The loooong journey home

Finally we're home and so happy to see our house again. We had such nice time in Sweden and thank you all who we spend time with; Nina with family, Marie and her family, Molly, Gabe & Olivia, grandpa Sven, Helen and Vilma, Biffe (Bibbi and Leffe), Frida and Ola who cooked a delicious dinner for us on our 10 year wedding anniversary and last but not least Ansi and Johan. Isabella missed you both so much. Johan she has been picking kottar wherever she goes.

The trip home is always very long and hard. When you're leaving on a trip the flight there is easier since your looking forward to everything but going home is a different story. Isabella was as good as always and made friends with both staff and other passengers. Every time we fly people comments on how calm she is, a true yogini I guess.

She took a short rest on the flight from Stockholm to Chicago but was very sleepy by the time we got there. But then she perked up and stayed awake until 3pm. She slept until 3am with a small wake up to move to sleep with us. We wanted to keep her awake until we got on the next leg of out journey; the flight from Chicago to San Diego. Well that turned out to be harder then we thought since the flight was delayed 1,40 hours. As soon as we got on the plane she crashed and slept on the floor, at our feet for over 2,5 hours.

Boy was she happy to be home with her toys and Mimi. The fun part about going away for 3 weeks when you have a garden like ours is coming home and seeing all the fruit and vegetables ready to harvest. I guess out house sitters did not like fresh vegetables. We had 3 butternut squashes waiting for us as well as many, many, many tomatoes, Swiss chard, peppers, oranges and lemons and the biggest surprise a nectarine on our plum tree. I guess it was miss labeled.
Bibbi and Leffe as well as Ansi who all have beautiful gardens and we picked their brains and about gardening so now we're inspired to make so changes in our garden.

The only negative things that happened is that one of our bags are missing on action and it has my make up bag and my new jeans as well as James sandals which he loves. I also got a message saying I was late to teach a class. oooppps!!!

More pictures and stories from our vacation is still to come. But if you want a sneak peak go and check out our pictures in the right corner.

The Drive to Karlstad

We drove from Stockholm to Karlstad to meet up with friends. Fredrica grew up in Karlstad. The drive is about 4+ hours but with an impatient toddler it sometimes feels longer. We stop at a restaurant and had lunch where Isabella happily announced to the whole place she had bajs, bajs (means poop in swedish).

As they often do... the drive started out great. Isabella was happy as a clam. One of the lovely things about driving through Sweden is the number of castles there are.

Somehow... when kids need a break to run around and have some fun... you can't find one anywhere!!! So we drove, bribing Isabella to keep settled down. Finally we had a nice walk and play at a castle in Örebro.

whohoooooo, watch me flyyyyyyy!

The countryside you drive through is really spectaculor... Here are some fun pictures

Field of smörblommor (butter floweres)

Typical Swedish country home

Lots and lots of fields

We are arriving soon!

Of course... as we arrive!

Visting with Gabe, Molly and Olivia

We met up with our good friends Gabe and Molly... our Swedish and American friends that also teach yoga. We had great fun at their home. They are surounded by beautiful lakes, nature preserves and fun places for the kids to play.

I admire how Sweden carefully plans their living areas for being able to enjoy the out doors.

Isabella and Olivia sharing lunch

Gabe played guitar while the kids joined and danced

They lived near a shallow pond ... the kids (and adults) all got in and played

We walked 10 min out to the water and ran around

And of course had lots of fun at the play gounds

Isabella loved this one

And even the parents got in on the fun

Fredrica and Olivia

Finding Pinecones... and that Garden... Looking Beatiful as Ever!

There is a pine tree just behind the green house. It drops pine cones all over the yard. The yard must be kept in pristine condition... so they must be all picked up! So now we know where Isabella gets her gene for being a neat-freak!!!

Johan has taught her to pick them up and put them in the basket.

Johan has created a monster... a few times a day Isabella drags Johan out of the house to go pick up pine cones!!!

We have to show a few pictuers of the garden behind Ansi and Johan's house

They put the flower bed in on the left a couple of years ago

The patio

Some new chairs this year for lounging!

