I suck at Blogging!

It has been way too long again. So I thought I would at least put up a quick post. Fall is quickly turning into winter here. I am such a desert rat and feel a little crazy in the dark, cloudy weather! The sun is setting now by 4pm and when it is up, it is usually behind a thick curtain of clouds...we could safely be Edward and Bella living here!
Halloween is a very new holiday here and not much goes on. However, there was a strange little party here at our apartment. It was an odd potluck of food, drinks, and cultures. The kids were just excited to get to go to a party and dress up! Brenna has been in her Hello Kitty ballerina dress and shoes ever since we bought them! I'm afraid she may wear them out before we ever get them home but it is so darn cute and she puts on lovely dance recitals for us. Brady was Batman which has only encouraged his habit of climbing and jumping off of every surface I'm afraid!
I am now counting down the last 28 days of our stay here and am very anxious to get home. We will have visitors this week from England and then on Nov. 15th my dad will join us again to help us with our return trip. I will try to post a longer blog later...promise! In the meantime, here are some cute pictures of my Halloween kiddos!!

Brenna's Birthday Adventure

Okay...so I know it has been way too long since I have blogged. Since my last post, my little girl has turned 4! I can not believe she is already 4. She is growing up way too fast but it is so much fun to watch her grow and learn and become the brilliant, stubborn, beautiful,clever little girl she is.
For Brenna's birthday, we all loaded up and headed to Tom Tits Experiment. Sounds more like a place to take the guys and have a few beers or something doesn't it!?! I promise that it is a place for children!! Tom Tits is a science exploration center that has 600 hands-on experiments. I must say that Craig and I had just as much fun as the kids. This place is GREAT! I think it will be easier to explain with pictures...so here we go...share our Tom Tits Experiment experience with us.
On the way. The kids were excited to ride the train



Right away Brady found a marble experiment and he loved making new paths to try out!
Then the kids found the bubble room. The bubble room was one of their favorites.


I have no idea how I caught this shot but it is too cool! Check out the bubble...it is still popping!

After we explored the bubble room and other experiments on the first floor, we headed upstairs to the second level to wait out the rain. I loved the projection room...can't say that the kids were as thrilled with it as I was but I got the whole family in there for a shot anyhow.
There were some really cool tricyle type scooters and an amazing fish tank on the second level. Brady enjoyed the fish tank which he could stand in the middle of but was too little for the scooters. Brenna did not want to leave the scooters!
We checked out the window and the rain had stopped so we figured we better take advantage of it. Outside was filled with even more to do! There was giant yo-yo style pulley...real scientific description isn't it. Anyhow, you held on tight and it pulled you up. Brenna thought it was the greatest! After seeing Brenna, Brady had to try it too. I can't believe how strong they are.

We had fun outside with many different experiments. There was an earthquake simulation room, a wind storm simulation, a teeter-totter style bridge. There was even a helium filled balloon (like a hot air balloon) but it wasn't running while we were there...bummer!


We headed back in to check out the last two levels....yep four stories of experiments! The 3rd floor was not for my rowdy kids and was made up mostly of framed illusions so we passed that one up and went on. On the fourth floor, we found one of the funniest things I have ever seen!!! It was a sort of zip line for the kids to ride. I took my darling little birthday girl and strapped her into a rubber suit, velcroed it shut, and then used the metal hanger sticking out of the back of it to hang her on a line. I'm not sure how to explain it but it kept bringing images to my mind of things moms may say when they have had enough...if you don't hold still I am going to hang you in the closet....if you don't behave I am going to hang you in the closet and leave you behind...something along those lines. Anyhow, check it out for yourself.

There was also a giant sized puzzle table and I got the kids to hold still long enough to get a cute picture.

Now if you wanted to take the quick way back down you would just head out the window...literally! They have built a huge tube slide that leaves out the 4th story window and goes all the way back down to the first floor. We read a little about it and decided Brenna and Brady weren't quite ready for it this trip. It warned that you had to use a sack to prevent friction burns and you had to lay back with your arms crossed....we took the steps! The kids crashed out on the train ride home. We grabbed some pizza on the way home and then ended the day with some great presents and birthday cake. I love you, Brenna! Happy Birthday!

Our Apartment Floorplan

My Dad came across this online and I thought I would post it so you could see where all our wonderful guests have stayed :)
Bedroom 1 is our bedroom. Bedroom 2is the kids bedroom/playroom. Bedroom 3 is the guest room.

