, she told him he should change his name to Grandpa Jeff. I don't know where she gets this stuff. We spent last Friday outfitting Linnea with a "new" (well, new to her) snowsuit complete with snow boots. Now it's hard to convince her not to wear the whole getup every time we leave the house. It's not that cold, yet! Friday night has also become "movie night" and Linnea gets to choose the dinner and the movie and sometimes a movie treat.<br /><br />I take both girls with me to open preschool once a week on Monday mornings where we usually meet a friend and play for the morning. On the days that Linnea is in preschool, Sonja seems to enjoy assuming the role of Linnea. She plays with all of the toys that Linnea usually controls and sits in Linnea's seat at the kitchen table. But she does get a little lonely after a while and is generally really excited to pick Linnea up at "SCHOOL!". School is one of the many words that Sonja can say now but she thinks it's the same as the Swedish word "skål", which is like saying "cheers". So when Sonja talks about school it is usually said loudly with an enthusiastically raised up arm as if she were holding a mug of beer. She also likes to say "whoaw", which is like a combination of "wow" and "whoa". It's really funny the way she says it and how she uses it. Like when we were checking out the stars last night "whoaw" or when she almost falls off the bed "whoaw". Sonja also goes to open preschool on Tuesdays with Matthew, while I take a little time off for myself- yay. We try to keep her busy too so she stays out of mischief.<br /><br />Matt's Swedish seems to be coming along well too. He has to take a language exam soon as part of his graduation requirements. I'm sure that he'll do just fine. He's been studying a lot and practicing a lot with friends. Together we've started a weekly bible study group with our friends that have small children. The term "bible study" is used loosely though because we all have small children and it's hard to keep focused. But we knew that, so our main goal is just to get together once a week, share a meal, sing some songs, have the kids play together, discuss what's been going on in our lives and pray together. We really enjoy the fellowship. We are still attending two church services on a Sunday. Not because we are overly pious, but because one is in Swedish and one is in English. The Swedish one is more traditional Lutheran so I can follow along with the liturgy but really get lost on the Sermons. The English speaking one is not so formal and of course I usually don't have a problem following along. :-) We really enjoy both services and have friends at both churches.<br /><br />I've been doing much better since I've seemed to have figured out that I have a problem with gluten. Over the summer it seemed problems with my stomach and digestion were getting really bad. I don't know if I'm gluten intolerant, luckily we've got a doctor in the family who can figure that out, but I just know that when I eat things containing gluten it's no good. So I am trying my best to avoid gluten. It's amazing what can contain gluten besides the obvious breads and pasta. We're learning to check everything! But since I've cut out the gluten I feel so much better. Even my mood and energy level has improved. I've been feeling so good that I've even taken up running again. About 2-3 times a week I go for longer (about 6 miles) solo runs out by the coast and then maybe 1-2 times a week I'll take the jogging stroller out with Sonja (sometimes Linnea too) for shorter runs, 2-3 miles or less if it's really windy, around the house.<br /><br />Our camera stopped working towards the end of the trip in Norway so I don't have any really recent pictures to post yet. We did replace the camera this week with a inexpensive, used one that we'll use until we can get our other camera fixed back in the US. So more pictures and stories coming soon!Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-68199267658272115672009-09-09T06:05:00.006-04:002009-09-09T06:50:25.392-04:00Going back the the beginning of summer...We moved out of the house for the summer on June 18th. Our first stop was to Fiskebäckskil. There we stayed with Lotta and her family. Lotta and Matthew had met once before about 17 years ago when Lotta was an exchange student staying with Matthew's aunt Colleen. They had a nice little guest cabin (stuga) that we stayed in. Lotta and her husband, Tomas, have 3 children; John, Viktor and Elin. They were so nice to us during our stay and we are grateful that they invited us to come and visit. We had a great time!<br /><br />While we were there we enjoyed the beautiful weather and long, long days. Fiskebäckskil is a beautiful old fishing village on the northern west coast of Sweden. It is an ideal summer spot with lots of opportunities for boating, fishing and beaching. One of the first days we were there we got to celebrate Midsummer with the family. Other days we went site-seeing in and around Fiskebäckskil, to the beach a couple of times, to an aquarium, to an island with a castle, and of course we did some hiking.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAOKTGfXDGubgOFCuDky3tlQDWMI8cKRHB5F2FFn0TaMb600bfRIumoIVQVRaaBFO4L5J0UnEmWOePy0We7HsVWMymxXaXCU9I6PFvdRon6NXU_n1Qh1PfRUAPgYFOJPQOTatQigfcZYL/s1600-h/midsommar_family.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAOKTGfXDGubgOFCuDky3tlQDWMI8cKRHB5F2FFn0TaMb600bfRIumoIVQVRaaBFO4L5J0UnEmWOePy0We7HsVWMymxXaXCU9I6PFvdRon6NXU_n1Qh1PfRUAPgYFOJPQOTatQigfcZYL/s400/midsommar_family.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379407881685148882" border="0" /></a>The Ericksons at Midsommar Fest<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hviFIco3pGAq_PNsRR5GFoLFqHf0HBx9HV3hsq2ucJwDaskPUIbbWc-oy4WsojwxHVBtDfKpT2DyI68LtcXNSW4BL_OARvsXjlG5MTQg7D4Xa1l0bsiwe3DVtUfNMmx1r3qRejI3rmmu/s1600-h/yo+whazup.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hviFIco3pGAq_PNsRR5GFoLFqHf0HBx9HV3hsq2ucJwDaskPUIbbWc-oy4WsojwxHVBtDfKpT2DyI68LtcXNSW4BL_OARvsXjlG5MTQg7D4Xa1l0bsiwe3DVtUfNMmx1r3qRejI3rmmu/s400/yo+whazup.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379413134429274290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1O1WuMrmNVbcppjmQIAnYZLO9AaCrXp7WnEoacFIjLgVGgCUzdfI9WjE0EqCkdl9mjZydGYPP34m_UOVLZaKfMuCfv5wZPk4fy5CYoSWQNEbm619_ZPlnT0_9_Gog5xkTT0ugQV7rrn1/s1600-h/on+deck.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1O1WuMrmNVbcppjmQIAnYZLO9AaCrXp7WnEoacFIjLgVGgCUzdfI9WjE0EqCkdl9mjZydGYPP34m_UOVLZaKfMuCfv5wZPk4fy5CYoSWQNEbm619_ZPlnT0_9_Gog5xkTT0ugQV7rrn1/s400/on+deck.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379410391805596482" border="0" /></a>Sonja hanging out at the boat house<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-4dT20DspOfjw7ysUptU8jXb1ZhhT1A590u05uBCLToPgVhIP5UUNhFMwjGjqsIF4uGrE0Qm01tvMfacTUYAOMx6NC37Te8GCL6xgrV2pNU31ky1dCRTaKll2UuszRMz8TW0KFCF1uJ8/s1600-h/the+LION.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-4dT20DspOfjw7ysUptU8jXb1ZhhT1A590u05uBCLToPgVhIP5UUNhFMwjGjqsIF4uGrE0Qm01tvMfacTUYAOMx6NC37Te8GCL6xgrV2pNU31ky1dCRTaKll2UuszRMz8TW0KFCF1uJ8/s400/the+LION.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379413116088003602" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yTaogummQ_T7wSJ__YVhNsChZe2DA8_AwAsFJ75neFEd25SCxh3KJKUuMUtEvpQ-QUGRnDv_o0Z5ULQSsQZzfyRYFh8JrlNYn4NKoNDY2oCUYKuzzKwD3sfvaX8iitMvMUAzyiaX6KWQ/s1600-h/alex.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yTaogummQ_T7wSJ__YVhNsChZe2DA8_AwAsFJ75neFEd25SCxh3KJKUuMUtEvpQ-QUGRnDv_o0Z5ULQSsQZzfyRYFh8JrlNYn4NKoNDY2oCUYKuzzKwD3sfvaX8iitMvMUAzyiaX6KWQ/s400/alex.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379407888994495026" border="0" /></a>Linnea doing her "Alex the Lion" from Madagascar impersonations at the beach<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EByv6XsTR4rUlW1oAYZBUPhOIeBgIGkDYbdX6NGkYKBvChcb1bh6rlR0jadhE0TaMzcxpYQeQFDv4kzUtlPym4T7KU39RDhe8YJCdBJsPUqJ2k_CL9FUKAGRmuY_E7WxHZVtJ85fmUj-/s1600-h/swing+time2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EByv6XsTR4rUlW1oAYZBUPhOIeBgIGkDYbdX6NGkYKBvChcb1bh6rlR0jadhE0TaMzcxpYQeQFDv4kzUtlPym4T7KU39RDhe8YJCdBJsPUqJ2k_CL9FUKAGRmuY_E7WxHZVtJ85fmUj-/s400/swing+time2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379413106405255906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOQ37p6ruSlspWK4GqhOyY8ldz7GIm4M9BkSohYNCe1PyO7itme4ziy2kn7EsFOkv3T43kMMcfkFYk1tfLKkWCKFuCRRqNQGgMMitfd3pJATFNuqOiQuJRXHZOj9J0q5JRVX17e1TVh86/s1600-h/swing+time1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOQ37p6ruSlspWK4GqhOyY8ldz7GIm4M9BkSohYNCe1PyO7itme4ziy2kn7EsFOkv3T43kMMcfkFYk1tfLKkWCKFuCRRqNQGgMMitfd3pJATFNuqOiQuJRXHZOj9J0q5JRVX17e1TVh86/s400/swing+time1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379413101315939314" border="0" /></a>Swinging at a lovely park on Marstrand<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtYIUD5CdVsPmBkxR0XpkFUKNbMjBiPfqG_yZbiCuYQB70fTYJBbtkC8PVkpUGGOuvu21rCLaCG3DMAH4eqLfB-zxtLF7lgNDUu0OODBZG801DsPD-_0EaRWwhyrQ_MO5gRF1aZ363H0I/s1600-h/shopping.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtYIUD5CdVsPmBkxR0XpkFUKNbMjBiPfqG_yZbiCuYQB70fTYJBbtkC8PVkpUGGOuvu21rCLaCG3DMAH4eqLfB-zxtLF7lgNDUu0OODBZG801DsPD-_0EaRWwhyrQ_MO5gRF1aZ363H0I/s400/shopping.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379410405467738290" border="0" /></a>Shopping on Marstrand<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The next bunch of pictures are from the castle on Marstrand<br /></div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdzt_XqdyFJ77ooFsN3jJTGfP1M3K7M2ciVqLB4mYWbx8E0CQj3JN2Gl5y4DbRqoU0RknLB1eYE8jg_Xc51kfJJQrqZeCB9roQaIxF5g0kYl-3FGxjgerGXlN6s7pynd6ryEUrf8L0nqy/s1600-h/struttin.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdzt_XqdyFJ77ooFsN3jJTGfP1M3K7M2ciVqLB4mYWbx8E0CQj3JN2Gl5y4DbRqoU0RknLB1eYE8jg_Xc51kfJJQrqZeCB9roQaIxF5g0kYl-3FGxjgerGXlN6s7pynd6ryEUrf8L0nqy/s400/struttin.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379410420922696018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wId66sNP6clk8-i5Mm5si2qMefJfaN4LSSACOfSdBi7F14uHxKuxe-XBcMoSLW_rnwjkj0q_BpJa73Y4rZsvc1OCkNlzkDz4-hRW0wUAwhI2OyvpOyKyhVnUvEPPTjWXkauD_HgsJrPI/s1600-h/yo+ho+ho.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wId66sNP6clk8-i5Mm5si2qMefJfaN4LSSACOfSdBi7F14uHxKuxe-XBcMoSLW_rnwjkj0q_BpJa73Y4rZsvc1OCkNlzkDz4-hRW0wUAwhI2OyvpOyKyhVnUvEPPTjWXkauD_HgsJrPI/s400/yo+ho+ho.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379413124954386466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhkc7wOqjoQVC2vLFGxKCmTFohMgaICW3Y958jItFPm_Es8LJHpeBDvbXyDhvAYxMzDlMPuw82vTAnOAaDV-ySHrDzsiy8pE8HSlg3CrkTdT6-Q-g209K68lYF8rU3yLNC_6M3gcb9y0G/s1600-h/hey.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuhkc7wOqjoQVC2vLFGxKCmTFohMgaICW3Y958jItFPm_Es8LJHpeBDvbXyDhvAYxMzDlMPuw82vTAnOAaDV-ySHrDzsiy8pE8HSlg3CrkTdT6-Q-g209K68lYF8rU3yLNC_6M3gcb9y0G/s400/hey.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379407913533361138" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5PkqQkEFWgB5Ii8K7G7X-0_00BE1hQJsB-BcyzMs-EH0XuRFbqDleBfu_g2enF2HmpKLT_iExv8Ix1gPlwQahhHuoD34cW9MImtt8vnGq9NhmIeaYR575XFCjh_cWYKZgPq8MZ6Y4uvo/s1600-h/crazy+daddy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5PkqQkEFWgB5Ii8K7G7X-0_00BE1hQJsB-BcyzMs-EH0XuRFbqDleBfu_g2enF2HmpKLT_iExv8Ix1gPlwQahhHuoD34cW9MImtt8vnGq9NhmIeaYR575XFCjh_cWYKZgPq8MZ6Y4uvo/s400/crazy+daddy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379407897667502850" border="0" /></a><br />A view on our way to church on Sunday morning...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_cp8Z67-SYR3hMlcUi3aerFV2841n6-DECTGtOnAkjAK22QYQHEdyeL2Rp8biyFo-RmcGifSsG1Tgjeo9ho7H36DMRjUk3VsN2Y_DVKvwXd88kWeB6yTjjgcZLnmD6T1t1_TJCcMdV3J/s1600-h/on+the+way+to+church.