And the green house... than inspired us to get one... producing lots of vegetables for the dinner table as usual!

Another nice view of the garden

And the bird bath... a never ending source of interest for Isabella

Fun in the Sun!

A perfect Swedish summer day called for some serious fun in the pool!!! Isabella had no end to her fun with Johan.

Catch the water Isabella!

Isabella gets Johan

Isabella and Johan goofing around

Blowing bubbles in the Bath

Fredrica and Ansi enjoying the summer day

Playing with Ansi... Isabella has a thing for all cleaning supplies... go figure! We're thinking of hiring her out ;-)

Isabella and Grandpa Sven

Last night was one of the hardest nights so far. Isabella would absolutly not go to sleep in her own bed or without mom. So we ended up with Isa and mom in one room and daddy in her room. Sleep training # 2 here we come! Which actually fits perfect since tonight we have the house to our self because why would you want to lissten to an angry toddler protesting her self sleep if you don't have to? On a good note, the weather got better yesterday and today it was a wonderful Swedish summer day.

Today we visited grandpa Sven's house and Isabella had a blast. Grandpa is a musician so Isabella got her first lesson in guitar playing as well as got to rock to Grandpa's album.

3 generations,Daughter, Grandaughter, Grandfather

Courtyard in front of Sven's apartment

Becoming best buddies

Hey Grandpa... do you know how to play this thing???

Tuning the guitar

Wow you are good!!! When are you going to teach me???

You rock!!!

OK... I think I get it... let me play along with you...

Learning the art of tuning a guitar

What do you mean this is a mouse, not a phone???

Getting the hang of the business. "so when do I start and how much do I get paid?"

Tickle, tickle, tickle...he he he

Rain, Rain, go away!!!

It started off so promising!!! Two days of rain followed which kept us pretty cooped up inside...and soooo cold. It did not seem to bother Isabella too much. While getting into a little trouble learning what can and cannot touch/open/move, etc... she had a lot of fun.

Dancing... Skansen

What can I say... the butter is just the best part!

This seems like a nice place to sit!

I got a bit of relaxing and reading in the beutiful and peaceful, despite the chilly weather

Sweden... We are HERE!!!!

Ahh, the first day of vacatoin... A bit tired, but Isabella slept well, adjust better than us so far (not so, last year).

We took it pretty easy, played a bit, did some shopping and rested. Fredrica got Isabella a litle doctor's kit that we had a lot of fun with.

Dr. Syren is now seeing patients...

Boom, boom... boom, boom... Wow I have a heart rate!!!

Nah-ah... you cannot see a troll in my ear!

Everyone! I have an announcement to make. I will not be here for dinner... I have decided to join "Doctors Without Borders"

Mom... you've been eating too many meatballs.. the balance if off!

Having fun at the playground

Traveling to Sweden

This year, we decided to make the trip from San Diego to Stocholm (through Chicago) in one go... last year we stayed the night in Philadelphia.

I think this decision was harder or mom and dad than Isabella. It certainly was a bit tough on her... she was impatient at times for sure and showed it! Why exactly do you have to stay buckled in during take offs and landings... hmmmm!

She took a nap on the flight from San Diego to Chicago... we had hoped that would set us up for her sleeeping most of they way from Chicago to Sweden. However, she only went to sleep in the last two hours.

We had at least half a dozen other Swedish-American children in our area. They all seemed to conspire on bed time because they were all having fun and carrying on until two hours before landing in which time they all (yes all) magically went to sleep. We checked the water to see if a sedative had been passed around to all the kids :-)

One of the families traveling with us was the woman who led many of the mid-summer festivities in Balboa Park. In fact her son is Isabella's age and they will be going to the Swedish school together!

Isabella decides to call for pizza delivery after being dissapointed by the in-flight food service.

Ahhhhh! 6 hours into the flight to Sweden we finally have a sleeping Isabella. Stretched across mommy and daddy so we did not get much sleep.

We arrived tired... and the weather was perfect!

Frida and Ola came for dinner on their motorcycle... sorry too tired to have take more pictures :-)