Loretta and Frances

This week, my mother-in-law, Loretta, and her sister, Frances came to visit us from Georgia. They arrived here on Thurs. Sept.17th. After missing one flight and hanging out in Amsterdam for a bit, they made it here safe and sound. Thursday was just a chill out and relax day around our Swedish apartment. Friday we decided to head out to lunch and to Galma Stan (Old Town). We introduced our Southern relatives to Turkish food! Luckily, everyone liked lunch...but not the bathrooms...
If you have been following my blog, you probably have already heard me talk about the fact that there are not many public restrooms. Most restrooms here require you to carry a 5kr coin with you at all times. The bathrooms at Kungshallen, where we ate lunch, are no exception. So we go in a group and pay once then hold the door. I was explaining this system to Loretta and Frances which was strange to them. Loretta did her thing and held the door open for Frances, saving us 5kr. She was getting the hang of it quickly when suddenly a man walked in. I will never forget the look on her face! Priceless! It is quite normal to service the bathrooms here at any time because the stalls are all individual, locked and require money to open them. There is nothing to see while changing the paper towels. It was just too funny! She does not like the idea of men in women's bathroom or unisex bathrooms to say the least!
After lunch, we headed out to Galma Stan. I was totally impressed with my mother-in-law as she made it from one end to the other on a bum knee and bad foot. We enjoyed all the little shops and even stopped for a few pictures along the way.
Loretta and Frances in front of the open air market

A quick stop to check out the palace guard on the way into Galma Stan...too funny that the guard smiled for my picture. I think Brenna had softened him up quite a bit before the shot

Outside the parliment building on the way into Galma Stan

Loretta in Galma Stan

Saturday was the last day Grona Lund was open for the season. We took the kiddos to the park for the last time. I am so sad to see it close because the kids love it so much. Brenna and Brady rode the mini ferris wheel for the first time. It was so darn cute! They got to ride on their own in a safe, closed cart and they thought they were hot stuff. After a little time together at the park, Craig headed out on his own with the ladies to the Vasa museum. I kept the kids behind for a little more fun at Grona Lund's last day. They got to play the "pull the string" game and the "bag fishing" game one last time and Brenna won a lime green dog (the top prize, bigger than the rest)and Brady won a pink poodle which we quickly asked for a second chance! He got a tiger that he loved. Afer Grona Lund, we headed out to the grass and had lunch and played then headed home to meet back up with the bunch.
Chillin' in the grass after our hot dog lunch

Sunday, Craig took them to Vaxholm on the boat. Sorry I don't have any pictures from their trip yet. I will steal their camera memory card soon. I got to hang out with the kiddos.
Today, Monday, Craig headed back to work. We all went to lunch at McDonalds...pretty exciting. Then I took Loretta, Frances and the kids on a boat tour. It was not at all crowded and was very beautiful. It was a great way to spend the day.
Off to bed to get ready for another day!
Brenna wearing Nanny's reading glasses

Mom's visit

OK, so my mom did a great job of keeping up the blog while she was here. She left yesterday to head back across the ocean. I will miss her very much but was so lucky to have this wonderful time with her. Memories that will last a life time. Funny thing about Sweden, every time someone leaves from visiting, the weather turns rainy and sad. Almost like I will it to mimic my mood. No exception this time. I spent yesterday sulking while the weather outside agreed with my mood. Today it feels just like winter in Tucson. Overcast and cold wind.
I know winter is just around the corner here. The sunlight is fading fast and will continue at a loss of just over 5 minutes a day. The air is cooler. And yesterday, we bought snow bibs (overalls) for the kids. Snow bibs..for Arizona children....A big part of me hopes the only time we use them is on a ski trip in Jan. after returning home. The other part of me hopes we get to experience the ice skating and snowman building that Sweden may offer. We will have to wait and see. It could become a snowy winterland as early as late Oct. or it could wait until we are back safely at home rushing to prepare for our desert Christmas.
Here are a few pictures from the past weeks while my mother was here.
These were taken at Birka,the remains of a Viking settlement. The entire landscape was hilly, which turned out to be 2,000 burial mounds! The large cross was in honor of the man that brought Christianity to Birka. I learned that after Chritianity was brought to Birka, the bodies were no longer cremated and belongings were no longer buried with those that had passed.
She looks so tiny!

Me and my little man



Here are a few more from the trip my mom and I took to Visby on the island to Gotland. It was just amazing!




And a few of my mom. I will miss you Mom! Can't wait to see you in December.

Mother-Daughter trip

Another guest blog by Pat. Catherine and I just returned from the most incredible overnight trip to the island of Gotland (Sweden’s biggest) and the city of Visby, which according to Wikipedia is the best-preserved Medieval city in Scandinavia. If you were to ask me, I’d simply say it was the most beautiful. It is surrounded by a ring wall of stones that was built in the 12th century, built to its current height in the 13th century and acquired towers in both the 13th and 15th century – guess they were lazy in the 14th century?!?
Gotland is the Island of a hundred churches and if you looked to almost any horizon in Visby you see remarkable ruins of stone churches.
The Cathedral of Saint Mary is an active, beautiful Church with modern stained glass, a baptismal font from the 13th century and, currently, a very interesting display of anti-bullying posters based on the Stations of the Cross.


It seemed there was a new ruin of a Church around every corner. I remain fascinated by the nonchalant use of ancient things for modern purposes. One Church ruin was being used for an exhibit of modern art which included a man counting in an angry voice projected on a stone wall – or there was the backyard that used the ring wall as a place to hang a hammock.

If the wall and the Churches weren’t enough to completely fascinate us, there was the most glorious garden ever. Imagine – walk along a beach and turn inland to a peaceful, beautiful collection of flowers and vines. Enjoy the photos!






And, all that being said – the very best part was sharing 2 days with my daughter. We had a marvelous time! Our hotel was built into the wall and just charming. Certainly, there are memories for a lifetime in these two days….