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_cp8Z67-SYR3hMlcUi3aerFV2841n6-DECTGtOnAkjAK22QYQHEdyeL2Rp8biyFo-RmcGifSsG1Tgjeo9ho7H36DMRjUk3VsN2Y_DVKvwXd88kWeB6yTjjgcZLnmD6T1t1_TJCcMdV3J/s400/on+the+way+to+church.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379410398786521506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDanUmvHyVCUPoFjbhCWwWKTt0oN1Lfh1IcFQE_Y4-WCFAP5sHhYWLPA7rX1G8-XD0hKK23GY_8sPs6jkq0yS-gZ8lTWdooaxpG-FtneUOAX4gARgBxPYFBWFVSiv3mo1Mk-s2F6Sajcdq/s1600-h/sonja+struttin+to+church.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDanUmvHyVCUPoFjbhCWwWKTt0oN1Lfh1IcFQE_Y4-WCFAP5sHhYWLPA7rX1G8-XD0hKK23GY_8sPs6jkq0yS-gZ8lTWdooaxpG-FtneUOAX4gARgBxPYFBWFVSiv3mo1Mk-s2F6Sajcdq/s400/sonja+struttin+to+church.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379410413982744130" border="0" /></a>Sonja strutting to church<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We did a couple of little hikes during our stay. This first pictures is from an evening hike Matt took with the girls.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XrScBIeFR_fjshl6PfKYujXdNkmTKbIMlXYT2WiUvN3vcDlTe21N7ys7019G3mr1mEl9XBp5LAvkem3-Po8z5H9ZtDEvDzmzzrsLj2skIHJGndBUcyahZ0xxTcKucvQ86wmzukAKiFTL/s1600-h/Night_hike.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XrScBIeFR_fjshl6PfKYujXdNkmTKbIMlXYT2WiUvN3vcDlTe21N7ys7019G3mr1mEl9XBp5LAvkem3-Po8z5H9ZtDEvDzmzzrsLj2skIHJGndBUcyahZ0xxTcKucvQ86wmzukAKiFTL/s400/Night_hike.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379409221429550114" border="0" /></a><br />A walk in the woods<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9u6jqhll8CSM8g0TZrCxee7oDdjlifKUO7qaOc7RMMe0JheffR-sbc2ODa8gFicsyA_jXtp-nH7pc5ZhQbdTubBt7DXzuNuSqXgCbW0MC5Sf6MFx0cIbXfNe3KlC30OkVfHkzBmDrmnc/s1600-h/linnea+hiking.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9u6jqhll8CSM8g0TZrCxee7oDdjlifKUO7qaOc7RMMe0JheffR-sbc2ODa8gFicsyA_jXtp-nH7pc5ZhQbdTubBt7DXzuNuSqXgCbW0MC5Sf6MFx0cIbXfNe3KlC30OkVfHkzBmDrmnc/s400/linnea+hiking.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379409196988640962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vlbLuEdD-VCjti28sF2UJTgL-HSjAXnSmrCLP_NCDJzObU291ZmmNRDQPFih8ut1dKVx12M2-cYYjWLqN_J7DiueT5tPnARYpgMlg8xMKVlacqreDKsdEKEiEC1d3nNZNJs7DiSkt1CP/s1600-h/hike+in+the+woods.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vlbLuEdD-VCjti28sF2UJTgL-HSjAXnSmrCLP_NCDJzObU291ZmmNRDQPFih8ut1dKVx12M2-cYYjWLqN_J7DiueT5tPnARYpgMlg8xMKVlacqreDKsdEKEiEC1d3nNZNJs7DiSkt1CP/s400/hike+in+the+woods.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379409188672575458" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Pictures from our day trip to Lysekil<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcz2rvlJkQ01WtoAk6DVR_ZKzm7jKySAZV-yqNwlgWaSyZ2AJ6Rvr9rnDPZc4GAOkzu0dL7j_6777JeVKoz2V_uGwg1UAexy-y7B6Pm8yNjYnDT0d_uoFcpSwLLG1qhfukNHZ59Rl3r3x/s1600-h/new+glasses.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcz2rvlJkQ01WtoAk6DVR_ZKzm7jKySAZV-yqNwlgWaSyZ2AJ6Rvr9rnDPZc4GAOkzu0dL7j_6777JeVKoz2V_uGwg1UAexy-y7B6Pm8yNjYnDT0d_uoFcpSwLLG1qhfukNHZ59Rl3r3x/s400/new+glasses.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379409211243504274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfykjmM-zUvCf2k_5oyjzbzTs9eWFazDTMAAJa27yK1EyDIeVb7jtKWCu0OKhyphenhyphenxQkIu0vthR6ceXiCWI8QCrS2-ZMMPSrh7EUkGK4eeq3cr4tGir0NH_-a1YIaA9OGje3z5k8cIHe9Jev/s1600-h/loving+the+aquarium.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfykjmM-zUvCf2k_5oyjzbzTs9eWFazDTMAAJa27yK1EyDIeVb7jtKWCu0OKhyphenhyphenxQkIu0vthR6ceXiCWI8QCrS2-ZMMPSrh7EUkGK4eeq3cr4tGir0NH_-a1YIaA9OGje3z5k8cIHe9Jev/s400/loving+the+aquarium.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379409204749301346" border="0" /></a>Sonja at the Aquarium in Lysekil<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And here is the group shot just before we left.<br /><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExP6QZojnUyF44-hxQY_mkOhetjNPrBcudu4gQaKPlTdJuGT4BSO9ir1XFhl2RhfFZvJl4wlpdqiVP-kPw3PsZcHPjoOsxaCGd6vMZ7lXgH2drdUeAjahElKixqtNN7v_1vM4qeoyLE3_/s1600-h/group+shot.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExP6QZojnUyF44-hxQY_mkOhetjNPrBcudu4gQaKPlTdJuGT4BSO9ir1XFhl2RhfFZvJl4wlpdqiVP-kPw3PsZcHPjoOsxaCGd6vMZ7lXgH2drdUeAjahElKixqtNN7v_1vM4qeoyLE3_/s400/group+shot.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379407905548413650" border="0" /></a>What a great way to start the summer!Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-58543044838263400602009-09-03T03:37:00.008-04:002009-09-03T04:42:00.435-04:00Before Moving DaySo before we officially moved out for the summer, there were a few exciting events that we'd like to share. One was that Linnea started school. She goes 15 hours a week. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 AM until 2 PM and she loves it. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they spend the entire day outside away from the school, either at a playground in the woods or a playground down by the beach. The even have their lunch at the playground, usually it's a hot soup or hot dogs/hamburgers. On these outing days Linnea is especially tired and sometimes falls asleep before we get home! She obviously wasn't in school for the summer. She just started up again last week and usually doesn't want to leave when it's time for her to go home.<br /><br />The week Linnea started school was also when my mom arrived for a visit. It was so nice to have my mom around and the girls really loved it too. With my mom we did lots of walking around the city of Lund enjoying the beautiful weather. We had a great day visiting Helsingborg as well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHKFMNXE5TJB0qYRp1li1_aFrEYXJC-AehJ_AwdsYgXNuKMvRi61KPsCoIZCRt7fQiB-fsesITu7L3lQPOjI94XgNjqAD6UPvOwJAc5Bcw78-eLhDrx7Z79JQ9ZPYtpQlfGZ49MWRWLmH/s1600-h/DSC01104.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHKFMNXE5TJB0qYRp1li1_aFrEYXJC-AehJ_AwdsYgXNuKMvRi61KPsCoIZCRt7fQiB-fsesITu7L3lQPOjI94XgNjqAD6UPvOwJAc5Bcw78-eLhDrx7Z79JQ9ZPYtpQlfGZ49MWRWLmH/s400/DSC01104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377144292910980130" border="0" /></a>In Lund<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxb10qu_jC0BkzKCPqiDmbVNBEXF_RaHx1fqJ650DNAMEGOXYX8lkLKhWerXUpkjrOZIvZdzytXNlQyIsno_V2uYGCqE04chcWmQVSwkUFDjcgYDCzthozl9zqentr5ILaNiLrVK9NBcBm/s1600-h/DSC01089.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxb10qu_jC0BkzKCPqiDmbVNBEXF_RaHx1fqJ650DNAMEGOXYX8lkLKhWerXUpkjrOZIvZdzytXNlQyIsno_V2uYGCqE04chcWmQVSwkUFDjcgYDCzthozl9zqentr5ILaNiLrVK9NBcBm/s400/DSC01089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377144312188681266" border="0" /></a>Helsingborg</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My mom and I also made the long bus ride to Norway for a short visit with our distant relatives there. It was a very short visit, but very nice one. The area that the family lives in is really beautiful and my mom and I just can't get enough of the scenery. Later in the summer, Matt and I go back with the girls so stay tuned for more pictures!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDLU8NHCh3XRpECQkSSrIfD-z8Gwnr88-pp-K-ob8fmkVGXCdGu8oriPRrnKEiomPuEHEIIpW1N5A-DWu7aPUHF5rp7f_-PbC96HsMIECFH6VJcpmF10a_I1GOCnrr1pGqk942CLOKhdY/s1600-h/DSC01138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDLU8NHCh3XRpECQkSSrIfD-z8Gwnr88-pp-K-ob8fmkVGXCdGu8oriPRrnKEiomPuEHEIIpW1N5A-DWu7aPUHF5rp7f_-PbC96HsMIECFH6VJcpmF10a_I1GOCnrr1pGqk942CLOKhdY/s400/DSC01138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377146356574959394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCIbi5bclCB4zWbfrdGJHuvsh-Ib3_itC5ZxpfFnsmTE8Il33fJiEdmvAMxS9cwdc4XQYtL2EKMZr9yq2IIeB_olGThm3AMVasL2ejtVZrd2pUX2QHaMtX3CxYLOLC6CvT8EeY_hz117A/s1600-h/DSC01135.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCIbi5bclCB4zWbfrdGJHuvsh-Ib3_itC5ZxpfFnsmTE8Il33fJiEdmvAMxS9cwdc4XQYtL2EKMZr9yq2IIeB_olGThm3AMVasL2ejtVZrd2pUX2QHaMtX3CxYLOLC6CvT8EeY_hz117A/s400/DSC01135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377146348669623650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-kzlSsfofLcvsYu_bAttdFsirf1TIL6YbT5LnK5UXr4sowyFXfhqsNs6Tk-JXg6IMQkEtVjzBt2ZIrBZ1NXbHbdHQPI2pxMRjMOrcVoZj2RZZZfj4xJm1lUyK0-sdqw4PqJpjRqabVwy/s1600-h/DSC01131.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-kzlSsfofLcvsYu_bAttdFsirf1TIL6YbT5LnK5UXr4sowyFXfhqsNs6Tk-JXg6IMQkEtVjzBt2ZIrBZ1NXbHbdHQPI2pxMRjMOrcVoZj2RZZZfj4xJm1lUyK0-sdqw4PqJpjRqabVwy/s400/DSC01131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377146340229148098" border="0" /></a><br />My mom also gave us a night out which meant for the first time in months Matt and I were able to go out to dinner alone while Mom stayed home with the girls.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePUlRhrmpcmiLcPVrSs3Dbvwis7xP2aILc2r8prM7tzaJG_D3g3BUs4DHe6XaKxsFTpYLjODwkBnlp-67WddNd09rSM9Z6fr4D26n_QyGghI4A8dessVxCQ_lrvsA16YzRL4O5xqJ84Rj/s1600-h/DSC01118.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePUlRhrmpcmiLcPVrSs3Dbvwis7xP2aILc2r8prM7tzaJG_D3g3BUs4DHe6XaKxsFTpYLjODwkBnlp-67WddNd09rSM9Z6fr4D26n_QyGghI4A8dessVxCQ_lrvsA16YzRL4O5xqJ84Rj/s400/DSC01118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377157140449356306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2dNpkCPW7pghkW9OERutv0VbvwvxD0IG1S4KAVEBu2iG5sWZ797YOg8U7SXHeWIVL-yhKCHvN2Yq-33OOt9ZT-YNei6sBtDiT9R_nS4RksqFjl7zJk-2yN2PFJdpQjVyRo7a4SYkoPir/s1600-h/DSC01127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2dNpkCPW7pghkW9OERutv0VbvwvxD0IG1S4KAVEBu2iG5sWZ797YOg8U7SXHeWIVL-yhKCHvN2Yq-33OOt9ZT-YNei6sBtDiT9R_nS4RksqFjl7zJk-2yN2PFJdpQjVyRo7a4SYkoPir/s400/DSC01127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377157156753673378" border="0" /></a>Ready for mom and dad's night out<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge30jjxLJEIgsPULyjPWqLM-iLe9yL4pwr_1YJkv5KYuQAUcoAvqCjaFPbndeO_Dx-nmXmqO9vCgk16ejXy1DvbLsbomkYAgqdq9YHblFhalOBl2yW-ZK11xMWbDLNPRDNkLaJkyCrZeni/s1600-h/DSC01149.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge30jjxLJEIgsPULyjPWqLM-iLe9yL4pwr_1YJkv5KYuQAUcoAvqCjaFPbndeO_Dx-nmXmqO9vCgk16ejXy1DvbLsbomkYAgqdq9YHblFhalOBl2yW-ZK11xMWbDLNPRDNkLaJkyCrZeni/s400/DSC01149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377157162682633938" border="0" /></a>Saying goodbye at the Copenhagen airport. Can't wait to see her again in December!<br /></div><br />We also did a little last minute sightseeing in Skåne (the region we live in) before we left. On this day we visited many different burial tombs and standing stones.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgvRa3SsWlMqFi8E9JwRdRn9vA00VHfMt-a-CJgyCu_3lH9nwWum5CF2T90hInvRD69ZxuIm-ugMCxO2ka8dVA6wTmoac82Wkw4N4vrBQEJVfhUMIizwO_AYPS-1AeuoaHttI0ZF2xVhj/s1600-h/DSC01183.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgvRa3SsWlMqFi8E9JwRdRn9vA00VHfMt-a-CJgyCu_3lH9nwWum5CF2T90hInvRD69ZxuIm-ugMCxO2ka8dVA6wTmoac82Wkw4N4vrBQEJVfhUMIizwO_AYPS-1AeuoaHttI0ZF2xVhj/s400/DSC01183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377151409810994274" border="0" /></a></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5eWf_bubFt8XaPYzLF-mF3Azil_wio_9feZaNANTaFOT6udx_eOJA8mfMhaG36qJVVMp8VGhQN02lsmelEJxAmiY9a-OFBfwElPhRCrH_VdDmE8r8asX2IVtlDN9Jnu8PoB9rljBgd_u/s1600-h/DSC01194.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5eWf_bubFt8XaPYzLF-mF3Azil_wio_9feZaNANTaFOT6udx_eOJA8mfMhaG36qJVVMp8VGhQN02lsmelEJxAmiY9a-OFBfwElPhRCrH_VdDmE8r8asX2IVtlDN9Jnu8PoB9rljBgd_u/s400/DSC01194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377151398640457858" border="0" /></a>Climbing out of a burial tomb<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqd88dhfUkBw6zA3r6i2MT3oZRsXWXYOztzJ9wTn9OWB8WltgS02YkHomS9Be5PiY5xBqd8tu_IyM8yp1pA14EIvB2i-rGTUAXLifHCCK2fzGs7Gx2uFdCwsUyZw4kWQbUo41voBTNEqc/s1600-h/DSC01195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqd88dhfUkBw6zA3r6i2MT3oZRsXWXYOztzJ9wTn9OWB8WltgS02YkHomS9Be5PiY5xBqd8tu_IyM8yp1pA14EIvB2i-rGTUAXLifHCCK2fzGs7Gx2uFdCwsUyZw4kWQbUo41voBTNEqc/s400/DSC01195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377151388878434514" border="0" /></a>Sitting in front of a tomb<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LbrnPRywbAFqHgD1Lm10ehpZJn0TT_nI5phwb7dIGDYygNdxretozwvlpKefYPq4o1bfBG2lS_qsHf1sdn7XCi5rVeRm4kJA3ag9gsyd3nGAkZ2Bmx3O5cjZFIm7PYo_ZWq8xj_vJssc/s1600-h/DSC01196.