Grandpa's Birthday

Last weekend (before Fredrica left), we celebrated my dad's Birthday. We had a nice party at my parents house.

Dad and Fredrica... let's get this party rolling!

Hide and Seek

Isabella and Kaylee Marie are becoming budies

They couldn't get enough of each other :-)

Grandma and Bella

Balloons!

We found a beautiful picture frame in Hawaii... Bella put her favorite picture of her and Grandma in the frame

Christmas Carolers at the Torrey Pines Lodge

On Thu, Friday and Saturday nights, the Torrey Pines Lodge has Christmas Carolers. They were so beautiful. They were so beautiful... boy does it get you in the holiday spirit :-)

The Carolers... listen to how beautiful they are!

There was a train that went around the tree

Hmmm... maybe I should be getting to work on writing one of these. Let's see what other kids are asking for....

With my parents... the tree at the lodge is real and about 25-ft tall (9 meters)... it was gigantic

Christmas in Balboa Park

We've been going to Christmas in Balboa Park for a few years now. We went last weekend... so a bit late getting this posted. It was as beautiful as ever. Sweden House always has an extra special area... this year they weren't able to do many of the things they've done in the past... but we had a great time!

Christmas tree outside the Old Globe Threatre

While the traditional Swedish Santa wasn't there... we found a really nice American Santa :-)

I thought I was tall!

Christmas music in the Sprekels Pavilion

There goes Santa....

Swedish Culture... Alive and well in San Diego

IKEA has always provided a taste of Sweden... not just the furniature, but the little grocery store has many of a Swedes essentials away from home.

Last night, the San Diego IKEA has their first annual Swedish Christmas Dinner... Julbord. An essential part of the Swedish holiday season is the celebration of Saint Lucia (Sankta Lucia) in mid-December. In Sweden it is celebrated early in the morning on December 13th with a parade of young Swedish girls, singing traditional songs wearing candles around their head. Fredrica got to watch it this year in Sweden.

Sankta Lucia Parade

Isabella was simply mesmerized!

Julbord... IKEA offered a complete traditional Swedish dinner including Saffron Bun (right) ... meatballs, Jansson's Temptation (a delicious potato dish), Christmas Ham, Salmon and of course Lingon Berries

Children simply embody joy

IKEA is so kids friendly they have a play area in their restaurant

Silly Bella

Isabella loves the free 'child care' area at IKEA... was looked in longingly because they were closed :-(

Swedish and English version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

I've been praying for snow ever since I knew I was traveling to Sweden and really was disappointed when it's been warmer than usual with no snow here. But this evening it started snowing!!!! However it's not very cold so it will not stay but for a few hours I get to enjoy watching the snow fall and the city turning magically white.

Peace and climate issues

Barack Obama followed me here. Well not directly here to Sweden but next door to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Price. It's been media coverage of him 24/7 ever since because it was the largest and most expensive security job in Norway's history to protect him and we're not talking about a very big country here. Anyway, the President is very much liked over here and for once in a very long time it's seems as the Europeans finally have hope for the future due to Mr President.

At the same time there is huge climate control conference going on in our other neighboring country, Denmark. Representatives from all over the world is gathered there to discuss and come up with a plan to stop the rapid climate change in the world. Once report that came out which I have fallowed is the rapid decline of polar bears because of the temperatures warming up in their home area. You can read about this here and please I beg you to take the time so we can make a change today. Here you can also learn how to adopt a polar bear to protect them. It's time to take action and save the planet for our children's future.

I need to learn..

To bring a large cup with me when I travel because I drink a crazy amount of tea everyday and it has to be in a large cup otherwise I have to run to the kitchen more often and make tea. So now I have a nice collection of cups i've bought over the years for tea drinking overseas. Seriously who drinks tea from tiny tea cup besides englishmen? this is my latest addition and at least I love my collection and it's a story behind all of them.