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LbrnPRywbAFqHgD1Lm10ehpZJn0TT_nI5phwb7dIGDYygNdxretozwvlpKefYPq4o1bfBG2lS_qsHf1sdn7XCi5rVeRm4kJA3ag9gsyd3nGAkZ2Bmx3O5cjZFIm7PYo_ZWq8xj_vJssc/s400/DSC01196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377151374189702450" border="0" /></a>At the coast<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddIRiHlBCAPHeC2S_XpVIDCdymVQgLKt0xJWgejb7I1E9qnuIuNl_rn8C0dufud2WcSnvkcS-i44tPCaKBZ_mNB39gBGqBxYhhAKKiGBYHJo1RwIOsZVjzDoL0wc6EuHUtcZ5oJTKdOgG/s1600-h/DSC01175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddIRiHlBCAPHeC2S_XpVIDCdymVQgLKt0xJWgejb7I1E9qnuIuNl_rn8C0dufud2WcSnvkcS-i44tPCaKBZ_mNB39gBGqBxYhhAKKiGBYHJo1RwIOsZVjzDoL0wc6EuHUtcZ5oJTKdOgG/s400/DSC01175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377153231974638434" border="0" /></a>Inside a burial mound<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidA8EbbatnL92e2dgQX-Wj9fKqSYpikKpZuHemw-xWDVvKf6QAuuoXtZ6KwcwsK5HHcwnN5EFMBoA8rjfnK5sVgfWXBFLeFlrDT7Crga2rQ09L9icHVdLyU7DOZQMGng1Z4UgnxKdzpcSm/s1600-h/DSC01177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidA8EbbatnL92e2dgQX-Wj9fKqSYpikKpZuHemw-xWDVvKf6QAuuoXtZ6KwcwsK5HHcwnN5EFMBoA8rjfnK5sVgfWXBFLeFlrDT7Crga2rQ09L9icHVdLyU7DOZQMGng1Z4UgnxKdzpcSm/s400/DSC01177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377151423162340498" border="0" /></a>On top of the burial mound<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1r-IquJCreE3SIcDBd0J_-3RmNtoLtM77_xsBSjDzExxTLz_Yn9K-O9BHWD92pSe3sXZCeX5hH11dYLgboSpT7bZID487teEKJLjeP1epwcHaQVh72gJEpyNHQ67V0zmIM3ViUHsCIt3S/s1600-h/DSC01173.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1r-IquJCreE3SIcDBd0J_-3RmNtoLtM77_xsBSjDzExxTLz_Yn9K-O9BHWD92pSe3sXZCeX5hH11dYLgboSpT7bZID487teEKJLjeP1epwcHaQVh72gJEpyNHQ67V0zmIM3ViUHsCIt3S/s400/DSC01173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377153208385051810" border="0" /></a>Around the mound<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkPszsZQdazA7pzNf3RIBPwv1Jm75EP8t0tes1OJFJA2I_RlFE93S33Rdbmhlbw4fNdsqZ9Amtdu1Q6ozZ04syV3UPKZ9C5ADw-VOZlbsWDjOM1RaKDq6bt3rPlkLGRU8uambWhr0tfwm/s1600-h/DSC01163.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkPszsZQdazA7pzNf3RIBPwv1Jm75EP8t0tes1OJFJA2I_RlFE93S33Rdbmhlbw4fNdsqZ9Amtdu1Q6ozZ04syV3UPKZ9C5ADw-VOZlbsWDjOM1RaKDq6bt3rPlkLGRU8uambWhr0tfwm/s400/DSC01163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377153218382964514" border="0" /></a>Standing stones forming a boat shape<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNphBErQtl64oPw4GUQF96R9I5VXkqUIsJ0zNNoi5l4ftzTwmOsSKb6veVFUA_1bRV1Yxjg00fx7Wm7WHuxfPXCEdNLG_K3nstkO9NiWISUPFOiLf6ml_zP-apBmVoL7GfWOzbFH-3LMN/s1600-h/DSC01169.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNphBErQtl64oPw4GUQF96R9I5VXkqUIsJ0zNNoi5l4ftzTwmOsSKb6veVFUA_1bRV1Yxjg00fx7Wm7WHuxfPXCEdNLG_K3nstkO9NiWISUPFOiLf6ml_zP-apBmVoL7GfWOzbFH-3LMN/s400/DSC01169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377153225448393394" border="0" /></a>Taking a ride<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8EKyrTqwPuS3u2QX5tWWRvz70Ugp32m4BS9A8FelLCPWLxsgb4alFt-WP65e1Ew9Z8YznQ3o35ck3f1qfmd9JEz7_pCKOamXjSfW1q6MSHJ5iE3CFXRPtWMvQRelhJra1GcCxtcOJ0vn/s1600-h/DSC01215.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8EKyrTqwPuS3u2QX5tWWRvz70Ugp32m4BS9A8FelLCPWLxsgb4alFt-WP65e1Ew9Z8YznQ3o35ck3f1qfmd9JEz7_pCKOamXjSfW1q6MSHJ5iE3CFXRPtWMvQRelhJra1GcCxtcOJ0vn/s400/DSC01215.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377153245734944306" border="0" /></a>Sonja working around the house with sister's underwear on.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Moving out for the summer was a lot of work. We had to decide what to pack to bring with us and well as pack up everything we were leaving behind. Then we had to clean the house and get the yard ready for the owner of the house to move back in for the summer. Needless to say, by the time we moved out we were exhausted! But don't worry we had a 10 week "vacation" ahead of us! Yeah right!<br /></div></div>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-25249656893223357212009-08-29T03:15:00.007-04:002009-08-29T03:54:28.261-04:00A Summer of HomelessnessWe have finally returned to our home in Lund after 10 weeks of homelessness. This summer was really extraordinary for our family for many reasons and I think that we learned a lot about our selves in the process. One of the really fun aspects of this summer is that we had almost zero internet access for 10 weeks. Which means that most of our friends and family have gotten to know almost nothing about our adventures. <br /><br />Over the next couple of weeks we plan to post a series of blog entries that will give you a little taste of what it is like to be a vagabond family in Scandinavia. Along the way we will introduce you to some of the wonderful people we met, show you some of the places we visited, share some fun stories, and let you hear a little of the insight we gained.<br /><br />Here is a little pictorial preview of what is to come:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2dMe7ZPp2vFulifeCXduI86ItnYePueK3-WTfDGIvaJCn6t5EbDWpiJQYKjB1mAIp1zf0Kl_TtPFApaGQWMeUfrPiEH8QpASf3TsQb91R0upVGi5e2Ba5XqId_kFgKPa5MNQGBVcuuce/s1600-h/DSC01160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2dMe7ZPp2vFulifeCXduI86ItnYePueK3-WTfDGIvaJCn6t5EbDWpiJQYKjB1mAIp1zf0Kl_TtPFApaGQWMeUfrPiEH8QpASf3TsQb91R0upVGi5e2Ba5XqId_kFgKPa5MNQGBVcuuce/s400/DSC01160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375285769354930930" border="0" /></a>Viking Age Monuments...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0zV4Tz8KguBnQb5X3hmr1mtg_MTvSuOy6eRI5iWqsgEELpX71NTl1T1fhrPfGS6wNIcCAS9iSsKlzL_EcPN8fr4PDmW9aVL0fK0Owq5l0KtCBgJs1UmkcQd5xqaFQkNYjFx6i4_db8Cf/s1600-h/DSC01281.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0zV4Tz8KguBnQb5X3hmr1mtg_MTvSuOy6eRI5iWqsgEELpX71NTl1T1fhrPfGS6wNIcCAS9iSsKlzL_EcPN8fr4PDmW9aVL0fK0Owq5l0KtCBgJs1UmkcQd5xqaFQkNYjFx6i4_db8Cf/s400/DSC01281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375286853084023986" border="0" /></a>Exploring of Castles...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNXEv9UQUMo93pfqVt9tXABO_VvJcBsFktneVeMBuGlOR4AI1NMe41967vKLiJAeZQCSPCr0Uhfm0PrgEoJ7zrkuW57WzkEemsS63zOIbCOQUQbEmcPx1-BKZmpB05m-xsVV9npJwlEQL/s1600-h/DSC01334.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNXEv9UQUMo93pfqVt9tXABO_VvJcBsFktneVeMBuGlOR4AI1NMe41967vKLiJAeZQCSPCr0Uhfm0PrgEoJ7zrkuW57WzkEemsS63zOIbCOQUQbEmcPx1-BKZmpB05m-xsVV9npJwlEQL/s400/DSC01334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375287539351266930" border="0" /></a>Swedish Wildlife...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxXmZYqu7-86rclQEUHbVx1g1p9ROuaAjaRaoDOr9_JCTXQyC3eNeJ5-EA9Ar0XLX68qUC3S5hAZNtkiXSBntz2R-coA_ZkM-ZfUZCazpqomSCnwS9HehlI2P7eP-puX6OLIdORlTL18J/s1600-h/DSC01399.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxXmZYqu7-86rclQEUHbVx1g1p9ROuaAjaRaoDOr9_JCTXQyC3eNeJ5-EA9Ar0XLX68qUC3S5hAZNtkiXSBntz2R-coA_ZkM-ZfUZCazpqomSCnwS9HehlI2P7eP-puX6OLIdORlTL18J/s400/DSC01399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375288377520092626" border="0" /></a>Lots of Really Old Churches...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpbC5ezL9UJHn1ZTSP810AqVDJB_0tUb4XQCKlsVD-iaDm3YlIKf61ej4cu1ZxWu_9K3BL7B5qy2rDA0hoDJxF0alThH3WgDNC1-ARJvDK1MZ5Kybdlim3AqFrqW8QxJXHwj1ZdWXaSl8/s1600-h/DSC01310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpbC5ezL9UJHn1ZTSP810AqVDJB_0tUb4XQCKlsVD-iaDm3YlIKf61ej4cu1ZxWu_9K3BL7B5qy2rDA0hoDJxF0alThH3WgDNC1-ARJvDK1MZ5Kybdlim3AqFrqW8QxJXHwj1ZdWXaSl8/s400/DSC01310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375289541297697474" border="0" /></a>And, of course, lots of stories about our girls.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-83580638685089845342009-07-08T16:37:00.003-04:002009-08-29T03:15:13.842-04:00Tour de Sverige<span style="font-size:130%;">Our grand tour of Sweden<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">As you may know the house that we have been living in in Sweden is a summer house that belongs to a family from Stockholm. And since it is now summer they are living in their summer home making us officially homeless. This is of course a little bit scary but it has given us an opportunity that we probably will never have again in our lives. We have 11 weeks where we are free to travel and we are taking the opportunity to see as much of Scandinavia as possible. <br /><br />Below is a map showing the rout we began to travel starting on June 18 and will be finishing at the end of August.<br /><br /><iframe width="450" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Bj%C3%A4rred,+Sweden&daddr=Fiskeb%C3%A4ckskil,+Lysekil,+Sweden+to:Route+47%2FS%C3%B6dergatan+to:Norrk%C3%B6ping+Municipality,+Sweden+to:E22+to:Lessebo,+Sweden+to:Lund,+Sweden+to:Oslo,+Norway+to:Storlien,+Sweden+to:Arvidsjaur,+Sweden+to:Docksta,+Sweden+to:Stockholm,+Sweden+to:R%C3%B6yse,+Norway+to:Fl%C3%A5m,+Norway+to:Bergen,+Norway+to:R%C3%B6yse,+Norway+to:Trollh%C3%A4ttan,+Sweden+to:Kungsbacka,+Sweden+to:Route+153%2FV%C3%A4stra+J%C3%A4rnv%C3%A4gsgatan+to:visby,+Sweden+to:Bj%C3%A4rred,+Sweden&geocode=%3BFQ-reAMdEM-uAA%3BFQwSegMdmpTBAA%3BFY4VfgMdN_H2AA%3BFXQYYQMd9vH4AA%3B%3B%3B%3B%3BFXzV6AMdfnkkAQ%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3BFXUvbQMdLka4AA%3BFUwlaAMdwMHNAA%3B%3B&hl=en&mra=ls&via=2,4,18&sll=61.501734,13.40332&sspn=14.601039,50.009766&ie=UTF8&ll=61.41775,13.40332&spn=12.648711,19.731445&z=5&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Bj%C3%A4rred,+Sweden&daddr=Fiskeb%C3%A4ckskil,+Lysekil,+Sweden+to:Route+47%2FS%C3%B6dergatan+to:Norrk%C3%B6ping+Municipality,+Sweden+to:E22+to:Lessebo,+Sweden+to:Lund,+Sweden+to:Oslo,+Norway+to:Storlien,+Sweden+to:Arvidsjaur,+Sweden+to:Docksta,+Sweden+to:Stockholm,+Sweden+to:R%C3%B6yse,+Norway+to:Fl%C3%A5m,+Norway+to:Bergen,+Norway+to:R%C3%B6yse,+Norway+to:Trollh%C3%A4ttan,+Sweden+to:Kungsbacka,+Sweden+to:Route+153%2FV%C3%A4stra+J%C3%A4rnv%C3%A4gsgatan+to:visby,+Sweden+to:Bj%C3%A4rred,+Sweden&geocode=%3BFQ-reAMdEM-uAA%3BFQwSegMdmpTBAA%3BFY4VfgMdN_H2AA%3BFXQYYQMd9vH4AA%3B%3B%3B%3B%3BFXzV6AMdfnkkAQ%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3BFXUvbQMdLka4AA%3BFUwlaAMdwMHNAA%3B%3B&hl=en&mra=ls&via=2,4,18&sll=61.501734,13.40332&sspn=14.601039,50.009766&ie=UTF8&ll=61.41775,13.40332&spn=12.648711,19.731445&z=5" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /><br />Often on this trip we will be staying with friends and distant relatives at other times we will be staying in little cabins, hostels, and hotels. For almost three weeks Matthew's parents are traveling with us, later in the summer our very close friends Mike and Nila will be joining us. it is to be sure a grand adventure and we are very excited about it.<br /><br />One of the real exciting aspects of this summer is that for the vast majority of the summer we will be living completely computer free. This means that for those of you that follow this blog you will not get to see pictures from our trip until September. <br /></span></span>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-54870614746670609212009-06-14T15:17:00.009-04:002009-06-15T02:05:30.762-04:00Kirchentag in Germany<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Kirchentag</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />A few weeks ago we took a trip to Germany to attend the <a href="http://www.kirchentag.de/index.php?id=home_english">32nd German Protestant Kirchentag</a>. Kirchentag means "Church Day" in German but ironically it lasts five days. The Kirchentag is an event that takes place every other year and given the fact that weekly church attendance in Germany is very low it is absolutely mind boggling the level of participation in this festival. I was told that this year there were over 300,000 individuals that participated in Kirchentag and only about 1,000 of those participants came from outside of Germany. The only larger regularly occurring Christian gathering is World Youth Day but the Kirchentag is much older.<br /></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDkpv72nVpkVIAq-m1W1D-frqGXfEXc6p9K0o0KMZ7vw833Bcp7semuFqsaURr3ypP1p9IJ_lmb3rLjotZWZ8RoXCglIJxHz-tYpYE7bOyCXLSqvMjLkuy8EsmlGjACz6DO_UbAJzQv9O/s1600-h/On+the+Train.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDkpv72nVpkVIAq-m1W1D-frqGXfEXc6p9K0o0KMZ7vw833Bcp7semuFqsaURr3ypP1p9IJ_lmb3rLjotZWZ8RoXCglIJxHz-tYpYE7bOyCXLSqvMjLkuy8EsmlGjACz6DO_UbAJzQv9O/s400/On+the+Train.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347271355029850050" border="0" /></a>We took the train to Germany and the train took a ferry from Denmark to Germany. Linnea really liked riding the train. Even after riding the train for six hours she still wanted to go on another train. Luckily the trains were very nice and the German train even had a play room just for children on it. Pretty cool.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3ylk5E81WjQp-ZBbm0t-xRJ4iBU14rplevHor0Q8uzMa23YYQFCusYCYaMxCcLxKv9_EAzuqmB5JtLPPx5TU3h_gxHEBpdXUrYNOzk7nzpw2ifgpP38NCdAl8afO2PYj4_neiEK1epEz/s1600-h/Ferry.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3ylk5E81WjQp-ZBbm0t-xRJ4iBU14rplevHor0Q8uzMa23YYQFCusYCYaMxCcLxKv9_EAzuqmB5JtLPPx5TU3h_gxHEBpdXUrYNOzk7nzpw2ifgpP38NCdAl8afO2PYj4_neiEK1epEz/s400/Ferry.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347266617896907746" border="0" /></a>The whole reason we ended up going to Kirchentag was because a group of people from <a href="http://gracelutheranonline.com/">Grace Lutheran Church,</a> the church Kristin grew up attending were going to attend and we decided to join them. We spent last summer worshiping with Grace and have long considered it our Church home when we are visiting Kristin's family in Western Massachusetts. Below is a picture of the entire group from grace together. It was really good to hang out a little bit with the whole group. We are really thankful our friend pastor Derek Harman invited us to go.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtkADOc1ylrgtHMJljJNv-JMiRlzdiuEU0LDZku0bMjf6EgjZckG9deY936kzNPc66Vb9HXplGGud6HV9GZ11quyyV_jqx6OsN0wIdXBKzq0J3YDRflKu2N68dy-fqAkgvAonQ4Yd4s_N/s1600-h/Group+from+Grace.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtkADOc1ylrgtHMJljJNv-JMiRlzdiuEU0LDZku0bMjf6EgjZckG9deY936kzNPc66Vb9HXplGGud6HV9GZ11quyyV_jqx6OsN0wIdXBKzq0J3YDRflKu2N68dy-fqAkgvAonQ4Yd4s_N/s400/Group+from+Grace.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347268598008081058" border="0" /></a>While the whole Kirchentag experience was incredible there was no doubt that for our entire family the best part of the experience was getting to stay with a host family in Bremen. Axel, Henrika, and Sjut were wonderful hosts and we really loved getting to know them. I think we were all nervous when we met for the first time but it did not take us long to really become friends. As Christians we often talk about being brothers and sisters in Christ with all of the Christians that live throughout the world but here we really had a chance to experience the reality of that family relationship.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYftYqi9V0yNbXEjvu2_cV8jNEf3aWIp4s53iBRi6TrbgSvQv-adH0WeF-PxnAbUW8DFR50pVlw7wv0Jj1of8Kvzx4QOwuw0cajyXo7Orb95ZQDKx6rjz0BzXHEuK1LYMAIv6c_tFv5M5/s1600-h/Host+Family.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYftYqi9V0yNbXEjvu2_cV8jNEf3aWIp4s53iBRi6TrbgSvQv-adH0WeF-PxnAbUW8DFR50pVlw7wv0Jj1of8Kvzx4QOwuw0cajyXo7Orb95ZQDKx6rjz0BzXHEuK1LYMAIv6c_tFv5M5/s400/Host+Family.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347268608804689314" border="0" /></a><br />The entire city of Bremen was taken over by the Kirchentag. Just when you thought you had seen everything you would ride the bus down the street and see another venue that could hold thousands of people.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivy-drMwXEdIPlth94KfRyVM_t6TNiSQA3FhaitGoa_eVp1j_1_deQoOwzq8etDYpTmPQk0vCRbeD8vUiD_gCBWHsjft1ghPMrsGw8Np34_6gtsLnGfwTD5m91d3FJpTH0vbdUCWMJYuv7/s1600-h/Biblestudy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivy-drMwXEdIPlth94KfRyVM_t6TNiSQA3FhaitGoa_eVp1j_1_deQoOwzq8etDYpTmPQk0vCRbeD8vUiD_gCBWHsjft1ghPMrsGw8Np34_6gtsLnGfwTD5m91d3FJpTH0vbdUCWMJYuv7/s400/Biblestudy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347266592916156594" border="0" /></a>Above is one of the morning Bible studies. There were at lest 20,000 people that showed up for this chance to read the Bible together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xMNskAzPJ6EhZQTJw2MaayujaVYjIdyWudUikYSa-WLoMzcThWImRUjO_YpmC_F9RlTNfpbBUSPrc8B2Ni5HM4lsK_L4Z8ai8Nrx081LubQ95C_8Lp8JF-Tz7c8-IphahOrIA_diyzsr/s1600-h/Linnea+Stroling.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xMNskAzPJ6EhZQTJw2MaayujaVYjIdyWudUikYSa-WLoMzcThWImRUjO_YpmC_F9RlTNfpbBUSPrc8B2Ni5HM4lsK_L4Z8ai8Nrx081LubQ95C_8Lp8JF-Tz7c8-IphahOrIA_diyzsr/s400/Linnea+Stroling.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347271344753228466" border="0" /></a>Linnea just seemed to love being around all of the people and would try to make friends with anyone she could.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgm-elJ_rjjO4LTdfWQdvOb0AabCViko0PJVYgTckDIpSVVEimnCJvWQjbp_aLf-ySdUErzh4YjfY4BV-imR5mFdKIN_B48HdlFqIm-5bt8MsuM3vn_MTNK3xDcWTmkC5dF2vfCejMqBy/s1600-h/Outside+Croud.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgm-elJ_rjjO4LTdfWQdvOb0AabCViko0PJVYgTckDIpSVVEimnCJvWQjbp_aLf-ySdUErzh4YjfY4BV-imR5mFdKIN_B48HdlFqIm-5bt8MsuM3vn_MTNK3xDcWTmkC5dF2vfCejMqBy/s400/Outside+Croud.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347271361348101250" border="0" /></a>Some of the events would fill up rather quickly. The above picture is of the overflow from one of the events where they set up a portable Jumbotron outside after the arena filled up. People were so interested that they sat outside in the rain.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDMeIaxXOgjstMMoAtmTfzYr2jj9-skRFd4W5ccnZp6hY2QtjxXR3Aiqx8UmKemfAQUoRKc0yKHJS5W51K-cu4h1TumuRVDai449MmVf0OZp2K7pysH1z2ta2GOnMk6TcgsD7AAi93qc9/s1600-h/Girls+Sitting.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDMeIaxXOgjstMMoAtmTfzYr2jj9-skRFd4W5ccnZp6hY2QtjxXR3Aiqx8UmKemfAQUoRKc0yKHJS5W51K-cu4h1TumuRVDai449MmVf0OZp2K7pysH1z2ta2GOnMk6TcgsD7AAi93qc9/s400/Girls+Sitting.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347268592348665570" border="0" /></a>Our first day at the Kirchentag wa a little crazy. We would find something we wanted to go to in the schedule, start heading towards it and after walking half way there realize that there was no way we were going to make it to the event. We simply were not used to the huge scale of the Kirchentag. At lunch we decided that it was our goal to make it to one just one of the days 100+ events. Finally we made it to a concert that was really a lot of fun. It was raining when the concert started but the sun came out and Linnea and I even got to dance a little.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGpI_r6HYu7VyAPc_VTqIsoNiElXoDGeULt7XwTpMauBWSBM4LGVwzyjV-Db0Cllp8kwiScEsxNMY6l9NW_zAKBR1mUEWX4ZziJEaxgWEhSLjjB1ntiWLnyhfI4BWuFiUZbrRYoqCfe6Z/s1600-h/Dancing+at+Concert.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGpI_r6HYu7VyAPc_VTqIsoNiElXoDGeULt7XwTpMauBWSBM4LGVwzyjV-Db0Cllp8kwiScEsxNMY6l9NW_zAKBR1mUEWX4ZziJEaxgWEhSLjjB1ntiWLnyhfI4BWuFiUZbrRYoqCfe6Z/s400/Dancing+at+Concert.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347266598292714338" border="0" /></a><br />There was a whole section of the city that was designated for children's events. We spent a whole day just doing kids stuff and we loved it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1xtSHgkWmErDzEyhfSJ0MXvMdSXxS9MAgH-kAindx7R3cadQgHWe8XJdxqtZTj-F1v0Kl_SBTQGgQdU3T2C2hmZhG7J3r1QbD3wK3wbJx5EJnYNgFywA2S-FqWbsIDv_s8AJxNZ8gdx_/s1600-h/Face+Painting.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1xtSHgkWmErDzEyhfSJ0MXvMdSXxS9MAgH-kAindx7R3cadQgHWe8XJdxqtZTj-F1v0Kl_SBTQGgQdU3T2C2hmZhG7J3r1QbD3wK3wbJx5EJnYNgFywA2S-FqWbsIDv_s8AJxNZ8gdx_/s400/Face+Painting.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347266611681441378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnE13aLRFoaTV2myEcca6Hoy9HCMqeo2OaIsT8-sGKf8od_KkcaBaAF4_FyY9tBJnv8MjSVVDciA_u51lUGZmv2oqgCTUeklwe0aXcZwWoMIrH9Z7vzD9J7-IhYHUHUTo5rhrY3h0laaC/s1600-h/Sleeping+at+Musical.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnE13aLRFoaTV2myEcca6Hoy9HCMqeo2OaIsT8-sGKf8od_KkcaBaAF4_FyY9tBJnv8MjSVVDciA_u51lUGZmv2oqgCTUeklwe0aXcZwWoMIrH9Z7vzD9J7-IhYHUHUTo5rhrY3h0laaC/s400/Sleeping+at+Musical.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347308918854880594" border="0" /></a>We went to a children's musical about the life of King David. It was fun but our girls thought that it was a good chance to catch up on their sleep.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvrzWGKG-7bZk6xMTa13fTkchn2R2zVgoEJJy7BrPLRKMLDYDg5zD_hgeA6M-vofYZ96b7uSdgjs7kw0HgweqgmANd-V7VBFp7AllDd4Le4-WSIaM548TMi1dArp5_QN_UD3s5vjTVSsp/s1600-h/Horse+and+Rider+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvrzWGKG-7bZk6xMTa13fTkchn2R2zVgoEJJy7BrPLRKMLDYDg5zD_hgeA6M-vofYZ96b7uSdgjs7kw0HgweqgmANd-V7VBFp7AllDd4Le4-WSIaM548TMi1dArp5_QN_UD3s5vjTVSsp/s400/Horse+and+Rider+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347268604242558450" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRppPa2rj-VQcUuizbheO1L0OaHvCaWSIlsQE9zOK9K3TgH-gaqDE6NvbWjgyagsM8BUGKp-KhVb23MHFa_KR9DjnsghKB3s25Sk5QnQG7UPA10BdeKeKrOqTTbN_s7A72BICZGmVF_bdU/s1600-h/Sleding.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRppPa2rj-VQcUuizbheO1L0OaHvCaWSIlsQE9zOK9K3TgH-gaqDE6NvbWjgyagsM8BUGKp-KhVb23MHFa_KR9DjnsghKB3s25Sk5QnQG7UPA10BdeKeKrOqTTbN_s7A72BICZGmVF_bdU/s400/Sleding.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347271364651403154" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">On our last day in Bremen we had lunch at a little outdoor cafe. It was a perfect way to end our time in Germany.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGo48OSdaCe3FQ_NrquTMX_T7FPoNJS2P1JjKBWsVpXz8pSV20ts6cU7QIYY2oXcbjq0UoLQylzE23Q-sY7Bh_S0qyFWpbhUpzpM6-_KowB4YMLYCNZmTIUgAl2gbd1OhaZ7mrsgZ5PcZZ/s1600-h/Lunch.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGo48OSdaCe3FQ_NrquTMX_T7FPoNJS2P1JjKBWsVpXz8pSV20ts6cU7QIYY2oXcbjq0UoLQylzE23Q-sY7Bh_S0qyFWpbhUpzpM6-_KowB4YMLYCNZmTIUgAl2gbd1OhaZ7mrsgZ5PcZZ/s400/Lunch.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347271352003472882" border="0" /></a><br />Not only did we have a good time in Bremen but I was interviewed by the local paper and was quoted extensively in an article about what it is like for foreigners to attend Kirchentag.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckd69KgYBhyphenhyphengJFD8sMIpG6jcIo2jr36MK6XpXEpR9qRtflx4F1MKGR7MdUbN3evJy1CzYivSoxTOcY2LOsy3YETsPw2YySRYEB8vziAmdYvx7UfO5xTtIlCABTa2UhG2Yz1QfeqphlBUX/s1600-h/Ericksons+at+Kirchentag+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckd69KgYBhyphenhyphengJFD8sMIpG6jcIo2jr36MK6XpXEpR9qRtflx4F1MKGR7MdUbN3evJy1CzYivSoxTOcY2LOsy3YETsPw2YySRYEB8vziAmdYvx7UfO5xTtIlCABTa2UhG2Yz1QfeqphlBUX/s400/Ericksons+at+Kirchentag+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347266605022063058" border="0" /></a>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-11699779510995543732009-05-18T03:25:00.005-04:002009-05-18T03:59:28.051-04:00Linnea's Birthday - Blowing bubbles, Hello Kitty and ScooteringWhat a great 4th birthday for Linnea! In the morning, we had pink pancakes made by our expert Swedish pancake chef, Matthew. Then after breakfast she received her first gift and most wanted gift, a pink Hello Kitty scooter and she's been scooting ever since! She also got a great Hello Kitty t-shirt from dad. Linnea is very much into Hello Kitty, it's really big here and Matthew thinks it's kind of like an evil empire, hence the t-shirt below. It was designed by one of his classmates from Swedish class.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyyTsMesp-r4DgSYOJ_bnHzqEgZ3Zu4OQrztWtJJ7RdBr30qNhqqs-LQgtLMy_G8xPusP6Hrhzli5DC5zfcbrq9pZo0y7PLH1LbPRAVazPHO-LdAIr62ikeALzMk6_2MBdYQZHZqRQ992/s1600-h/DSC00981.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyyTsMesp-r4DgSYOJ_bnHzqEgZ3Zu4OQrztWtJJ7RdBr30qNhqqs-LQgtLMy_G8xPusP6Hrhzli5DC5zfcbrq9pZo0y7PLH1LbPRAVazPHO-LdAIr62ikeALzMk6_2MBdYQZHZqRQ992/s400/DSC00981.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337065759934865426" /></a><br /><br />Before our guests arrived the girls took a pre-party bath and Linnea taught Sonja how to put her face in the water blow bubbles in the tub. It is very cute and we've got it on video, but I think it is too big to post here.<br /><br />Here's Linnea taking a much needed nap in the back yard before guests arrived.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0iPS7ZD8MHg0LQ0IZ4gT2aX-oa7vScuVpjOB4XfafQ6Lsi___bLEl414g1YwiannWOJ3qdrTDaTrurzX4H-nceg8sn7D1obizFNEVoqE5wV36Fv_IEQngDJlKM2XpSuK77yN50ErKeRf/s1600-h/DSC00969.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0iPS7ZD8MHg0LQ0IZ4gT2aX-oa7vScuVpjOB4XfafQ6Lsi___bLEl414g1YwiannWOJ3qdrTDaTrurzX4H-nceg8sn7D1obizFNEVoqE5wV36Fv_IEQngDJlKM2XpSuK77yN50ErKeRf/s400/DSC00969.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337065307481596546" /></a><br /><br />Sonja was very helpful with the decorating and cleaning. This is a room separate from our house that is just perfect for parties in the summer. We lucked out again and had great weather for her birthday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41vT1dTOkk-oCDhVl-MmYJWLuT5FauyH0Agk_QlBYd7RuNwlkMyVfkrbpen2nF8elMwdMiF8CReyUZpErlhGS0-QL4DHNoHWZBnSu0hmLO1PHROLVWFuc0S8eow7t5mz1LAX8KbyekF6y/s1600-h/DSC00970.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41vT1dTOkk-oCDhVl-MmYJWLuT5FauyH0Agk_QlBYd7RuNwlkMyVfkrbpen2nF8elMwdMiF8CReyUZpErlhGS0-QL4DHNoHWZBnSu0hmLO1PHROLVWFuc0S8eow7t5mz1LAX8KbyekF6y/s400/DSC00970.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337065304059257266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVCrCSpGdplG3lTXhopCO7EV02wOdktRzAiZgkChuIMGa4Ex4svhFVAWIlFKrrpKvIVMZv5b7Oxj_uY0lR4agYoT8O9iwnE9Xlu1mReYA5Ux_UwB_YujYfC5LiKgVhcaPmJKZqMeW4DB7/s1600-h/DSC00974.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVCrCSpGdplG3lTXhopCO7EV02wOdktRzAiZgkChuIMGa4Ex4svhFVAWIlFKrrpKvIVMZv5b7Oxj_uY0lR4agYoT8O9iwnE9Xlu1mReYA5Ux_UwB_YujYfC5LiKgVhcaPmJKZqMeW4DB7/s400/DSC00974.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337065294811650754" /></a><br /><br />Scootering<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfIeSnWr-I_KUCoDq9rovxy_Klp_9wQNuUqt9osV56FpM6NnSBTNH5YFILC2u37marpLZuVCk6YceqSsGEt880vSBKJwQJk5XDxmd2ANm2K3VDiWbxEA4s0Fb3FNhua9o2KzJZtv7IrlS/s1600-h/DSC00976.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfIeSnWr-I_KUCoDq9rovxy_Klp_9wQNuUqt9osV56FpM6NnSBTNH5YFILC2u37marpLZuVCk6YceqSsGEt880vSBKJwQJk5XDxmd2ANm2K3VDiWbxEA4s0Fb3FNhua9o2KzJZtv7IrlS/s400/DSC00976.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337064459236026514" /></a><br /><br />Opening gifts from friends, which included a Hello Kitty cell phone, camera, t-shirt, hair accessories and purse along with a bubble making kit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirf4_Fs1hOY__ui-5_U0L1m9fihvD9siQJKqPz6HcyAGvay7ZEhmiH3eEUmwIcKBH3RZmqjHp4q03VCU62R5IP1LWb8BCK5VdENWxLtgHXcU5sddM9boZGvbrxUjkJsY9K28kVcYSIOVq/s1600-h/DSC00978.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirf4_Fs1hOY__ui-5_U0L1m9fihvD9siQJKqPz6HcyAGvay7ZEhmiH3eEUmwIcKBH3RZmqjHp4q03VCU62R5IP1LWb8BCK5VdENWxLtgHXcU5sddM9boZGvbrxUjkJsY9K28kVcYSIOVq/s400/DSC00978.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337064455068684994" /></a><br /><br />The pink strawberry cake specially decorated by Linnea.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArEgBFkH-7pDWf6GrqSNElnCmwwHkJ48o7bwjolAtsmt1SZEX-C_OgTQ2od2r1FKhGlU-SxPNxm4Y9RKtOXzUePa3ADpU9LMkue9KnCQLkm1UhnVZpX_sKFd3UOFhg2N7vCPSMBi8-yir/s1600-h/DSC00982.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArEgBFkH-7pDWf6GrqSNElnCmwwHkJ48o7bwjolAtsmt1SZEX-C_OgTQ2od2r1FKhGlU-SxPNxm4Y9RKtOXzUePa3ADpU9LMkue9KnCQLkm1UhnVZpX_sKFd3UOFhg2N7vCPSMBi8-yir/s400/DSC00982.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337064453604378178" /></a><br /><br />Celebrating<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0NHNn8HsSqp_NRODsSkKsIYV1k0lSV72xttGDJ0GX_uEUiuJrAq7bVHdbd8V9l9H3J7d0qF_dn_pFiqe-QG8BbAuFLyctlLhAGNHOu4QcEa7cQSh9tbD0suBqJeUjd1GvkJxDmTiJ6wP/s1600-h/DSC00992.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0NHNn8HsSqp_NRODsSkKsIYV1k0lSV72xttGDJ0GX_uEUiuJrAq7bVHdbd8V9l9H3J7d0qF_dn_pFiqe-QG8BbAuFLyctlLhAGNHOu4QcEa7cQSh9tbD0suBqJeUjd1GvkJxDmTiJ6wP/s400/DSC00992.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337064439581518786" /></a><br /><br />Sonja dissatisfied with her birthday hat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNr5lZaolSi5naNsViHmMWl3aEnt7SIoGF9dTvnyQdVmL3-IM8ZW4mWU9MpzK0EAKfqNbLkvwOnW_eCEv3xoipb2L5-VkyzG8-BZK8KsOMzm7WJCSlqphWVngPARJ3f0YDQWUc7uHbryCg/s1600-h/DSC00994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNr5lZaolSi5naNsViHmMWl3aEnt7SIoGF9dTvnyQdVmL3-IM8ZW4mWU9MpzK0EAKfqNbLkvwOnW_eCEv3xoipb2L5-VkyzG8-BZK8KsOMzm7WJCSlqphWVngPARJ3f0YDQWUc7uHbryCg/s400/DSC00994.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337064438078727538" /></a><br /><br />Pin the bow on Hello Kitty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3OfgqqTz89x8M2nZLVk9E1tPro6sWzHlWqdXk2AnbTb-0R0hrWGRVLkOALy5NuVsL_uJ4yWYclv77tuPNtIjRHvXL5Zbgnx2BGX0z7pqttBMq2zBRn95kH3H26-KrBE4rYUuGXZ10g7C/s1600-h/DSC01000.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3OfgqqTz89x8M2nZLVk9E1tPro6sWzHlWqdXk2AnbTb-0R0hrWGRVLkOALy5NuVsL_uJ4yWYclv77tuPNtIjRHvXL5Zbgnx2BGX0z7pqttBMq2zBRn95kH3H26-KrBE4rYUuGXZ10g7C/s400/DSC01000.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337063182601427138" /></a><br /><br />When it was the adults turn, Linnea was in charge of spinning. And the game got increasingly more difficult as the poster was moved to different locations as the poor person was being spun about 20 times. Of course for everyone else, it was wildly funny.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgUempMW9NtB5l3H6HNWcscrsXIoNhlzDmDYiQcN4zFYJ0Ozy-NQWs-rWrsBTJoqb_rEjLRri4IVwzJ2bw8wG1h8jy9GBzGraxaNz36gUeAGmFM6g4yboN8SBE8DYifSTVlRkZb9DLUc3/s1600-h/DSC01009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgUempMW9NtB5l3H6HNWcscrsXIoNhlzDmDYiQcN4zFYJ0Ozy-NQWs-rWrsBTJoqb_rEjLRri4IVwzJ2bw8wG1h8jy9GBzGraxaNz36gUeAGmFM6g4yboN8SBE8DYifSTVlRkZb9DLUc3/s400/DSC01009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337063180102515474" /></a><br /><br />All the friends have left and it's time for PJs. Notice the tattoo on the tummy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv_j8sJBI8lfQ7b7Nc0C5akDv7uh43fNWBuXm4vkB4VVQmjzY4yHjvQcRPCNdMBKF_bOQAsxhUijVYrfCzOEmlCVnjAJzz1rS4moNyoQCHcWS-VjVYSubqSYwjBgbHGUaSPiLEn_U7kxj/s1600-h/DSC01010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv_j8sJBI8lfQ7b7Nc0C5akDv7uh43fNWBuXm4vkB4VVQmjzY4yHjvQcRPCNdMBKF_bOQAsxhUijVYrfCzOEmlCVnjAJzz1rS4moNyoQCHcWS-VjVYSubqSYwjBgbHGUaSPiLEn_U7kxj/s400/DSC01010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337063177399807042" /></a><br /><br />Linnea showing off her gifts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPU9SeGkORkw67UXlhu1w2Jwwd2tBz-JjbmNVWuNC1WFu9aIWZKVvrOkYTIkHnGchoLKZcfbLp3BPN3Gfhq4n0h806r9JL1YTjKpLWf3REyviVWuQT66u422oKrrc1cutDul7nYeSJts05/s1600-h/DSC01013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPU9SeGkORkw67UXlhu1w2Jwwd2tBz-JjbmNVWuNC1WFu9aIWZKVvrOkYTIkHnGchoLKZcfbLp3BPN3Gfhq4n0h806r9JL1YTjKpLWf3REyviVWuQT66u422oKrrc1cutDul7nYeSJts05/s400/DSC01013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337063171265219650" /></a><br /><br />She requested a picture of herself in this pose. Don't ask me why.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrp8qmOWV63-IrdB4szi8CB1HU7l24P9uH-Xu0syiAETCzPF88NsBGKHemVLnmdpLoECAHqiFNjNtmBnoMYEWPirlNxBwL8K2COyuhLQcJQTFnMsw4lS72F8Sd_4u9iWIEP1eht1SrPIlx/s1600-h/DSC01016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrp8qmOWV63-IrdB4szi8CB1HU7l24P9uH-Xu0syiAETCzPF88NsBGKHemVLnmdpLoECAHqiFNjNtmBnoMYEWPirlNxBwL8K2COyuhLQcJQTFnMsw4lS72F8Sd_4u9iWIEP1eht1SrPIlx/s400/DSC01016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337063165327861682" /></a><br /><br />Well, in less than 2 days now we are off to Germany where we are bound to have some adventures. Wish us luck!Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-69842727834452992692009-05-13T06:08:00.004-04:002009-05-13T06:23:52.361-04:00Rape Flowers in BloomAfter dinner last night I took a walk in the countryside that surrounds us. I really wanted to get some pictures of the flowering rape flowers. They are absolutely amazing, it looks like an ocean of yellow. The pictures came out pretty good, but they really don't do it justice. The rape flower is a very popular crop in the region so we see the "yellow seas" everywhere. I guess the flower is very easy to grow and grows so fast that they actually harvest it twice a season. The seed is then made into rapeseed oil that I've noticed a lot of in the grocery stores.<br /><br />So here are the pictures. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnB0sT7ttYuFD0C4N19iZNEwD1YdbgBrccGgNbIS3e0W4ioX7_jthbHPF6uB9pWRWQWjCfkj2i0Ofx2qwjd3mYmJA6q1hAwT_ct1abHrL2YKG6GgtcthzSI9XWyAiIwM3sULj1n2Jb1_Uz/s1600-h/DSC00945.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnB0sT7ttYuFD0C4N19iZNEwD1YdbgBrccGgNbIS3e0W4ioX7_jthbHPF6uB9pWRWQWjCfkj2i0Ofx2qwjd3mYmJA6q1hAwT_ct1abHrL2YKG6GgtcthzSI9XWyAiIwM3sULj1n2Jb1_Uz/s400/DSC00945.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335251342795404290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnipzS-IncmAfK_JicpF3yWNkug3JkA-_Z-knv0buFMSYmIHPHxh8DisfzpsM7zEq5rY9sfJKbMbc_I-JPBgRahm6bXOwd_XjhR-unUYPjIZoqgSy1SlFP6huPUzeUvkm-WP8Dmtfx8H0/s1600-h/DSC00943.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnipzS-IncmAfK_JicpF3yWNkug3JkA-_Z-knv0buFMSYmIHPHxh8DisfzpsM7zEq5rY9sfJKbMbc_I-JPBgRahm6bXOwd_XjhR-unUYPjIZoqgSy1SlFP6huPUzeUvkm-WP8Dmtfx8H0/s400/DSC00943.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335251341746007970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYI_-C4i-_piYPJPcPqcUhdLdVqB2UZ5Vy0whk70l8PNkfp5Z4ZlNK303dt8XoADhej2mZp7IVK76629CrKAc6kyY0OnXlk1LDvhfUSfATeCAjxMnJyff0NqV1-Eglppo1SGOPO4eDb2vc/s1600-h/DSC00951.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYI_-C4i-_piYPJPcPqcUhdLdVqB2UZ5Vy0whk70l8PNkfp5Z4ZlNK303dt8XoADhej2mZp7IVK76629CrKAc6kyY0OnXlk1LDvhfUSfATeCAjxMnJyff0NqV1-Eglppo1SGOPO4eDb2vc/s400/DSC00951.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335251336311124370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbRQ-4ewVet-nPH9odPw87JJGstzQtXTj8iQfeAaO8ewzvbm8Ut2Hu9sL4BNpEsGc8g-Q81w8xvTwkWDJnPmyfWm2wD4pwhnTNNNL8LX9a3LQLy-rGp3GDg4JkL6Kr4Bjh8Isxk8vvOfI/s1600-h/DSC00952.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbRQ-4ewVet-nPH9odPw87JJGstzQtXTj8iQfeAaO8ewzvbm8Ut2Hu9sL4BNpEsGc8g-Q81w8xvTwkWDJnPmyfWm2wD4pwhnTNNNL8LX9a3LQLy-rGp3GDg4JkL6Kr4Bjh8Isxk8vvOfI/s400/DSC00952.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335250460395482114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rqTQJPmEgpjAoOG7YOnPq6WP72B4yy3KOGX7s-jn5ClIE-vlGQU3TJXvJ_xi28PITIsLmC1yUcXJFxFzu2AreFpHB2VTou0i-1T6UG4fQ_wOjIqyWo0sktgP1G8qWT3kB9skMCb31f8L/s1600-h/DSC00959.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rqTQJPmEgpjAoOG7YOnPq6WP72B4yy3KOGX7s-jn5ClIE-vlGQU3TJXvJ_xi28PITIsLmC1yUcXJFxFzu2AreFpHB2VTou0i-1T6UG4fQ_wOjIqyWo0sktgP1G8qWT3kB9skMCb31f8L/s400/DSC00959.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335250453476073730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_fw3KFMMuog7j4sDXfzYBUPAF9QXNvvwF9EO089Dj02VjqZM_tfMzIC4YOJUupM-UJsl1mzsmEZHzdY17P0M4dTUV1F4ZWmH-lnSQgG5W6IDnOJteoqGgd_tOE9DYpJzgkwsCsK-DRER/s1600-h/DSC00960.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_fw3KFMMuog7j4sDXfzYBUPAF9QXNvvwF9EO089Dj02VjqZM_tfMzIC4YOJUupM-UJsl1mzsmEZHzdY17P0M4dTUV1F4ZWmH-lnSQgG5W6IDnOJteoqGgd_tOE9DYpJzgkwsCsK-DRER/s400/DSC00960.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335250449471554610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_HYC8SHZhqk6QmQJQ2wHjb8M_Pie4VbBYOXA2Qoa9jx9hRmKT0W8paW9Hd4wvC02Tusa-aC9TkYElHNz4zkFt_qNNNa2zbSOO3IfvaX8_PAaUtGru8BZ8sUQk7BGH6BKrBXEAWQoTnJK/s1600-h/DSC00949.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_HYC8SHZhqk6QmQJQ2wHjb8M_Pie4VbBYOXA2Qoa9jx9hRmKT0W8paW9Hd4wvC02Tusa-aC9TkYElHNz4zkFt_qNNNa2zbSOO3IfvaX8_PAaUtGru8BZ8sUQk7BGH6BKrBXEAWQoTnJK/s400/DSC00949.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335250446127468658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-twfg5JXLpwhLSoOOcNeCuuaR2yORdNe6MjOLP9hZi4Pe51mwRHktF5O06MQ9EQ4WctUphux5UiyQ7BIeJnIGmxkuzbY0Ke73Xmhioc8FfFmFwFhmU-3aj_tT9QGIvLEcZrGYO-82dSP/s1600-h/DSC00948.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-twfg5JXLpwhLSoOOcNeCuuaR2yORdNe6MjOLP9hZi4Pe51mwRHktF5O06MQ9EQ4WctUphux5UiyQ7BIeJnIGmxkuzbY0Ke73Xmhioc8FfFmFwFhmU-3aj_tT9QGIvLEcZrGYO-82dSP/s400/DSC00948.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335250442934913970" /></a>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-55159830319185962652009-05-09T06:26:00.005-04:002009-05-09T16:10:07.469-04:00How Time Flies!Linnea's birthday is on Friday, the 15th of May (in the Jungle of Nool and the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool...). We can't believe she is going to be 4. She has been acting older and more mature these days. She likes to "mother" Sonja and really likes all of our baby friends. Many people have commented on how good she is with younger children and I have to agree, she is a great "big sister". We are having a BBQ birthday party for her on Friday that she is very excited about. We'll definitely have photos to post of the party. <br /><br />I've been having so much fun being home with the girls. We've got a good numbers of friends that we get together with regularly and I often take the girls to the park/shopping/etc. We have been very active lately, something going on most days of the week! <br /> <br />It is hard to write about the relationship Matthew and I see developing between the girls. They get along so well and love each others company. One afternoon Matthew took Linnea out to run errands and I was home with Sonja. Well, Sonja just crabbed and crabbed until Linnea came home for her to play with. As I mentioned before, Linnea acts as a little mother to her sister and often offers to watch her and take care of her. All very sweet. They are still a couple of goof-balls though. The following pictures are proof!<br /><br />Playing at the park<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHrG8mU7IoInfyt62gTWH9aXdN4TQ0-RQ0-wYbQd8wgOImyo3F4qUF0RFe61AWvXdqSS_vkoSInIkDtlcXlcR_i3kZQPX7h_-sa5jTGhSHOoLpZEBgzDXYEeAAtfs7QOTcH5MkcQ8Y1Tk/s1600-h/DSC00935.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHrG8mU7IoInfyt62gTWH9aXdN4TQ0-RQ0-wYbQd8wgOImyo3F4qUF0RFe61AWvXdqSS_vkoSInIkDtlcXlcR_i3kZQPX7h_-sa5jTGhSHOoLpZEBgzDXYEeAAtfs7QOTcH5MkcQ8Y1Tk/s400/DSC00935.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333915428277205362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnfOimT3r-eOfK_8Ltl387DF1shwVTegm9AsVK6stDu_nTR6GZTUyEMtUDfuXg4hsUnh1aeYr3ikbdE_igkxnZYVwm-URAWgCD_c_VI8JQ0RCoNwq3QRkAWQhvJXwm-mdInu5jXdv3L7F/s1600-h/DSC00921.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnfOimT3r-eOfK_8Ltl387DF1shwVTegm9AsVK6stDu_nTR6GZTUyEMtUDfuXg4hsUnh1aeYr3ikbdE_igkxnZYVwm-URAWgCD_c_VI8JQ0RCoNwq3QRkAWQhvJXwm-mdInu5jXdv3L7F/s400/DSC00921.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333915422503320482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjYROMwLabZLjRkwv4xSJk8VIBZTteffHDjpprSYO4kBKVh0MytfNQZBNgMApisD6iS9ZcAjT-CrX7mjb61Xq-78tnYkjmnGsMc4YGyCymdW7glE9U8f9IrErk6waQAXOfVlPhbrwMya4/s1600-h/DSC00931.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjYROMwLabZLjRkwv4xSJk8VIBZTteffHDjpprSYO4kBKVh0MytfNQZBNgMApisD6iS9ZcAjT-CrX7mjb61Xq-78tnYkjmnGsMc4YGyCymdW7glE9U8f9IrErk6waQAXOfVlPhbrwMya4/s400/DSC00931.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333915421622075794" /></a><br /><br />It's never to early to learn how to help out around the house<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9bqvh3YyhoDCP0L0Q6JdiQsXr1Wdu8EFpnuWbN2bRTu7i8xDaQ66pLFWDgv95K4fccKsymlr0V1VlQqf1IIbLlg7FN5oOeQ69gjuTL6Q-dD_osq05ni7DtdTZ-FKFgswO9HL0fh-0rt4/s1600-h/DSC00919.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9bqvh3YyhoDCP0L0Q6JdiQsXr1Wdu8EFpnuWbN2bRTu7i8xDaQ66pLFWDgv95K4fccKsymlr0V1VlQqf1IIbLlg7FN5oOeQ69gjuTL6Q-dD_osq05ni7DtdTZ-FKFgswO9HL0fh-0rt4/s400/DSC00919.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333915416292549618" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiO9lyzOczyAJDP2LZETBR1SXyNS2RXDIo24kqZyghyA1GIUY5EFhfOF1K0hgC4DJForf3hAMRAz0_tDbQZSzYyUuM-8eu4f8cCX_naELTTUn5gbNVFkctY3izs4PZger2DxVlCcuADKm3/s1600-h/DSC00912.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiO9lyzOczyAJDP2LZETBR1SXyNS2RXDIo24kqZyghyA1GIUY5EFhfOF1K0hgC4DJForf3hAMRAz0_tDbQZSzYyUuM-8eu4f8cCX_naELTTUn5gbNVFkctY3izs4PZger2DxVlCcuADKm3/s400/DSC00912.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333770017607464690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjwA2ng6g4BKgNrYfW-BbJ3RJa18KQ9C1vkA6YNHL3vE7twQkcne5alXJdZRK4dksyBQJjcrjxH0oIT-VtEoq5oH-SbiWmhIonifPh2EP_UuA6sdEFs4NZlXR6JowPihiWve278dHOji4/s1600-h/DSC00910.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjwA2ng6g4BKgNrYfW-BbJ3RJa18KQ9C1vkA6YNHL3vE7twQkcne5alXJdZRK4dksyBQJjcrjxH0oIT-VtEoq5oH-SbiWmhIonifPh2EP_UuA6sdEFs4NZlXR6JowPihiWve278dHOji4/s400/DSC00910.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333770016228736946" /></a><br /><br />GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) girls in training<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdfCQiy2FVaedSzFsMxzjaAbDo_WUqFEwcwVeZv5bp3aivqcgCi9_FO_W9rCBFcCplaNaTdrbBnw2PiPefoshGcm8LjxXC0xUaOFpy_HRLfL_ue_8qs0uRmlWSO_s_aAK2x6DkOmyoAkg/s1600-h/DSC00903.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdfCQiy2FVaedSzFsMxzjaAbDo_WUqFEwcwVeZv5bp3aivqcgCi9_FO_W9rCBFcCplaNaTdrbBnw2PiPefoshGcm8LjxXC0xUaOFpy_HRLfL_ue_8qs0uRmlWSO_s_aAK2x6DkOmyoAkg/s400/DSC00903.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333770010044910930" /></a><br /><br />Enjoying the sunshine<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickgNSwmgayIxGLwq96YB6PpLEV_VRnlKC8rwMPAGZAsUc_AJJc191XJjYcc3bbhXftQOmNfsaNnyGyL-H2BzhvYr3ZiBCDrHsTS9sLPucQ8lpdvDKyBr1CzEnl4DAwMRqJFhVgXrougEY/s1600-h/DSC00895.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickgNSwmgayIxGLwq96YB6PpLEV_VRnlKC8rwMPAGZAsUc_AJJc191XJjYcc3bbhXftQOmNfsaNnyGyL-H2BzhvYr3ZiBCDrHsTS9sLPucQ8lpdvDKyBr1CzEnl4DAwMRqJFhVgXrougEY/s400/DSC00895.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333770005581188786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8VQziZIVKZD8spiOUqKbAzwKnv3TQM83FvgQSvKQso8qJ1LQGrfH76WcNAfR5-OMCcYszS3VayXahEScgt4czjIZQQNqk-I6smfp_LYjXOKY_Z0kVSM3WHnrNGEKrMPDfbr-GG6Cn9xC/s1600-h/DSC00885.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8VQziZIVKZD8spiOUqKbAzwKnv3TQM83FvgQSvKQso8qJ1LQGrfH76WcNAfR5-OMCcYszS3VayXahEScgt4czjIZQQNqk-I6smfp_LYjXOKY_Z0kVSM3WHnrNGEKrMPDfbr-GG6Cn9xC/s400/DSC00885.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333769996627351170" /></a><br /><br />The Wednesday after Linnea's birthday we leave for Germany for 6 days. When we return Linnea begins school (Dagies) and my mom comes into town for 2 weeks. Then after that we only have a few days until we are off touring Sweden for the summer. I can't believe it's that time already. How exciting!Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-32638020112241794052009-05-03T02:31:00.006-04:002009-05-03T03:07:40.498-04:00Beautiful WeatherThe weather here is Southern Sweden has been absolutely beautiful. We've had day after day of sunshine and warm temperatures. Today is the first day in a least two weeks that it looks like to could rain. With all the nice weather and the increasingly longer days we've been making the most out of it and spending many hours outside. I've taken the girls on several outings to the city park and we've done some more exploring around Skåne, the region of Sweden in which we live.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLO4a4bUWrAsrggyJkmB2WRxCrURQO1v0j_HjFdRYCs5y0City0Fe0jWPxXtHMipVqe8kuhOyKpz4YyoNJi53tUvBuyLZX83pvgsSSTrWyoSlg78oyiKrfpW1xvRZ_eGH-BuRkYb5kfUx/s1600-h/DSC00813.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLO4a4bUWrAsrggyJkmB2WRxCrURQO1v0j_HjFdRYCs5y0City0Fe0jWPxXtHMipVqe8kuhOyKpz4YyoNJi53tUvBuyLZX83pvgsSSTrWyoSlg78oyiKrfpW1xvRZ_eGH-BuRkYb5kfUx/s400/DSC00813.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331483180023632866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIavz5J60Of4xY3RKt5sErNqFaY2DnG5t1ZYUX0e7DHlHRa0ILxZWBigxQAFur9FZeSF0eMQfomWhoMoVzQnP2uqvTNmwV8VZpbKVay49ajjy71Ebf6nxNjbFuE8H-jNZsEAkc351Ahni6/s1600-h/DSC00661.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIavz5J60Of4xY3RKt5sErNqFaY2DnG5t1ZYUX0e7DHlHRa0ILxZWBigxQAFur9FZeSF0eMQfomWhoMoVzQnP2uqvTNmwV8VZpbKVay49ajjy71Ebf6nxNjbFuE8H-jNZsEAkc351Ahni6/s400/DSC00661.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331483174636435938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAGohnjNmp33N5MsC4jo6KHQlQ3HY0VSxa6vIsSrt7RU8cUiZQqUPM583mAf17HICiguXue14Yq1pby-W7lNgZ-_U58YjVup7dQTB4mQe7kOBGuP1xsOXR-0gqwn3rd7lfaTkRSNCTTO6/s1600-h/DSC00857.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAGohnjNmp33N5MsC4jo6KHQlQ3HY0VSxa6vIsSrt7RU8cUiZQqUPM583mAf17HICiguXue14Yq1pby-W7lNgZ-_U58YjVup7dQTB4mQe7kOBGuP1xsOXR-0gqwn3rd7lfaTkRSNCTTO6/s400/DSC00857.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331486902108601602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6aWhzA2YNAxDcywGKQtLpZ9bAKcvafgJjyyNuxXR0fnjafNrrUQViDA_IO3MA6927n8b9si-Hs1ea88XzvSsC5XzRhwBjB6hbuGRbssCIx6SZMiBxX0TrVYP2KiMoaePEpjRvRm5ASAL/s1600-h/DSC00852.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6aWhzA2YNAxDcywGKQtLpZ9bAKcvafgJjyyNuxXR0fnjafNrrUQViDA_IO3MA6927n8b9si-Hs1ea88XzvSsC5XzRhwBjB6hbuGRbssCIx6SZMiBxX0TrVYP2KiMoaePEpjRvRm5ASAL/s400/DSC00852.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331486895619580370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcALA0RkHkKegMNHzTpsKl4m3tTw4O2eIWksxfrjYy1WnKvDFg2fXG2lsTjEbl9hOdGoqvqz1ewaz_NTr1BkioADlc7Q07dT9_clRvld_kl4k1-9cX80LbJS5Ercebb5VWtA20OG87ySUG/s1600-h/DSC00833.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcALA0RkHkKegMNHzTpsKl4m3tTw4O2eIWksxfrjYy1WnKvDFg2fXG2lsTjEbl9hOdGoqvqz1ewaz_NTr1BkioADlc7Q07dT9_clRvld_kl4k1-9cX80LbJS5Ercebb5VWtA20OG87ySUG/s400/DSC00833.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331486889695515794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCB4E4otZQaDZUxD4UtwguKgcUu718nuRqt7ti7nzt4JD0KtYhPt7jIPEVnNvXFfK8c8qYgA0GMOQnNlowL7TH8oWKGk07_jSMKuCEer6ov76i_6vXucl5NNXpswNDcGcIbVf6RYXzohJ/s1600-h/DSC00843.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCB4E4otZQaDZUxD4UtwguKgcUu718nuRqt7ti7nzt4JD0KtYhPt7jIPEVnNvXFfK8c8qYgA0GMOQnNlowL7TH8oWKGk07_jSMKuCEer6ov76i_6vXucl5NNXpswNDcGcIbVf6RYXzohJ/s400/DSC00843.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331485157311888418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmK8GKYNaLs8OYPmxbECDJoM6F1VooO6uiFQpGq89woLsxTgKGBsARty60OftDKuT1u94mid-X0zQRoKlXbdQ3qEUA1MgBVmu0yYYRBkI8filWjZ3DBarRMLg67P5bp-7c2LxFwAjsiUwS/s1600-h/DSC00836.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmK8GKYNaLs8OYPmxbECDJoM6F1VooO6uiFQpGq89woLsxTgKGBsARty60OftDKuT1u94mid-X0zQRoKlXbdQ3qEUA1MgBVmu0yYYRBkI8filWjZ3DBarRMLg67P5bp-7c2LxFwAjsiUwS/s400/DSC00836.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331485151959837474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-KxIFkgNSb6PW3hYsLa_RZTwyhvph442ZT7rUugZRRSQA6IBewXMMqAsWmMeHl5ugqZPqEXdvPgfBXFfrXdd3J6Gg-V9ObzA4XUWtci62zOfz1oKVlF-xQKdEJZHDs2yZCFvm55uhuy8/s1600-h/DSC00821.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-KxIFkgNSb6PW3hYsLa_RZTwyhvph442ZT7rUugZRRSQA6IBewXMMqAsWmMeHl5ugqZPqEXdvPgfBXFfrXdd3J6Gg-V9ObzA4XUWtci62zOfz1oKVlF-xQKdEJZHDs2yZCFvm55uhuy8/s400/DSC00821.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331485153683193234" /></a><br /><br />Sonja is 14 months today. She seems like a little girl now, but it still very much my baby. She is also quite the little comedian, always trying to get a laugh out of her sister. She loves to dance and mimic whatever Linnea might be up to. Linnea will be 4 in just 12 days and it's hard to believe. She is a lot older acting and it using more advanced words in English as well as learning quite a bit of Swedish. She has 3 little friends that we have over for play dates.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZf0L1lEVOF3nnHPzM3bQMF6bGVqi7zllcE93jcZEuwp75bL_70moXA1tsL5dCD6nHnH_reXIylhyphenhyphenFpguV8n87YBS-ZY2U_CxSmpYuQK6PHcUV9vQ5CBr_8V-NE97kXiGGv-kaTpv6TIe/s1600-h/DSC00861.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZf0L1lEVOF3nnHPzM3bQMF6bGVqi7zllcE93jcZEuwp75bL_70moXA1tsL5dCD6nHnH_reXIylhyphenhyphenFpguV8n87YBS-ZY2U_CxSmpYuQK6PHcUV9vQ5CBr_8V-NE97kXiGGv-kaTpv6TIe/s400/DSC00861.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331485148391410002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zVNn1u0XvPXcXWMOZHaiqea8uG-I6JHQN-6juTdbLdqbLaQ093fVsAv1lGeqHPq5tTbxtfg82AYmOnxw-NJ4yBC8RSBDLYZAkeQGm0PNqQgEnZ18A701uyXO20chN-QphoZPuOLYQ5v9/s1600-h/DSC00665.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zVNn1u0XvPXcXWMOZHaiqea8uG-I6JHQN-6juTdbLdqbLaQ093fVsAv1lGeqHPq5tTbxtfg82AYmOnxw-NJ4yBC8RSBDLYZAkeQGm0PNqQgEnZ18A701uyXO20chN-QphoZPuOLYQ5v9/s400/DSC00665.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331488034651804162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwHWf3eWsq73spmGHr0ew3wobe75XelNsM9LOJWDBuiEwGZyuSWPoWdrSl6UXdQiXNWHi4AcXpj1bLefRSkMdHXugFE5HjRBVWHFMP5cRjaHS_g__TBDwqdGnK1WNXyked7DLfvE9Y4FY/s1600-h/ballerinas.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwHWf3eWsq73spmGHr0ew3wobe75XelNsM9LOJWDBuiEwGZyuSWPoWdrSl6UXdQiXNWHi4AcXpj1bLefRSkMdHXugFE5HjRBVWHFMP5cRjaHS_g__TBDwqdGnK1WNXyked7DLfvE9Y4FY/s400/ballerinas.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331486908723235554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvowsDuLSrizMwpvKlO4Pwdlfr63REbVFzNCHow0C1hkbkhrlfF0cPRei20F8GuPhPR5jMkG0JNlf5uJXP550AP5wIuRaKz2POUW2gZVryFsN8P4sjOSyzpLOYA-9DGNyX4VUPTeFSjyW8/s1600-h/DSC00809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvowsDuLSrizMwpvKlO4Pwdlfr63REbVFzNCHow0C1hkbkhrlfF0cPRei20F8GuPhPR5jMkG0JNlf5uJXP550AP5wIuRaKz2POUW2gZVryFsN8P4sjOSyzpLOYA-9DGNyX4VUPTeFSjyW8/s400/DSC00809.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331486905294642226" /></a><br /><br />Matthew and the girls have started a garden and Matthew has hung up a swing that has been very popular with Linnea. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9hv2aNL1P8S4svU9gk8Dezy8IIjJ_fnewNZDctRLi4P7omrIzPclnKvnFEuX_yG28p6aI_UaABmWu7Z19mjlGXmqYIf_95o8gql6vZq-xIpiOyBPHRnuVR-6kezVvlhHF6o3skteziWP/s1600-h/DSC00878.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9hv2aNL1P8S4svU9gk8Dezy8IIjJ_fnewNZDctRLi4P7omrIzPclnKvnFEuX_yG28p6aI_UaABmWu7Z19mjlGXmqYIf_95o8gql6vZq-xIpiOyBPHRnuVR-6kezVvlhHF6o3skteziWP/s400/DSC00878.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331485138270802498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVMBeAsU5elleuHG-ztCF5l8-phuAgs2MqrxeAGxNn-Bd3CPvws8neHCj2yvWPBWnZjlIXxHWH3xm14TouiWMjakpGpBXllPlnxvP1ME4ziGZiaToOCnKVtOA4whzahcEYWv43s9g1-Jp/s1600-h/DSC00874.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVMBeAsU5elleuHG-ztCF5l8-phuAgs2MqrxeAGxNn-Bd3CPvws8neHCj2yvWPBWnZjlIXxHWH3xm14TouiWMjakpGpBXllPlnxvP1ME4ziGZiaToOCnKVtOA4whzahcEYWv43s9g1-Jp/s400/DSC00874.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331483172880612978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2pY8RjonQ-zX71_sqkKuCt-8ykoXaHGrSyZCR-lKS4q1qrKv1ca4H0Fe-w0IVWW4r3NQcIIG5OmGLogiU8UhrWKeqE0FYsUNuPJ9rgYyJnZYzlFvkf6hZYC96vTDX9zV39_l-eXavEFS/s1600-h/DSC00871.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2pY8RjonQ-zX71_sqkKuCt-8ykoXaHGrSyZCR-lKS4q1qrKv1ca4H0Fe-w0IVWW4r3NQcIIG5OmGLogiU8UhrWKeqE0FYsUNuPJ9rgYyJnZYzlFvkf6hZYC96vTDX9zV39_l-eXavEFS/s400/DSC00871.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331483168402734450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT1UvrJsEFoPzK4PZS3U7HTo5j_2iOSVsyya2exg_q-DSfot2FEKaXawfRYxDVsabmUu61ZvWw9kQztKq-wFFOOt98UAKbfRBEPtmXlURgReT-js-2Uws6XKrGo-QJNMSATYEbLUd8_tK/s1600-h/DSC00868.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT1UvrJsEFoPzK4PZS3U7HTo5j_2iOSVsyya2exg_q-DSfot2FEKaXawfRYxDVsabmUu61ZvWw9kQztKq-wFFOOt98UAKbfRBEPtmXlURgReT-js-2Uws6XKrGo-QJNMSATYEbLUd8_tK/s400/DSC00868.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331483159673200882" /></a><br /><br />We've also visited the beach that is just a 20 minute bike ride from our house. Surprisingly to us, the water was warm!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOTRhlwXSPQb3RARMleNnuD0ISHRs8k0s3UUd40jcX7xO_S1ZcT_YV0S3puDxLuLmy57EEsu7XrNkPm0XgxLSewI0ALFdywpOo49k_WJ0TbwUyR-loC6tOiWTa737-CPetAcRpFs0eMLg/s1600-h/iwannagobackin.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOTRhlwXSPQb3RARMleNnuD0ISHRs8k0s3UUd40jcX7xO_S1ZcT_YV0S3puDxLuLmy57EEsu7XrNkPm0XgxLSewI0ALFdywpOo49k_WJ0TbwUyR-loC6tOiWTa737-CPetAcRpFs0eMLg/s400/iwannagobackin.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331488028301158514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1V3_eSXFL7mZlAJJV4YUrWjBhdDtdMKXbWyaSNmnEojwywTOq0UnKghqVTCB_Wm-M-tt8MhJ-uMN-k_Zbm_84lx96QZPRmpmzwrQHAOJrC0EcUhPbI24ZTfPGs84JyKHBHEuOClgwctG/s1600-h/athebeach.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1V3_eSXFL7mZlAJJV4YUrWjBhdDtdMKXbWyaSNmnEojwywTOq0UnKghqVTCB_Wm-M-tt8MhJ-uMN-k_Zbm_84lx96QZPRmpmzwrQHAOJrC0EcUhPbI24ZTfPGs84JyKHBHEuOClgwctG/s400/athebeach.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331488023786962962" /></a><br /><br />Currently, we are attending 2 churches. Most often we go to Swedish church and that is where we've made several friendships with other families. Once or twice a month we also go to the International Church of Lund, which is in English. This church is fairly informal and short. It is nice to have the change of pace and to meet other foreigners.<br /><br />Some really exciting news is that we are getting some visitors! My mom is coming to visit for 2 weeks at the end of this month and I couldn't be more excited. And then Wayne and Ellyn are coming to visit in July for 3 weeks and will be doing some exploring with us of northern Norway and Sweden. We can't wait for that either. It is going to be a very exciting summer! Yay!Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-18949152654003605432009-04-26T11:14:00.004-04:002009-04-26T11:37:31.714-04:00Our Swedish EasterI'm a little late on the Easter post, but here are the pictures nonetheless. The girls really enjoyed their first Påsk Ägg. In Sweden, the Easter Bunny doesn't deliver Easter baskets but large Easter Eggs filled with goodies. Easter at church was a completely different experience for us. The church was really empty because so many of the students that regularly attend had gone home for the 5 day Easter break. No one else seemed to be extra dressed for the occasion, except for our girls who received 2 sets of beautiful matching Easter dresses. <br /><br />On the eve of Easter, friends of ours invited us over for a traditional Svensk dinner. We had 3 kinds of Sil (pickled herring), hard boiled eggs with shrimp, låx (lox = salmon), köttbular (Swedish meatballs), potatoes and some other yummy dishes. We all enjoyed the meal (really, we liked everything), especially Sonja who just loves Swedish meatballs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzDXw4Yg3C-jpWLDpFMH2Tr69IgjZLFTKgi462KOFqelEaKwkQlf-_aBhVF_TWFTFtVcQ4VG4j10B5YtsarL_4Af59Bam34yvkSvLpzNnDNolMTJlVtIUg_BaZ2ff7RyoaaT5hYlbf1Mg/s1600-h/DSC00572.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzDXw4Yg3C-jpWLDpFMH2Tr69IgjZLFTKgi462KOFqelEaKwkQlf-_aBhVF_TWFTFtVcQ4VG4j10B5YtsarL_4Af59Bam34yvkSvLpzNnDNolMTJlVtIUg_BaZ2ff7RyoaaT5hYlbf1Mg/s400/DSC00572.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329022358893611282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqcdAvdIw95s4i7E3NhbLtOFaAgTs7htNZKQKbIumJxPtY4ZMuyS1rXfpyNiSVdM3D0xkpi9JYj1pT57QKhZL9yxiQhyphenhypheniB5ih-2mS5ROqXQmHyJ05kGU0FaSxqnA1lcC7D7g5MOGPf5Ky/s1600-h/DSC00573.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqcdAvdIw95s4i7E3NhbLtOFaAgTs7htNZKQKbIumJxPtY4ZMuyS1rXfpyNiSVdM3D0xkpi9JYj1pT57QKhZL9yxiQhyphenhypheniB5ih-2mS5ROqXQmHyJ05kGU0FaSxqnA1lcC7D7g5MOGPf5Ky/s400/DSC00573.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329022354258636194" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf0KjH3Z5lyeWLZ3eQHKYjdxeNNQftZPzYF8fk7gvjD8M0V1bcJrpaJQ4JWVlkjUY4_aQqzpiV7BbUvMX9ert-JPgOlwK1d2WEiYHgm0m_tLROrcqK3dxPxWgqWRUI7EsziJJpoyuNsV9/s1600-h/DSC00579.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf0KjH3Z5lyeWLZ3eQHKYjdxeNNQftZPzYF8fk7gvjD8M0V1bcJrpaJQ4JWVlkjUY4_aQqzpiV7BbUvMX9ert-JPgOlwK1d2WEiYHgm0m_tLROrcqK3dxPxWgqWRUI7EsziJJpoyuNsV9/s400/DSC00579.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329021348922984018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzusZI-Z_bPRGxFArXHST0-5ldy1qdAU9Qp0bi6lmabYySt27845f3awPQJsChTR9qM3FR88Dy_J2dbdHGHHzf-1-KDbFGgEH9b8ZPJECCKEDQ-pGRYdRDC1MD4lwc5d0jl4p0LD9WKqNY/s1600-h/DSC00585.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzusZI-Z_bPRGxFArXHST0-5ldy1qdAU9Qp0bi6lmabYySt27845f3awPQJsChTR9qM3FR88Dy_J2dbdHGHHzf-1-KDbFGgEH9b8ZPJECCKEDQ-pGRYdRDC1MD4lwc5d0jl4p0LD9WKqNY/s400/DSC00585.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329021342197056450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSHVB0WzS_K2dyEqyj9W9ddgkLeZnS3mvETHTxu5jSxnquIZT1o-ibwlOc4ay1gbJCnaX49p_VA15R2EEHWkHiaNxeBVDn8Hg3Z7uEkPA3bWJU99-bRz7U5bXJBSjpqhHmxSa0VHBSQQ4/s1600-h/DSC00587.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSHVB0WzS_K2dyEqyj9W9ddgkLeZnS3mvETHTxu5jSxnquIZT1o-ibwlOc4ay1gbJCnaX49p_VA15R2EEHWkHiaNxeBVDn8Hg3Z7uEkPA3bWJU99-bRz7U5bXJBSjpqhHmxSa0VHBSQQ4/s400/DSC00587.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329021341331238066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiy7wfML2mtlhCGGtxqs4ZQ5KQ34QuX-WWsF-xOYtPyqFMnUpbt0DfYhcluNkM9fy0f4XReO52EZVEvEqD4rGltfpL_VBgVjmdxNBqCY-i0a4G0WQJSpJzNpDuwxMEFvPkd-1SSCxjA6t/s1600-h/DSC00592.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiy7wfML2mtlhCGGtxqs4ZQ5KQ34QuX-WWsF-xOYtPyqFMnUpbt0DfYhcluNkM9fy0f4XReO52EZVEvEqD4rGltfpL_VBgVjmdxNBqCY-i0a4G0WQJSpJzNpDuwxMEFvPkd-1SSCxjA6t/s400/DSC00592.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329021335650517250" /></a><br /><br />We also received an Easter package from Uncle Andy and Kelly that was greatly enjoyed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVmY7R3WRWg9AM-uCVayv-cfGy7E5HvkJaf4tPf0C83zk5I6f1PJH6up_ZPTwrY2q8ZNb7HtReP5U5nzLG6GJEK7CRQRYjYywYJlC1hEP-yBFG9F81byT6Cs34EacSL31qUFx8S10HUvH/s1600-h/DSC00617.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVmY7R3WRWg9AM-uCVayv-cfGy7E5HvkJaf4tPf0C83zk5I6f1PJH6up_ZPTwrY2q8ZNb7HtReP5U5nzLG6GJEK7CRQRYjYywYJlC1hEP-yBFG9F81byT6Cs34EacSL31qUFx8S10HUvH/s400/DSC00617.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329021329618764754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7yAI5NevcBGzNz2xl-iscYMYnp9Wp6Evtej4DMqz3qCVSaaFg8KTAgsqtj07q0CN-KKDyeFcEkDuDt342M61LJcCo58bFX1p_HltGxtBG8O8vBPr8e9MSvByEuY_V8f3TBNpSNts-kTQ/s1600-h/DSC00624.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7yAI5NevcBGzNz2xl-iscYMYnp9Wp6Evtej4DMqz3qCVSaaFg8KTAgsqtj07q0CN-KKDyeFcEkDuDt342M61LJcCo58bFX1p_HltGxtBG8O8vBPr8e9MSvByEuY_V8f3TBNpSNts-kTQ/s400/DSC00624.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329020134339914146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn1JVP-BBsHQM-J1IVc-De2RDFHyLeBbwTI_2_QGouevbv_Xs9nSbXXibK9rS9nISV5AZV4a996Df6jLoE1S9W0UsP3YX19S-5G6wRQTokkr-7bpCzkIv4oTF9K9GRzNaCMnTMd2oOg4T/s1600-h/DSC00628.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn1JVP-BBsHQM-J1IVc-De2RDFHyLeBbwTI_2_QGouevbv_Xs9nSbXXibK9rS9nISV5AZV4a996Df6jLoE1S9W0UsP3YX19S-5G6wRQTokkr-7bpCzkIv4oTF9K9GRzNaCMnTMd2oOg4T/s400/DSC00628.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329020126480897858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWhZ5SzRxRNwT_GYY1K5wqHwVACPQcW5xTTPLXrFfFporKi_Wo5WWWxuCgTBe-gizsY6j7Q0XjCHldvre5bw57J0DXE7ioeBiEOZyCsGht7kvNAY0AD41Oa93_0gvDfwfxchN2fl7M2c5/s1600-h/DSC00795.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWhZ5SzRxRNwT_GYY1K5wqHwVACPQcW5xTTPLXrFfFporKi_Wo5WWWxuCgTBe-gizsY6j7Q0XjCHldvre5bw57J0DXE7ioeBiEOZyCsGht7kvNAY0AD41Oa93_0gvDfwfxchN2fl7M2c5/s400/DSC00795.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329020120538626194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKp7h3fN5yJGd4ZJvHBZJ_3YxrE3rXsnYlHwxQZkjCe1Z_a-jBx1aL3LRKFVVHGAo0Wt8b6NeEMACYX7vV_B7L-0K7Zw-GaDyo7tf-k57lITjd2CivKU_ZjQxv-fW48dJBZGoEWT7g-YO7/s1600-h/DSC00796.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKp7h3fN5yJGd4ZJvHBZJ_3YxrE3rXsnYlHwxQZkjCe1Z_a-jBx1aL3LRKFVVHGAo0Wt8b6NeEMACYX7vV_B7L-0K7Zw-GaDyo7tf-k57lITjd2CivKU_ZjQxv-fW48dJBZGoEWT7g-YO7/s400/DSC00796.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329020117042132466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75jxkkgt9iF1QaRsnbFoALts1dQX09IISvksmn-ezPCvImuS2J5EUZmxeBYOtZ7JMnagSWMTUsykEPR1fTpmvgg-D_JIjaQau7rtZCCGIxYnP9sr4DgyeaKgDgbh8SErInlMBCTmOskxF/s1600-h/EasterII.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75jxkkgt9iF1QaRsnbFoALts1dQX09IISvksmn-ezPCvImuS2J5EUZmxeBYOtZ7JMnagSWMTUsykEPR1fTpmvgg-D_JIjaQau7rtZCCGIxYnP9sr4DgyeaKgDgbh8SErInlMBCTmOskxF/s400/EasterII.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329020109891367762" /></a>Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277034327231329270.post-64644253425486658072009-04-15T07:40:00.005-04:002009-04-15T08:18:02.386-04:00CopenhagenWell, we took advantage of the long Easter holiday to make our first out-of-Sweden trip. We decided to go to Copenhagen for a couple of days because it is not too far from us (just about 1 hour on the train). The first day we arrived just before noon. The train ride was really fun for the girls. I packed snacks so we could have our fika (Swedish word for a coffee break) on the train. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsLaDyLAgIdAaFV2dqPFrSyXfKH6hSse8IxLsf-GvNFH8vtiCl0Xw7CV458vGof4B_V90LwHpPXsoDHBxIOE1RbLMBXK_FhuzhaKPVAjfxz00b3XW2eCHgzGWfsa61Lo1EvJ7pO5i1VlA/s1600-h/DSC00453.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsLaDyLAgIdAaFV2dqPFrSyXfKH6hSse8IxLsf-GvNFH8vtiCl0Xw7CV458vGof4B_V90LwHpPXsoDHBxIOE1RbLMBXK_FhuzhaKPVAjfxz00b3XW2eCHgzGWfsa61Lo1EvJ7pO5i1VlA/s400/DSC00453.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324885461912886082" /></a><br />Waiting for the train<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-86te4tXoX780CvXLsA97sQLh1Liwsak7_eEm65UPL2HyhiI-BSn_xgl3zu2OxWmrPEWNOFwzcPkf_exQIbOYTal4op_BQ4sZd69qNCeXZMK-IPSYT8fQDVHJx24WO1A47JflVo9G-qJ/s1600-h/DSC00458.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-86te4tXoX780CvXLsA97sQLh1Liwsak7_eEm65UPL2HyhiI-BSn_xgl3zu2OxWmrPEWNOFwzcPkf_exQIbOYTal4op_BQ4sZd69qNCeXZMK-IPSYT8fQDVHJx24WO1A47JflVo9G-qJ/s400/DSC00458.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324885467570239746" /></a><br /><br />After dropping off our suitcase at the hotel we went to visit Tivoli Gardens. It's an amusement park but not quite like the kind you find in the US. It's not as family/theme park oriented as Disney, not as honky-tonk as your average carnival and cleaner and prettier than a Six Flags. It is expensive, but we really enjoyed it. It has lots and lots of flowers and outdoor cafes/restaurants. Linnea especially like riding the carousel and also enjoyed the old-time cars and Storybook ride. Linnea also developed a taste for cotton candy. Sonja developed a taste for my crazy ice cream cone, which consisted of 3 scoops of ice cream in a cone with soft serve on top, then marshmallow creme, then a chocolate covered marshmallow thing, then a little strawberry syrup on top! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZsUa1f1HEMDCFaWyi5kmUGGcyIebopOSms8goYzuDuKhzEqfbI-9XO4IZf7z7Xt4INRKS9BQBc3mgk52BdVCe-fqDCfzOUnqew1fXtntjdy0ukajGV8qkPStiOHT0kyIk8o3d7h2Xb02/s1600-h/DSC00467.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZsUa1f1HEMDCFaWyi5kmUGGcyIebopOSms8goYzuDuKhzEqfbI-9XO4IZf7z7Xt4INRKS9BQBc3mgk52BdVCe-fqDCfzOUnqew1fXtntjdy0ukajGV8qkPStiOHT0kyIk8o3d7h2Xb02/s400/DSC00467.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324885471466782866" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCZ5gVkLBS0Oyxjx1jidWIBNlzKNNxBMsyxdxAUR92AAEZV4ad_2TUwvRvJyRpoejXH8cgErXMG9ky4a8p4Gbxlg91pIibMF2sy8N4xqzWACUnhdmELTJRtxP7OC-A-T6fbMbdLOQbhFF/s1600-h/DSC00482.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCZ5gVkLBS0Oyxjx1jidWIBNlzKNNxBMsyxdxAUR92AAEZV4ad_2TUwvRvJyRpoejXH8cgErXMG9ky4a8p4Gbxlg91pIibMF2sy8N4xqzWACUnhdmELTJRtxP7OC-A-T6fbMbdLOQbhFF/s400/DSC00482.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324885475071600482" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50vIQqhwQrm5yCUY15rCD-KAIS1aAqEhlCLhIqwlYApnLJprf-NPsnNd09mH09WCcvEj7zS78SxmOq3e5lrO4UQqHZ9bG5R9VWv3zzE6fm3QKazx155Ca9zCnHuoJI_Muco8kzoqa3lpk/s1600-h/DSC00488.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50vIQqhwQrm5yCUY15rCD-KAIS1aAqEhlCLhIqwlYApnLJprf-NPsnNd09mH09WCcvEj7zS78SxmOq3e5lrO4UQqHZ9bG5R9VWv3zzE6fm3QKazx155Ca9zCnHuoJI_Muco8kzoqa3lpk/s400/DSC00488.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324885481274519138" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6WvSWlGpBUGZmH96VbzJKQdecPrcCoWdKykXrrqEDrKToq_Az8VadBY6ibf7GvX4aoxP58840TW-ojxTyKf1vPEXa5n3AzNNYWnbMHKM3Zj6H5lAsK6VkH5z830h21tutV6GUpw6X6re/s1600-h/DSC00496.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6WvSWlGpBUGZmH96VbzJKQdecPrcCoWdKykXrrqEDrKToq_Az8VadBY6ibf7GvX4aoxP58840TW-ojxTyKf1vPEXa5n3AzNNYWnbMHKM3Zj6H5lAsK6VkH5z830h21tutV6GUpw6X6re/s400/DSC00496.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324886763204947490" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJi6yrojUUhIJqogUybxpmx69fF8IQLNL-hFN9-Ux22MbcoFo-rSWGaJYcp8NtLPameXYt3MUk7dp6PdrlHJcgc0cWYV92GobKrfowBnVBYpL7euDXs__msJkx3qkSF4c334oFBv2iGlw/s1600-h/DSC00491.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJi6yrojUUhIJqogUybxpmx69fF8IQLNL-hFN9-Ux22MbcoFo-rSWGaJYcp8NtLPameXYt3MUk7dp6PdrlHJcgc0cWYV92GobKrfowBnVBYpL7euDXs__msJkx3qkSF4c334oFBv2iGlw/s400/DSC00491.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324886759914133394" /></a><br /><br />Our second day in Copenhagen we visited the castle and grounds where the crown jewels are kept. Then we took a really nice canal boat ride through the city's canals. We really lucked out with the weather as it was beautiful the whole time we were there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzH0OdGmka1Ia1NY6_PdtBLjXRHI4laOslcNyFttI9g5kVnQdn1M-DCqnceCeFjqdt0_1vqmysk29iKDu5kSmskKcx1sb656GsWuBpzM-xhjTFPWPY8FNx0IzP7CGNgsvPL9Y31idn2Fsj/s1600-h/DSC00554.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzH0OdGmka1Ia1NY6_PdtBLjXRHI4laOslcNyFttI9g5kVnQdn1M-DCqnceCeFjqdt0_1vqmysk29iKDu5kSmskKcx1sb656GsWuBpzM-xhjTFPWPY8FNx0IzP7CGNgsvPL9Y31idn2Fsj/s400/DSC00554.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324886777583872162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhJk2O9un3FnSSupcw-QqZV8M35gZ7GlzFJGYxl2A9cbvjhWhhwULEeP7AR9cW9vRjf_nk9UbvR_m09CE5Six51FgEsMZfx74Wki3HNh16yz1-5eiaa6af76LdSJc34-nN3sffmZX4uS6/s1600-h/DSC00518.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhJk2O9un3FnSSupcw-QqZV8M35gZ7GlzFJGYxl2A9cbvjhWhhwULEeP7AR9cW9vRjf_nk9UbvR_m09CE5Six51FgEsMZfx74Wki3HNh16yz1-5eiaa6af76LdSJc34-nN3sffmZX4uS6/s400/DSC00518.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324886770475886050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlF2zQ7047pnubiWAVKKsgOzSS_g7Wav3x2FJ-vY3R_gEv3Cfe2r3FtDSs5rL0hlmRcr6i1InTNMk2MnoT1YvfBwXfYBgvL4vZTTGakCXGh9LqVBVfn-StDSLYoRpbtDY5Gk4uDiR6zTfs/s1600-h/DSC00536.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlF2zQ7047pnubiWAVKKsgOzSS_g7Wav3x2FJ-vY3R_gEv3Cfe2r3FtDSs5rL0hlmRcr6i1InTNMk2MnoT1YvfBwXfYBgvL4vZTTGakCXGh9LqVBVfn-StDSLYoRpbtDY5Gk4uDiR6zTfs/s400/DSC00536.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324886765520482658" /></a><br /><br />Although we really enjoyed our time away from home and visiting a new city, we were very glad to get back to Sweden. There is something about it here that isn't like the rest of Europe that I've visited. It's quiet, clean and green.<br /><br />The girls are doing great. Sonja is walking most of the time now and really enjoys going outside to play. Now that the weather is nice, we even take our lunch outside sometimes and eat on the back patio. Linnea got some good news last week. She'll be able to start school in May. She is very excited! Both girls never cease to make me laugh. Sonja is always climbing up something or trying to fit into little hiding spots. Linnea is speaking some English some Swedish these days. She doesn't say "no" anymore, now it's just "nej" and she mixed sentences like "I'm a blooma". Blooma is the Swedish word for flower. She was saying this while wearing a big flower on her head. She also likes to see what she can get away with these days too. The other day I told her to go use the potty. She came back, obviously too soon and said she had gone. I said, "No you didn't Linnea. Go back and go potty." "Oh, alright." Stomp, stomp. And then later, "Mama, how did you know that I didn't go potty?". "Because I'm the mommy and I just know."<br /><br />We are still anxiously awaiting our first visitors, whomever they end up being. Right now June 15th (the day we have to move out for the summer) doesn't seem that far away! We are going away for about 5-6 days in May to Germany for Kirchentag (church day) and are starting to look forward to that trip. I'll need to brush up on my German though as they don't speak as much English there as they do in Sweden.<br /><br />Look forward to another post shortly of our Easter Sunday here at the house. And as always, we love to hear from our friends and family!Kristin, Matthew, Linnea, Sonja & Mirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14643883394963283036noreply@blogger.com0